By Steven McLoud/Diálogo May 08, 2020 Twenty National Liberation Army (ELN, in Spanish) members, recognized as the last guerrilla in Colombia, surrendered to the military following clashes in the Cauca department in the southwestern part of the country, Colombian President Iván Duque announced on April 29, via Twitter.  Colombian Minister of Defense Carlos Holmes-Trujillo echoed Duque’s announcement, congratulating members of the military who carried out the operation.Troops from the army’s Third Division, the Air Force, Joint Special Operations Command, and a unit from the Rapid Deployment Force, clashed with guerilla forces in the turbulent region of the country that has been hard hit by armed conflict of various armed groups for more than 50 years, due to its strategic position for drug trafficking to the United States and Central America.A large weapons cache, which included assault rifles, handguns, grenade launchers, and improvised explosive devices, was also found during the operation.“Our forces will continue to maintain their presence and their fight in this region against all the criminal organizations that intimidate and cause harm to the civilian population in their desire to profit from drug trafficking,” Holmes Trujillo said.The surrender occurred amid the unilateral cease-fire decreed by the ELN between April 1 and 30, due to the coronavirus pandemic, and also comes as the Colombian High Commissioner for Peace announced on April 29 new incentives such as legal benefits and reduced sentences for individuals who leave crime gangs and dissident groups.Prior to that announcement, those benefits applied only to those who demobilized from the ELN. The expanded policy will now include those leaving dissident groups of former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish), and the Clan del Golfo, Los Pelusos and Los Caparros crime gangs.Some 4,400 ELN guerrillas have taken advantage of this initiative, according to the office of the High Commissioner for Peace. read more

Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces gun control bill after Assembly approved the legislation Tuesday.New York on Tuesday became the first state in the nation to pass a gun control bill since the Newtown massacre one month ago, with supporters of the legislation haling it as the most comprehensive gun bill in the country.The measure passed the Assembly 104-43 one day after the State Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill by a vote of 43 to 18.“I am proud to be a New Yorker today,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo before huddling together with lawmakers and some members of law enforcement as he signed the bill into law just after 5 p.m. “I am proud to be part of this government not because New York has the first bill but because New York has the best bill.”It may have not been a race but lawmakers in Albany have moved surprisingly swiftly to address the gun control issue since the massacre in Connecticut. The passage came less than a week after Cuomo’s State of the State in which he pushed the Legislature to “end the madness,” referring to recent shootings, including a fatal shooting on Christmas Eve in upstate New York that claimed the lives of two firefighters.Cuomo, who hasn’t missed an opportunity to remind the public that he’s a gun owner himself—a Remington shotgun, in fact—said the bill isn’t about limiting American’s Second Amendment right but to protect the public from dangerous individuals, including those with mental illness.“We saw, we learned, we responded and we acted,” Cuomo said Tuesday evening.The legislation, dubbed NY Safe Act, calls for an immediate ban on assault weapons and makes New York the first state in the nation to ban all pre-1994 high-capacity magazines and any magazine that can hold more than seven rounds. (The previous limit was 10.)High-capacity magazines that enable people to kill a large number of people in a short period of time are “nonsensical” for a civilized society, Cuomo said.Watch live streaming video from newyorkstateofficeofthegovernor at livestream.comUnder the legislation, semi-automatic pistols and rifles with detachable magazines and one military-style feature will be considered assault weapons. The bill also considers semi-automatic shotguns with one military-style feature an assault weapon.Lawmakers also looked to limit the access of guns to the mentally ill by requiring therapists to report to local mental health officials when they believe a patient may cause serious harm to themselves or others. The law gives law enforcement the authority to remove the person’s firearm. The person’s license would also be suspended.Background checks will also be expanded as a result of the bill.“The old system made no sense,” Cuomo said.Those who oppose the bill, including the National Rifle Association, criticized lawmakers for rushing the legislation and said it would infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.“These gun control schemes have failed in the past and will have no impact on public safety and crime. Sadly, the New York Legislature gave no consideration to that reality,” the NRA said in a statement. “While lawmakers could have taken a step toward strengthening mental health reporting and focusing on criminals, they opted for trampling the rights of law-abiding gun owners in New York, and they did it under a veil of secrecy in the dark of night.”“The legislature caved to the political demands of a Governor and helped fuel his personal political aspirations,” the organization added.Republican Assemb. James Tedisco (R-Schenectady) also blasted the legislature for pushing the bill through.“A lot of people say, ‘Why do you need these guns?’” he said, according to The Associated Press. “It’s part of the freedoms and liberties we have. … It’s for our public safety. It’s to protect us from our own government.”Approval of the legislation comes one day before President Barack Obama is expected to announce his own gun control plans, which were prepared by Vice President Joe Biden.Obama had enlisted the vice president to head a panel to come up with “common sense” measures to prevent another massacre like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School one month ago when 20 children and six adults were killed by a madman wielding a semi-automatic weapon. read more

(WBNG) — Several businesses and organizations have closed Friday due to snowy weather. For the latest on the forecast, click here. The following locations have closed: Binghamton Town Hall — Closing at 12 p.m.Broome County Courts, Binghamton City Court, 6th Judicial Office — Closing at 3 p.m.Church of the Holy Trinity on Prospect Street — Bingo cancelledFirst United Methodist Church “Night to Shine” at Chenango Valley High School — Postponed, date unannouncedMeals on Wheels will not deliver to: City of Binghamton, Conklin/Kirkwood, Chenango Bridge/Forks, Harpursville, Windsor, Whitney PointNY Dental on Vestal Parkway — closing at noonRaylantz Garage — Closing at 12 p.m.Sidney Federal Credit Union — Due to weather, all branches will be closed at 4 p.m.Triple Cities Metal Finishing — No 2nd Shift For a list of school closings and delays, click here. read more

Together with IT expert Albert Gaubitzer, who joins from IT service provider Raiffeisen Service Centre (RSC), Eberhartinger’s first task will be to look into Valida Pension’s member database.Meanwhile, Bernhard Breunlich is leaving the board of management at the Valida Holding to join the boards of the Valida Vorsorgekasse (managing severance pay funds) and Valida Consulting.He will take up the newly created position of development of new business.Robert Kerschbaumer has quit his position on the Valida board to focus on his responsibilities as head of the investment management division at Uniqa, an insurer and the second-largest shareholder in the Valida Group, alongside Raiffeisen and smaller shareholders.Eberhartinger said harmonising membership databases would be his top priority, adding that one of the first things to be brought together under a single system would be pension payouts.Whether asset management for the two funds will also be brought closer together over the long term is unclear.At the Valida Industriepensionskasse, Macquarie is managing all the assets in a masterfund structure with a special focus on alternatives.Combining the two pension funds is not on the agenda over the medium term, as the contract with Siemens obliges Valida to run the Pensionskasse as a separate entity for the next few years. Austria’s Valida Holding, which includes the €4.7bn Valida pension fund, has appointed two new board members to work alongside chairman Andreas Zakostelsky.Stefan Eberhartinger, who will continue to act as managing director of the €723m Valida Industriepensionskasse (formerly Siemens PK), will join the board of management at the Valida group.Two years ago, he was “bought in” – together with the former company pension fund of Siemens – by the Valida Group, which is part of the Raiffeisen conglomerate in Austria.“Valida wants to increase efficiency in the Valida Pension, which, over the years, had to integrate very different administrative platforms for various members,” Eberhartinger told IPE. read more

Indian shipping company Essar Shipping Limited (ESL) has added to its fleet Mahavir, a Panamax bulk carrier. The 74,005 dwt vessel, previously known as Jun Jie, was bought from China’s Fujian Ocean Shipping for USD 4.8 million in January this year, according to information provided by VesselsValue.As disclosed, Mahavir will be deployed for transporting cargo from Essar Steel’s pellet plant in Paradip to the steel plant in Hazira.Commenting on the acquisition, Ranjit Singh, Executive Director & CEO of Essar Shipping, said: “This acquisition is in line with our strategy to find cargo before acquisition to ensure full utilization of the vessel.”Built at Japanese Imabari shipyard in 2000, Mahavir will replace Chandi Prasad which was decommissioned last month.With the latest addition, ESL has a fleet of 14 crude and bulk carriers with a total tonnage of 1.6 million dwt and an average age of 12 years.In 2016/17 fiscal year, ESL reported 22% growth in cargo handling, whereas its capacity utilization grew to 94% from 80%. read more

Connie LawsonIndianapolis, In. — Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced that her office has taken an enforcement action as part of an international crackdown on fraudulent Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and cryptocurrency-related investment products. The sweep is being coordinated by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), of which the Indiana Secretary of State’s office is a member.As part of “Operation Cryptosweep,” the Indiana Secretary of State, Securities Division investigated an online ICO offering by the name of “Bionic.”  The Division found that the offering contained misleading information and that it was not properly registered as a security in Indiana. Indiana Securities Commissioner Alex Glass issued a Cease and Desist Order against Bionic, ordering them to cease the offering and alerting investors to the fraud.“Fraudulent activity involving ICOs and cryptocurrency-related investment products is a significant threat to Main Street investors in Indiana,” Secretary Lawson said. “Cryptocriminals need to know that the Indiana Securities Division is committed to swiftly and effectively protecting investors from schemes and scams involving these products.”The Indiana Secretary of State, Securities Division has joined with more than 40 other state and provincial securities regulators in the United States and Canada in “Operation Cryptosweep,” resulting in nearly 70 inquiries and investigations and 35 pending or completed enforcement actions since the beginning of the month. NASAA members are conducting additional investigations into potentially fraudulent conduct that may result in additional enforcement actions. These actions are in addition to more than a dozen enforcement actions previously undertaken by NASAA members regarding these types of products.In April 2018, NASAA organized a task force of its member state and provincial securities regulators to begin a coordinated series of investigations into ICOs and cryptocurrency-related investment products.Regulators identified many cryptocurrency-related products and as part of its work, the task force identified hundreds of ICOs in the final stages of preparation before being launched to the public. These pending ICOs were advertised and listed on ICO aggregation sites to attract investor interest. Many have been examined and some were determined to warrant further investigation. A number of these investigations are ongoing and others resulted in enforcement actions announced today.“The actions announced today are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Commissioner Glass, noting that NASAA’s task force also found approximately 30,000 crypto-related domain name registrations, the vast majority of which appeared in 2017 and 2018.A critical component of “Operation Cryptosweep” is raising public awareness of the risks associated with ICOs and cryptocurrency-related investment products. “Not every ICO or cryptocurrency-related investment is fraudulent, but we urge investors to approach any initial coin offering or cryptocurrency-related investment product with extreme caution,” Commissioner Glass said.Secretary Lawson urges investors to contact the office before making investments or committing to investment professionals. The office offers a wealth of free investor education materials through its Indiana MoneyWise program, and can help investors research the background of those selling or advising the purchase of an investment. The Secretary of State’s Office can be reached at 317-232-6681 or through its website at www.in.gov/sos/securities. read more

Connersville, In. —  Officials with Reid Health, a nationally-recognized health system committed to serving communities throughout Indiana and Ohio, and Fayette Memorial Hospital Association announced today they have entered into an agreement for Reid Health to acquire a substantial portion of the assets of Fayette Regional Health System in Connersville, Indiana.This announcement comes after the decision by Fayette Regional to file for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy code in October 2018. The specific terms of the transaction will be disclosed in the Fayette Bankruptcy Case and include a payment of $12.75 million to the bankruptcy estate of Fayette. The proposed transaction requires final Bankruptcy Court and regulatory approvals and is expected to be finalized in mid-July 2019.“We are pleased to have been chosen to support the residents of Fayette County and the surrounding region by maintaining access to high-quality healthcare services,” said Craig Kinyon, president and CEO of Reid Health. “Reid Health has proudly served Connersville and the surrounding communities for decades, and we’re looking forward to continuing to provide our friends and neighbors with the exceptional care they deserve.”Reid Health currently provides a wide scope of services in Connersville that include primary, specialty and urgent care, lab and radiology.Randy White, president and CEO of Fayette Regional pledged his support for the transition.“Reid Health is a known entity in our community, and we look forward to working with them through this transition,” White said. “I want to thank our talented team of employees, nurses, and physicians for continuing to provide our patients with an exceptional experience during this time.”Reid Health officials expect to be at Fayette Regional in the coming weeks to discuss details of the transition with leadership and others at Fayette Regional.“Moving forward, we’ll be taking into consideration the unique demographics of Connersville and the surrounding communities, sustainable clinical resources, and the viability of the facilities,” Kinyon said. “Ultimately, we’re committed to offering high-quality healthcare services in the community.” read more

LONDON: West Ham United have confirmed that midfielder Julia Simic has joined Italian club AC Milan. The German-made the switch to the Serie A side after two seasons in the FA Women’s Super League with the Hammers. Simic, who joined West Ham in July 2018 from SC Freiburg, made 22 appearances in all competitions in Claret and Blue, scoring three goals. The playmaker’s time with the Irons was unfortunately hampered due to a persistent knee injury, which saw Simic miss a year of action. The 31-year-old played a crucial role in the team’s fortunes on and off the pitch, helping the club to reach the 2019 SSE Women’s FA Cup Final and establish themselves in the top- flight of women’s football in England. “Everyone at West Ham United would like to thank Julia for all of her efforts during her time with the club and wish her every success in her future career,” West Ham said. IANS Also Watch: Nagaon DC’s Surprise Visit At District Hospital read more

For all the Latest Sports News News, Cricket News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The England vs New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 clash is considered as one of the classic matches in the modern era. New Zealand managed to notch up 241 and England were reeling at one stage. However, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler ensured that England was in the game. Stokes was in great touch and he held the key as England needed 15 runs off the last over. After two dot balls, Stokes smashed a six off Trent Boult and in the fourth ball, a game-changing moment took place. The left-hander worked a full ball to deep midwicket and set off for a couple. When he set off for the second run, Martin Guptill threw the ball at the striker’s end. Stokes had to dive to make his crease but when he dived, the ball hit the bat and went to the third man fence for a boundary. With three required off two balls, the match ended in a tie and in the ensuing super over, that also ended in a tie and England were declared winners due to a superior boundary count. In the aftermath of the match, the four overthrows was a major talking point with many debating that New Zealand was dealt an unfair hand. James Anderson, who was not part of the World Cup squad but is part of the Ashes, had earlier claimed that the all-rounder had asked for the four overthrow runs to be cancelled. However, Stokes has clarified by stating he never asked for such a thing. “I saw all of that. I was thinking to myself, did I say that? But hand on heart, I did not go up to the umpires and say something like that to the umpires. I went straight to Tom Latham and said ‘Mate, I am so sorry’, looked over to Kane (Williamson) and said ‘I’m sorry’,” Stokes said.Also Read | Jofra Archer included in England squad for Ashes opener against Australia in EdgbastonStokes won the Man of the Match and exclaimed he was lost for words after such a pulsating and nerve-wracking final. “I’m pretty lost for words. All the hard work that’s gone on in these four years, and to execute with such a good game is unthinkable. Thanks to everyone for all the support. We just kept talking during the partnership with Jos, and the run-rate wasn’t getting away, and in the last over when the ball hit the bat and went for four – I apologized to Kane for that. I definitely wasn’t going to bowl the last over (laughs). It’s fantastic, the lads, the family, and the support, it’s just been incredible,” Stokes said.Also Read | Ben Stokes wants THIS player to be nominated for New Zealander of the Year awardEngland is now set to play the Ashes against Australia and they will be aiming to retain the Urn back to England, having lost 0-4 to Australia in the 2017/18 series. highlights England lost the Ashes contest 0-4 against Australia in 2017/18.England has not lost the Ashes at home to Australia since 2001.England won the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time. read more

Pitcher Letty Olivarez and the softball team hope to get their first Big Ten wins today against Iowa.[/media-credit]Following a 2-2 weekend split at Goodman Diamond against Penn State and South Dakota State, the Wisconsin softball team welcomes the Iowa Hawkeyes to Madison today for a doubleheader.Despite still looking for its first Big Ten win, senior pitcher Letty Olivarez maintains that the team is not too down on itself, stressing that the team plays for each other and reminding the younger players they have great things to build for in the future.“We always remind them that this game is bigger than ourselves, we play for the ‘W’,” Olivarez said. “You have to think about yourself and play with your heart, that’s what it all really comes down to, the love of the game and whether you win or lose, just give all you got.”Even though this year’s 10-22 record is comparable to last year’s, UW head coach Chandelle Schulte hopes the experience the eight freshmen on the team gain will help build future success.“I think it does resemble last year in record, but it doesn’t in that we have so many new kids that are young and have talent,” Schulte said. “They’re just getting their feet wet, there are a couple of them who have really bright futures.”The Badgers are winless so far in conference play with an 0-6 mark, while the Hawkeyes are second in conference standings with a record of 6-1. In addition, Iowa is thought of as a balanced team, comprised of solid pitching and hitting.“They’re tough, they’re a very Midwestern team,” Schulte said. “They just grind it out, I don’t think they have superstars, they have kids who just get it done.”When talking about the Hawkeyes, Schulte was very complimentary and talked about them as the kind of team she wants her own to emulate.Iowa is a prototypical Big Ten softball team, playing its first 24 games on the road, specializing in slap bunts and putting the ball in play. They pride themselves on superior coaching and attention to the fundamentals. However, the Hawkeyes, unlike this year’s Badgers, have had success not only in conference play, but in non-conference tournaments as well.Additionally, Iowa has a balanced lineup in terms of lefties and righties, making the lineup even more formidable.Olivarez, who will receive the ball for one of today’s games, isn’t overly frightened of Iowa, but realizes the lineup’s potential to put some big offensive numbers on the board if the Badgers aren’t careful.“They’re good, they have a good mix of lefties in there, so we’re just trying to prepare and hopefully not get beat on the short game,” Olivarez said. “We’re gonna try to get them outside or have them pop it up.”Iowa’s lineup features some of the best power hitters in the conference, including second baseman Chelsea Carmody, who leads the team with a batting average of .366, six home runs and 21 RBIs. Her blend of speed and power makes for a very difficult out.“She’s a triple threat, she can do it all,” Schulte said. “We’re gonna mix it up for her, so she will not be able to get into a routine there, [but]…truth be told, to be successful we need to keep her off the basepaths.”A focus in practice all week has been playing the short game and hitting with runners in scoring position, two problems that have plagued the Badgers all season.“We’ve been working a lot on bunts and hopefully stepping up our short game, especially with our lefties [who have] been trying hard to see the ball and get it down,” Olivarez said. “We’re just gonna try to poke things through, hopefully we can get one hit here and that can lead to another.”The team also tries to stay positive and hungry, and the players genuinely feel they can turn this season and this program around.“I’m excited, I don’t feel any pressure,” freshman third baseman Shannel Blackshear said after belting Goodman Diamond’s first home run of the season Sunday. “I don’t know, now that were in the Big Ten, I’m just ready to play all these teams, and you never know which way it’s gonna go.”However, a sense of urgency is certainly felt by the coaching staff to pick up the first conference win of the season.“It’s a monkey on your back, were not focusing on it, but we certainly all know it’s there,” Schulte said. read more