TULSI ENDS PREZ BID, ENDORSES JOE BIDEN
Washington, March 19: Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, on Thursday ended her presidential campaign and offered her full support to former vice president Joe Biden.
The 38-year-old lawmaker's move leaves Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders as the final two candidates in the Democratic race.
“Today, I'm suspending my presidential campaign, and offering my full support to Vice President Joe Biden in his quest to bring our country together,” she said in an online video message.
The Iraq war veteran said a day after Tuesday's primary results, it was clear that the party's primary voters have chosen Biden to be the person who will take on President Donald Trump in the general election.
Trump, 73, is seeking his reelection in the November presidential elections. Biden, 77, who is leading in pledged delegate counts against his nearest rival Sanders, 78, is few steps away from being the presumptive nominee of the Democratic party.
Endorsing Biden, Gabbard said, “Although I may not agree with the Vice President on every issue, I know that he has a good heart and is motivated by his love for our country and the American people. I'm confident that he will lead our country.”
Tehran, March 19: Iran’s top leader will pardon 10,000 more prisoners in an apparent effort to combat the coronavirus, state TV reported Thursday.
As part of steps to curb the spread of the new virus that has killed more than 1,100 people in Iran, the country has already released 85,000 prisoners on temporary leave.
Separately, the United Arab Emirates added to its list of people barred from entering all residents who are currently abroad.
The decision impacts people whose homes, children, bank accounts and livelihoods are in the country, but who were traveling or outside the country.
The ban goes into effect at mid-day Thursday for at least two weeks. Only Emirati citizens are allowed to return. The UAE, which is home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has 113 confirmed cases of the virus. It announced it was suspending all new labor permits, including those for drivers and domestic workers, until “further notice.”
The UAE is unique in that only about 10% of its population, or about 1 million people, are Emirati citizens. The other 90% are foreign residents who fuel its economy and keep the country running.
They hold the vast majority of jobs in construction, transportation, hospitality, sales, medicine, education and other key sectors. The Middle East has some 20,000 cases of the virus, with most in Iran or originating from Iran.