The United Kingdom, France and Germany released a joint statement Monday blaming Iran for the attacks on two oil facilities in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

The three countries, all of which remain signatories to the 2015 Iran deal, said “there is no other plausible explanation” other than that “Iran bears responsibility for this attack.”

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“We support ongoing investigations to establish further details,” they added.

Tensions in the Middle East have been high since two Saudi oil refineries were hit by drones and cruise missiles on Sept. 14, affecting roughly 5 percent of the global crude output.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia quickly blamed Iran for the strikes.

Tehran has denied those allegations, while Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed they are responsible for the attacks.

Saudi officials have said that preliminary evidence indicates the weapons used in the attack were Iranian and that the strikes did not originate from Yemen.

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Advocates for reducing homelessness among veterans are finding success in an approach that prioritizes housing as a first step before employment or treatment for substance abuse.

The “housing first” method, viewed by advocates as a key breakthrough, addresses the issue of homelessness in the veteran community from the perspective that having the security of a house is crucial to tackling other problems.

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“Once people have a roof over their head it’s a lot easier to get dressed and prep for an interview,” said Will Goodwin, director of government relations for VoteVets, a progressive veterans organization.

The government program that has played a major role is called Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing. The effort gives veterans vouchers that they can use to help pay for housing, combined with support services through Veterans Affairs medical centers.

Since 2008, more than 93,000 vouchers have been awarded, according to HUD.

In a similar time period, the number of homeless veterans fell by about half. The number dropped from 74,000 in 2010 to about 38,000 last year, HUD figures show.

With the sharp decline in homelessness among veterans in the past decade, advocates are now pushing to accelerate their progress, with the goal of bringing the number as close to zero as possible.

“Overall there has been significant progress made on ending veteran homelessness,” said Kathryn Monet, CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. “There’s still a lot more work to do.”

The homelessness problem among veterans is often fed, advocates say, by the difficulty of transitioning out of the military into civilian life when veterans can be facing health challenges, and in a time when housing affordability is a crisis in many cities.

The issue has drawn some high-profile advocates in recent years. Former first lady Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaPortraits of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeff Bezos headed for National Portrait Gallery Trump: House Judiciary should investigate Obama Netflix deal instead of his business 2020 is not a family affair, for a change MORE and Jill Biden, the wife of former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump instructed administration to withhold military aid for Ukraine days before call with president: report More Democrats threaten impeachment over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine Seven Freshman Democrats pen op-ed urging Congress to impeach Trump if new allegations are true MORE, highlighted the challenges facing homeless veterans with their Joining Forces initiative during the Obama administration.

Monet, of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, said the attention former President Obama placed on the issue helped encourage local leaders to take action.

“We will not stop until every veteran who fought for America has a home in America,” Obama said in a 2016 speech. “This is something we’ve got to get done.”

More recently, Jason Kander, a veteran who was seen as a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate before he took time off to get treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, announced an effort in July to lead an expansion of programs and initiatives to end homelessness among veterans.

Kander, a former secretary of state of Missouri, is seeking to expand a project that sets up villages of tiny homes to get veterans a roof over their heads, along with support services to help them find more permanent housing. His goal is to replicate the Kansas City, Mo., nonprofit Veterans Community Project in other cities.

“Veterans are really disproportionately overrepresented in the homelessness population,” Kander said in an interview with St. Louis Public Radio in July. “So if you’re successful at ending veterans’ homelessness, you make an enormous dent in homelessness overall — which is obviously great for the country.”

Nearly 13 percent of homeless adults are veterans, even though veterans comprise only 7 percent of the overall population, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Kander said the combination of small homes and support services replicate “the network and the housing situation that folks were in right before they left the military.”

“So it creates that supportive community again,” he said.

Broader policies that make housing more affordable in general would also help, advocates say. Several cities are now exploring possible solutions as residents contend with skyrocketing rents.

“There’s no one program that can solve it,” Goodwin said. “We need to address the overall issue of housing affordability.”

The push on multiple fronts to further reduce veteran homelessness comes as advocates are also expressing alarm that President TrumpDonald John TrumpNYT publisher: US didn’t step in to protect reporter from arrest in Egypt so paper turned to Ireland Trump instructed administration to withhold military aid for Ukraine days before call with president: report More Democrats threaten impeachment over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine MORE is reportedly considering a police-oriented crackdown on homeless encampments in California.

“We can’t let Los Angeles, San Francisco and numerous other cities destroy themselves by allowing what’s happening,” Trump told reporters last week.

Goodwin said homeless veterans shouldn’t have to be “worried about some type of police crackdown while they’re just trying to find a place to sleep.”

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Video of Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg crossing paths with President TrumpDonald John TrumpNYT publisher: US didn’t step in to protect reporter from arrest in Egypt so paper turned to Ireland Trump instructed administration to withhold military aid for Ukraine days before call with president: report More Democrats threaten impeachment over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine MORE following her forceful speech at the United Nations on Monday quickly went viral across social media. 

The encounter between the two came after Thunberg accused leaders of failing her generation during a blistering speech at the U.N. General Assembly climate summit. 

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As Trump arrived for this week’s U.N. General Assembly, cameras caught Thunberg, an activist who inspired the worldwide youth movement to combat climate change, staring directly at Trump. It remains unclear what exactly she was reacting to. 

Her reaction quickly gained widespread attention, though, with many suggesting that Thunberg was glaring at the president in way that showcased her anger with the president and his stances on climate change. 

Thunberg said last month that Trump “obviously” doesn’t listen to science when assessing global warming. 

“If a picture is worth 1,000 words then this GIF is worth 100,000,” the news organization NowThis tweeted. 

Others joked that the glare evoked one you’d give your “worst enemy” and that the look said “a lot.” A headline on New York Magazine humorously read: “Greta Thunberg Accidentally Warms Globe With Her Scorching Glare.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeSheila Jackson LeeVideo of Greta Thunberg crossing paths with Trump at UN goes viral Lewandowski: House testimony shows I’d be ‘a fighter’ in the Senate Democrats press Nadler to hold Lewandowski in contempt MORE (D-Texas) retweeted a post that said, “we are all Greta Thunberg.” 

Thunberg has gained a high profile over the past year for her consistent efforts to address the problems that climate change pose for future generations. She began her advocacy last year by handing out leaflets outside Swedish Parliament saying, “I am doing this because you adults are shitting on my future.”

In an emotional speech Monday, she railed against world leaders for forcing children to take the lead in the global fight against global warming. 

“My message is that we will be watching you,” Thunberg said. “This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here, I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean, yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you.”

“People are suffering, people are dying, entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of the mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you,” she added later.

 

Trump has meanwhile repeatedly voiced skepticism about climate change. He made an unexpected appearance at the U.N. climate summit, but only stayed for between 10 and 15 minutes. 

A federal judge on Monday temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plans to open up thousands of acres in the nation’s largest national forest to logging. 

The decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska placed a preliminary injunction on the logging of 42,500 acres of temperate rainforest in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. It comes days before the administration was set to begin reviewing bids and offering contracts for the logging of old-growth timber in the forest.

The court ruled that “Plaintiffs have demonstrated that they are very likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary injunctive relief,” according to the ruling.

The order temporarily blocks the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) from allowing the “cutting of trees, road construction, or other ground-disturbing activities” in the covered areas.

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The court additionally banned the opening of any bids or awarding of any contracts related to loggin in Tongass. The USFS was scheduled to take and review bids on an initial sale of 1,156 acres of trees on Sept. 24.

“Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs have established that they will suffer irreparable harm if the harvest — particularly of old growth trees — authorized by the Twin Mountain Timber Sale occurs,” the court wrote of its decision to grant the injunction.

The USFS announced plans to open up the 2.2 million acres of forest to sales in March. Under the plan, more than 42,000 acres would be eligible for logging, with the remaining acres open to road construction. Environmental groups filed a lawsuit in May to block the plans. 

“Today’s preliminary ruling is a victory for wildlife and proper management of our nation’s irreplaceable forests. Moving forward with this initial sale would have ignited 15 years of clearcutting that would further destroy and fragment the remaining ancient forest habitat on Prince of Wales Island,” said Patrick Lavin, senior Alaska representative at the Defenders of Wildlife.

Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonGOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by National Association of Manufacturers – Trump defends Ukraine motives while attacking Biden Trump administration floats background check proposal to Senate GOP MORE (R-Wis.) is warning the Trump administration against releasing the transcript of a call between President TrumpDonald John TrumpNYT publisher: US didn’t step in to protect reporter from arrest in Egypt so paper turned to Ireland Trump instructed administration to withhold military aid for Ukraine days before call with president: report More Democrats threaten impeachment over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine MORE and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying it could have a chilling effect on talks with other heads of state.

 

“It’s a very dangerous precedent, and I think it’s going to really harm any president, whether it’s this president or a future president’s ability to talk to world leaders candidly,” Johnson told reporters on Monday. 

 

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He added that releasing the call transcript “would be the worst possible precedent.”

 

“This is not something that Congress necessarily has to have its hands on,” he said. 

 

The president is facing calls, including from some within his own party, to release the transcript of his conversation with Zelensky, which is reportedly linked to a whistleblower complaint.

 

Reports surfaced over the weekend that Trump and his attorney Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiTrump mocks Romney with video contrasting their presidential bids Murphy blasts GOP on whistleblower response: ‘We’re watching this country turn into a banana republic’ GOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ MORE attempted to persuade Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump instructed administration to withhold military aid for Ukraine days before call with president: report More Democrats threaten impeachment over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine Seven Freshman Democrats pen op-ed urging Congress to impeach Trump if new allegations are true MORE or his son Hunter Biden, who had business dealings in the country.

 

Trump appeared to acknowledge on Sunday that he had discussed Joe Biden on the call with Zelensky. But he said on Monday that he did not threaten to withhold aid to Ukraine unless they investigated the Biden family.

 

“I did not make a statement that you have to do this or I’m not going to give you aid,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

 

He’s also sent mixed signals about whether he’ll authorize the transcript of the call to be released. 

 

“I can do it very easily, but I would rather not do it from the standpoint of all of the other conversations I had. I may do it because it was a very innocent call on both his part and mine,” Trump told reporters on Monday before a meeting with the president of Poland. 

 

Whether Trump should release the transcript has become an early point of contention. 

 

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamMurphy blasts GOP on whistleblower response: ‘We’re watching this country turn into a banana republic’ GOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ Overnight Defense — Presented by Huntington Ingalls Industries — Trump at the United Nations | Ukraine controversy, Iran take center stage | Trump denies threatening military aid to Ukraine on call | Senate Dems to force vote on border emergency MORE (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, has urged him to be as “transparent as possible,” while Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyTrump mocks Romney with video contrasting their presidential bids GOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ Romney: Administration should hand over Ukraine transcript MORE (R-Utah) told reporters on Monday that he supports having the administration hand over the transcript. Johnson, Graham and Romney are all on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

 

Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyGOP senator: Releasing transcript of Trump-Ukraine call would set ‘dangerous precedent’ On The Money: Wall fight raises odds of ‘continuous’ stopgap measures | Warren under pressure over how to pay for ‘Medicare for All’ | Mnuchin surprises Trump by saying US scrapped Chinese farm tours The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by National Association of Manufacturers – Trump defends Ukraine motives while attacking Biden MORE (R-Ala.), however, appeared hesitant, questioning the potential ramifications for other conversations. 

“What about all the other conversations that the presidents of the United States have with foreign leaders and so forth? A lot of that is not for public consumption, I would imagine,” Shelby said.

After a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie, the Gers and the Dons are at Ibrox to settle their Scottish Cup quarter-final tie

Rangers’ quest for silverware under the guidance of Steven Gerrard will continue at Ibrox on Tuesday, with their Scottish Cup quarter-final against Aberdeen set to be decided in a replay.

Nine days ago, the clubs drew 1-1 at Pittodrie , with the Glasgow outfit somewhat fortunate to survive a succession of scares. Sam Cosgrove, who is suspended for this clash, gave the Dons the lead from the penalty spot only for Joe Worrall to equalise in the second half.

Since then, Rangers were held 1-1 by 10-man Hibs in the league on Friday and Aberdeen picked up an away draw with Celtic.

Indeed, the prize for the winners of this tie is a date with the Hoops at Hampden on the weekend of April 13.

Game	Rangers vs Aberdeen
Date	Tuesday, March 12
Time	7:45pm GMT / 3:45pm ET

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In the United States (US), the game can be streamed via Rangers TV or Red TV International.

US TV channel	Online stream
N/A	Rangers TV / Red TV International

In the UK, the game will not be broadcast live or available for streaming.

UK TV channel	Online stream
N/A	N/A

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Position	Rangers squad
Goalkeepers	McGregor, Foderingham, Firth
Defenders	Tavernier, Flanagan, McCrorie, Katic, Barisic, Worrall, Goldson
Midfielders	Jack, Halliday, Coulibaly, Arfield, Davis, Kamara
Forwards	Candeias, Morelos, Lafferty, Middleton, Defoe, Kent

Rangers are still without Gareth McAuley, who is struggling with a hamstring complaint. Eros Grezda is also missing due to illness.

Long-term absentees Jamie Murphy and Graham Dorrans are both sidelines.

Possible Rangers starting XI: McGregor; Tavernier, Worrall, Goldson, Barisic; Jack, Kamara; Candeias, Arfield, Kent; Morelos

Position	Aberdeen squad
Goalkeepers	Lewis, Cerny
Defenders	Devlin, Toban, Ball, Considine, Lowe, Logan, McKenna
Midfielders	Ferguson, Gleeson, Mackay-Steven, Shinnie
Forwards	McGinn, McLennan, Wilson, Stewart, May

Aberdeen’s major headache is the absence of red-hot striker Sam Cosgrove, who has been in irrepressible form in recent weeks. He is banned.

Tommie Hoban, Shay Logan and Frank Ross continue to sit out, while there are doubts over Gary Mackay-Steven and Niall McGinn.

On-loan Manchester United striker James Wilson should retain his place, despite a poor weekend showing.

Possible Aberdeen starting XI: Lewis; Ball, McKenna, Considine, Lowe; Ferguson, Shinnie; Mackay-Steven, Stewart, McLennan; Wilson.

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Rangers are 4/9 favourites with Bet365 , while Aberdeen can be backed at 6/1. A draw is priced at 10/3.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

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Rangers missed the opportunity to close the gap on Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table at the weekend as they were held by Hibs.

It was a particularly disappointing result after they took the lead through Daniel Candeias shortly before the break but failed to build on that and were caught out a quarter of an hour from time.

Gerrard’s men also flirted with disaster at Pittodrie, where their opponents had the better chances in the first match, and the ex-England captain is acutely aware that far more is required if he is to end the club’s title drought of eight years.

“We’ve got a big, tough challenge smacking us in the face tomorrow and we need to go and perform at a level that is capable of us getting the right result,” he told the press on Monday.

“I think it would be very naive of the players to be thinking about Hampden. We’ve got a job to do at Ibrox first and foremost.

“It’s a fantastic game under the lights against a big rival with a chance to go into the last four, that’s mouth-watering for me and it should be for the players.”

One worry for Gerrard is Aberdeen’s fantastic away form. Although the Dons were stopped to an extent by Celtic at the weekend, they had won all of their previous seven matches on their travels, which is in stark contrast to their wavering home form.

“We have to take confidence from coming down to Glasgow and keeping a clean sheet against one of the Old Firm,” centre-back Scott McKenna said.

“We have already kept clean sheets against Rangers in Glasgow so we go into the game with confidence knowing we have a chance of winning.

“The results we’ve had against Rangers do give us encouragement because we’ve beat them at Hampden and Ibrox this season.

“We go there knowing that we have nothing to fear if we turn up and play as well as we can, like we have in the past.”

This will be the sixth meeting between the clubs this season, with Aberdeen boasting two victories, including a 1-0 league win at Ibrox, to Rangers’ one.

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The Frenchman has missed the club’s last five matches due to a groin injury but is in contention to start the crucial game at Emirates Stadium

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Anthony Martial is available for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal.

The Frenchman has been out of action since suffering a groin injury in the Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain back on February 12.

He has thus missed the club’s last five matches in all competitions, including the remarkable second-leg victory over PSG that saw Marcus Rashford crash home a stoppage-time penalty to send Solskjaer’s side through.

But he is now back in contention and available to face the Gunners in what could be a crucial fixture in the race to finish in the top four.

United currently occupy fourth spot but are only a point ahead of Unai Emery’s side, where a win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday would significantly boost their chances of finishing in the Champions League spots.

As well as positive news regarding Martial’s fitness, Solskjaer revealed that one of Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic should also be back, while Eric Bailly is fit despite being withdrawn in the first half of the win over PSG.

The interim United manager told reporters in Friday’s press briefing: “Eric’s fine, Anthony will be available and hopefully we’ll have Nemanja or Ander as well.”

It would appear that Jesse Lingard is still unavailable, however, with the England international having been missing since he was substituted in the first half of the 0-0 draw with Liverpool due to a hamstring problem.

Alexis Sanchez also remains sidelined and is expected to miss the next “six to eight weeks” after he suffered a knee injury in the 3-2 Premier League victory over Southampton.

One man who will be available again to Solskjaer is Paul Pogba.

The France World Cup winner missed the second leg against PSG in midweek due to suspension, but is likely to come back in at the Emirates Stadium.

Asked about his potential selection dilemma following the impressive performances of fringe players in Paris including Scott McTominay and Fred, he added: “[It’s the] same decisions you always have when you go into a game, you’ve got to consider their approach, systems.

“But now of course fitness issues play [a part] more than ever. You’ve got players coming in, players who put a shift in, one of the hardest nights we had physically. Probably this one and the Arsenal FA Cup game were the two toughest games we had.

“Scott and Fred covered the ground so much and is something we have to consider.”

The striker skippered the Three Lions to two thumping wins in Euro 2020 qualifying during the international break

Harry Kane is proud of the way England’s rising stars have adapted so quickly to international football after their impressive performances in the opening two Euro 2020 qualifiers. 

Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi both made their debuts as England beat the Czech Republic and Montenegro 5-0 and 5-1 respectively. 

And Kane, 25, has no doubt that England’s future is in capable hands, adding that he is now part of a more experienced group of players who are responsible for the younger members of Gareth Southgate’s squad. 

“I’m extremely proud. Not so long ago, I was 21 and making my debut and these guys are even younger, so it’s great for our nation,” he said. 

“It’s great for me to watch and maybe help coach along the way. Me, [Jordan] Henderson and [Kyle] Walker, people like that. It’s down to us to be leaders in the team, show people how we want to do things. 

“Everyone has been great. They’ve come in and we haven’t had to tell them much. We’ve just told them to express themselves and that’s what they’ve done. 

“They just want the ball. They just want to get on the ball, play one-versus-one, and attack. For me, that’s perfect. I could just leave them to it.” 

West Ham youngster Rice impressed on his first start, playing a key role in midfield as England thrashed Montenegro on Monday. 

Rice, who represented the Republic of Ireland in three friendlies at senior level before switching allegiance to England, issued an apology for historic pro-Irish Republican Party (IRA) comments he made on social media in 2015. 

But despite the controversy, Rice was thrilled with the welcome he received from England fans. 

“When I found out that I was starting, I was bursting with pride,” he said. 

“Walking out was amazing. I had my whole family there. Singing the anthem, I could see them while I was singing it. I made eye contact with them early on. That was incredible. 

“I thought there was maybe going to be some booing. I didn’t know how the fans would take to me. But the reception from the England fans has been top-class. They have taken me in. 

“I now have to keep up a high standard back at my club then, hopefully, be in the plans for the summer. That’s the aim. I want to be in this squad as long as possible, because there’s exciting things happening.” 

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The home of the 13-time European champions is set to undergo refurbishments, with the final plans revealed on Tuesday

Real Madrid showed off finalised plans for a Santiago Bernabeu facelift that president Florentino Perez believes will make it the “best stadium in the world”.

Madrid have long been expected to refurbish their historic home, with plans initially beginning in 2009.

On Tuesday, Perez delivered a presentation that showcased the approved plans and a final design, which will bring the 72-year-old stadium up to the standard of modern arenas.

The Bernabeu was previously renovated in 1982 and 2001, but this looks set to be the most ambitious project, as it will involve a complete remodelling of the outside and see a retractable roof installed.

There will also be a 360-degree screen that runs round the entire internal rim of the roof, an interactive museum, shops and galleries that offer both views of the pitch and the stadium’s surrounding areas.

And Perez believes it will set a new benchmark for stadia.

“Today [Tuesday] begins the countdown to the beginning of an architectural innovation in our stadium,” Perez said in his speech.

“It is one of the great projects of the future for the club and the city. We appreciate the presence of the mayor and representatives of the council. Thank you for helping us in our challenge.

“Since we [Perez and the board] arrived at the club, we took on the responsibility of two challenges: the reform of the stadium and the creation of the Ciudad Deportiva de Valdebebas [Madrid’s training base].

“Since our mandate, €500million has been invested in it, in improving facilities, so that partners and fans can feel proud of our heritage and facilities, but Real Madrid is what it is for our values.

“We are bound to excellence, it is time to transform the stadium. Our future necessarily involves a new benchmark Bernabeu, the best stadium in the world; avant-garde, comfortable, secure, with cutting-edge technology, and that is a new important source of income.

“In 2009, we shaped those dreams with a difficult path. In May 2017, the special plan for the reform of the stadium was finally approved, which was final.

“From that moment, we started to develop different licenses and projects. Now, the tender for the work has been carried out.

“Next week we will sign the financing contract and soon the tender will be closed to start the works as soon as possible.”

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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersWarren overtakes Biden in Iowa for first time: poll The polls are asking the wrong question Sanders unveils plan to eliminate Americans’ medical debt MORE (I-Vt.) on Saturday released a plan that seeks to cancel $81 billion in past-due medical bills for Americans.

“The very concept of medical debt should not exist,” Sanders said in a statement. “In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, one illness or disease should not ruin a family’s financial life and future.”

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“It is immoral and unconscionable that families across the country are finding themselves nearly broke or bankrupt because of crippling medical debt while the health care industry made more than $100 billion in profits last year. My administration will take on the greed of the health care industry and end the epidemic of medical debt in America,” he added.

Under the plan, Sanders says he would negotiate and pay off past-due medical bills in collections that credit agencies have reported. A Sanders administration would also ban the collection of medical debts beyond the statute of limitations and instruct the Internal Revenue Service to conduct a review of the billing and collection practices of the nearly 3,000 nonprofit hospitals, his campaign said.

Sanders is also vowing to use the bankruptcy court system and allow people to adjudicate debt stemming from payments to providers and insurers for medical expenses. He said he would also remove medical debt from credit reports and end credit checking for rental housing, employment, insurance and other nonlending practices.

Sanders, who has long railed against the high cost of health care, cited a study from The Commonwealth Fund saying 79 million Americans have problems with medical debt as evidence that his plan is necessary.

The Vermont Independent has been a vocal advocate of a “Medicare for All” platform that would eliminate private insurance and has led trips to Canada to allow people to buy prescription drugs at lower costs than in the U.S.

The plan’s release comes as he defends a challenge on his left flank from Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenWarren overtakes Biden in Iowa for first time: poll Warren avoids attacks while building momentum Sanders unveils plan to eliminate Americans’ medical debt MORE (D-Mass.), who is also fighting for the primary field’s progressive mantle.

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