Bernie Sanders Wins Alaska, Washington and Hawaii Caucuses in a Landslide

Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders easily won nominating contests in Alaska, Washington and Hawaii on Saturday, chipping away at front-runner Hillary Clinton’s commanding lead in the race to pick the party’s candidate for the White House.

Sanders still faces a steep climb to overtake Clinton but the big victories in the West generated more momentum for his upstart campaign and could stave off calls from Democratic leaders that he should wrap up his bid in the name of party unity.

Sanders appeared headed to victory margins of more than 50 percentage points in both Alaska and Washington, and led by about 40 points in Hawaii with some 90 percent of the results tallied there.

“We are making significant inroads in Secretary Clinton’s lead and … we have a path to victory,” Sanders told cheering, chanting supporters in Madison, Wisconsin. “It is hard for anybody to deny that our campaign has the momentum.”

Clinton, the former secretary of state, has increasingly turned her attention toward a potential Nov. 8 general election showdown against Republican front-runner Donald Trump, claiming she is on the path to wrapping up the nomination.

Heading into Saturday, she led Sanders by about 300 pledged delegates in the race for the 2,382 delegates needed to be nominated at the party’s July convention in Philadelphia. Adding in the support of superdelegates – party leaders who are free to back any candidate – she has 1,690 delegates to 946 for Sanders.

Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, needs to win up to two-thirds of the remaining delegates to catch Clinton, who will keep piling up delegates even when she loses under a Democratic Party system that awards them proportionally in all states.

“These wins will help him raise more funds for the next few weeks but I don’t think it changes the overall equation,” said Democratic strategist Jim Manley, a Clinton supporter. “Hillary Clinton has too big a lead.”

But Sanders has repeatedly said he is staying in the race until the convention, pointing to big crowds at his rallies and high turnout among young and first-time voters as proof of his viability. After raising $140 million, he has the money to fight on as long as he wants.

MESSAGE RESONATES

He has energized the party’s liberal base and young voters with his calls to rein in Wall Street and fight income inequality, a message that resonated in liberal Washington and other Western states. Sanders won in Utah and Idaho this week.

“Don’t let anybody tell you we can’t win the nomination or the general election,” Sanders told supporters in Wisconsin, which holds the next contest on April 5. “We are going to do both.”

All three contests on Saturday were caucuses, a format that has favored Sanders because it requires more commitment from voters. They also were in states with fewer of the black and Hispanic voters who have helped fuel Clinton’s lead.

“He was just more aligned with my values. I am young and I never knew there could be someone like him in politics,” said Samantha Burton of Seattle, who said Sanders was the first candidate who had inspired her to make a donation.

Jocelyn Alt, a birthing assistant at a Seattle hospital, said she backed Clinton because she believed the times called for someone who could get things done.

“She knows how to make things happen,” she said. “I think Hillary is more likely to win against a Republican.”

After Wisconsin, the Democratic race moves to contests in New York on April 19 and a bloc of five states in the Northeast, led by Pennsylvania, on April 26.

There were no contests on Saturday in the Republican race featuring Trump and rivals U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

On Saturday, the New York Times published a lengthy foreign policy-focused interview with Trump. The New York billionaire told the newspaper he might stop oil purchases from Saudi Arabia unless they provide troops to fight the Islamic State.

Trump also told the Times he was willing to rethink traditional U.S. alliances should he become president.

By John Whitesides and Amanda Becker, Reuters

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China Cosco Shipping aims to become third-largest container line

The newly formed China Cosco Shipping Corp. aims to become the third-largest global container line by boosting its fleet by at least 50,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units to more than 2 million TEUs by the end of 2018.

The company wants to grab market share from its European rivals by upsizing its fleet and expanding outside its core Asia, Africa, China and Southeast Asia coverage specialties into the oversupplied Asia-Europe and trans-Pacific trades, executives told state-media outlet China Daily.

If the company realizes its goal, and depending on just how far above 2 million TEUs the fleet goes, it would displace CMA CGM as the world’s third-largest shipping major and possibly even the second-place spot currently held by Mediterranean Shipping Co.

Maersk Line sits atop the global fleet with 14.7 percent of the total and a little more than 3 million TEUs. MSC is in second with 13.1 percent of the fleet or, 2.7 million TEUs, and CMA CGM is in third with 8.8 percent, or 1.8 million TEUs, according to Alphaliner.

Currently, the combined fleets of China Shipping Container Lines and Cosco amount to 1.58 million TEUs, according to China Daily, which places it in fourth place among the world’s leading container carriers.

Cosco in November ordered 11 mega-ships at a cost of $1.5 billion while Maersk and CMA CGM, which three shipbuilders told JOC.com sister publication IHS Fairplay is in talks for more mega-ships, have also placed mega-ship orders in 2015. Meanwhile, work on 20 mega-ships totaling more than 700,000 TEUs for MSC is ongoing. The competition between carriers to amass fleets of larger and larger ships is so intense it has been likened to an “arms race.”

The global fleet presently amounts to 19.85 million TEUs, with 1.3 million TEUs set to enter service this year, 1.4 million TEUs in 2017, and 931,000 TEUs in 2018, according to the IHS Orderbook.

The company hopes its ambitions will be aided by new free trade agreements in the works including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Wan Min, general manager of China COSCO Shipping, told China Daily. Together, the deals will lower tariffs and trade barriers for thousands of goods among some of the world’s top economies.

Contact Dustin Braden at dustin.braden@ihs.com

20 Things Great Bosses Do Everyday

1. They share their vision.

The most important thing a leader can do is provide his or her team with a goal that is worth their time. Granted, the boss doesn’t always get to set the agenda, but a great one will advocate for something worthy, and ensure that he communicates it effectively and often.

2. They develop expertise.

What’s more annoying than working for a boss who doesn’t actually understand the job, and whose authority vests entirely in the job title? The boss doesn’t have to be the number-one expert in every fact of the job–that might be impossible–but he or she had to be competent at all levels.

3. They respect people’s time.

Great bosses have little tolerance for boring meetings, mandatory fun, and making others wait unnecessarily. They also avoid long-windedness when shorter remarks will do.

4. They set priorities.

When you try to focus on everything, you’re not focusing on anything. A smart boss understands that, and realizes that lack of focus can easily metastasize when your lack of priorities means the team isn’t moving in the right direction together.

5. They share information.

Some bosses parcel out information like misers, often because they’re afraid that if their team had all the facts, they might not be able to lead. There are legitimate reasons to control the timing of information sharing, but overall the more transparent a boss can be, the more respect the team will ultimately have for him or her.

6. They make decisions.

Decisiveness. Super important. Enough said.

7. They offer praise.

People wonder how they’re doing. Great bosses let them know, and they’re especially vocal and public about it when they’re doing well.

8. They demonstrate empathy.

Great bosses are able to see things through other people’s eyes, especially their employees’. Of course this doesn’t mean that they are pushovers, but it does mean that they’re concerned about their team on multiple levels.

9. They offer thanks.

Building a culture of gratitude starts at the top. If the boss doesn’t take time to offer thanks to those around him or her, why would we expect that anyone else would?

10. They pull everyone together.

You might have heard the phrase “gung ho.” Reportedly, it derives from a World War II saying that combined two Chinese words meaning “work” and “together.” A great boss recognizes the talents of members of his or her team, and strives to lead in a way that lets everyone maximize their effectiveness together.

11. They ask smart questions.

They double-check assumptions in a non-annoying but thorough way that sends the message that they’re on top of things. They aren’t willing to accept that things should be done a certain way just because that’s how they’ve been done in he past.

12. They have respect for people’s lives.

They also recognize that people are just that–people. Work has to be a priority, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing in their lives. They recognize that their employees have spouses, children, friends they need to care for, not to mention outside interests and ambitions.

13. They hire thoughtfully.

There’s a saying: personnel is policy. In fact, this should arguably be the first item on the list. A leader’s most important role is sometimes about assembling a team of great people–and, just as important, avoiding letting toxic people join.

14. They accept blame.

Ethical people accept blame for their failings. Maybe they don’t dwell on it, but they accept it. Great bosses go a step further, accepting the collective blame when the team comes up short, and then guiding everyone to move forward.

15. They have a sense of humor.

Life is hilarious. Great bosses don’t have to be cutups, but they do have to have a sense of humor. They recognize that the crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow.

16. They communicate effectively.

No mumbling, no backpedaling. Great bosses find the words to explain what they mean–and they back up what they say.

17. They model ethical behavior.

It’s often true that more progress is made when we seek forgiveness than when we seek permission. However, there are rules, social norms, and basic decency. Great bosses strive to uphold them.

18. They celebrate wins.

Nobody likes a boss who thinks the only reward for great work should be more of the same. Great bosses look for milestones to celebrate–whether that means a 15-second recognition or a full-blown party.

19. They strive for excellence.

Because really, who wants to work for someone who strives simply to be adequate?

20. The make more leaders.

Great leaders don’t just make happy followers–they inspire more leaders with their examples. Just as important: They’re thrilled, not threatened, when members of their teams go on to even bigger and better things in life.

Comets Snap Skid in Explosive Fashion

The Utica Comets offense exploded for five goals in a 5-1 win over the Binghamton Senators at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday evening. The win snapped the Comets five game losing streak and reduced their magic number to 17 points for the coveted third playoff spot in the North Division.

Kellen Jones (1-1-2), and Curtis Valk (1-1-2) enjoyed multi-point nights, while Ronalds Kenins (1-0-1), T.J. Hensick (1-0-1), and Jon Landry (1-0-1) also added goals. Joe Cannata made 35 saves in his 18th win of the season.

The Comets kicked off the scoring after a Ronalds Kenins slashing minor nullified the Comets first power-play attempt. Playing short-handed, Carter Bancks forced an offensive zone turnover along the half wall. Bancks collected the puck and quickly found Kellen Jones as he streaked into the zone. With a defender in his face, Jones flicked a shot over the blocker of O’Connor for his third goal of the season, and second as a Comet.

The Comets doubled down on their lead on their 10th shot of the game just 1:43 into the second period. As he slid across the slot on one knee, Ronalds Kenins one-timed a feed from Milos Bubela past the glove of O’Connor to give the Comets a 2-0 lead. The assist was Bubela’s first professional point since joining the Comets on an Amateur Tryout Contract last week.

The Comets were once again able to double their lead with two firsts just five minutes apart.

First, Curtis Valk recorded his first career American Hockey League goal with a slick wrist shot from the slot that raced by the leg pad of the Senators’ goaltender.

T.J. Hensick followed that up with his first goal as a member of the Comets just five minutes later. On a two-on-one, Kellen Jones’ pass across the crease to Carter Bancks was blocked by a sliding Senators’ defender. O’Connor, who had slid to the far side of the crease to challenge the shot, found himself out of position and could not regroup before Hensick jammed the loose puck into the short side.

The Senators pulled O’Connor in favor of Chris Driedger to start the third, however, just 2:03 into the period Jon Landry gave the Comets a 5-0 lead when his wrist shot from the point snuck through traffic and into the net. Curtis Valk and Alexandre Grenier assisted on the goal.

Joe Cannata’s shutout bid lasted 29 shots, 43 minutes, and 45 seconds. David Dziurzynski’s wrist shot from the point clanked off the crossbar and in on the Senators’ 30th shot of the contest.

With the win the Comets record improves to 32-23-7-4.

The Comets return home for an important playoff showdown against the Rochester Americans on Tuesday night at The AUD. The Americans entered Saturday night’s game against the Syracuse Crunch just four points behind the Comets for the third, and possibly final, playoff spot in the North Division. Puck drop is set for 7pm.