GERMAN COURT SCRAPS BAN ON ASSISTED SUICIDEGermany's highest court on Wednesday ruled that a 2015 law banningprofessional assisted suicide was unconstitutional, saying in a landmarkdecision that people have "the right to a self-determined death".The ruling is a major victory for the terminally ill patients, doctors andassisted suicide organisations who brought the case, complaining that theexisting law went too far.Judge Andreas Vosskuhle said the right to a self-determined death included"the freedom to take one's life and seek help doing so".HONG KONG DOLES OUT HK$10,000 CASH TO EACH RESIDENT OVER 18Hong Kong's financial secretary Paul Chan has announced a HK$10,000 cashhandout for all permanent residents over the age of 18 in a bid to boostlocal consumption and ease economic woes in light of a fiscal deficit.The relief measure involving an estimated expenditure of around HK$71billion came amid negative economic growth since the second half of lastyear and the city's first deficit in 15 years as the economy took a hit fromthe US-China trade war, large-scale protests and the coronavirus outbreak.But Paul Chan remained confident that fiscal reserves, previously estimatedat HK$1.1 trillion, could weather the cost of the handout.ISOLATED ON LUXURY LINER FOR 3 WEEKS, 122 INDIAN CREW MEMBERS RETURN TODAYThree weeks since they were quarantined on a luxury cruise off Yokohama portin Japan after a person who disembarked in Hong Kong in January wasdiagnosed with coronavirus, the 122 Indian crew members on board havedisembarked and are likely to be flown back today. On arrival, they areexpected to be quarantined for 14 more days.The other 16 Indians from the vessel have been tested positive forcoronavirus and will stay in Japan for treatment,As many as 138 Indians including 132 crew and six passengers were among the3,711 people on board the luxury cruise ship, which was quarantined offJapan on February 5 after it emerged that a former passenger had testedpositive for the virus.INDIA ADDED 3 BILLIONAIRES EACH MONTH IN 2019; MUKESH AMBANI RICHESTIndia added more than three dollar billionaires every month in 2019, takingthe tally to 138 that has helped the country to feature at the thirdposition globally, says a report.China and the US occupied the first and second spot with 799 and 626billionaires, respectively.In total, India got 34 new billionaires to take the count to 138 on thelist, topped by Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries with $67 billion innetworth.Mukesh Ambani is the ninth richest in the world.The second in the list is SP Hinduja family ($27 billion), followed byGautam Adani (a little over $17 billion), Shiv Nadar & family (close to $17billion), and Lakshmi Mittal with over $15 billion in networth.At the sixth lot is banker Uday Kotak with a networth of around $15 billion,making him the richest self-made banker in the whole world.At the seventh slot is Azim Premji with ($14 billion), followed by CyrusPoonawalla ($12 billion) and Cyrus Pallonji Mistry and his son ShapoorPallonji with $11 billion each.And Oyo founder Ritesh Agarwal, all of just 24 years, is the youngest Indianin the rich list with a networth of $1.1 billion.INDICATORSSensex 39,889 (-392), Nifty 11,678 (-119), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores)40,592Nasdaq 8,981 (+15) Dow 26,958 (-124), S&P 3,116 (-12)US$-Rs. 71.65 GBP-Rs. 92.77, Euro-Rs. 77.94, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.50, Can$-Rs.53.87, Aus$- Rs. 47.09GBP 0.77 /US$, Euro 0.91 /US$, Jap.Yen 110.40 /US$, Aus$ 1.52 /US$, Sing1.39 /US$, Bang Taka 83.15 /US$, Can$ 1.32 /US$, Mal Ring 4.23 /US$,Pak Re 153.64 /US$, Phil Peso 51.04 /US$, Russian Rouble 65.37 /US$, NZ$1.58 /US$, Thai Baht 31.80 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 24.25 /US$, Norway NOK 9.38/US$Bitcoin - USD 9.037Dollar Index 98.91 Brent Crude 52.82 BDI 508Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,648 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,250 /4,150, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 51,200THOUGHT FOR THE DAYNever do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one. - Robert E. LeeOFF TRACKA visitor from Buffalo was strolling along the California surf one morning.During his walk he came upon a fellow, fishing pole clutched in his hands,sound asleep against the side of a huge coastal rock.Just then the pole began to jerk violently. "Hey, there!" cried the visitoras he roused the fisherman. "Look out there! You have a bite.""So I do," yawned the drowsy one glancing out at the water. "If you don'tmind, will you pull in the line for me?"The visitor, somewhat surprised, did as he was requested."Now, mister," continued the fisherman, "put some fresh bait on the hook andcast the line out for me."Again the visitor complied.After doing so he turned to the lazy angler. "You know," he declared,"anyone as lazy as you ought to get married and have a son to do thesethings for him.""That's a good idea," beamed the fisherman. "Know where I could find apregnant woman?"