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Bernie Sanders unveils plan to overhaul public education

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders wants to suspend taxpayer funding of new charter schools and ban those that are for-profit as part of his plan to overhaul public education that he released on Saturday.

Saying charter schools are “exacerbating educational segregation,” Sanders proposes more transparency and accountability for them, as well as limits on the pay of their chief executives. According to the campaign, the 10-point plan focuses on “reversing racial and economic segregation that is plaguing elementary and secondary schools.”

China’s ban on scrap imports a boon to US recycling plants

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The halt on China’s imports of wastepaper and plastic that has disrupted U.S. recycling programs has also spurred investment in American plants that process recyclables.

U.S. paper mills are expanding capacity to take advantage of a glut of cheap scrap. Some facilities that previously exported plastic or metal to China have retooled so they can process it themselves.

And in a twist, the investors include Chinese companies that are still interested in having access to wastepaper or flattened bottles as raw material for manufacturing.

International anti-money laundering experts review practices in Cyprus

NICOSIA, May 18 (Xinhua): A team of international experts are making a review of anti-money laundering practices in Cyprus applied mainly by law firms, banks, accounting and audit firms, financial services firms and offices involved in the investment-for-citizenship scheme, sources with knowledge of the review said on Saturday.

The team comes from the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism, commonly known as Moneyval.

Bangladesh-China Silk Road Forum launched in Bangladesh

DHAKA, May 19 (Xinhua): Bangladesh and China have launched a new platform, the Bangladesh-China Silk Road Forum, in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, focusing on lasting links under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) between the two countries for mutual benefit.

The event was attended by political leadership, high-ranking officials from the private and public sector, community representatives and the members of the business sector and media.

Sikhs say Nordstrom apologized for turban, waiting for Gucci

PHOENIX (AP) — Nordstrom has apologized to Sikhs for selling a turban they found offensive, but a representative with the U.S. community’s top civil rights organization said Saturday they are still waiting to hear from the Gucci brand that designed it.

“We feel that companies are commodifying and capitalizing on something that is dear and sacred to people around the world,” said Simran Jeet Singh, a senior fellow with the New York-based Sikh Coalition, who said the turban has a deep religious significance for the men of his faith.

India: FIR against Amazon over products with Hindu god images

Noida, May 17 (PTI) The Noida Police on Friday registered a case against e-commerce giant Amazon for allegedly hurting "Hindu sentiments" after rugs and toilet seat covers with pictures of Hindu gods were available for sale on its US website.

An online campaign to "boycott Amazon" was initiated by several social media users Thursday over the issue, with an Amazon spokesperson saying all sellers must follow the company's selling guidelines and those who do not comply will be subject to action, including potential removal of their account.

Amazon takes top stake in UK food delivery firm Deliveroo

LONDON (AP) — Amazon is investing in British meal delivery company Deliveroo, giving the online shopping behemoth a larger stake in the fast-growing restaurant delivery business.

Amazon failed to get its own restaurant delivery business going in the United Kingdom, shutting it down for good late last year. It faced tough competition from Deliveroo, as well as its other rivals in the country such as Just Eat and UberEats. Amazon’s service, called Amazon Restaurants, still operates in several U.S. cities.

Wobbly week for US stocks; 2nd weekly drop for S&P 500

18 May 2019 (AP) - Stocks fell broadly on Wall Street Friday as investor jitters over the heated trade war between the world’s two biggest economies overshadowed encouraging developments in conflicts between the U.S. and other key trading partners.

The sell-off gained strength in the last hour of trading, handing the benchmark S&P 500 index its second straight weekly loss.

‘Dumping’ migrants in Florida is unacceptable

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s governor plans to fight any federal plans to fly hundreds of immigrants weekly from the Mexican border to South Florida, saying Friday he’ll take his case to President Donald Trump.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis made his remarks a day after being caught off guard when Broward and Palm Beach county officials said they had been notified by U.S. Border Patrol that about 1,000 migrants per month would be sent to the two counties starting in about two weeks.

US-Canada-Mexico Tariff agreement hailed by business groups

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mexico’s National Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry is congratulating the country’s officials on the agreement reached with the United States on ending steel and aluminum tariffs.

The chamber says in a statement posted online that it considers the deal “a strong and very positive step for industry in the entire region.”

It also calls it “a great advance” toward ratifying the new trade deal between Mexico, the United States and Canada.

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