Family, friends mourn death of Barbara Bush

Family, friends and politicians mourned the death of Barbara Bush Tuesday night, recalling the former first lady for her dedication to her country and family. 

The matriarch of the Bush family, Barbara Bush was the second woman to ever have her husband and son both serve as president. She is remembered by her family for her passion, sense of humor and commitment to causes she was passionate about. 

“Barbara Bush was a fabulous First Lady and a woman unlike any other who brought levity, love, and literacy to millions,” Former President George W. Bush said in a statement. “To us, she was so much more. Mom kept us on our toes and kept us laughing until then.” 

She served as first lady during the presidency of her husband, George H.W. Bush. Her oldest son was elected president in 2000 and served two terms. 

Her younger son, Jeb Bush, served two terms as governor of Florida, and ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign for the Republican nomination in 2016. 

Jeb Bush remembered Barbara Bush as an “exceptionally gracious, gregarious, fun, funny, loving, tough, smart, graceful woman.”

A family spokesman announced Tuesday night that Barbara Bush died at age 92. She had been hospitalized multiple times throughout the past year, and recently decided against seeking additional medical treatment.

President Trump recalled Bush for her commitment to spreading literacy, and as an “advocate of the American family.” He ordered flags be flown at half staff in her honor.

“She will be long remembered for her strong devotion to country and family, both of which she served unfailingly well,” Trump said in a statement.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/986430103075868672/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fblogs%2Fblog-briefing-room%2F383665-family-friends-mourn-death-of-barbara-bush

We’ll always be grateful to Mrs. Bush for the generosity she showed to us throughout our time in the White House, but we’re even more grateful for the way she lived her life – as a testament to the fact that public service is an important and noble calling; as an example of the humility and decency that reflects the very best of the American spirit," they said in a joint statement. 

Former Vice President Joe Biden fondly remembered Bush for her wit, intelligence and love of her family and country.

"Her tireless work as a champion for global literacy will be just one legacy she leaves behind," Biden said in a statement. "The others will be her unshakeable faith, her devotion to service and her beloved family, in which she instilled that same great love of country and public service

Source: Barbara Bush

CASH CRUNCH AT ATMS : WHERE IS THE MONEY ?

• Highlights

• Public is still searching for reason for the recent cash crunch, the government responded that its an "unusual rise in currency demand"
• Public is hoarding 2,000-rupee notes or going into black economy.

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI/KOLKATA: Indian citizens are once again haunted by the cash crunch, prompting the government and RBI to move themselves into damage control mode to pacify the jittery depositors.                                                       

Finance minister Arun Jaitly said there was a "sudden increase" in demand in some parts of the country, but opposition party chief Rahul Gandhi linked the problem to the Nirav Modi fraud and demonetisation.

The government said currency supply had risen to Rs 45,000 crore during the first 13 days of April — from Rs 7,140 crore in the previous fortnight and Rs 33,000 crore in the comparable period prior to that. ATM operators and government officials said that on an average, over Rs 10,000 crore was being placed in ATMs every day, compared to Rs 6,000-7,000 crore before demonetisation — which suggests that despite the push to go digital, the appetite for cash remains undimmed.


The use of Rs 2,000 notes, in particular, is seen to be causing the problem. “Cash withdrawal from ATMs has witnessed continuous escalation post-demonetisation. Daily ATM transaction volume is now at par or greater than the pre-demonetisation period. Amount withdrawn per ATM withdrawal is also on the rise,” said Rituraj Sinha, MD of cash logistics company SIS, adding that the problem was confined to a few regions.

“The RBI said there was a shortage of supply of currency notes, due to which the cash crunch occurred. But they have assured us that the problem will be resolved in the next day or two,” he said. Gujarat deputy CM Nitin Patel, who is also finance minister, acknowledged that banks were facing a cash crunch and said the government was in touch with the RBI. RBI, however, maintained there was no shortage of cash. “It is clarified... there is sufficient cash in the RBI vaults and currency chests.

Nevertheless, printing of the notes has been ramped up in all the four note presses. The shortage may be felt in some pockets largely due to logistical issues of replenishing ATMs frequently and the recalibration of ATMs being still under way...,” it said in a statement on Tuesday. Economic affairs secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said the printing of Rs 500 notes would be stepped up five-fold to around Rs 2,500 crore a day to deal with the shortage. “So, in a month, we will be printing about Rs 75,000 crore. This should give you assurance we are geared up,” he said.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/cash-crunch-at-atms-are-rs-2000-notes-being-hoarded/articleshow/63807105.cms?