Naureen Hassan, a 25-year veteran of the financial services industry, has been named First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The bank said that the appointment has been approved by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "As First Vice President, Hassan will be the New York Fed's second ranking officer as well as an alternate voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee," the statement said. "Naureen's leadership background, deep commitment to fostering diverse teams, and extensive technology and financial experience will be critical to her role as a bank leader," John C Williams, president and CEO of the New York Fed, was quoted as saying. "I am confident that Naureen will be an inspiring and innovative leader, and look forward to working with her to move our organization forward in line with our values," he added.
Unruly Indian passenger offloaded
An allegedly disruptive Indian passenger on board an Air France flight from Ghana via Paris to New Delhi forced the plane to make an emergency landing at Bulgaria’s capital city of Sofia. Media reports quoted Bulgarian National Investigation Agency official Ivailo Angelov as saying that the Indian citizen “soon after take-off began quarrelling with other passengers, assaulting a flight attendant and pummelling the cockpit’s door.” His aggressive behaviour led the crew of flight AF 226 to make an emergency landing in Sofia. The passenger was taken off the aircraft and charged with endangering flight safety.
Lara Trump eyes Senate seat
Former US president Donal Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is eyeing the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by Republican Richard Burr. While many in the state are skeptical, she will move forward, an entrance into the race would set up a crucial test of Trump's popularity among Republicans, which remains massive more than a month after leaving office, can translate to others. The answer to that question has implications that extend far beyond Lara Trump's political future. If Donald Trump can prove that he can help other Republicans win office, his self-appointed status as leader of the party would be validated. Losses, however, would remind Republicans of his vulnerabilities.
17,000 quakes hit Iceland
Authorities in Iceland have said that a small volcanic eruption could be imminent on the southwestern tip of country some 30km from the capital Reykjavik. CNN quoted the Icelandic Meteorological Office as saying that around 17,000 earthquakes have been recorded in the region recently, compared to 1,000 normally for a whole year. The largest quake of 5.7-magnitude was registered last week. Tremors signalling a potential eruption were also detected, near Mt Keilir, inactive for past 800 years, the Icelandic Met Office said. “The magma is fracturing and it is so close to the surface... that we have to take it seriously,” Freysteinn Sigmundsson, a geophysicist, said.
After US, Japan tells China to stop anal swab tests
Tokyo has requested Beijing to stop taking anal swab tests for Covid-19 on Japanese citizens as the procedure causes psychological pain, a government spokesman said. Chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato said the government has not got a response that Beijing would change the testing procedure, so Japan would continue to ask China to alter the way of testing. Last month, the US had protested with China after learning some US officials were subjected to the anal swab tests. China’s foreign ministry had denied it.
Texas lifts mask mandate, to open 100%
Texas will lift its mask mandate and increase the capacity of all businesses to 100 per cent from March 10, Governor Greg Abbott has announced, making it the largest US state to end one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus. “It is now time to open Texas 100%,” Abbot said. The announcement by the Republican leader in Texas, where the virus has killed more than 42,000 people, has rattled doctors and city leaders who said they are now bracing for another deadly resurgence. Texas is the largest US state to end its mask mandate. Abbott has faced criticism from his party over the measure, which was imposed last July.
Capitol rioters accused of domestic terror
FBI director Chris Wray accused supporters of Donald Trump who carried out a deadly January 6 attack on the US Capitol of domestic terrorism and vowed to hold them accountable. “I was appalled that you, our country’s elected leaders, were victimised right here in these very halls,” Wray testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “That siege was criminal behaviour, pure and simple. It’s behaviour that we, the FBI, view as domestic terrorism.” Supporters of former President Trump have repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims the rioters were actually fake Trump supporters who belong to the left-leaning antifa movement, short for anti-fascist. But Wray told lawmakers this narrative was false, adding: “We have not to date seen any evidence of any anarchist violence extremists or people subscribing to antifa in connection with the 6th.”
Switzerland to ban wearing of burqa
Switzerland will follow France, Belgium and Austria after narrowly voting in a referendum to ban women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public spaces. Just over 51% of Swiss voters cast their ballots in favour of the initiative to ban people from covering their face completely on the street, in shops and restaurants. Full facial veils will still be allowed to be worn inside places of prayer and for “native customs”, such as carnival. Face coverings worn for health and safety reasons are also exempt from the ban, meaning face masks worn because of the Covid-19 pandemic will not be affected by the new law. Switzerland’s parliament and the seven-member executive council that constitutes the country’s federal government opposed the referendum proposal.
10 killed in Somalia suicide bomb blast
More than 10 people were killed and 30 others injured in Somalia after a suicide car bomb exploded just outside a restaurant near the port in the capital Mogadishu, reports said. The blast occurred at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port. "The explosion was very strong and caused significant destruction and caused civilian casualties," official Mohamed Osma said. No group has claimed responsibility but the country faces recurrent attacks by al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents. The group has been waging a violent insurgency across the Horn of Africa country. They were driven out of Mogadishu by government forces backed by 20,000 African Union peacekeepers in 2011.
