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Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, is set to quarantine, five days before a pivotal runoff election that will determine not just whether he keeps his seat but also whether Republicans maintain control of the Senate.

Mr. Perdues campaign announced on Thursday that a member of the senators campaign staff had tested positive for the coronavirus and that the senator was going into quarantine. The incumbent, a Republican being challenged by Jon Ossoff in a closely watched race, was notified of the positive test Thursday morning, according to a statement from his campaign.

Mr. Perdue, 71, and his wife both tested negative for the virus on Thursday, but will quarantine all the same, according to Mr. Perdues campaign.

Mr. Perdue attended a campaign event on Wednesday in Hiawassee, Ga., where he met with supporters. In photos, he and others can be seen wearing masks and standing close together.
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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a rights advocacy group, has called on the Nigerian police to release the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and some other activists in their custody.

The group also threatened to sue the police if the activists are not released within 48 hours.

Mr Sowore was arrested on New Year eve for leading a protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja against bad governance in the country.

The protest tagged #CrossoverWithProtest, saw many Nigerians holding candles and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Mr Sowore was reportedly arrested in one of the seven vans of the Nigerian police mobilised to the protest ground at Gudu junction in Abuja.

Sahara Reporters said its publisher and others arrested were taken to Abattoir police station in Logokoma, Abuja, where they are currently being detained.

This newspaper could not independently confirm how many protesters were arrested alongside Mr Sowore but unofficial sources claimed four others were arrested.

The police are, however, yet to comment on the arrests.

The police spokesperson, Frank Mba, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him.

However, SERAP in a post on Twitter demanded the release of the activists.

BREAKING: Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Omoyele Sowore & other activists reportedly arrested and tortured during a peaceful protest last night in Abuja. We'll take legal/international action if Sowore & others are not released within 48 hours  SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) January 1, 2021

This is not the first time that Mr Sowore is being arrested by the Buhari administration.

In 2019, he was detained for over 100 days for calling for a protest. He was detained despite a court order granting him bail and was only released after local and international pressure.

The police accused him of planning to overthrow the government of Mr Buhari.
AFS

If youve never heard of Eminent Cycles , you are not alone. I had never heard of them either, and you could say it's my job to know these things. Sadly, I'm not much of a drinker, so its a bit hard to know all things. But now that weve found these hidden gems get ready for a crash course into what theyre all about.What you see in the cover photo is known as the Onset MT Pro 29. Aside from being the most expensive bike in the teams lineup ($8,499), its also meant to be the most rugged. Just so you understand what were talking about, its a 29-inch wheel mountain destroyer with a full suspension and top-of-the-line components.But why should you pay so damn much for a mountain bike thats not even electric ? Have a good look at it, people! Well, look closer, you wont find a single weld on the frame. Why? Simple, it's made from carbon fiber. Mind you, not just any sort of carbon fiber; the team laid it all together with unidirectional carbon fiber. This sort of carbon layering technique allows the manufacturer to reinforce joints and tubing by offering chosen directional strength , something woven carbon fiber does not allow to happen easily.Seeing how Eminent also prides itself on growing up on MTBs, you wont have to worry about the strength of what youre looking to buy. My only question is, why only a five-year warranty? I guess well find out over the course of the bike's life. One thing the team did take into consideration was down tube protection with an extra carbon fiber shield.The rear includes ansuspension that floats the brake, shock, and long rocker, all held together with a FOX Float X2 Factory with a climb switch and 155 mm (6.1 in) of travel. The front fork is also a FOX 38 Grip 2 Factory with 160 mm (6.3 in) of travel.Surprisingly enough, Eminent chose to use top-of-the-line drivetrain components on the Pro. Shimano XTR is there to rock the derailleur, shifter, chain, and even cassette. Frankly, I'm glad they chose to go with the well-known Shimano on this one. Just have a look at how it all just fits together, absolutely gorgeous.Brakes are also covered by Shimano XTRs with 203-mm (8-in) rotor on the front and 180 mm (7.08-in) on the rear. That's more than enough to stop you huge 29ers and give you a bit of control in whipping the rear around if you know how. For wheels, we find Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro Carbon rims with a set of Vittoria Mazza 2.6 and 2.4 trail tires.Now put all that together, and while you sit there staring at this screen, imagine yourself having a seat on this puppy. Go ahead, bounce on it a little bit, feel that FOX suspension. Mess with the seat post a bit while looking for your perfect flexed knee. Yeah, thats it. Tilt into a turn or two, and hit a drop. Feels nice, right? Now save up till next year to get one because Christmas is over and it isnt cheap.
ONE HUNDRED years ago on New years Day two County Limerick men paid the ultimate price for Irish Freedom.

On January 1, 1921, Thomas Murphy, Ballylanders, and David Tobin, Glenbrohane, were killed by Crown Forces.

A non-political anniversary Mass was planned by the Tobin and Murphy families for this Friday in Glenbrohane church but it has had to be called off due to the new Covid guidelines.

David Tobin, a grand nephew of Mr Tobin residing in Austin, Texas, got in touch with the Leader with a researched and factual account of their deaths.

After spending the night at Mrs Barry's safe house in Cloghast, David, aged 23, and Thomas, 29, of the East Limerick Brigade, attended morning Mass at St Patrick's church Glenbrohane. They continued to Ballinalackin to pay a visit to Davids mother. Little did they know that the meal which was prepared for them would be their last.

According to Davids brother, Ned, the two young men were spotted by an informer at Mass that morning. Word was sent of the men's whereabouts to the RIC barracks most likely in Galbally. The Machine Gun Corp, led by Lieutenant Keller, was dispatched from Kilmallock.

This raiding party stopped the lorry some distance from Tobin's house and sent some marksmen ahead to outflank the boys from the high point at the rear, in the likelihood of an attempted escape towards the mountain. Once the marksmen were close to being in position Lieutenant Keller proceeded towards Tobin's Forge in Ballinalackin.

David and Tom heard the lorry of Tans and Military which was descending on their location from the direction of Maguire's to the south side of the house. According to the witness statement Davids brother, Ned Tobin:

They left the house and went towards the hill at the back and took cover at a cross fence. In the first exchange of shots my brother David fell dead. Tom Murphy got away for about a distance of about a quarter mile, but the two soldiers who had outflanked him were now above him with others coming on behind firing as they came. The lorry itself with the rest of the party had proceeded along the road to Sheahan's Cross.

At the north side of Sheahan's Cross, Tom must have realised that his chance of escape was gone, because he put his revolver into a furze bush where it was found a few days later by a Volunteer and subsequently given to me. In a final bid to escape he crossed the road and, as he did so, he was hit by a tracer bullet in the groin, said Ned.

Tom died later that night. Volunteers from the Glenbrohane area found Davids body and tragically reunited the two men in Kilmallock. David Tobins grand nephew sent the Leader copies of their death certificates from the Military Court of Inquiry held on January 3, 1921 in Kilmallock. Cause of death in both cases was, Shot or shots fired by a member of Crown Forces in execution of his duty.

Ned said at the burial a big force of Tans were present.

The Tans took up positions at the graveyard and tried to prevent the general public from going in, but the people were in a temper and broke through. After this the Tans tried to seize the flag, but Nellie Maguire snapped it out of the Tan's hands and got away with it. She had to pay for this some days later when they arrested her and gave her 81 a very rough time. The officers of Ballylanders Company later fired a volley over the grave, said Ned.

Crosses were erected at the sites where David Tobin and Thomas Murphy were shot. Whilst remnants of these crosses exist, they have unfortunately not withstood the test of time.

The late Cllr Willie Sampson and the late John Tobin (Ned Tobins son) laid a wreath at the Republican plot in 2016 to mark the 100-year Easter rising celebration.

It is hoped in time to mark the 100th anniversary of the deaths of David Tobin and Thomas Murphy.
Vanessa Hudgens sent pulses racing as she closed out 2020 and looked forward to 2021.

The 32-year-old actress stunned in a new post to Instagram in which she toasted with a flute of sparkling wine while reclining majestically on a rug next to a fireplace.

The Spring Breakers star flaunted her curves in a low-cut red dress as she looked forward to a 'bright year ahead' for herself and her 40.3 million Instagram followers.

Woman in red: Vanessa Hudgens, 32, was ready to go for her New Year's Eve celebration as she downed a flute of champagne while sizzling in a low-cut scarlet dress

Vanessa's dress featured a low-cut top and exposed her fit arms and a hint of her toned legs.

She dressed down a bit with a pair of black boots while sporting some tasteful necklaces and bracelets.

The High School Musical star wore her raven-colored shoulder-length hair in delicate waves and closed her eyes to blow a kiss in a second snap.

'Happy New Years my lovessss,' she captioned the photos. 'Heres to a bright year ahead .'

Better times ahead: 'Happy New Years my lovessss,' she captioned the photos as she blew a kiss at the camera. 'Heres to a bright year ahead '

Red hot: Around the same time she shared a more casual photo revealing her black platform combat boots as she was bathed in red light and surrounded by flower petals

Around the same time she shared a more casual photo revealing her black platform combat boots.

Her dress was indistinguishable from her skin as she was bathed in scarlet light, and the floor appeared to be peppered with flower petals.

'Happy new yearssssss,' she captioned the photo while she gazed playfully at the camera.

Vanessa was looking forward to the New Year after going all out for her holiday celebrations.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has recently been ravaging all of Southern California, the Princess Switch star filmed a tribute to the Jingle Bell Rock scene from 2004's Mean Girls.

Vanessa posed for a series of sizzling snaps with her friends GG Magree, Vince Rossi and Alexandra Shipp, with all four dressed in short red Santa slips.

Vanessa was looking forward to the New Year after going all out for her holiday celebrations

Putting on a show: Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Princess Switch star filmed a tribute to the Jingle Bell Rock scene from 2004's Mean Girls with GG Magree, Vince Rossi and Alexandra Shipp

Prior to the holidays, Vanessa had been working in New York City to film her upcoming musical adaptation Tick, Tick... Boom!, which also features her friend Alexandra Shipp.

The film is the directorial debut of Hamilton mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda and is based on the quasi-autobiographical musical written by Jonathan Larson, best known for writing Rent.

Vanessa had originally begun filming in March, but it shut down shortly afterward due to the pandemic, before returning to production from October through November.
The may still be grappling for answers for its fortunes hitting rock bottom in and its inability to regain lost glory, but astrologers in Uttar Pradesh seem to have found the answer.

According to them, it is the absence of the fate line in the symbol -- the palm -- which is preventing the party's revival.

The fate line runs from the bottom of the palm to the top and the deeper it is, the better is considered one's fate.

The astrologers insist that if the makes changes in its election symbol and adds the fate line to the palm, its fortunes could change for the better.

"The absence of a fate line in one's hand makes the person lose direction," said L.K. Tripathi, a well-known astrologer.

"When it is absent, there is no real sense of direction. When it is there -- and, as a rule, there is almost always some semblance of the line present, no matter how long or short it is -- the owner will have some sort of aim in life.

"This line maintains an overall balanced approach. The stronger it is, the more some semblance of self-control will be present," Tripathi explained.

Vipin Pandey, another well-known astrologer said that the total absence of the fate line stalls one's progress.

In terms of the Congress, he said that the party had prospered only when other planetary positions strongly favoured it.

"The Congress got the hand symbol in 1977 and it was voted out of power. The party made a phenomenal comeback in 1980 and 1984 because other planetary positions favoured the party.

"After 1984, the party has not been able to get a majority on its own and has been on the downslide," he explained.

Meanwhile, a veteran Congress leader in Lucknow admitted that most party men were aware of the "missing fate line" and some had even suggested necessary changes to the party high command.

"The party leadership does not believe in such 'superstitions' but most of us do. There is no harm in approaching the Election Commission and adding the fate line -- if only to respect the sentiments of party workers.

Several political parties have made changes in their party offices to boost their fortunes. The BJP office in Lucknow has undergone several changes -- they even felled a Chilbil tree that supposedly brought them bad luck.

Almost all politicians wear rings to guard themselves against bad luck. Even Mayawati wears only pink on her birthdays.

Incidentally, it is only Rahul Gandhi who does not wear any ring or bracelet.

Party leaders say that there have been occasions when bad luck has hit the party like a bolt from the blue.

"Take the case of 2017. Before we allied with the Samajwadi Party, the Congress was on a roll with its "27 Saal, UP Behaal" campaign. The alliance was also touted as a winner all the way but when the results came out, we had hit rock bottom," said a party MLA.

The BJP, in 2018, had asked the Election Commission to withdraw the election symbol of the Congress since it violated the Representation of People's Act as well as the Model Code of Conduct.

In a six-page letter to the Election Commission, BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyaya had said that the "palm" is a part of human body and an "inseverable part of the human body at any point of time". He noted that the palm could be used to woo voters even after a poll campaign officially ends.

--IANS

amita/in

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Regulator Sebi on Friday imposed penalties on Reliance Industries Ltd, its Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani as well as two other entities for alleged manipulative trading in the shares of erstwhile Reliance Petroleum Ltd (RPL) back in November 2007.

Fines of Rs 25 crore and Rs 15 crore have been imposed on Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Ambani, respectively. Besides, Navi Mumbai SEZ Pvt Ltd has been asked to pay a penalty of Rs 20 crore and Mumbai SEZ Ltd has been directed to pay Rs 10 crore.

In a 95-page order, Sebi's Adjudicating Officer B J Dilip said any manipulation in the volume or price of securities always erodes investor confidence in the market when investors find themselves at the receiving end of market manipulators.

"In the instant case, the general investors were not aware that the entity behind the above F&O segment transactions was RIL. The execution of the... fraudulent trades affected the price of the RPL securities in both cash and F&O segments and harmed the interests of other investors," he said in the order.

While noting that execution of manipulative trades affects the price discovery system itself, the adjudicating officer said, "I am of the view that such acts of manipulation have to be dealt sternly so as to dissuade manipulative activities in the capital markets."

On March 24, 2017, Sebi had ordered RIL and certain other entities to disgorge over Rs 447 crore in the RPL case. In November 2020, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) dismissed the company's appeal against the order.

At that time, RIL had said it would challenge the tribunal's order in the Supreme Court.

Also Read: Reliance Infra share rises 4.8% on completion of Delhi-Agra toll road sale to Cube Highways
Property taxes and utility fees will remain at 2020 levels in Weatherly next year.

Monday afternoon, borough council approved a $5,354,846 budget for 2021 that calls for the same 6.3-mill property tax rate the borough has had since at least 2018.

The new budget is $142,335 more than the 2020 budget, and $141,341 more than the 2019 spending plan.

Council also approved two short-term loans  an $85,000 tax anticipation loan and a $750,000 revenue anticipation loan, both from Jim Thorpe National Bank, said Borough Manager Harold Pudliner.

Municipalities take out tax anticipation loans to make payroll and pay other expenses until tax revenue begins to flow in, Pudliner said. The revenue anticipation loan is to pay for the new municipal building until grant funds the borough was awarded are received, said solicitor Jim Nanovic.

Pudliner explained the borough had to spend the money to construct the building before the borough is reimbursed with the grants.

There are three new categories in the 2021 budget: maintenance costs for the former ambulance building, the old municipal building and the new magistrates office, which is next to the new municipal offices and police station in the new complex completed a few months ago on Plane Street, Pudliner said.

Maintenance costs for the ambulance building are estimated, Pudliner said. The magistrates office is nothing more than just miscellaneous expenses  minimal parking lot and sidewalk maintenance, since Carbon County pays for the rest of the expenses of the office. The borough has to maintain the old borough building, in the former train station on Wilbur Street, until a decision is made about its future.

The Mahoning Twp. ambulance  which has taken over ambulance service in the Weatherly area  will spend this winter operating out of the former municipal building.

Pudliner said the borough will take possession of the former ambulance building, but it will be some time before that happens. The borough is waiting on getting a clearance certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue before the former Weatherly Ambulance Association can dissolve. Council has accepted the building  and the two to three acres it sits on  when the ambulance association is ready to turn it over.

Pudliner said there are four major projects in the proposed 2021 budget: painting the water tank, buying another pickup truck for the water department, replacing some pumps and the crusher at the sewer plant, and some work in the electric department at the substation.

There is money in the budget to make payment for the bucket truck ordered in 2020 that will be delivered in the new year, Pudliner said.

Numbers the boroughs insurance brokers provided Pudliner to compile the tentative budget line up with the latest numbers, he said. The boroughs numbers are looking good for liability, property and health insurance because of the boroughs number of claims, Pudliner said.
India on Friday called for "urgent, practical and time-bound" assistance to 39 stranded Indian sailors on board two ships in Chinese waters considering the "grave" humanitarian situation developing in the vessels. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Indian bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand has been on anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since June 13 and it has 23 Indian sailors.

Another vessel, MV Anastasia, with 16 Indian nationals as its crew is on anchorage near Caofeidian port in China since September 20, he said. Srivastava said both these vessels have been waiting for discharge of their cargo and there is a growing stress on the crew members on account of the long delay.

"Given this and our concern for the increasingly difficult conditions for our crew members, these two cases are being pursued vigorously," he said responding to a media query on the matter. Srivastava said the Indian Embassy in Beijing continued to remain in close and continuous touch with the Chinese authorities in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, adding the MEA is also following up on the matter through the Chinese Embassy here for "an early resolution".

"We have noted the statements of the Chinese side, expressing their willingness to extend their assistance in this matter. We expect that this assistance will be provided in an urgent, practical and time-bound manner, given the grave humanitarian situation that is developing on board the ships," Srivastava said. He said the Indian Embassy has repeatedly taken up the issue with both the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs and the local provincial authorities, requesting that the ships be allowed to dock and/or the crew be allowed to be changed.

"They have been following up this matter for the last few months. The Indian Ambassador has personally taken up this issue with the Vice Foreign Minister. The Ministry has also been following this issue with the Chinese Embassy," Srivastava said. He said the Chinese authorities have conveyed that on account of various COVID-19-related restrictions imposed by the local authorities, change of crew is not being permitted from these ports.

"While the shipping companies are examining the logistics of sailing the ships away from their current points of anchorage, our embassy is liaising with relevant authorities in Tianjin for berthing approvals to facilitate the crew change," Srivastava said. He said the shipping companies have been requested to ensure that they submit their plans for crew change at the earliest for approvals by the local Chinese authorities.

"We also understand that MV Anastasia is exploring the possibility of a crew change at sea at its current point of anchorage in Caofeidian. Our Embassy has yesterday written to Chinese authorities proposing this alternative and sought approval for the same," he said.
Photo: The Canadian Press House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks about the late Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, R-La., during a news conference Wednesday Dec. 30, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Letlow died Tuesday after battling COVID-19.

Congress is ending a chaotic session, a two-year political firestorm that started with the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, was riven by impeachment and a pandemic, and now closes with a rare rebuff by Republicans of President Donald Trump.

In the few days remaining, GOP senators are ignoring Trump's demand to increase COVID-19 aid checks to $2,000 and are poised to override his veto of a major defence bill, asserting traditional Republican spending and security priorities in defiance of a president who has marched the party in a different direction.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top Trump ally, tried to bridge the divide Thursday, saying Congress could try again to approve Trump's push for bigger COVID aid checks in the new session, which opens Sunday.

I am with President Trump on this," Graham said on Fox News.

Our economy is really hurting here, he said. "Theres no way to get a vote by Jan. 3. The new Congress begins noon Jan. 3. So the new Congress, you could get a vote.

As the Senate grinds through the New Year's holiday, the one-two rebuke of Trump's demands punctuates the presidents final days and deepen the divide between the Republican Party's new wing of Trump-styled populists and what had been mainstay conservative views.

The stalemate is expected to drag into the weekend.

An exasperated Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said this week, After all the insanity that Senate Republicans have tolerated from President Trump  his attacks on the rule of law, an independent judiciary, the conduct that led to his impeachment  is this where Senate Republicans are going to draw the line  $2,000 checks to the American people?

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has shown little interest in Trump's push to bolster the $600 relief checks just approved in a sweeping year-end package, declaring Congress has provided enough pandemic aid, for now, as he blocked repeated Democratic attempts to force a vote.

Opening the Senate on Thursday, McConnell called the House-passed bill matching Trump's $2,000 request socialism for rich people who don't need the federal help. He prefers a more targeted approach.

The refusal to act on the checks, along with the veto Friday or Saturday of the defence bill, could very well be among McConnell's final acts as majority leader as two GOP senators in Georgia are in the fights of their political lives in runoff elections next week that will determine which party controls the Senate.

Trump made an early return Thursday to the White House from his private club in Florida.

Trump and President-elect Joe Biden are separately poised to campaign in Georgia ahead of Tuesday's election as GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler face Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

It's a dizzying end to a session of Congress that resembles few others for the sheer number of crises and political standoffs as Trump's presidency defined and changed the legislative branch.

Congress opened in 2019 with the federal government shutdown over Trump's demands for money to build the border wall with Mexico. Nancy Pelosi regained the speaker's gavel after Democrats swept to the House majority in the midterm election.

The Democratic-led House went on to impeach the president over his request to the Ukrainian president to do us a favour against Biden ahead of the presidential election. The Republican-led Senate acquitted the president in 2020 of the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

When the pandemic struck, Congress rallied with unusual speed and agreement to pass a $2 trillion relief package, the largest federal intervention of its kind in U.S. history.

The COVID-19 crisis also shuttered the Capitol and altered the workings of Congress. The House changed its rules to allow proxy voting, a first, so lawmakers could avoid the health risks of travel to Washington. The Senate ultimately halted its traditional daily lunches.
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Nathan Woods plead not guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child during a Colorado court hearing Tuesday

A convicted sex offender was caught viewing child porn for hours using an AT&T display model iPad while in store.

Nathan Woods pleaded not guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child during a court hearing Tuesday.

The charges stem from the 38-year-old's arrest following an April 18 incident at a Boulder AT&T store at 1675 29th St, according to the Boulder Daily Camera.

Woods allegedly spent four hours perusing child porn on the tablet.

Store employees alerted the police after they reviewed the iPad's browser history before closing the store for the day and learned that Woods had visited child pornography sites.

Law enforcement agents checked the iPad's browser history and found specific German terms that eventually translated to naked images of minors. The tablet also turned up websites that contained children performing sex acts.

Employees at the AT&T store in Boulder, Colorado, were set to close for the day on April 18 when they went to clear the history of an iPad and discovered that a customer had spent four hours searching for child porn on the tablet

Employees informed authorities that no other customer had used the iPad before Woods the day he visited the AT&T store.

The police found Woods in the vicinity at another store and were able to take him into custody.

Woods confessed to cops of searching for child pornography on the iPad but that he was surprised at the content he came across on the search engine.

'I wasn't expecting Google to put out stuff that was illegal,' he said.

He added that his fluency with the German language could have confused him with words that ultimately led him to the explicit images.

Woods did say that he had been looking for a video of women that he had been tipped about.

Nathan Woods was arrested in Boulder County in 2011 and plead guilty in 2013 to a sexual assault and second-degree burglary. Woods broke into the dorm bathrooms at the University of Colorado Boulder campus and stole women's clothing and assault a female acquaintance while she slept in her room

Woods was arrested in Boulder County in 2011 and pleaded guilty in 2013 to a sexual assault and second-degree burglary. Woods broke into the dorms at the University of Colorado Boulder campus and stole women's clothing and assaulted a female acquaintance while she slept in her room.

Court documents indicate he received a six-year sentence, two years of work release and sex offender probation.

Woods is still in custody at the Boulder County Jail after he was prohibited from posting a $10,000 bail bond because he had violates the terms of his parole.

Woods is set to appear in court April 7 and his five-day trial is slated to begin May 24.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31)  Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon wants the head of the Presidential Security Group to attend the Senate's investigation on the unregistered vaccines that have entered the country.

"The PSG Commander must be called and must appear in the investigation of the Committee of the Whole to shed light on this issue... The most important 'who' and 'how' of the story remain a mystery. The PSG commander is deliberately withholding the basic questions of who and how from the public," Drilon said in a press release on Thursday.

The senator added all that were given to the public were "alibis, excuses and lies."

"Who else was involved? How did unregistered COVID-19 vaccines enter the country? Who imported it from China?" Drilon said.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Tuesday, PSG Commander Jesus Durante III kept mum on the source of the vaccine.

"We identified the vaccine that we like to use for our personnel. There is actually a donor, but I could not disclose whoever he is," said Durante in an interview with News Night.

Durante added the PSG did an independent research on what vaccine to secure. But he did not reveal the name of the vaccine they used to avoid influencing the government's procurement program.

Although the vaccination of some PSG members was not approved, Durante said they acted "in good faith."

To date, three agencies said they are looking into the use of the smuggled vaccines: The Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Customs, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo also said neither they nor the Department of Health were consulted on the vaccines.

In an earlier briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the vaccines came from a donation, insisting it's not a big deal since the doses are mere "tokens." But Domingo said even donated vaccines need to secure clearance from the DOH and FDA, which was not what happened in this case.

Under the FDA Act, those who import, sell, or distribute any unregistered health product may face imprisonment or monetary fines. The law does not penalize the person who was injected with the unregistered vaccines, but charges await those who import, sell, distribute, and dispense the drugs.
Global aviation data firm Cirium released its new Airline Insights Review 2020 which reveals the deep impact on aviation of worldwide travel restrictions to curb COVID-19. The report shows that the pandemic and its consequences wiped out 21 years of global passenger traffic growth in a matter of months, reducing traffic in 2020 to levels last seen in 1999. In comparison to last year, passenger traffic is estimated to be down 67% in 2020.

At the peak of the disruption in April, scheduled passenger flights dropped significantly to just 13,600 globally on 25 April, compared to the years busiest day on 3 January when Cirium tracked more than 95,000 scheduled passenger flights globally. This marks an extraordinary 86% reduction in flights.

From January to December airlines operated 49% fewer flights in 2020 compared to 2019down from 33.2 million flights to just 16.8 million (to 20 December).





Domestic travel was down 40% this year, from 21.5 million flights in 2019, while international flights suffered an even more precipitous drop as they were 68% below the 11.7 million flights tracked the year before.

This severe setback shows the true extent of the challenge faced by the struggling aviation sector as it has sought to reset itself in the new post COVID-19 era. Whereas this time last year we were celebrating the on-time performance of global carriers, this year is dramatically different. Most global airlines were largely on time in 2020; its just a shame that the traveling public, airlines and aviation firms worldwide didnt benefit. The factors which usually cause delay, such as congested airspace, taxiways and late connecting passengers simply did not exist in 2020. Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium

The Cirium Airline Insights Review 2020 replaces Ciriums annual On-Time Performance Review which for more than a decade has identified the worlds best performing airlines and airports for on-time flight operations.

Flights flown plunge. Global passenger traffic figures reveal a plunge of more than two-thirds (67%) versus the previous year, with Asia-Pacific continuing to handle over a third of world passenger traffic.

The majority of the scheduled passenger flights flown this year have been domestictotaling 13 million (77%) with a mere 3.8 million (23%) flying internationally, due to closed borders and limited business travel.

Cirium data analysis recorded Southwest Airlines operating the most flights globally (and in North America), with 854,800 flights in total. Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines (487,700 flights) topped the tables in the Asia-Pacific, Ryanair in Europe (205,000 flights), Azul in Latin America (134,000 flights) and Qatar Airways (82,400 flights) in the Middle East and Africa.

On the ground, Atlanta was the worlds busiest airport, handling more than 245,000 arriving flights during 2020, while the worlds busiest air route in both directions was within South Korea, between Seoul and the island of Jeju with 70,700 flights operated.

Forward planning for airlines has dramatically contracted from six- to 12-months for flight scheduling to just six- to eight-weeksforcing carriers to be nimbler and adapt with greater speed to the rapidly changing rules and travel restrictions around the world.

Fleets in storage (but not the A320). As airlines have been forced to drastically reduce the number of aircraft still in service, those still flying are operating significantly fewer hours.

For example, narrowbody aircraft operated just six to seven hours a day in Q3 2020 compared to nine to 10 hours a day in the same period last year.

While up to 30% of the global passenger fleet remains in storage there are signs of recovery on the horizon, with only 10% of short-haul Airbus A320neo aircraft currently in storage showing narrowbody aircraft leading the recovery and domestic and short-haul travel returning first.

With domestic and short-haul services ruling the day, the worlds most used aircraft type was the Airbus A320 with Cirium tracking 5.49 million flights throughout 2020.

Seven key trends. The seven key trends outlined by The Cirium Airline Insights Review 2020 for next year include:
With parks, ice-rinks, bars and other popular venues for New Years Eve in Moscow ordered to shut down before midnight on Thursday because of the coronavirus pandemic, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia kept one holiday tradition alive by delivering a televised address to the nation.

Lamenting that a dangerous new virus has turned upside down our usual life, work and study, Mr. Putin struck an unusually somber tone in his annual message, first broadcast to residents in Russias easternmost regions on the Pacific, which greeted the start of the new year nine hours ahead of Moscow.

Russians usually celebrate New Years Eve, a time of joyous festivities that combine gift-giving, feasting and heavy drinking, with boisterous gatherings of family and friends. But this year, Mr. Putin reminded his country, not everyone is at the New Years table now. There are still many people in the hospital.

More upbeat was Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader who survived a nerve agent attack in August during a visit to Siberia, an attack that he believes was ordered by Mr. Putin. He posted a picture of himself and his family, all now in Germany, on Instagram and noted that, despite all the bad news in 2020, I was lucky and this year was not bad for me. He added: The prospects for 2021 are also interesting.
Fewer than nine million passengers are expected to have passed through Dublin airport this year thanks to Covid, down from 32.9 million in 2019

Ryanair must pay the legal costs of its failed High Court challenge against travel measures introduced by the Government in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled last October that the Government had not exceeded its executive powers and trespassed upon the legislative power in relation to the measures.

In a follow up ruling regarding who should pay the legal costs of the action, estimated to be a low six figure sum, published yesterday, the judge ruled that there was no reason to depart from the normal rule that the successful party is entitled to its costs.

The judge said that the core issues he had to consider regarding who should pay the costs of the action included whether the case had raised issues of public interest that would justify the court departing from the normal rule of the successful party being entitled to its costs.

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Other issues considered were whether the Government had changed the wording of its travel advice in response to the action, and if Ryanair could be said to be partially successful in the action, despite the fact the case was dismissed.

After receiving submissions from both sides, the Judge said the normal rule regarding legal costs "did not need to be adjusted," by reference to the alleged public interest of the case.

The action he said was brought by "a well-resourced company, for whom costs are not a deterrent, in pursuit of its own commercial interest".

Ryanair, he added, had brought the case for a full hearing notwithstanding a change in the wording of the Government's travel advice after the action was initiated.

While certain issues were decided against the State, the pursuit of those issues did not add materially to the length the proceedings took to hear, the Judge also held.

In the circumstances, the judge said he was making a costs order in favour of the State respondents against Ryanair.

Aer Lingus, which was a notice party to the action, where it supported Ryanair, must pay its own legal costs, the Judge also directed.

In its action, which took three days to hear, Ryanair claimed the measures amounted to a legal restriction on travel into and out of the country.

The State disputed those claims, and argued that the measures were merely advisory and not binding in nature.

In its action against An Taoiseach Ireland and the Attorney General, Ryanair had sought various orders and declarations, including one setting aside the measures announced in late July.

This included the advice not to travel outside of Ireland save for essential purposes.

Ryanair also challenged the requirement for those returning to the state from countries not on the designated green list to restrict their movements and self-isolate for 14 days.

The airline claimed the restrictions were unconstitutional and breached various Health Acts, the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Online Editors
STAMFORD  The police chief is expected Monday to present findings of an internal affairs investigation into an early August demonstration that resulted in altercations between police officers and protesters and the arrest of six people.

Police Chief Tim Shaw, who will make the presentation to the Stamford Police Commission, said this week he would not prematurely comment about the findings of the investigation.

Several protesters and police officers were injured in the incident. Leaders of the protest group did not respond to a request for comment this week or declined to speak.

Greenwich attorney Philip Russell, who is representing four of the protesters who were arrested, indicated the matter could go beyond the citys investigation.

Not withstanding the fact that the internal affairs investigation concluded favorably for the officers, there are still questions, and we think those questions will be examined more fully in court, Russell said.

This summer, as activists mobilized around the state and the nation to protest police-involved killings and violence against Black people, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake, a local group, Justice for Steven Barrier, similarly began holding protests.

Barrier, 23, died in Stamford police custody on Oct. 23, 2019 following a foot chase with officers. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said there was no evidence of use of force by police and determined that Barrier died of a heart attack. An investigation by the states attorneys office did not find the police at fault in Barriers death.

But Barriers family and the protesters rejected the findings and called on the officers involved to be disciplined. At the least, they said, the officers who arrested Barrier should have gotten him immediate medical attention instead of taking him to police headquarters on the night he died. When officers caught up to Barrier, he was unable to walk and had to be carried to a police cruiser.

Stamford Mayor David Martin and police officials have said they stand by the findings of the state investigation that found Barrier died of natural causes.

Tensions between police and Justice for Steven Barrier protesters grew with successive demonstrations, including an encampment by the group in a downtown park.

On Aug. 8, police and protesters clashed on Broad Street following a march and demonstration at police headquarters.

The city on Dec. 18, released 71 body camera videos from the day of the incident.

The clips start out benign. In the first, a police officer is seen outside Home Depot, asking protesters to follow certain rules and offering to assist them throughout the demonstration should they need it.

In later videos, particularly after the demonstration at police headquarters, protesters and police verbally confront each other. In one video, an officer in a police vehicle appears to mimic the protesters, repeating the common refrain, No Justice, No Peace, causing another officer outside the vehicle to laugh.

Portions of the often chaotic Broad Street videos show physical confrontations, including officers shoving protesters or bringing them to the ground.

By the end of the protest, six people were arrested, and officers and demonstrators alike claimed injuries.

One woman, a well-known local activist, is not part of the Barrier group but said she was there to try to help keep the peace when she was knocked over by an officer.

Jere Eaton, who once served as chair of the Mayors Multicultural Council, said she wants the city to pay for medical expenses for injuries she incurred in the incident.

Body camera footage shows a police officer arriving at the scene and running toward a group of people standing on Broad Street. The officers appears to crash into others, including Eaton, who is sent flying to the pavement.

Eaton said the incident left her with several injuries.

Before the incident, Eaton said officers, including Capt. Diedrich Hohn, had asked her to help police control the crowd of young demonstrators.

Im disappointed, Eaton said this week. Im wondering why did they (the police) invite me to kind of deescalate things if I was going to be the first one knocked over?

Eaton said she was telling protesters to go home when she was knocked over.

You could go through every single video there, she said. There was no probable cause for me to have gotten harmed.

Police have disputed her claims. Hohn denied asking Eaton to help officers during the protest. He said he spotted Eaton at the protest multiple times and that she and protesters had ignored repeated warnings to disperse.

Hohn said he saw a male punch Eaton in the torso during the event. He said he tried to chase the individual but stopped because he felt it would further inflame the agitated crowd.

I am disappointed because she had an opportunity to remove herself from this incident but instead chose to stay on her own accord and not on my request, Hohn wrote in an email.

As far as I know Mrs. Eaton has failed to come into HQ to speak to investigators and I would have crafted a warrant for the male who punched her if she had done so, he said.

Eaton stood by her version of events night and pointed to a video in which she is seen trying to usher young protesters away from police and off the street.

The truth is in the pudding, she said. Everybody has seen the video.

This week, Police Chief Shaw said he would address the incident concerning Eaton at the Police Commission meeting on Monday.

tatiana.flowers@thehour.com @TATIANADFLOWERS
LIMERICK nursing home residents are flavour of the month after contributing to a new recipe book backed by celebrity chef Darina Allen.

Friends Marie OHanlon, 78, and Helen Kirby, 70, along with Ellen Brennan, 80, Theresa Buston, 61, Julia Coleman, 92, Moira, 93, Bridie, 87, and Maura, 67, are among the star chefs of the Nursing Home Bake Off publication by Mowlam Healthcare.

The idea to gather a collection of residents favourite recipes was inspired by the baking skills of a 91-year-old woman in Ennis Nursing Home.

Ardent hurling fan and Liverpool FC supporter, Cissie Collins, bakes scones and apple cakes for fellow residents during baking demonstrations she hosts every Wednesday.

But it soon became evident that there was a large group of enthusiastic bakers throughout the countrywide group. It led to eight residents of nursing homes across Limerick chipping in with their special recipes.

THE GREAT NURSING HOME BAKE OFF - What a fitting way to mark the end of our 20th anniversary year enhancing the quality of life of older people in Ireland.

Joe Hanrahan, Mowlam Healthcarehttps://t.co/Pf249i2SCR@NursingHomesIre #nursinghomes #bakeoff pic.twitter.com/wyL8DGsE9h  Mowlam Healthcare (@MowlamHealth) December 22, 2020

Marie and Helen, residents of Adare and District Memory Care Centre, shared their traditional boiled fruit cake. Ellen, also based in Adare, showed off a delicious tea brack, while Theresa, originally from Patrickswell, contributed her homemade bread.

Life-long baker Moira baked a park brack from the kitchens of the Park Nursing Home. Kilmeedy-born Julia offered a strawberry sponge. Bridie, of Caherass Nursing Home, made mince pies and Maura, who lives in The Park Nursing Home, shared her delicious banana bread recipe.

They were among 51 kitchen-savvy pensioners living in Mowlam Healthcare nursing homes across Ireland who contributed recipes  some dating back three generations.

The 106-page book, which is not a commercial venture, teaches readers how to make simple, yet delicious, desserts. It also tells the stories of the exceptional men and women who shared their recipes.

Darina Allen backed the venture and gifted two of her own recipes to the book.

I am so happy to support this inspired project, especially in the year thats in it. Many wonderful recipes and stories of traditional home baking, with skills lovingly passed from mother to child down through the generations.

Bravo to all the inspirational residents who contributed to the recipe book. How brilliant is it to see them living well and keeping up their skills in nursing home care. Keep baking and carry on, said Darina.

Joe Hanrahan, of Mowlam, said the group was delighted to facilitate the compiling and production of this beautiful book.

This book was a way of documenting recipes from yesteryear, learning from residents as well as supporting them to fill their days with meaning and purpose.

While it has been different for residents in nursing homes due to the pandemic and restrictions on visiting, life did go on as normal.

We are very proud that the skills and traditions of our residents are now in print and copies of the recipe book are being distributed to all Mowlam Healthcare homes, said Joe.
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The baby recognised as Nigerias first baby of the year 2021 and of the new decade was born in Abuja

A statement Friday by Aliyu Abdullahi, the spokesperson to First Lady Aisha Buhari, said baby Aliyu was born at exactly 12 a.m. on January 1 at the Karu primary healthcare centre.

Read the full statement by Mr Abdullahi below.

Aisha Buhari welcomes the first baby of the year (2021)

First Lady Aisha Muhammadu Buhari represented by Mairo Al-Makura, the Special Assistant to the President on African First Ladies Peace Mission was at Karu Primary Health Care Centre where the first baby of the new decade and year 2021 was delivered. The First Baby of the New Year, Baby Aliyu arrived at exactly 12. 00 am on January 1st, 2021 to the family of Mr & Mrs. Adamu Abubakar, indigenes of Biu, Borno State, and residents of the FCT.

Mrs Buhari welcomed Aliyu and all the other children born on new years day in FCT with baby gifts including post-natal care products, other nutritional supplies, and cash presents.

Mrs Buhari also advocated for child spacing as a means of improving the health and well-being of mothers and their newborn babies.

As a mother and grandmother, I want to use this opportunity to rejoice with you and to also advise you on exclusive breastfeeding, the importance of ensuring that nutrition food content for babies is always made available as prerequisites for healthy growth, and timely vaccination of the babies, said Mrs Buhari.

The parents of the baby of the year were very happy and expressed their gratitude to the First Lady for the visit and the kind gesture.

The Karu Primary Healthcare Center Director, Akila Udoji, thanked the First Lady for recognizing their healthcare center for receiving the gifts and also for the advocacy for the new mothers.

Aliyu Abdullahi

Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

(Office of the First Lady)
News

Washington, DC - Acting Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen has released the following statement:

We understand that Pakistani authorities are taking steps to ensure that Omar Sheikh remains in custody while the Supreme Court appeal seeking to reinstate his conviction continues. The separate judicial rulings reversing his conviction and ordering his release are an affront to terrorism victims everywhere. We remain grateful for the Pakistani governments actions to appeal such rulings to ensure that he and his co-defendants are held accountable. If, however, those efforts do not succeed, the United States stands ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand trial here. We cannot allow him to evade justice for his role in Daniel Pearls abduction and murder.
On the left is Na Kyung-won, a political heavyweight and a former four-term lawmaker with the main opposition People Power Party, and on the right is SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun, a former four-term lawmaker with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. The two female heavyweights are expected to declare their bids to run in their parties' primaires for the Seoul mayoral by-election, which has remained vacant following the suicide of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in last July, over sexual harassment allegations raised by a former secretary. Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



Female political heavyweights are gearing up for April's by-election for the Seoul mayoral post, which has remained vacant following the suicide of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon last July, over sexual harassment allegations raised by a former secretary.



As the by-election is about three months away, calls have been growing from the public and political circles for a candidate who could seek policies to protect and promote women's rights.



From the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) side, SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun, a former four-term lawmaker with the DPK, is considering a run in the election. Park said in a recent media interview that she would decide whether to formally declare her bid to run in the party's primary for the Seoul mayroal by-election sometime in January.



"If the situation was okay (for the DPK), I would rather remain at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, but as the situation is not favorable (for the party) I am willing to sacrifice myself if I need to be the one who does so," Park told news agency Yonhap in a New Year interview.



Park's previous bids for the mayoral post of the capital city were not successful in 2011 and 2018, with former Mayor Park winning both elections. But the current situation is more favorable to Minister Park, as she has been garnering high public support ratings in recent popularity polls of potential candidates for the Seoul mayoral race.



According to a survey of 800 adults by pollster Research & Research conducted by request of local newspaper Dong-A Ilbo, from Dec. 27 to 29 last year, Park was ranked second, after minor opposition People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, among 13 politicians who have declared their bids or who are being mentioned as possible candidates in the upcoming election.



In the poll, Ahn and Park garnered 24.2 percent and 17.5 percent support each, followed by Na Kyung-won, a female political heavyweight with the opposition bloc and a former four-term lawmaker with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who garnered 14.5 percent support.



Na has yet to declare her bid to run for Seoul mayor, but is widely expected by political watchers to join the race soon.



"We need to change the leader through an election to change the policy, and changing the policy would change the lives of the people," Na wrote on Facebook, Thursday. "Na Kyung-won will also shake off the pains of 2020 and start over with the people from now on.  I will definitely save the people."



While other female potential candidates including former three-term lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon, Seoul's Seocho District head Cho Eun-hee and Seoul's Songpa District head Park Chun-hee have declared their bids for the party's primary for the Seoul mayroal by-election, discussions are underway inside the PPP whether to give extra points to female potential candidates in its primary election, as fielding a female candidate to represent the party could send the message that the party is committed to improving women's rights.



Meanwhile, expectations are growing over the possibility that both Park and Na would soon declare their candidacy for their parties' primaires for the Seoul mayoral by-election as the two recently finished recording for a reality TV program about their marital lives, which is seen as their moves to appeal to the public by revealing their friendly sides.


Bank data shows that a lot of low-income households have built up a savings buffer. Credit card debt data across the nation is also lower, down $10 billion compared to earlier in the year. However, WACOSS chief executive Louise Giolitto said there would be an impact on the WA economy because of the reduction in income for JobSeeker recipients who would go back to the struggle of paying rent and not being able to afford three square meals a day. "We had trickle-up economics with the doubling of income support, all West Australians and Australians benefited from it," she said. "This [cut] will immediately hit families now. People will be making the decisions of paying their rent or paying their electricity bill."

Loading The return to regular JobSeeker payments of about $40 a day from the end of March, coupled with the end to an Australia-wide mandated rent rise moratorium has been forecast as a looming social crisis for WA. Rents are expected to jump dramatically in Perth due to the lack of rental stock with less than 1 per cent rental vacancy rates across the city. Close to 93 per cent of participants in an Australian Council of Social Service survey in May 2020 said they were not able to afford fresh fruit and vegetables before the first COVID-19 JobSeeker supplement. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 3.4 per cent in the year to September.

The number of JobSeeker and Youth Allowance recipients in WA in March was 105,493 and peaked at 181,348 in May during the COVID-19 crisis. Close to 33,000 people have come off the two payments as of November but there were still 148,371 people in need of government assistance. WACOSS and other national groups have called for an extension of the supplements but the federal government has remained steadfast about reducing the payment. Political parties hone in on cost-of-living in election lead-up The state government has been steadily dripping out election sweeteners such as $600 off every West Australian's household electricity bill  paid for with the multi-million dollar settlement of the long-running Bell litigation case  and a doubling of the energy assistance payment to $610.

The total number of electricity customers on a hardship program in WA increased by 60.5 per cent to more than 35,000 between 2017 and 2019. Labor also revitalised a scheme this week where the government replaces appliances with poor energy ratings  such as fridges and cheap light bulbs  in low-income households. The $13 million household energy efficiency scheme has been budgeted over the next four years following the election. Loading A similar program was introduced by the Carpenter Labor Government in 2008 but was canned by the Barnett Liberal Government and replaced with the cost-of-living allowance due to a low take-up.

Labor believes the original scheme was not scaled-up fast enough and are taking a second crack at the program which has been warmly received by social advocates. But energy opposition spokesman David Honey claimed the new program was a smokescreen that did little to compensate West Australians for the increase in power bills under Labor. Household fees and charges surged $850 since they came into office," Dr Honey said. West Australian families need more than education programs and new lightbulbs, they need real cuts in the price of power. "This Labor policy will only assist a small percentage of the hundreds of thousands of Western Australian families suffering financial stress.

Under Labor, the prices are just going to keep going up. In the budget they revealed that they will increase the average electricity charges by 10.7 per cent in the next four years." Household electricity prices increased by 90 per cent under the previous Liberal-National Government. The Liberal Party has pledged to offer electricity prices cheaper than a Labor government. WA Housing Minister Peter Tinley has announced a boost to the Keystart borrowing limit. Credit:File Labor has also tapped into the dream of homeownership with a $243.5 million increase on the state's Keystart lending capacity to take it up to $5.7 billion, enabling 2100 new loans in 2021, as West Australians seek to take advantage of federal and state building grants. An estimated 3000 loans, which allow applicants to get a house with a 2 per cent deposit, will be approved in the 2020-21 financial year due to an increased take-up of the program.

Housing Minister Peter Tinley said more than 70 per cent of new loans funded in 2020 were for the construction of a new dwelling. "The continued increase in funding is critically important in supporting WAs residential construction sector and supporting jobs," he said. Opposition housing spokesman Tony Krsticevic said with the current interest repayment rate at 4.54 per cent for Keystart it would be good to see a reduction given some banks were offering loans under 3 per cent. "I know they like to keep the rate high to move people off Keystart but it is a little difficult at the moment for people to move off onto the more commercial loans," he said. "A reduction in the Keystart loan rate would be an appropriate and well-received financial support at this point in time."
Slamming PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for her comments on the encounter that raged on December 30 on the outskirts of Srinagar, former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta on Friday accused her of always taking a pro-separatist and pro-terrorists stand.

Early this morning, Mufti had written a letter to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and urged him to initiate an impartial probe into the encounter.

In her letter, she said that such incidents bring disrepute to the armed forces and were a grave violation of human rights.

In a statement issued here, Gupta said that Mehbooba Mufti should be the last person to talk about violation of human rights.

A terrorist is a terrorist and he should be dealt strictly as per the law. Mehbooba Mufti should not comment on human rights violation. What about the human rights of armed forces and innocent civilians who are martyred in terrorist attack which take place every other day? asked Gupta.

Criticising Mufti, Gupta said that the PDP leader has always taken a pro-terrorists and pro-separatists stand. If you notice, she has always been vocal for her agenda, which is not in the interest of nation, and its people. PDP as a political party has lost its relevance in Jammu and Kashmirs political scenario. Many of its leaders are already in the custody of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in hawala cases, said the former deputy CM.

He further said that Article 370 has caused criminal injustice to the people in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Moreover, he asserted that BJP shall not allow the Abdullah father-son duo and Mehbooba Mufti to carry forward their alleged anti-national agenda in the Union Territory. He said the people in Jammu and Kashmir want peace and development and communal harmony.

Over the past 70 years, Article 370 has done great injustice with Pakistani refugees, Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, Valmiki and Gorkha communities, women and nationalists and also gave birth to terrorism and separatism in this peaceful land, Gupta said. He alleged that the Abdullahs and Mufti are conspiring to bleed Kashmir once again but nobody will be allowed to cause harm to the law and order situation in the valley.

They will face serious consequences. They are using the Gupkar Agenda to save their skin and we will not allow them to succeed, he said.
The vaccination of healthcare workers commenced today at Mercy University Hospital (MUH) in Cork.

The first of its healthcare workers received the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine following the receipt of an initial delivery of 500 doses, the first of a number of phased deliveries of the vaccine over the coming weeks.

Mercy University Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sandra Daly, said that it was a positive way to start the New Year.

Today is a day of hope and optimism for the future, she said.

Staff Nurse, Clodagh Hennessy from Limerick pictured receiving the vaccine from Director of Nursing Margret Mc Kiernan. Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

She thanked the team of vaccinators at the hospital and the scientific community who worked so hard to make today possible.

On behalf of staff and patients of the Mercy I urge the public to please continue to follow government public health guidelines.

A happy Louise O'Hare, Senior Physiotherapist pictured after receiving the vaccine from Director of Nursing Margret Mc Kiernan. Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision.

There is some way to go yet and the best defense remains limiting our contacts, physical distancing, hand hygiene and wearing masks. We can all play our part in keeping each other safe, she said.

The hospitals Clinical Director and Consultant in Medicine for Older Persons, Dr Kieran OConnor, was the first member of staff to receive the vaccination.

Dr OConnor said he was honoured and delighted to receive the first vaccine and encouraged everyone to do likewise to protect themselves and their loved ones.
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WASHINGTON  While the coronavirus pandemic raged this year, congressional offices received a barrage of calls, emails and tweets from desperate constituents.

When constituents didn't receive their stimulus check, the phones rang. When they were stuck abroad as borders closed and flights were canceled, the phones rang. When small businesses struggled to get Paycheck Protection Program loans, the phones rang.

Many congressional offices saw constituent casework dramatically spike this year compared to previous years as more people sought help with issues involving federal agencies. The office of U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, told the Times Union it opened 1,972 constituent cases in 2020, up from 857 in 2019.

"My office has seen casework nearly double this year," said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. "The frequency of cases regarding food and housing insecurity, health care and unemployment insurance have increased while we have worked to solve new issues for constituents that were trapped abroad or need help navigating (Paycheck Protection Program) loans, economic impact payments, and more. Its clear that this pandemic has put many New Yorkers in need of help and my staff is working hard to deliver it.

At the start of the pandemic, when the U.S. issued travel bans and many commercial flights were canceled, New York congressional offices helped hundreds of travelers - who were stranded in countries like Morocco, Argentina, Ukraine, Honduras, Guatemala, Sierra Leone, Spain, France, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Austria, Peru, Thailand, the Philippines, Columbia, and Zimbabwe - get access to repatriation flights through the U.S. Department of State. Some constituents were also stuck on cruise ships in various locations.

The staff of Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., helped New York hospitals expedite visas for health care workers from foreign countries so more doctors could begin their medical residencies in New York or return to work after they traveled outside the U.S. prior to travel restrictions.

"This year, there was a torrent of cases due to the pandemic including an overwhelming number of cases related to being stranded overseas, processing aid through the SBA for countless restaurants and small businesses throughout the state, tracking down answers from the IRS on desperately needed stimulus checks that were never delivered and much more," said Allison Biasotti, a spokeswoman for Schumer. "A small staff worked around the clock to respond to the urgent needs of many thousands of constituents, and more often than not, secured positive results."

When a Sullivan County facility specializing in treating behavioral disorders received about $13,000 in pandemic relief funds, Gillibrand's office intervened with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, helped them expedite an application for second-round funding and get over $1 million for the center, an aide said.

Caseworkers put in extra hours to keep up with the giant influx, as they worked remotely and tried to contact agencies that were also working remotely or sometimes, partially closed. At the start of the pandemic, the office of U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, had staff working every weekend to respond to constituent calls, an aide said.

They dealt with glitches and loopholes amid brand new relief programs Congress had invented and agency delays caused by staff shortages, mail delays and other issues. In addition to working on legislation, they tackled constituent issues big to small  one congressional office in Connecticut said it helped a frantic mother of three get toilet paper during the early quarantine shortage.

Congressional offices also saw a great spike in communications from constituents waiting to get their stimulus check or experiencing delays getting their 2019 tax refund.

Although over 9.8 million New Yorkers have received their checks, the Times Union found hundreds of residents are still waiting for that help to arrive, even with the assistance of congressional offices.

Congress approved another round of smaller, $600 economic payments in the stimulus bill passed the night of Dec. 27, so caseworkers forecast theyll be helping more people with these payments in 2021.

Similarly, a dash to access the popular and forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses also prompted many constituents to reach out for help.

There, too, congressional staff believe the phones will keep ringing. Congress has also approved a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for businesses with fewer than 300 employees who could demonstrate revenue declines, and they broadened the forgivable uses for first round loans.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, did not respond to requests for comment on her casework.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Mainly clear. Low 49F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 49F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
Whatever else might have once been said about liberal bias at the New York Times, at least you could say that they covered the elites. What else can you say about their wedding announcements section, which, as I think David Brooks once joked, reads more like a mergers and acquisitions page, since the couples spotlighted are invariably ivy league uber-overclass climbers.

But now it seems the Times mission is to provide cover for the elites. Their long story about the Hilaria Baldwin scandal a couple days ago reads like a Babylon Bee parody designed to ward off any criticism of lying about ones identity on a grand scale. All these puff pieces about her in Spanish language publications? Hilarious Baldwin now says she didnt see or read any of them. Its all someone elses mistake:

Ms. Baldwin is bilingual, and she speaks English with varying degrees of a Spanish accent depending on how happy or upset she is feeling, she said. She didnt know that Hola! magazine, for which she has twice posed for the cover and which has written some 20 items about her on its English-language website so far this year, repeatedly reported inaccurately that she was a Spaniard because she said she didnt read articles about herself. She got confused about the word for cucumber because it was one of her first times appearing on live television and she was nervous (brain fart, she said). As for the C.A.A. bio, she can only assume the agency used unverified information from the internet to write a sloppy bio. I rarely at all work with C.A.A. now, she said. It was very disappointing. (A spokeswoman for Hola! declined to comment. A spokesman for C.A.A. declined to comment.)

Hunch: Hola! and CAA declined to comment because they know these claims are outright lies. But to continue:

But all these misconceptions are why she agreed to speak to a reporter for 80 minutes as she cuddled and nursed her infant son. Today we have an opportunity to clarify for people who have been confused  and have been confused in some ways by people misrepresenting me.

There follows a series of self-serving bobs, weaves, and ducks worthy of a bantamweight boxer all designed to keep the fundamental lie alive. This is fake news squared.

Read the whole thing if you want maximum amusement. But this example raises a deeper question: why do so many liberals feel compelled to embellish or make up stories about themselves? In addition to racial fakery like Rachel Dolezal, which connects to the diversity ideology of the moment at least, you have the fake war heroism of Richard Blumenthal, Brian Williams, and, most spectacularly of all, John Kerry. (And leave aside Hillary Clinton landing under fire in Bosnia, and supposedly being named for the mountaineer Edmund Hillary, even though his fame as a mountaineer didnt arrive until well after Hillary Rodham was born.)

I suggest there is something about the fundamental nihilism at the heart of modern liberalismthe view that there is no truth, that the narrative is the only important thing, that creating your own reality is perfectly finethat compels liberals to lie about themselves. And a newspaper that has employed fabulists as reporters (e.g., Jayson Blair, or the recent 12-part podcast series about the ISIS caliphate that turned out to be completely phony) is more than willing to fall into line to defend liberal fakery, when they are not faking it themselves (Janet Cooke, anybody?). Just as liberalism as a political ideology depends on lies (gender is a social construct raising taxes wont affect the economy), individual liberals apparently cant live contented lives without lying about themselves.
A crucial vaccine panel meeting at 12 pm on Friday, January 1, will most likely take the decision on the approval for public use of the COVID-19 vaccines in India. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had met thrice before over the approval of vaccines.

Reports suggest that an expert panel will meet to take up the application for emergency use of the three vaccines developed by the Serum Institute and AstraZeneca/Oxford's Covishield vaccine, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and US based Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine.

All three companies had earlier submitted applications for emergency use authorisation (EUA).

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) had also held a meeting on Wednesday to decide on approving the Covishield vaccine against Covid-19 developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and AstraZeneca-Oxford University.

On Saturday, a country-wide dry run of the Covid-19 vaccination process will take place across states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Thursday alluded towards vaccines being ready while laying the foundation for AIIMS hospital at Rajkot in Gujarat. He said, 'Dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi' (We have the medicine and the caution).

The government had earlier announced that the country will gear up for a mega vaccination drive against COVID-19 on January 2. The activity is proposed to be conducted in all state capitals in at least three session sites; some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support.

Also read: India's mantra for 2021 -- 'Dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi', says PM Modi

Also read: China reports first case of new COVID-19 variant
To the Editor:

Re Bullets Ravaged Iraqis. Pardons Renew the Pain (front page, Dec. 24):

I was the F.B.I. case agent who led the investigation of the Blackwater massacre in Baghdad. We originally went to Iraq thinking this shooting was some form of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire between Blackwater guards and insurgents. After only one week, we determined that this incident was not as presented by Blackwater personnel and their State Department lackeys, but it was a massacre along the lines of My Lai in Vietnam. Three of the guards were convicted of manslaughter and one of murder.

I only recently became aware of the concerted effort for the pardons, which I understand started with a political push by members of Congress. President Trump should have had staff members review the trial evidence that led to the convictions and read the judges opinions and sentencing statements. God forbid they might have actually picked up the phone and called the investigators who built the case. Im so disgusted with the presidents actions!

Having spent many hours with the innocent Iraqi victims who are permanently maimed and crippled because of the actions of these Blackwater guards, and the heartbroken family members of those killed, I am embarrassed for our country. I believe we will pay a heavy price in our relationships with other countries as a result of these pardons.

Im so glad that Im retired and will never again be asked to risk my life and those of my fellow investigators, only to have killers pardoned for purely political reasons.
On January 14, Sweden's Foreign Minister and the new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde will present the program in detail to the OSCE Permanent Council.

Sweden takes over the OSCE Chair today, January 1, and will in the coming year focus on defending the European security order, addressing protracted conflicts and enhancing democracy and gender equality.

"Sweden is honored to take over the Chair of the OSCE at a time when our region needs to come together to focus on our common security, based on the principles and commitments we all have made," said Ann Linde, Sweden's Foreign Minister and the new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, as reported on the OSCE's website.

"While conflicts and political crises continue to challenge security, international law, democratic principles and sustainable development, the OSCE can serve as a crucial multilateral platform to tackle these challenges and build stronger societies together."

"Our priorities as Chair will be to emphasize the fundamental tasks of the OSCE; defending the European security order, upholding the OSCE concept of comprehensive security and to contribute to resolving the conflicts in our region. On January 14, I will present our program in detail to the OSCE Permanent Council," Linde added.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Ukraine records four ceasefire violations on Dec 31"The ongoing conflicts and crises in the OSCE area, such as the situations we see in Belarus, in and around Ukraine and the increased tensions around Nagorno-Karabakh require the continued, common attention of our organization. This will naturally be on our agenda at the beginning of the year."

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office noted that enhancing gender equality would be a key priority of the Swedish Chair.

"In line with the organization's concept of comprehensive security we will stress the inclusion and meaningful participation of women in all phases of the conflict cycle, and move forward the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This is crucial for the prevention and mitigation of conflicts, as well as to consolidate peace."

More news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
United Kingdom Prime Minister on Thursday said that Britain would now be an "open, generous, outward-looking, internationalist and free trading" country that is "free to do things differently and if necessary better" than the

"This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it," Johnson said in his New Year's address.

"An open, generous, outward-looking, internationalist and free trading global Britain, that campaigns for 12 years of quality education for every girl in the world. 2021 is the year we can do it and I believe 2021 is above all, the year when we will eventually do those everyday things that now seem lost in the past," he added.

The Prime Minister, in his broadcast message, expressed hope after vaccines are becoming available in the country including the one developed by the Oxford University but warned that the "huge struggle is ahead of us."

"But as the sun rises tomorrow on 2021 we have the certainty of those vaccines. Pioneered in a that is also free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU. Free to do trade deals around the world, he said.

Bathed in a rosy glow of nostalgia, going to the pub, concerts, theatres, restaurants, or simply holding hands with loved ones in the normal way, Johnson said that "we are way off from that".

"We are still a way off from that, there are tough weeks and months ahead. But we can see that illuminated sign that marks the end of the journey, and even more important, we can see with growing clarity how we are going to get there," the Prime Minister said further.

Britain would work with partners around the world as it chairs the G7 club of nations and the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP 26, said the Prime Minister.

"I think it will be the overwhelming instinct of the people of this country to come together as one United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working together to express our values around the world," he said.

According to CNN, despite the post- trade deal agreed by the and EU in the closing days of the year, and voted through by British lawmakers on the eve of the December 31 deadline, much uncertainty lies ahead.

"This bill, it embodies our vision -- shared with our European neighbors -- of a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals, joined by friendship, commerce, history, interests and values, while respecting one another's freedom of action and recognizing that we have nothing to fear if we sometimes choose to do things differently," Johnson said while speaking to members of Parliament.

The United Kingdom officially left the on January 31, completing a three-and-a-half-year process that began with the 2016 referendum.

Sputnik reported that the transition period in the relations between the United Kingdom and the has come to an end, with the agreement on the post- relationship between London and the bloc having entered into force.

On December 24, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Johnson, announced that they had reached a deal on the future relations between the bloc and London.

The parties have thus managed to prevent the introduction of the World Trade Organization's rules, including customs tariffs and full border checks for goods flowing across the English Channel.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
by Temisan Amoye

Lagos State Police Command Friday, said nine traffic robbers were arrested within the State on New Year's eve.

The suspected traffic robbers were 19-year old Oluseyi Afolabi, 18-year-old Adeyemo Ayomide, 19-year-old Francis Latifa, 23-year-old Rilwan Raji, 20-year-old Ayomide Oyediran, 22-year-old Rasheed Ibrahim, 19-year-old Hamzat Abdullahi, 20-year-old Musa Gbadamosi and 32-year-old Seun Lasisi.

Items recovered included two long knives and other dangerous weapons.

The suspects were said to be arrested along Y-junction, by Old Tollgate, Ketu, at about 8 pm on New Year eve just as the operation was carried out by Police operatives attached to Ketu Division.

Spokesperson of the Command, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the suspects had attacked one Mr Adejare Adetayo and his wife in the traffic when Police detectives on an undercover operation in the area went after the hoodlums and arrested nine with their operational weapons.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, while commending the Police operatives for the successful operation and arrest of the hoodlums, reassured Lagosians of adequate security and public safety within the length and breadth of the state.

He, however, directed that the suspects be transferred to State CID, Panti, Yaba, for proper investigation.

Similarly, the CP felicitated with Lagosians, officers and men of the Command, stakeholders in the security sector and sister security agencies on the new year celebration.

He also admonished Lagosians to embrace peace and obey all laws of the land as the Police and other security agencies in the state are ever ready to discharge their duties effectively.

Vanguard News Nigeria
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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THE Candlelight Movement yesterday condemned the Prime Ministers reprehensible, vile and callous statement on vigils held for murdered Andrea Bharatt and linking it with the current Covid-19 spread.

The organisation, which coordinated the vigils, said in a statement yesterday signed by its PRO Kandace Bharath that the gatherings were not to blame and urged the PM to desist from politicising Bharatts killing.
The deceased was standing at Asu village junction before the custom vehicle lost control, crushing him.

A motorcyclist in Ogun State, Juwon Mumuni, was reportedly crushed to death during an encounter between operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and some smugglers on Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the incident occurred in Asu village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Mumuni was killed by an operational vehicle of the operatives of the NCS while they were chasing some suspected rice smugglers.

Sources who witnessed the incident told our correspondent that the deceased was standing at Asu village junction before the custom vehicle lost control, crushing him.

Our correspondent gathered that Mr Mumuni was immediately rushed to Ijaye General Hospital for medical treatment but was rejected. He was later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta, capital of the state where he was declared dead.

Following the incident, the state chapter of the National Youth Council (NYC) protested at the House of Assembly.

The speaker of the assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, while addressing the protesters assured that the state government would investigate the issues surrounding the death of Mr Mumuni.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the NCS, Ahmed Oloyede, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES calls and text messages as of the time of filing this report.

More so, the spokesperson of the police, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told our correspondent that he is still making findings and promised to brief the press accordingly.
DeWine has yet to act on another abortion-related bill sent him by lawmakers, which would ban the use of telemedicine to conduct abortions and impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the law.
In the 2019-2020 session, as in the session before it, bills to amend the Pa. Constitution to create an independent redistricting commission received more co-sponsorships than any other bills. At the same time, over 100,000 Pennsylvanians signed petitions in support of such a commission while 260 townships and 24 counties passed resolutions of support, mailing copies to PA legislators.

Statewide surveys and thousands of meetings with legislators made clear: PA voters dont like gerrymandering. 72% of survey respondents believe the current system of drawing legislative districts allows party leaders to put party interests above voter interests. 70% believe the system creates polarization and gridlock. 65% believe it allows elected officials to choose their voters.

Despite strong bipartisan support and high levels of public attention, the bills supported by Fair Districts PA to change the system never received a final vote in either chamber across multiple sessions.

Meanwhile, another very different constitutional amendment flew through our legislature without any visible evidence of public interest or approval. House Bill 196 would create judicial regions for Pa.s highest courts in a way that would give legislators control over those regional maps and, by extension, over the courts themselves. That bill, despite outcry from Pa. law associations and good government groups in Pennsylvania and across the country, passed in both the Pa. House and Senate in the 2019-20 session. If the same bill passes again in early 2021, the constitutional amendment will go to public referendum as early as May 2021.

What is the motivation for the bill?

What experts support it? What voters requested such a change? How would it impact the independence of the court?

If youre hoping for answers from the Pennsylvania legislature, you have not yet understood how badly broken the legislative process is.

The transcript for the initial House Judiciary Committee meeting is not to be found on the General Assembly website. So much for transparency! The voting meeting in the Senate State Government Committee reflects just nine minutes spent on sketchy explanation, a few unanswered questions, some unaddressed concerns, then a swift party-line vote.

Opponents raised objections before votes on both the House and Senate floor, but those objections went unanswered. A party-line vote, with a few brave Republicans abstaining or voting no, and our legislature apparently felt it had completed due diligence on a constitutional amendment.

Most other states have been moving away from partisan election of judges. Bills to do just that have been regularly introduced in the Pa. legislature across the past decade. All have had much more discussion and far more public support than House Bill 196, but none have ever come to a vote.

Just nine states continue with partisan election of appellate judges. Only two use districts for those elections. And in those two, Illinois and Louisiana, the districts are set in law, not changed after each census at whim by legislators hoping to influence judicial decisions. Pa. is heading into uncharted waters: judicial gerrymandering not yet seen in any other state.

When our legislature defies constitutional requirements in drawing distorted legislative districts, among the worst in the nation, our ability to hold legislators accountable is damaged.

When our legislature passes bills without public support, without the chance of expert testimony or real deliberation, the institution itself is diminished and our Commonwealth is pushed farther back from the real solutions we so badly need.

When the Legislature speeds toward an unprecedented power grab that would smash foundational principles embedded in our constitution, we need to say, as loudly as we can, theyve finally gone too far.

Russ Diamonds judicial district amendment is not just another very bad bill. We see many fly through Harrisburg without deliberation or review. This bill is in a class of its own: a hasty, sloppy, cynical attempt to undermine our constitutional rights and protections.

The bill does not deserve a vote in committee, unless committee chairs choose to do their jobs and invite public comment and expert testimony, the norm in any functional state legislature. If our legislative leaders do drive the bill forward, every Pa. legislator, no matter their party, should vote no. A vote for that bill is a vote against the people of Pennsylvania and an assault on representation, judicial independence and the states Constitution.

Join Fair Districts PA for Say NO to Judicial Gerrymandering, a virtual town hall on judicial districts, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m.

PA voters want LESS gerrymandering, not more. Help make sure our legislators hear us.

Carol Kuniholm is the chairwoman for Fair Districts PA
New CDC and State department update on FWI including SBH

New CDC and State department update on FWI including SBH

From the US Department of State web page updated 12.21.20:

French West Indies

Travel AdvisoryDecember 21, 2020French West Indies - Level 4: Do Not Travel

H

Do Not travel to French West Indies, which includes the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Saint Martin, and Saint Barthelemy, due to health and safety measures and COVID-related conditions.

Read the Department of States COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for French West Indies due to COVID-19.

French West Indies has lifted stay at home orders, and resumed some transportation options and business operations. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in French West Indies.

Read the country information page.

If you decide to travel to the French West Indies:

See the U.S. Embassy's web page regarding COVID-19.

Visit the CDCs webpage on Travel and COVID-19.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Review the Crime and Safety Report for Barbados, which includes the French West Indies.

U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations.

Review the Travelers Checklist.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information.
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Three Chinese companies will be booted off the New York Stock Exchange this month under an executive order signed in November by US president Donald Trump.

The exchange says China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom Hong Kong will be delisted from the exchange.

Mr Trump issued an order on November 12 barring investment in publicly traded companies that the US government says are owned or controlled by the Chinese military.

The statement issued late on Thursday says the exchange will suspend trading of the companies as early as January 7 or as late as January 11.

Expand Close US president Donald Trump issued the order in November (Alex Brandon/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp US president Donald Trump issued the order in November (Alex Brandon/PA)

It says the stock issuers can appeal to a committee of the NYSEs board.

The Chinese government has accused Washington of misusing national security as an excuse to hamper competition and has warned that Mr Trumps order would hurt US and other investors worldwide.

Political analysts expect little change in policy under president-elect Joe Biden due to widespread frustration with Chinas trade and human rights records and accusations of spying and technology theft.

US officials have complained that Chinas ruling Communist Party takes advantage of access to American technology and investment to expand its military, already one of the worlds biggest and most heavily armed.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

PA
Pakistans Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said on Friday that his government will rebuild a Hindu temple that was vandalised and set on fire by a mob in the province early this week.

Addressing a health card distribution ceremony here, Chief Minister Khan said the government has issued orders to rebuild the temple.



The attack on the temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas (KP) Karak district on Wednesday drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and the minority Hindu community leaders.

Khan vowed to protect the religious sites of minorities and said the police has arrested several suspects involved in the temple attack.

Over 45 people, mostly members of a radical Islamist party, have been arrested for destroying the temple. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Rehmat Salam Khattak was among those arrested.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Khans Special Assistant for Information and spokesman for the KP government Kamran Bangash said that the provincial government has ordered authorities to reconstruct the damaged temple. Deputy Commissioner and District Police Officer Karak have been issued directives to take immediate steps for reconstructing the temple, Bangash said.

The government is bound to give protection to the minorities and their worship places, he added.

The temple was attacked by the mob after members of the Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate its decades-old building, according to witnesses.

The mob, led by a local cleric and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman group), demolished the newly constructed work alongside the old structure, they said.

The Supreme Court on Thursday took notice of the attack and ordered the local authorities to appear before the court on January 5.

According to a statement by the apex court, Hindu lawmaker and the Pakistan Hindu Council chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani called on Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed in Karachi to discuss the issue.

The chief justice of Pakistan showed grave concern over the tragic incident and informed the member of parliament that he has already taken cognisance of the issue and has fixed the matter before court on January 5, at Islamabad, according to the statement.

The court has issued directions to one-man Commission on Minorities Rights, KP chief secretary and KP inspector general of police to visit the site and submit a report on January 4.

Meanwhile, a commission on rights of minorities headed by Dr. Shuaib Suddle along with lawmaker Ramesh Kumar and Chief Secretary Dr. Kaazim Niaz on Friday visited the temple, which was vandalised by the mob.

The delegates held meeting with the members of the local peace committee and the Hindu community and condemned the unfortunate incident. The peace committee members disowned the tragic incident, saying the attackers were not from the local community or resident of Karak district.

Chairman of the commission Dr. Suddle and Member of National Assembly Ramesh Kumar expressed confidence in the steps taken by the KP Government to pacify the situation.

The commission head and MNA Ramesh Kumar also met Chief Minister Khan in Peshawar and exchanged views over the incident. The commission condemned the incident in strong words.

Chief Minister Khan has assured the commission that strict action would be taken against culprits involved in the incident. Leader of Hindu Community Peshawar Haroon Sarab Diyal said that a samadhi of a Hindu religious leader exists at the temple site and Hindu families from across the country do visit the samadhi on every Thursday.

The Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj is considered sacred by the Hindu community. It was built where he died in 1919 in Teri village of Karak.

The controversy over the samadhi erupted many decades ago.

According to the details submitted to the Supreme Court in 2014 in a case about it, the Hindus had been visiting the shrine till 1997 when it was dismantled by the locals.

The apex court in 2014 ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to restore and reconstruct the Hindu shrine.

The order was issued over a petition of a Hindu lawmaker who had claimed that the shrine had been occupied by an influential cleric of the area.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

The majority of Pakistans Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by the extremists. PTI AYZ/ZH ZH ZH
WASHINGTON  Vice President Mike Pence has asked a federal judge to reject a lawsuit filed by a group of Republicans who want to put the authority to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's election win in the hands of the vice president.

Pence, in a 14-page filing by Justice Department attorneys Thursday evening, claimed the lawsuit should be brought against Congress.

"[T]hese plaintiffs' suit is not a proper vehicle for addressing those issues because plaintiffs have sued the wrong defendant," the response states, continuing that Pence "is ironically the very person whose power they seek to promote."

'Wild Protests:' Police brace for pro-Trump demonstrations when Congress meets Jan. 6 to formalize Biden's win

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a group of other Republicans filed the suit against Pence this week, arguing that the vice president has the constitutional authority to decide which states' Electoral College votes to count.

Pence is set to oversee Congress when it officially counts the votes cast by the Electoral College on Jan. 6, and the suit argues that Pence has the constitutional authority to ignore votes cast for Biden in states where Republicans have tried to cast doubt on the results, where there is virtually no evidence to support Trump's claims of election fraud.

Earlier in December, states certified their Electoral College results, giving Biden 306 votes to President Donald Trumps 232.

Fact check: These 5 election statistics do not discredit Joe Biden's victory

The response says the "the Senate and the House, not the Vice President, have legal interests that are sufficiently adverse to plaintiffs to ground a case or controversy" and continued that Pence "respectfully requests denial of plaintiffs' emergency motion because the relief the plaintiffs request does not properly lie against the Vice President."

The judge had ordered Pence's response to the lawsuit to be filed by 5 p.m. Thursday.

Story continues

Live politics updates: Days before runoff, Georgia senator quarantines over COVID exposure

In the motion to expedite proceedings, Gohmert and the others revealed that lawyers reached out to the Office of the Vice President in an attempt to settle on an agreement before going to court, but those discussions were not successful in reaching an agreement and this lawsuit was filed in an indication Pence would decline to support the lawsuit.

A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction, Pence's brief stated.

U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Kernodle, who is a Trump appointee, currently has not scheduled a hearing in the case.

Several GOP lawmakers have said they will object to the certification process on Jan. 6.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Pence asks judge to toss lawsuit that seeks to upend election
Safe Saturday 2/1 Syfy @ 9pm

It's that time again. Stath O'Clock. Mei is a young girl with important information in her head and the only man who can protect her from dodgy Russian mobsters, dodgy Chinese Triads and dodgy cops is Luke Wright. Boaz Yakin's 2012 thriller is a blast. Crunchy, silly, nasty and filled with cleverly shot action and solid one liners. Jason Statham does his usual thing well and is ably supported by Anson Mount and Catherine Chan.

Working Girl Saturday 2/1 RTE1 @ 11.45pm

Tess's secretarial job is ticking her off and when her boss has an accident she sees it as an opportunity to spread her wings. But big business in the 80's is still a man's world. The big hair and the bigger shoulder pads might date it but this 1988 comedy is as fun and as relevant as ever and a first rate turn from Melanie Griffith turns it into something very watchable indeed. Harrison Ford and an effective Sigourney Weaver provide good support.

The VVitch Saturday 2/1 Film4 @ 11.50pm

The America's of the 1600's were a strange and scary place as one family finds out when they are shunned from their religious community and try to start a new life beside adark foreboding forest. Now this is a film that will leave you on edge for a long time before it truly frightens the life out of you. There's nothing better than a horror movie that fully commits to it's premise. Eek! Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie are all on fire here.

The Fits Sunday 3/1 BBC2 @ 00.05am

A young girl named Toni joins her Cincinnati gym with dreams of being a boxer but before long she becomes enthralled by a local dance troupe training alongside her. She joins them and then things take an odd turn. This 2015 drama is a strange dreamlike watch. It's low on plot but high on mystery. It takes a while but you'll be hooked. The cast is made up of new faces but Royalty Hightower as Toni does superb work.

Internal Affairs Sunday 3/1 BBC1 @ 00.25am

Dennis Peck. Ultracop. Smooth as hell. Loved by the ladies and the gentlemen. But there's something shady under the veneer. Something shady that Internal affairs cop Raymond Avilla is going to dig out. Mike Figgis's 1990 thriller is still a cracker, and grittier and sleazier than you might remember. Andy Garcia does well as the agent on a mission but Richard Gere owns this film with a rare bad guy turn that will charm then repulse you.

The Odd Couple Sunday 3/1 TG4 @ 11.45pm

After his marriage crumbles Felix is in a bad way and his buddies are worried so Oscar asks him to move in with him. Then the two friends realise just how different they are. Chalk and cheese is an understatement. This Neil Simon written film might be 52 years old but it's still so enjoyable as personalities clash, bodily habits disgust and love lives cause all manner of trouble. Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are perfection here.

Pete's Dragon Sunday 3/1 BBC1 @ 2.15pm

Pete's a young boy. He has a friend called Elliot. Elliot kept Pete alive during a tough time. Elliot's a dragon but no one will believe this. Until one day.... Robert Redford's live action remake of the 1970's cartoon is an absolute pleasure, tender, touching, upsetting and funny in equal measure. A family film that won't insult your kid's intelligence. Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley and Redford himself will make you wish flying reptiles were real.

Embrace Of The Serpent Monday 4/1 Film4 @ 01.05am

The story of Karamakate, a tribal medicine man who had 2 encounters, decades apart with explorers who ventured into his Amazonian world. A unique watch, quite unlike anything else you'll see this week but a beautiful feast for the senses. Surreal, mystical stuff that won't be to everyone's tastes but it's worth watching to travel away into the mists for a while. The unknown cast is magnificent.

Jane Got A Gun Tuesday 5/1 CH4 @ 02.05am

When her husband finds himself in trouble with a deadly gang of outlaws, a woman has no choice but to ask an old fiance for help. Things get bloody. Much was made of this film's troubled genesis but it's actually a exciting and well made western and much better than it deserved to be. A lot of this is down to Natalie Portman's committed lead performance and a stellar supporting cast including Ewan McGregor and Joel Edgerton.

Little Men Tuesday 5/1 Film4 @ 02.20am

When his grandfather dies young Jake and his family move into his apartment in Brooklyn. Below them is a dress shop owned by Leonor and her son Tony. Tony and Jake become quick friends until family issues interfere. A gentle and fantastically acted look at the joy and intricacies of childhood friendships and how they are effected by adult problems. Theo Taplitz & Michael Barbieri lead a fine cast.

Hud Tuesday 5/1 Talking Pictures Movies @ 10pm

Homer and Hud. Father and son. Two Texan ranchers at each others necks constantly. Their work keeps them together while everything else tears them apart. This Sixties set western drama is an excellent one with a story that's forever topical. A blistering display of manhood, family values and character. Paul Newman is great as a very unlikable character and gets able back up from Patricia Neal and Brandon De Wilde.

I Am Greta Wednesday 6/1 BBC1 @ 10.45pm

The world is wrecked, pollution and industry has climate change running out of control and there's not much of a liveable future left on the planet. One young Swedish woman called Greta Thunberg is leading a youth charge against it all and people can't ignore her voice anymore. A refreshing, interesting and genuinely unsettling documentary that proves the children really are the future.

Trespass Against Us Wednesday 6/1 Film4 @ 11.15pm

A travelling family called the Cutlers have been living on the edge of a rural English town and causing trouble there for decades. The eldest son Chad is slowly pulling away from the life to raise his son peacefully but patriarch Colby is having none of it. This 2016 drama is a good one, a look at the complexities and structures of a way of life mostly ignored in film. Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson lead a cast packed full of familiar British and Irish faces.

Then Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Friday 8/1 TG4 @ 7.30pm

The Stoddards have returned to the town of Shinbone for the funeral of an old friend. An old friend who did something for Ransom Stoddard that will forever be a secret. A true classic of the western genre. Talkier and more cerebral than most while still offering everything you'd expect. James Stewart, Vera Miles, John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Woody Strode & Edmond O'Brien all do stellar work in this John Ford masterpiece.

The Wife Friday 8/1 BBC2 @ 9pm

A writer called Joe is about to face the highlight of his literary life and his wife Joan has sacrificed it all, her dreams, her work, her friends, to get him to this position in life. And now she's had enough. This is a powerful watch led by a stunner of a performance from Glenn Close as a woman who's had it up to *here* with the nonsense men can get away with. Jonathan Pryce as Joe puts in a mighty shift too.

War Of The Worlds Friday 8/1 BBC1

A stevedore from New Jersey battles to save his family when the people of earth find themselves under attack by a vicious enemy. Tom Cruise is in super form as Joe Everyman is this petrifying and really effective bit of science fiction from Steven Spielberg. One of the best post 9/11 disaster films. Cruise is reliable as always, Dakota Fanning as his daughter too but Tim Robbins steals in the show in a terrifying little vignette.

For more film and TV chat visit http://hamsandwichcinema.blogspot. com/
The recent death of the notorious Soviet spy George Blake has reminded me of a documentary film I made many years ago with Sean Bourke, the Irish man who was responsible for springing Blake from prison.

Bourke had been befriended by Blake when they shared a cell in Wormwood Scrubs. Blake had been a high-ranking officer in MI6 and the information that he passed on to his Soviet handlers had resulted in the deaths of many British agents in Eastern Europe.

In 1961 he had been sentenced to 42 years in prison: one year, it was claimed, for every agent who had died as a result of his treachery.

Bourke, meanwhile, was serving a seven-year stretch for sending a home-made bomb to a policeman who he believed had spread rumours that he was a homosexual.

Although he was still a young man, Bourke had already spent most of his life in penal institutions in Ireland and England.

That began when he was just 12 and was sent to the infamous reform school at Daingean in Co Offaly for the crime of stealing a banana. He told me that the three years he was held in Daingean were a living hell, and in 2009 the Ryan Commission into Child Abuse concluded that boys sent to the school were regularly subjected to brutal floggings and sexual abuse.

Bourke said that when he was released from Daingean he had been given a ticket for the Liverpool boat and advised to leave Ireland.

It wasnt long before he was incarcerated again  this time in an English reformatory.

Bourke had very little formal education, but he struck me as a highly intelligent individual, and he was a voracious reader. While in Wormwood Scrubs he had founded and edited the prison magazine, New Horizon. George Blake began to write for the magazine and they became friends. Bourke was clearly flattered by the attention that a well-educated and sophisticated man like Blake gave him.

He told me he also believed the Soviet agent had received an excessive sentence  the longest ever imposed by an English court other than life sentences  and so he decided to help him escape from prison.

After his own release from Wormwood Scrubs, Bourke made contact with two supporters of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) who he had met in prison and who had their own ideological reasons for wanting to help Blake escape.

The plan Bourke hatched in 1966 was deceptively simple: during the prisons weekly film show, he threw a homemade rope ladder over the perimeter wall for Blake to climb, and one of the CND supporters then drove both of them to a safe house.

After a few months Bourke also arranged for Blake to be driven to East Germany in the false compartment of a camper van. From there, Blake travelled on to Moscow, where Bourke joined him a few weeks later.

Bourke was deeply hurt when it became obvious Blake had no further interest in maintaining their relationship in Moscow and instead regarded him as a social embarrassment.

After a year or so in Russia, Bourke decided to return to Ireland. He went to Limerick, where his family lived one of his cousins was the actor Richard Harris.

Back in Ireland, Bourke wrote The Springing of George Blake, a vivid account of the escape and its aftermath. It was very well-written  if not totally reliable  and became a bestseller.

Alfred Hitchcock bought the film rights on two separate occasions but, sadly, the movie was never made.

Following the books publication the British authorities launched extradition proceedings, but the Irish Supreme Court ruled that Bourkes actions fell within the political offences exception of Irelands extradition laws.

Sean Bourke remained in Limerick for the rest of his life. He became a committed supporter of Jim Kemmys Democratic Socialist Party, but when I filmed with him he was almost penniless and in the throes of severe alcoholism.

I found him a most likeable and engaging character, though I spent much of my time trying to keep him sober  and not always successfully.

I found on one occasion that the innocuous bowl of soup he was eating for lunch had been liberally laced with vodka.

He remained extremely bitter about Blake and said he deeply regretted his role in helping him to escape.

Not long after I filmed with him, in 1982, Bourke died of a heart attack that was probably related to his alcoholism.

Since then, various conspiracy theories about his death have emerged. According to one, this was the long-term effect of poison administered by the KGB soon after he left Moscow.

According to another, he was murdered by the KGB on the orders of George Blake, who apparently disliked what Bourke had written about him in his book. Neither of those theories seem plausible.

There is one final twist in this story. The English playwright Simon Grey later wrote a drama about Blakes escape and Bourkes time in Moscow called Cell Mates. The part of Blake was played by Stephen Fry and that of Bourke by the late Rik Mayall. The production achieved notoriety when Fry disappeared just before the play was about to open in London. It transpired he had bolted to France because of an unfavourable preview notice.

Shortly before Blake died he expressed some regret for the deaths of the agents he betrayed. But he did not mention Bourke  the man who had organised his escape from a British prison.

Neither did he apologise for his actions as a spy, claiming he had been operating on the side of good against evil.

After his death at the age of 98 on St Stephen's Day, Vladimir Putin expressed his deep condolences and praised Colonel Blakes invaluable role in maintaining peace on this planet.
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Teton County Reporter

Previously the Scene editor, Billy Arnold made the switch to the county beat where he's interested in exploring Teton County as a model for the rest of the West. When he can, he still writes about art, music and whatever else suits his fancy.
In Kazakhstan, in 2021, a phased transition to online sales of investment and collectible coins from precious and base metals begins. The National Bank explained this step by a desire to protect citizens from coronavirus infection.

At the initial stage, sales will be carried out both in the territorial branches of the National Bank and through the online store. The share of coins sold only through the financial regulator's online store will gradually increase.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 18:43:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- If history is any indication, no amount of suffering or misery can dash humanity's hopes for a better future.

Bidding farewell to the tumultuous year 2020, largely defined by the global fight against COVID-19, the people of the world are pinning their hopes on 2021 for a final victory.

HOPE AND CONFIDENCE

Admitting that "2020 has been difficult," French President Emmanuel Macron, in his New Year speech, looked to the new year.

"In 2021, whatever happens, we will ... be able to cope with the crises: health, economic and social, terrorist, climate," he said, reminiscent of the grimness in 2020 when the country was deeply haunted by COVID-19.

"Whatever happens, because we have prepared for it, we will ... be able to meet the challenges to come," he said.

Beset with a new COVID-19 variant which is "more transmissible," most Britons are now locked down at home under new coronavirus restrictions.

In a message broadcast on Thursday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he was confident that 2021 is a year when the country will reach "the end of the journey" and return to normal.

"We know that we have a hard struggle still ahead of us for weeks and months ... But as the sun rises tomorrow on 2021 we have the certainty of those vaccines," said the prime minister.

SOLIDARITY IN DEMAND

Inflicting great loss and damage across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic renders solidarity crucial to tackle global challenges.

"These days and weeks are difficult times for our country," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in her New Year speech on Thursday, calling for continuous solidarity in the fight against the pandemic.

"The most effective means besides the vaccine are in our own hands by following the rules, each and every one of us. All of us together," she added.

In his annual New Year speech on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his belief that by standing together, the nation would be able to overcome existing challenges and restore normalcy.

"Yes, the dangerous new virus has changed and disrupted our daily lives, work, studies, and has forced us to reconsider and adjust many plans," Putin said, noting that "I am convinced that together we will overcome everything."

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Achieving a speedy economic recovery ranks high among the New Year wish lists of many world leaders.

In his New Year message, Colombian President Ivan Duque called on his country to reactivate the economy in 2021.

"This is the moment to demonstrate that recovery is possible with everyone's work, that for Colombians no challenge is too big," he said.

Also on Thursday, the post-Brexit trade deal entered into law in Britain, meaning that Britain will embark on a new journey as an independent global trading nation.

Johnson believes it is "an amazing moment" which would help Britain recover from the pandemic.

"We will work with partners around the world, not just to tackle climate change but to create the millions of high skilled jobs this country will need not just this year 2021 as we bounce back from COVID, but in the years to come," he said.

In Africa, countries are also striving for recovery in 2021.

In his New Year message to the nation, Senegalese President Macky Sall laid out the priorities of economic recovery, including infrastructure construction, food sovereignty, structural transformation of the economy, and ensuring access to basic social services for all.

Even though the pandemic is still rampaging across the globe, confidence is growing with vaccines coming into use and economic stimulus packages taking effect in more countries.

As Merkel said, in what is expected to be her last New Year's speech as chancellor, "I do not think I am exaggerating when I say that never in the last 15 years have we all found the old year so difficult -- and despite all the worries and some skepticism, never have we looked forward to the new year with so much hope." Enditem
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

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We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
Korea's first firefighting helicopter Kkachi 2 / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration



By Park Han-sol



Korea's very first firefighting helicopter that saved nearly a thousand lives in catastrophic disasters over 25 years has been proposed to be designated as a national cultural asset, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and the National Fire Agency (NFA), Thursday.



Kkachi 2 is one of the two first firefighting choppers introduced by Seoul's firefighting department in December 1979.



From when it began operating in January 1980 until it was decommissioned in June 2005, the helicopter was mobilized more than 3,000 times, flying a total of 2,983 hours and 45 minutes.



Throughout its 25 years of rescue operations, Kkachi 2 has witnessed countless man-made and natural calamities, saving a total of 942 lives in the process.



It rescued five people from a fire at Lotte building in downtown Seoul in December 1983, and saved a whopping 630 lives from a flood in Gangdong District, southeastern Seoul, in September 1984.



It was also present as an airborne command post in a series of decade-defining moments marked by tragic disasters in the 1990s.



In October 1994, an entire section of Seongsu Bridge over the Han River in Seoul collapsed due to defects in construction materials and poor safety checks, killing 32 people. Because the incident took place early in the morning, many of the victims were commuters and students. Less than two months later, a gas explosion in Korea Gas Corporation's valve station in Ahyeon-dong, western Seoul, ended the lives of 12 people and injured 101.



The deadliest disaster in modern Korean history occurred just a year later as Sampoong Department Store in Seoul's posh southern Seocho District collapsed, a tragic event that still remains vivid in many people's memories. Before the building came down due to structural overload, store management failed to issue proper evacuation orders, resulting in an unusually high number of casualties: 502 deaths and 937 injuries.



As its twin Kkachi 1 was discarded after a crash in 1996, Kkachi 2 became the only surviving firefighting helicopter of the first generation in the country. It is currently displayed at the Boramae Safety Experience Center in Seoul.



Another piece of firefighting equipment to be designated as a cultural asset is a manual pump, which is a mechanical device operated manually to spray water. In Korea, these pumps were prevalent in use until the 1970s before fire trucks became common.



Among the four remaining domestically produced manual pumps nationwide, the one in Anyang Fire Station in Gyeonggi Province is in the best condition to be named as an asset, the NFA explained.



After 30 days of gathering feedback and opinions, the CHA will hold a committee review in February to decide whether to register the two pieces of firefighting equipment as assets.


Lucknow, Jan 1 : In a seemingly weird manner of protest, a resident of the Indira Nagar locality in Lucknow, actually hauled the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) over the garbage, instead of the proverbial coals.

The resident, Ashutosh Singh, 32, set up a portable barbeque grill, using garbage as fuel, outside his house.

He was protesting against the mounting pile of garbage that had not been removed despite pleas to the local municipal authorities.

He then grilled cottage cheese and vegetables and served them to friends with tea. The protest continued for three hours on Thursday afternoon.

A passer-by shot a video of the act and made it viral.

Ashutosh later told reporters, "People here throw garbage in open because door-to-door garbage collection is very poor here. We wake up every day only to see garbage piles all around and are forced to bear the stench. Our complaints to the municipal officials have failed to elicit any response." The local residents supported Ashutosh in his protest and said that there would be more such 'unusual 'protests' if the area was not cleared up.

The state capital had witnessed a similar protest in November last year, when a college student stood at a garbage dump near City Station all day. Authorities swung into action after his video went viral.

Meanwhile, when contacted, a zonal municipal official, Vidya Sagar Yadav, said, "We will take action against the private agency hired to ensure household garbage collection in the area. The garbage pile will also be cleaned up within two days."
By AFP News

Confetti fluttered on to frontline workers scattered across Times Square after fireworks burst above eerily quiet landmarks from Sydney Harbour Bridge to Copacabana beach, as the world ushered in the New Year with muted celebrations and said good riddance to a pandemic-ridden 2020.

After a grinding year that has seen at least 1.8 million people die from Covid-19, fresh waves of infection have sparked renewed lockdowns and forced would-be revellers to extend their 2020 tradition of watching events from the sofa.

In New Yorks famous Times Square, the usual overflow crowd was replaced with a group of specially invited frontline workers, separated by barricades to enforce social distancing. The public was blocked from the square, where a crystal ball dropped at midnight following performances from stars including Jennifer Lopez and Gloria Gaynor.

I think I feel hopeful. It cant get much worse than the last year, 31-year-old actress and nanny Jordan Mann told AFP from her home in Brooklyn. Im just really hoping that we have a lot more wisdom next year from the leaders in our country and that theyll actually be able to help us out, she said as she spent the night with her roommates eating Indian takeout.

President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office in January, sounded a positive note as the US, the worst-hit country by Covid-19, is nearing 20 million recorded infections and 345,000 deaths.

Im more optimistic about Americas chances than Ive ever been, he said in a video interview on ABCs countdown program.

America can do anything and Im absolutely positively confident, confident were gonna come back and come back even stronger than we were before.

In Brazil  where 195,000 people have died of Covid-19, the second-highest death toll  Rio de Janeiro blocked the usual swarms of revelers from gathering on Copacabana beach.

That did not stop people from lighting up the citys iconic skyline with amateur fireworks of their own, whose booms competed with the banging pots of critics protesting against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, the leader dubbed the Tropical Trump.

 First moments of 2021 

The eagerly awaited first seconds of 2021 fell on the Pacific nations of Kiribati and Samoa from 1000 GMT. The uninhabited Howland and Baker Islands will be the last to tip over into the New Year.

In New Zealand, which has won plaudits for its handling of the coronavirus, large crowds gathered in Auckland for a fireworks display.

In Australias largest city, Sydney, fireworks lit up the glittering harbor with a dazzling display, but few spectators watched in person.

I think everybody is looking towards 2021 as a fresh beginning and a fresh start, Karen Roberts, among the lucky few who were allowed past checkpoints around the area, told AFP at a bar nestled under the Sydney Opera House.

Some Hong Kongers, despite restrictions, ventured out to mark the start of the year, gathering on the Victoria Harbour waterfront to take selfies.

In Tokyo, where residents face the prospect of a state of emergency after infections touched new highs, people queued in face masks to offer New Year prayers.
President Donald Trumps budget office is blocking Joe Bidens transition team from meeting with key staff to help prepare the president-elects first annual spending plan, a move that could delay major proposals.

The director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, has argued internally that the agency needs to focus on finishing new regulations the Trump administration plans to publish before the president leaves office, according to people familiar with the matter.

But experts on the federal budget say Voughts refusal to give Bidens team access to career OMB officials is unprecedented and could hurt Bidens efforts to roll out big-picture, forward-looking ideas on everything from health care to climate change to taxes at the start of his four-year term.

The career OMB staff could provide Bidens team information such as cost estimates and details on existing programs.

Vought said in a series of tweets and in a letter sent to former Senator Ted Kaufman, Bidens transition leader, that claims his agency hasnt been cooperative are false.

We have provided all information requested from OMB about ongoing programs, he wrote in the letter, dated Thursday.

OMB has fully participated in appropriate transition efforts, he wrote, including taking 45 meeting with Biden officials to discuss specific issues, operational questions and more.

What we have not done and will not do is use current OMB staff to write the BTTs legislative policy proposals to dismantle this administrations work, he added, using an acronym for the Biden transition team. OMB staff are working on this administrations policies and will do so until this administrations final day in office. Redirecting staff and resources to draft your teams budget proposals is not an OMB transition responsibility.

Biden complained Monday that Trump administration officials at OMB and the Pentagon were hampering his transition, but he didnt detail what they had done. The people familiar with Voughts actions asked not to be identified because the discussions were private.

Right now we just arent getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas, Biden said after a meeting with his national security advisers and transition officials. Its nothing short, in my view, of irresponsibility.

No administration from either party has ever prevented its successor from meeting with OMB staff, said William Hoagland, a former top Republican Senate aide who worked on budget policy and appropriations for more than 25 years.

Not having access to OMB and preparing their budget will further delay any actions they want to pursue. There will be a serious delay in the incoming Biden administrations ability to put forward their budget, Hoagland said in an interview.

The Biden camp has said that OMBs alleged stonewalling has particularly set back the president-elects effort to plan his response to the pandemic.

OMBs refusal to cooperate impairs our ability to identify opportunities to maximize the relief going out to Americans during the pandemic, and it leaves us in the dark as it relates to Covid expenditures and other gaps, said Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the Biden transition team.

But Vought wrote in his letter that your team has been briefed by OMB, as well as the relevant agencies, on Operation Warp Speed and other Covid-relief efforts, including the various funding streams in use for these efforts.

Incoming presidential administrations typically begin their budget planning well before the new president is inaugurated on Jan. 20, in order to be able to send the document to Congress relatively soon thereafter. Congress decides how the government spends money, not the president, but the presidents budget is an annual statement of his priorities and is a vital source of information on the governments activities.

The annual document is due to Congress on the first Monday in February, but in recent years has often been delayed.

Trump submitted his first budget to Congress about four months after he took office, on May 23, 2017. President Barack Obama submitted an initial budget proposal about one month after he took office, on February 26, 2009, and provided additional detail in May.
From: Carnegie Ventures Washington , DC Thursday, December 31, 2020



Uplifting book for teens Washington, DC: Jan. 1, 2021 A new book featuring insights and activties and that serves as a Covid-19 journal and 'year book' aims to provide uplift for global youth frustrated, anxious, and bored during quarantines. The book features 18 short stories from teenagers across six continents from countries such as Lesotho, India, Ecuador, New Zealand, Romania, USA among others. Prominent also are snippets of fatherly wisdom by Palestinian American author Ahmad Jobain. Created by Lisa La Bonte, CEO of the Middle East's leading strategic youth development foundation, AYVF, the book was designed by Emirati graphic designer Rabab AlHaddad and includes a Foreword on the topic of Posttraumatic Growth by professional therapist Viva Goettinger and closes with an Afterword by Swiss biotech and pharma expert, Dr. Jose de Chastonay. The book is published by Van Wagenen Publishing with support by Uplifting Ventures and the Global Citizens SDGs Challenge (in honor of SDGD3 "Health and Wellbeing" by 2030). You can find the book at www.upliftingbook.info or Amazon marketplaces globally. #### About Uplifting Ventures (Up!) Uplifting Ventures, or Up! is an international idea factory powered by an economic development champion on a mission to empower new ideas and small but mighty businesses that deliver impact across the globe. Up!s principal cheerleader has a penchant for socially relevant and mutually lucrative outputs that include inventive and inspirational programs, initiatives, competitions, content, branding, and strategic business frameworks funded by or in partnership with World Bank (MIGA), U.S. Dept. of State (MEPI), U.S. Dept. of Commerce (MBDA), The White House, Shimizu, SK Group, Dubai government, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, NASA, and many more. www.uplifting.vip About the Global Citizens Innovative Solutions SDGs Challenge SDGs Challenge Part ideation exercise, part solutions hackathon, part start-up competition the Challenge created by AYVF seeks to engage citizens of any nationality, ethnicity, age, or gender and encourages diverse teams to commit, or resolve to solve any one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) representing the world's most vexing issues. Teams of up to six (families, students, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or strangers meeting virtually) are encouraged to brainstorm, devise and present their innovative solutions by video during a time frame of their choosing within a 100 day rolling period that starts on Earth Day and ends July 31, annually for 10 years until 2030. Winners gain membership in the worlds first SDG Percolator, a pre-incubator program that provides access and polish to winning plans for community implementation or readies them for incubators and commercial success. Founded in Dubai in 2019, the SDG Challenge has grown globally to engage, connect and educate citizens of the world about SDGs and supporting economic development on a local level with goal of 5,000 tangible solutions implemented by 2030. www.SDGsChallenge.org


KYODO NEWS - Dec 30, 2020 - 17:28 | World, All, Coronavirus

The Singapore government on Wednesday started inoculating people in the city-state with Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccination, the first country in Asia to do so.

As earlier planned, the Health Ministry said health care workers received the first shots at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases on Wednesday morning, with the first being Sarah Lim, 46, a senior staff nurse who carries out screenings for suspected coronavirus infections at the center.

More than 30 personnel from the NCID were expected to be vaccinated today.

Following health care personnel, other front line workers and the elderly are expected to be next in line, followed by the rest of the population, the government said.

"We aim to complete our coverage by the end of next year," Health Minister Gan Kim Yong told reporters during a visit to the NCID earlier in the day.

The government has said it will make the vaccinations available for free to everyone who meets the minimum age requirements in its population of 5.7 million, including permanent residents and long-term pass holders, but getting inoculated will be voluntary.

"While vaccinations will remain voluntary, we do want to strongly encourage Singaporeans to get vaccinated," Gan said.

Singapore received its first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 21, becoming the first country in Asia to receive the shots.

The government has also inked deals with American biotechnology firm Moderna and China's Sinovac to purchase their vaccines, government officials said.

Singapore this week entered the third phase of its plans to gradually lift the restrictions it had imposed in a semi-lockdown that began in April this year to curb the spread of the virus, including raising the number of people allowed to dine together from just five to eight and for 250 people to gather at places of worship.

Singapore has reported just over 58,000 coronavirus infection cases and 29 deaths.
Taking a veiled dig at the Centre for not repealing the three farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in this New Years message on Friday his heart was with the farmers who were fighting unjust forces with dignity and honour. As the New Year begins, we remember those who we lost and thank all those who protect and sacrifice for us. My heart is with the farmers and labourers fighting unjust forces with dignity and honour. Happy New Year to all, he tweeted.

As the new year begins, we remember those who we lost and thank all those who protect and sacrifice for us.



My heart is with the farmers and labourers fighting unjust forces with dignity and honour.



Happy new year to all. pic.twitter.com/L0esBsMeqW  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 31, 2020

The Congress leader has spoken up on several occasions in support of the farmers protesting against the three farm laws passed by the Centre in September last year. On December 24, after meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind along with other party members to discuss demands made by the farmers, Rahul Gandhi said, India is now an imaginary democracy.

On December 27 too, he targeted the Centre over the protests, saying that the farmers should keep walking and not be scared of the bluster of the government. He used a modified version of Dwarkaprasad Maheshwaris popular poem Veer Tum Badhe Chalo to make the point. Keep walking O brave one, patiently you move ahead. Doesnt matter if there is a water cannon shower or bluster/bravado, you dont fear, O fearless one. You remain firm, and walk on. O annadata, you keep walking, he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting for over a month against the new farm laws. Their demand that the three farm laws be completely repealed has not been accepted by the government. Even after several rounds of talks between the two parties, the government has only suggested amending the laws. The farmers have, however, said they will accept nothing less than complete repealing of these laws.

Another round of meetings between the government and representatives of the farmers is scheduled to take place on January 4.
In the year of Joe Biden, set to steal a fraudulently won presidency, the mainstream media are pushing another fraudulent "narrative," this one of America rejecting capitalism.

Both the New York Times and the Washington Post opened the new year with an appalling attack on free markets.

The page one headline from the Washington Post was this:

Not to be outdone, the New York Times ran a front page explainer headlined with this:

The logic here is atrocious. Stocks rose because companies were developing new products and new services that people want to buy, and often showing months of double-digit profits. Vaccine, anyone? Why the hell shouldn't the companies that develop COVID vaccines in record time see some kind of stock market rise? Do we like and want vaccines? Or do vaccines just float in by themselves? Developments like these create votes of confidence from "the market," including those of fund managers who manage millions of little guys' 401(k)s.

Meanwhile, why are Americans poor and hungry? Don't pin it on stocks. The blame for that squarely falls on the shoulders of blue-state Democrat governors, enacting unreasonable and selective COVID-justified lockdowns to crush much of the private sector.

The sum picture here from these two headline points made is that the private sector creates, the government damages and destroys.

But somehow, in the logic of the Times and Post, the stock market is to blame for all the restaurant workers, cruise ship porters, theatre employees, and personal trainers who are now left without their jobs.

Oh, of course, they argue that some very rich people gained. Yes, we know. But what the media conceals is that so does everyone else, either through jobs created as companies find themselves capitalized from stocks, or else through their stock-laden 401(k)s. But according to the Post, rich guys made money, so that had to be what made so many workers poor, let's therefore get rid of capitalism and bring in more Andrew Cuomos.

Now, this is not to deny that a few rich people did gain, but not for the reasons the media is claiming. Here's a headline the Washington Post will never run:

"After a year of small shop closures, Amazon stock price up 577%"

In other words, some government actions did set the stage for some billionaires in a few select companies to take advantage and rise. Jeff Bezos made billions off the blue-state destruction of small business. That would certainly explain why his paper's a big booster for lockdowns. But his gains are far from perfect free market capitalism, they're the result of a government thumb on a scale that just happened to benefit him and his company at the expense of others.

Yet his paper goes all in for attacks on capitalism.

These attacks are propaganda, same as the Soviets used to do, designed to make Americans blame capitalism rather than big government, using the pandemic to extend its reach and power. A few crony capitalists gain in the process, creating a propagandistic narrative with the explicit aim of making Americans hate and blame capitalism, matching their other self-created narrative of encouraging Americans to hate their country. The aim of course is socialism.

Which is rather redolent of the last time they tried this, in the famous 2009 Newsweek headline in the wake of President Obama's election claiming: "We're All Socialists Now." We all know how well that worked out.

People are discouraged and blue over the sense of powerlessness this pandemic, and big state have created, but now's not the time to go wobbly. Conservatives must strike back harder in defense of free markets, in particular, exposing these lies, just as they are doing with the hate-America propaganda now polluting our schools. If Americans end up hating, blaming, and wishing an end to free markets, all over a Big Lie about stock markets somehow robbing us, when in fact it's state governments doing it, all power will slide with ease into in the hands of a greedy and grasping state, with no way out. The attack on free markets is a little reported, but extremely critical leftist assault that needs to be halted now.

Image credit: Pixabay public domain
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As the popularity of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the Twilight series and Charmed have all shown, there's a healthy appetite for dramas featuring magic and the blood-sucking creatures of ancient folklore. A Discovery Of Witches is no exception.

Based on Deborah Harkness's All Souls book trilogy, the first series following the adventures of historian and reluctant witch Diana Bishop and her vampire companion, biochemist Matthew Clairmont, pulled in two million viewers an episode when it aired in 2018, making it Sky One's most popular drama that year.

Fans have been waiting for the second series ever since, and two years on they're being rewarded with ten new episodes which see the duo hurled back through time to Elizabethan London.

A Discovery Of Witches is based on Deborah Harkness's All Souls book trilogy and the first series pulled in two million viewers an episode when it aired in 2018. Pictured: Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer as Matthew and Diana

Part love story, part thriller, part mystery, the series follows them as they endeavour to hunt down a magic text that could save both their peoples from extinction, and according to Matthew Goode, who plays Clairmont, it's much darker than its predecessor. 'It's a very different series because Matthew regresses into his past  and psychologically that changes him,' he says.

There is certainly plenty of supernatural warfare on show, alongside some nascent 'blood rage' (a vampire's insatiable urge to hunt). The burgeoning romance between our hero and heroine continues to flourish though, albeit with bumps in the road on the way.

'We do have some things that come between us and some obstacles to overcome,' says Matthew.

'Diana's getting to know him again in this era,' explains Australian actress Teresa Palmer, who plays Diana. 'When we go back in time, the Matthew Clairmont she knows seems really different. He shifts into this darker version. It feels like he's a totally different Matthew at times and this really throws her.'

The first series was named after the opening book in Harkness's trilogy and set in a world where 'creatures'  witches, vampires and daemons  are at odds with each other but are united in keeping their powers hidden from humankind.

'Diana is certainly not in control of her magic'

We met Diana as she discovered a bewitched manuscript in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Forced back into the world of magic to unravel its secrets, she formed an alliance with Clairmont, and despite the usual mistrust between vampires and witches the duo set out to protect the book while dodging threats from other creatures.

Initially reluctant to connect with her witch heritage, by the start of this series Diana has grown more confident in her powers and is on her way to becoming the most powerful witch in the world. 'She spent so many years denying that part of herself, but her mindset is changing and, in fact, she's starting to embrace this part of who she is,' says Teresa.

Ten new episodes see the duo hurled back through time to Elizabethan London. Pictured: Steven Cree as Gallowglass

'She's still got a very long way to go and she's certainly not in control of her magic, but she has to embrace who she is and delve further into it.'

That means lots of captivating magic sequences for viewers. 'She harnesses all the power she's discovered so far, like witch-wind that can blow people away and witch-water, the power to control rain.

'But she builds upon those and she starts to realise that a part of one of her gifts is she can bring life into things,' she says. 'So there are sequences like the one where she's looking at someone's shoe with a snake embroidered on it and she brings the snake out of the shoe, a live snake.'

With the majority of the action based in 1590 (although there is some time travel back to the present), the cast had to deal with the challenges of full Tudor costume, a particular issue for Teresa who was breastfeeding her daughter Poet during filming.

'I had to have front-opening corsets, so just the logistics were complex,' she laughs. 'But they're so gorgeous and the intricate detail and the amount of effort put into making these beautiful costumes is unbelievable.'

The Tudor setting also enables the introduction of characters from history, including real-life Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe (played by Victoria's Tom Hughes) alongside the then 57-year-old Queen Elizabeth (Casualty's Barbara Marten), whose relatively advanced years do not preclude her from flirting with Clairmont.

'I'm having it written into all his main scenes that women find him attractive,' laughs Matthew. 'Their relationship is quite touching actually, even when she's being ghastly because there's something deeper at the centre of it all.

He worked for her father, Henry VIII, and so he was a confidant who probably helped her while she was growing up. I would imagine there was a frisson while she was a teenager and then a young queen, but he does love her very much and respects her hugely.'

Also joining the cast is Outlander's Steven Cree, playing Clairmont's nephew Gallowglass, a towering warrior fierce in battle but unafraid of revealing his soft heart around family. Gallowglass accepts Diana as part of his extended family, becoming one of only a handful of people she trusts.

'He's incredibly loyal to Matthew and the Clairmonts despite perhaps not necessarily always agreeing with everyone, particularly Matthew's father Philippe [played by James Purefoy],' says Steven.

'He's quite bombastic yet he can be quite sensitive as well  but when it comes to the crunch he's a fierce warrior who will destroy anyone or anything that gets in Matthew's way. Because of his loyalty to Matthew, he then becomes incredibly protective of Diana as well.'

With an intensely loyal fanbase behind the books, all the stars admit they were aware there were high expectations for their transition onto the screen. 'This show had a huge fan base before we even started, and because of social media I've been aware of the expectations for Gallowglass,' says Steven Cree.

'When I filmed Outlander I wasn't on social media and I had no idea  and also the character I played in Outlander was different, whereas Gallowglass seems to be a fan favourite in the books so I'm definitely aware of that.'

It's a sentiment echoed by Matthew Goode, who says he's glad that  so far at least  the reception has been incredibly positive even from the most diehard fans of the books.

'They're incredibly difficult to adapt and so there are always going to be huge fans of the books who are, if not disappointed, wondering why things have been missed out,' he says. 'But we think so far we've made something that's going to appease both sides.'

A Discovery Of Witches, Friday, 9pm, Sky One.
She has frozen five more of her eggs with view of giving Betsy a brother or sister

A single woman with Lyme disease has welcomed a healthy baby into the world after going through IVF alone.

Julie Seal, 41, from Brockley, south east London, gave birth to Betsy who is in good health despite doctors warning her the child could be severely unwell.

The creative strategist had longed for a baby for around 10 years but was unable to find a suitable partner. She was undeterred when medics said her child could contract Lyme disease, a debilitating condition that can cause paralysis, at birth.

She said: 'My goal was not only to get well from Lyme disease but also be well enough to be able to conceive and become a mum.'

Julie Seal, 41, from Brockley, south east London, gave birth to Betsy (both pictured above) who is in good health despite doctors warning her the child could be severely unwell

Ms Seal added: 'Doctors had told me that I risked passing Lyme onto a baby if it was an active infection, and I had previously had two miscarriages which I suspected were due to my condition.

'I got bitten by a tick which was when I was diagnosed with Lyme disease - I had to use a wheelchair, my brain swelled and I had bad memory loss where I couldn't even recognise people's faces.'

The mother needed treatment for the crippling condition in the US after she was bitten by a tick during a walk in 2015.

But following the treatment, the woman's perspective on life altered and she was eager to have a baby.

Ms Seal took up the option of going through IVF with an anonymous sperm donor.

She said: 'I had to get treatment in America for it so I had to put the idea of having a baby on the shelf for a while.

'I was really worried that I'd never be able to have a child because I was 36 at the time and doctors advised me to get into remission or I would risk passing the active Lyme onto my baby too.

Ms Seal, pictured with her baby Betsy, said: 'My goal was not only to get well from Lyme disease but also be well enough to be able to conceive and become a mum'

'After I started to get a bit better, at 39 I decided to do a bit of dating but my heart wasn't really in it and nothing really worked out.

'At this point, one of my sisters who has a son told me that she didn't want me to miss out on having a baby because it's so brilliant.

'I went to a sperm bank and began the process of IVF, and became pregnant with Betsy.

'It's the best thing I've ever done and I'm glad I've done it solo for so many reasons.'

She split up with her long-term boyfriend weeks after turning 30 and met another man who she married him two years later, but their relationship didn't work out and they separated.

Ms Seal's baby scan, pictured above. The creative strategist took up the option of going through IVF with an anonymous sperm donor

What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash called erythema migrans. The disease can typically be treated by several weeks of oral antibiotics. But if left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous symptoms and be deadly. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE INFECTED? During the first three to 30 days of infection, these symptoms may occur: Fever

Chills

Headache

Fatigue

Muscle and joint aches

Swollen lymph nodes

Erythema migrans (EM) rash The rash occurs in approximately 80 per cent of infected people. It can expand to up to 12 inches (30 cm), eventually clearing and giving off the appearance of a target or a 'bull's-eye'. Later symptoms of Lyme disease include: Severe headaches and neck stiffness

Additional rashes

Arthritis with joint pain and swelling

Facial or Bell's palsy

Heart palpitations

Problems with short-term memory

Nerve pain Source: CDC Advertisement

Ms Seal, originally from Burbage, Leicestershire, was then set on finding her future baby's father, and was set back another time by her Lyme disease diagnosis.

Complications of the disease commonly affect the sufferer's fertility, particularly in women.

Julie added: 'After asking around a few of my close friends if they wanted to donate their sperm, I decided to go to a sperm bank and choose an anonymous donor.

'I'm really lucky because my company has insurance for fertility treatment so I paid extra into my health insurance to get the IVF through that.

'I looked at the basic information and made a unanimous decision with my family and friends, before going for my egg retrieval and transfer in November last year.

'The IVF worked the first time for me which was amazing and I was pregnant.

'A lot of my Lyme disease symptoms at that point were autoimmune so I actually felt amazing for the first time in years because all of the bad symptoms had been repressed in my first trimester.'

Ms Seal gave birth to baby Betsy, with her mother Jean, 74, as her birthing partner.

And despite some backlash on her option to go it alone, Ms Seal believes it's much more simple being a single mother by choice.

She said: 'I've had a few people be a little bit cagey about me doing this on my own because they thought it would be hard, but it's not turned out remotely as tough as everybody said.

'I don't have the pressure, opinions and complexity that might come with having a partner and in-laws.

'Some people online have said that it's selfish and that I'm depriving her of a father but I tend to ignore that because it's born out of ignorance and past experiences.

'I'd encourage other people to go for it because it's way better to have a baby on your own and have it grow up in a loving household of one parent, than it is to grow up in a tense household of two parents.'

Ms Seal has frozen five more of her eggs with a view of giving Betsy a brother or sister through IVF in the near future.

She added: 'I think it's easier to do it alone because it makes life simple and straight-forward.

'I've been underestimated a lot as a disabled woman - at the moment my legs are working but at the end of the day, you don't need that to be a brilliant mother.

'I've been through a lot of difficult things in my life but this is by far the greatest thing I've ever done.'
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan informed that the specialists of the Radio and Television Broadcasting and Satellite Communications Production Association (Teleradio IB) resumed the work of the Shusha Radio Television Station (RTYS) in the liberated territories.

It became known that digital TV broadcasting equipment, an antenna feed system and basic equipment for satellite reception of 10 TV channels were installed and put into operation at the station.
I am deeply saddened to hear of the recent events related to the Martin Luther King Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield. At the time of my writing, the arson investigation is underway.

Regardless of what has happened, a local congregation is in crisis and, together with Bahai Faith Communities of the Greater Springfield Area, Beloved Community Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, Greater Springfield Campaign Nonviolence, Hampden Association of the United Church of Christ, Holy Cross JustFaith, members of the Interfaith Council of Greater Springfield, the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts, the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, Lutheran Churches of Western Massachusetts, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, the Springfield College Office of Spiritual Life and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, I am sending my thoughts and prayers for healing and comfort during this difficult time.

We live during a time with enough confusion and difficulty. To know that a congregations building has burned is heart-wrenching. My tradition informs me to reach out and recognize the shared humanity which makes us all creations of the source of life.

If indeed this is arson, our larger community will need to investigate and consider what are the motivating factors for such hatred that consumes one fellow to seek disaster for the other. Our local Jewish community faced this exact story earlier this year with the Ruths House attempted arson.

If this is not arson, then we, as a community of compassionate souls, must live into the words of shared scripture to love our neighbors and provide for our siblings who are in need. The One who has taught us love demands of us to show the same toward one another.

May the New Year be one with meaningful partnership and blessings created through intentional work of repair.

Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz

Temple Beth El

Springfield
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Safe House Distilling is making the most of its time aging and developing products for the new year.

Its storefront is temporarily closed due to the current health order, so the distillery is distributing its products throughout the state. It recently teamed up with National Distributing Co. to distribute its spirits to New Mexico retailers, including Albertsons and Smiths grocery stores. The distillerys social media platforms will soon offer a map of locations carrying its products. Customers can also message the distillery on social media to set up a time to pick up bottles of their liking at the distillery, at 616 Gold SW. Its social media pages are at facebook.com/SafeHouseDistilling or instagram.com/safehousedistilling.

This next year is probably going to be a big push into the retail side of it, since bars have been closed so much for COVID, said Chris Leurig, distiller at Safe House Distilling. So were just trying to have our spirits available for New Mexicans everywhere in the state instead of mostly just in Albuquerque. So thats a really big push that were doing right now just to make it through all these COVID hassles.

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The selection of Safe House spirits will depend on what each of the retailers request and have room for.

Our goal is for them to get everything, but obviously, with shelf space they might not have space to buy everything from us at once, so our goal is to try to get it into as many places as possible, Leurig said. But no matter what, the normal Teller (vodka) and probably the blueberry lavender (vodka) will be in every place to start, and then adding the gin and the other infusions when they have space and when the stores will allow us to bring it into their store.

A new apple pie-infused vodka is expected to be released in early March.

That one has fresh apples that we here processed by hand, and we cut all the cores and seeds out of them, and then we used some organic cinnamon sticks and infused it in cinnamon and then a few other actual spices to make it remind you of apple pie, Leurig said.

Safe House now offers Teller Genuine Vodka, Teller Green Chile Infused Vodka, Teller Blueberry Lavender Infused Vodka, and Lock Pick High Desert Style Gin. The distillery tripled its gin production over the past six months. It is now doing barrels of gin and will soon offer a barrel-rested gin that will most likely be available in the fall. Its current high-desert gin, Lock Pick, contains local and internationally sourced botanicals.

We use a lot of botanicals and earthy flavors of the high-desert climate that were in right now to impart in the gin, Leurig said. Right now, it has 14 different botanicals. Some of them are local. Some of them are sourced from around the world, from Spain and France. But with the gin, were using that gin as a base to then barrel-age it in a bunch of used bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace and from other distilleries around the United States.

The distillery plans to offer whiskey in the near future and later offer blanco, reposado and anejo agave spirits. Santa Fe Brewing Co. gave Safe House its old mash tun which it is using for whiskey production. The distillery is now filling about two barrels a week for aging and hopes to soon increase to four barrels a week to build up an inventory for a whiskey release.
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM") wishes to announce that its interim financial statements for the three month period ended October 31, 2020, including the related management discussion and analysis, and CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the "October 31, 2020 Interim Financial Filings") were not filed as required under Canadian securities legislation by the required filing deadline of December 30, 2020.

The Company has determined that it was not able to meet the December 30, 2020 filing deadline (the "Filing Deadline") under Canadian securities legislation for the October 31, 2020 Interim Financial Filings. Although the review process is progressing, the Company anticipates some delays in completing the review process, such that the Company is not able to meet the Filing Deadline for the October 31, 2020 Interim Financial Filings. The Company is taking proactive measures to address delays and the Company is working to complete the interim financial filings as soon as possible.

The Company has applied to the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and received a management cease trade order related to the Company's securities to be imposed against the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company to trade securities of the Company. The management cease trade order will be in effect until the October 31, 2020 Interim Financial Filings are filed, and requires that the October 31, 2020 Interim Financial Filings be filed on or before January 28, 2021.

Until the October 2020 Interim Financial Filings are filed, the Company intends to provide information in accordance with National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders.

About Body and Mind Inc.

BaM is an operations focused multi-state operator investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. BaM's wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup.

BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas and Ohio and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, pursuing state licensing opportunities and mergers and acquisitions.

Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information.

Instagram: @bodyandmindBaM

Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management, a well as the timing for preparation and filing of the 2020 Annual Financial Filings, and the timing and duration of the management cease trade order under National Policy 12-203. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

SOURCE Body and Mind Inc.

Related Links

https://bamcannabis.com/


SALEM, Ore.--Gov. Kate Brown issued a terse statement on Thursday, aimed at local elected officials and business owners who are defying her executive orders to fight Covid.

"Local elected officials do not have the authority under Oregon law to disregard my emergency orders or to authorize anyone else to do so," Brown said. "Any businesses that reopen in violation of state risk level requirements for their county will be subject to fines and enforcement."

At least two restaurants in Lane County have opened for indoor dining, despite the restrictions: Along Came Trudy in Springfield, and Little Brown Hen in Florence.

Brown blamed unnamed "local elected officials," who allegedly "are choosing to willfully mislead business owners into jeopardizing public health and risking fines."

Brown said she had directed Oregon OSHA and OLCC to "deploy all available resources to ensure businesses are in compliance."
LOS ANGELESSection 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act  the law often deemed the First Amendment of the Internet  is facing possible repeal after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell linked it in a single bill to $2,000 COVID economic relief payments for many Americans.

Donald Trump has been demanding the laws elimination for months, and even President-Elect Joe Biden has said he supports repealing the law.

And on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer countered McConnell, saying he would allow a vote on Section 230 repeal if it were separated from the $2,000 payment legislation.

The 24-year-old law appears as if it may be on its last legs. But what happens if Section 230 actually does come off the books? For sex workers, repeal could be a disaster  according to what some told the Washington political site The Hill, in report published December 30.

The sex workers told the site that even under the two-year-old FOSTA/SESTA law, which rolled back some of Section 230s legal liability protections in cases of vaguely defined sex trafficking, they have seen their business damaged as major social media sites deplatform them, even though they do not post sexually explicit content.

Full repeal of the 1996 law, they fear, would lead to effectively banning sex workers from the internet  followed by all forms of sexual content.

While sex workers are the ones very publicly losing these spaces, what's not far behind is sexual education [and] different activist groups, sex worker rights activist Kate DAdamo told The Hill.

As AVN reported earlier in 2020, a study found that in the two years since passage of FOSTA/SESTA, one-third of sex workers had faced increased violence in their work, and three out of four reported higher level of economic insecurity.

It would be irresponsible and reckless for lawmakers to ignore the lessons learned from SESTA/FOSTA and rush into more changes to Section 230 before really coming to terms with just how much harm was done the last time they changed it, Evan Greer, deputy director of the digital civil liberties group Fight for the Future, told The Hill.

Photo by Gerd Altmann / Pixabay
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TMC vs BJP: Why the contest is wide open in West Bengal

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 01: In the high-octane West Bengal assembly elections slated to be held later this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged as the main rival to the formidable rival in the state - Mamata Banerjee.

Flashpoints in West Bengal politics were one too many, as the state hogged national limelight for all the wrong reasons and witnessed widespread political violence, as the parties geared up for a high-stakes assembly elections.

The BJP has claimed that more than 130 of its cadres were killed or found dead under mysterious circumstances, since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Mamata Banerjee VS BJP

The TMC government routinely sparred with the BJP-led Centre and the slugfest spared practically no one, including the saffron party''s president J P Nadda, whose convoy came under attack earlier in December during his visit to Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas.

The Home Ministry summoned three IPS officers to serve at the Centre on deputation over alleged lapses which led to the attack on Nadda, leaving Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee fuming. Several BJP leaders sustained injuries in the attack.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP went hammer and tongs against the state government over the "worsening" law and order situation, and the saffron party shifted a battery of its central leaders to the eastern state with an eye on the assembly polls.

Does BJP stand a chance?

The Bharatiya Janata Party which has never been in power in the state, has made inroads by winning 18 of the 42 seats in West Bengal in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The saffron parties vote share increased to 40.64 percent from 10.16 percent in 2016 when it won only 3 seats.

The result was a a morale booster for the party leaders, who now claim that the Saffron party will end didi's decade long rule in the politically polarised state in Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Amit Shah was in the state recently on a two-day visit to take stock of the party affairs addressed a huge crowd where he claimed that the party will form the next government in the state. "People of West Bengal are "angry" with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and want a change," he said.

Shah announced an ambitious target of winning more than 200 of the state''s 294 assembly seats, an assertion which drew a sharp retort from the TMC''s adviser and poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who said the BJP will struggle to cross double digits.

The BJP is apprehensive that the delay in implementing the CAA due to agitations by its rivals may turn refugee voters, especially those from the Matua community, against it.

The BJP, in its bid to blunt the TMC''s election weapon of sub-nationalism, took to eulogising Bengali icons such as Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

The 'Bengai Pride'

Pushed to the wall by the aggressive Hindutva campaign by the BJP, Banerjee and her TMC invoked ''Bengali pride'' to consolidate its support base.

The Mamata Banerjee government launched a massive public outreach in December to ensure the benefits of its 11 flagship welfare programmes reached every household.

Christened "Duare Sarkar" (government at doorsteps), the programme covers 11 sectors including employment generation, health, women''s empowerment, community development and girl education, among others.

Rebellion within TMC

The ruling party, for the first time since it came to power in 2011, witnessed a rebellion as several MLAs and an MP, including party heavyweight Mukul Roy and Suvendu Adhikari crossed over to the BJP. The TMC, however, put up a brave face and said it was finally free of "traitors".

Defection of a number of TMC leaders has energised the BJP cadres, with Shah seen to driving the party's campaign in the state. As the new year dawns, the Bengal results will go a long way in deciding the course of national politics in 2021.

The Bimal Gurung factor

Meanwhile, North Bengal, where the BJP made deep roads, bagging seven of the eight Lok Sabha seats in 2019, witnessed a political churning as the GJM faction led by fugitive Gurkha leader Bimal Gurung quit the BJP-led NDA and joined hands with the TMC.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

Gurung, who was in hiding for three years, returned to Darjeeling and vowed to teach the BJP a lesson by ensuring TMC''s victory in North Bengal, where he wields influence over at least 20 assembly seats.
As Houston left 2020 in the rearview mirror, the coronavirus continued to spread throughout the region unchecked, with some of the highest positivity rates since the start of the pandemic.

And that spike will only continue to climb, experts warn, because the numbers do not take into account additional surges tied to holiday gatherings from Christmas and New Years celebrations. The pandemic has already claimed the lives of more than 4,600 people from Greater Houston.

The positive test rate statewide hit a record Friday at 21.15 percent, according to a Houston Chronicle review  surpassing the previous high mark, 20.55 percent, in July.

Its looking bad, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. We still havent seen the full impact of whats happened after Christmas and New Years, so you know it wont get better  its only going to get worse.

UNSOLVED: Houstons rate of unsolved murders is soaring. Experts say the police department is to blame.

Local government officials continued to urge Houstonians to remain careful and cautious as hospitals and doctors begin the long process of vaccinating Texas residents.

Were in a very, very precarious situation, said Rafael Lemaitre, spokesman for County Judge Lina Hidalgo. As grateful as many of us are to finally cross the threshold into 2021, were going to have to keep our shoulder to the wheel in the new year as a community. This virus is not through with us.

Across Texas, 12,481 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, marking the fifth consecutive day of record hospitalizations. More than half of the states trauma service areas, including Houston, Galveston and Victoria, reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations make up more than 15 percent of total hospital capacity, the threshold that signifies high hospitalizations.

In Houston, officials at the Texas Medical Center said that local positivity rates have risen to about 15.3 percent, significantly higher than last weeks daily average of about 11 percent, and the number of average daily positive tests has more than doubled compared with the same week last month.

SEEKING ANSWERS: Woman seeks answers after 2018 killing of son by FBI agent in failed hostage rescue

As we embark upon a new year, we are facing the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic with a record number of new cases, TMC President William F. McKeon said in a daily update to staff. However, we now have renewed hope with the arrival of new vaccines that together we can move to protect our community as soon as possible to isolate and extinguish the COVID-19 virus from our communities.

Under Gov. Greg Abbotts orders, if hospitals continue to experience such high numbers of COVID patients for seven consecutive days, some businesses would be required to limit operations until conditions improve.

The increased positivity rates come as Houston and Texas continue to vaccinate front-line workers and the most vulnerable residents. So far, about 340,000 Texans have begun the vaccination process  with about 52,800 of those vaccinations occurring in Harris County.

Mayor Sylvester Turner on Friday announced the opening of a public clinic that will administer doses of the Moderna vaccine. Health care workers, people over 65 and people with serious underlying health conditions are eligible and must make an appointment by calling 832-393-4220 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. starting Saturday.

But Hotez warned that Harris County and others across Texas face a daunting challenge to vaccinate enough people to neutralize the virus danger.

You seem nervous: Why most police vehicle searches in Texas turn up nothing

In Harris County, public health authorities will have to ramp up a vaccine distribution program to administer the medicine to some 500,000 residents a month, he said  a volume that the Texas Medical Center and other hospitals, clinics and medical practices arent equipped to handle.

Were not anywhere close to that, he said.

Instead, the county should consider opening vaccination centers at places such as NRG Stadium or the George R. Brown Convention Center, he said.

If we can just gear up to get people vaccinated, then nobody has to lose their lives from COVID-19, he said.

Stephanie Lamm and Todd Ackerman contributed to this report.

st.john.smith@chron.com

twitter.com/stjbs
India has lodged a protest with over the vandalisation of a Hindu temple in Karak district in the northwest Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources said on Friday.

The protest was conveyed to through diplomatic channels, they said.

On Wednesday, the temple was vandalised by a mob, protesting against its expansion work.

Over 30 people, mostly members of a radical Islamist party, were arrested over the attack, Pakistani officials said on Thursday.

The attack on the temple in Terri village of Karak district drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and Hindu community leaders.

On Thursday, the provincial government ordered authorities to reconstruct the damaged temple as it vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

According to the local police, they arrested more than 30 people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Rehmat Salam Khattak, in overnight raids.

Over 350 people have been named in the FIR, Provincial Police Chief KPK Sanaullah Abbasi has said.

Abbasi said all the sections of law relating to terrorism have been included in the FIR against the accused.

Pakistan's Supreme Court took note of the attack on Thursday and ordered the local authorities to appear before the court on January 5.
US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons

Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

Advisor to Armenia Prosecutor General provides details about incident with Armenian soldier killed in Verin Shorzha

Banksy's painting of punk Lenin sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 960,000

CSTO Deputy Secretary-General: Escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border requires undertaking of urgent measures

Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Japan

Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

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US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

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Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

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World oil prices going up

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Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

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EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

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Three men have been questioned by police in relation to the alleged rape and sexual assault of two minors they met on New Year's Eve.

The men, all aged, 22, crossed paths with three teenage girls on the beach at Gold Coast's Surfers Paradise overnight, police said.

The girls then allegedly attended a nearby unit where the men were staying and where two of the girls were allegedly raped and sexually assaulted.

'A 15-year-old girl has come to the concierge in a semi naked state, in a distressed state and police were called,' Acting Chief Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said.

The alleged incident was at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast (pictured above) on New Year's Eve

'Investigations into that... it turns out three girls, all (aged) 15, were on the beach and they met three young fellows.

'They went back to the room of these young fellows and it turns out they have been sexually assaulted and a complaint has been made.

'They met on the beach and the three girls came back to the unit where the three men were staying and it's allegedly basically gone downhill from there.'

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, a rape charge was likely to be filed against the three men on Friday morning, but they were eventually released after more information from the alleged incident emerged.

The men were also said to have offered a version of events that lead police to make further inquires.

Investigations into the rape allegations remain ongoing.
Photo: The Canadian Press A man rides a bike in front of the British embassy on New Year's Eve in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. Eleven months after Britain's formal departure from the EU, Brexit becomes a fact of daily life on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Like a separated couple still living together, Britain and the European Union spent 2020 wrangling and wondering whether they can remain friends.

On Thursday, the U.K. is finally moving out. At 11 p.m. London time  midnight at EU headquarters in Brussels  Britain will economically and practically leave the 27-nation bloc, 11 months after its formal political departure.

After more than four years of Brexit political drama, the day itself is something of an anticlimax. U.K. lockdown measures to curb the coronavirus have curtailed mass gatherings to celebrate or mourn the moment, though Parliaments huge Big Ben bell will sound the hour as it prepares to ring in the New Year.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson  who won power vowing to Get Brexit Done  said the day marks a new beginning in our countrys history and a new relationship with the EU as their biggest ally.

This moment is finally upon us and now is the time to seize it, he said after Britains Parliament approved a U.K.-EU trade deal overnight, the final formal hurdle on the U.K. side before departure.

It has been 4 1/2 years since Britain voted in a referendum to leave the bloc it had joined in 1973. The U.K. left the EU's political structures on Jan. 31 2020, but the repercussions of that decision have yet to be felt, since the U.K.s economic relationship with the bloc remained unchanged during an 11-month transition period that ends Thursday.

After that, Britain will leave the EUs vast single market and customs union  the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II.

A free trade agreement sealed on Christmas Eve after months of tense negotiations will ensure Britain and the 27-nation EU can continue to trade in goods without tariffs or quotas. That should help protect the 660 billion pounds ($894 billion) in annual trade between the two sides, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that rely on it.

But firms face sheaves of new paperwork and expenses. Traders are struggling to digest the new rules imposed by a 1,200-page deal that was agreed just a week before the changes take place.

The English Channel port of Dover and the Eurotunnel passenger and freight route are bracing for delays, though the pandemic and the holiday weekend mean there will be less cross-Channel traffic than usual. The vital supply route was snarled for days after France closed its border to U.K. truckers for 48 hours last week in response to a fast-spreading variant of the virus identified in England.

The British government insisted that the border systems and infrastructure we need are in place, and we are ready for the U.K.'s new start.

But freight companies are holding their breath. U.K. haulage firm Youngs Transportation is suspending services to the EU from Monday until Jan. 11 to let things settle.

We figure it gives the country a week or so to get used to all of these new systems in and out and we can have a look and hopefully resolve any issues in advance of actually sending our trucks, said Youngs director Rob Hollyman.

The services sector, which makes up 80% of Britains economy, doesnt even know what the rules will be for business with the EU in 2021  many of the details have yet to be hammered out. Months and years of further discussion and argument over everything from fair competition to fish quotas lie ahead as Britain a nd the EU settle in to their new relationship as friends, neighbours and rivals.

Hundreds of millions of individuals in Britain and the bloc also face changes to their daily lives. After Thursday, Britons and EU citizens lose the automatic right to live and work in the others territory. From now on they will have to follow immigration rules and obtain work visas. Tourists wont need visas for short trips, but new headaches  from travel insurance to pet paperwork  still loom for Britons visiting the continent.

For some in Britain, including the prime minister, its a moment of pride, a reclaiming of national independence from a vast Brussels bureaucracy.

Conservative lawmaker Bill Cash, who campaigned for Brexit for decades, said it was a victory for democracy and sovereignty.

That's not a view widely shared across the Channel. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed regret over the split.

The United Kingdom remains our neighbour but also our friend and ally," Macron said in the president's traditional New Year's address. This choice of leaving Europe, this Brexit, was the child of European malaise and lots of lies and false promises,.

Frances European affairs minister, Clement Beaune, said the promises made by Brexiteers  "a sort of total freedom, a lack of restrictions, of influence  I think will not happen.

Many in Britain felt apprehension about a leap into the unknown that is taking place during a pandemic that has upended life around the world.

I feel very sad that were leaving," said Jen Pearcy-Edwards, a filmmaker in London. "I think that COVID has overshadowed everything that is going on. But I think the other thing that has happened is that people feel a bigger sense of community, and I think that makes it even sadder that were breaking up our community a bit, by leaving our neighbours in Europe.

Im hopeful that we find other ways to rebuild ties, she said.
The US 7th Fleet described the passage as adhering to international law and demonstrating the American commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific," according to the report.

USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur, steamed through the Taiwan Strait on New Year's Eve, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. This was the 13th occasion in 2020 that US warships had passed through the Taiwan strait, which China claims as its own.

Washington's intent to dissuade China to change the status quo in Taiwan and elsewhere in the region became glaring since August. On August 12, the US deployed three B-2 stealth bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.

These deployments took place when military tensions showed no signs of abating -- Ladakh, on the India-China border, and Taiwan.

By deploying at the Indian Ocean island, which falls under the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), China was being sent an unambiguous signal-that Washington was committed to safeguard the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, under well-defined rules.

The deployment of the B-52 trio followed the earlier dispatch of six B-52 Stratofortress bombers in the archipelago.

In tune with the landing of the B-2 planes, the formidable US aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, had steamed into the South China Sea on August 14.

When these deployments, carrying enormous firepower, in the air and sea, are taken together, the multiple messaging to China is clear. In the South China Sea, the US was announcing that any Chinese attack and takeover of Pratas or Dongsha Islands of Taiwan was a red line.

This is not surprising. These Taiwanese islands have significant strategic value. They are located 310 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong betweenthe South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. All PLA Navy (PLAN) vessels must pass those islands before they can reach the Pacific Ocean, where they would be harder to track. The takeover of these islands by China will therefore significantly enhance Beijing's capacity to project power far away from its shores.

To reinforce its readiness to confront China, the US has announced that F-16 planes that that will be exported to Taiwan, will be armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles. On August 14, the day when USS Ronald Reagan sailed into the South China Sea, the Pentagon announced that Taiwan had signed a $62 billion deal for the latest version of F-16 planes.

Till the very fag end of the year, the US intent has been to deter China from crossing the Rubicon - of using military force to settle maritime disputes with its neighbours, including Taiwan. During the year, the US also stepped on the gas to impart greater coherence to security in the Indo-Pacific region, crowned by the Quad comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia to counter Chinese muscle flexing in the region. The effort peaked with and elaborate Malabar naval exercise where the quartet sent their frontline ships and equipment for drills in October in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--IANS

indianarrative/in


Even in these darkest days of the pandemic, we find ourselves dreaming up a bucket list for later in the new year, which we hope will deliver us from the scourge of coronavirus and eventually render social distancing a bad memory. There is solace and solidarity in sharing with you these wishes, some weighty, some lighthearted and some pure fantasy. Beyond the most precious hopes we all share of hugging loved ones, reuniting with friends, and helping those in need, we offer an ode to the little things that brought so much meaning to our lives and surely will again.

We invite you to share your own bucket list with us through our online form or viewpoints@chron.com and we will publish some in the coming days. In the meantime, we wish all our readers a safe and happy new year and urge you to stay vigilant in protecting your health and the lives of those around you.

Lisa Falkenberg, vice president and editor of opinion

First, I wish for a real playdate. For my children. Indoors, outdoors, here, there  anywhere. Just so it involves actual children whose skin is not digitized, whose facial expressions are not frozen by temperamental internet connections, whose maskless screams, handsy roughhousing and hardy panting after a good game of chase are not cause for quarantine. Whose laughter is the only thing potentially contagious.

A pedicure. By someone who, unlike me, can paint straight. In a chair that massages without coaxing or guilting or bartering. In the delightfully un-distanced company of my best friend with whom all answers seem discoverable through wine, tears and an extra shiny top coat.

A long, meandering, pointless stroll through the edible corn maze of Central Market. No list. No planned recipe. No dawdling kids but me, myself and my discerning palate, snapping up the nearest sample cup and savoring its contents like caviar. Boldly filling receptacles with bulk dry goods from communal dispensers without fear. Crowding the meat case to loiter and look and study the delicate calligraphy of perfect marbling for as long as I please. And finally, since were fantasizing here, Id spread out a yoga mat right smack dab next to the fresh-baked ciabatta, sip my quarter inch of sample wine, inhale deeply and, yes, exhale with reckless abandon.

Lastly, dust off those ridiculously high heels, don a sleek black dress that bears no resemblance to pandemic flannel, paint the lips red  then the town. Finish the evening in the close, sub-tropic embrace of a crowded dance floor thickly in thrall to a pianist rendering an Argentine tango. The warm palm of my love, soft frond on my back, leading me into a glorious filigree of ochos, cruzadas, foot play and freedom.

Raj Mankad, op-ed editor

Ill fall in love with Houston again. Once its safe, Ill ride all my old bus routes with no particular destination in mind.

First, the 56 that runs past my house. Ill ride it north to the pulgas on Airline Drive and get lost among the stalls. Ill ride south to the medical center. The men with ponytails heading to the VA hospital like to talk.

Ill ride the 82  the busiest bus in Texas, a jaw-rattling rolling monument to our city in all its splendor and inequity. Ill get off at the River Oaks District and pretend Im looking for a $1,300 hoodie at Hermes. Ill get back on and ride to Hillcroft and wind my way behind South Asian chaat shops, and duck into the tiny Shirdi Sai Jalaram temple.

Back in 2015, Metro straightened up the routes, but sometimes I miss the painfully slow winding ones. Thats why Ill ride the 30  its old school  from way up North Shepherd all the way to the port. Ill get on the last bus for the night so I can catch up with Janis the bus lady Scott.

Luis Carrasco, editorial writer

My wife and I had just walked to our first concert at White Oak Music Hall in February and I want to make that a regular occurrence in 2021. It probably wont happen until July with Built to Spill (because Gen X) but if that vaccine comes sooner, see you at Chicano Batman (because Chicano, Batman).

I love film and while there was plenty of meaty fare available in 2020, I miss showing up at the theater for a big popcorn picture. Ive become obsessed with the latest James Bond movie, No Time To Die, because its change in release dates has been a pandemic bellwether (and because Ill judo chop anyone who says Casino Royale isnt the best Bond movie). It was supposed to come out in April, then November, now its back to April. I have a feeling it may move yet again, but regardless; I cant wait to go back to the theater for Daniel Craigs swansong as 007.

I cant say you ever miss the smell of a poorly ventilated hotel ballroom after a 12-hour session of Twilight Imperium or of getting accidentally caught up in a furry conga line, but I miss the nerd camaraderie of a comic book/board game/fantasy/science fiction convention. Maybe well see each other there. Ill be the one doing Inside Out cosplay as Joy.

Monica Rhor, editorial writer and columnist

Feel the love of grandparents. I want to see my children hug their grandparents. I envision those moments often: My two daughters, arms outstretched, reaching to be wrapped in an embrace by their Granny, who lives only a short car ride away in Acres Homes but around whom COVID-19 has built an impenetrable wall. The girls, scrambling out of a rental car after a flight to Florida, and running into my fathers house so their abuelito can squeeze them in the great big abrazo he has been saving for a year.

Enjoy movie magic. I want to spend a Saturday afternoon at the movies. I cant wait for the day when I can once again stumble over knees to find an open spot and watch the trailers roll on a big screen. COVID-19 has taken away far more important things, I know. But I miss snuggling into an upholstered seat, small popcorn and Raisinets in hand, as the house lights dim and an auditorium full of strangers are joined together in anticipation of what is to come.

Ditch distance learning. I long for the day when I can once again queue up in the school drop-off line and deposit my daughters at school again. That day will mark the end of virtual learning  a journey that we started in March without knowing that it would last well past a year. It will mark the beginning of the mad rush of mornings as we race to get out of the door, of face-to-face friendships, of the crazy jumble of after-school activities. Of dare I say it, the first inklings of normalcy.

Ana Goni-Lessan, assistant op-ed editor

When I cant sleep at night because of the never-ending anxiety caused by the pandemic, I think about all the things I want to do once this is over. Instead of counting sheep, Im counting experiences.

I want to see live music again. I want to see my favorite artists perform in front of me, not on a Twitch channel. I want to feel safe in a mosh pit, or as safe as anyone can feel with the threat of a fist to the face. Ah, to feel human contact again.

I want to go back to the hours I spent pretending to write in a coffee shop but really I was just people watching. I want to overhear awkward first dates and muttered thesis statements. I want to share a sunken-in couch with a guy who looks like he spends his salary on scarves.

And last, I want to see the possum. The legend is that during a night at a Montrose bar I wont name, a possum walked through the place like he owned it. My friend Miller saw it and no one believed him, until it happened again when two other friends watched the thing come out from under a table and disappear behind a TV into the wall. When this is over, I cant wait to share an absurd moment like that with other people. It will be amazing.

Tim Morris, editorial writer

Following a year in which we lost John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver and Charley Pride, Im going to make it a priority to catch a Willie Nelson concert as soon as I can after the pandemic subsides. Jerry Jeff is the only one on this list that I never got to see perform in person. Thats a regret. At least one more time with Willie will help ease the pain.

Somewhere along the line, I decided it would be efficient to combine my love for reading with my newspaper job responsibilities for keeping up with current events and immersing myself in history. That meant a steady diet of non-fiction. A year of quarantine has made me hungry for novels, including some re-reads of Tolkien, Vonnegut, Steinbeck and McMurtry. Ive somehow managed to live this long without reading The Great Gatsby. Im going to fix that in 2021.

I dont know the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Im not much of a beer-drinker, but I think Id like to have a cold one with Anthony Fauci. I would let him know how much his steadiness, honesty and frankness meant to me over the past nine months. Yes, he was wrong on some things (who wasnt in 2020?) but it seems to me that he was always trying to give it to us straight. Thats something that was not easy to find this year. He also strikes me as someone who might appreciate a good Willie Nelson concert. How about it, Tony?
(Natural News) If you still had doubts that the FBI is nothing more than a gatekeeper for the DC swamp and the deep state the swamp rats protect, this should dispel them.

As weve previously reported, Hunter Biden has questionable business ties to oligarchs in Russia and Ukraine, as well as to companies either managed by or linked to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

As weve also reported, daddy Joe Biden is also involved in some of these same shady business deals, according to former business partners and associates.

Now, we learn that not only did the FBI know these things, the bureau knew them well in advance of the 2020 election, meaning Joe Biden could have been (and probably should have been) indicted six ways to Sunday months before balloting even began, but was allowed to run (and win, via cheating) because it was infinitely more important to the Washington establishment to get rid of President Donald I Was Making America Great Again Trump.

Just the News reports:

In the weeks before he landed a deal with a Ukrainian gas company in 2014, Hunter Biden strategized with his business partner on how to leverage an upcoming official trip to Kiev by his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, to clinch the lucrative arrangement, according to emails obtained a year ago by the FBI.

The communications reviewed by Just the News show that the younger Biden referred to his father as my guy and took credit for adding value because the vice president made comments to Ukrainian leaders about natural gas production that might benefit his new client.

According to the memos, Hunter Biden pressured Burisma Holdings to sign off on a consulting deal of some kind with him and business partner Devon Archer before the then-vice president visited Ukraine April 21-22, 2014.

And recall, Joe Biden has routinely claimed, Hey, I dont know anything about my sons business deals!  except those he helps his son get by selling access and influence, of course.

The memo notes further that Hunter Biden was already aware Burisma was going to appoint him to its board of directors along with Archer in mid-April 2014, about a month before the appointment was officially announced. They also show that Hunter Biden wanted the Ukrainian firm to pay him an additional consulting fee or one to his law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, or BSF, as reflected in the emails.

The Burisma deal should include a retainer in the range of 25k p/m w/ additional fees where appropriate for more in depth work to go to BSF for our protection, Hunter Biden noted. Complete separate from our respective deals re board participation.

According to records Just the News previously obtained, Burisma paid the law firm a quarter-million-dollar retainer on July 5, 2014, in addition to more than $3 million between 2014 and 2016 to a firm linked to both Archer and Hunter Biden called Rosemont Seneca Bohais.

As for the FBI, the emails were provided to the bureau last December; they were contained in a laptop that Hunter Biden allegedly dropped off to be repaired at a shop in Delaware. And yes, the FBI proceeded to sit on them for nearly a year before the election because the objective has always been to get rid of Donald Trump.

And the emails are authentic. Brian Della Rocca, the attorney for the computer shop owner Mac Isaac, confirmed to the outlet that the emails were indeed contained on the hard drive of the laptop allegedly dropped off by Hunter Biden.

Last week, that pathetic excuse for a president-elect, Joe Biden, doubled down on previous claims that information contained on the laptop was simply Russian disinformation  but we know that it isnt. And you thought that Hillary Clinton was corrupt.

Still, it appears that the ones more corrupt and enabling than the Bidens and the Clintons are the deep state punks who run the FBI.

See more reporting like this at DeepState.news.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

JustTheNews.com
The Stena Superfast VIII leaves Loch Ryan Port on its way to Belfast as the UK leaves the single market and customs union and the Brexit transition period comes to an end (PA)

Leaving the European Unions trading arrangements offers the chance to transform our country, Boris Johnson claimed as UK businesses adjusted to the new bureaucracy.

There was little sign of disruption at the border as freight travelled to France and Ireland on a quiet bank holiday after the new arrangements came in at 11pm on New Years Eve.

The Prime Minister said leaving the single market and customs union meant the UK has taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters.

Lower trade volumes on the New Years Day bank holiday meant there was little disruption from the additional red tape that now applies on exports to the EU.

Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said on Friday that services are running very, very smoothly.

He told the PA news agency: Theres very little change and it doesnt add any time, which is the crucial piece of it.

Four truck drivers were turned away but all as a result of failing to produce coronavirus test certificates, rather than falling foul of new customs rules.

The Port of Dover told PA that everything is running smoothly.

It was a view echoed in Calais on the other side of the Channel but the regions customs director Jean Marc Thillier warned the arrangements would face a trial by fire when traffic flows increase after the holiday weekend.

Circulation fluide sur le #PortCalais. Traffic is free flow into #PortOfCalais pic.twitter.com/3TBf0evV5t  Port de Calais (@calaisport) January 1, 2021

Mr Johnson said the decision to leave the single market and customs union ended a 47-year experiment of European Union membership.

The EU had provided the UK with a safe European home during the 1970s, but the country has now changed out of all recognition with global perspectives, he said.

Mr Johnson, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said the great new deal with the EU secured on Christmas Eve honours the most basic promises of the 2016 referendum and meant the UK has taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters.

In a sign that the UK will break away from the EU rules it inherited, Mr Johnson said: We need the Brexit-given chance to turbocharge those sectors in which we excel, to do things differently and to do them better.

Expand Close The first lorry, driven by Slavi Ivanov Shumeykov, loads on to Le Shuttle at the Eurotunnel in Folkestone, Kent, after the UK leaves the single market and customs union (Gareth Fuller/PA) PA / Facebook

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Irelands foreign minister, Simon Coveney, said the change in trading arrangements with the UK will inevitably cause disruption.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Were now going to see the 80 billion euro (71.2 billion) worth of trade across the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland disrupted by an awful lot more checks and declarations, and bureaucracy and paperwork, and cost and delay.

Ferry operator Stena Line said six freight loads destined for Ireland had been turned away at Holyhead due to incorrect paperwork.

While it has been quiet in Holyhead so far today, the port authority indicate that six freight loads bound for Ireland have had to be turned away due to not have the correct references. Hauliers please ensure you have your PBNs ready for check-in. @WGEconTransport @TrafficWalesN https://t.co/ae7KmPwPxb  Stena Line (@StenaLine) January 1, 2021

Former minister David Jones, deputy chairman of the European Research Group (ERG) of Brexiteer Tories, said a border in the Irish Sea was something that we did not expect, nor did we approve of.

He told the BBC that while it does amount to a barrier the UK Government had done a great deal to mitigate the problem, but I think it is going to take some time before the new arrangements bed in.

The Northern Ireland Protocol means Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market for goods and will apply EU customs rules at its ports, even though the region is still part of the UK customs territory.

The protocol will also see Northern Ireland follow certain EU rules on state aid and VAT.

In other developments:

 Nicola Sturgeon said the EU should be ready to welcome an independent Scotland back into the bloc. The First Minister said: Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.

Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on aiai pic.twitter.com/qJMImoz3y0  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 31, 2020

 French president Emmanuel Macron used his new years message to say that while the UK remains a friend and ally, Brexit was born of a European malaise and many lies and false promises.

 Chancellor Rishi Sunak abolished the Tampon tax, removing VAT on sanitary products, something which was not possible under EU rules.

Under the new arrangements, freedom of movement rights end and, while UK citizens can still travel for work or pleasure, there are different rules.

Passports must be valid for more than six months, visas or permits may be needed for long stays while pets need a health certificate.

The automatic right to live and work in the EU also ceases, and the UK will no longer take part in the Erasmus student exchange programme.

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Hauliers face new rules and lorry drivers heading for the Continent must have a Kent Access Permit before entering the county in an effort to curb tailbacks on cross-Channel routes.

Gibraltar, whose sovereignty is disputed by Spain and Britain, remains subject to the rules of the free-travel Schengen area, keeping the border with Spain open.

Big Ben chimed at 11pm on New Years Eve, when the Prime Minister is understood to have marked the occasion with his family in Downing Street.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who played a key role in the 2016 referendum, told PA: Yes, we spare a thought for Northern Ireland and our fishermen, but this is a moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom.

Its a shame the pubs arent open.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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Riyadh, Jan 1 : More than half a million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have arrived in the Kingdom. The authorities are likely to announce the arrival of a second vaccine during the coming few days and preparations are underway for giving the new vaccine jabs to the people, Al-Arabiya channel reported quoting the well-informed sources.

The vaccination of the first category of beneficiaries will be completed during this week and then the second phase will begin early next week, according to the sources. It is expected that the number of beneficiaries of the vaccine will reach about 50,000 daily upon full operation of the clinics designated to provide the vaccine, the Saudi Gazette reported.

Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said earlier that coronavirus vaccines are expected to reach all regions of the Kingdom within the coming three weeks. The vaccination campaign in Saudi Arabia was launched on December 17, with Minister Al-Rabiah receiving the first dose in Riyadh. A senior ministry official stated that the number of registered people to receive the vaccine may exceed one million within a couple of days and that the second dose of vaccination will be administered during a period of one week to 10 days after receiving the first dose.

It was announced that three million doses of the vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech will arrive in the Kingdom by the end of May 2021. Pfizer will deliver one million doses of the vaccine by the end of February 2021.
A British security firm has been accused of tipping off American security forces so they could assassinate Irans top security commander.

G4S, which handles security at Baghdad airport, yesterday denied the allegation by the regime in Tehran.

General Qassem Soleimani was blown up by missiles near the airport last January on the orders of Donald Trump, who called him the number one terrorist anywhere in the world.

A British security firm has been accused of tipping off American security forces so they could assassinate Irans top security commander. G4S, which handles security at Baghdad airport, yesterday denied the allegation by the regime in Tehran

Several other officials also died in the drone strike, including Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis, a prominent Iraqi-Iranian military commander.

Tehrans prosecutor-general Ali Al-Qasi Mehr told a state news service that G4S was responsible for securing flights at the airport and claimed as soon as General Soleimani and his party arrived, elements in the company provided information about them to the terrorists.

A G4S spokesman said: In response to recent, completely unfounded speculation, G4S wishes to make clear that it had absolutely no involvement in the attack on Qassem Soleimani and Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Soleimani, one the most powerful and sinister figures in the Iranian regime, was believed to be planning attacks on US diplomats and military personnel in the region.
India may impose anti-subsidy duty on imports of a particular kind of rubber from South Korea as the commerce ministry has recommended for the same after concluding an investigation.

The commerce ministrys investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has conducted the probe to see whether the subsidy programmes of South Korea for exports of Styrene Butadiene Rubber to India is impacting the domestic industry.

The DGTR concluded that the product has been exported to India from Korea is subsidised and due to this, the domestic industry has suffered material injury.

The authority is of the view that imposition of duty is required to offset subsidization and injury. Therefore, authority considers it necessary and recommends imposition of anti-subsidy duty on imports, DGTR has said in a notification.

The finance ministry takes the final decision to impose the duty.

The recommended duty was in the range between 1.89 per cent and 4.06 per cent on the landed value of the product in India.

Indian Synthetic Rubber Pvt Ltd and Reliance Industries Ltd had filed an application before the authority for initiation of anti-Subsidy investigation concerning the imports from Korea.

The product finds its primary usage in the production of tyres and tyre retread compounds. The other areas of usage include houseware mats, shoe sole and heels, chewing gum, food container sealants, conveyor belts, adhesives, automobiles mats, brake and clutch pads, and rubber toys.

Countervailing or anti-subsidy duty is a country-specific duty which is imposed to safeguard domestic industry against unfair trade subsidies provided by the local governments of the exporting nations.
Employees of Woori Bank hold a meeting clad in casual attire after the new dress code went into effect at the lender earlier this year. / Courtesy of Woori Bank





By Kim Bo-eun







Banks have become increasingly wary as tech companies expand their portfolio of financial services.







Tech companies hold immense potential, not only due to the traffic their platforms generate but also due to their flexible working culture which facilitates the development of new ideas.







This is why traditional financial firms are increasingly making new attempts to change their corporate culture, which has remained one of the most conservative and rigid among other industries.







Hana Bank is the latest lender to join the trend of getting rid of uniforms.







"In order for innovation to take place, we first need to create a working environment that is conducive to it," Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo said in a recent note to employees.







"Let us make adopting a casual dress code the starting point for employees to have confidence and offer more sophisticated financial services to customers."







A Hana Bank official said the decision to do away with uniforms was made based on a survey of employees.







For male employees, the lender introduced a no-tie dress code in April 2018.







Hana Bank also introduced a new system in which employees address each other by nicknames, which has replaced the conventional way of addressing senior staff by their job titles.







The new system, however, is not catching on quickly, given the decades-old office culture at the bank.







"Employees have registered their nicknames on the system. It will likely take some time, though, to get used to the new names," the Hana official said.







KB Kookmin Bank became the first local lender to abandon uniforms.







"Only lower-level female employees at bank branches were required to wear uniforms. Employees in senior levels did not have to wear uniforms  which created a divide," a KB Kookmin Bank official said.







"Through the elimination of uniforms we intend to create a horizontal corporate culture and enable flexible thinking."







He said, however, that changing the organizational culture would require the firm to take multiple measures in addition to a change in dress code, and that it would likely take time to see the effects of these changes.







Kookmin Bank has also been taking other measures to this end such as changing desk settings. Those in managerial positions are conventionally assigned larger desks which are positioned to oversee team members, but the format was changed so that managers sit in the same line of desks as team members.







Shinhan Bank also abolished uniforms for bank tellers last year.







Lenders have recognized that only requiring lower-level female employees at bank branches to wear uniforms could be a form of gender-based discrimination.







Woori Bank followed suit in June this year, but adopted a casual dress code for all employees.







The banks' measures come amid the rapid growth of new players in the industry such as the digital lender Kakao Bank.







The lender, located in the tech cluster of Pangyo, south of Seoul, is challenging traditional banks with its young workforce and the energetic working culture of a startup.







At Kakao, all employees come to work clad in attire of their choice and address each other by English names. Employees also address the bank CEO by his English name, which is still regarded by many at conventional banks as awkward and possibly rude.







Employees at Kakao agree that this enables freer discussions, on a more equal basis.







Kakao Bank also does not have a separate room for its CEO, who works in the same area as other employees.







Kakao Bank, which was launched in July 2017, has secured over 12 million users and its earnings are growing fast after it posted its first annual surplus last year.







The bank's growth is attributed to its user friendly mobile applications and new innovative products not offered by conventional lenders.


Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) asks questions during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to discuss election security and the 2020 election process in Washington on Dec. 16, 2020. (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

Hawley Doubles Down on Objecting to Electoral Results, Pushes Back on Pressure From McConnell: Report

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has doubled down on objecting to Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, despite pressure from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Hawley put out a statement Thursday afternoon in which he reiterated the reasons for why he is choosing to object to the electoral vote count on Jan. 6.

I was unable to join this mornings call, but I understand the Leader gave me the opportunity to share my concerns regarding the upcoming Joint Session, Hawley said in a written statement, in response to McConnell, Axios reported.

According to the report, McConnell held a conference call with Senate Republicans on Thursday morning in which he questioned Hawley multiple times about his intent for the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress. However, McConnell got no reply as Hawley was not on the call.

Hawleys office did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment.

Thursday morning, Hawley became the first senator to commit to objecting to contested electoral college votes on Jan. 6, 2021, prompting criticism from both sides of the aisle. He will join a growing number of Republican lawmakers like Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) who will file an objection in the House.

The senator said that his constituents are deeply angry and disillusioned, and are frustrated that Congress has not taken any meaningful action to investigate the voter fraud claims, with the exception of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) who held a Senate hearing on election irregularities earlier this month.

I intend to object during the certification process on January 6 in order to force these issues to the fore, and to point out the unprecedented failure of states like Pennsylvania to follow their own election laws and the unprecedented efforts of the Big Tech corporations to interfere with this election, Hawley added.

Congress convenes on Jan. 6 to count electoral votes, the final step to certifying a president-elect under the Electoral College system. Electors gathered on Dec. 14 to cast ballots for the presidential candidate that won the most votes in their states, submitting certificates of ascertainment to Washington. In seven states, alternate slates of electors cast ballots for President Donald Trump, even though the vote count showed that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was ahead.

Republicans have been considering ways to contest the election results, which may end up swinging the outcome in favor of Trump if the claims of fraud are allowed to be investigated and shown to be true. One way forward following Hawleys announcement is objecting to electoral votes in crucial swing states where allegations of fraud have emerged like Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Objections require both a representative and a senator to sign. If objections get the required support, they trigger both chambers withdrawing from the joint session to debate for two hours and vote on whether to uphold the challenge. A simple majority in each chamber is needed to uphold the challenge.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
The year 2020 proved to be a year of profound disruptions with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic which triggered major economic and societal changes in the country. The economy faced major challenges amidst nationwide lockdown, labour disruptions, demand contraction and capital inadequacy, among other issues.

However, despite various concerns, the Private Equity (PE) space showed optimism as the PE investment activity largely kept pace and momentum of the previous year. During the initial months of slowdown, private equity investors showed a more cautious approach focussing on existing portfolio. But as the likely impact on various sectors started to take shape, the PE investors went into full drive to cherry pick better assets. Typically, economic disruptions have proven to be a good time for private equity industry to build better portfolios. Therefore, by end of 2020, total PE investments worth $38.2 billion were recorded, which was in line with the $38.9 billion investments in the previous year. Growth-stage rounds bagged highest investment of $15 billion, followed by late-stage rounds with investment of $11.2 billion.

Reliance Group's Jio Platforms and Retail Ventures attracted marquee investors but even beyond that, the private equity players were extremely active on the investment side. Healthcare was an obvious centre of focus, amidst the ongoing pandemic, touching a record high of $2.5 billion investments. Technology sector, which has been least impacted by the pandemic, attracted investments of $5.8 billion and despite major concerns, Real Estate sector also managed to raise $4.8 billion mainly on the back of investments in RMZ Corporation. Among other sectors, Education attracted investments of $1.3 billion. The deal activity has demonstrated that the private equity players in India are quite positive about the long-term potential of the country and were unperturbed by the negative data around GDP decline and economic slowdown, which were seen as short-term blips driven by a black swan event like COVID-19 pandemic.

While things looked promising on the investment front, PE exits were muted on expected lines. There was no hurry to exit as it would have meant a suboptimal return to their investors, especially when the economic outlook of 2021 looks promising. There were valuation and expectation mismatch between buyers and sellers and therefore, exits showed a downhill trajectory with a significant decline of 56 percent as compared to the previous year.

2020 proved to be a challenging year for businesses and they needed to focus on remaining relevant. COVID-19 forced organisations to develop strong backends and technology has been a crucial factor behind survival of several businesses. Private Equity industry has ably guided and worked with the management of their portfolio companies, enabling them to navigate through the challenging environment.

India is likely to be one of the fastest growing major economies over next decade and therefore it is an extremely attractive market for the global private equity industry. With the onset of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, corporate India focussing on recapturing demand and building organizational resilience along with supportive government policies is expected to create a more conducive business environment for the investor community. The Private Equity investor outlook for 2021 remains extremely positive.

(Mohit Ralhan is the Managing Partner & CIO at TIW PE.)

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

"Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Moneycontrol."
A controversial list ranking iconic Australian ice creams from best to worst has sparked a heated debate on social media.

Compiled by Good Food Australia, it names the Monaco Bar - a block of vanilla ice cream sandwiched between soft chocolate biscuit - as the nation's most-loved classic. But few are convinced.

The popular Golden Gaytime is second, followed by Mango Weis Bar in third and Tropical Frosty Fruits in fourth.

Lemon Calippo is fifth, with Pine Lime Splice close behind in sixth and Lemonade Icy Pole in seventh.

Choc Mint Drumstick and Rainbow Paddle Pop are eighth and ninth respectively, while Bubble O'Bill - a sweet blend of strawberry, chocolate and caramel ice cream - rounds out the top 10.

Outraged Australians flooded Twitter to slam the ranking, with one man branding it 'an irresponsible and deeply flawed analysis'.

Scroll down for video



A controversial ranking of iconic Australian ice creams (including L-R Choc Mint Drumsticks, Mango Weis Bars, Bubble O'Bills, Rainbow Paddle Pops, Tropical Frosty Fruits and Golden Gaytime) has been slammed on social media

Poll What's your favourite ice cream? Monaco Bar Golden Gaytime Mango Weis Bar Tropical Frosty Fruits Lemon Calippo Pine Lime Splice Lemonade Icy Pole Choc Mint Drumstick Rainbow Paddle Pop Bubble O'Bill What's your favourite ice cream? Monaco Bar 10 votes

Golden Gaytime 106 votes

Mango Weis Bar 89 votes

Tropical Frosty Fruits 12 votes

Lemon Calippo 7 votes

Pine Lime Splice 30 votes

Lemonade Icy Pole 6 votes

Choc Mint Drumstick 34 votes

Rainbow Paddle Pop 14 votes

Bubble O'Bill 27 votes Now share your opinion





The victory of the Monaco Bar sparked the most passionate responses.

'This is legit the worst ranking of anything ever,' one man tweeted.

'Wtf is a "Monaco Bar"? Was this written by an alien with an inverted sense of taste?'

A woman agreed, writing: 'Monaco Bar at number one?! These are some controversial ice cream opinions.'

'Good list, but clearly rendered invalid by not having Golden Gaytime at the top. Monaco Bar? As if!' added another.

One man said he 'didn't recognise' many of the flavours on the list.

A second took issue with the inclusion of the Choc Mint Drumstick, saying there was 'no way' it should be in the top 10.

'Who decided this? Only Mango Weis in my top 10,' added a third.

A fourth retweeted the list with the sarcastic caption: 'The definitive list of Aussie ice creams. Apparently.'

Another said he had never tasted the Rainbow Paddle Pop, slamming its spot at number nine.

The victory of the Monaco Bar - a block of vanilla ice cream sandwiched between soft chocolate biscuit (pictured) - sparked the most passionate responses

Australia's top 10 ice creams 1. Monaco Bar 2. Golden Gaytime 3. Mango Weis Bar 4. Tropical Frosty Fruits 5. Lemon Calippo 6. Pine Lime Splice 7. Lemonade Icy Pole 8. Choc Mint Drumstick 9. Rainbow Paddle Pop 10. Bubble O'Bill Source: Good Food Australia Advertisement

One acid-tongued critic didn't mince his words, writing: 'This list is a disgrace.'

However some felt the ranking had merit, with one woman tweeting: 'It's Drumsticks top for me, but on the whole agree.'

A second said it was 'nearly spot on', only taking issue with the absence of Peters Raspberry Ripple.

'An outrageous number one, but strong list overall,' a third agreed, while a fourth wrote: 'This wins the internet for today.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 07:02:03|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Dec. 31, 2020 shows the Big Ben of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain. Britain and the European Union (EU) have started a new chapter in their relationship as the Brexit transition period ended at 2300 (2300 GMT) on Thursday. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Britain and the European Union (EU) have started a new chapter in their relationship as the Brexit transition period ended at 2300 GMT Thursday.

In an earlier message, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britain to seize the moment as the country embarks on a new journey as an independent global trading nation.

"The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands. We take on this duty with a sense of purpose and with the interests of the British public at the heart of everything we do," he said.

"11 p.m. (2300 GMT) on 31 December marks a new beginning in our country's history and a new relationship with the EU as their biggest ally. This moment is finally upon us and now is the time to seize it."

Also on Thursday, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II gave Royal assent to a new law spelling out Britain's future relationship with the EU, after the bill was approved in both the House of Commons (lower house of the British Parliament) and the House of Lords (upper house).

However, some major changes are still taking place from 2300 GMT regarding rules on travel, immigration, commerce and security, among others.

The free movement of people between Britain and the EU countries has ended, replaced in Britain by a "points-based" immigration system. Britons who want to stay in most of the EU for more than 90 days in any 180-day period will need a visa.

British police have lost instant access to EU-wide databases on criminal records, fingerprints and wanted persons.

Meanwhile, concerns remain over disruptions in ports like Dover due to border checks and new customs rules.

Rajneesh Narula, the John H. Dunning Chair of International Business Regulation at the Henley Business School, University of Reading, has warned that there could be difficult months ahead as many large issues are left out of the current deal, which will add uncertainties to Britain-EU future relations.

Most notably, the trade deal did little for the services sector, which makes up 80 percent of the British economy.

Although Britain ended its membership of the EU on Jan. 31, 2020, it has followed EU rules during a transition period which expired at 2300 GMT on Thursday.

The EU and Britain announced on Dec. 24 that they had reached an agreement that will govern their trade and security relationship starting from Jan. 1, 2021.

The deal, which came after nine months of arduous negotiations between Britain and the EU, is the biggest bilateral trade deal signed by either side, covering trade worth around 668 billion British pounds (913 billion U.S. dollars).

The EU is Britain's largest trading partner. Britain is the EU's third-largest trading partner in goods, after the United States and China. Enditem
AUSTIN  Rep. Michelle Beckley, D-Carrollton, doesnt get any special access to the coronavirus vaccine just because shes a state official.

A pre-existing condition makes her more susceptible to the virus, and that puts her in group 1B, the second tier of people on the states priority list for getting the vaccine.

Her priority designation follows that of group 1A  first responders, health care workers and nursing home residents.

So when the state announced Tuesday that vaccine providers could immediately begin inoculating members of the second group, which also includes anyone 65 and older, Beckley called around.

For hours.

Four providers couldnt give her the vaccine, but for different reasons  one wasnt open, another said it only had enough doses for medical workers, a third ran out of its supply and a fourth was going back and forth with her over a convoluted email chain.

It didnt make sense. A day earlier, Gov. Greg Abbott said state data showed a significant portion of Texas coronavirus vaccine allotment was sitting on shelves.

The commissioner of the Department of State Health Services urged all providers to immediately begin inoculating members of the second group, saying he didnt want any dose unused.

But on the ground, providers across the state say theyve run out of supply  and many still havent worked their way through the first priority group of front-line workers.

And while Beckley eventually was able to book a coveted appointment next week, others in group 1B havent had such luck  and theyre unsure where to turn or who to consult to get a shot.

Theres all confusion, Beckley said. Theres nothing smooth about this.

Discrepancies in numbers

As of Wednesday, state data indicates 205,463 people have received coronavirus vaccine, while 678,925 doses have been distributed to vaccine providers  pharmacies, hospitals and other entities  across Texas.

But that data doesnt fully capture the scene. The states reporting system experienced an ingestion error over the Christmas holiday that has excluded about 48,000 doses from official data. Another 27,000 vaccines arent uploaded yet because some providers have used the wrong number to classify themselves while submitting immunization data to the state, DSHS spokeswoman Lara Anton said.

Those issues should be fixed over the coming days.

Then, another 144,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine  one of two currently approved by the federal government  were delayed during shipment, arriving a week later than intended. Providers didnt begin receiving those doses until Monday or Tuesday, but they were reflected in the states data earlier.

On ExpressNews.com: Latest information about getting the vaccine

And theres the usual reporting lag. Providers have 24 hours to submit their vaccination data to the state, and then it takes another 24 hours for that data to be reflected on the public dashboard.

DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt first had issued a letter to providers urging them to use up all available supply last week, when the extent of those shipment delays and technical errors wasnt fully known, Anton said Wednesday. The memo also said a significant portion of doses were sitting on shelves.

Its possible that the letter overstated the number of vaccines sitting on shelves, Anton said. A lot of things (were) contributing to numbers looking lower than somebody thought they should be.

Now, as the state moves into the second eligible group of Texans, the issue is supply.

Anton said the states not currently in a spot to hand out extra vaccine doses, since its waiting for a weekly allotment from the federal government. Sometimes, it doesnt know the number of doses it will receive until the last minute.

Supply shortages

Bexar County has about 140,000 front-line health care workers and long-term care residents eligible to get the vaccine first, but the county received only about 50,000 doses.

Another 40,000 doses supposedly are on the way, but it still is not enough to vaccinate everyone in group 1A, which has had to remain the priority, said Colleen Bridger, interim director of San Antonios Metropolitan Health District.

As of Tuesday, more than 31,000 people in the county had been vaccinated, a number increasing by the day.

County Judge Nelson Wolff, who was vaccinated Wednesday, assured the public that doses are not sitting on the shelf at University Hospital, the countys public district hospital.

Shelley Kofler, a spokeswoman for University Health, said it had received 6,475 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and used more than 6,000 as of Wednesday.

Once more supply is available, Bridger said Metro Health will conduct large-scale rollouts of the vaccine  particularly in medically underserved areas of the county.

Late Thursday, University Health announced it will begin vaccinating people in group 1B on Monday at the Wonderland of Americas shopping center. The free doses of the Moderna vaccine will be given out from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday until the supply runs out.

CHRISTUS Health in San Antonio is preparing to start offering the vaccine to people in group 1B on a larger scale next week. A spokeswoman for Methodist Healthcare said more details about expanding vaccinations will be available in the coming days.

Confusion abounds

H-E-B, one of the largest retailers in Texas offering the coronavirus vaccine, exhausted its initial supply quickly. It received about 28,000 doses on Christmas Eve, about 100 doses per store, and those dont last very long, said Dya Campos, H-E-Bs director of government affairs.

H-E-B is not currently offering the vaccine to people in the second priority group since its still working through eligible front-line workers and long-term-care residents.

Once the pharmacy receives more doses, it will open up an online scheduler where more people can sign up to receive the vaccine, she said.

The issue with vaccinating 1B right now is supply, Campos said. As soon as we receive more supply, we can broaden the group that we are currently vaccinating.  Theres not a lot of lead time in the process. That can be frustrating for the general public. Its a very complicated and fast-moving process.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County hospitals, alarmed by surge, plead with the public to stay home

Smaller, local providers are experiencing similar issues. At 38th Street Pharmacy in Austin, co-owner Jeffrey Warnken said he received 200 doses of the vaccine Monday  and hes almost through his allotment already. The rest of the available shots already are scheduled to go into peoples arms.

You want to send us more doses? he said. We will vaccinate these people, this is great. But I dont have any. All my doses have been accounted for.

And while those in the second priority group are struggling to find available doses, some people in group 1A say they still are left on the sidelines.

Margo Rocha, a San Antonio resident who works as a monitor technician at University Hospital, said she received her first vaccine dose about two weeks ago, but her husband, who works directly with patients at a gastroenterology practice, has been told he doesnt qualify as a front-line worker to receive the vaccine.

Im happy I got it, and Im not happy he couldnt, Rocha said Tuesday. Hes willing to get it, but he doesnt know who to ask except (his) employer, but the employer is told no.  If you cant go to your employer, who do you go to?

Tony Dasher, a professor at the Feik School of Pharmacy at the University of the Incarnate Word, said many local pharmacies likely were caught by surprise when the state suddenly authorized the vaccination of people in Phase 1B on Tuesday, making it difficult for pharmacists to coordinate the administration of the vaccine while still managing their businesses.

The state needs to step up and ensure that theres good communication and that people know theres going to be an adequate supply of vaccines, and they need to get that supply of vaccines into the community now, and not later, Dasher said.

Pharmacy has really prepped for this and they are ready, but unfortunately there are other limiting factors that are going to lead to dissatisfaction at the end of the day, he added. I think pharmacies will do their part if the state does theirs.

Anton, the DSHS spokeswoman, reiterated that because supply still is limited, members of group 1B should check in regularly with their primary care doctors and other providers about the availability of doses.

The governors office, meanwhile, touted the statewide effort to vaccinate Texans as quickly as possible, while doubling down on the assertion that some providers may not be making use of vaccines provided to them.

With new shipments arriving each week provided at no cost, the state of Texas urges providers to swiftly vaccinate as many people as possible from the at-risk groups rather than these life-saving vaccines and medications sitting on shelves, Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze said in an email.
Predators taking advantage of women advertising 'free' lodging in return for sex

Research suggests 30,000 women in UK have been propositioned since March

Over 20 men contacted by undercover reporters posing as a 21-year-old student offered free accommodation in exchange for sexual acts

Thousands of women are being exploited in a growing 'sex for rent' scandal during the coronavirus pandemic, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Predators are taking advantage of young women by advertising for 'free' lodging, in exchange for taking part in sexual acts.

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American billionaires behind US website Craigslist are profiting from the exploitation of vulnerable young British women.

Men use the site to target university students  with some even specifying they seek 'Oxbridge' or 'first class' graduates.

Research from the charity Shelter suggests 30,000 women in the UK have been propositioned with explicit 'arrangements' since March. The arrangements are illegal and those convicted can be jailed for seven years, but there has never been a prosecution. Our investigation reveals:

Disgusting adverts are posted every day from across the UK  with a surge going online during the last national lockdown;

Former developer Fredrick Allard, 70, offered a bedroom in his six bedroom Wiltshire house in exchange for weekly erotic massages

More than 20 men contacted by undercover reporters posing as a 21-year-old student offered free accommodation in exchange for sexual acts;

An HMRC worker, a former member of RAF Support Command and a retired builder made disgusting propositions for a 'free rent' agreement;

Shameless Craigslist bosses have ignored letters from MPs and Government ministers asking them to stamp out the problem.

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Labour MP Peter Kyle last night accused Craigslist of behaving like 'pimps' and demanded the 'squalid practice which sexually exploits and enslaves young people' be stopped.

'Just because they are frappuccino-drinking tech gurus doesn't hide the squalid way they are making their money,' he said.

'These predators see every crisis, both personal and public health, as an opportunity for exploitation. These people shouldn't be free to advertise their crimes, they should be before a jury answering for their crimes.'

The room in Edinburgh offered by David Price 28 in exchange for sex

Mr Kyle is calling for a change in the legislation to make it easier to prosecute offenders who are currently 'laughing at the law'. Landlords who offer tenants rent-free accommodation in return for sex are committing a criminal offence under Section 52 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

A YouGov poll commissioned by Shelter asked 1,266 private renters in England whether they had been propositioned by a landlord. A total of 0.7 per cent said they had, and Shelter says that suggests 30,000 female private renters were offered 'sex for rent' arrangements between March and September. It comes after research in 2018 found 250,000 women in the UK had been offered free or reduced rent in exchange for sexual favours over five years.

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A quick search for 'free rent' on Craigslist brings up pages of sordid offers across university cities, including Oxford, Bristol and Brighton. Rogue landlords also operate in villages and towns  with disturbing ads in Kent, Wiltshire and Devon.

In a shocking example of brazen exploitation, one advert offering sex for rent was titled: 'Has Covid-19 stolen your future?' Another, based in West London, advertised for an 'eager to please and eager to succeed university student or recent graduate who may have found herself without accommodation... because of the pandemic'. The men, often over the age of 40, predominantly target women between the ages of 18 and 25. Posing as a 21-year-old student, Mail reporters said they had lost their job due to Covid, could no longer afford rent and needed a place to stay.

Fredrick Allard, 70, sent texts demanding massages in exchange for accommodation in his six-bedroom Wiltshire home

All of the men immediately requested pictures. After sending pictures of their face, reporters were repeatedly asked for 'full body' photos as well as their height and bust size. Disgusting predators also asked whether they had a boyfriend and if they were 'open-minded'. Many began sending disgusting messages outlining their expectations.

Via WhatsApp video calls and Zoom, reporters spoke to three men who gave them a tour of the accommodation. They included developer Fredrick Allard in Tidworth, Wiltshire, who said he expected naked massages in exchange for a room in his six-bedroom semi-detached house.

HMRC worker David Price, 28, offered a room in his flat in a trendy part of Edinburgh in exchange for sex 'once or twice a week'. And former RAF Support Command member Lyndon Savage, 55, said the reporter would be sharing his bed and that he enjoyed 'pleasure'.

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Craigslist, a classified adverts website founded by Craig Newmark in 1995, hosts hundreds of disturbing posts. Mr Newmark, 68, who is thought to be worth 1 billion, stepped back from managing Craigslist in 2000, handing over the reins to current chief executive Jim Buckmaster.

Mr Buckmaster, 58, is a 'social anarchist' who used to grind his own soybeans to make tofu. Despite being worth more than 1 billion, he paints himself as a man of the people: riding the bus to work and wearing flip-flops to business meetings.

Lyndon Savage, 55, offered to share his one bedroom flat with undercover reporters and give them 150 per week in exchange for sexual favours

The issue of 'sex for rent' was raised by Mr Kyle three years ago. In 2018, the Crown Prosecution Service issued revised guidance on 'prostitution and exploitation of prostitution offences' to include 'sex for rent' cases. The guidance suggests such arrangements could be committing the offence of causing prostitution for gain under Section 52 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

But under the current legislation, victims must be legally defined as prostitutes, adding a deterrent to vulnerable individuals who may be reluctant to come forward over fears it will adversely affect their futures.

Nick Dent, criminal defence lawyer at Kingsley Napley, said he doubted there will be any successful prosecutions under the existing legislation. He said: 'If people want this to be criminalised and investigated and prosecuted then I think it probably does require a specific statutory offence which makes it clear that that's what the purpose is.'

While platforms such as Gumtree tackled the issue as soon as it was brought to their attention, Craigslist is yet to respond to requests to stop hosting criminal posts.

The firm, which employs about 50 people in its San Francisco headquarters, is thought to be worth up to 7.5 billion. It makes money by charging a small percentage of users to post adverts, while keeping the service free for the majority. In 2010, the New York Times reported Craigslist was set to earn 23 million from sex-related revenue that year  nearly a third of its estimated annual sales of 80 million.

Shelter's Polly Neate said: 'Private renting is deeply unstable but the impact of the pandemic means many more people, especially women, are facing serious financial hardship. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Sexual harassment by landlords is a gross abuse of power.'

Craigslist, Mr Newmark and Mr Buckmaster did not respond to requests for comment.

Lyndon Savage, 55, offered to share his bed with a young woman in exchange for sexual favours

CASE STUDY 1:

Wanted to be 'pleasured'

A former member of RAF Support Command offered 'free rent' to women left unable to afford accommodation due to Covid if they 'pleasured' him.

Lyndon Savage, 55, sent explicit messages to undercover reporters who responded to his Craigslist advert for 'female only long-term house share'.

But his offer for 'free rent' entailed sharing his bed and engaging in sexual activity with him. He offered to give a Daily Mail journalist posing as a 21-year-old student a car, a smartphone, presents and 150 a week in return for 'long-term friendship and companionship'.

Savage, from Uxbridge, west London, promised he'd 'look after' the reporter if she 'pleasured' him. He outlined in graphic detail the sexual acts he expected them to engage in.

Savage did not respond to requests for comment.

HMRC worker David Price, 28, video called an undercover reporter on his lunch break to discuss a sex for rent arrangement in his Edinburgh flat

CASE STUDY 2:

Asked for breast size and pictures

David Price, 28, posted an advert on Craigslist for a 'lockdown flatmate  free room' in October.

Edinburgh resident Price, who works for HMRC, said: 'Man looking for female flatmate for companionship and more during lockdown'.

Reporters responded, posing as a 20-year-old student who had lost her job.

Price then asked for pictures of the reporter including a 'full body pic'.

He also asked about her breast size. Speaking via WhatsApp, Price said he would expect 'company and sex' once or twice a week instead of rent.

When approached, Price said he posted out of 'curiosity' with 'no intention of going through with it' and was not aware it was an offence.

Scottish law is different and illegality cannot be assumed without police investigation.

Former developer Fredrick Allard, 70

CASE STUDY 3:

'I'd be expecting something in return'

It began how any video call between a landlord and a prospective tenant might. Starting at the top of his six-bedroom home, house-proud Fredrick Allard showed off the rooms he was advertising. Complete with double beds, TV, wifi, and a new bathroom, they were a 'great deal', he said.

But after giving a 20-minute tour around the semi-detached house in leafy Tidworth, Wiltshire, the retired builder went to his bedroom, lay down, and made it clear he was expecting something in return. 'Nothing is for nothing in this life,' he said.

Allard, who claimed to be 50 but is 70 according to the electoral roll, had posted an advert for a 'free room' for a 'single attractive young female' on Craigslist in October.

Posing as a 21-year-old graduate who had lost her job due to the pandemic, our undercover reporter contacted the homeowner about the listing. Allard immediately requested a picture of the reporter, before texting: 'You do understand the room's not completely free, I would be expecting something off you in return.'

Asked what he meant, he said: 'It's a good deal, no bills or deposit or rent... ime sure your not shy what you offering [sic].'

The reporter sent a picture of her face, but he requested more photographs, asking her to send 'a nice picture of yourself as if you interested [sic]'. He said he was seeking a 'weekly arrangement', adding: 'I like giving massages and pleasuring a woman. Anything else would be nice. What are you prepaired to do for me? [sic]'

When the reporter asked him to explain what he was expecting, he said Craigslist was a site for more 'personal' arrangements, adding: 'Normally you would go on a site like SpareRoom.com or roomtolet... but obviously you're not in a position where you can do that because they'd want, like, a month's money up front plus a deposit plus references and normally a guarantor... I don't charge anything. I pay all the bills myself.'

Allard was reluctant to outline what he would want in exchange for the lodging. He said he had to be 'careful' and he was concerned he might be being recorded.

He added: 'You are a college student so you should've been around the block a few times... nothing's free in this life is it, you understand? What I expect from you. Well, we're both adults, well nearly anyhow, you're nearly an adult.'

Allard said he would like to give and receive a weekly massage from the reporter 'with a little bit of friendliness and a little bit of touching' in exchange for the room.

He assured her he wouldn't 'push' for anything else, adding: 'Trust me, I'm a gentleman.'

When reporters later tried to contact Allard, he claimed they had the wrong number, hung up and blocked the callers.

We must fight back against this abuse

Commentary by Peter Kyle MP

An internet search for 'free accommodation' brings up hundreds of ads such as these: 'Sofa bed free for homeless girl', 'Share my bed for free', 'Free room for woman, 18-30', 'Seeking female housemate, no bills, 0'.

The advertisements, mostly placed via the online small-ads service Craigslist, are as sick and brazen as they appear. Predators are offering rooms or beds for free to young people, usually women, in return for sex.

And although both the website and the Government are aware it is going on, they are not making the slightest effort to prevent it.

Men openly include their phone numbers, and sometimes their names and addresses, or even their photographs  yet not one in this country has been arrested and prosecuted.

These sex offenders are so blatant, even Inspector Clouseau could find them and lock them up. It staggers me that ministers will not take action.

When a journalist alerted me to the practice, and the dangers it poses to vulnerable young people, I hesitated to believe it. The evidence on the screen seemed too outrageous, and I took some convincing that it wasn't a hoax.

I could not understand how the law allowed this to happen. In my naivety, I also assumed that, once the Government and the police were made aware of it, action would be taken.

In 2017, I wrote to then Justice Secretary David Lidington. He replied that offering to accept sex in lieu of rent was an incitement to prostitution and so was illegal under Section 52 of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act.

But six months later, nothing had been done. The Ministry of Justice had not provided me with evidence that any perpetrators had been brought to justice or given so much as a caution.

I challenged the Government, asking why it was not enforcing the law, and I wrote to then Home Secretary Amber Rudd. She set up a meeting, and was as horrified as I had been. A Home Office inquiry was instigated, but this has disappeared with no action taken.

Subsequent home secretaries Sajid Javid and Priti Patel have failed to engage with me to tackle the issue. Any work done to date has been simply ditched. It is incredibly frustrating. There are three steps that should be urgently taken.

First, ministers must make sure the law as it stands is enforced. This is a clear offence and it is endemic thanks to a shortage of cheap accommodation, especially in university cities. Second, the law has to be changed so those putting out adverts to exploit people in this manner are guilty of a standalone offence.

At the moment, incitement to prostitution carries a prison tariff but it also imposes a label on the victim. For a perpetrator to be found guilty, the young woman or man he exploits will become defined in law as a prostitute.

It is completely understandable that with the law as it stands, victims of this crime prefer not to press charges.

Who would want to come forward and go through that sort of trauma, especially in a test case likely to attract media attention? Make no mistake, this is abuse and exploitation. Victims can leave, but then they might be homeless. They can't turn to friends and family for help without admitting how they have been living. They frequently find themselves in a deeply unpleasant trap with no obvious means of escape.

Craigslist executives could address the issue right now, but they are showing not the slightest degree of concern. That's why the third thing I am calling for is for the Government to bring the Californian tech company to heel immediately.

Craigslist's managers refuse to acknowledge my phone calls, emails and letters.

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I feel a special venom towards this arrogant company. It seems that Silicon Valley tech bosses facilitate these awful crimes on their website but ministers just go weak at the knees instead of taking them to task. If we continue to allow this scandal to fester, countless others will be entrapped, abused and endangered. The time has come to take a stand.
The Indian government on Friday issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for passengers who will be arriving from the UK after partial resumption of flights from 8 January, 2021 amid concerns of new Covid-19 strain, which was first identified in Britain,. These SOPs shall be valid till 30 January or till further orders, whichever is earlier, the Health Ministry said today.

The guidelines came moments after Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri today said, "Operations till 23 January will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of two countries to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad only."

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will issue necessary permission for limited number of flight operations between India and UK (as per the directions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation), to the eligible airlines.

"DGCA would ensure adequate spacing between flights scheduled to arrive at Indian airports to avoid any crowding during testing protocol. DGCA will also strictly monitor that the airlines do not allow any passengers to travel from UK to India through a transit airport of third country, to ensure there are no omissions in the monitoring of those passengers," the health ministry said in a statement.

As had already been ordered, all international travellers will be required to declare as per existing procedure, their travel history (of past 14 days) and fill up the Self Declaration Form to be screened for COVID-19. 3.

The passengers coming from UK during the intervening period from 8-20 January will be mandatory following these rules issued y health ministry:

i. All passengers should submit self-declaration form on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel.

ii. All the passengers arriving from U.K. should be carrying Negative RT-PCR Test Report for which test should have been conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey. The same also shall be uploaded on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in)

iii. Airlines to ensure the availability of negative test report before allowing the passenger to board the flight.

iv.) In-flight announcements must also be made explaining the relevant information to the passengers. Relevant information in this regard shall be prominently displayed in arrival area and waiting area of the airports of arrival.

v) All the passengers arriving from UK in all international flights would be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival at the Indian airports concerned (port of entry). vii. Adequate arrangements for passengers waiting for their RT-PCR test as well as test results duly following effective isolation may also be made at the airports in conjunction with the airport authorities.

vi). The States/UTs Government concerned are requested to set up Help Desks at airports concerned to facilitate implementation of the SOP.

vii). Passengers testing positive shall be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in a separate (isolation) unit coordinated by the respective State Health Authorities. They would earmark specific facilities for such isolation and treatment and take necessary action to send the positive samples to Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) Labs.

a. If the report of the sequencing is consistent with the current SARS-CoV-2 virus genome circulating in the country; the ongoing treatment protocol including home isolation/treatment at facility level as per case severity may be followed.

b. If the genomic sequencing indicates the presence of new variant of SARSCoV-2 then the patient will continue to remain in a separate isolation unit. While necessary treatment as per the existing protocol will be given, the patient shall be tested on 14th day, after having tested positive in the initial test. The patient will be kept in the isolation facility till his sample is tested negative.

viii). Those who are found negative on testing with RT-PCR at the airport would be advised quarantine at home for 14 days and regularly followed up by the concerned State/District IDSP.

ix). The State-wise passenger manifest of the flights from UK landing at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai airports in India for the said period shall be conveyed by the Bureau of Immigration to State Government/Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) [idsp-npo@nic.in and designated e-mails provided by the respective State Governments] so that this data would be provided to the surveillance teams. This data of manifests provided by Bureau of Immigration will be supplemented by the online Self-Declaration Forms available on AIR SUVIDHA portal.

x). All the contacts of those travellers who arrived at various airports between 8th and 30th January 2021 and tested positive on arrival during the air travel would be subjected to institutional quarantine in separate quarantine centers and would be tested as per ICMR guidelines (or earlier if the passenger develops any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19). Contacts testing positive shall be accordingly further followed as mentioned in Clause (ix). (* Contacts of the suspect case are the co-passengers seated in the same row, 3 rows in front and 3 rows behind along with identified Cabin Crew)

xi. All the community contacts of those travellers who have tested positive (during home quarantine period) would be subjected to institutional quarantine in separate Quarantine Centers for 14 days and tested as per ICMR protocol.

xii. Information regarding any passenger covered within the scope of this SOP, who has moved to another State will be immediately notified to the concerned State Health Authority. If any passenger is not traceable initially or during any duration while being followed up should be immediately notified to Central Surveillance Unit of IDSP by the District Surveillance Officer.

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For a long, vaccines have been considered as one of the important human discoveries and reliable ways of preventing deadly diseases; equally true, these discoveries have been surrounded by contentious controversies and conspiracies. The digital era has only intensified the mistrust of vaccines.

After over a year of global public health crises, countries are rushing into getting their population vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine with many reported to have store excess vaccine dozes. This does not come as surprise given the intense scale of impact of the pandemic that ravaged the entire world.

The powerful nations have already begun vaccinating their people and huge dozes of the vaccines is being manufactured and distributed as per of nationwide vaccination programs.

The US and Europe as well other countries are among the front burners that toil to vaccine millions of people in the shortest time possible. In fact, the extreme selfishness being witnessed is expected given the lasting socioeconomic impact in the countries. And it was, of course, the well advanced economies that suffer a lot by the pandemic.

The global pandemic is affecting nations without discrimination. The best weapon to win the battle against the virus is global coordination. In fact, the World Health Organization, the highest healthcare body in the world, has lampooned the weak global cooperation.

It lambasted that even the powerful nations that have been acting as the leaders of the world have failed the world in many ways. The stark fact however is the global virus cannot be fought without global efforts. Both the prevention and vaccination efforts can not appear a success without coordinated efforts.

The global problems cannot be fought with nations alone. The weakening of multilateralism and globalism have taken its toll in humanity. The virus was fast enough to spread in the globe but the global effort to curtail its impact was extremely slow the result of which was disastrous and carnage.

Now that countries have discovered authorized vaccines approving through their regulatory bodies, it is feared that it would be late to save lives unless developing countries are provided with the much-needed vaccines. And, experts are accusing of powerful nations for storing excessive dozes of vaccines.

Vividly, developing countries that lack the required finance, technology and expertise have fewer advantages to access the vaccines. There are however calls from experts to provide poor nations with vaccines as health problems somewhere are challenges to everywhere.

In fact, this is not the first time controversies are hanging over vaccines. Vaccines are always surrounded by controversies and conspiracies. Public skepticism and nations' selfishness and conspiracy theorists have always been among the challenges affecting the vaccination of the world.

Also another conspiracy is that vaccines, according to conspiracy theorists, are meant to achieve certain interests of manufactures or countries of the discoveries. In this regard, vaccine-hesitant attitudes remained a challenge to this very day. This in turns has been posing a great deal of danger on the wellbeing of the people.

Vaccines have also been prone to various conspiracies. Depopulation, genetic and social engineering of generations as well as controlling of birth rates have been some of the conspiracies laid out by theorists. The number of people doubting on the efficacy of vaccines is also mind-boggling.

Generally, there are lots of reasons as to why people have been distrustful of vaccines: Many people throughout history have found it counter-intuitive that exposure to a disease could provide protection, others feel vaccination violate God's will, and others simply feel that mandatory vaccination policies violated personal liberty.

In some ways, conspiracy theorists have had factual claims though. The myth that vaccines cause autism is just the latest manifestation of the longstanding distrust of vaccination.

One of the most important blows to the perception of the safety of the vaccination program occurred in the United States in 1955, when 200,000 children in the Western U.S. were given polio vaccines that contained alive and active virus.

Roughly 40,000 developed polio, 200 were permanently paralyzed to some degree, and 10 children died. The Cutter Incident, so named because the defective vaccines were produced at the California-based Cutter Laboratories, sowed some of the strongest seeds of perceived modern safety issues with vaccines, which were crystallized in a 1982 documentary called DPT: Vaccine Roulette aired by a Washington, D.C.-based NBC affiliate. DPT was a vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, and the documentary attempted to link the pertussis portion of the shot to horrifying health effects in children, wrote Kate Wheeling, a staff writer at Pacific Standard in her article published in the outlet.

Kate also argues that just as the media helped create anti-vaccination groups like the NVIC, news organizations can contribute to the politicization of health issues, and influence how people behave. A 2015 paper in 'The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science' found that the politicization of the HPV vaccine, spurred by media coverage that gave a voice to politicians on both sides of the debate, reduced public support for the vaccine requirements, state immunization programs at large, and confidence in both doctors and government. Same is true for COVID-19 vaccine. Many have been casting doubt on the credibility of the discovered vaccines. And the social media platforms have only added distrust on the vaccine's truthfulness with many forwarding their own conspiracies.

The conspiracy theory doesn't surprise those who study the anti-vaccine phenomenon. The COVID-19 pandemic has also all the triggers rolled into one, said Matthew Hornsey, a social psychologist at the University of Queensland in Australia who studies the processes that influence people to accept or reject scientific messages. "It's frightening; it's hard to understand; it is required governments to restrict individual freedoms and it will lead to mass vaccinations. That's a perfect storm for conspiracy theories," he said.

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The combination of those opposed to vaccination and the murky world of conspiracy theories is a toxic one. "Here, people have a single issue that they have rallied behind; they don't trust vaccinations. Conspiracy theories are then selectively embraced to justify that feeling," he said. "That's why people are prepared to believe ideas that seem right."

Despite the conspiracy theories, evidence indicates that vaccination has been an effective method to prevent disease. In the United States, local and state authorities began implementing mandatory vaccination policies in the early 1800s; Boston was the first to do so in 1809.

Today, vaccinations are considered to be one of the greatest public-health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reducing deaths from preventable diseases like polio, smallpox, and measles by nearly 100 percent.

Yet opposition has never been fully eradicated. Kate argues that vaccination is not just a personal choice -- getting vaccinated protects the community as well; the more healthy people who are vaccinated against preventable diseases, the less likely it is that those who are too young, sick, or weak to get vaccinated themselves will be exposed to the disease.
The York County Rail Trail Authority has purchased more than eight miles of dormant rail line.

The York County Rail Trail Authority the has 8.45 miles of dormant rail line that is part of the Genesee & Wyoming rail line, which is located east and west of Spring Grove. The purchase is in two sections: 5.25 miles from the Penn and Heidelberg townships border to just west of Spring Grove and 3.2 miles from Main Street in Spring Grove to Stoverstown Road in West Manchester Township.

The sections have been dormant for more than 16 years.

The purchase was approved by the Surface Transportation Board under federal rail-banking law. Negotiations began in December 2017.

The acquisition was made possible through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, with matching funds provided by FirstEnergy Foundation, the Warehime Foundation, York County Community Foundation, the county of York, and individual donations.

An additional grant award from the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources will fund the design of approximately six miles of the newly acquired rail corridor. Work under this new grant will include plans for converting the rail corridor sections into trail that will connect sections of the Hanover Trolley Trail previously built in Hanover and Penn Township and Spring Grove and Jackson Township.

This acquisition is part of the authoritys response to the publics increased use of York County parks and trails during the COVID-19 pandemic, the York County Rail Trail Authority said in a press release. In 2020, use of sections of the Heritage Rail Trail increased by 242 percent as county residents turned to healthy outdoor recreation during the pandemic.
Vice President Mike Pence attends a rally in support of Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) in Savannah, Georgia, on Dec. 4, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Pence Asks Judge to Reject Push to Expand His Powers to Decide Electoral College Votes

Vice President Mike Pence asked a federal judge on Thursday to reject an effort to give him exclusive authority to decide which Electoral College votes should be counted during the upcoming joint session of Congress.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and other Republicans last week filed a lawsuit against Pence, requesting that the court grant Pence power to decide which votes to count on Jan. 6, 2021, when lawmakers will gather to observe the formal certification of states electoral votes for the president of the United States.

Pence argued that he was not the correct defendant to the lawsuit. In a Thursday filing (pdf) to U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, an attorney representing Pence wrote, A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction.

Plaintiffs earlier said that their counsel had made a meaningful attempt to reach out to Pences counsel but discussions were not successful in reaching an agreement and this lawsuit was filed, according to a filing asking for an accelerated schedule in the case.

The lawsuit concerns Pences role as president of the Senate.

In seven battleground states, Republican electors cast alternative slates of votes for President Donald Trump on Dec. 14. They alleged that Trump was the true winner in those states, alleging election fraud and contesting election officials who declared a win for Biden.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 25, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Gohmert and other Republicans argued in the lawsuit that the U.S. Constitution clearly outlines the protocol for when alternate slates of electors are presented to the president of the Senate. They say the president of the Senate has exclusive authority and sole discretion under the 12th Amendment to determine which slates of electors for a state, or neither, may be counted.

The 12th Amendment of the Constitution states that electors of each state have to meet, and ultimately send the signed and certified votes to the president of the Senate, in this case, Pence.

The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted, the 1804 amendment says.

Gohmert is among the dozen or so House members planning on challenging electoral votes during the joint session on Jan. 6, 2021. At least one senator is needed to sustain a challenge.

The power of the vice president to count or reject electoral votes is disputed.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

Petr Svab and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

A few passing clouds. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
It must be noted that the message originally written in Spanish was joined by others in Shipibo-Konibo, Quecha, Ashaninka, Awajun, Ticuna, Aimara, and sign language.

Construyamos juntos un pais en el que todas las personas tengan las mismas oportunidades! pic.twitter.com/3exDsBES9Z
Joe and Jill Biden's 2020 sendoff took an awkward turn on Thursday night after the couple's confetti cannon failed to go off live on air.

The president-elect and future first lady appeared on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC where they delivered a final message to Americans ahead of midnight.

Speaking to host Ryan Seacrest from their home, the couple congratulated essential and healthcare workers on their efforts during the pandemic and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated.

Scroll down for video

Oops! Joe and Jill Biden's 2020 sendoff fell flat on New Year's Eve after their confetti popper failed to go off live on air

The two awkwardly struggled to pop the confetti cannon after wishing everyone a happy new year on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve, but the party favor turned out to be a dud

'They did so much, they risked their lives. They've done so much for us, and we owe them, we owe them, we owe them,' Biden said.

'We're so grateful for everything they did. They left their families and their homes so that we could be safe and all Americans truly appreciate what they did for us,' Jill added.

Seacrest then asked if they had anything to share about the new COVID-19 vaccine after the couple were among the first to receive the first doses distributed earlier this month.

The pair congratulated essential and healthcare workers for their efforts in 2020

Jill urged everyone take it 'so we can all be safe', while insisting the shot was painless and resulted in no side effects.

'Oh, you have to take it and it doesn't hurt I promise!,' she said. 'So everybody has to take it so we all can be safe.'

The soon-to-be president then concluded the heartwarming interview with a message of hope to the nation ahead of his inauguration in January.

'America can do anything and I'm absolutely, positively confident, confident, that we're going to come back and come back stronger than before,' he said.

As the interview drew to a close, the couple wished viewers a happy new year before trying to set off a confetti popper.

But the festive party favor turned out to be a dud, resulting in an awkward pause live on air.

Jill was seen struggling to twist the cannon for a few seconds before finally popping the top off with no confetti.

The pair then laughed off the gaffe before signing off.
On Monday 4 January at 10am GMT in London, Judge Vanessa Baraitser of the Old Bailey Court will issue the court's decision on the extradition or not to the United States of Julian Assange, founder and editor of Wikileaks.

On 4 January 2021, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is calling on all its affiliates to mobilise to ensure that all charges against Julian Assange are dropped immediately.

This 4 January 2021 is also an opportunity for the IFJ and its affiliates to demand the release of the other 234 journalists who are in prison because they have fulfilled their duty to inform.
J&K: People joining terror ranks increases, but their shelf life has drastically decreased

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: While there has been a rise in the number of people joining terrorist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, the positive however is that their shelf life has decreased.

Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said that there has been slight increase in the number of people joining terrorist ranks when compared to 2019, the positive aspect is that 70 per cent of them have been either eliminated or arrested. Their shelf life has decreased, he added.

"We undertook over 100 successful operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Ninety operations took place in Kashmir and 13 in Jammu. As many as 225 terrorists were killed - 207 in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu division," he said.

J&K: 166 locals among 203 terrorists killed in 2020

Jammu and Kashmir recorded the elimination of 203 terrorists including 166 local militants by security forces in 2020, while 43 civilians were killed and 92 others injured in the union territory, official sources said.

The security forces have also arrested 49 terrorists and ensured surrender of nine militants during the year, they said.

This is the result of the coordinated efforts of the Army, Police and the CRPF working in the joint security grid, the officials said.

As many as 203 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year and of these 166 were locals and 37 were from Pakistan or of foreign origin, they said.

There have been 96 terror-related incidents in 2020. While 43 civilians were killed, 92 others suffered injuries in these incidents, they said.

The civilian casualties have come down as in 2019, 47 civilians were killed and 185 persons injured, they said.

During 2020, there was recovery of 14 IEDs as compared to 36 recovered in 2019, they said.

In 2019, 152 terrorists, including 120 locals and 32 of Pakistan-origin were killed by the security forces in J&K. In 2018, 215 terrorists were neutralized by security forces.

A total of 257 terrorists, 91 security personnel and 39 civilians were killed in 614 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, as per the report.

In 2017, 213 terrorists, 80 security personnel and 40 civilians were killed in 342 terror incidents in the state, the report said.

Security forces arrest terrorist associate in J&K

In 2016, a total of 150 terrorists, 82 security personnel and 15 civilians were killed in 322 terror incidents, while in 2015, 108 terrorists, 39 security personnel and 17 civilians were killed in 208 terror incidents, it said.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

A total of 110 terrorists, 47 security personnel and 28 civilians were killed in 222 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, the report said.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 9:10 [IST]
32-year-old Vidya Dubey was getting worried about her biological clock ticking and it was exactly when she stumbled upon TV actor Mona Singhs decision of freezing her eggs at the age of 34 so that she can start a family at a time more convenient and comfortable to her. She realised that the piece of information was useful for her and she arrived at a decision to opt for egg freezing. Vidya is not the only one, in todays time many women are exploring this option. The acceptance of the once-considered social taboo is increasing in our society.Image: ShutterstockIn India, many Bollywood celebrities, authors and journalists, who are considered as influencers, have opted for this option and also motivated many others to do so. Internationally, Sofia Vergara and Kim Kardashian too are promoters of this new modern science that is giving women the option to be able to take control of their lives. Even companies like Apple and Facebook had encouraged this procedure in 2014 and helped their female employees the comfort of egg freezing and had reportedly paid their employees for it.The new-age fertilisation procedure is providing the women of todays time to dedicate ample amounts of time to their career, relationship and understanding the nuances of married life. Egg freezing, started in the 1980s for women with cancer so that they can preserve their eggs before losing them out because of chemotherapy, is the procedure that helps to fulfill all the goals of women and enables them to enjoy motherhood when they want.Here are some of the more factors behind an upsurge in egg freezing in India:
Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:05 pm

At the end of December, President Donald Trump signed two bipartisan bills led by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground. The two bills work to strengthen grid security and improve energy efficiency in the Southwest Washington region.

The Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act and Grid Modernization Research and Development Act were included in the funding package approved by the United States House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in December.

These energy solutions Im leading tackle two important needs: improving security of our energy grid from cyberattacks and natural disasters, and improving the durability of our energy sources, Herrera Beutler said in a news release. Im pleased that Congress has approved these two critical pieces of bipartisan legislation to increase the security, reliability, and affordability of energy for Southwest Washington residents, which will help lead our region to a more secure energy future.
Tired of the fact that most curse words drag in innocent uninvolved parties, two Indian women are putting together a glossary of desi alternatives that dont take a dump on women, the differently abled, sexual minorities or those from castes seen as lower.

Friends Tamanna Mishra and Neha Thakur, a communications consultant and AirBnB host respectively, started The Gaali Project in September. It began as a crowdsourced campaign conducted via Google forms. The women asked people to send in their favourite swear words that didnt drag down another person, and  using the handles @thegaaliproject on Instagram and Facebook  began explaining which ones were good and why.

So, words like guldu (Kannada) and bhakchonhar (Bhojpuri), both literally meaning blind and used to indicate that someone is foolish, were vetoed for their inherent bias, in this case against the differently abled.

Those that made the cut include lyadhkhor, Bengali for addict of sloth, and used to call someone a chronic procrastinator or lazy layabout; bawaseer ka naasoor, Urdu for piles wound, used to describe someone whos a pain in the backside; and the Marathi use of dukkar or pig to indicate that someone is obstinate or annoying.

For years it had bothered them, the women say, that even as humour evolved, with women and men taking to stand-up and streaming platforms and telling of new kinds of lived experiences, the punchlines often continued to bash the already marginalised.

New points of view are emerging. But in many instances, theyre incorporating language thats extremely regressive and hateful, says Tamanna Mishra, 37, co-founder of The Gaali Project.

Points of view are emerging that are really important for the evolution of the ways we think and act. But in many instances, theyre incorporating language thats extremely regressive and hateful, says Mishra, 37.

Globally, over the past decade, there has been a push to reclaim words (slut walks, pussy marches are some examples) and change the terms with which we express anger, frustration, disappointment to ease some of the misogyny and inherent bias in the way we curse. For Mishra and Thakur too, the concern was the long-term implications of traditional swear words  particularly the easy banter about violence against women.

We thought the only way to bring about change would be to make it fun. So rather than preach about which curse words are wrong, we thought wed bring alternative ones into focus, says Thakur, 37, a former data analyst.

We thought the only way to bring about change would be to make it fun. So rather than preach about which curse words are wrong, we thought wed bring alternative ones into focus, says Neha Thakur, 37, a former data analyst and co-founder of The Gaali Project.

So far, the women have received more than 800 responses to their poll, from across 15 states. About 30% of the words submitted are still misogynistic and / or born from prejudice, but a lot of the curse words theyve collected are funny and endearing.

Theres aab dabbe, a Kashmiri term that literally means box made of water, and is used to call out a person with no substance; bhakarmallu from Jharkhand, a Nagpuri word meaning overconfident idiot; bhakkua, an Odia term meaning supreme fool.

It takes a wide network of checks before the women accept a term into their glossary. Typically, they depend on independent research and at least one conversation with an impartial party who knows the language. We dont want to end up promoting something biased by accident, Thakur says.

There are now words in their collection in Assamese, Haryanvi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and of course Hindi. So far, we havent got anything from Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. Were still looking, Thakur says.

Priyanka Batra, 36, a Punjabi from Mumbai, contributed a couple of her favourite gaalis and was happy to see both accepted. Her first was baawdi poonch, literally a tail that wags incessantly, used for someone whos lost the plot or is talking nonsense, and chittar khaane aa (literally, come get your slipper), commonly used by Punjabi mothers to indicate theyre tempted to smack a young one.

These words get the point across without being offensive, Batra says. We grew up hearing relatives, parents and siblings use these terms on us, and it served their purpose of shutting us up without hurting or scarring us.

Once a word has made it into the Gaali Project repository, it is uploaded as a designed social media post or meme, the origins and meaning explained. At the very least, the women say, the words will bring laughter to readers and teach them a phrase from another language.

Hopefully, some words will get out there, find their way into more common usage, and prompt more people to send in examples and keep the conversation going.

We are taking it one day at a time. But after the project is done, we might think of writing a book, Mishra says.
The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a huge push for telemedicine, a means by which patients can "visit" their doctor without risking exposure to illness in waiting rooms and health care facilities. Social engineers in our government view this as being a large part of our health care delivery in the future. They have convinced many doctors that this as a good thing, effusively praising this new iteration of the doctor-patient experience as necessary and laudable.

But common sense has to tell you that this trend is not in anyone's best interest.

There is a reason doctors are taught how to perform a physical examination. The best physicians among us listen to the patient tell them what is wrong, ask the right questions to guide them to a diagnosis, confirm the diagnosis on physical exam, and know what to prescribe based on the most effective treatment. Telemedicine has limitations, often removing the confirmatory part of this equation.

The most obvious problem with telemedicine is that not every symptom is from the same disease process. Some complaints are notoriously vague and have an astonishingly broad number of possible etiologies. A physical exam is an absolute necessity in these patients. (Truth be told, even when a patient has already visited a health care professional, the resulting diagnosis can be incorrect, the physical signs of the problem missed, and the treatment ineffective. Medicine is not always easy.)

Medical specialists not only are tuned in to the specialized parts of the physical examination, but have additional equipment available to them in their offices that helps to confirm a diagnosis. These tools are often expensive, but not using them can lead to a missed diagnosis and the resulting incorrect management. Thinking a telemedicine visit is adequate for specialty care is ludicrous. And keep in mind that there are costs and risks associated with being misdiagnosed.

As anyone but a politician could surmise, there are countless examples of how the physical exam would change a presumed diagnosis and alter the treatment plan. In my own practice in just the past month, there have been innumerable times telemedicine totally missed the underlying problem. Here are just a couple of examples.

 An adult male complained of left ear pain. The cause of the ear pain was an ulcer on the side of the voice box, a classic example of what is called referred pain. The ulcer resulted from stomach acids coming up and spilling over the area when he slept on his left side. He snored and had apnea from having large tonsils and a weak chin that could not hold his tongue off the back of the throat, the airway collapsing when he tried to breathe in while sleeping. His nasal septum was deviated off to the left, making him sleep preferentially on his left side. This is why acids would suck up from the stomach into the left side of the throat while he slept. He had no heartburn, he complained of "post-nasal drip," and he was skinnier than most apnea patients, so his telemedicine doctor prescribed him the antibiotic Amoxicillin, thinking he might have an infection. Proper treatment will instead revolve around apnea and reflux management.

 A child had an infection with nasty nasal discharge. The cause of the problem was a small piece of chicken that had been pushed up into the nasal passage, where it stuck. Telemedicine prescriptions of antibiotics had failed. Treatment was pulling out the nasal foreign body.

 A teenage girl got light-headed and "almost passed out." The cause of the problem turned out to be an unusual issue with the autonomic nervous system called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. When she would stand, her pulse skyrocketed. In layman's terms, most of the blood in her circulatory system would stay in her "butt" and not make it to her head when she stood up. Telemedicine interviewing a light-headed teenage girl correctly worried most about eating habits and low blood sugars, heavy periods and anemia, and dehydration. Preaching good eating habits, iron supplements, exercise, and drinking more water didn't work. Making the correct diagnosis in this case answered her legitimate and frightening concerns over what was wrong, even though the treatment of this problem is not predictably effective.

 Woman with a plugged up right ear. The diagnosis was acute hearing loss caused by the COVID-19 virus. A hearing test and normal physical examination of the ear confirmed the problem. Telemedicine recommendations of flushing out the presumed ear wax and a subsequent trial of the antibiotic Amoxicillin for a possible ear infection were ineffective. Just as losing your sense of smell can happen from a virus, so can issues like this. Complete resolution of hearing loss is not always possible and may not happen at all. Early steroid treatment helps more than anything else.

Nearly every patient seen at an office is getting a diagnosis as much from the physical examination and in-office testing as from the history available through telemedicine. (Even before telemedicine, specialists like me would wonder about other health professionals' physical diagnostic acumen, especially since they don't have a specialist's in-office equipment.) When the physical exam is just completely avoided, missed diagnoses will be the rule rather than the exception. Antibiotics will be "thrown" at nearly everything, and we will be relying instead on people's natural abilities to survive illness in spite of our care.

The political left, with the help of the virus, is actively working to lower our expectations for the future. Leftists tell us to hide from our friends and loved ones, asking us to accept a diminished life as a result. They scream at us to wear a mask even if we have had the virus (with Biden naively predicting that if we all just did this for a week, this COVID-19 nightmare could have been avoided) and attack us if we don't. They assume that we will give up our freedom to worship "to be safe" and hope we are fulfilled by them attempting to supplant God in our life with a secular, benevolent government.

Telemedicine is another example of "Big Brother" forcing a diminished product on us using fear as an excuse. Leftists hope we will be good lemmings and accept our fate. It is scary realizing how much Americans are willing to sacrifice under the thumb of our politicians, personal freedoms be damned. Scarier than that is how a complicit mainstream media will exaggerate and even outright lie to us to help the left in their quest for control.

When this all works itself out, I sincerely hope Amoxicillin turns out to actually benefit you when you get sick, because it may be the only approved medicine available through the government-issued app on your phone. Actual trained doctors will be the next casualty of progress, all having succumbed to legal malpractice issues from delayed diagnoses.
Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over farm laws in New Year greetings

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 01: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a veiled dig at the Centre for not repealing the three farm laws in his New Year's message on Friday and said that his heart was with the farmers who were fighting "unjust forces with dignity and honour".

"As the New Year begins, we remember those who we lost and thank all those who protect and sacrifice for us. My heart is with the farmers and labourers fighting unjust forces with dignity and honour. Happy New Year to all," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Farmers protest: No headway on MSP, but common ground reached on stubble burning, power; next talks on Jan 4

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had spoken up on several occasions in support of the farmers protesting against the three farm laws passed by the Centre in September last year. On December 24, after meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind along with other party members to discuss demands made by the farmers, Rahul Gandhi said, "India is now an imaginary democracy."

On December 27, he targeted the Centre over the protests, saying that the farmers should keep walking and not be scared of the 'bluster of the government'.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting for over a month against the new farm laws. Their demand that the three farm laws be completely repealed has not been accepted by the government. Even after several rounds of talks between the two parties, the government has only suggested amending the laws. The farmers have, however, said they will accept nothing less than complete repealing of these laws.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

Another round of meetings between the government and representatives of the farmers is scheduled to take place on January 4.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 9:39 [IST]
About 100 West Australians were arrested and charged with 236 offences during New Year's Eve, compared to 61 last year, in a busy night for police officers across the state.

The number of call-outs to disturbances also skyrocketed on Thursday night, with officers attending 88 more incidents than the previous year.

New Year's Eve was a busy night for police across Western Australia. Credit:Studio Firma, Stocksy

WA Police acting commander Tony Flack said most incidents involved young revellers who had become violent while drinking at house parties.

"While the vast majority of our community continued to celebrate New Year's eve peacefully and responsibly, we continue to be plagued by young adults whose whole social being is around alcohol and violence that goes with alcohol," he said.
A day after the Chinese delegation led by Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Guo Yezhou returned to Beijing, China on Thursday played down the significance of the visit to Nepal. China had dispatched a delegation to Kathmandu as soon as the country plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after PM KP Sharma Oli, known for his pro-Beijing leanings, in a surprise move, recommended dissolving the 275-member House, amidst a tussle for power with Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' - both leaders of the Nepal Communist Party.

China avoids speaking on delegation's visit to Nepal

The high-level Chinese delegation held separate talks with top leaders of the warring factions of the ruling Communist party to patch up differences between them. Asked to disclose the outcome of Guo's visit at a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin skirted any references to the present political crisis in Nepal and China's efforts to bring about a rapprochement between Nepal's feuding leaders.

"A delegation of the International Department of the Central Committee of CPC recently visited Nepal and met with leaders of both the ruling party and the opposition in Nepal. They exchanged views on conducting inter-party interactions and mutual learning, advancing practical BRI cooperation and other issues of mutual interest. The Nepalese side congratulated the CPC on the upcoming 100th anniversary of its founding and expressed readiness to deepen traditional friendship, strengthen inter-party exchanges, advance BRI cooperation and deliver more benefits to the two peoples," Wang Wenbin responded to a query by a Prasar Bharati reporter.

China suggests two possible solutions

The Chinese delegation held talks with President Bhandari, Prime Minister Oli, NCP chairs 'Prachanda' and Madhav Nepal, former PM Jhana Nath Khanal and leader of the Janata Samajbadi Party Baburam Bhattarai. During his meetings with Oli and Prachanda, the Chinese leader is learnt to have told them to make efforts for reunification as the split in the largest communist party of Nepal will weaken communist movement in South Asia, according to a senior leader of Prachanda-led faction of the NCP.

READ | 2020 Highlights: From CAA to BLM, 10 protests that proved that voices won't be locked down

According to news agency PTI, the Chinese delegation has suggested two possible solutions to resolve the current political crisis in Nepal, a senior NCP said in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Under 'Plan A', the dissolved House could be reinstated through the Supreme Court verdict followed by the reunification of the two factions, he said on condition of anonymity.

READ | On the last LIVE edition of The Debate in 2020, Arnab's heartfelt message to viewers

The Chinese leader has advised the senior NCP leaders to give an alternative to Prime Minister Oli if the Parliament gets reinstated. If the first option is not workable then the 'Plan B' would be to contest the mid-term election through an electoral alliance among all the communist forces of Nepal, the NCP leader added.

READ | COVID-19 vaccination dry-run in all states on Jan 2; Centre orders 85 crore syringes

The Chinese team also met main opposition Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba and discussed the latest political developments in the country. However, according to Nepali media reports, the delegation returned home without much success in its mission to patch up differences between Nepal's feuding leaders.

READ | 2020 Highlights: Janta Curfew to Galwan clash & Bihar polls to Farmer stir, here's a recap

(With agency inputs)
National strategies on digital advancement are providing the motivation for tech-related development across the country, Photo: Shutterstock

Rather than manufacturing or real estate, technology-backed models have become the kings of interest among businesses and investors in different sectors over the year, ranging from e-commerce and education to healthcare and banking.

Gomi, a South Korean-run technology startup founded in Vietnam in recent months, is becoming popular in a country home to thousands of South Korean fashion lovers, and where spending on fashion is still high despite the global health crisis.

That is the analysis of Hong Sun, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam, which represents about 7,000 South Korean enterprises here. Sun added that COVID-19 has been preventing businesses from direct meetings, so instead they have been hosting online conferences and discussions, with the trend prompting new online-based business approaches.

Investing in technology startups has become a new business model among South Korean investors in Vietnam. In the past, no South Korean investors could find such a business in this country, he told VIR.

Together with Gomi, other South Korean-founded technology startups in Vietnam are making moves such as Ok Xe and Go to Joy.

Businesses like these have been gaining good initial results are expected to create a fresh and promising atmosphere among South Korean investors in Vietnam, Sun noted.

Technology drive

As the coronavirus tore through industries this year, a number of companies came to a screeching halt, with the rest having to think about new changes to survive  and technology-based business has become the most-sought after solution.

South Korea is not alone as many others from Europe, Japan, Singapore, and elsewhere have been anticipating new opportunities from the countrys acceleration of digital transformation, with ICT now playing an increasing role in the countrys economic development.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the countrys total ICT revenue reached over $112 billion in 2019.

Evidently, Japanese companies are wasting no time in Vietnam. According to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Hanoi, digital transformation is a keyword for the whole region, and there are many players in the space  from multinational corporations and domestic small- and medium-size enterprises to international startups.

The next significant trend is that such enterprises with superior technology could invest in the country, elaborated Takeo Nakajima, chief representative of JETRO Hanoi. We help companies in Japan and Vietnam meet and collaborate through different channels, including business matching, seminars, and one-on-one introduction. Vietnam has a unique potential with both a manufacturing base and ICT capability, he said.

Meanwhile, European companies seem to be focusing on embracing new-found chances for trade and investment. According to Nicolas Audier, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), Europe contains some of the worlds leading digital companies, and EuroCham members have been active in the fields of digital infrastructure, ICT solutions, and smart cities during the year.

Ericsson and ABB are some of the outstanding examples of how EuroCham member businesses have made huge steps in these fields. Specifically, Ericsson is moving with its ambitious 5G-backed plans in Vietnam. Other European companies are preparing to increasingly benefit in 2021 and beyond on the back of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

The landmark agreement now entering into force can be considered a roadmap to recovery since falling tariffs and growing market access are expected to boost trade and increase the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into 2021 and throughout the next decade.

Outwith the prospects for EU groups, businesses closer to home are also dipping their toes into this countrys markets. Singapores ShopBack website and mobile app in August made its official debut in Vietnam, bringing about a smarter way for local online shoppers. The following month travel startup TASTECH, also from the city-state, officially launched an online booking platform featuring a curated collection of luxury hotels across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

In the banking and financial sector, meanwhile, fintech is rising with the United Kingdom in particular recognising the advantages here. As a leading global fintech hub, British companies are keen on plans to expand investment into the sector in Vietnam.

With growing interest, sci-tech and ICT have continued to be among the most attractive sectors to international investors and businesses in Vietnam during the year, despite the pandemic. As shown in statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnams total registered FDI in sci-tech and ICT hit about $1.25 billion in the first 11 months of 2020.

Policies make impact

Vietnam has made huge strides in accelerating its national digital transformation this year by issuing a number of policies in this field.

In fact, the countrys tech market has been a magnet for international businesses and venture funds even before 2020. According to Singaporean-based VC firm Cento Ventures, for the first time, investment in Vietnamese startups has even exceeded Singapore. Funding for Vietnamese-based startups accounted for 18 per cent of the total investment in the region, or $741 million, in 2019  a huge jump from a year earlier when it only accounted for 4 per cent, or $287 million.

This trend has now been further reinforced with the approval of the National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025 with vision towards 2030, and other targets.

Under this programme, the country has set the target to be named among the 50 leading countries in e-government by 2030; for the digital economy to make up 30 per cent of GDP; and for people to be able to enjoy and experience smart services in healthcare, education, banking and finance, transport, environmental protection, and energy supply.

In line with approval, ministries, agencies, and provinces have been deploying digital transformation by building new policies and developing infrastructure to tap into their own advantages and specific characteristics.

In addition, this is also backed by the countrys new FDI attraction strategy with high-tech as a focus to offer incentives and supporting policies, as well as the Politburos Resolution No.52-NQ/TW issued in 2019 on guidelines and policies to proactively participate in Industry 4.0. This includes the establishment of the Vietnam National Innovation Centre, which will offer special incentives for investment projects at the facility.

Industry insiders said that all of these together become new motivations for companies, prompting the business community to venture further into the technology market. This transformation is expected to continue at a faster speed, creating the biggest-ever impacts along the three pillars of digital government, digital economy, and digital society.

These new motivations, such as the National Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution  with a focus on investing in selected tech for Industry 4.0, developing infrastructure and e-government, and building on the performance of tech-related commitments in free trade agreements  are expected to continue drive a new business and investment wave in the months to come.
Space exploration achieved several notable firsts in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, including commercial human spaceflight and returning samples of an asteroid to Earth.

The coming year is shaping up to be just as interesting. Here are some of the missions to keep an eye out for.

Artemis 1

Artemis 1 is the first flight of the Nasa-led, international Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024. This will consist of an uncrewed Orion spacecraft which will be sent on a three-week flight around the Moon. IT will reach a maximum distance from Earth of 450,000km  the farthest into space that any spacecraft that can transport humans will have ever flown.

Artemis 1 will be launched into Earth orbit on the first Nasa Space Launch System, which will be the most powerful rocket in operation. From Earth orbit, the Orion will be propelled onto a different path towards the Moon by the rockets interim cryogenic propulsion stage. The Orion capsule will then travel to the Moon under the power provided by a service module supplied by the European Space Agency (Esa).

The mission will provide engineers back on Earth with a chance to evaluate how the spacecraft performs in deep space and serve as a prelude to later crewed lunar missions. The launch of Artemis 1 is currently scheduled for late in 2021.

Mars missions

In February, Mars will receive a flotilla of terrestrial robotic guests from several countries. The United Arab Emirates Al Amal (Hope) spacecraft is the Arab worlds first interplanetary mission. It is scheduled to arrive in Mars orbit on February 9, where it will spend two years monitoring the Martian weather and disappearing atmosphere.

Arriving within a couple of weeks after Al Amal will be the China National Space Administrations Tianwen-1, consisting of an orbiter and a surface rover. The spacecraft will enter Martian orbit for several months before deploying the rover to the surface. If it succeeds, China will become the third country to land anything on Mars. The mission has several objectives including mapping the mineral composition of the surface and searching for sub-surface water deposits.

Story continues

Nasas Perseverance rover will land at Jezero Crater on February 18 and search for any signs of ancient life which may have been preserved in the clay deposits there. Critically, it will also store a cache of Martian surface samples on board as the first part in a highly ambitious international program to return samples of Mars to Earth.

Chandrayaan-3

In March 2021, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch its third lunar mission: Chandrayaan-3. Chandrayaan-1 launched in 2008 and was one of the first major missions in the Indian space programme. Comprising an orbiter and a surface penetrator probe, the mission was one of the first to confirm evidence of lunar water.

Unfortunately, contact with the satellite was lost less than a year later. Sadly, there was a similar mishap with its successor, Chandrayaan-2, which consisted of an orbiter, a lander (Vikram) and a lunar rover (Pragyan).

Chandrayaan-3 was announced a few months later. It will consist of only a lander and rover, as the previous missions orbiter is still functioning and providing data.

If all goes well the Chandrayaan-3 rover will touch down in the lunar south poles Aitken basin. Its of particular interest as it is thought to host numerous deposits of subsurface water ice  a vital component for any future sustainable lunar habitation.

James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, but has had a rocky path to being launched. Initially planned for a 2007 launch, the Webb telescope is almost 14 years late and has cost roughly US$10 billion (7.4 billion) after apparent underestimates and overruns similar to those experienced by Hubble.

Whereas Hubble has provided some amazing views of the universe in visible and ultraviolet region of light, Webb is planning to focus observations in the infrared wavelength band. The reason for this is that when observing really distant objects there will probably be gas clouds in the way.

Esa/Hubble & Nasa, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team; , CC BY-SA

These gas clouds block really small wavelengths of light, such as X-rays and ultra violet light, while longer wavelengths like infra-red, microwave and radio can get through more easily. So by observing in these longer wavelengths we should see more of the universe.

Webb also has a much bigger mirror of 6.5-metre diameter compared to Hubbles 2.4-metre diameter mirror  essential for improving image resolution and seeing finer detail.

The primary mission of Webb is look at light from galaxies at the edge of the universe which can tell us about how the first stars, galaxies and planetary systems formed. Potentially this could include some information about the origin of life as well, as Webb is planning on imaging exoplanet atmospheres in high detail, searching for the building blocks of life. Do they exist on other planets, and if so, how did they get there?

We are also likely to be treated to some stunning images similar to those produced by Hubble. Webb is currently scheduled to launch on an Ariane 5 rocket on October 31.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Company that manages Interjet Vacations files for bankruptcy

Mexico City, Mexico The company Reservalo, which manages the Interjet Vacations brand, reported that on December 23, it formally submitted a request for bankruptcy.

Reservalo has no corporate relationship with the Interjet airline, they clarified in a message posted on the Interjet Vacations website, a trademark that is registered with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property by ABC Airlines (Interjet) that has been seized by the Tax Administration Services (SAT).

Due to its financial complications, Interjet has not flown since December 11. Transportes Reservalo, Sociedad Anonima Promotora de Inversion de Capital Variable was created in 2018, with both partners, Jose Luis Ramirez Magnani and Eduardo Ramirez Hay, being equal shareholders.

In a statement, Reservalo explained that it was only in charge of the commercial management of the brand, marketing travel packages to users interested in purchasing air transport and hotels, among other services.

The general public and all interested parties are informed that on December 23, 2020, the company Reservalo, S.A.P.I. de CV submitted a formal request for bankruptcy, they reported.

Interjet employees protest for unpaid wages

The Interjet airline, directed by Alejandro del Valle, has been inoperative since December 11, after arguing that it does not have economic resources. The airline reportedly owes six months of benefits to employees.

On at least two occasions, Interjet employees have take to public demonstrations, demanding back pay among other things.
Gabbard: Members of Congress, Millennials Should Not Get Vaccinated Until Seniors Do

Members of Congress and all Americans in two generations should not get a COVID-19 vaccine until seniors do, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) said Thursday.

Im calling on every member of Congress & their staff, and all millennials/Gen Xers, to join me in refusing to take the COVID vaccine until after our parents & grandparents can get it. Put our seniors over 65 first. They are the most vulnerable to serious illness or death, Gabbard said in a social media statement.

When a member of the public described the call as reckless, Gabbard added that seniors in some areas who want and need the vaccine are standing in line to get it and being turned away.

Leaders should prioritize seniors over 65 along with frontline healthcare workers and first responders to get the vaccine, ahead of younger healthy workers, she said.

Gabbard, an outgoing House member who ran for the presidency last year, is part of a small group in Congress who is refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, at least for now.

Most Congress members have gotten shots but others expressed similar sentiments to the Hawaiian.

It is inappropriate for mewho has already gotten the virus/has immunityto get in front of elderly/health care workers, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a physician, said.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Mortality data shows the disease disproportionately affects the elderly.

Two COVID-19 vaccines were approved by drug regulators for emergency use last month. The first tranche was recommended by a federal advisory panel to go to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. The first population is about 21 million while the latter is around 3 million, a small fraction of the approximately 53 million adults 65 years and older in the United States.

A nurse prepares a syringe with the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine for a worker of the New York City Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Manhattan borough of New York City on Dec. 23, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

The same panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, later advised that the next tranches should go to seniors 75 or older and so-called essential workers such as firefighters, teachers, and grocery store workers.

Roughly 20 million Americans fit into the latter group, while about 30 million are in the second group.

People aged 65 to 74 should be the next priority, after those four groups, the panel recommended.

The panel doesnt have authority to dictate the order of vaccinations but its recommendations have been accepted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ultimately, states decide who gets vaccinated when.

Some 12.4 million vaccine doses have been distributed as of Thursday morning, according to the CDC. Nearly 2.8 million doses have been administered. Just 167,000 of those have been administered in long-term care facilities, where a significant percentage of deaths from COVID-19 have occurred.

At least several states are choosing to ignore the order recommended by the advisory committee. Florida and Texas, for instance, are prioritizing the elderly over others, even healthcare workers.

We are not going to put young, healthy workers ahead of our elderly, vulnerable population, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told a crowd at The Villages, a large retirement community, last week.

DeSantis echoed Gabbard when a reporter asked him when hed be vaccinated.

Im willing to take it, but I am not the priority. Theyre the priority, he said.
The Howard government believed in the promise of hundreds of thousands of jobs from the emerging LNG industry in the face of official advice warning that the cheapest way to cut greenhouse emissions could be compromised by a special deal for the sector.

Cabinet documents from 2000 released by the National Archives on Friday reveal how the Howard government accepted the argument that it could promote LNG as a "greenhouse beneficial transition fuel" while trying to protect other industries which could increase Australian emissions.

A Woodside Petroleum platform on the North West Shelf. Cabinet papers from 2000 show the Howard government's battle to balance support for the industry and its greenhouse gas reduction policy. Credit:Woodside Petroleum

At the time, the environment department under then minister Robert Hill was considering the design of an emissions trading scheme as a way to reduce the nation's greenhouse footprint.

While concerns over greenhouse emissions were growing, the industry department under then minister Nick Minchin was seeking to boost the LNG industry which at the time was restricted to WA's North-West Shelf.
Brody McWilliams Brown was born to mum Jennifer McWilliams in The National Maternity Hospital at four seconds past midnight, making him the first baby born in Ireland in 2021

When Jennifer McWilliams (19) made a pre-Christmas dash into Holles Street, she initially thought she was having contractions, given that she was nearly 37 weeks pregnant.

But nothing could have prepared her for the news that came back from her medics; she had tested positive for Covid-19.

She would go on to have Irelands first baby of 2021 in what has been described as ironic by the National Maternity Hospital Master, Professor Shane Higgins, given the current pandemic.

The Sallynoggin student was not due her first baby with partner Eric Brown until January 13 but both mum and her little boy Brody, who weighed 7lbs 10oz, are thriving.

Expand Close Vanessa and Garry McLaughlin, from Meath, welcomed baby girl Kady at Coombe Hospital / Facebook

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Whatsapp Vanessa and Garry McLaughlin, from Meath, welcomed baby girl Kady at Coombe Hospital

She told independent.ie how she was completely asymptomatic when she first entered the hospital but would go on to lose her sense of taste. She received her positive Covid diagnosis on December 22.

I came into hospital thinking I was having contractions and they said they would do a blood test and also a Covid-19 test to rule it out and it came back positive, she said.

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It was a shock as everyone in my circle of close contacts have come back as negative except me so Ive no idea where it came from. Ive been so careful, especially being pregnant.

My main concern was for the baby but after talking to the midwives and the nurses, they said anyone theyve seen who had Covid didnt pass it on to the baby. So that was a relief to hear that. They tested him this morning but we havent got the results yet so fingers crossed.

Expand Close Brody McWilliams Brown was born to mum Jennifer McWilliams in The National Maternity Hospital at four seconds past midnight, making him the first baby born in Ireland in 2021 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Brody McWilliams Brown was born to mum Jennifer McWilliams in The National Maternity Hospital at four seconds past midnight, making him the first baby born in Ireland in 2021

Given that she was also diagnosed with pre-eclampsia after a urine sample was taken, medics decided to induce her on December 31 as a precautionary measure.

She said she had no idea she would welcome in the countrys first New Years Day baby and said having him after being diagnosed with Covid was crazy.

The hospital said all the proper protocols were followed to ensure the safe care of Jennifer and delivery of her baby Brody.

We werent too sure when hed arrive but one minute, we checked and I was only 2cm dilated and an hour later, I was at 10cm and we were pushing so it was quick, she added.

I didnt actually think he was going to be the first. Holles Street was very busy last night so I really wasnt expecting it.

The Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Prof Shane Higgins, said it was ironic that the first baby born in 2021 was to a Covid-positive mum and encouraged all their patients to remain vigilant.

Meanwhile, Co Cork recorded its first birth of 2021 at one minute past midnight. A baby boy was born to parents Karen and Michael Foley.

The first New Years Day birth that was recorded at the Coombe hospital was with a baby girl who arrived in at 12.24am.

The new arrival, who has been named Kady, was born to delighted parents Vanessa and Garry McLaughlin fromCo Meath.

It will be a busy time in their household, given that baby Ava was born in the same hospital 19 months ago.

The first New Years Day birth recorded at the Rotunda Hospital came at 12.31am. Baby girl Riona, who weighed 3.82kgs,

and is theirwas born to parents Ursula Ni Shionnain and Dean Mac Aogain from Dublinfirst child.

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Irish Independent
Its been almost a month since several countries started vaccinations against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. While the United Kingdom was the first country anywhere to approve a Covid-19 vaccine and begin immunisation drive, several others have joined the list since then. Most countries have approved vaccines of Pfizer Inc-BioNTech SE or Moderna, while some are using both. The Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine, too, has received approval, with the UK being the first country to give a nod, followed by Argentina.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

As the global caseload exceeds 83 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker, heres a look at some latest updates on the Covid-19 vaccination front:

1. After conducting a two-day vaccine dry run on December 28 and 29, India will hold a nationwide exercise on Saturday. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab were the four states where the dry run was held on Monday and Tuesday. Three vaccine candidates, including Pfizers, have applied for emergency use authorisation (EUA) in India. However, Oxford-AstraZenecas Covishield and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin seem ahead in the race to become the countrys first Covid-19 vaccine.

Also Read | Key expert panel meet today to review data on Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccines

2. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday granted emergency validation to Pfizers vaccine, its first since the start of the pandemic. The WHO decision will enable UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) to procure the vaccine for distribution to the countries in need.

3. The European Union (EU) on Thursday said Germanys BioNTech SE, which has developed a vaccine with Americas Pfizer Inc, has sought approval for an additional vaccine dose from each vial, instead of the five currently approved. The request, the 27-nation bloc said, will be reviewed by its human medicines committee, in the shortest time frame possible.

4. Pakistan said on Thursday China has assured of providing it with over a million doses of the vaccine developed by Sinopharm, for emergency use. The vaccine, Chinas first homegrown for Covid-19, was, earlier in the day, granted conditional approval. Pakistan, according to reports, has decided to pre-book the vaccine for its healthcare workers.
Thiruvananthapuram: The students were brimming with excitement seeing friends and teachers after a gap of many months. But, strict instructions right from wearing masks, washing hands at frequent intervals to mandatory social distancing gave a formal colour to their first day in schools, when they reopened partially in Kerala on Friday.

As part of the government's instructions, classes for 10th and 12th standards began in schools across the southern state with limited hours and restricted number of students.

"I am really excited to be back in my school, I have never thought that I can spend time with my friends at this campus again," a thrilled Akhila, a 10th standard student of a city school here, said. Parvathy, another student, said she was fed up attending online classes and she had really missed actual classroom studies. "Online class is a good option at this time of crisis. But, it cannot give the feel and positivity provided by an actual classroom. Not just schools and classrooms, I really missed my teachers and friends," she said.

But, the strict instruction of keeping distance from other students and admission of only one student in a bench made some students a tad unhappy. It was after a gap of nine months that the schools opened in the southern state, in compliance with strict COVID protocols.

All these months, students were attending online classes through the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education's (KITE)- Victers channel.

They were greeted with digital thermometers at the entrance of schools to measure their body temperature, which is mandatory as per the guidelines issued by the authorities.

They were admitted into the school campus only after collecting consent letters from the parents.

Schools in Kerala was remained closed since the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March.

A recent high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had decided to reopen educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in adherence with COVID guidelines.

In its guidelines, the General Education Department directed that only 50 per cent of students be allowed at a time in schools and that classes be arranged as one student per bench in the first week.

It is better to allow 25 per cent of the students at a time in schools, where their strength exceeds 300 in number in classes 10 and 12, according to the guidelines issued by the Director of Public Instructions (DPI).

In the detailed instructions given, the authorities have asked the school managements to ensure masks, sanitizer, digital thermometer and soaps in their institutions.

Students should be asked to maintain a distance of two metres between each other and classes may be conducted in shifts of limited hours if necessary, it said.

Articles in classes should be disinfected every two hours and children should be admitted in classes only with the consent of parents.

As per the present plan, the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and Higher Secondary (HSC) second year board exams would be held from March 17 to 30 in strict compliance with COVID protocols.

At the college level, graduate and post-graduate classes and classes at the Universities of Agriculture and Fisheries would also begin early January with a limited number of students.

It was also decided to start classes from second year in medical colleges, official sources added.

Meanwhile, an official statement said here that a total of 1.75 lakh new students have taken admission in classes 1 to 10 in state-run schools this academic year.
'The Next Jihad' authors talk religion, Christian persecution in Nigeria with Nick Cannon

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Television host Nick Cannon interviewed the authors of The Next Jihad, a book that details the attacks on Nigerian Christian communities by jihadist terror groups and radical Fulani herders that have led to the displacement of millions and the slaughter of thousands.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper and the Rev. Johnnie Moore wrote The Next Jihad: Stop the Christian Genocide in Africa to bring greater awareness to the persecution Christians are facing in Nigeria.

Cooper has been a longtime activist for Jewish and human rights causes worldwide and met and co-authored this book with Moore after he learned about the latter's work to rescue 149 Iraqi Christians from the Islamic State terrorist group in the Nineveh Plains in 2015.

When they met after learning about each others work, Cooper told Moore they needed to travel to Nigeria to report on the mass killings happening there.

In the interview posted on his YouTube channel Tuesday, Cannon suggested that some Nigerians might wonder who Moore and Cooper were to enter the country and report on atrocities happening there when they werent from Nigeria.

When you think about the idea of colonialism, its roots, its origin, a lot of people feel, the people of the land feel defensive, that people have stolen from them in the past, he said, referring to Nigerians.

That as we sit here, as people who are not Nigerian, they are like, What do they know? Who are they to come into our land, report on what we see, and go back and write a book to talk about all the issues? Why isnt there a Nigerian person sitting there and talking about whats happening? Why are there two white guys and this guy from television sitting there and talking about whats happening? Cannon asked.

Moore, a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and president of the Congress of Christian Leaders, said Cannons point was valid. He then noted that Christianity first arrived in Nigeria with a former slave who wanted to share the Gospel with his countrymen.

Some people would say thats not a good thing, Cannon asserted.

During the hourlong interview, Cooper and Moore shared stories of how Nigerian Christians have faced terrible persecution and have not abandoned their beliefs.

As an example, they mentioned Nigerian Christian Leah Sharibu, who has been held captive by the terrorist group Boko Haram for three years because she refuses to give up her faith in Jesus.

Moore explained that Christians in Nigeria face persecution from three groups.

"It's Boko Haram, it's ISIS in West Africa, and there are Fulani militants. And we're careful about this because the Fulani are the largest tribe in Africa, there are 17 million Fulani in Nigeria. There vast majority of Fulani are just wonderful people. There's a small group of people, who inspired by Boko Haram and inspired by others, are raiding Christian villages, determined to get rid of every Christian in the country and every Muslim that stands in their way," he said.

In their book, they tell the story of a Christian priest in training named Michael who preached to his terrorist captors, telling them about Jesus. Because he did so, they killed him.

Cooper, director of the global social action agenda of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights organization with over 400,000 family members, said the stories of the mass killings of Christians in Nigeria by radical Muslim extremists resembled stories of the Holocaust.

"[Nigerian] students in a college dorm were woken up in the middle of the night. And they were told, 'could you say something from the Quran?'" said Cooper. "And if they couldn't, they were killed on the spot. They would pull people out of cars. And it reminded me in some ways about what the Nazis did about selecting."

In the Holocaust, Nazis would test people to determine if they were Jewish, then kill them, he said. In Nigeria, Christians face a similar test.

I would say the pen of a scholar is much more powerful than the blood of a martyr, said Cannon, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology and Divinity at Howard University School of Divinity. To me, humanity outshines religion every time. If were keeping score, and Im talking from Abrahamic faiths to even beyond, religion has done a lot of damage to this world and then humans have to come and fix it.

Cooper said in response to Cannons condemnation of religion that many of the bloodiest genocides of the 20th century have been led by people who hated God.

Stalin, the Soviet Union, Mao, Hitler, those were all people who were not motivated by religion, they were against religion, he stressed.

Moore urged the show's viewers to turn their compassion into action that helps Christians who are being persecuted in Nigeria because they serve God.

Compassion requires action. Its not just enough to say that you care about something. You have to do something about it. You dont have to take on the whole problem yourself. No individual can change the world. But you sure can change a lot more than youre trying to do.

Earlier this month, NigeriasInternational Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law released a report that documented the killing of 34,400 Christians by radical Islamists since 2009.

In 2019, the Jubilee Campaign, which advocates on behalf of religious minorities across the globe and successfully petitioned the International Criminal Court to indict Boko Haram for their killings across northeastern Nigeria, said the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria has reached the threshold of genocide.

Cannon stirred controversy in July when he said on his program that Jews and white people are closer to animals than human beings.

The only way they can act is evil," he said on his podcast, referring to people with light skin. They have to rob, steal, rape, kill and fight in order to survive. So theyre the ones closer to animals, theyre the ones that are actually the true savages."

Although he apologized for his statements about Jews, he has yet to apologize for his comments about white people.
Vice President Mike Pence has asked a judge to toss out Rep. Louie Gohmert's lawsuit that aims to give Pence the power to overturn the presidential election result.

Gohmert and Arizona's slate of GOP 'alternate' electors sued Pence to expand his powers, so that he can solely determine which Electoral College votes to count when he presides over the January 6 session of Congress to make President-elect Joe Biden's win official.

Pence's Justice Department lawyer, Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Coghlan, pointed out a basic fallacy in this case - in order to sue, the plaintiff and the defendant must be in opposition.

Vice President Mike Pence's Justice Department lawyer wants a judge to toss out a case being spearheaded by Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert that seeks to expand Pence's powers so that he can choose which Electoral College votes count

In this case, Gohmert and Pence's interests are aligned.

'The Vice President is not the proper defendant in this lawsuit,' Coghlan wrote. 'The Vice President - the only defendant in this case - is ironically the very person whose power they seek to promote.'

'A suit to establish that the vice president has discretion over the count, filed against the vice president, is a walking legal contradition,' Coghlan noted in a Thursday night filing.

Still, on Friday, a number of Michigan's 'alternate' electors filed a brief in the case.

If Trump had won Michigan, these individuals would have been the state's members of the Electoral College.

However, because Trump didn't win Michigan, the state's electors are Democrats - and cast their votes in favor of Biden in Lansing on December 14.

In court documents the rogue electors say that 'with the permission and endorsement of the Michigan Legislature' they cast votes in favor of President Donald Trump 'at the time, place, and manner required under Michigan state law and the Electoral Count Act.'

'At the same time, Michigans Governor and Secretary of State appointed a separate and competing slate of electors who cast Michigans electoral votes for former Vice-President Joseph R. Biden, despite the evidence of massive multi-state electoral fraud committed on Bidens behalf that changed electoral results in Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states that have also put forward competing slates of Presidential Electors,' the court document reads.

The group did not have the permission of the Michigan legislature - with Michigan State Police blocking their access to the capitol - but they did have approval from the White House.

On December 14, White House aide Stephen Miller revealed a plot to have separate Republican electors cast votes for Trump in key swing states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

'As we speak, today, an alternate slate of electors in the contested states is going to vote and we're going to send those results up to Congress,' Miller said on 'Fox & Friends.' 'This will ensure that all of our legal remedies remain open. That means if we win these cases in the courts, we can direct that these alternate electors be certified.'

This is where the Gohmert lawsuit comes in.

The suit argues that the Electoral Count Act, which was passed in 1887, violates the 12th Amendment, which outlines the procedure for electing the president and vice president.

The amendment, which was ratified in 1804, says that the 'President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall be counted.'

The lawsuit argues that the 'President of the Senate,' which is Pence, has the sole authority to determine which votes to count.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas, filed a federal lawsuit in Texas alongside Arizona's 'alternate' Electoral College electors - and now some of Michigan's too - that seeks to allow Vice President Mike Pence to choose Trump electors over Biden electors on January 6

'That, with respect to competing slates of electors from the State of Arizona or other Contested States, the Twelfth Amendment contains the exclusive dispute resolution mechanisms, namely, that (i) Vice-President Pence determines which slate of electors' votes count, or neither, for that State,' the lawsuit says.

Legal experts called the reasoning laughable.

Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe tweeted that Gohmert effort 'may be the dumbest law suit of all' adding that it's 'jaw-droppingly stupid.'

'The idea that the Vice President has sole authority to determine whether or not to count electoral votes submitted by a state, or which of competing submissions to count, is inconsistent with a proper understanding of the Constitution,' Ohio State University law professor Edward Foley told The Hill.

Gohmert will also be joining the effort backed by more than 140 House Republicans to object to state vote counts during the Congressional session.

Congress has the power to toss out Electoral College votes - though has never done so.

If a House member and a senator both sign on to an objection, lawmakers debate the merits of that objection for two hours and then vote.

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has said he will file objections, but he hasn't said how many states' votes he will protest.

That effort, which could drag out the January 6 session for hours, even days, is doomed to fail, as only a simple majority is needed to knock down an objection.

With Democrats in control of the House and enough Republicans objecting to the plot in the Senate, Biden's win will get the Congressional seal of approval.
'Batwoman' Shi Zhengli, known for bioengineering bat coronaviruses, was criticized over dangerous 'gain-of-function' experiments

And while mainstream news outlets spent the better part of 2019 flatly rejecting lab-origin evidence as 'debunked conspiracy theories' - which earned ZeroHedge a temporary Twitter ban and a plethora of social media warning labels and 'fact checks' (including one from a former Wuhan Lab worker) the same mainstream outlets are now finding China's suppression of COVID-19 origin theories suspicious.

As part of their investigation, AP interviewed dozens of Chinese and foreign scientists and officials, while also reviewing leaked emails, internal data, as well as documents from China's CDC and cabinet. And what did they find? "A pattern of government secrecy and top-down control that has been evident throughout the pandemic."

...for scientists and journalists, it has become a black hole of no information because of political sensitivity and secrecy. A bat research team visiting recently managed to take samples but had them confiscated, two people familiar with the matter said. Specialists in coronaviruses have been ordered not to speak to the press. And a team of Associated Press journalists was tailed by plainclothes police in multiple cars who blocked access to roads and sites in late November. More than a year since the first known person was infected with the coronavirus, an AP investigation shows the Chinese government is strictly controlling all research into its origins, clamping down on some while actively promoting fringe theories that it could have come from outside China. -Associated Press

Let's quickly review the world's easiest game of connect-the-dots:

In 2013, scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology collected horseshoe bat feces at a cave 1,000 miles away infected with a coronavirus 96.2% identical to the virus which causes COVID-19 (Nature).

Peng Zhou, Wuhan Institute of Virology's head of Bat Virus Infection and Immunization, was researching "the molecular mechanism that allows Ebola and SARS-associated coronaviruses to lie dormant for a long time without causing diseases," while a press release from his lab was titled " How bats carry viruses without getting sick. "

while a press release from his lab was titled " " Zhou's colleague, Shi Zhengli, has been involved in bioengineering bat coronaviruses - co-authoring a controversial 2015 paper which described the creation of a new virus by combining a coronavirus found in Chinese horseshoe bats with another that causes human-like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in mice .

co-authoring a controversial 2015 paper In 2015, Nature magazine expressed concern over Zhengli's experiments with bat coronavirus. The same year, the US government suspended funding to the lab due to their concern over risks of experimenting with bat coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the US State Department warned over safety standards at the Wuhan lab in a series of cables beginning in 2015, according to the Washington Post's Josh Rogin.

Add to that China's active suppression of lab-origin theories while their partners at the World Health Organization continue to hunt for some heretofore non-existent crossover species, and it doesn't take Matlock to figure out that the official narrative is severely flawed.

The government is handing out hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to scientists researching the virus origins in southern China and affiliated with the military, the AP has found. But it is monitoring their findings and mandating that the publication of any data or research must be approved by a new task force managed by Chinas cabinet, under direct orders from President Xi Jinping, according to internal documents obtained by the AP. A rare leak from within the government, the dozens of pages of unpublished documents confirm what many have long suspected: The clampdown comes from the top. As a result, very little has been made public. Authorities are severely limiting information and impeding cooperation with international scientists. -Associated Press

"What did they find?" asks Duke University epidemiologist, Gregory Gray, who oversees a lab in China studying the transmission of infectious diseases from animals to people. "Maybe their data were not conclusive, or maybe they suppressed the data for some political reason. I dont know  I wish I did."

Coronavirus found in horseshoe bat feces from a Yunnan cave, collected by the WIV team known for manipulating bat coronaviruses, was found to be 96.2% identical to SARS-CoV-2

Scientists familiar with China's public health system say the CCP's standard operating procedure of information control and censorship apply to all aspects of COVID-19 research.

"They only select people they can trust, those that they can control," said one public health expert who works regularly with China's CDC. "Military teams and others are working hard on this, but whether it gets published all depends on the outcome."

According to the report, Beijing worries that investigations will also reveal that they were negligent in the spread of the virus.

Some public health experts warn that Chinas refusal to grant further access to international scientists has jeopardized the global collaboration that pinpointed the source of the SARS outbreak nearly two decades ago. Jonna Mazet, a founding executive director of the UC Davis One Health Institute, said the lack of collaboration between Chinese and U.S. scientists was a disappointment and the inability of American scientists to work in China devastating. Theres so much speculation around the origins of this virus, Mazet said. We need to step back...and let scientists get the real answer without the finger-pointing. -Associated Press

Steering the narrative

Now that AP has caught up and corroborated what we've been reporting on ad nauseam - albeit via burning their own hand on the stove - they're also piecing together the enormous disinformation campaign employed by Beijing to try and control the narrative.

After the initial batch of COVID-19 cases were traced to the Hunan Seafood market in Wuhan, authorities began collecting samples for analysis - finding that 33 out of 585 environmental samples tested positive for the virus.

"This corona(virus) is very close to SARS," wrote Canadian microbiologist Gary Kobinger, a WHO adviser, according to internal China CDC data obtained by AP. "If we put aside an accident ... then I would look at the bats in these markets (sold and wild)."

Then, "As the virus continued spreading rapidly into February, Chinese scientists published a burst of research papers on COVID-19. Then a paper by two Chinese scientists proposed without concrete evidence that the virus could have leaked from a Wuhan laboratory near the market. It was later taken down, but it raised the need for image control."

"The regulations are very strict, and they dont make any sense," said one former China DCD deputy director on condition of anonymity. "I think its political, because people overseas could find things being said there that might contradict what China says, so its all being controlled."

And after thousands of samples were taken from the Hunan Seafood market, no findings were ever made public. Yet, on May 25, CDC chief Gao Fu finally broke the silence - telling China's Phoenix TV that no animal samples from the market had tested positive, ruling out the market as the likely source of the virus despite its link to the majority of new cases in the region.

Chinas government-controlled media used the theory to suggest the original outbreak in Wuhan could have started with seafood imported from abroad  a notion international scientists reject. WHO has said it is very unlikely that people can be infected with COVID-19 via packaged food, and that it is highly speculative to suggest COVID-19 did not start in China. Bi did not respond to requests for an interview, and China has not provided enough virus samples for a definitive analysis.

We would be remiss if we didn't note that the now-destroyed Wet Market was located roughly 900 feet from a China CDC aboratory where they were experimenting on bat coronavirus.

Read the rest of AP's report here.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 20:31:55|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Unmanned transplanters and harvesters, intelligent irrigation control system and leaf age diagnose technique, these technologies are empowering Jiansanjiang, an important grain production base in Heilongjiang Province as a pioneer of China's intelligent agriculture.

The production base piloted six unmanned farms in 2020, with 875 unmanned transplanters covering about 17,600 hectares and unmanned harvesters harvesting 1,000 hectares of rice, soybean and corn.

Apart from the agricultural machinery, the production base also heralds a digital agriculture platform that gathers information on environmental factors, soil fertility and crop growth in different stages, offering scientific guidance for agricultural field management.

"Despite three typhoons, the per-unit yield is higher than last year, thanks to the application of new agricultural technologies," said Liu Linyi, a rice farmer from the production base.

China has seen a bumper harvest in 2020, with grain output up 0.9 percent year on year. Intelligent technologies have become part of the drive to modernize agriculture, liberate manpower and improve production efficiency.

As of September 2020, China had set up 18 unmanned pilot agriculture zones for 14 types of crops in 12 provinces and autonomous regions, covering more than 5,300 hectares of farmland.

"The development of intelligent agricultural machinery is gaining ground, and the unmanned farms will promote the transformation and upgrading of China's agriculture," said Luo Xiwen, a professor from South China Agricultural University.

China's sales of self-driving agricultural machinery equipment and systems reached more than 11,700 units in the first half of 2020, posting strong year-on-year growth of 213 percent.

Autonomous agricultural machinery could reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers by over 30 percent and increase work efficiency by over 50 percent, playing a very positive role in agricultural production.

In May 2020, Chinese authorities released a guideline to promote digital technologies in rural areas as part of their efforts to advance agricultural and rural modernization.

The guideline, jointly issued by four government departments including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, encouraged the use of technologies like big data, artificial intelligence, remote intelligent agricultural machinery and agricultural drones in rural areas.

With some 76,667 hectares of cotton fields, Yuli County is a cotton hub in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Agricultural drones are widely used to spray defoliants in the harvesting season to facilitate cotton collection.

Official data showed that Xinjiang had over 5,000 agricultural drones powered by China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) by July, serving over 1.3 million hectares of fields.

"The orders for our agricultural drones have been growing in recent years," said Zheng Tao from XAG, a Guangzhou-headquartered agriculture technology startup which set up an operation center in Yuli to serve Xinjiang customers.

The company has also developed a system to monitor and manage cotton growing in real-time. "Cotton fields in Yuli are now pilot zones for smart agriculture," said Zheng.

Peng Bin, also from XAG, said the company has been committed to fostering an ecosystem for intelligent agriculture, hoping to lower the consumption of water and pesticides and reduce pollution through high-tech agricultural equipment.

China's self-developed BDS has also contributed to the modernization of agriculture. Roughly 45,000 sets of BDS-based automatic driving agricultural machinery are working nationwide, cutting labor costs by 50 percent.

Greatly enhancing operation management efficiency, the BDS-based machinery monitoring platforms and Internet of Things platforms are serving for more than 400,000 units and sets of agricultural machinery.

Zhang Taolin, vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs said at a recent forum that in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China will strengthen original innovation and develop key agricultural technologies.

China will foster the application of technologies and build sci-tech innovation centers for modern agricultural industries, Zhang said. Enditem
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday said that the exit gates of Khan Market, Supreme Court, Central Secretariat and Mandi House are closed, adding that entry and interchange is permitted at these stations.

Security Update



Exit gates of Khan Market, Supreme Court, Central Secretariat and Mandi House are closed. Entry and interchange is permitted at these stations.  Delhi Metro Rail Corporation I    (@OfficialDMRC) January 1, 2021

Authorities in Delhi have announced night-time restrictions to prevent gatherings in public places on December 31 and January 1, joining metro cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru that introduced varying degrees of curbs to curtail New Year celebrations in the backdrop of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) epidemic.

According to an order issued late on Wednesday, over five people are not allowed to assemble at public places in the Capital from 11pm on Thursday to 6am on Friday, and then again from 11pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

This order  it cited the infectious mutant UK strain that has been detected in Delhi  does not apply to licensed premises such as hotels, clubs and pubs, which already follow social distancing measures and Covid-19 guidelines drafted by government authorities.

There was no restriction on gatherings in residential premises. The order made it clear that there was no restriction on interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods.

DDMA is in charge of implementation and enforcement of Covid-19-related regulations and management strategies in the city. Lieutenant governor Anil Baijal is its chairperson.
"Theres nothing like painting on a big scale. It's completely different to painting any other thing," says street artist and muralist George Rose.

George Rose and the mural she is painting on the walls of TikTok's Sydney offices. Credit:James Alcock

For her, it's a joyous combination of creativity, being outside, immersing yourself in a community and being active. "You have to use your whole body when you do it. Also theres a huge theatre about creating works in public. I love people coming up and talking to me. Youd probably never come across them otherwise."

Street art and muralism is big business these days and has long been a trademark of Melbourne. Hosier Lane is one of the CBD's top tourist attractions, regularly repainted and a prime location if you want to see artists at work. In November, an Artcade opened in Spencer Street, showcasing work by eight artists (including Rose) in a project run by Juddy Roller. Online platform Book an Artist has sprung up, with commissions adding new works in Brunswick, Hampton and Eltham. Further afield, the Silo Art Trail in the Mallee has proven a tourism success, as have Bendigo's street art tours.

Rose recently spent almost a month in Sydney, painting murals at Tik Tok's headquarters in Martin Place. She is known for her gradients  when one colour turns into another  and super bright colour pallettes. Recent local works include a Christmas mural on corner of Errol and Queensbury streets, North Melbourne, and another at Foot Locker in the city.
Maiduguri  The remains of 7 hunters that died in Boko Haram terrorists bomb blast on Tuesday at Kayamla in Jere local government area were yesterday buried amidst tears in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The funeral of the seven deceased hunters was carried out at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH ) before they were taken to Gwange cemetery for burial.

A source and a hunter who attended the funeral said they were on patrol along Kayamla route when one of the rear tyres of their ToyotaLand Cruiser truck exploded.

The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: "We thought it was a common tyre burst, but we later discovered it was a bomb blast.

"While we were trying to change the tyre, we spotted some Boko Haram gunmen creeping towards us. We began to fire in their direction while calling for a backup. Soon, the Boko Haram terrorists fled and left some rustled herds of cows behind.

"Our backup team arrived and began to chase after the insurgents who had already gone far into the bush. As they were making their way back, the vehicle ran over a massive bomb that exploded and killednine of them instantly, while nine others were injured.

Borno state commissioner of Youths and Sports, Sa'inna Buba, who was at the funeral confirmed the incident to newsmen.

Mr Buba said they were saddened by the death of the gallant hunters who have sacrificed their lives to protect the people.

He said: "We evacuated the corpses and the injured victims to the hospitall night. Seven of them died at the scene of the attack.

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"We call on the federal government to support these hunters with better weapons and vehicles to enable the hunters to provide the needed support to the military.

"The hunters know the terrain better and they understand the tactics of the terrorists. If we don't give support to the local hunters and vigilante, very soon they would be discouraged and the terrorists would overrun our towns again."

Ahmed Satomi, a serving House of Representative member, representing Jere Federal Constituency was also at the funeral prayers.

Satomi said: "We have just buried seven hunters, and only God knows how many more would be buried again if the federal government of Nigeria continues to ignore the fact that we need a deliberate policy that will empower the youth vigilante to carry a better weapon that will end this figh
BEIJING: An umbrella organization of Chinese intelligence of The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), collectively known as the United Front system, administered by the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese government is involved to carry out subversive operations across the world, according to a report prepared by The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) titled 'The Party Speaks for You', authored by its Analyst Alex Joske.

The report, funded by 'The Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlights the activities carried out by the United Front of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the nexus of organisations created by it across the world.

The UFWD is primarily a coordinating agency to coordinate the work of PRC state agencies and CCP units to carry out the pro-China Communist propaganda and achieve CCP goals. Work of all these agencies converge at the united front. Put simply, it is a super agency that operates and supervises the intelligence and external affairs of PRC.

The deployment of more than 600 senior bureaucrats and half a dozen ministers reflects that it is an agency that is equivalent to the strength of many ministries put together. It is hard to demarcate and separate domestic and overseas work of the UFWD, as all areas of the united front's work involve overseas activities. It gives an idea that the front was created primarily to achieve overseas objectives of the PRC.

Targets of the United Front Work Department (UFWD):

The efforts of the UFWD are centered around either integrating the targeted groups to the united front system and use them or to neutralize their opposition in failing to integrate. Documents of CCP revealed that united front work is designated to target 12 broad categories of stakeholders: members of eight minor parties; individuals not affiliated to the CCP; non-CCP intellectuals; ethnic minorities; religious people; private businesses; new social strata (professional class) individuals; overseas students and those returned from foreign; people in Hong Kong and Macau; Taiwanese and their relatives in China; overseas ethnic Chinese and their relatives staying in China; and any individual who needs networking

Though state institutions of China have powerful and mature united front work units, the united front system has also penetrated the corporate world and many corporate giants have established mature united front work units in their organization  similar to any other unit of the production or supply chain. One of the largest steel producers of the world Baowu Steel has an extensive united front unit for Taiwanese and ethnic Chinese. It is also interesting to note that the person who served as the CEO of the company between 2007 to 2016 was elevated as UFWD vice minister in 2017.

With the arrival of Xi Jinping, the UFWD has become a highly adaptive and flexible organization in terms of organizational structure. The organization introduced a separate bureau to tap the new working class or the new social strata of IT professionals that was emerging with the ICT revolution. One of the top e-commerce companies JD.com established two united front groups in 2018 within its organizational setup.

It is concerning to note that the Big Four companies have also been infiltrated by the united front system. In 2016, Deloitte China established a united front unit for its employees. It also hosted an official ceremony to launch the unit. Deputy Director of Deloitte China, Jiang Ying is a delegate to the CPPCC.

UFWD as a tool for policymaking on occupied regions:

It is also interesting to note that the UFWD is an important stakeholder in defining Chinas policy on occupied territories. Out of the 12 bureaus of the UFWD, three are dedicated to occupied regions including Tibet Work Bureau; Xinjiang Work Bureau; and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan United Front Work Bureau. It is important to note that Xinjiang Bureau is much larger and powerful than the Central Coordination Group on Xinjiang Work  a group constituted by the Chinese government by bringing together Ministers and members of Commissions to deal with affairs of Xinjiang, especially to curb the dissent. The creation of the Xinjiang Bureau in 2016 coincided with the era of intensification of human rights violations in Xinjiang. With the creation of this bureau by Xi Jinping, more and more number of re-education camps are being erected in the region. Several non-profits floated or controlled by the UFWD are also dedicated to work on curbing dissent in the occupied regions and covering the human rights abuses by the CCP government at the global stage. An office bearer from one of such NGOs, China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, which also held special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council was restricted to join a human rights hearing in the UN after he threatened a woman testifying about detention of his father in China  a political prisoner held for expressing dissent.

The Case of Huang Xiangmo

The case of UFWD operative Huang Xiangmo in Australia highlights the extent of political influence exerted by the united front system in foreign countries. The exposure of Huang is considered to be one of the major reasons behind enactment of counter foreign interference legislation in Australia.

Huang was a prominent Chinese businessman, ranked as the 420" most wealthy individual of China in 2012. He was also appointed to the Jieyang (city Huang hailed from) Peoples Political Consultative Conference. In July 2012, Huang and his mates collided with the CCP government's anti-corruption drive. Suspected of getting arrested, Huang flew to Australia along with his six associates. Before leaving the country, he had started relocating his businesses to Australia.

Soon after landing in Australia, Huang became the Honorary President of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China  a UFWD organization. He also became the Senior Director of the China Council another UFWD unit. He also hired a number of lobbyists in Australia as staff in his company and paid handsome donations to both the major parties of the Australian political spectrum. He also met then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in December 2012 along with Labour parliamentarian Sam Dastyari. Australian leaders conceived Huang as an influential leader of the Chinese community in Australia. His influential image was created by the united front system prevalent in Australia. He also took over the reunification council in 2015. Later, a dozen of the council members contested elections and got placed as political staffers. He also got involved in philanthropic activities and established chairs in two Australian Universities. . However, he eventually caught the eyes of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation in 2015. The intelligence chief of Australia briefed the Australian leadership regarding Huangs connection with the united front and the CCP. As a consequence of subsequent investigations, Huang was deported to China and Sam Dastyari had to resign from his post as a legislator over allegations of tipping off Huang about investigations on him.

Case Study-II: The British Chinese Project

The British Chinese Project is a UFWD initiative that claims to be working for political participation of ethnic Chinese and is the secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Chinese in Britain Group, which currently has six members. The group is headed by Christine Lee, who is a member of two UFWD units  the CPPCC and China Overseas Friendship Association. Lee donated several thousand pounds to the Labour Party shadow secretary of state for international trade Barry Gardiner  a leader who advocated for Chinese government's involvement in the Hinkley Point nuclear reactor project. The Chinese partner for this nuclear project is China General Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC)  a company owned by the CCP government and is accused of espionage activities and illegal nuclear technology transfers. It has also been banned by the US government. The US government has warned that CGNPC uses nuclear technology to aid the Chinese military.

The UFWD has floated a massive number of associations, groups, and platforms that have extensively spread across the world, aiding the united front in its covert operations. A couple of these organizations are: China Overseas Friendship Association: An organization with a huge network of Chinese diaspora staying abroad. It has also taken over the China Overseas Exchange Association.

China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification: A prominent wing of the UFWD which has numerous: branches abroad. It is another front for carrying out subversions through the Chinese diaspora.

All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese: A front to use the foreign returned Chinese scholars and students to assist the UFWD operations.

Western Returned Scholars Association: Another organization of Chinese citizens returned from Western countries. A couple of members of the organization have been accused of involvement in espionage activities.

The Forum on the Global Chinese Language Media: An umbrella body of Chinese language media spread all-over the world. It organizes a biennial meeting of overseas Chinese language media platforms.

Chinese Students and Scholars Associations: An outfit supported by the Ministry of Education, engages Chinese students and scholars studying abroad to contribute to covert operations.

The report suggests a set of important recommendations to check the operations of the front in host countries. These can be clubbed under five major sets. The first is to make intervention at policy level. The idea is to make regulations and dedicated legislation to prevent the influence of united front and similar entities. The second is to ensure serious prosecution of united front agents operating in the country and checking their operations by putting limitations on foreign funding and political donations. The individuals involved in foreign interference should be deported in real-time and banned from applying for visas.

The third major recommendation is ensuring protection of the exposed interfaces by the law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Training law enforcement personnel and establishing a robust mechanism to report foreign interference could be of much help. Fourth, the countries should increase their engagement with universities to develop responses related to issues like influence of Chinese government, tech transfer, economic coercion, ideological subversion besides others. Fifth and most important, countries should work towards building expertise on China, its culture, CCP and foreign interference.

Besides entitling more power to the FWD, the Xi Jinping regime has also institutionalized and legalized the front, which was earlier claimed to be non-existent, by introducing the first set of regulations for the agency.The fact that united front operates at the levels of the government as well as those of the CCP, civil society and the corporate entities shows that the UFWD has an adaptive and flexible nature that readily adapts itself to the government as well as social and corporate entities.

The analysis of political engagements of the united front in PRC suggests that it has also been tasked with building a global consensus on the democratic nature of China. Xi Jinping has also been promoting United Front's multiparty cooperation and the consultative system as a 'new type of part system'. It implies that the front has also been tasked with introducing reforms to the Chinese political and government structure. Hence, it would be critical to see the kind of reforms that the front would be able to introduce to the one-party authoritarian regime of China.

The addition of six new bureaus by Xi Jinping indicates the new focus areas of China - the ones over which China wants to exercise a greater control. These six new areas are: Xinjiang affairs; new social strata individuals/urban professionals and elites; overseas Chinese affairs; building up and strengthening intelligence and propaganda networks in foreign countries; monitoring and managing religious schools; and monitoring specific religions within China.

Case studies and exposes suggest that the major focus of the UFWD outside China has been on Five Eyes countries.The UFWD also acts as a policymaking tool when it comes to dealing with occupied regions. It is believed to be the major force behind intensification of human rights abuses by China in Xinjiang and rising number of re-education camps for Uighurs.

A number of initiatives or units that are believed to be part of the CCP are actually units of the UFWD. The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is a prominent example. Though the world sees the CPPCC to be a platform of the CCP, it is the peak United Front forum which brings together CCP officials and top UFWD officials on a common platform.

Besides working on subversive and intelligence operations by itself, the ecosystem created by the united front system provides base for other intelligence and propaganda units of the CCP to operate on foreign soils including the MSS, Propaganda Division, the PLA, etc.
Victoria has slammed shut its border with New South Wales, after thousands of residents rushed back to the southerly state to avoid hotel quarantine.

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan on New Year's Eve announced the hard border would come into effect from 11.59pm on January 1 as NSW continues to battle a Covid-19 outbreak.

Motorists raced to the border following the announcement, with many ringing in the New Year in lengthy queues.

But some unlucky travellers were turned away from border checkpoints minutes after the clock struck 12 on Saturday.

Victoria slammed shut its border with NSW at 11.59pm on Friday January 1

Motorists raced to the border following the on December 31, with many ringing in the New Year in lengthy queues (pictured)

Kelli Rippon and Rachel Bartlett were the lucky last vehicle to cross the Hume Freeway checkpoint before the border closure, news.com.au reported.

The pair had driven from Brisbane to Dubbo, before entering Victoria.

The hard border brings to an end a confusing progression of lesser border restrictions Victoria had been making since the lead-up to Christmas.

Those who crossed back on Friday were required to have a border permit. They must now isolate at home for 14 days.

Jeroen Weimar, the Victorian Health Department's COVID-19 response commander, defended the border closure on Friday.

'We need to close the border, because we do not wish to continue to import high-risk Covid cases back into Victoria,' he said.

A Twitter user shared this picture and wrote: "Were 3.5 kilometres off the border at Mulwala"

A Parks Victoria Officer motions a car to stop to have their permits checked on January 1

'We do not think that would be right or fair for the Victorian community.

'We do not have the capacity to put hundreds of people into hotel quarantine because they elected to come home late.

'If there are people who've gone to NSW, we did not design and set up a hotel quarantine system to enable people who've gone on holidays in NSW to come back a bit later.'

The coronavirus outbreak in Sydney seemingly jumped the border after a returned NSW traveller dined at a Thai restaurant in Melbourne.

The latest cases of community transmission in Victoria are two people linked to a bayside Thai restaurant who then travelled to NSW.

The Victorian government sent out a statement on Friday saying the pair attended the Buffalo Smile Thai restaurant on December 21.

They travelled to Lakes Entrance a week later on December 28 and 29, then went on to Bega and Bermagui in NSW.

Neil and Ornella from Melbourne have been visiting their daughter in Bellina, NSW after being separated for a year due to coronavirus. With almost no notice they have been forced to leave early and return home to Victoria

Victorian public health authorities contacted them on December 31, where they were already in a NSW COVID-19 testing line, a spokeswoman said. The pair is now isolating in Victoria.

Apart from these two cases revealed on Friday, another eight Victorian cases are linked to the Black Rock restaurant.

The ACT has also moved to tighten its border with NSW.

Anyone travelling to the ACT from a Covid-19 hotspot in NSW will now require an exemption.

People from Sydney's Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong will not be legally permitted to enter the ACT without a valid pass.

The updated health direction will come into effect from midday on Saturday and any non-compliance will result in penalties, the ACT government says.

Police check permits as Victorians rush to beat the border closures on January 1 after being given almost no notice to return home

It comes after NSW on Friday reported three new coronavirus community transmissions, all in western Sydney.

Any travellers from these regions into the ACT for 'extraordinary circumstances' are required to apply for an exemption at least three days prior to the planned entry but no more than 14 days ahead of time.

These changes do not affect current restrictions for ACT residents returning from Covid-19-declared areas, whereby until at least January 6 authorities must be notified followed by a mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said the travel restrictions were tightened to protect the state's health.

Jeroen Weimar, the Victorian Health Department's COVID-19 response commander, defended the border closure on Friday. 'We need to close the border, because we do not wish to continue to import high-risk Covid cases back into Victoria,' he said. Pictured: Border checkpoint at Wahgunyah

'In recent days we have continued to see around 80 non-ACT residents from COVID-19 affected areas of NSW travel to the ACT daily,' Dr Coleman said in a statement on Saturday.

'As a result we now have around 2000 people in quarantine in the ACT, 25 per cent of which are non-ACT residents.'

'For those in COVID-19 affected areas of NSW, we ask that you respect the public health direction that has been put in place and do not travel to the ACT.'

Canberrans have also been reminded not to travel to Greater Sydney, or any other COVID-19 affected areas, and to reconsider travel to NSW more broadly.

Police officers will patrol the Federal Highway to enforce the new rules.
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New Delhi, Jan 1 : Flight services between India and UK will resume from January 8, 2020, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday.

Last month, these services were suspended to stop the spread of a mutant Covid-19 starin which was recently discovered in the UK.

In a tweet, the minister said: "It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021." "Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only.

@DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly." Several countries including India had suspended flight services to the UK in the wake of the new mutant Covid-19 strain.
Pune district guardian minister Ajit Pawar will call a meeting on citys drinking water quota after the irrigation department sought to reduce the allocation from Khadakwasla reservoir.

With the city receiving an additional 2.5 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) water supply from Bhama Askhed dam, the irrigation department has demanded to reduce the existing water quota from Khadakwasla dam and allot it to rural areas.

Pawar said, The irrigation department officials met me before the inauguration of Bhama Askhed water project and gave the proposal to reduce water supply from Khadakwasla dam. We would call a meeting on it that will be attended by MLAs from city and rural parts in the next fifteen days to arrive at an amicable decision.

Pawar said, I am not for cutting water supply for the city as its population is increasing. With the 24x7 water scheme being executed and additional supply from Bhama Askhed dam, water will be saved. We are trying to process maximum water through sewage treatment plants. After the grampanchayat elections, a decision would be taken on it by calling a separate meeting with all stakeholders.

BJP city unit president Chandrakant Patil said, There is always a conflict between rural and urban areas over water supply. PMC has asked for additional water quota from Khadakwasla dam for the 23 villages merged within the PMC limits. The guardian minister must call a meeting on it and all leaders must need to address the issue.

Pawar said the Bhama Askhed project will put an end to the tanker mafia in the eastern parts of the city.

Its Maharashtras tradition to join hands in development projects

Ajit Pawar and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis sharing the dais for the second time after their oath ceremony became a talking point in political and media circles. Fadnavis said, Its Maharashtras tradition that all parties come together for development projects by keeping their political agenda aside. Yet, the media unnecessarily discusses the issue. Now we have got the trick that if we want to be in media Pawar and me must need to visit each others home for tea.

Pawar assured Fadnavis in his speech that they would share the stage repeatedly. Pawar said, Since the former chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan, its tradition that all parties and leaders must come together for development works.

Fadnavis bats for HCMTR

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to Ajit Pawar to look into the high capacity mass transit route (HCMTR) project in the city as it is important along with the metro project. He said that industries around Pune should use treated water generated through sewage treatment plants instead of dam waters.

The dam project is important for the city

At least 12 lakh residents living in the eastern parts of the city would benefit from the Bhama Askhed project. Eastern parts of the city mainly Vimannagar, Vadgaon Sheri, Ahmednagar Road areas, Dhanori and Kalyaninagar were facing water scarcity. Many housing societies were paying huge money on water tankers. PMC has designed the pipeline in a way that water flows directly through gravity and no pumping is needed to bringing water to the city from the dam located at a distance of about 50 kms.

Ban electricity generation from Mulshi dam

Pawar said that a plan should be made to ban hydroelectricity generation from Mulshi dam. The Mulshi dam water is controlled by Tata Power, which utilises the water for hydroelectricity generation. The hydropower project is located in Bhira, where the water is released directly into the sea after power generation. A committee was appointed during the BJP rule to study the project and its report is awaited. The water from Mulshi dam should be utilised for Pune city and rural parts for irrigation purposes, he said.
On the streets of Tehran, giant billboards have been raised to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the United States 3 January assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Irans international expeditionary forces.

By committing this crime, you created a duty for freedom seekers all over the world, his successor, General Ismail Qaani, said at a ceremony on Friday marking the drone killing. There may be some people inside your own home who will punish the criminals.

In Washington, there is frenzied worry about an Iranian revenge attack, likely carried out in Iraq, and equally frenetic apparent attempts by officials to de-escalate. United States warships and bombers have skirted past Iran in what American officials have described as shows of force against Tehran, while other armadas have been redeployed.

The United States and Iran have ratcheted up their decades-long confrontation to a degree rare in recent history, just 20 days before the administration of Donald Trump is set to leave office, triggering fears of a potential armed conflict.

Some friendly health advice to Iran, Mr Trump wrote on Christmas Eve, days after a barrage of rockets presumably fired by pro-Iranian Iraqi militias struck near the US embassy in Baghdad and initiated the latest round of tensions between Tehran and Washington. If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible.

Adding to the speculation, Mr Trump cut short his annual New Years Eve visit to his Florida resort and rushed back to Washington, followed by vice president Mike Pence, who cancelled a planned trip to Israel.

In the closing months of 2020, the US dispatched 2,000 more troops and an additional squadron of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, and flew three long-distance B-52 bomber missions near Iran. Some former and current officials have speculated that the Trump administration has blocked Pentagon briefings for the incoming administration of president-elect Joe Biden to obscure plans for a major Iran operation.

These are worrying developments, said Dalia Dassa Kaye, a Middle East specialist at the Wilson Centre, a Washington think tank. The real risk is that each side  because of these heightened tensions  could perceive the other of wanting to take advantage. The Iranian side is not oblivious to the chatter in the US, and the concern is that the Trump administration might want to take advantage of his last days and may see Iran as unfinished business.

On Thursday, Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, accused the Trump administration of trying to concoct a casus belli for armed conflict. Intelligence from Iraq [indicates a] plot to FABRICATE pretext for war, he wrote on Twitter. Iran doesnt seek war but will OPENLY and DIRECTLY defend its people, security and vital interests.

Trump has also cast himself as an anti-war populist and avoided direct military confrontations with Iran. But he also ditched a nuclear deal forged with Iran by his predecessor Barack Obama and launched an effort to economically strangle the country. In recent weeks, he reportedly had to be talked down from plans to hit sites that Iran uses to enrich uranium.

Top Iranian officials have said they do not want an armed conflict and have indicated they are open to resetting relations with Washington and returning to the nuclear deal once Mr Biden takes office on 20 January. But the attacks by its allied militias in Iraq on US bases continue; the 20 December barrage in Baghdad was the largest in a decade. Top Iranian officials breathe fire and brimstone about the US.

People who were involved in this crime and assassination will no longer be safe on the Earth, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi said on Friday, vowing that Iran and its partners are determined to take hard revenge for the assassination.

A word to the enemy: do not think that anyone who appears in the guise of an American president as a murderer or a mastermind of a murder is immune from justice, he said.

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags following the assassination (AFP/Getty)

The latest round of jabs between Iran and the US began on 20 December but experts are noting that the two countries have been on a collision course since late 2019, when a barrage of rockets struck a base housing US military personnel in Iraq and killed one American military contractor. Soleimanis killing in a US drone strike near Baghdads international airport a week later prompted a ferocious missile attack by Iran on the American-operated Assad base in western Iraq. Scores of military personnel were injured.

That was followed by a months-long spate of sabotage attacks on Iranian nuclear, missile and energy facilities at the alleged hands of the US and Israel, and alleged cyberattacks on the US and Israel by Iran, as well as what experts have described as attempts by Iranians to use social media to exacerbate political tensions in America.

A month ago, operatives likely associated with Israel assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a scientist described as the father of Irans nuclear programme.

The presence of both Iranian-backed militias and American military personnel in Iraq heightens the dangers. The drone strike that killed Soleimani also eliminated Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of Iraqs Shia militias. His followers are eager for revenge and are manoeuvring to outflank the government of prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who is seeking to reduce the militias influence and presence.

There are two competitions going on: one between the Baghdad government headed by Kadhimi and the other pitting Iran and the US in a de facto Iraqi battlefield over power and influence there, says Ali Fathollah-Nejad, a scholar at the Afro-Middle East Centre, a research institute based in Johannesburg.

Top Revolutionary Guard officials in Tehran may urge allied militias in Iraq or Lebanon to avoid escalating with America or Israel. It remains unclear whether theyll obey. Experts say that Soleimanis successor may not have the clout or stature to keep the unruly young commanders in line.

Ismail Qaani tried to convince the Iraqi militias and Hezbollah not to do anything before Trump leaves, but I am not convinced they are totally under Irans control, said Raz Zimmt, an Iran specialist at Tel Aviv University and the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel. The Revolutionary Guard may have lost part of its control over some of its militias.

Military and security experts describe the current stalemate between Iran and the US as among the most dangerous of dilemmas, when neither side knows what the other is up to and both are keenly watching for signs of escalation. Iraq, stuck in the middle between two squabbling patrons, also watches nervously. On Thursday, it tightened security measures around the high-security zones that encompass the US embassy in central Baghdad and the international airport on the citys western edge.

You see each side preparing to deter the other; but each defensive move is viewed as offensive by the other, said Dalia Dassa Kaye. Given this year of intense back and forth and tit for tat, I wouldn't say escalation is inevitable, but the situation is dangerous.
The Lincoln County Health Department in Tennessee will start vaccinating people ages 75 and older on Saturday.

"I'm 81, and I plan to be around for another 10 years. I want to see grandchildren and great grandchildren graduate college and high school. If it's not available for everyone Saturday, I hope it will be immediately afterwards," said Eugenia Lancaster, who lives in Fayetteville.

The health department on Washington Street will open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to vaccinate anyone in that age group, as well as health care workers, long-term health care facility residents and staff and first responders.

Lancaster said she plans to go when the health department opens on Saturday morning to get her vaccine.

It's unclear how many doses will be available on Saturday, but the health department said they'll be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Lancaster said she's hopeful she'll be one of the people who get the first dose.

"I normally have family here for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we couldn't do that this year, so if I can get the vaccine, I hope to party hardy next year," she said.

The health department has not said if it's giving out the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine on Saturday, and it's unclear if it has the specialized freezer to store the Pfizer vaccine at its ultra cold temperature.

People who are eligible, but are currently sick with COVID-19 or have symptoms are asked to wait until they are well to get vaccinated.

The health department is asking anyone with questions to contact them at 931-433-3231, but they are closed until Saturday.

It's unclear when the transition to that phase will start in Alabama. The Alabama Department of Public Health said Thursday that's because Tennessee is a larger state and able to transition to the next phase more quickly.

Dr. Karen Landers with the Alabama Department of Public Health said there is no set timeline for when Alabama will start vaccinating people who are 75 years old and up in 2021. She said right now, the Alabama Department of Public Health is reviewing data on the vaccine uptake.

When people in group 1B can get vaccinated, Landers said the county health departments will do those vaccinations on an appointment basis, like they are doing for the current group, to make sure no one has to wait long when they arrive to get theirs.

"Alabama expects to move into the population as expediently as our vaccine supply allows us to do. And once we have completed phase 1A to the extent that we possibly can, but keep in mind, it will be a soft transition," Landers explained.

She said soft transition means health care workers and people who are able to currently get vaccinated in phase 1A will still be able to get vaccinated once the transition to allow phase 1B groups happens. Right now, it's unclear when that transition will take place.
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When a patient is admitted to ED, one of the first clinical actions is to measure the concentration of oxygen in the blood by using a pulse oximeter positioned along the length of the nail. To prevent any possible interference, ...
A comment over the Christmas break by the Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, that we might not be able to grow potatoes in Ireland due to climate change generated a lot of feedback, most of it negative.

The climate change issue is getting more complex as more data accumulates. The idea that climate change will cause some areas to go dry, and other areas to go wet, is being overly simplistic and does not help anyone in preparing for the changes that are coming.

To prove his point, the Minister cited 2018 as a typical example of what to expect in a future drier climate.

However, he neglected to describe the root cause of the wet weather we have endured since, in 2019 and 2020. Talk to Donegal growers, who still a huge proportion of their potatoes still in the ground or salvaged from the muck over the last month. I think they would opt for a dry climate requiring irrigation rather than what they have endured over the last two years. Its a lot easier to put it on than take it off is a common refrain.

It is a common fault of climate change doom-sayers to cite examples suit their arguments, while completely ignoring instances of weather that dont.

Equally, its a common fault of climate change deniers to point out that weather is always changeable. This allows them to conveniently ignore the obvious trends of the ever more variable and ever more extreme weather events that we are enduring

Polarised

Peoples positions around climate change are getting more polarised and intransigent. In such an environment, its very difficult to map a future for the agricultural sector, and in this case, the potato sector in particular.

If we were to accept the Ministers argument that the climate will indeed become too dry and hot for potato production along the east coast, we could plan for that. We could move potato production westwards; there is some fantastic land in Mayo, Galway and Donegal that in years gone by was classified as excellent potato land.

Perhaps we could engineer a solution; we could canal water from the west to the east to irrigate crops in the east coast.

You may well ask would we spend so much on such interventions, especially when our potato industry is already in crisis because of competition from cheap imports?

The answer is if the east coast of Ireland becomes too dry for potatoes, other areas from which we and many other countries currently import potatoes from  the east of England, Belgium and the Netherlands  would be much worse off.

Potatoes could become a huge export opportunity for Irish farming  we could be pulling out milking parlours to install cold stores instead!.

Such ideas are of course fanciful, for now.

At present, it would be nonsense to try and move an entire industry from the east to the west, or invest billions on an irrigation system to help supply a market that currently isnt there. That doesnt mean we dont prepare for a changing climate.

Robust

We need to make our potato industry more robust and flexible by developing new varieties, and a brand of potatoes not dependent on variety.

We need to entice new growers to the industry and overcome the huge risks it entails.

Also, we need to restart basic research into potato production in Ireland.

For instance, in 2018 when there were huge questions over the requirement for irrigation, the only relevant information was from the early 1970s.

We have absolutely no idea of how modern varieties react to irrigation, or how destoned soil absorbs artificially applied water.

Last May and June, during our mini-drought, plenty of potato land was irrigated. It appears that this land was a lot more difficult to harvest later when the weather broke. Why is this the case and can we overcome it? When is, or is there even, a right time to irrigate potatoes?

Information

Growers are spending thousands on irrigation and yet there is no unbiased information available to guide them.

Minister Ryans comments should provoke a discussion on the future of all our agricultural sectors, including potato production.

We dont know exactly how a changing climate will alter our ability to feed ourselves. That doesnt mean we sit on the fence and shout at one another. We need to build flexibility, robustness and guarantees into our food supply systems. That process has to begin now.
A desperate search is underway for a 20-year-old man who went for a New Year's Eve dip in a river and vanished.

Police said the young man was swimming in waist-deep water with a group of friends in Gympie, Queensland, overnight to celebrate the New Year.

The group were using vehicle headlights to illuminate the Mary River at the corner of Traveston Crossing Road and Dobson Road near their camping ground at Kybong just after midnight.

A desperate search is underway for a 20-year-old man who went for a New Year's Eve dip in a river and vanished (stock image)

The group were using vehicle headlights to illuminate the Mary River (pictured) at the corner of Traveston Crossing Road and Dobson Road near their camping ground at Kybong just after midnight

But as they were splashing around the group noticed the man had disappeared.

Now a massive search operation has been launched to locate the man.

'Three Queensland Fire and Emergency Service swift water rescue crews assisted to try and locate the man without any luck,' police said.

The search will continue during the day as police divers scour the waterway and State Emergency Service personnel comb through nearby bushland.

The Sunshine Coast-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter has also joined the search.

'He is described as Caucasian with olive skin, is of a medium build, has dark hair and was last seen wearing dark coloured shorts and a short-sleeved shirt,' police said.

'Investigators are particularly urging any local property owners to keep an eye out for the man.'

Anyone who may have information about the man's whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately.

The search will continue during the day as police divers scour the waterway and State Emergency Service personnel comb through nearby bushland (pictured, Queensland police divers are pictured in 2015)

Pictured: The Sunshine Coast-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter has also joined the search
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A businessman whose daughter attends a primary school in a Covid hotspot has blasted the 'absurd' decision to keep it open while another stays shut 700 yards away.

Stephen Cook was left baffled by the decision as his London council has told head teachers to defy ministers and remain closed over the coming weeks.

While many boroughs across the capital were told they can't open to the majority of pupils, Haringey was not included on the Government's list, which has sparked council leaders to take action of their own.

Cllr Joseph Ejiofor wrote to head teachers outlining the fact the area's Covid case rate is higher than the London average and that officials weren't consulted before the decision was made.

He wrote: 'We are part of the same integrated care system as two boroughs where primaries have been told to stay closed (Barnet and Enfield) and the North Middlesex, a hospital under significant pressure, serves the populations of both Haringey and Enfield.

'We believe that all primary schools in Haringey should therefore open only to the children of key workers and vulnerable children next week and we will support all our schools in this approach.'

It comes as Mr Cook spoke of his confusion with daughter Holly, 10, being told to attend Coldfall Primary School in the borough, while less than a ten minute walk away is Coppetts Wood Primary School, in the London Borough of Barnet, which will remain closed until the Government's return date of January 18.

Stephen Cook and daughter Holly have been left baffled by the decision as his London council has told head teachers to defy ministers and stay closed over the coming weeks

Holly, 10, has been told to attend Coldfall Primary School, pictured, while less than a ten minute walk away is Coppetts Wood Primary School, in the London Borough of Barnet, which will remain closed until the Government's return date of January 18

Cllr Joseph Ejiofor wrote to head teachers outlining the fact the area's Covid case rate is higher than the London average and that officials weren't consulted before the decision was made. Pictured: Coppetts Wood Primary School

Mr Cook, 55, who runs a building firm told MailOnline: 'It's all very confusing and totally absurd. But then you could say that we live in very confusing and absurd times.

'None of it makes any sense because there are kids that come from the London Borough of Barnet to my daughter's school and she also has friends from there. Haringey's infection rate is higher than Barnet's so why are not all schools in the area closing?;

Mr Cook lives with his family on Coppetts Road, a busy thoroughfare which divides the London Borough of Haringey on one side and Barnet on the other.

He said: 'Kids who live in the borough of Barnet attend Coldfall and Haringey kids go to Coppetts Wood. And when they are out and about in local parks, they are constantly mixing and playing.

'We are in an incredibly difficult situation and I'm glad that I'm not in charge, but we need greater clarity because a lot of people don't understand what's going on.

'I live in a Covid hotspot but if I cross the road, I'm in the London Borough of Barnet so why is there not more consistency?'

According to the Government's latest figures, in the week leading up to December 25, Haringey registered 2,120 cases of coronavirus with infections running at 789.14 per 100,000.

For the same period, Barnet registered 2,751 with infections running at 694.13 per 100,000.

Other parents with children in both nearby schools also expressed bemusement.

Fatima Fernandes, 40, whose son Dylan, 10 attends Coppetts Wood Primary School said: 'There should be a national lockdown, it's as simple as that.

'You can't have different rules for same the same cities, it just doesn't make any sense. My son has friends who attend Coldfall and the Coronavirus situation isn't any better in Haringey than it is in Barnet.'

Ms Fernandes, a local government worker, added: 'I understand that different boroughs have different infection rates but we need a more co-ordinated approach. I'm angry because the Government has made a complete mess of this whole schools situation.'

She added: 'I'm lucky because I've been working from home but I feel for the parents who aren't able to do this.'

Kelly Palmer, whose ten-year-old son attends Coppett Woods school said: 'Like most parents I just don't understand what the Government are doing.

'They left it to quite late to announce that schools would be closing and then they tell us that some will remain open, even in areas where the Covid rates are high. They're all a bunch of jokers who don't really know what they're doing.'

Anastasia Guha, who has two children in Coldfall school fumed: 'When I heard that the school was to open, I thought it was a mistake. I really don't understand what's going on. What makes the Government think that Haringey is in a better position than Barnet when it comes to Covid?'

It comes as scientific advisers warn that more school closures are necessary to control rising infections, with local authorities threatening legal action if pupils are forced to return.

The Government's Sage committee has warned it is 'highly unlikely' the pandemic can be managed effectively if schools are free to open next week and the leaders of the eight boroughs where classes will continue have questioned the safety of the decision, with more than 12,000 pupils still expected to attend.

The leaders of Camden, Islington, Greenwich, Haringey, Harrow, Hackney and Lewisham boroughs, and the City of London, said in a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson: 'We ask in the strongest terms that your recommendation is urgently reviewed and our primary schools are added to the list of those advised to move learning online.'

Yesterday, Mr Williamson announced all secondary schools reopening would be delayed by at least a week and released a list of primary schools in coronavirus 'hotspots' that would also stay shut.

But there are growing questions over the criteria for the selection of the primaries after some parents complained that the closures make no sense.

Jenny Batt, Lib Dem councillor for Worcester Park in Sutton, south-west London, said local people were 'confused and worried' about what was going on and did not understand how officials were reaching their decisions.

'They don't understand what the criteria is,' she told BBC London. 'I've got residents who live in Sutton whose children go to a Kingston school and are told that it is safe.

'And then they've got their neighbours' children who can't go to school because theirs isn't safe.'

Two schools in Islington, North London, were today being given different advice about whether they could open or close despite being just 700 yards apart.

Amid signs of a bitter row in Cabinet, Education Secretary Gavin Willliamson refused to apologise for the confusion and said the government was having to move at 'incredible pace' due to the mutant strain of coronavirus.

But the decisions over what areas are classified as high-risk were branded 'illogical' today, with little clarity over the criteria being used to set the rules. London councils are calling for all classes to be cancelled.

Secondaries also face an anxious wait to find out whether they will be able to reopen fully on the new target date of January 18.

The Department for Education is racing to put a mass testing system in place, but has warned the curbs could need to be even wider than for primaries as older children are more likely to spread the disease. The situation is not expected to become clear until the next review date of January 13.

Boris Johnson suggested this evening that even the January 18 return date could be changed for some schools as he said the Government's approach will be shaped by infection rates

Millions more children will be consigned to online learning as schools' reopening was delayed after the Christmas holidays

One parent said today that the situation is 'totally ridiculous', adding: 'The school at one end of the street I live in will be closed while the school at the other end is open'. Another said their area had been 'split in two' with 'schools on one side of the road closed, the other side open'.

Around two-thirds of schools in the capital will be shut for an extra fortnight from Monday - meaning there are many households where one child will be forced to stay at home while another will still go to school in a neighbouring borough.

With most secondary schools shut until at least January 18 - or even indefinitely - millions of children face weeks or even months of 'inadequate' virtual classes that the head of Ofsted believes sets back children 'years', particularly those from working class backgrounds.

Experts say that months at home during the first lockdown saw many youngsters regress academically, socially and developmentally with only vulnerable children and the children of key workers in the worst-hit areas allowed to return to their desks next week

The chaos and division over schools came as:

Questions have been raised about the UK vaccination drive despite Defence Secretary Ben Wallace saying the military 'stands ready' to deliver as many as 100,00 doses a day - or 700,000 a week;

Boris Johnson warned of a new 'reality' with mutant Covid rampant on Wednesday as he plunged virtually the whole of England into brutal lockdown until the Spring - with the UK recording 981 deaths in the worst daily toll since April and vaccines the only hope of escape;

The government has launched an advertising blitz urging people to see in 2021 'within the rules' because 'Covid loves a crowd';

London ICUs have asked major hospitals in Yorkshire if they will agree to take some patients as wards hospital admissions exceed peak of first wave;

NHS chief Prof Stephen Powis tells Britons NOT to throw New Year's Eve parties warning: 'Covid loves a crowd' Britons have been warned not to throw New Year's Eve parties because 'Covid loves a crowd'. NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis urged people to see in 2021 'within the rules', which means no indoor mixing between households. All of England - except 2,000 residents on the Isles of Scilly - face the two toughest coronavirus tiers from midnight, thwarting typical December 31 celebrations. Prof Powis told a Downing Street press briefing: 'We can all play a part in fighting this terrible virus: stay at home, mark the New Year with just nearest and dearest within the rules. 'This action will reduce infections, relieve pressures on hospitals, and that's how everybody can help to save a life. 'Covid loves a crowd, so please leave the parties for later in the year.' Advertisement

Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan and party colleagues running the city's councils are pushing for all schools in London to shut as UK daily infections hit 50,000 again yesterday and headteachers in Tier 4 areas have hinted they could defy the Government and close anyway. Union members have even called for teachers to go on strike.

Jo Riley, who runs a school in Hackney, tweeted today: 'Since March 2020 I've tried to be open & transparent with my school community about the decisions we've made. Yesterday's announcement has broken me. I can't look them in the eye and say our school is open on the 4th when they can see the stats'.

Greenwich Council leader Dan Thorpe, who tried to shut schools before Christmas, said: 'I'm extremely concerned that Gavin Williamson has made the wrong decision today for schools, teachers, families & children in Greenwich. The decision doesn't make sense and I will be doing everything in my power to make sure we get the right solution'.

Plans for all primary school pupils to return to classrooms next week were halted last night as Mr Johnson vowed to 'redouble' efforts to stem the mutant strain of coronavirus.

Primary schools in heavily afflicted areas such as London, Essex and Kent will now not be allowed to reopen on January 4 as ministers had hoped.

Only vulnerable children and the children of key workers will be allowed to return to their desks, while the rest will be forced to attend lessons online.

The Prime Minister also pushed back the start of term for the bulk of secondary school pupils by a week, meaning they are now set to return on January 18 rather than January 11 - when only Years 11 and 13 preparing for exams will go back.

Mr Johnson even cast doubt over this return date and said: 'I want to stress that depending on the spread of the disease it may be necessary to take further action in their cases as well in the worst affected areas.'

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Williamson struggled to explain how the restrictions on primary schools were being decided.

He told Sky News: 'The work that was done with the Department of Health who identified areas where it was either a very high rate or, using their latest data, were seeing very sharp increases in the number of cases or equally the pressures on hospitals in that area and the clinical needs.

'These were all the considerations that were taken into account but what I want to say, and this will come as no surprise to you whatsoever, I want to see schools, any school, that's closed for those first two weeks, opening at the earliest possible opportunity.'

Asked whether he apologised to parents, teachers and children for the notice given for the measures, Mr Williamson said: 'I think we all recognise that if we go back a few weeks where there was no new variant of Covid, none of us would have been expecting us to be having to take the actions, whether it's in regards to schools, whether it's in regards to Tier 4 moves that the Government has had to make, but it's the Government that's having to respond at incredible pace to a global pandemic and then a new variant of that virus.

SAGE warnings of fresh national lockdown as ministers play down fears Ministers today desperately tried to cool fears of a fresh national lockdown as a SAGE expert warned it was 'probably' going to happen. Doctor Mike Tildesley, a member of the scientific modelling committee, which advises the government as a sub-group of SAGE, says the whole country will likely have to be plunged into Tier 4 or a national lockdown before the end of January in a bid to stem spiralling infection rates. In a stark warning on BBC Radio 4 today, he said: 'Cases are rising in a really concerning way, so I suspect that unfortunately we will see a ramping-up even further of restrictions, probably more of the country being in Tier 4 or ultimately probably a national lockdown before we get to the end of January'. However, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said he was 'confident' there will not be another national squeeze. He told Sky News: 'We're taking the absolute right approach to pursue the tiering system. 'It's really important that areas have the opportunity to move down the tiering system as well as having to sometimes move areas up the tiering system. 'We recognise there are impositions that this has on everyone's lives but it is the right approach, it's the proper approach. 'This is a robust approach, so I'm confident that we won't be moving into a national lockdown situation because the tiering structure is the right place to be.' Advertisement

'It's not what any of us would want to do, it's not a decision that any of us would be wanting to have to implement, but we've had to do that because circumstances have dictated it.

'I think the British public expect the Government to do what is right and even though that is sometimes uncomfortable, it is taking the right actions, dealing with these extraordinary times.'

Mr Williamson said he was 'absolutely confident' schools will return as per the new staggered timetable.

He said: 'We are absolutely confident that all schools are returning. You're going to see over 85 per cent of primary schools returning on Monday morning, you're going to be seeing exam cohorts going back right across the country on January 11.'

Defending the efforts to introduce mass testing in secondary schools, Mr Williamson said: 'There's absolutely no reason that schools won't be ready.'

He said 78 million of additional funding, equipment such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and support from the military would help them get mass testing programmes set up.

Mr Williamson said: 'We really want to hold their hands, support them, help them. We're asking everyone right across the country to do pretty extraordinary things at the moment.'

Drawing on his two school-age daughters' experience during the pandemic, Mr Williamson said: 'How much they (children) miss out by not being in schools, that's why we're taking these extraordinary actions because it's always best to have children in school if it's possible to do so.'

However, Robert Halfon, chair of the Education Select Committee and Tory MP for Harlow, voiced fears for an 'epidemic of educational poverty'.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'I do worry very much about children not being in school. I understand we have to balance the risks of coronavirus, absolutely, and do everything possible to keep staff and children safe, but I also worry about the impact of lost learning on the children...

'This is very, very, very difficult all around and I think the impact on educational learning and mental health is perhaps the two most important things because these are things that are very difficult to deal with.

'We want to deal with coronavirus but we don't want an epidemic of educational poverty and mental health crises amongst young people in our country.'

Mr Johnson held a Downing Street press briefing last night after all of England - except for 2,000 residents on the Isles of Scilly - was marked for the toughest two coronavirus tiers from midnight.

Three-quarters of the country are now under the most draconian Tier 4 restrictions and under strict 'stay at home' orders.

Mr Johnson pleaded with the public to follow the rules over New Year and signalled that yesterday's approval of the 'game-changer' Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could bring and end to lockdowns by Spring.

Williamson bats away calls for teachers to get vaccine priority Gavin Williamson has batted away calls for teachers to get higher priority in the vaccine rollout. There has been pressure for school staff to be offered the jabs as part of efforts to get children back in classrooms safely. But in a round of interviews the Education Secretary said doses were being targeted at the 'most vulnerable'. 'As you're well aware, we've prioritised in that first wave of vaccines those people who are most vulnerable, who are most likely to be in a position of being hospitalised as a result of catching Covid-19,' he said. 'I think we all recognise where the first vaccines need to go, to those who are most likely to lose their lives as a result of catching Covid.' Mr Williamson said there will be teachers who are prioritised for the vaccine because they are clinically extremely vulnerable. He added: 'When we look at future waves of a rollout of a vaccine  as you can imagine, as Education Secretary I'll be wanting to see teachers and all those support staff being up there on that list getting that vaccine.' Asked directly whether teachers should be prioritised like healthcare workers, Mr Williamson added: 'In future waves, obviously, this is a decision that will be made across government, it'd be great to see more teachers right up there getting the vaccine, but it's got to be made on clinical judgment as to how best we deal with and beat this virus.' Advertisement

'We are still in the tunnel of this pandemic, the light however is not merely visible... the tunnel has been shortened, we're moving faster through it and that gives me great confidence about the future in the Spring,' he said.

Yet as the UK suffered its deadliest day since April with 981 Covid-19 deaths, the PM said he 'bitterly regretted' having to impose such harsh measures.

Mr Johnson stressed that education remained a 'national priority', but Labour and teacher unions lined up to blast the 'chaotic 11th-hour announcement' which will see millions of students out of classrooms at the start of the New Year.

Mr Williamson has faced massive pressure in recent weeks over the proposed staggered restart of secondary schools and colleges in the New Year as teachers, unions and scientists all called for a delay.

However, the decision to keep primary schools in hotspot areas closed went further than many people were expecting.

The Education Secretary told MPs: 'We will be opening the majority of primary schools as planned on Monday January 4.

'We know how vitally important it is for younger children to be in school for their education, wellbeing and wider development.

'In a small number of areas where the infection rates are highest we will implement our existing contingency framework such as only vulnerable children and children of critical workers will attend face-to-face.

'We will publish this list of areas today on the gov.uk website.'

The full list of the areas subject to primary school closures from January 4 was later published by the Department for Education.

It includes 22 London boroughs, 11 boroughs in Essex and nine in Kent.

Mr Williamson stressed the restrictions on primary schools are only being applied to the worst-hit infection hotspots and that the 'overwhelming majority' in England will open as planned.

He also said areas which are subject to the restrictions on face-to-face primary teaching will be regularly reviewed in the hope that schools can reopen as soon as possible.

On the issue of secondary schools and colleges, the Education Secretary said the coronavirus infection rate is 'particularly high among this age group' and as a result 'we are going to allow more time so that every school and college is able to fully roll-out testing for all of its pupils and staff'.

He said: 'All pupils in exam years are to return during the week beginning January 11, with all secondary school and college students returning full time on January 18.

'During the first week of term on or after January 4, secondary schools and colleges will prepare to test as many staff and students as possible and will only be open to vulnerable children and the children of key workers.'

Mr Williamson said he expected the 'full return of all pupils in all year groups' on January 18.

However, speaking at a Downing Street press conference this evening, Mr Johnson suggested that date could be changed for some schools depending on infection rates.

He said: 'I want to stress that depending on the spread of the disease it may be necessary to take further action in their cases as well in the worst affected areas.'

The timing of the announcement of the schools rethink sparked a furious reaction from union leaders.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said: 'This is another last-minute mess which could so easily have been avoided if the Government had listened to school leaders before the holidays.

'Instead, back then, schools which wanted to shift to remote learning were threatened with legal action. Now we have a situation where the Government is instructing schools to reduce the amount of teaching time available.

'If we'd had the freedom to take action before the holidays, we might have been in a position to have more schools open for more pupils. School leaders will be baffled, frustrated and justifiably angry tonight.'

Jon Richards, head of education at the union Unison, said: 'Everyone agrees it's important for schools and colleges to open but it can't be at any expense when infections are rising.

'This delay for secondary schools is a sensible decision, giving more time to organise mass testing effectively to limit the spread. Primary and early years reopening should also be delayed because social distancing isn't really possible.

'Ministers should also ensure any moves to extend the vaccine priority list must cover all school staff and not just teachers.'

The Government's initial plan was for exam year pupils to physically return to secondary schools and colleges from January 4 while the other students took part in online learning before then going back on January 11.

'Dedicated and inspirational' secondary school teacher, 55, dies from Covid just two days after Christmas

Tributes have poured in for a secondary school teacher who died from Covid-19 just two days after Christmas.

Parents, pupils and teachers have described Teesside teacher Paul Hilditch, 55, as 'dedicated and inspirational' following his death on Sunday.

Headteacher of Conyers School, Louise Spellman, said they were 'deeply saddened' at the sudden loss of their colleague and friend.

Mr Hilditch taught engineering and technology at Conyers for four years and Ms Spellman said he was 'a truly dedicated, caring and well-loved member of staff.'

The popular teacher had no known underlying health conditions and it is not yet clear how he caught the virus.

His death comes as coronavirus cases continue to surge across the UK and parents and schoolchildren face further disruption after ministers announced plans to close primary schools in areas of England worst-hit by coronavirus.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson also confirmed that most secondary school pupils will see the start of term delayed by a fortnight to January 18.

Paul Hilditch, 55, died just two days after Christmas following a two-week battle with Covid-19

Teaching unions have also criticised the Government's handling of the pandemic as they called for greater risk assessments to protect staff from the virus.

Yesterday Britain announced a further 981 Covid-19 deaths on top of another 50,023 new infections.

Ms Spellman said: 'Paul was a fantastic teacher who thought so much of his students and really gave his all to ensure they achieved their best,' she said.

'Paul loved our school and our students: he will be remembered as a kind, devoted and truly brilliant teacher.

'All of our thoughts and prayers are with Paul's friends and family at this time.'

Tributes were paid on social media to Mr Hilditch, who was a keen member of local reenactment group the Northern World War Two Association.

The parents of a pupil said: 'My son really took to him and the way he taught - despite having only been taught by him since September.

'Absolutely heartbreaking, thoughts and love to his family.'

Another wrote: 'Such a terrible loss. My daughter thought he was a great teacher. My thoughts go out to his family.'

One shocked pupil said: 'No way I'm reading this, he was one the best teachers in there. Rest in peace.'

'Anyone who doesn't wear their mask  they have blood on their hands': Intensive care doctor blames 'badly behaved' public for Covid hospitals crisis after UK suffered deadliest day since April

The public are to blame for the record number of Covid cases in Britain and have 'blood on their hands' if they don't wear masks as patients wait 24 hours for hospital beds to stop coronavirus 'spreading like wildfire' through wards, a top doctor claimed today.

Professor Hugh Montgomery, a consultant at University College Hospital in London, said he is 'angry' with people for 'behaving badly' and failing to follow the rules as infections hit 50,000-plus again and deaths approached 1,000 yesterday.

'We can't blame the Government, we can't blame the Tier system. This is people behaving badly. I'm just very angry about this. If we were wearing masks, washing hands, this virus would not be as it is', he told Times Radio. He added: 'Anyone who doesn't wear their mask  they have blood on their hands. They are spreading this virus, then other people will spread it and people will die. They won't know they've killed people, but they have'.

Professor Montgomery's incendiary claims have angered other medics, with Dr Ellie Cannon tweeting: 'Wow. I couldn't disagree more! Since when has a public health campaign ever been based on blaming the public?' while another critic saying: 'Throwing blame around just makes people feel angry and disheartened, and inevitably distracts everyone from more important issues'.

Professor Hugh Montgomery, pictured, an A&E consultant at University College Hospital in London, said he is 'angry' with the public for failing to follow the rules and have 'blood on their hands' for not wearing masks

Doctors and nurses at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel - have begged bosses to declare an emergency as they opened a new ward and moved adults into a paediatric ward after 200 new Covid patients were admitted this week.

Essex has already declared a 'major incident' as the number of coronavirus cases threatens to overwhelm its six hospitals and ambulances queued outside A&Es all over the country due to a lack of beds and staff.

Gareth Grier, an A&E consultant at Barts Health NHS Trust in east London, said today: 'If Covid patients are left in corridors then covid will spread like wildfire within the hospital. This cannot be allowed to happen. The corridor medicine that was previously endemic in emergency departments would kill people and staff if allowed to reoccur. Hence the awful, terrible option of treating patients outside hospitals'.

UK hospitals are running low on workers, ward space, oxygen and even pillows with patients being treated by medics inside emergency vehicles as they waited up to six hours to be admitted. In some cases people were later diverted more than 100 miles away while some packed London ICUs have started asking major hospitals in Tyneside and Yorkshire if they will take some of their Covid patients.
When Kate Baumgartner entered Sacred Grounds Cafe for the first time at the age of 12, she told her mother she wished she could work there. Years later, she will finally get her wish but not as an employee.

It all happened so quickly, said Baumgartner, about taking over as owner of the beloved cafe in downtown Edwardsville. Owning a cafe has always been my end game and Sacred Grounds Cafe was the inspiration for it. The food and coffee is always great, but the community is what makes it special.

Baumgartner heard that current owner Jenn Courtney planned to close Sacred Grounds Cafe at the end of 2020. Baumgartner reached out on Dec. 15 to talk about acquiring the business. Plans were finalized and the official acquisition is set to take place Jan. 15 with a reopening date slated Feb. 1.

Though a native of Caseyville, Baumgartner spent a lot of time at Sacred Grounds, especially during her time as a student at SIUE.

Half my roommates worked there and the environment was so great that Id spend hours there, she said.

Because she loves the environment so much, she does not plan to change much of what customers have come to expect.

I plan on extending opening hours and Im talking to a vendor about setting up an online ordering platform, but that is about all Ill change, Baumgartner said.

She has worked a corporate job since graduating from SIUE, but continually looked for a way out to fulfill her desire to own a cafe. She currently lives in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and will move back to Edwardsville at the beginning of January.

My husband and I have been looking for ways to get home, said Baumgartner. This was just the perfect culmination of events. We get to come home and I get to buy my favorite place in the whole world.

Memories of Sacred Grounds Cafe

After 21 years, Jenn Courtney will retire as owner of Sacred Grounds Cafe.

On any given day, a wide variety of customers filled Sacred Grounds Cafe ranging from SIUE students to lawyers from Madison County Courthouse to those retired to exchange ideas and enjoy coffee and vegetarian fare, surrounded by local art that decorates the space.

The decision to retire from cafe ownership was not an easy one for Courtney, though it was partially induced by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ive certainly felt the fatigue of running a cafe for so long and when covid was added, I felt that it was time, she said. I decided to take a long pause  to step back, rest and take better of myself.

The stress of running a small business during the pandemic, particularly during the early months, weighed heavy on Courtney.

Early on, we were only open for a few hours in the morning and Edwardsville seemed like a ghost town, particularly Main Street. Everyone was so afraid to go out and it was scary as a business owner trying to figure out the right thing to do. I certainly did not want to put anyone or myself in danger, she said.

The cafe was a second home to a wide variety of customers from Edwardsville and surrounding areas.

Weve never tried to cater to a particular type of client. Thats probably one of the reasons I priced everything so low. I wanted everyone to feel welcome and able to afford a great cup of coffee, Courtney said.

Courtney said Edwardsville was the only place she ever envisioned having a cafe.

I never wanted to open another Sacred Grounds in any other town. It was never about trying to get as much money as I could, it was about people and connections, said Courtney. Our clientele has always been eclectic, just like the space and just like the people working there. I started the cafe, but its energy was fueled by the people who walk in.

Kerry Doyle of Troy has visited Sacred Grounds Cafe frequently for over a decade.

To borrow a phrase from the 1960s, it always had such a good vibe, Doyle said. It was a sanctuary of comfort. People with a bunch of different outlooks would come to exchange ideas, hash out differences and enjoy delicious food.

Doyle is a research associate in the geography department at SIUE and would stop before or after work to enjoy the Sacred Grounds community.

It was a safe place for many different people; a great place to relax, Doyle said. A fine meshing between capitalism and small business ethics. The community would come and exchange not only ideas, but goods and materials, too. People would repurpose a variety of materials with each other. It was just a kind, great place to be for everyone.

Doyle also notes how Sacred Grounds Cafe was instrumental in the revitalization of that part of Main Street.

It sparked a real nice rebirth in that part of town, in ways that town officials couldnt envision, Doyle said.

Still, Doyle understands Courtneys reasoning for retiring from Sacred Grounds.

Courtney was a real trailblazer, but shes been doing it for over

20 years. We cant expect someone to keep at it forever. The trailblazing was accomplished and we cant ask for more, Doyle said.

Sacred Grounds Cafe on Main Street will close its doors on Dec. 31 and then reopen under new management on Feb. 1.
WASHINGTON  Congress on Friday overrode President Donald Trumps veto of a defense policy bill, a first by lawmakers since he took office nearly four years ago, ensuring that the measure becomes law.

In an extraordinary New Years Day session, the Republican-controlled Senate easily turned aside the veto, dismissing Trumps objections to the $740 billion bill and handing him a stinging rebuke just weeks before he leaves the White House.

Trump lashed out on Twitter, saying the Senate missed an opportunity to eliminate protections for social media platforms that he said give unlimited power to Big Tech companies. Pathetic!!!'

Trump also slammed lawmakers for rejecting his call to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000: Not fair, or smart!'

The 81-13 vote in the Senate on the widely popular defense bill followed an earlier 322-87 override vote in the House. The bill affirms a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops and guides defense policy, cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, personnel policy and other military goals.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the sweeping and overwhelmingly bipartisan votes in the House and Senate delivered a resounding rebuke to President Trumps reckless assault on Americas military and national security.'

Trumps veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, would have hurt the health, financial security and safety of our servicemembers, their families, our veterans and our allies and partners worldwide,' Pelosi said. Instead of keeping Americans safe, the president continues to use his final moments in office to sow chaos and undermine our security.'

The defense bill, which now has the force of law, looks after our brave men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform,' said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. But its also a tremendous opportunity: to direct our national security priorities to reflect the resolve of the American people and the evolving threats to their safety, at home and abroad. Its our chance to ensure we keep pace with competitors like Russia and China.'

The Senate override was delayed after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., objected to moving ahead until McConnell allowed a vote on the Trump-backed plan to boost COVID relief payments to $2,000. McConnell did not allow that vote; instead he used his parliamentary power to set a vote limiting debate on the defense measure, overcoming a filibuster threat by Sanders and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Without a bipartisan agreement, a vote on the bill could have been delayed until Saturday night. Lawmakers, however, agreed to an immediate roll call Friday once the filibuster threat was stopped.

Trump vetoed the defense measure last week, saying it failed to limit Twitter and other social media companies he claimed were biased against him during his failed reelection campaign. Trump also opposed language that allows for the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a close Trump ally, hailed the override vote.

Today, the Senate sent a strong message of support to our troops,' Inhofe said. Not only does this bill give our service members and their families the resources they need, but it also makes our nation more secure  pushing back against China and Russia (and) strengthening our cyber defenses.'

Trump has succeeded throughout his four-year term in enforcing party discipline in Congress, with few Republicans willing to publicly oppose him. The bipartisan overrides on the defense bill showed the limits of Trumps influence in the final weeks of his term.

Earlier this week, 130 House Republicans voted against the Trump-backed COVID relief checks, with many arguing they were unnecessary and would increase the federal budget deficit. The Democratic-controlled House approved the larger payments, but the plan fizzled in the Senate amid opposition from McConnell and other Republicans, another sign of Trumps fading hold over Congress.

Only seven GOP senators voted with Trump to oppose the defense bill override. Forty Republicans  including the entire GOP leadership  voted for the override, along with 41 Democrats. Sanders and five other liberals who opposed the defense bill also voted against the override.

Besides his concerns about social media and military base names, Trump also complained that the bill restricted his ability to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan and Germany. The measure requires the Pentagon to submit reports certifying that the proposed withdrawals would not jeopardize U.S. national security.

Trump has vetoed eight other bills, but those were all sustained because supporters did not gain the two-thirds vote needed in each chamber for the bills to become law without Trumps signature.

Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Trumps Dec. 23 veto a parting gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin and a lump of coal for our troops. Donald Trump is showing more devotion to Confederate base names than to the men and women who defend our nation.
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In the dying moments of the year 2019, the country office of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Peoples Republic of China was officially informed that a pneumonia of unknown cause was sweeping through the city of Wuhan, apparently centred on a seafood market. On January 4, the WHO first tweeted about the pneumonia, claiming that nobody had as yet died from the illness.

The year to come would be dominated by this one single event as no year has been since the last world war. And, like world wars, this one too has waves and false victories. We are living ...
Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:02 pm

It might be the understatement of the decade, or even more, to say 2020 didnt turn out quite like anyone expected. We here at The Chronicle are glad its coming to an end, and are looking toward the future. That being said, weve compiled a look back at our top stories of 2020, starting on page Main 2. All these stories and more are still available online at chronline.com.

January and February started off the year like many others, albeit with the looming threat of COVID-19 as it hit China first, then took off in the U.S. beginning in February.

School closures came in March, followed closely by a statewide shutdown of all but the most essential businesses and services.

On a national, regional and local level, most people reacted the same way. Toilet paper and guns sold out while we all tried to stay sane, work at home in our pajamas and bake bread in alarming quantities, with varying levels of success.

Meanwhile, Lewis County lost a Washington State Patrol Trooper and Adna grad, Justin Schaffer, in what can only be called a senseless killing by a fleeing suspect, who is still awaiting trial on a murder charge.

May began with the extension of Gov. Jay Inslees Stay Home Stay Healthy Order through the end of the month. People began finding new ways to come together. Most notably, teachers organized neighborhood drive-through parades to see their students, and families and friends had similar events for seniors reaching milestone birthdays.

Spring also saw the resurgence of social justice movements including Black Lives Matter after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota. Protests shut down entire neighborhoods in Seattle, while locals joined in through their own smaller demonstrations.

In June, Chehalis Uncle Sam Sign was back in the headlines, Sheriff Rob Snaza went viral with his now famous Dont Be a Sheep, line and Tenino brought back its wooden money.

Lewis County passed 100 cases of COVID-19 in July and police pulled off a large-scale bust of fentanyl and other drugs on Interstate-5 in Lewis County.

In August, the Lewis County Jail had a small outbreak of COVID-19 and rumors of an Antifa presence drew hundreds of counter-protesters, many armed, to Morton. Schools began making plans on how to safely begin the school year.

August also introduced Lewis County, and the world, to Jimmy Armfield, who now receives more mail than he can carry.

September showed an uptick in COVID-19 cases, though weekly totals didnt hit triple digits until November, where they stayed through the end of the year. The county had its first death attributed to the virus in months in early October, and ended the year with 21.

September was a smoky month, with late-summer wildfires in Eastern Washington leaving a haze over the entire state.

In October, schools were still struggling with remote learning, and The Chronicles three-part series Spanning the Digital Divide, explored how the existing problems with access to high-speed internet in rural communities were exacerbated by the pandemic.

November began with the promise of hotly contested political races coming to a close and ended with Lewis County getting two new county commissioners and state representatives, and the country getting a new president.

The month also started a trend continuing through the end of the year  triple-digit weekly COVID-19 totals.

Which brings us back to December, where despite skyrocketing COVID-19 numbers, businesses  Spiffys in particular  and the town of Mossyrock bucked statewide restrictions on restrictions intended to curb that spread. As of the end of the year, Spiffys is facing steep civil and criminal fines.

Stay tuned for more on that in 2021.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that he stands ready to maintain close contact with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in various forms in a bid to lead their countries towards deeper comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields.



Xi made the remarks when exchanging New Year congratulations with Putin, adding that in doing so, greater benefits will be brought to the two peoples and more positive energy injected into the turbulent and changing world.

In his message, Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extended sincere greetings and best wishes to Putin and the Russian people.

Noting that 2020 is an extraordinary year, Xi said the Chinese and Russian people have helped each other and worked together in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, writing a new chapter of good-neighborliness and friendship between the two countries.

In 2020, Xi said, the two sides launched the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation program, promoted the steady development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation under the condition of regular COVID-19 prevention and control, and achieved new progress in aligning the construction of the Belt and Road with the Eurasian Economic Union.

China and Russia also jointly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, demonstrating their firm determination to safeguard international fairness and justice, and making new contributions to building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added.

Xi said he and Putin in the past year have had several telephone conversations, jointly attended a series of multilateral summits via video link, had in-depth exchange of views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues, and reached new and important consensus, which the Chinese president speaks highly of.

Noting that the upcoming year is of special significance to bilateral relations, Xi said the two sides, centering on the theme of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, will vigorously promote the idea of a lasting friendship between the two countries, and envisage and enrich the development of China-Russia relations in the new era.

For his part, Putin extended his sincere New Year greetings to Xi, and wished the Chinese people happiness and good health.

In the past year, the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has been rapidly developing, Putin said, adding that the governments, legislatures and various departments of the two countries have maintained close communication.

The two countries, he noted, have also smoothly launched the large-scale program of the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation and maintained high-level development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the two sides have maintained close coordination and cooperation to jointly promote the settlement of regional and international hotspot issues, and work together within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, Putin said.

Noting that the next year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Putin said he believes that the two sides will continue to uphold the spirit of the treaty and jointly achieve fresh outcomes in Russia-China relations.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also exchanged New Year greetings.

In his message, Li said that China and Russia have made great efforts to overcome the impact of the pandemic and external challenges over the past year, and maintained the positive momentum in the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two countries also successfully held the 25th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian prime ministers and reached many important consensus, Li said.

Li said he is ready to further strengthen communication and cooperation with Mishustin, give full play to the coordinating role of the regular meeting mechanism with his Russian counterpart and promote a sustainable, sound and stable development of practical bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Mishustin said he believes that the regular meeting mechanism will further help implement the goals and tasks set by the two sides and push the bilateral cooperation to a higher level in the new year.
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PARADISE, Calif. - The Paradise Police Department arrested a man they say was in possession of burglary tools and alcohol. The arrest occurred Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Skyway and Billie Road.

Officials said 33-year-old David Montgomery Bowers, who is a parolee, had alcohol in his backpack when stopped, which police say was a violation of his terms of parole.

Police said they observed the man riding his bicycle without a light during hours of darkness, which they said is a violation of the California Vehicle Code.

This led officers to identify him as a parolee on Post-Release Community Supervisor (PRCS).

Because Bowers was a parolee they were allowed to search his backpack.

Police said they located a crowbar, a glass breaking tool, a "slim Jim," and other tools "commonly used to commit theft-related crimes."

The police also said they located alcohol in Bowers' backpack, which is not allowed because of his parole terms.

The same man was arrested several times toward the end of 2019 in Chico. Two articles are linked below which provide information about some of Bowers' prior arrests.

RELATED: Same man, David Montgomery Bowers, was arrested in Chico in October of 2019 for prowling near the Pick and Pull.

RELATED: Here is a story with another arrest of the same man at the Chico Pick-and-Pull in October 2019.

A "furious" Mayor LaToya Cantrell blasted organizers of a sizable un-permitted Christian gathering and musical performance in the French Quarter on Saturday afternoon and said the city was weighing penalties against those involved.

During a news conference Monday to announce that the city will move this week to a more relaxed set of coronavirus restrictions, Cantrell said Saturday's event, similar to others that Christian rocker and activist Sean Feucht has hosted across the country, was "not permitted, not authorized, not coordinated at all by the city of New Orleans."

The densely-packed crowd of about 400 people that turned out for the event across from Jackson Square featured few masks and little social distancing, something that City Hall said amounted to clear violations of public health guidelines.

A spokesperson for Cantrell said the city is reviewing footage of the gathering to weigh potential fines or other penalties against organizers or participants for violating the rules, which include social-distancing and face mask requirements.

"While this was under the guise of a religious activity or event, we know it put our people in danger," Cantrell said Monday, accusing organizers of using "the pretense of religion to hold this event with other motives. And that simply was not right."

Cantrell said she first learned of the event via an email tip from a resident. She said her administration believed the organizers would not hold the event after being told it was not allowed under city guidelines, but planning went "underground" and the event went on.

Cantrell said that she'd instructed city agencies "to pursue every angle possible to hold these individuals accountable."

The event featured performances by Feucht and other musicians, including Grammy-winning Lafayette native Lauren Daigle, as well as prayers and religious messages.

Footage of the concert posted online by Feucht raised hackles among many New Orleans locals, whove alleged a double standard from the city in enforcing coronavirus regulations and decried the apparent leeway afforded Feucht while local musicians have faced extremely tight restrictions on their own ability to perform.

But some of those involved in the event shot back, calling the gathering a demonstration over the right for Christians to worship against coronavirus restrictions that have placed limits on the size of in-person gatherings for public health reasons.

Current New Orleans rules make masks mandatory in public spaces. The rules allow street performers and buskers, but require all performers to wear face masks unless singing and call on performers to keep crowds small, masked and socially distanced.

Outdoor venues can likewise host events but face limits on crowd sizes  no more than 100 people for outdoor concerts, which require a special permit  and requirements that attendees remain distanced and masked.

Pastor Andy "Rebirth" Pellerano of One Accord Ministries in Avondale, who spoke at the gathering, said "really this is about the individual's right to worship." Pellerano said Monday that the gathering was an act of worship, not  like Cantrell contended  an effort simply to hold concerts in defiance of city rules.

Pellerano claimed that the gathering didn't put anyone in danger because no one was forced to attend and suggested that the positive impact of spreading the Christian message to the crowd  including, Pellerano said, to a despondent man who decided to get baptized on the spot  outweighed concerns. Public health officials' prime concern about such gatherings is the possibility that attendees could become infected and then pass the virus further on.

Pellerano likened the event to large Black Lives Matter protests in June in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis policeman, noting that an even larger crowd of demonstrators denouncing police brutality had gathered at Jackson Square.

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"That happened at that same spot and there was no uproar behind it," said Pellerano. "We gathered peacefully."

Jonathan Koeppel, a north shore resident who attended Saturday's event and offered to help organize it, contended that "people have been violating our constitutional rights as Christians" and said he didn't mind that some were upset over the event.

People have told us we cant worship or, if we worship, we have to do it a certain kind of way, Koeppel said. "Well, that goes against our First Amendment rights that are guaranteed under the United States Constitution."

Federal courts have generally upheld emergency coronavirus restrictions, even on religious services, so long as rules don't treat churches more harshly than other similar types of gatherings.

In an unrelated announcement on Monday, Cantrell said those rules would be relaxed slightly starting Wednesday as New Orleans moves into what Cantrell termed "Phase 3.3" of coronavirus restrictions.

The New Orleans Police Department, which referred to the event on Saturday as a community demonstration, closed Decatur Street off to traffic. The agency hasnt responded to questions about its handling of the event.

But Cantrell said the city was taken off guard when Feucht and others went ahead with the event in Washington Artillery Park after being told by officials that it wouldn't be allowed. By the time police arrived, Cantrell said, the crowd was already "too large" for NOPD to disperse. So, the mayor said, police followed protocols for handling protests and demonstrations.

Those generally call for officers to redirect traffic and not directly confront large crowds to avoid escalations. That was the approach NOPD mostly followed during large racial justice protests in June  including a demonstration in the same spot as Saturday's event  though police did at times forcibly confront protesters, including by firing tear gas and projectiles at marchers attempting to cross the Crescent City Connection bridge.

Feucht hasn't responded to messages from this newspaper seeking comment on the event and the mayor's reaction. Daigle, who hasn't commented or posted publicly about her participation, also didn't offer a response to requests for comment.

Advocate staff writer Keith Spera contributed to this report.
Iraqi explosives experts were working to defuse a large mine discovered on an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and evacuate its crew, authorities said Friday.

The statement came a day after two private security firms said sailors feared they had found a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker in the waters off the Iraqi port of Basra. A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that attaches to the side of a ship, usually by a diver-member of special forces. It later explodes, and can significantly damage a vessel.

The Iraqi statement said the mine had been attached to a tanker rented from Iraqs Oil Marketing Company SOMO that was refueling another vessel. Iraqs naval forces were making a great effort to accomplish the mission safely, said Iraqs Security Media Cell, which is affiliated with the countrys security forces.

It was the first official Iraqi confirmation that a mine was discovered on an Iraqi tanker transferring fuel in the Persian Gulf to another vessel. It did not identify either vessels or provide more details.

The discovery came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US in the waning days of President Donald Trumps administration.

Already, America has conducted B-52 bomber flyovers and sent a nuclear submarine into the Persian Gulf over what Trump officials describe as the possibility of an Iranian attack on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. drones strike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general and a top Iraqi militia leader.

Iraq is marking the anniversary with a series of events this week.

On Thursday, the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations, an organization under Britains royal navy, said on its website that an unknown object had been attached to a ships hull in the vicinity of Iraqs Khor Al-Zubair Port, without providing further information.

The Pola serves as floating fuel oil storage of Iraqs State Organization of Marketing of Oil, said Sudharsan Sarathy, a senior oil analyst at the data-analysis firm Refinitiv. Smaller vessels carry the fuel oil to the ship, which then conducts ship-to-ship transfers in the Persian Gulf to clients.

Sarathy said the Pola was conducting a ship-to-ship transfer with the MT Nordic Freedom, a Bermuda-flagged tanker.

Fridays statement said an explosives-handling team from Iraqs Interior Ministry was airlifted to the scene after a foreign body was observed attached to one of the ships in the waiting area in Iraqs international waters, 28 nautical miles from Iraqi oil ports.

Despite high waves, the vessel receiving the fuel was evacuated while the Iraqi team was still working on neutralizing the mine and evacuating the refueling ship, it said.

In 2019, the US blamed Iran for a series of limpet mine attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all the worlds oil passes. Iran denies being involved.
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The Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning said that the improvement works on Sheikh Zayed Highway necessitate closure the closure of two lanes, while one lane will be provided for eastbound traffic

It also announced the full closure of Road 3205, adding that the traffic movement will be diverted to surrounding roads.

The closure will be effective from Thursday, December 31 at 11 pm to Sunday, January 3 at 5 am. All road users are requested to observe and obey the traffic rules for the safety of all.

The minister said that improvement works of King Hamad Highway necessitate closure of some lanes as the following:

1- Close the right lane for the northbound traffic near its junction with Highway 96 and one lane will be provided for traffic movement. The closure will be effective from Thursday, December 31 at 10 pm to Saturday, January 2 at 5 am.

2- Close Highway 96 for traffic coming from King Hamad Highway and divert the traffic to the surrounding roads.

The closure will be effective from Thursday, December 31 at 10 pm to Sunday, January 3 at 5 am. In a statement, it announced that improvement works on King Hamad Highway near Askar Junction will necessitate the closure of one lane on stages and one lane will be provided for southbound traffic.

The closure will be effective from Thursday, December 31 at 10 pm to Sunday, January 3 at 5 am. All road users are requested to observe and obey the traffic rules for the safety of all.
(Alliance News) - As dawn broke Friday over Dover, Britain's trading gateway to the EU, the first ferry sailings to and from France of a new post-Brexit era left without delay or drama in holiday-thinned traffic.

A small but steady stream of lorries arrived through the morning at the port in southeast England a Europe's busiest for roll-on, roll-off freight a with new customs processes appearing to work smoothly.

As drivers approached its eastern ferry docks, they were met by police officers checking that they had completed Covid-19 tests, before being waved through if they showed a negative result.

The driver of a red van with Polish number plates was one of very few turned away for not having a test result, and redirected to sites north of the port where rapid testing is being conducted.

"It's good to see the port's done its job and there's no backlog," Alan Leigh, 52, of nearby Folkestone, told AFP while taking an early New Year's Day stroll on the cliffs above the docks.

Beneath him P&O's "Pride of Kent" vessel sailed out of Dover on time at 0750 GMT, as Britain began life outside the EU's single market and customs union.

"They've had plenty of time to prepare," Leigh said of officials and government departments. "They're experts a you've got to have faith in them."

A last-ditch trade deal between London and Brussels, signed only on Christmas Eve, has averted the need for tariffs and quotas that could have severely disrupted trade.

Scores of lorries also passed through the Channel Tunnel connecting Folkestone to France by rail early Friday "without any problem", its operator Getlink said.

"The traffic was strong enough for an exceptional and historic night, everything went well," a spokesperson for the group told AFP.

But those involved in cross-Channel trade still fear potential trouble in the coming weeks and months, as customs checks and more paperwork for European travel and trade are needed for the first time in decades.

Ferry group Stena Line tweeted that six freight loads bound for EU member Ireland were turned away at the port of Holyhead in north Wales on Friday for not having the correct paperwork.

However, freight traffic is expected to be lower than usual over the coming days after firms scrambled to move extra shipments ahead of the end of an 11-month Brexit transition period at 2300 GMT Thursday.

Friday was a public holiday for New Year's Day in both Britain and France, and officials expect a bigger test to come when cross-Channel traffic starts picking up next week.

By Joe JACKSON

source: AFP

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The U.S. Attorney's Office of Guam is asking for a 90-day extension in a forfeiture case involving $39,690 cash and Virus Shut Out lanyards due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lanyards are claimed to kill viruses, according to documents filed at the District Court of Guam.

Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of U.S. Postal Inspection Services and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Removal Office, seized the lanyards and the cash during a search of Kwong Yau Lams residence, documents state. The federal search warrant was executed on May 26, 2020.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiated a nonjudicial civil forfeiture proceeding and sent the required forfeiture notices to Lam and other interested parties, documents state.

On Aug. 13, 2020, CBP received a claim filed by Lam to contest the nonjudicial civil forfeiture of the property. CBP referred the claim to the U.S. Attorneys Office to initiate the forfeiture action. It has 90 days to file the complaint. Failure to meet the deadline means the government must return the subject property and it shall be forever barred from taking any further action to effect the civil forfeiture of the subject property in connection with the underlying offense.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly delayed efforts to complete the investigation, which also is waiting for reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Documents state that U.S. Attorney Shawn Anderson spoke with Lams attorney, Jeffrey Moots, who indicated his client doesnt object to the request for an additional 90 days, which would delay the deadline to April 5.
She's one of the most famous figures on the catwalk

And Bella Hadid proved she was just as creative as she was chic while sharing her first fashion shoot of 2021.

The IMG model, 24, looked simply sizzling in the shots for V Magazine's 2021 calendar, slipping into a pink Emporio Armani bra and patterned gloves which she styled herself.

What can't she do! Bella Hadid showed off her sexy appeal and style sense while sharing her first cover of the year, a V Magazine shoot she styled herself

Bella, who is the younger sister of Gigi Hadid, put her fantastic physique on display as she crouched down, showing off her toned arms, lean center and full cleavage.

She went for a retro look with her beauty, which was crafted by makeup artist Sam Visser and hairstylist Evanie Frausto.

The 5foot9 stunner's chocolate locks were styled into a choppy look with tons of texture and blunt bangs evoking a mid-90s feel.

Continuing the vintage appeal, the Victoria's Secret model donned shimmering eyeshadow and thin brows with flushed cheeks.

Throwback: The catwalk queen went for a 90s-inspired beauty feel, rocking choppy locks with frosty eyeshadow and thin brows

DIY: The IMG model, 24, looked simply sizzling in a pink Emporio Armani bra and patterned gloves which she styled herself

Strike a pose: Bella, who is the younger sister of Gigi Hadid, put her fantastic physique on display as she crouched down, showing off her toned arms, lean center and full cleavage

It seemed like Bella was celebrating 2021 in fine style, seen taking to the skies to get out of town for New Year's Eve.

The sneaker enthusiast made sure her private jet was stocked with provisions for her flight to an undisclosed location, amid the pandemic, in posts to her Instagram Story on Thursday.

In all likelihood, the starlet is heading to St. Barts which has become a holiday haven to the well-heeled like Chrissy Teigen and Amy Schumer due to it's light COVID-19 restrictions.

Getting out of town: Bella made sure her private jet was stocked with provisions for her flight to an undisclosed location, amid the pandemic, in posts to her Instagram Story on Thursday

Hadid posted a snap of a table spread out with various fruits like pineapple and oranges and bottles of booze to her Instagram story.

Immediately after she shared that image, the catwalker added a selfie to the mix which was taken aboard her private jet.

In the photo, Bella is seen seated on the plane flashing a cheeky smile.

Her cherry-red dyed hair, which she had pulled into two small half-up pigtails, is grown out slightly and blonder at the top.

Yum! Hadid posted a snap of a table spread out with various fruits like pineapple and oranges and bottles of booze to her Instagram story

The covergirl matched her hair color with a rust colored graphic T-shirt under a geometric printed wool coat.

Bella didn't reveal where she was heading or who she was traveling with but it appears the place to be these days is St. Barts.

Sir Paul McCartney, Amy Schumer, Robbie Williams, Sofia Richie, and Chrissy Teigen are among the stars spotted on the French-speaking haven in recent days.

The Caribbean locale is light on pandemic restrictions so, for those than can afford it, a holiday of restaurants, five-star hotels and spas awaits.

Eateries have limited tables to parties of six and are encouraging social distancing and masks when not seated at a table, but partygoers are free to enjoy the island's bars and restaurants until midnight, shop in designer boutiques and enjoy dozens of beautiful beaches taking a dip in their crystal-clear water.
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Laredo lost an exemplary woman in Lucy Cardenas as her former employer and friends reminisced recently after the major role model died at 75 following years of fighting for the community.

Cardenas was a former professor then-known Laredo Community College, now Laredo College. She was a female leader in the colleges own commission for women. She was considered as the first woman chancellor for the Diocese of Laredo. And she was very active in the local Democratic Party, where she even served as precinct chair for many years.

Laredo College, former students and friends all pointed out how her impact as a role model for the community and that her presence will be missed greatly locally.

Laredo College would like to express our sincerest condolences to the family of Mrs. Lucy Cardenas, Laredo College Senior Director of Strategic & External Initiatives Michael Gonzalez said. She was a great educator and motivator for generations of Laredo College students and has left a lasting positive impact on LC and the community.

Laredo College President Ricardo Solis also said that Cardenas loss is an immense one as she was very involved in her job and in getting her students and others in community involved with activities in and around the college.

Mrs. Cardenas was a great advocate of Laredo College students and employees, Solis said. She was very active across campus and particularly in our Faculty Senate. She clearly cared deeply for the well-being of the college and its students, and she will be missed.

Cardenas was also noted to be a woman with a lot of friends that she made throughout her life both professionally and personally.

One of the friends who remembers Cardenas is Webb County Democratic Party County Chair Sylvia Bruni, who she considered a lifelong friend as well as Cardenas husband Alfonso Cardenas. The two also worked together when it came to several community activities.

My friendship with Lucy goes back a lifetime. Both of us were Ursuline Girls, and so our friendship spans decades, beginning as young women, Bruni said. Lucy was the quintessential community advocate, involved all her life in championing the education of her students, in preparing young Catholic couples for entry into marriage, in advocating for fair and just government.

In fact, Brunis relationship with the Cardenas family was so extensive that it was Cardenas herself that inspired her to get involved in local politics.

Historically, I sense that Lucy's earlier involvement, going back as far as the 1980s, would prove to have been valuable  her involvement, her influence now a part of our history, Bruni said. Unfortunately, in later years, especially after the passing of her beloved husband, Alberto, her health had declined. But her words of encouragement for me as I moved into the political arena are forever with me.

According to Bruni, Cardenas was extremely involved in the community when it came to local politics and also discussing and fighting for local issues that affected ordinary Laredoans.

The Democratic County Chair pointed out that Cardenas life's work always centered on improving the quality of life of her community coupled with her belief that involvement in fair and participatory government was the means to accomplishing this. In fact, Bruni points out that Cardenas own sons entry into politics was inspired by her mother.

I truly believe that her son Alberto Jr's entry into politics  he would serve with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson in Washington, D.C.  was inspired by his mother's own involvement in the Webb County Democratic Party, she said. Although I was not involved with the party at the time, what I've learned is that Lucy was very actively engaged in party activity, serving as a poll watcher, a precinct judge, possibly also as a precinct chair.

Gonzalez also noted that Cardenas was an immensely deep and inspirational person. He said that many former LC students and people in the community have numerous positive stories from their interactions with her, and that for his own part, his family took courses with her both at LC and with the Catholic Diocese of Laredo. Gonzalez said that he can say that she truly inspired us to be better people.

Mrs. Cardenas is not just an exemplary female role model, but an example of true dedication to her community, Gonzalez said. From her work at the Catholic Diocese of Laredo, to her many years of inspiring and educating students at Laredo College, throughout her life, she has consistently given of herself for the betterment of others.

Ultimately, Bruni said that Cardenas will be remembered by many in the community as she left a legacy that impacted the lives of many people, and her work continues to inspire others to come.

When I think of Lucy, I remember a courageous and compassionate woman, a devoted and faithful friend, a loving wife and mother, devoted daughter and sister, a woman unafraid to stand and advocate for what was necessary in our community, very much a model for all of us, Bruni said. Often when I think of the word "Christian," I am reminded that it should mean one who is "Christ-like" in action and deed. That was Lucy...."Christ-like" in all that she said and did.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
The countdown to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) referendum gained momentum Wednesday with the launch of the signatures verification exercise by IEBC.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman, Mr Wafula Chebukati, on Wednesday, presided over the exercise to be conducted by 400 data verification clerks and at least 60 supervisors.

The clerks on Wednesday took a secrecy oath and are attending a one-day training before they start verification of the 4.4 million signatures tomorrow (Thursday).

The exercise is expected to take at least 40 days.

One million threshold

"Once the verification exercise is completed and the signatures meet the one million threshold, the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill will be taken to the county assemblies and they shall have three months to debate it and return their findings," Mr Chebukati said at the Bomas of Kenya, where he launched the verification drive.

He went on: "It will then go to Parliament, then the quest for a referendum will be sent to us. When we finally get the request for a referendum, the commission has three months within which to have the vote."

IEBC acting Chief Executive Officer Hussein Marjan said the 400 clerks will be working from the Bomas of Kenya.

"The 60 supervisors will be required to generate reports on (a) daily basis. Such that by the time we complete the exercise, the report will be ready. They'll be putting up around here (Bomas) so that they work late and come here in the morning," Mr Marjan said.

He said the Commission has provided accommodation for the 60 supervisors at Sh6,500 per day for the 40 days.

"We will also provide for stationery and PPE for the clerks and the supervisors," he said.

The launch was also attended by the promoters of the initiative led by the BBI Secretariat co-chairman Dennis Waweru and IEBC Commissioners and staff.

After the verification of signatures, the IEBC will submit the Bill to the 47 county assemblies and the regional Houses will have three months within which to consider the Bill.

Murky

If more than half (24) pass the Bill, it will be introduced to the Senate and the National Assembly.

"A Bill to amend this Constitution shall not be called for second reading in either House within 90 days after the first reading of the Bill in that House," the Constitution says.

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This means the least time Parliament can take is 90 days, assuming all the other processes are cramped into one day after the immovable deadline between the first and second readings.

Then the timelines get murky from there.

The Constitution does not say how long Parliament should take, after passing the Bill, to pass it on to the President, or how long the President shall take once that Bill is on his desk.

It also does not state the period for the introduction of a draft Bill in Parliament upon approval by county assemblies.

Two committees of the National Assembly have been ordered by Speaker Justin Muturi to harmonise laws on the referendum in what is expected to guide these and other processes on the long road to overhauling the 2010 Constitution.

Legal experts have, however, in such cases, insisted that the process, if timelines are not stated, is guided by the principle of "reasonable timeline" in the supreme law.

Once the President passes his message to the IEBC to hold a referendum on the receipt of the Bill from Parliament, the commission has 90 days within which to hold a referendum.
Gardai were called to a residence in Bishopstown on New Years Day (PA)

A Garda investigation has been launched following the discovery of a mans body in Co Cork on New Years Day.

The discovery was made in Bishopstown.

Gardai were called to a residence at Curraheen Drive in Bishopstown shortly after 4pm where the body of a man in his 40s was discovered by family members.

He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

A garda statement said they would investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the discovery.

The mans body will be removed to the mortuary at Cork University Hospital where a post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out on Saturday.

The scene is currently preserved for examination by local scenes of crime officers and both the office of the State Pathologist and local coroner have been notified.

The results of a post-mortem will determine the course of the Garda investigation.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

PA
Ex-Miss Great Britain and former Love Island star Zara Holland faces up to a year in jail and a fine of 18,000 if convicted of claims she and her boyfriend tried to flee Barbados after he tested positive for Covid.

The reality star, 25, and her partner Elliott Love, 30, are thought to have had a test when they arrived on the island on Sunday.

After receiving his result on Tuesday, the duo are said to have been given red wristbands - handed out by hotels for guests who have not yet tested negative for the virus - but allegedly cut them off and tried to make their way to the airport in a taxi.

A member of staff at the 300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel is said to have found the bands and called police, who reportedly found the couple at the airport, where they were arrested.

In Barbados today, the Daily Nation reported: 'Sources told the Daily Nation that the high-profile couple were taken into police custody and then transported to the quarantine [facility] at Harrison Point, St Lucy.

'When released, they could face charges of breaching the quarantine protocol which carry a $50,000 [18,000] fine, imprisonment for a year or both.

Making a break for it? Zara Holland has reportedly been arrested in Barbados after trying to return leave with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus (pictured in Barbados in April 2019)

Covid rules for visitors to Barbados Before arriving in Barbados visitors have to fill out an online form and preferably include an upload of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result. It is then mandatory for travellers from High-Risk and Medium-Risk countries to receive a second test while on island. While waiting for the results visitors then have to restrict their movements to their accommodation and cannot have visitors. If the result is positive, then the person is assessed at a government facility for a minimum of 24 hours. After this there is the option to self-isolate at your own expense or go to a government isolation location, such as the Paragon Military Base. However if a positive test is returned, the visitor cannot return home. They have to isolate until they have recovered. Upon recovery, you can resume your vacation or return home, Visit Barbados explains. The country has had just 383 Covid cases and only seven deaths since the start of the pandemic. Advertisement

'The couple, who have been dating for four years, arrived here last Sunday aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight and were to be quarantining in a Christ Church hotel. Visitors have to be cleared after two mandatory tests, which usually take about three days.

'However, after Ministry of Health officials informed them that one of them had tested positive, the couple apparently removed their red wristbands, boarded a taxi to Grantley Adams International Aiport and attempted to book a flight back to the United Kingdom aboard British Airways.

'Sources said while the male is in isolation until he recovers from the virus, the 25-year-old model who won a major beauty contest in the UK, was under quarantine until tests prove that she did not have the virus. However, if she turns out to be positive, she too will be isolated.'

A tourist was jailed for six months earlier this week for breaching Barbados' strict Covid-19 protocols, even though he'd only popped out for a drink.

Dean George Scott, 49, from Jamaica admitted leaving quarantine to 'buy Fanta' and other snacks after arriving on the holiday island at the beginning of December, when he appeared in court.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes said the sentence served as a was a 'clear warning' to others.

He said: 'I got to send a message to you and to all the other people that this cannot be tolerated. We have made too much gain, so you have to do six months. Walking out of quarantine no man, this cannot be allowed.'

Other guests at Sugar Bay are not having to quarantine as a result of the couple's alleged breach, with staff confident no one else came into close contact, but visitors isolate on arrival anyway until a negative test is confirmed.

The couple were thought to be being held on a Covid ward at the St Lucy Hospital in northern Barbados before Holland was allowed to return to a hotel.

A Barbadian police spokesman said: 'Zara Holland has been released from a medical facility to go to her designated hotel. Elliott Love remains a resident at the medical facility.'

Island chief medical officer Dr Kenneth George said: 'There are three tourists who are of special interest. Two are in quarantine and one in police custody.

'Two were apprehended at the airport. This is a police matter and I trust that the appropriate evidence will be submitted.'

While a spokesman for the country's Ministry of Health and Wellness added: 'Police have held for questioning at least three tourists in relation to alleged breaches.

'We will take firm action against any individuals who breach protocols.'

Meanwhile, local reports in Barbados say that airport staff have been quarantined after coming into contact with two British tourists, believed to be the couple.

Last night the Foreign Office confirmed they were aware of Zara Holland and Elliot Love's antics.

An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting a British man and woman in quarantine in Barbados, and are in contact with their family.'

MailOnline has contacted Zara's representatives for a comment.

Before arriving in Barbados visitors have to fill out an online form and preferably include an upload of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

It is then mandatory for travellers from High-Risk and Medium-Risk countries to receive a second test while on island.

While waiting for the results visitors then have to restrict their movements to their accommodation and cannot have visitors.

If the result is positive, then the person is assessed at a government facility for a minimum of 24 hours. After this there is the option to self-isolate at your own expense or go to a government isolation location, such as the Paragon Military Base.

Claims: The former Love Island star, 25, and her beau Elliott Love, 30, are thought to have had a test when they arrived on the island on Sunday and received his positive result on Tuesday

The Paragon Isolation Centre on Barbados where Zara Holland and boyfriend Elliot Love were taken after being arrested

Police called after staff at 300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel (pictured) found bands

Not an ideal start to 2021: The duo are said to have been given red wristbands but allegedly cut them off and tried to flee to the airport in a taxi (Zara is pictured in Barbados in 2019)

Hot spot: The couple, who have been together since 2016, have visited Barbados several times (pictured on a holiday with Zara's family in 2018)

Finding fame: Zara appeared on Love Island in 2016 and has since spoken out about how her 'rollercoaster' experience on the reality show left her battling anxiety and depression

In action: Since Love Island, Zara has turned her attentions to running a business with her mum (pictured on the reality show with Daniel Lukakis)

However if a positive test is returned, the visitor cannot return home. They have to isolate until they have recovered. Upon recovery, you can resume your vacation or return home, Visit Barbados explains.

The country has had just 383 Covid cases and only seven deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Zara, who was de-crowned of her Miss Great Britain title after romping with Alex Bowen on reality show Love Island back in 2016, found love with boyfriend Elliott.

The pair struck up a romance just months after Zara left the show, and she later told the Daily Star that he was 'the one'.

She gushed: 'We're very happy together and have such a great time. He is absolutely amazing and he's definitely the one.'
CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (Athabasca or the Company) announces its 2021 budget that is focused on maintaining base production and maximizing funds flow. The Company also is pleased to announce that it has renewed its syndicated bank facility and has received an increase to its unsecured letter of credit facility backstopped by Export Development Canada.



202 1 Budget

Low Sustaining Capital. Athabasca is planning expenditures of $75 million focused on sustaining projects at Leismer along with routine maintenance activities at all properties. Capital will be allocated $70 million to Thermal Oil and the remainder to Light Oil.

Resilient Production. Annual corporate production of 31,000  33,000 boe/d (90% liquids) which maintains annual 2020 production estimated to average approximately 32,250 boe/d.

Thermal Oil Activity. At Leismer, two infill wells at Pad L6 and an additional well pair at Pad L7 will be drilled in early 2021. These wells will support production in H2 2021 with payouts within one year at current commodity prices. The Company will progress readiness (long lead items, lease site and road construction, pipeline access) for a 5 well-pair sustaining pad (L8) with the option to initiate drilling during this winter season. The sanctioning of capital to drill these wells will be determined at a later date and will depend on the commodity price environment and available liquidity. Hangingstone will have no capital allocation other than routine pump replacements. The Hangingstone project is expected to continue its production ramp up in 2021 following the five month shut-in over the summer this year in response to unprecedented oil price volatility. Hangingstones current production is approximately 7,500 bbl/d.

Light Oil Activity. Minimal activities are planned with no new wells expected to be placed on-stream during the year. The assets continue to demonstrate top decile industry netbacks and will contribute significant cash flow to the Company. Future development opportunities are substantial, with approximately 150 well locations in Placid Montney and 700 well locations in Kaybob Duvernay. The land positions in these areas have minimal near term expiries and the capital program is flexible to adjust to commodity prices.

Financial Position

Ample Liquidity. The Company is well positioned to navigate the current challenging environment with estimated liquidity of approximately $170 million at year-end 2020 (excluding $150.9 million of restricted cash as at September 30, 2020).

Bank Facility Renewal. The Companys banking syndicate has renewed the reserve-based facility until May 31, 2021. The credit facility remains unchanged at $39.9 million which reflects current outstanding letters of credit for long term transportation commitments and is secured by the Companys restricted cash balances.

Increased Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility. The Company also increased its unsecured letter of credit facility with ATB Capital Markets by $10 million to $40 million which is supported by a performance security guarantee from Export Development Canada.

Long Term Debt. The Company has US$450 million in second lien debt with a maturity of February 24, 2022. The refinancing of Athabascas long term debt remains a key 2021 priority.

Risk Management and Market Access

Athabasca protects a base level of capital activity through its risk management program. The hedge program targets up to 50% of corporate production.

Hedging Summary1 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 WCS Differentials bbl/d 18,000 7,500 7,500 - Average Price US$ $14.44 $11.98 $11.98 - WTI2 US$ 11,000 - - - Average Price3 bbl/d $45.44 - - - Notes: 1. Details of hedging contracts provided in the Company's Q3 2020 MD&A.

2. WTI hedges are collars contracts.

3. Average pricing reflects strip commodity pricing as at Dec. 1, 2020.

The Company has secured ~7,200 bbl/d of Keystone pipeline capacity for a term of 20 years which is expected to commence service in 2021. This capacity diversifies Thermal Oil dilbit sales to the US Gulf Coast at pipeline costs that will allow the Company to further enhance its netback. Longer term, Athabasca has secured egress with capacity on both the TC Energy Keystone XL pipeline and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.



About Athabasca Oil Corporation

Athabasca Oil Corporation is a Canadian energy company with a focused strategy on the development of thermal and light oil assets. Situated in Albertas Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the Company has amassed a significant land base of extensive, high quality resources. Athabascas common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol ATH. For more information, visit www.atha.com.

For more information, please contact:

Matthew Taylor

Chief Financial Officer

1-403-817-9104

mtaylor@atha.com

Reader Advisory:

This News Release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All information other than statements of historical fact is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words anticipate, plan, continue, estimate, expect, may, will, project, believe, view, contemplate, target, potential and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is not historical fact, but rather is based on the Companys current plans, objectives, goals, strategies, estimates, assumptions and projections about the Companys industry, business and future operating and financial results. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this News Release should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this News Release. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: the Companys 2020 expected average production, 2021 production guidance, including % of liquids production, 2021 budget guidance, 2021 drilling plans and expected payout periods, the Hangingstone project ramp-up, key priorities in 2021 and other matters.

With respect to forward-looking information contained in this News Release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: commodity outlook; the regulatory framework in the jurisdictions in which the Company conducts business; the Companys financial and operational flexibility; the Companys capital expenditure outlook, financial sustainability and ability to access sources of funding; geological and engineering estimates in respect of Athabascas reserves and resources; and other matters.

Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the risk factors set forth in the Companys Annual Information Form (AIF) dated March 4, 2020 and Management Discussion & Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 dated November 4, 2020 (MD&A), each available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including, but not limited to: fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange and interest rates; political and general economic, market and business conditions in Alberta, Canada, the United States and globally; changes to royalty regimes, environmental risks and hazards; the potential for management estimates and assumptions to be inaccurate; the dependence on Murphy as the operator of the Companys Duvernay assets; the capital requirements of Athabascas projects and the ability to obtain financing; operational and business interruption risks, including those that may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic; failure by counterparties to make payments or perform their operational or other obligations to Athabasca in compliance with the terms of contractual arrangements; aboriginal claims; failure to obtain regulatory approvals or maintain compliance with regulatory requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; litigation risk; environmental risks and hazards; reliance on third party infrastructure; hedging risks; insurance risks; claims made in respect of Athabascas operations, properties or assets; risks related to Athabascas credit facilities and senior secured notes; and risks related to Athabascas common shares.

The risks and uncertainties referred to above are described in more detail in Athabascas most recent AIF, which is available on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information included in this News Release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date of this News Release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information except as required by applicable securities laws.

Oil and Gas Information

BOEs" may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent (6 Mcf: 1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

The ~700 Duvernay drilling locations referenced in this press release include: 45 proved undeveloped or non-producing locations and 40 probable undeveloped locations for a total of 85 booked locations with the balance being unbooked locations. The ~150 Montney drilling locations referenced in this press release include: 77 proved undeveloped locations and 24 probable undeveloped locations for a total of 101 booked locations with the balance being unbooked locations. Proved undeveloped locations and probable undeveloped locations are booked and derived from the Company's most recent independent reserves evaluation as prepared by McDaniel as of December 31, 2019 and account for drilling locations that have associated proved and/or probable reserves, as applicable. Unbooked locations are internal management estimates. Unbooked locations do not have attributed reserves or resources (including contingent or prospective). Unbooked locations have been identified by management as an estimation of Athabascas multi-year drilling activities expected to occur over the next two decades based on evaluation of applicable geologic, seismic, engineering, production and reserves information. There is no certainty that the Company will drill all unbooked drilling locations and if drilled there is no certainty that such locations will result in additional oil and gas reserves, resources or production. The drilling locations on which the Company will actually drill wells, including the number and timing thereof is ultimately dependent upon the availability of funding, oil and natural gas prices, provincial fiscal and royalty policies, costs, actual drilling results, additional reservoir information that is obtained and other factors.
Tehran, Jan 1 : The UN has condemned the execution by Iran of a man for a crime he allegedly committed when he was 16 years old.

Its human rights office said that Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee, 30, was put to death on Thursday, the BBC reported.

Amnesty International said Rezaiee had been arrested in 2007 over the fatal stabbing of a man. It said he was convicted on a forced confession.

It had warned that carrying out the sentence would represent "an abhorrent assault on children's rights".

"Imposing the death penalty on someone who was a child at the time of the crime is a serious violation of international human rights law, which absolutely prohibits the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by children," it said in a statement earlier this month.

Following news of Rezaiee's execution, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Michelle Bachelet, issued a statement saying she "strongly condemns" Iran's action.

Three other child offenders have been executed by Iran this year, according to the OHCHR.

At least 80 others are being held on death row in Iranian prisons, the office says.

In the statement, spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani expressed dismay that the execution went ahead "despite interventions and engagement" by the OHCHR with Iran.

According to Amnesty, Rezaiee had been held for more than 12 years on death row. It says he was convicted after what it called a "grossly unfair trial" which used confessions extracted under torture.

Rezaiee's execution comes weeks after two other high-profile cases in Iran, which drew international condemnation - one was the execution of a journalist for "corruption on Earth" and the other of a wrestler convicted of murder, despite allegations that he was also tortured into confessing.
BarcelonaGerman Velasquez (Colombia, 1948) worked for more than 20 years at the World Health Organization, he was the director of the Medicine Program. His defence of the right of poor countries to have access to all medicines confronted him with the pharmaceutical industry, in an unequal fight that even forced him to travel around the world with a UN escort. Doctor honoris causa from several universities, he is now special advisor to the South Centre, a Geneva-based organization made of 54 countries of the Global South. He answers ARA's questions a few days before the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in January to discuss the proposal to suspend patents on covid-19 vaccines, treatments and tests for the duration of the pandemic.
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As the ongoing farmers' protest against three new farm laws entered 37th day on Friday (January 1), popular farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said that the next round of talks between farmers union leaders and the Centre on January 4 will take place in a cordial atmosphere.

Tikait said that the farmers are hopeful that the Centre will give good price to their crops. Tikait, who belongs to Uttar Pradesh, added that January 1 is a day to extend good wishes to everyone.

Tikait said that the direction of the ongoing farmers' protest will be decided after talks with Centre on January 4. He asserted that the farmers will not call off the protest until the government decides to repeal the three new farm laws.

It is to be noted that the sixth round of talks between the Central government and farmer unions on Wednesday (December 30) ended on a positive note, according to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Tomar said that farmers union leaders have agreed to continue the talks.

The Union Agriculture Minister had said, "the first issue was an ordinance related to the Environment. Unions were apprehensive about farmers being included along with Parali (stubble burning) ones. Both sides agreed to farmers' exclusion. Today's talks were held in a very good environment and it concluded on a positive note. Consensus on two out of four issues was reached between both sides."

During the last round of talks between the two sides, the Centre had also offered to set up a committee on better implementation of MSP procurement system and also put on hold proposed laws on electricity charges and stubble burning penal provisions, but union leaders stuck to their main demand of the repeal of three contentious farm laws as their sixth round of negotiations continued for more than four hours.
The Howard government was faced with public outrage when a number of residents in a Melbourne nursing home sustained chemical burns when given kerosene baths as a cheap alternative to standard treatment of scabies.

Nursing staff who objected and refused to comply lodged a complaint but instead of any public punishment the government agency set about a drawn out regulatory process of mediation with the owners of the home.

Bronwyn Bishop was heavily criticised for her handling of an aged care scandal in 2000. She would later be made Speaker of the House of Representatives. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

When the scandal was exposed by a whistleblower, then aged care minister Bronwyn Bishop was driven to force the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency to initiate surprise visits and a range of reforms.

In a substantive submission to cabinet, Mrs Bishop proposed new laws removing "unfit" nursing home operators without forcing homes to close.
Washington: Vice-President Mike Pence has asked a federal judge to reject a lawsuit filed by a group of Republicans who want to put the authority to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's election win in his hands.

Pence, in a 14-page filing by Justice Department attorneys on Thursday evening, local time, claimed the lawsuit should be brought against Congress.

Vice-President Mike Pence. Credit:AP

"[T]hese plaintiffs' suit is not a proper vehicle for addressing those issues because plaintiffs have sued the wrong defendant," the response states, continuing that Pence "is ironically the very person whose power they seek to promote."

Representative Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas, and a group of other Republicans filed the suit against Pence this week, arguing that the vice president has the constitutional authority to decide which states' Electoral College votes to count.
Emmerdale's young cast will be at the heart of the drama as the soap sees in 2021.

January will see jealousy, resentment, betrayal, dark secrets and compelling story twists and some of Emmerdales youngest residents will find themselves at the centre of the drama.

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Executive Producer Jane Hudson hints at whats in store for the young actors who have established themselves as more than capable of leading storylines throughout the last 12 months: "We are so lucky to have such a talented group of young actors who can deliver some of our biggest storylines.

"It's exciting to watch characters grow up and see how they develop and how their actions shape their futures. And there is plenty of action coming up which will take the young Emmerdale characters on journeys the audience won't be expecting."

Here's a taster of what to expect...

Vinny, Paul and Mandy

Vinny is under the cosh. His father is a brutal bully but Vinny will do anything to protect his mum Mandy from knowing the truth. How long before Mandy sees Pauls true colours? Will Vinny manage to cope? Or could Mandy have marriage in mind?

Bradley Johnson, who plays Vinny, says: Vinnys path has been extremely troubling since his dad arrived in the village and hes constantly being let down and betrayed. He clearly wants to believe his dad will change, but he will find himself on a long, dark and isolating journey.

"Getting to grips with the character and exploring the abuse Vinny suffers at the hands of his father has been a great learning experience and one I want to do justice.

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Liv

Liv is recovering from her epilepsy diagnosis and trying to support Vinny, but with Paul making his influence and presence felt how much can Liv intervene?

Actress Isobel Steele shares: Im really looking forward to seeing how Vinny and Livs relationship develops naturally and is put to the test. Im also excited to see how Liv deals with her newly diagnosed epilepsy and how this affects her confidence as a young woman.

Sarah and Debbie

Sarahs back running wild and loose, but with Debbie back on the scene can she rein in her young runaway or will living for the moment prove too strong for Sarah? And will she resist the lure of bad boy Danny? When Sarah lies to protect herself the result is fallouts and rifts that splinter right through the village. Can Debbie continue to support Sarah despite it all?

Katie Hill, who plays Sarah shares: The start of this year is going to be quite an eventful one for Sarah as a lot is going on that will affect her - and shes left feeling lonely and unwanted. When Danny returns, she sees an opportunity to feel wanted and cared for by someone again.

"However, as we know, Danny has a dangerous past with drugs. Will Sarah get dragged down this path again?

Ethan

Ethans world will be turned upside down when he comes into contact with Sarah Sugden. Through no fault of his own he finds himself on the wrong side of the law and with some explaining to do to his father, new vicar Charles.

Emile John who takes on the role of Ethan explains: Ethans arrival is far from quiet and he soon finds himself at the mercy of the Dingles. But thats not all. Well soon find out more about Ethan and his past which could have huge consequences for others. Ive loved playing Ethan so far and i cant wait to see where the character is heading.

Leanna

Leanna is missing Jacob who has been staying in Portugal and her friendship with Gabby is strained after everything that went on with her father, Dr Liam and Leyla. Will Leanna repair broken friendships? And will her romance withstand the distance of being parted from Jacob?

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Leanna actress Mimi Slinger comments: Leanna has found herself quite isolated with Jacobs absence and shell be sure to question whether their relationship is strong enough to last the distance. I love playing Leanna, she has so many layers to her and Im looking forward to exploring her story further.

Amelia

Amelia has had a tough 2020 when she found herself stepping up to the plate as a full time carer for her injured, destitute dad Dan. With money so tight Amelia resorted to crime. Can she be free from the woes of their financial problems and worries about her fathers health?

Actress Daisy Campbell reveals: Im looking forward to seeing Amelia grow up and mature over 2021. It would be nice to see her have some happiness this year and for it not be quite as tough going for her. But I love working with my second dad and seeing how Amelia responds to the responsibilities put on her by her dad's ongoing situation.

Samson

Samson Dingle had to leave his girlfriend behind in France to settle back at home with his family. In the coming weeks Samson will be influenced by Noah, but could there be serious repercussions for this impressionable teen.

Actor Sam Hall explains: Its great being Samson and part of the Dingles. Sam will take a big risk this coming year by helping his cousin Noah. He might be bringing himself a lot of trouble, only time will tell!

Gabby

Gabby has struggled for the last few months. She almost lost Dr Liam his career, messed up things with Leyla and found herself alone and out in the cold. With Laurel and Jai still coming to terms with their recent sad decision, could Gabby set her sights towards Home Farm and handsome Jamie Tate? And could Kim Tate recognise something of herself in this cunning and clever girl?

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Rosie Bentham shares: Gabby has had her fair share of trouble over the past year, but if shes hoping 2021 is going to be a more settled year, she can think again. Im excited that Gabby is at the heart of the village as she sets her sights on Home Farm and I can tell you this year is going to hold even more drama for Gabby than ever.

Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday 7PM & Thursday 8PM on ITV

More on: Emmerdale Soaps
The United States on Thursday recorded its 20 millionth case since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, surpassing a grim milestone just as the prospects for getting the virus under control quickly in the new year appeared to dim.

Half of those 20 million cases have been recorded just since November 8, a reflection of how widespread and devastating the recent surge has been. And earlier this week, Colorado identified the first known case in the United States of a new variant of the virus that is believed to be much more contagious, and which threatens to overwhelm an already burdened health care system.

The United States now accounts for nearly a quarter of the more than 83 million coronavirus cases reported in the world, and nearly a fifth of the death toll. The country has recorded more than 340,000 coronavirus deaths. Reporting of deaths has been uneven in recent days because of the holidays, but the week from December 15 to December 22 was the worst week for coronavirus deaths in the United States over the course of the pandemic, with 18,971 new deaths recorded.

Coronavirus Worldometer | 15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic

California has become the new epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, with the huge numbers of new cases reported there in recent days offsetting declines elsewhere, including in the Great Lakes, Great Plains and Mountain West states, where the surge began. Hospitals are stretched to the breaking point in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley.

The federal government is beginning to distribute two vaccines that clinical trials have shown to be highly effective in preventing Covid-19. But while the vaccines development in record time represents a scientific triumph, the rollout so far is proving to be yet another government failure.

It has proceeded at a snails pace, with progress falling far behind what the administration had promised. Earlier in December, federal officials said their goal was for 20 million people to receive their first dose by the end of this year. But, while more than 14 million vaccine doses have been distributed, a mere 2.7 million have actually been administered, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dashboard.
Hollywood Boulevard once attracted 10 million people each year and the entire strip has been built on tourism

Visitors would flock to the famous street where film premieres were held and celebrities were awarded stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Now, 75 percent of stores and restaurants along the street are closed; revenue is down 80 percent among businesses that have reopened

There is no hope on the horizon, as Los Angeles County is now the epicenter of the country's coronavirus pandemic and numbers are worsening

Hollywood has been one of the neighborhoods worst affected by the LA outbreak

More than 20 percent of the Hollywood's 3,000 cases have been reported in the past two weeks alone

The Los Angeles Times estimates that more than four percent of all residents have contracted COVID-19

Hollywood Boulevard has been reduced to a ghost town amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with three-quarters of businesses boarded up and locals left wondering whether the area will ever recover.

The street, which runs through the heart of Hollywood and is one of the most iconic thoroughfares in the world, previously attracted 10 million people each year.

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The boulevard was built on international tourism, with visitors packing the strip to view stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and pose for photos with their favorite comic book characters.

Each day, thousands would also flock to famous museums along the boulevard, including Ripley's Believe It Or Not Odditorium.

Meanwhile, Grauman's Chinese Theater - which has frequently hosted glamorous film premieres and the Academy Awards - was also one of the most popular destinations along the boulevard.

But the area has been abandoned in the past 10 months, with souvenir stores shuttered and rates of homelessness and crime surging as tourists stay away and the coronavirus rages.

Hopes for a recovery along Hollywood Boulevard have been dashed in recent weeks, as Los Angeles becomes the epicenter of the COIVD-19 crisis, with infection rates soaring and hospitals at capacity.

The iconic Grauman's Chinese Theater - which has frequently hosted glamorous film premieres and the Academy Awards - is closed and its famous concourse is empty

Better days: Grauman's - also known as the TCL Chinese Theatre - pictured in January 2020, before covid hit

Eerie photos taken by DailyMail.com last week show the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on Hollywood Boulevard.

Store after store is boarded up, with plywood coverings and roll-down doors tagged with graffiti.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, 75 percent of businesses along the boulevard are closed.

Dolby Theater, which regularly hosts the Academy Awards, has been shuttered since March.

The El Capitan Theater and the Hard Rock Cafe have similarly closed at the same time and have not yet reopened.

The dinosaur atop of Ripley's Odditorium now wears a huge mask as it looks down upon the empty street.

Businesses that have reopened in compliance with coronavirus guidelines have suffered a devastating drop in revenue.

Hollywood Boulevard has been reduced to a ghost town amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with three-quarters of businesses boarded up and locals left wondering whether the area will ever recover

The area has been abandoned in the past 10 months, with souvenir stores shuttered and rates of homelessness and crime surging as tourists stay away and the coronavirus rages

Each day, thousands would also flock to famous museums along the boulevard, including Ripley's Believe It Or Not Odditorium. The destination has been boarded up and closed since March

A lone pedestrian is seen walking along the eerily empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. The area was once teeming with tourists who would pose for pictures with the star of their favorite celebrity

Eerie photos taken by DailyMail.com last week show the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Rana Ghadban told the LA times that businesses in the area have reported 80 percent revenue declines and a huge number of furloughs and layoffs since the pandemic began

Pedro Consuelo of Souvenirs of Hollywood told The Los Angeles Times earlier this month that used to employ 25 staffers in his shop. Now, he has just three.

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'Never have I ever seen a time like this. Never,' he told the publication, adding that he had worked along the street for almost 30 years.

'It's super dead. Look down the boulevard, nobody is coming.'

Click here to resize this module

The dinosaur atop of Ripley's Odditorium now wears a huge mask as it looks down upon the empty street

The Hollywood Reporter states that a drop in business has coincided with a spike in homelessness and crime. One local business has hired nighttime security after a series of break ins

Store after store is boarded up, with plywood coverings and roll-down doors tagged with graffiti

Hollywood has been one of the neighborhoods worst affected by the LA outbreak, reporting high levels of infection

Cinemas have been closed since March, and there are no signs that they will reopen anytime soon giving the city's soaring infection rates

Homeless people have moved tents into the area, while many are now sleeping on top of the stars dotted along on Hollywood's Walk of Fame

Hollywood is among the areas of Los Angeles worst affected by the COVID-19 outbreak

It's not just independent businesses that have been affected by the shutdown. Famous franchises have also closed stores along Hollywood Boulevard

The boulevard was also a popular meeting spot for people who would take bus tours of the area in a bid to peek at famous film sets and the home of Hollywood celebrities.

Many of those business have now ceased operation.

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Rana Ghadban told the LA times that businesses in the area have reported 80 percent revenue declines and a huge number of furloughs and layoffs since the pandemic began.

The Hollywood Reporter states that a drop in business has coincided with a spike in homelessness and crime.

One local business has hired nightly security after multiple break-ins.

Homeless people have moved into the area, and many are now sleeping on top of the stars dotted along on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Local papers say the vagrants can snooze for hours undisturbed given there is now very little foot traffic.

The boulevard was also a popular meeting spot for people who would take bus tours of the area in a bid to peek at famous film sets and the home of Hollywood celebrities. Many of those business have now ceased operation.

The way we were: A photograph from last December shows excitable tourists setting off on a tour from Hollywood Boulevard

The way we were: Tourists walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in August 2017

Los Angeles County is now the coronavirus epicenter in the United States, with more than 200,000 residents testing positive to COVID-19.

But certain areas within the country - including Hollywood- have reported a super high number of infections.

According to data, the small area of Hollywood - located northwest of Los Angeles' downtown - has seen 3,221 cases of COVID-19.

More than 700 of those infections have been reported in the past two weeks alone.

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The Los Angeles Times now states that more than four percent of Hollywood residents have contracted the virus.

With a full year since the shutdown fast approaching and no signs of relief in sight, many locals fear Hollywood Boulevard has been changed forever.

'I don't know what we're going to do in Hollywood honestly,' one devastated local stated.
The headline screams...Virus on 3 Kelowna flights.



Almost every day we see the same headline, why? How is it that this has been happening since March when our great PM sent planes loaded with 19 tons of PPE dwindling Canadian supplies to a breaking point while bring back citizens of convenience? There is rapid testing but for some reason airlines dont seem to be on board. Why?



Why are people who are sick feel it is their right to travel and infect a multitude of others while the rest if us obey rules designed to bend the curve? Am I missing something?



Our great leaders are very good at virtual signalling while ignoring their own advice. Anyone remember the PM Justin Trudeau telling us all to stay home and not enjoy our Easter with family while travelling across provincial borders to be with his family. He even tweeted pictures showing the low life citizens, who obeyed, how he ignored the rules.



How about our Minister of Health who also said stay home not only didnt but was caught not wearing a mask in the airport lounge. But, it was only eleven trips back to Thunder Bay at taxpayers expense. She is the Minister of Health who previously was manager of a soup kitchen for homeless people in Thunder Bay. Trudeau fired Jane Philpott the previous Health Minister, a medical doctor, for standing up to him and standing by the first indigenous Justice Minister.

Wonder why some people are defying the rules? I am not one of them but can now understand their frustration!

Back to Covid on flights, why are passengers allowed to board with symptoms? Rapid testing may not be 100% but sure beats the alternative! How many Canadians died because of ineptitude of authorities and political correctness? Gee I seem to recall our PM and Minister of Health saying it was racist to close the borders to people from Wuhan. In fact don't I recall her saying something about a conspiracy theory?



Today a Conservative Finance Minister from Ontario resigned after going a vacation to the Caribbean while his government put the entire Province in shutdown. Nice.



I am tired of politicians of all parties saying you must endure hardships, not enjoy family but it only you, not us elites.



Leadership is more than lip service. Sadly there is not many leaders who lead by example. Only lame politicians who say do as I say, not as I do.



Robert Hepting
(Natural News) The video is shocking. As Americans only begin to wake up to the reality of just how severely compromised their political leaders are by a communist superpower, Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Duceys alarmingly frank language resounds like thunderclaps.

(Article by Joe Schaeffer republished from WorldTribune.com)

We just had a great meeting with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce just now. And, very exciting, lots of opportunities, including public-private partnerships. Ive mentioned [semiconductors], electronics, aerospace, our defense industry, mining and ores that we do. So I think from the franchise business to the aerospace and defense business, we would like to do more business with China, with Chinese business people.

That is Ducey speaking directly to the Chinese state-run media organ China Daily in July 2017. There is no nice way to spin this. An American governor is captured on video offering up this countrys sensitive military technology and natural resources to a communist foreign nation.

China Daily posted the astonishing interview clip onto YouTube titled Arizona Governor Discusses Chinese Investments. The interview was conducted at a China General Chamber of Commerce Welcome Luncheon Forum held during the 2017 National Governors Association meetings in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ducey drew the ire of President Donald Trump when he certified his states fraud-riddled election results on Nov. 30. The governor may be no friend of the president, but he is most assuredly considered a pal by China. Ducey has been listed as a friendly in a Chinese think tanks ranking of all 50 governors attitudes toward China.

In a Feb. 8 speech, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that China is actively seeking to cultivate U.S. governors and other local officials for the benefit of the regime. He specifically mentioned the National Governors Association by name:

Last year, I received an invitation to an event that promised to be, quote, an occasion for exclusive deal-making. It said, quote, the opportunities for mutually beneficial economic development between China and our individual states [are] tremendous, end of quote.

Deal-making sounds like it might have come from President Trump, but the invitation was actually from a former governor.

I was being invited to the U.S.-China Governors Collaboration Summit.

It was an event co-hosted by the National Governors Association and something called the Chinese Peoples Association For Friendship and Foreign Countries. Sounds pretty harmless.

What the invitation did not say is that the group  the group I just mentioned  is the public face of the Chinese Communist Partys official foreign influence agency, the United Front Work Department.

The China Daily clip reveals that Pompeo might as well have been calling Ducey out personally.

Pompeo also warned in a Dec. 9 address at Georgia Tech that China is poisoning the well of our higher education institutions for its own ends. Ducey has rolled out the welcome mat for the Red Chinese on this playing field as well. We certainly have thousands of your young people in our states public universities. We love having them and we want to expand that trade envelope, he told China Daily.

An article that ran in the Red publication at the same time titled Arizona looks to sweeten China ties gives further insight into Duceys exceedingly close ties to the Red Chinese. The word sweeten is meant to reference Cold Stone Creamery, the ice cream chain that Ducey served as CEO from 1995-2007. From the article (bold added throughout remainder of this column):

The governor of Arizona, a former CEO of an ice cream chain, is looking to scoop up more trade with China.

Doug Ducey, a Republican who was elected governor of the Grand Canyon State in 2014, is the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery, the ice cream parlor chain headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

By the time he and his business partner sold the company in 2007, the brand had grown from a local shop to more than 1,400 locations in all 50 states and in 10 countries, including China.

My background is in the private sector. The ice cream company was my business; we opened our first international stores in Shanghai and Beijing, Ducey told China Daily in an interview on July 13. He spoke on the sidelines of the 2017 National Governors Association (NGA) Summer Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.

This was not the first time official Chinese sources hailed Duceys commitment to China. In April 2016 Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai visited Arizona. Chinas U.S. Embassy website wrote of the Ice Cream Mans efforts to sweeten the pot in order to attract Chinese interest in his state:

Governor Ducey warmly welcomed Ambassador Cui to visit Arizona and said that Arizona always actively involved in promoting and developing the positive relationship with China and did benefit a lot from the fruitful outcomes.

Arizona will increase investments in scientific and technological innovation, to create an attractive and better business environment for the upcoming Chinese entrepreneurs. Governor Ducey also expressed his hope that both sides could enhance the cooperation on the field of education, tourism and the utilization of water resources.

Yes, Ducey is keen on selling our nations precious water resources to the thirsty Asian giant as well. The more one kicks over this rock, the worse it gets. In 2015 Ducey heralded the opening of an Arizona branch office for Aviage Systems, a joint venture aviation firm between General Electric and Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) of China. This was to be Aviages first branch located inside the U.S. From an Arizona Commerce Authority release celebrating the occasion:

I am thrilled to welcome AVIAGE SYSTEMS to Arizona as it makes its first U.S. expansion that will be key to supporting the companys global growth plans. Its a partnership that makes sense for many reasons: Arizona ranks as one of the United States largest employment areas in aviation and aerospace systems manufacturing, Governor Doug Ducey said. We are looking forward to continuing to grow this key sector of our economy, and to helping AVIAGE SYSTEMS grow right alongside us.

AVIC is controlled by the communist Chinese military. President Trump is close to issuing a list of 89 Chinese aerospace and other companies that would be unable to access U.S. technology exports due to their military ties, Reuters reported in November. AVIC would top such a list.

And with very good reason. Bloomberg reports:

AVIC is a state-owned conglomerate with 100-plus subsidiaries and more than 450,000 employees. The Trump administration in June put AVIC on a list of companies it said were controlled or owned by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army. The firm also runs a civilian business that makes airliners and private jets  some built with parts made by joint ventures with American companies.

An October article in Stars and Stripes chillingly details how AVIC is building Chinas war machine:

China put on a spectacular military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule last year, and President Xi Jinping wasnt the only star of that show.

As Xi and other leaders watched from a Tiananmen Square grandstand, a squadron of fighter jets, attack helicopters, troop transports and surveillance planes roared overhead in a display orchestrated to impress TV viewers at home and warn potential aggressors abroad. The company that made those aircraft: Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC), a state-owned conglomerate with 100-plus subsidiaries and 450,000-plus employees  more than Boeing Co. and Airbus SE combined.

This places Arizona in the position of helping China edge closer to parity with America on military technology. Works in progress, according to Chinese state media, include a stealth fighter and a seaplane that would be the worlds largest amphibious aircraft, Stars and Stripes reports. There is still a gap between where AVIC is and where the U.S. is, but AVIC has been able to slowly narrow that gap, Tai Ming Cheung, a professor at the University of California San Diegos School of Global Policy and Strategy, told the U.S. military newspaper.

This is the company that Doug Ducey ecstatically welcomed into his state. Here he is cutting the ribbon on Aviages first U.S. office:

In an email from his official Twitter account, Ducey declares that he was thrilled to do it:

I'm thrilled to welcome Aviage Systems to Arizona as it makes its first U.S. expansion. #AZmeansBiz pic.twitter.com/OSSf3k9rfD  Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 16, 2015

Now we know why Doug Ducey certified fraud-riddled voting results in his state. Now we can see why he was biting at the chomp to play his part in illegitimately installing Chinas Old Friend Joe Biden in the White House. Are his fellow Republicans horrified by his actions? Far from it.

Ducey has just been named the new Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Read more at: WorldTribune.com and InvasionUSA.news.
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A fisherman in Indonesia found the Chinese UUV around Selayar Island in South Sulawesi. The submarine has mechanisms to collect essential hydrographic data.

Indonesia, in recent years has found a few uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV). The most recent spotting of one, was near Selayar Island in South Sulawesi. Experts believe that it is most likely a Chinese submarine drone in waters on a strategic maritime route from the South China Sea to Australia. It was found on December 20 and was transferred to the military after a few days.

Military observers have said that the drone appears to be closely related to a Chinese Sea Wing UUV, an underwater glider developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The submarine is a part of a new development which has all the features and mechanisms to collect hydrographic data, that includes seawater temperature, salinity, turbidity and oxygen levels. Such hydrographic data is vital for submarine warfare  both for friendly submarines to remain hidden and to help locate hostile ones.

It can also identify the most effective locations to position sea mines to attack ships passing overhead. Military analysts also speculate that the drones can act as submarine hunters, capable of locating, identifying, following, photographing  and targeting underwater opponents.

Also read: 30 members of Islamist Party arrested for Hindu Temple vandalism in Pakistan

One was found in the worlds busiest shipping highway  the Strait of Malacca between Indonesia and Singapore. Now, two have been found near the Sunda and Lombok Straits to Australias north. These are the only deep-water channels linking the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. All these routes are very vital yet vulnerable ones as its a gateway through which Middle Eastern oil flows to China. These are also the gateway through which Singaporean refined fuels flow to Australia.

Therefore, whoever is in control of these waterways, can easily run the trade and has an influence over the economies of other nations as well. China has been accused of expansionist activities in the South China Sea and has conducted widespread oceanographic research in regions believed to be militarily significant.

China has been repeatedly caught operating in foreign waters. In September last year, the Indian navy evicted the Chinese survey ship Shhiyan-1 from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This marks the Indian Ocean entrance to the crucial Malacca Strait. It has been sending regular submarine patrols into the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal since 2012.

Chinas economy relies heavily on sea lanes of communication passing through the waterway, therefore, it fears a situation where hostile powers could impede upon these critical lines of communication.

Also read: Mission Vaccine: India Gears Up For COVID Vaccine; 130 Cr Await DGCI Nod
She married AFL great Chris Judd in a lavish ceremony on New Year's Eve in 2010.

And on Friday, Rebecca Judd (nee Twigley) celebrated the couple's 10th wedding anniversary with a touching tribute to her husband.

The TV and radio presenter, 37, shared a series of professional photos from her special day, alongside a gushing caption.

Special day: AFL power couple Rebecca and Chris Judd are celebrating their 10-year anniversary. Pictured on their wedding day at Melbourne's Albert Park on December 31, 2010

'Ten years married yesterday. I love, love, love you. Always have. Always will,' she wrote.

In the photos, Rebecca stunned in her J'Aton Couture wedding gown, while Chris looked handsome in a navy suit.

The Judds met at a pub in Perth 17 years ago when they were both teenagers, and wed on December 31, 2010, at Melbourne's Albert Park.

Nostalgia: 'Ten years married yesterday. I love, love, love you. Always have. Always will,' Rebecca wrote on Instagram on Friday

They have since welcomed four children: son Oscar, nine, daughter Billie, six, and four-year-old twin boys Tom and Darcy.

The anniversary tribute comes after Chris was mysteriously absent from his wife's popular Instagram account for almost six months.

While his absence was never explained, it's possible he was taking a break from Rebecca's social media to focus on more serious business matters.

Love story: The Judds met at a pub in Perth 17 years ago when they were both teenagers, and wed on December 31, 2010, at Melbourne's Albert Park

The retired Carlton captain runs Chris Judd Invest, which specialises in producing 'finance media content by interviewing some of Australia's leading fund managers'.

He returned to Rebecca's Instagram profile on Christmas Day, when she posted a family photo featuring their four kids.

The AFL power couple live in a $7.3million mansion in Brighton, Melbourne.

Where'd he go? The anniversary tribute comes after Chris was mysteriously absent from his wife's Instagram account for almost six months. While his absence was never explained, it's possible he was taking a break from social media to focus on more serious business matters
Quotes from "Remembering the Coronavirus" Project Submissions

Sheltering in place was hard for me at first. I am someone who fears isolation even on a normal day. Kallie, age 28, April 13, 2020.

Ive seen some people complaining at how often their neighbors leave the house. ... Everyone has different circumstances. Maybe your neighbor needs to go for a drive to save their sanity. Maybe that lady going to the store twice a week doesnt have the funds to stockpile. We need to not forget that everyone isnt just like us. Kallie, age 28, April 13, 2020.

I am all alone. I lost three of my four sources of income. I have a few Zoom meetings a week, and I Facetime with a few groups of friend. ... These are really hard days. Shelley, June 8, 2020.

Boone County hospitals will see a surge in COVID-19 patients, at latest when students return to Columbia after summer, and probably even before that...I think MU will not see high enrollments again for many years. Programs will be cut. Departments will be combined. Tenured faculty will eventually retire and be replaced by contingent faculty with no power and little loyalty or stake in Columbia. Rachel, age 49, April 29, 2020.

Even though it's seemed like one long day, this needs to be dealt with one day at a time. It's easy to feel your pulse rate quicken thinking about a future economic collapse, the death of friends, family and self, or further loss of freedoms, but you have finite moments of existence so you have to make them real while you're in them. And ... this is a marathon, not a sprint. I suggest reading as way to be in the moment, healthily escape reality into different worlds for a bit, and slow down time somewhat. Phillip, 58, April 12, 2020.
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A COVID-19 outbreak, pissed-off customers, and a public fight with local government.

For a resort chain that promises a no-worries vacation, Sandals Resorts seems to be plagued with them.

Earlier this week, the Barbados Health Ministry de-listed the Sandals Barbados Resort and Spa as an official quarantine hotelone of few locations where newcomers to the island can stay while awaiting the results of two negative PCR tests required to move freely around the island. In a statement, the ministry cited several verified complaints of COVID-19 protocol breaches at the 280-room, all-inclusive resort, and warned that it would take similar actions against any other property that failed to uphold the islands rules and regulations. It also announced the arrest of three tourists suspected of breaking quarantine rules.

Hours later, the Jamaican-based hotel chain shot back with a statement of its own, claiming that it had been blindsided by the government's announcement. The resort claimed it had refuted all allegations of protocol violations in writing and requested a meeting with the health ministry, and was amazed to learn about the de-listing in the local press.

We do hope that the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer, who have not yet been to our hotel to see the protocols in operation, can prioritise a visit to do so, the resort said in an unusually acerbic statement to Barbados Today.

Crowded Weddings Have This Resort Worker Scared to Death

In a statement to The Daily Beast, a Sandals spokesperson said its Barbados resorts have an exemplary record in the industry and claimed the allegations against them were unproven. (The health ministry did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but did issue a press release apologizing for insinuating that the quarantine-dodging tourists were in any way connected to Sandals. They were not.)

It was not the first time the hotel chain had sparred with local government officials. Two weeks earlier, the health ministry in Grenada, a Caribbean island of 111,000 people, announced an outbreak of 26 cases originating from the Sandals Resort there. Within days, the number of active cases reached 44, doubling the islands total case numbers since the start of the pandemic. The ministry deemed the situation a health emergency and quickly enacted a 10-person cap on all gatherings, as well as a ban on indoor dining and, in the days that followed, a 10 p.m. curfew.

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While Sandals initially promised to collaborate with local health authorities, it has since come out swinging against government officials. In an open letter published by several local outlets, Sandals Grenada General Manager Peter Fraser called reports tying the outbreak to his resort completely unsubstantiated and expressed his great disappointment in government officials for not correcting them.

Days later, the deputy chairman of the Sandals Group, Adam Stewart, announced the closure of the Grenada resort until Feb. 3, blaming the decision not on the outbreak but the governments own indecision.

Because the government is starting to shift and is unsure of how they will go forward with their own protocols and tourist entry requirements, we must wait for them to finalise a plan so we can have professional conversation about how thats going to affect our customers, our operation and our staff, Stewart said.

In a statement to The Daily Beast, Sandals spokesperson claimed the initial reports of an outbreak at Sandals had been proven inaccurate. The spokesperson cited a second round of PCR testing that resulted in zero positive cases among its 432 employees, and claimed that a number of the initial test results were false positives. The Grenada Public Health Ministry did not return multiple requests for comment.

The sentiment among locals appeared to be in favor of the chain. A columnist for The New Today accused the government of making Sandals a sacrificial lamb in its ploy to reopen tourism, and accused them of press[ing] a panic button while an investigation is pending and not yet complete. Members of the countrys left-leaning National Democratic Congress claimed the government had allowed Sandals to circumvent safety protocols and called for the immediate resignation of the two ministers directly involved.

This Couple Went on Vacationand Wound Up in ICU With COVID

Customers, however, directed their ire directly at the chain. In the days surrounding the outbreak, negative reviews began pouring in for the Barbados and Grenada locations, with guests accusing the resorts of selling them rooms on which they did not deliver. One angry customer wrote on TripAdvisor that she had paid $4,000 for a 4-night stay in a swim-out, only to be downgraded to a small, dimly lit room with no air conditioning and no warning. Im all for keeping people safe, but be honest about the service you provide and dont take money for something you cant provide. This is below the quality of a 1 star motel room for the price of 5 star."

One man, who asked to be identified only as Jim, told The Daily Beast he booked a room at the Grenada resort on Dec. 14 but received no notice of the outbreak that had been announced the day before. Instead, he received a frantic email two days later telling him to contact the resort immediately. He said the hotel told him it would no longer be accepting new visitors, and the best they could offer him was credit toward another location or a 50 percent refund. (The hotel changed their tune after Jim posted a particularly cutting TripAdvisor review.)

A Sandals guest named Mike, who also asked to be referred to by first name only, said he had initially booked his honeymoon at the Grenada resort but switched to Barbados when the Grenada property was shuttered. Upon arrival at the airport, he said public health officials told him he and his wife had taken the wrong test and would have to quarantine on the hotel property until they could get new tests. When he reached Sandals, however, the resort staff informed them they would be confined not just to the hotel property but to their rooma much smaller accomodation with no view of the ocean or pool. After spending less than 24 hours in complete isolation, Mike and his wife decided to pack up their bags and leave.

The most frustrating thing about the whole experience, Mike said, was the conflicting information from the resort and the government.

We didn't know, do we believe the government people or do we believe Sandals? he said. I get it, they have rules they have to follow, [but] my wife and I were just like, This is not worth the money we spent to be here.

A Frugal Travelers First Luxury Experience In a Nearly COVID-Free Country

In a statement, a Sandals spokesperson said the company prides itself on having the highest return guest rate in the industry, and noted that more than 90 percent of guests at Sandals Barbados and Sandals Grenada share positive reviews on TripAdvisor.

Jim, on further reflection, admitted it was probably really a stupid idea in the first place to imagine I could really get away. He said he and his wife, who works in the medical field, were planning on rescheduling their vacation for after they had been vaccinated. But he would not be booking it with Sandals.

I think it was an absolutely ridiculous way to handle this, he said in a phone interview. It would have been very easy to offer and process a refund upfront. I would not have felt adversely about them. Now I am quite convinced I will never book another trip with them."

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Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said the state's approach was to go hard and early by mandating masks indoors, closing the border to NSW and reducing the number of people allowed in private homes, from 30 to 15. And we dont rule out having to take further measures, if that's what the public [health] advice is, he said on Friday. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video We have to go hard and we have to go early to get us back to those days of no infections. Despite calls for Victorians to undergo testing, the Health Department was reporting waits at testing sites of as much as four hours on Friday afternoon.

There are some sites where the number of people in the queue has already reached the capacity of the site, and therefore, people will be referred to another testing site, a Health Department statement said. Testing hours would be extended on Friday night and locations opened over the weekend to accommodate demand, the department said. On Friday morning, the states COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said three people were being investigated as possible patients zero in the Victorian outbreak, which dates back to December 21 when it is thought an infectious person dined at the Black Rock restaurant. Mr Weimar said one of the suspected people had already returned a negative result for coronavirus, so serology testing was under way to see if the person might have previously had the infection. He said the other two people being investigated had been in Sydney for a day within recent weeks.

Mr Weimar said there was a great cause for concern that there may be cases across the state that authorities were unaware of and he urged people to get tested if they reported symptoms regardless of where they lived We have returning travellers from NSW across our entire state," he said. Signs at a Heidelberg testing site telling people to return later. Credit:Simon Castles This is not just a Bayside suburbs or Mitcham issue ... this is a Victorian issue. The two new cases announced on Friday ate at the restaurant on December 21 and were on a road trip to NSW when they became aware of details of the outbreak. They have since returned to Victoria, but wont be counted in the states official coronavirus tally.

Another of the positive cases is in Leongatha, in Gippsland, and COVID-19 viral fragments have been picked up in a wastewater sample from Lakes Entrance, about 300 kilometres east of Melbourne. About 170 primary and secondary contacts of the outbreak have been identified. University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely said the NSW government should have locked down the northern beaches outbreak 48 to 72 hours earlier than they did. They were slow, he said.

He said he was also among many experts in Australia scratching their heads over why the state was unwilling to mandate masks, saying it was a low-cost move that might have prevented some of the NSW cases. However, he said the key lesson from the NSW outbreak was not how it had spread to Victoria, but how it was suspected to have spread from an international arrival to NSW. He said hotel quarantine, border and airline staff should be considered as the first candidates to receive vaccines in Australia. My rough is guess is that we are going to see a leakage out of international quarantine roughly once a month, somewhere in Australia, and this will happen again and again, he said. Professor Blakely said he expected that the Victorian government would begin encouraging people to work from home once more and keep as close as they could to their homes or holiday homes. We dont need to use hard lockdowns, thats the plan anyway, he said. But you still want to give your contact tracers a good change of pulling it off by doing things that dont have an economic or major social disruption.

Loading AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid said he believed Victoria should have closed its borders to NSW sooner, saying the significant period of time between the transmission event at the Thai restaurant on December 21 and when cases were first detected on Wednesday afternoon, nine days later, was a concern. Maybe this can be jumped on, but there is so much prospect of it being back out there, its really scary, Dr Khorshid said. The AMA has called for the NSW government to make masks mandatory indoors and have criticised a decision to allow about 20,000 people to attend the Sydney cricket Test. Dr Khorshid said he believed NSW health authorities would now be regretting not implementing a quick lockdown in response to the northern beaches outbreak.
The coronavirus is now rampant in the community, according to HSE CEO Paul Reid. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

The coronavirus is now rampant in the community, according to HSE CEO Paul Reid.

With cases likely to reach 3,000 per day and the health service on high alert, HSE CCO Colm Henry has also warned that it is out of control and that everybody you meet should be treated as if they have the disease.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1, Paul Reid said, The virus is absolutely rampant now in the community. Everybody is at extreme risk of contracting the virus.

Our health service is on what we would call now a high alert.

He said that the health system is built for managing viruses, but not a pandemic, and just cant cope with the number of tests being conducted each day.

35,000 swabs were taken and 13,000 people were contacted for a virus test as close contacts yesterday.

Mr Reid said that the most symptomatic people are now being prioritised.

The country is headed for 3,000 cases per day.

The real picture over the last few days is most likely getting close to 3,000 cases per day and thats the extent of the virus that were dealing with.

When we get to these levels, it has a severe impact across a whole set of areas, not just our systems, the health service, and the volume that any system can cope with.

HSE CCO Colm Henry told Today with Katie Hannon on RTE Radio 1 that 15,000 people with symptoms per day are now being referred by GPs for testing.

He said that people should act as if everyone they meet has the virus.

Act as if everybody you meet has the disease. The disease prevalence rate in the community are extremely high and are increasing exponentially, he said.

We know the virus is out of control, he said.

He also said that there is data that the more transmissible UK variant of the virus has shown that there are more positive cases in children.

"Theres no suggestion to date that this new variant is more virulent in the case that is causes more severe disease in children, just that theres more cases.

"Every battle has to have some cause worth fighting for and surely education and healthcare surely are two things worth fighting for, he added.

Meanwhile, the testing system for Covid-19 is buckling under the third wave, with contacts of positive cases told they will no longer get a test.

CMO Dr Tony Holohan said symptomatic people have to be regarded as a higher priority than those who are close contacts, with demand for testing rocketing.

Close contacts of Covid-positive cases will no longer be advised to get tested themselves in a bid to take pressure off the system.

Independent.ie has also learnt GPs have been told to ensure only those who require a test are referred.

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One source said there had been chaos with many people turning up at testing centres without referral.

It comes against the backdrop of rising intensive care numbers and deaths linked to the disease.

New Years Eve brought more grim figures with another 12 deaths linked to Covid-19 and an additional 1,620 confirmed cases.

However, health officials believe the number of confirmed cases in recent days has been under-reported by an estimated 4,000. The time lag is being linked to a surge in tests after a quieter few days over Christmas.

Nphets Dr Philip Nolan said the tests were not necessarily cases and still have to be validated: Many of them will turn into cases. We estimate that there is somewhere in the region of 4,000 positive cases in the last two to three days which have yet to be formally confirmed.

Amid the alarming rise, people who are close contacts of positive cases are being asked to restrict their movements for 14 days. The HSE has asked people to stay at home and behave as if they have the virus and are contagious.

In a letter sent on Wednesday to GPs in Dublin and nearby counties, the HSE said: Since December 23 there has been a notable increase in the number of service users attending the Covid test centre without a referral.

This is putting significant pressure on the efficient operations of the testing services and is subsequently leading to long delays and poor user experience.

I am writing to you to request your support and assistance to ensure that only people who require a test are referred by you and advised that only they should present themselves at a test centre.

Yesterday, Dr Holohan said: Given the extent of transmission of the disease we have is very, very large it must be regarded as a higher priority than the testing of contacts.

So its simply about selecting that as the higher priority for the individuals, and the people who are then identified as close contacts of any cases that are identified will be advised to subject themselves to restriction of movement for a full 14 days.

We wont be in a position to offer them a test at this point in time.

He said the lack of information from testing close contacts will not impede Nphet.

Dr Nolan, chairman of the Nphet Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, warned that if transmission of the virus is not suppressed, Ireland could face 3,000 cases a day by January 23.

The Irish Independent revealed two-thirds of Covid-19 deaths in December were related to outbreaks of the virus in hospitals and nursing homes. There were 101 deaths from coronavirus, 33 associated with outbreaks in hospitals and the same number linked to nursing homes.

Dr Nolan said: If we fail to suppress the virus, we would face an intolerable situation where numbers in hospital could increase as high as 1,500 to 2,000 people by the end of January. Thats simply untenable. Failure to supress transmission leaves us in far too stark a scenario to be acceptable.

The HSE has confirmed plans to vaccinate 20,000 people next week, including healthcare workers and nursing home residents across all seven hospital groups. The public are being asked to remain at home, apart from travel for work, education or other essential purposes.

The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), the countrys largest medical virology lab which normally operates from 8am to 6pm, closed on Christmas Day and will reopen on Tuesday. An on-call service has been in operation since December 25. The HSE said the lab normally processes around 700 swabs per day.

In a statement, the HSE said: The HSE processes between 10,000 and 20,000 tests per day based on demand. Different laboratories are used to varying levels based on projected demand each day. The HSE operates a modelling system that looks at demand on a daily basis and adjusts capacity accordingly.

It added: The NVRL were not required from Friday 25 to Tuesday 29. This has no negative impact on testing responses as we are still working within our available capacity.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has warned it may be necessary to extend Level 5 restrictions past the end of January.

The Fine Gael minister described the challenge ahead of trying to tackle the latest wave as a "significant one".

"We have taken the decision in a way that's consistent with Nphet to move to a full Level 5 set of restrictions until the end of January and it may be necessary to go even beyond that," he said.

He rejected claims that the reopening of hospitality and allowing home visits in December was a mistake and caused the surge in Covid-19 cases.

He said it was a "misreading" of the situation to suggest there was a divide between the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) and the Government.

"The pace of the third wave of the spread of this virus has taken everybody by surprise," he told RTE Radio 1's Morning Ireland.

He said the relationship between Government and Nphet, and the decisions that have been made on the back of that relationship, by and large, have saved many many lives and have kept the spread of the virus under control where possible.

"Of course, there have been some mistakes made, but we are now in the teeth of a third wave and Nphet and Government are working together, but Government must make decisions," Mr Coveney said, adding Nphet's advice is taken "very seriously".

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Irish Independent
(Newser)  Authorities in Belgium say a 27th elderly person has died in an outbreak at a nursing home from a superspreading St. Nick party last month, but they hope the situation is now under control. The Hemelrijck home in the northern Belgium city of Mol had organized an early December visit from actors playing St. Nicholas and his helper, reports the AP. Days later, however, residents started exhibiting COVID symptoms, and now, nearly a month later, there are at least 88 infections among residents and 42 among staff. The death of the 27th person from the virus was announced Thursday. The city and families of some of the deceased are complaining that the nursing home should never have organized the party when restrictive measures on events were in place throughout the country to contain the pandemic.

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Per the Guardian, the Mol municipality said in an initial statement that the actor playing St. Nick, who later tested positive for COVID, "always kept a distance from the residents, stayed nowhere longer than a few minutes, and wore a mouth mask. The residents also wore a mouth mask." Pics soon emerged, however, showing residents not wearing masks, and the municipality put out a new statement. "We have received wrong information from the management," the municipality now says. "We deeply regret that. After looking at several photos, we have to conclude that this goes much further than an error. Rather, it is a completely irresponsible event. We would never have approved this." Health officials can't say with certainty that the actor is the one who brought the virus into the nursing home. "The man was a volunteer in the care home and theoretically could have been infected by a resident or a staff member," a virologist tells the AP.

(Read more Belgium stories.)
Andhra Pradesh has taken a special drive to provide house sites to 30.75 lakh poor people and 68,677 acres of land, including 25,433 acres of government land, has been plotted and distributed to the eligible poor families (DC Image)

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stated that the government will complete construction of houses by 2022 and provide houses to all eligible persons without fail. He made the remarks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the annual PMAY (Urban), Asha India awards during a video conference to lay the foundation stone for six lighthouse projects under GHTC (Global Housing Technology Challenge) -India and distribution of PMAY- urban and ASHA - India awards virtually here on Friday in which Reddy and other Chief Ministers participated.

Andhra Pradesh ranked third in the Best Performing State category. The State also received awards in 'project monitoring tools and innovative construction technology under the special award category while Visakhapatnam has presented an award under the best performing municipal corporation category.

The Chief Minister received the awards from the Prime Minister virtually.

During the interaction, the Chief Minister hoped that 2021 would help the country regain its momentum and completely recover from the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that the Prime Minister has envisioned "Housing for All by 2022", by which year, the nation would complete 75 years of its independence. The programme is of particular relevance to the State of Andhra Pradesh, which is vulnerable to natural disasters like cyclones, heavy rains and floods due to its 974 km long coastline. In the bargain, the poor suffer the most in the absence of a permanent house.

The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh has taken the lead in the implementation of PMYA (Urban). Andhra Pradesh has taken a special drive to provide house sites to 30.75 lakh poor people and 68,677 acres of land, including 25,433 acres of government land, has been plotted and distributed to the eligible poor families.

Reddy said, "16,098 EWS housing colonies are being developed in urban areas and it is the endeavour of the government to provide required infrastructure in terms of toads, drains, water and electricity along with necessary social infrastructure for the colonies. It is estimated that an amount of Rs. 12,410 crore is required for providing the infrastructure".

The Chief Minister said that over 20.21 lakh houses were sanctioned so far under the scheme. The government will ensure that all houses are completed as per schedule before 2022.

He stated "Houses and house sites are being registered in the names of women beneficiaries. We are sure that this would go a long way in promoting women empowerment and in ensuring their financial security as well".

"At this critical Covid juncture, construction of houses of this magnitude will give a huge boost to the economy besides providing employment to people belonging to over 30 occupational categories like masonry, carpentry, plumbing and the like contributing to post-Covid economic revival", he said.

The state government has travelled a great distance towards achieving the goal of housing for all by 2022 by distributing housing plots to all 100% eligible poor families and sanction of houses to 67% of all eligible poor families. Additional sanction of 8.95 lakh houses by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and sanction of soft loans of Rs. 12,410 crore by HUDCO or other financial institutions will help them to accomplish the goal of housing for all.

Deputy Chief Minister Dharmana Krishnadas, Ministers Botsa Satyanarayana and Cherukuvada Ranganadharaju, MP Balashouwry, Chief Secretary Adityanath Das, Land Administration Chief Commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad, Housing secretary Ajay Jain, Municipal Administration Principal Secretary Srilakshmi and other officials were present in the video conference
Holiday Heroes Blood Drive Exceeds Goal

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Paducah's Holiday Heroes blood drive was deemed a success after it collected 195 units during the four-day event over the New Years holiday weekend at Concord United Methodist Church.The total exceeded their goal by 35 units.Red Cross donor recruitment manager Anthony Tinin thanked the public for its outstanding support, and reminds anyone who still wishes to donate to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to find another blood drive near you.You can also enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment.On the Net:
A post-Brexit trade deal between Japan and the United Kingdom came into force Friday, ensuring business continuity and strengthening the bilateral relationship as London seeks to join the larger Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.

The two countries signed the FTA in October as the existing Japan-European Union trade pact ceased to cover the United Kingdom on Thursday, the end of the transition period following the country's exit from the European Union in January 2020.

The lack of an agreement could have resulted in impositions of higher tariffs by both countries on bilateral trade.

The deal largely duplicates the Japan-EU FTA, including gradual elimination of British tariffs on Japanese cars by 2026 and immediate removal of its duties on most Japanese agricultural goods such as beef and tea.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said this is the second batch of the Sinovac vaccine delivery for Indonesia, and the first batch of 1.2 million doses arrived on December 6, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Jakarta, Jan 1 (IANS) A total of 1.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech arrived in Indonesia on Thursday, according to Indonesian government officials.

"With this arrival, it means that there are already 3 million doses of Sinovac vaccine in Indonesia," Marsudi told a virtual press conference.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said vaccination is one of Indonesia's main strategies to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, adding, "It would take more than 12 months to complete the vaccination program, so we always keep up to health protocols."

Indonesia is planning to vaccinate 181.5 million of its population in 2021 in order to achieve herd immunity and break the chain of coronavirus transmissions.

The first period of vaccination will be from January to April 2021, for inoculating 1.3 million medical workers, 17.4 million public workers, and 21.5 million elderly people.

The second period will run from April 2021 to March 2022 for vaccination of 63.9 million vulnerable people and 77.4 million people of other groups.

--IANS

int/rs
Judge rejects NM megachurch's request to ease in-person worship restrictions

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A judge has rejected a New Mexico megachurchs request to ease state restrictions on in-person worship gatherings amid the state's ongoing lockdown orders in response to COVID-19.

Legacy Church, an Albuquerque-based multi-site congregation of about 20,000 members, sued New Mexico in April, arguing that restrictions on in-person gatherings violated their First Amendment rights.

The church sought both a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction against a series of public health orders, believing they placed an unfair burden on their religious practices.

U.S. District Court Judge James Browning on Monday ruled against both requests in the case, known as Legacy Church v. Kunkel and the state of New Mexico.

Browning concluded that the various public health orders did not show an inherent animus toward religious groups, but rather included similar restrictions on secular entities as well.

 as the coronavirus threat ebbs and flows, New Mexico must ensure that its Public Health Orders remain commensurate in scope with current public health needs, wrote Browning.

Legacy Church receives the same treatment as all essential retail businesses, because Legacy Church and essential retail businesses must cap occupancy at twenty-five percent, enforce social distancing measures, and require masks.

Americans United for Separation of Church & State, a left-leaning advocacy organization that filed an amicus brief in the case, celebrated the district court's ruling.

Americans United Associate Legal Director Alex J. Luchenitser said in a statement released Tuesday that religious liberty should not be misused to endanger peoples lives.

Public health experts have learned during the course of this pandemic that COVID-19 spreads easily at large indoor gatherings  including religious services, stated Luchenitser.

[New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkels] orders protect public health while respecting the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom by ensuring that some New Mexicans religious practices are not offered special privileges that could jeopardize the health of others in the community.

For their part, Legacy Church is promoting a Protest for Freedom event on their Facebook page, scheduled to take place on Thursday, which calls for the easing of quarantine restrictions.

As Americans, we have the right and the ability to choose how we should respond to Covid, reads the Facebook event description. The freedom to choose if we want to wear a mask or not. The freedom to choose if we would like to attend church and worship or not. The freedom to choose if we should travel or not.

We fundamentally believe we are able to make our own intelligent informed decisions and the government should not be forcing our decisions for us. The silent majority will not sit by and watch our freedoms be stripped away.
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Maggie Brown Cassidy is a writer and teacher living in Putney. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer.
A senior official on the Chinese mainland Friday called for firm confidence and joint efforts from both sides of the Taiwan Straits to foster new progress in the development of cross-Straits relations.

Liu Jieyi, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in a New Year message carried in the first issue of the "Relations Across the Taiwan Straits" magazine in 2021.

Calling 2020 an extraordinary year in cross-Straits relations, Liu said the mainland has put people's lives and health first amid the COVID-19 pandemic, cared for Taiwan compatriots the same way as it treated people on the mainland and fully supported Taiwan enterprises in resuming work and production.

Although the Democratic Progressive Party authorities went further to obstruct cross-Straits relations in 2020, the mainland continued to deepen integrated development across the Straits, and pushed forward exchanges and cooperation to overcome difficulties, Liu noted in the article.

Facing a complicated cross-Straits situation, the mainland has firmly and vigorously safeguarded national sovereignty as well as peace and stability across the Straits, he said.

He reiterated that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end that will only bring disturbance to the island and its residents, adding the mainland bears zero tolerance to any plots that attempt to split China.

The mainland will adhere to the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle, and resolutely oppose separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence," Liu said, urging Taiwan residents to follow the trend by firmly resisting the separatist forces and working jointly with the mainland to defend peace and stability cross the Straits.

"We will promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Straits relations and advance the process toward national reunification," he said, hoping to push forward the peaceful development of the relationship and step up exchanges and economic cooperation between the two sides.

"We believe, as long as people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits unite together and work jointly, the path towards peaceful development will become broader. Under such efforts, we are bound to share a brighter future," said Liu.

(CGTN)
PALM BEACH, Fla.  The center of gravity for the MAGA universe is moving zip codes with President Donald Trump.

In anticipation of Trump setting up permanent residence at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach after leaving the White House in January, Trump allies, conservative media firebrands and MAGA-boosting activist groups are setting up the next Trumpy hub of GOP power.

Some Trump supporters have settled in South Florida, drawn by Floridas friendly tax climate and the states current GOP leadership. Other prominent MAGA groups, like the student organizing outfit Turning Point USA, are holding events in the area. And the next Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual gathering of the GOPs most conservative factions, will even be held a couple hours drive north, in Orlando.

Meanwhile, the president and First Lady Melania Trump are renovating their private quarters at Mar-a-Lago to prepare for a permanent return. And, with an eye toward their political future, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have reportedly bought a multi-million dollar property in an exclusive part of Miami. The Trump kids plan to spend more time in Palm Beach, unless Erics wife Lara Trump ends up running for Senate in North Carolina, according to a person close to the family.

President Donald Trump plays golf at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post via AP)

Taken together, the moves will inevitably make the Palm Beach area and Florida ground zero for the MAGA movement, giving Trump convenient access to potential donors and some of his most devoted allies as he plots a potential 2024 comeback bid. Unlike previous presidents, like Barack Obama and George W. Bush, who quietly entered their post-presidency and spent time working on their books or picking up oil painting, Trump is expected to cannonball into his next chapter by keeping a hold on his political base with the help of his family, antagonizing the Biden administration on Twitter, and holding MAGA events. Supporters will continue to flock to Palm Beach, even as it grates on many long-time residents, who see their locale as a quiet enclave above politics and are fighting the president over a permanent move to Mar-a-Lago.

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Youre seeing a lot of conservative influencers talking about Florida and its creating an environment where  people are looking for safe havens where their ideology is being manifested in the world around them, said Blair Brandt, a Palm Beach-based political consultant and Republican fundraiser who served as the Florida finance co-chair for Trumps reelection campaign.

The presidents anticipated move to Palm Beach is part of a broader movement by prominent Trump-supporting Republicans to head south to Florida. According to Bloomberg, real estate inventory in Palm Beach is down 75 percent due to high demand, and the islands exclusive clubs, like Trumps Mar-a-Lago, have long waiting lists.

Some Trump allies and prominent conservatives have recently made the move to South Florida  including conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who moved from Los Angeles, and Fox News star Tucker Carlson, who is a legal Florida resident. Radio host Rush Limbaugh has a home in Palm Beach, and Trump-friendly Newsmax, run by Chris Ruddy, a longtime friend of Trump, is based in West Palm Beach.

Trump has long reveled in the attention lavished on him at his Mar-a-Lago Club, which has become a drive-by destination for fans and a place for allies of the president to see and be seen. Last week, Turning Point USA held its black tie gala at the resort  a whos-who of Trumpworld, with White House officials like Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany taking selfies with maskless young fans.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for Christmas Eve dinner at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

During his most recent visit, however, the president did not mingle with guests the way he has in the past and kept mostly to himself, according to one club member. Some members shelled out $1,200 for New Years Eve gala tickets at the club, hoping to catch a glimpse of the president and first lady and be entertained by 90s rapper Vanilla Ice, but were disappointed when the president suddenly decided to return early for Washington for reasons unknown.

But with the clock running out on his term, Mar-a-Lagos expanded neighborhood is widely expected to become the new home for the Trump movement in exile.

Trump adds a star quality there on a much more permanent basis, said former White House press secretary and Newsmax anchor Sean Spicer. The idea of Florida Republicans having good access to the president is a big deal. Having the star power of the president is a big deal and Palm Beach is already a massive fundraising destination for Republican candidates.

Brandt noted that his job as a fundraiser, connecting wealthy conservatives in Palm Beach to the Republican Party, will get a welcome jolt with Trump constantly nearby.

Hes going to be translating the power of the presidency into a political machine, which no one has done in Trumps way before, Brandt said. But to have someone like Trump whos an operator and needs stuff to do, he could be really influential to Republican fundraising.

But while GOP operatives in Florida are happy to orbit near the new center of the Republican universe, many longtime residents are rolling their eyes. While theyre breathing a sigh of relief that traffic congestion from road closures will be coming to an end, theyre anxious about what Trumps permanent presence might mean  including a potential presidential library and museum that could become a tourist destination for MAGA world. One adviser to Trump even envisioned a kind of Trump-themed amusement park.

I completely understand why he and his whole family wants to be in Florida, said Matthew Swift, a Palm Beach resident and founder of the non-partisan Concordia Summit. The president is incredibly popular here, he noted, but added, people are certainly curious how it will work with the development of a presidential library and any other center the president plans to develop.

No matter what, Trump will still have a Secret Service detail, but not the kind of security footprint  with barriers and no-fly zones  that comes with being a sitting president.

Before Trump even formally moves to Palm Beach, some potential neighbors have already raised concerns about him living at what he calls his Winter White House full time, claiming he agreed not to use the club as a full-time residence. In the past, the president has clashed with the town over planes flying over the club, and hes expected to butt heads with the community over the use of his helipad on property.

Multiple people close to Trump said that even though renovations are underway at the club, the small size of his Mar-a-Lago space might push him to find other property in Palm Beach, and they expect him to buy a separate house on the island.

Yet some Palm Beach residents, even those who are Trump supporters, say at the end of the day nothing will really change.

Palm Beach has always been a place above politics, if you will. Its not about Democrats or Republicans or Rush Limbaugh or whatever, said Guido Lombardi, a Mar-a-Lago member and Palm Beach resident. Some people here cater to the personalities they feel like they should be shaking hands with.


BEDFORD CORNERS, N.Y.  Diana Heimann is the kind of person who traps mice in her farmhouse and releases them into nature preserves. The kind of person who kept Silkie chickens in her living room and their eggs in the cup holders of her car.

Shes not the kind of person who loses a llama.

But there she was on Wednesday, speeding from the North Castle Town Hall in Armonk, N.Y., to the police station in Mt. Kisco, the footwells of her Toyota scattered with spilled llama treats, passing out bushels of fliers: LOST LLAMA, one read. Try not to scare him.

Gizmo, she said aloud, as if a missing llama roving the hills of Bedford Corners, a wealthy, equestrian pocket of Westchester County, could hear her. Where are you?

Word of the weekslong hunt for Gizmo, the 7-year-old llama who absconded on Dec. 13, had already ricocheted around the town, the state and far beyond. Prayers and tips poured in from people who knew neither Ms. Heimann nor the first thing about pack animals. But a llama was on the loose, and it had captured the publics imagination.
There was little sign of the chaos some had feared on January 1 as the UK left the single market and customs union and the Brexit transition period came to an end (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The UK has begun a new future outside the European Unions trading structures, with Boris Johnson saying it offers the chance to transform our country.

There will be disruption as a result of the increased bureaucracy between the UK and its largest trading partner, but there was little sign of the chaos some had feared on January 1.

And the Prime Minister said the UK has taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters after the Brexit transition period with the European Union came to an end at 11pm on December 31.

Lower trade volumes on the New Years Day bank holiday could mean the full impact of the new regime is yet be felt, but freight appeared to be moving freely at the borders with Ireland and France under the new arrangements.

Mr Johnson said the decision to leave the single market and customs union ended a 47-year experiment of European Union membership.

He said the EU had provided the UK with a safe European home during the 1970s, but the country has now changed out of all recognition with global perspectives.

The UK is free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU in 2021, he said in a video message to mark New Year.

Circulation fluide sur le #PortCalais. Traffic is free flow into #PortOfCalais pic.twitter.com/3TBf0evV5t  Port de Calais (@calaisport) January 1, 2021

As well as the Christmas Eve deal with Brussels, the UK has reached several agreements with non-EU countries  such as Japan  to ensure continuity of trading arrangements for British companies from January 1.

Mr Johnson, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said the great new deal with the EU honours the most basic promises of the 2016 referendum, and added that the UK has taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters.

And yet it is also the essence of this treaty that it provides certainty for UK business and industry, because it means that we can continue to trade freely  with zero tariffs and zero quotas  with the EU.

In a sign that the UK will break away from the EU rules it inherited, Mr Johnson said: We need the Brexit-given chance to turbocharge those sectors in which we excel, to do things differently and to do them better.

The rules for doing business with Europe have changed.

It may take longer to process traffic leaving the UK, causing delays in passing through the border controls.



Please check before you travel:

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Website - https://t.co/P2V3Gow3Tw pic.twitter.com/bxmoPEYAvD  Kent County Council (@Kent_cc) January 1, 2021

Irelands foreign minister, Simon Coveney, said the change in trading arrangements with the UK will inevitably cause disruption.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Were now going to see the 80 billion euro (71.2 billion) worth of trade across the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland disrupted by an awful lot more checks and declarations, and bureaucracy and paperwork, and cost and delay.

Ferry operator Stena Line said six freight loads destined for Ireland had been turned away at Holyhead due to incorrect paperwork.

While it has been quiet in Holyhead so far today, the port authority indicate that six freight loads bound for Ireland have had to be turned away due to not have the correct references. Hauliers please ensure you have your PBNs ready for check-in. @WGEconTransport @TrafficWalesN https://t.co/ae7KmPwPxb  Stena Line (@StenaLine) January 1, 2021

Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the EU should be ready to welcome an independent Scotland back into the bloc.

Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on, she said.

Scottish voters did not back Brexit and the First Minister views it as a major issue in her campaign to break away from the UK.

Under the new arrangements, freedom of movement rights end and, while UK citizens can still travel for work or pleasure, there are different rules.

Passports must be valid for more than six months, visas or permits may be needed for long stays, pets need a health certificate and drivers need extra documents.

Expand Close The first lorry, driven by Slavi Ivanov Shumeykov, loads on to Le Shuttle at the Eurotunnel in Folkestone, Kent, after the UK leaves the single market and customs union (Gareth Fuller/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The first lorry, driven by Slavi Ivanov Shumeykov, loads on to Le Shuttle at the Eurotunnel in Folkestone, Kent, after the UK leaves the single market and customs union (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The automatic right to live and work in the EU also ceases, and the UK will no longer take part in the Erasmus student exchange programme.

Hauliers face new rules and lorry drivers heading for the Continent must have a Kent Access Permit before entering the county in an effort to curb tailbacks on cross-Channel routes.

Travel to Ireland does not change, but the Northern Ireland Protocol means Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market for goods and will apply EU customs rules at its ports, even though the region is still part of the UK customs territory.

The protocol will also see Northern Ireland follow certain EU rules on state aid and VAT.

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Whatsapp Lorries arrive at the Port of Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Gibraltar, whose sovereignty is disputed by Spain and Britain, remains subject to the rules of the free-travel Schengen area, keeping the border with Spain open.

Government officials insisted the necessary border systems and infrastructure in the UK are in place.

Big Ben chimed at 11pm, when the Prime Minister is understood to have marked the occasion with his family in Downing Street.

Celebrations were muted by the coronavirus pandemic but Eurosceptic MPs, once derided as fringe eccentrics on the margins of the Conservative Party, expressed their delight.

Sir Bill Cash said it was a victory for democracy and sovereignty, while Sir John Redwood said he looked forward to using the new freedoms and opportunities now open to global Britain.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who played a key role in the 2016 referendum, told the PA news agency: Yes, we spare a thought for Northern Ireland and our fishermen, but this is a moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom. Its a shame the pubs arent open.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

PA
Midnight marks end to Britain's 48-year EU journey

British people living in Brussels mark Brexit with a candlelight vigil outside the UK's embassy. Photo: Reuters

The United Kingdom left the European Union's orbit on Thursday, turning its back on a tempestuous 48-year liaison with the European project for an uncertain post-Brexit future in its most significant geopolitical shift since the loss of empire.



Brexit, in essence, took place at the strike of midnight in Brussels, or 11pm London time, when the United Kingdom ended the de facto membership, known as the transition period, which lasted 11 months after it formally left on January 31.



For five years, the frenzied gyrations of the Brexit crisis dominated European affairs, haunted the sterling markets and tarnished the United Kingdom's reputation as a confident pillar of Western economic and political stability.



After years of Brexit vitriol, one of the most significant events in European history since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union passed with little fanfare: The United Kingdom slipped away, serenaded by the silence of the Covid-19 crisis.



Supporters cast Brexit as the dawn of a newly independent "global Britain", but it has weakened the bonds that bind England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland into a US$3 trillion economy.



"This is an amazing moment for this country," Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 56, said in his New Year's Eve message. "We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it."



As EU leaders and citizens bade farewell, Johnson said there would be no bonfire of regulations to build a "bargain basement Dickensian Britain" and that the country would remain the "quintessential European civilisation".



But Johnson, the face of the Brexit campaign, has been short on detail about what he wants to build with Britain's "independence"  or how to do it while borrowing record amounts to pay for the COVID-19 crisis.



His 80-year-old father, Stanley Johnson, who voted to remain in 2016, said he was in the process of applying for a French passport.



In the June 23, 2016, referendum, 17.4 million voters, or 52 percent, backed Brexit while 16.1 million, or 48 percent, backed staying in the bloc. Few have changed their minds since. England and Wales voted out but Scotland and Northern Ireland voted in.



Supporters see Brexit as an escape from a doomed Franco-German project that has stagnated while the United States and China surged ahead. Opponents say Brexit will weaken the West, further reduce Britains global clout, make people poorer and lessen its cosmopolitanism.



When the Great Bell known as Big Ben tolled 11 through a scaffold, there were few outward displays of emotion in Britain as gatherings are banned under coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Reuters)
The year 2020 will be remembered not only for the covid-19 shock and the end of Donald Trump s presidency in the US, but also as a moment of reckoning for China. With its international reputation battered by the pandemic, and with pushback against its territorial overreach intensifying, Chinas ability to pursue its geopolitical ambitions is diminishing rapidly. Nowhere is this more apparent than in its relations with India.

The shift began in May. As the brutal Himalayan winter receded, a shocked India reportedly found that Chinese forces had occupied hundreds of square kilometres of borderlands in its northernmost Ladakh region.

The encroaching forces, backed by thousands of troops in the rear, had seized mountaintops and other strategic vantage points, and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had established forward bases, blocking Indias access to areas along the disputed frontier that had been under its exclusive jurisdiction.

It was a cynical attempt to exploit not only the chaos and hardship caused by Chinas most infamous global export, covid-19, but also the longstanding appeasement policy of the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In the previous six years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met with Chinese President Xi Jinping 18 times, in the hope of fostering friendlier relations (and weakening the China-Pakistan axis). This hope appeared to have blinded India to Chinas preparations for aggression, including combat exercises and the frenzied construction of military infrastructure along the frontier.

In this sense, Modi repeated the mistake of Indias first post-independence prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, whose dogged courtship of Mao Zedong enabled China to annex Tibet, thereby eliminating the territorial buffer between itself and India. Chinese encroachments culminated in the 1962 Himalayan border war, which began with a surprise PLA attack and ended with territorial losses for India.

That war shattered Indias illusions of China as a trustworthy partner, and triggered a shift away from pacifism. With Chinas recent Himalayan aggression, India seems to be re-learning the same lesson. Already, India has matched Chinese troop deployments along the frontier and occupied strategic positions in the area. The heightened tensions have triggered a series of clashes, the worst of which left 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of PLA troops dead in mid-June.

By turning what was once a lightly patrolled frontier into a hot" border and raising the spectre of further military surprisesall while deepening its strategic ties with PakistanChina has left India little choice but to strengthen its strategic posture significantly.

In fact, a major Indian military buildup is on the cards. This will include vastly increased frontier patrols and additional mountain-warfare forces. But, because Indian forces cannot guard every nook and cranny of one of the worlds most inhospitable and treacherous borders, deterrence will also be essential.

That is why India has been testing a series of leading-edge missile systems, including a hypersonic cruise missile, a hybrid missile-torpedo (which can be deployed against submarines and aircraft carriers), and an anti-radiation missile (designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defence systems). This portends substantial Indian investment in military modernization.

Indias military buildup will also include significant expansion of its naval capacity. This will enable India to adopt a much stronger maritime posture, which includes opening a front in the Indian Ocean, through which much of Chinas trade (including most of its energy supplies) passes.

But India is not confronting China alone. In November, Australia, Japan, and the US joined India for the Malabar naval war gamesthe first-ever military exercise involving all four members of the so-called Quad, a loose strategic coalition of the Indo-Pacific regions four leading democracies. Deepening cooperation among the Quad is central to Americas Indo-Pacific policy, which includes a focus on the maritime realm. Given bipartisan consensus in the US on the need to counter Chinas expansionism, this policy is unlikely to change significantly under President-elect Joe Bidens administration.

A US-India strategic alliance has long been Chinas security nightmare. Yet, by repaying Modis peace overtures with stealthy land grabs, Xi has made such an alliance more likely. It was in response to Chinas aggression that in October, India finally concluded the last of four foundational" agreements that the US reaches with its allies. The terms of the agreement had been under negotiation for more than a decade.

Beyond working with like-minded states, diplomatically and militarily, India is attempting to counter China by exposing its neocolonial activities, such as the Belt and Road Initiative. And it will likely seek to foil Xis plan to capture the 442-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama and cement Chinas hold over Tibet. With the current Dalai Lama having made clear that his reincarnation will appear in a free country", India should tacitly help Tibetan exiles find his successor in its Tibetan-Buddhist Himalayan regions, which produced a Dalai Lama in the late seventeenth century.

Yet another likely dimension of Indias new China strategy will be to pursue a managed and selective economic decoupling. Chinas trade balance with India represents its third-largest bilateral surplus (after the US and the European Union). Now that India recognizes the folly of relying on China for critical supplies, this is bound to change.

Since the Peoples Republic was founded in 1949, it has more than doubled its territory by annexing ethnic-minority homelands and seizing other countries lands. Against this background, its recent encroachments on Indias territory in the Himalayas could pose a significant threat to Indo-Pacific stability.

Fortunately, regional powersbeginning with Indiaare pushing back. With this regional resistance increasingly supported by the US and other Western powers, Xi will most likely live to regret the decisions he made in 2020.

Brahma chellaney is a professor of Strategic Studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research and a fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin

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New Delhi, Jan 1 : Microsoft has admitted that the alleged Russian hackers behind the massive SolarWinds attack that affected several top-notch enterprises and government agencies, attempted activities beyond just the presence of malicious SolarWinds code in its environment.

Microsoft has discovered that its systems were infiltrated "beyond just the presence of malicious SolarWinds code." In a Security Response Center update, the tech giant said that hackers were able to "view source code in a number of source code repositories".

"We detected unusual activity with a small number of internal accounts and upon review, we discovered one account had been used to view source code in a number of source code repositories," the company said in the update late on Thursday.

The account did not have permissions to modify any code or engineering systems and "our investigation further confirmed no changes were made. These accounts were investigated and remediated".

At least 24 big companies including tech giants like Intel, Cisco, VMware and Nvidia suffered part of the SolarWinds hack allegedly orchestrated by Russia-backed cybercriminals.

The suspected Russian hackers installed a malware in the Orion software sold by the IT management company SolarWinds, and accessed sensitive data belonging to several US government agencies, at least one hospital and a university.

According to Microsoft, it detected malicious SolarWinds applications in its environment, which were isolated and removed.

"Having investigated further, we can now report that we have not found evidence of the common TTPs (tools, techniques and procedures) related to the abuse of forged SAML tokens against our corporate domains," the company informed.

The SolarWings hacking "has not put at risk the security of our services or any customer data, but we want to be transparent and share what we're learning as we combat what we believe is a very sophisticated nation-state actor".

Cybersecurity firms FireEye and CrowdStrike have admitted they were affected during the SolarWinds attack.

Russia has denied having any role in the hacking.

Microsoft President Brad Smith said last month that they have identified more than 40 customers who have been affected by nation-state hackers who installed malware in SolarWinds' Orion platform.

The hacking group, known as APT29, or Cozy Bear, is behind the attack on FireEye, accessing its internal network and stealing hacking tools the company uses to test the networks belonging to its customers.
A medical worker wearing protective gear prepares to take samples at a coronavirus testing site in Seoul, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. AP



South Korea will require foreigners to test negative for the novel coronavirus before arrival, starting at airports next week, as the nation steps up its fight against the pandemic amid a winter wave of the virus, officials said Friday.



Foreign arrivals must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coronavirus test taken within 72 hours before their departure to South Korea, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



The rule for foreigners arriving at South Korean airports will go into effect next Friday, while it will be implemented at South Korean ports for passenger ships on Jan. 15.






How many Canadian taxpayers understand that our Liberal government is giving millions of tax dollars to Chinese Communist state-owned firms for Covid subsidy relief?

That is what is being reported by non-government media outlets and Global News. I hope that this is not true but fear that it is true.

I have previously reminded readers that the Chinese Communist government is the same government that brutally slaughtered over 60 million of its citizens to subject them to Communist rule and most recently has brutalized the people of Hong Kong and taken away their freedoms.

PM Trudeau unashamedly stated he admires this Communist government.

Further, according to Canadas Research Registry, he is sending hard-earned tax dollar subsidies to Chinese companies linked to Chinas military and intelligence operations.

Reports confirm subsidies to:

The Canadian arm of Petro-China that has been acquiring stakes in Canadas energy sector, a security risk for Canada.

The Bank of China, which is under scrutiny for funding enemy organizations which have been firing rockets into Israel, our Middle East ally.

China Mobile, which threatens a major security risk and weakens our own Canadian mobile companies.

China Business Council, boosted by Trudeaus friendly approach to China, a company that is connected to Chinas military. It is swarming with Chinese agents throughout North America.

Our pro-China Liberal government continues to weaken Canadas oil production, proclaim climate change propaganda as a means to enrich itself and increase taxes to collect funds for Liberals and the UN.

It is the same government that wants us to spend our savings to boost the economy and leave us powerless when our savings are used up.

PM Trudeau and his cabinet seem to be working overtime on how to weaken us as they funnel our money overseas.

Is the PMs goal one of power with President Xi in the UN?

Do we Canadians simply roll over and subsidize Chinese companies with Canadian tax money while Chinese companies eliminate our jobs to employ citizens in their Communist state?

The rights to ownership of Canada must not be sold by our committed socialist leader who does not have a mandate to sell it. We must never sell out to China!

Canadians are watching in disbelief as our country disintegrates under socialist governance!

Our feckless Opposition Party must act to prevent the treasonous sale of Canada to the UN and the Chinese Communist Party.

Garry Rayner, West Kelowna
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Residents of St Vincent and the Grenadines have been warned they may have to evacuate their homes with 24 hours as a volcano begins to spew lava from a newly formed dome after lying dormant for decades.

Authorities have issued an orange alert for the area, affecting more than 100,000 people, as scientists assess the latest eruption.

The orange alert means the volcano may erupt with less than 24 hours notice, and residents who live nearby have been told they may get an evacuation notice. The next highest alert level is red, which means an eruption is in progress.

An earlier report by Reuters that an evacuation order had been issued was incorrect.

On Tuesday officials warned of strong gas emissions, formation of a new volcanic dome and changes to its crater lake at the La Soufriere volcano.

Today the alert level was raised to an orange, with suggestions the volcano could erupt within a day and advising people from Fancy in the north of the island to Georgetown on the northeast coast they may have to evacuate.

A team of scientists from Trinidad and Tobago were flown in to the island today to provide support to those assessing the eruption.

The alert for St Vincent and the Grenadines has been raised to orange after the La Soufriere volcano began spewing magma and a volcanic dome formed (pictured)

Some homeowners in the Caribbean island St Vincent and the Grenadines have been told they may have to evacuate after a new volcanic dome (pictured) formed at the base of the existing dome in the crater at La Soufriere volcano

This map from the University of the West Indies Research Center shows the volcano and how at risk each area of the island is from the volcanic activity from day to day. The whole island has been raised to orange alert (a separate alert level to the hazard zones shown on the map) which means residents may be told to evacuate with less than 24 hours notice

A team of scientists from Trindad and Tobago, including a geologist an instrumentation engineer and engineering technician, were flown in to the island today to provide support to those assessing the eruption

A yellow warning was issued late Tuesday for La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent. La Soufriere, (pictured before the latest eruption) located near the northern tip of the main island of St. Vincent

Aerial shots revealed a small black lava dome with fresh magma had formed at the base of the existing dome in the crater at La Soufriere volcano, St. Vincent.

Fresh magma has made its way to the surface of the crater despite no reports of volcanic earthquakes typically associated with the region.

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWISRC) said an effusive eruption - in which magma reaches the surface and gently oozes out as opposed to burst through the rocks - is taking place.

According to the organisation, effusive eruptions generally occur when magma has a relatively low amount of gas inside. Sticky lavas form domes compared to runny lavas which can travel several kilometres from the vent. The lava from La Soufriere is not particularly runny.

UWISRC also advised that members of the public should not to visit the volcano at this time.

A three-person team from the organisation, Geologist Prof. Richard Robertson, Instrumentation Engineer Lloyd Lynch and Engineering Technician Ian Juman, arrived on the island this morning to provide scientific support.

When flying in on board the Regional Security System aircraft, the team attempted to get a view of the eruption for themselves before landing at the Argyle International Airport.

A second aerial reconnaissance took place at 4pm which revealed the newly formed dome continues to grow in size.

Aerial shots taken during a reconnaissance revealed there was a large black dome forming as a result of an effusion eruption

Fresh magma has made its way to the surface of the crater despite no reports of volcanic earthquakes typically associated with the region

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWISRC) said an effusive eruption - in which magma reaches the surface and gently oozes. Pictured: An aerial shot taken during an assessment which shows the site of an eruption (centre right) which took place in 1979

Several aerial reconnaissances have taken place to monitor the area and the latest, which took place at 4pm local time revealed the dome continues to grow

A few days ago The National Emergency Management Organisation for the island provided the public with a document online which detailed the symptoms which can be expected in each alert level.

Orange alerts are triggered when a high levels of seismicity or fumarolic activity, or both, with the possibility of eruptions happening with less than 24 hours notice.

In response, scientists are continuously manning the monitoring system and regularly inspecting the potential vent areas.

Other actions include continuous ground deformation and hydrothermal monitoring as well as daily assessment reports submitted to the civil authorities.

Meanwhile, local authorities will begin coordinating an evacuation and organise regular radio and television announcements to keep the public informed.

La Soufriere, located near the northern tip of the main island of St. Vincent, last erupted in 1979, and a previous eruption in 1902 killed some 1,600 people.

The West Indies science team flew in to the island onboard the Regional Security System aircraft, landing at the Argyle International Airport

A three-person team from the organisation, Geologist Prof. Richard Robertson, Instrumentation Engineer Lloyd Lynch and Engineering Technician Ian Juman, flew in to provide scientific support. Pictured: Authorities prepare for a potential eruption and organise informing the public

Scientists are continuously manning the monitoring system and regularly inspecting the potential vent areas

That occurred shortly before Martinique's Mt. Pelee erupted and destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, killing more than 30,000 people.

A yellow alert was also raised for the island of Martinique, an overseas French territory, on Tuesday due to seismic activity under the mountain.

It was the first alert of its kind issued since the volcano last erupted in 1932, Fabrice Fontaine, with Martiniques Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, told The Associated Press.

While the eastern Caribbean is one long chain of active and extinct volcanoes, volcanologist Erik Klemetti, at Denison University in Ohio, said the activity at Mt. Pelee and La Soufriere are not related.

'It's not like one volcano starts erupting that others will,' he said. 'It falls into the category of coincidence.'

He said the activity is evidence that magma is lurking underground and percolating toward the surface, although he added that scientists still don't have a very good understanding of what controls how quickly that happens.

Martinique's Mt. Pelee too is now active once again. In early December, officials in the French Caribbean territory issued a yellow alert due to seismic activity under the mountain

The most active volcano in recent years in the eastern Caribbean has been Soufriere Hills in Montserrat, which has erupted continuously since 1995, destroying the capital of Plymouth and killing at least 19 people in 1997

'The answers are not entirely satisfying,' he said. 'It's science that's still being researched.'

Klemetti said the most active volcano in recent years in the eastern Caribbean has been Soufriere Hills in Montserrat, which has erupted continuously since 1995, destroying the capital of Plymouth and killing at least 19 people in 1997.

Seventeen of the eastern Caribbeans 19 live volcanoes are located on 11 islands, with the remaining two are underwater near the island of Grenada, including one called Kick `Em Jenny that has been active in recent years.
The murder of an Elvis impersonator and his beauty queen girlfriend who were shot dead in his mini-Graceland Vegas home in 1993 remain unsolved 27 years later despite his family demanding answers.

Dana MacKay and Mary Huffman were shot dead in their Vegas mansion, which he called a mini-Graceland, in 1993.

They were found dead in the middle of the floor in the entryway to the home and had both been shot.

MacKay was known as the world's first Elvis impersonator and, according to friends, was among the best there have ever been.

The killings were presumed to be a robbery even though nothing was stolen from the home aside from a manila folder in which MacKay kept details of his business deals.

Dana MacKay and Mary Huffman were shot dead in their Vegas mansion, which he called a mini-Graceland, in 1993. Their murders have never been solved

The Las Vegas mansion where the pair lived and where their bodies were found. He called it

'Dana always kept a file with him that outlined all his business, whether it was his musical endeavors, the palm tree business, his home and personal information, his life finances.

'And that was the only notable thing that was missing. Somebody wanted that folder, and somebody wanted Dana,' Sherwood said.

He had just launched a side project planting palm trees in people's yards and at hotels and with a friend.

It's unclear what was done to investigate the crimes.

The Las Vegas Police Department insists it's an open case but is refusing to answer questions on what leads they've pursued, if any, or where they are with the case now.

MacKay's daughter Misty Vargas previously said she believes she knows who the killer is and thinks police do too but that they are being protected because they have 'connections'.

She hasn't named the person publicly and now says she does not want to speak about the murders.

'I know exactly who did it, and I know the cops know exactly who did it, but hes allowed to get away with it because of his connections,' she said in a 2017 interview about the case with NBC News.

Now, Vargas is refusing to speak publicly about the case. She declined an interview when contacted by DailyMail.com.

Detective George Sherwood, a homicide detective with the Las Vegas Police Department, said in 2008 that he did not believe the pair were killed in a robbery either.

'I don't believe it. Somebody was lying in wait for them,' he told The Las Vegas Sun in 2008. It's unclear if he's still on the case.

Dana MacKay and Mary Huffman were shot dead in their Vegas mansion, which he called a mini-Graceland, in 1993

Mackay with his daughter Misty when she was a baby

The pair were found murdered on October 30, 1993, after family and friends called police saying they hadn't heard from the pair for a few days.

When they were found, they appeared to have just returned home from grocery shopping.

They had laundry detergent, T-bone steaks, bananas and a box of Junior Mints lying next to them and the steaks had gone off, leading police to believe they'd been dead for more than a day.

Misty Vargas, Mackay's daughter, said previously she believes her father's killer is being protected by police

Only one thing was missing - a manila folder in which he kept records of his palm tree landscaping business.

He had entered into the business after striking up a relationship with a dealer in California who sold him the trees at a discounted rate.

He then sold them to wealthy Vegas residents, planting them in their homes, and casinos.

MacKay partnered with a friend, who had the money to back the business.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is refusing to talk about the case now.

When asked for information, a spokesman told DailyMail.com that the case was 'open' and still being investigated but that no one was willing to give an interview about it.

The cold case department which is investigating refused to answer questions about the case too.
Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:37 pm

Lewis Countys struggle to obtain gloves for health care workers has gotten worse in recent weeks, and a new concern was brought up this Wednesday over the countys supply of syringes as hospitals continue to inoculate health care workers with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Fortunately, Providence  spearheading the countys efforts to distribute the vaccine to health care workers and first responders  hasnt seen an impact. According to spokesperson Chris Thomas, Providence Centralia Hospital and St. Peter Hospital in Olympia have ample supply of syringes as they dole out Pfizer vaccines. This week, health care workers from 13 clinics got vaccinated in the county, and doses of the Moderna vaccine are rolling into the state as well. On Thursday, CEO Gaelon Spradley reported that Valley View Health Center is doing OK on needles too. If a shortage does arise, he expects the center to be able to source them from other community providers.

But Lewis County Emergency Management  which coordinates with the state to get supplies to hospitals and other entities  reported a shortage this week, and says the state isnt able to supply them with more at the moment. Throughout the pandemic, Emergency Management has communicated with clinics and offered supply support when needed.

It doesnt do any good to have a vaccine if we cant deliver it, County Commissioner Gary Stamper said.

In a county meeting Wednesday, Emergency Management Coordinator Fionna Velazquez said multiple counties have brought the issue to the states attention, but that the state isnt able to ship syringes through their regular personal protective equipment (PPE) logistical orders. She said its unclear whether the shortage is due to the thousands of vaccines being distributed  but it doesnt help that the vaccines shipped to hospitals come with six or more doses, but only five needles.

While it means more supply to inoculate against the disease and stamp out the pandemic, it also means a gap in doses and syringes.

News reports about the surprise dose this month were addressed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency instructed providers to utilize the extra sixth, or possibly even seventh dose.

Whether a sixth dose is obtainable depends, in part, on the type of syringes and needles used to withdraw doses from the vials, according to the FDA.

In addition to the syringe concern, the county is facing a more immediate shortage of nitrile disposable gloves  preferred over vinyl gloves by many health care providers. Earlier this month, Arbor Health CEO Leianne Everett reported to county officials that as demand for testing  and need for hospitalization  increases, gloves and wipes had become stressers.

While Emergency Management Deputy Director Andy Caldwell said the county could help out with N-95 masks, he also noted a pretty big pinch point with gloves. Since then, Velazquez said the shortage has only gotten worse.

Masks are actually the one thing theres no shortage of right now, she said, noting that the county recently distributed approximately 125,000 N-95s. They went to medical facilities, long-term care facilities, adult family homes.
The claim: Five statistics about Obama, Trump and Biden appear to discredit election results

On Dec. 14, President-elect Joe Biden secured his victory after he received 306 votes from the Electoral College, per USA TODAY.

Recently, though, social media users have shared a meme with statistics that they claim discredits his victory. The meme compares information about former President Barack Obama in 2008 and President Donald Trump and Biden in 2020.

First, it lists total number of votes they received  Obama at 69,000,000, Trump at 74,000,000 and Biden at 81,000,000.

Second, the meme includes the number of counties each candidate won  Obama at 873, Trump at 2,497 and Biden at 477.

Third, it lists the fraction of bellwether counties each candidate won  Obama at 18 of 19, Trump at 18 of 19 and Biden at one of 19.

Fourth, it lists whether they won Florida, Ohio and Iowa  Obama won them, Trump won them, Biden lost them.

Fifth, it lists whether each candidate's political party won seats in the House of Representatives  which occurred with Obama and Trump, but not Biden.

"End of day, the solution is complicated but the problem is very simple," wrote a user who shared the meme on Instagram. "The 2020 election was RIGGED."

"Mathematically impossible," wrote a user who shared it on Facebook.

The users have not responded to requests from USA TODAY for comment.

Election results by county.

Statistics are correct, but implication of election fraud is not

Most of the statistics in the meme are true  but they are not proof of voter fraud.

In fact, a national coalition of election security officials described the general election as "the most secure in American history," per USA TODAY.

"There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised," they concluded.

The coalition  which included the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Association of State Election Directors  also noted that all states with close results had paper records of each vote.

Story continues

"This is an added benefit for security and resilience," they wrote. "This process allows for the identification and correction of any mistakes or errors."

That report was issued on Nov. 12. Weeks after Election Day, there have still been no discoveries of widespread voter fraud.

On Dec. 1, former Attorney General William Barr also told the Associated Press the U.S. Justice Department had uncovered no such evidence.

The statistics also are not indicative of electoral fraud. They're just facts about the vote.

More: Fact check: What's true and what's false about the 2020 election

Here's what each statistic actually means

Total votes

The vote totals in the meme are true.

In 2020, Biden received 81,281,888 votes and Trump received 74,223,251 votes, according to a tally by USA TODAY. In 2008, Obama received 69,498,516 votes, per the Federal Election Commission.

The popular vote is not enough to win a presidential election; that only occurs with a win in the Electoral College. But it's still indicative of widespread support.

Multiple factors, including higher turnout and population growth, contributed to the fact that both Biden and Trump totaled more votes than Obama.

According to PolitiFact, voter turnout was 66.2% in 2020 and 61.6% in 2008. Combined with general population growth, and this election had 27 million more participants.

Total counties

The statistic on counties comes from a report by the Brookings Institution on Nov. 10. It's true that the report first showed Biden at 477 counties and Trump at 2,497 counties, though it has since been updated to show Biden at 509 and Trump at 2,547.

But county wins don't correlate with the popular vote, in part due to tremendous variance in population size and density by county.

More than half of all Americans live in just 143 counties, per the U.S. Census Bureau.

A single county could have as few as 88 residents, like Kalawao County, Hawaii. Or it could have almost 10.1 million residents, like Los Angeles County.

For that reason, Rogers M. Smith, a political scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, told Reuters that "focusing on counties won as an indicator of the likely popular vote winner makes no sense whatsoever."

"Biden did well in virtually all of the most populous counties in the U.S., which, along with a larger electorate explains why he defeated Donald Trump by over 7 million votes, despite carrying many fewer counties," Smith wrote.

(Biden, for example, won over 70% of the vote in Los Angeles County.)

Fact check: Biden won the most total votes  and the fewest total counties  of any president-elect

Bellwether counties

First, what are bellwether counties? From 1980 through 2016, there were 19 counties that consistently voted for the eventual president. That includes 10 elections, including Obama in 2008 and Trump in 2016.

In 2020, a single county in the set kept its perfect record by tallying a win for Biden. Trump won the other 18 counties.

David Hopkins, a political scientist at Boston College, told the Wall Street Journal that the failure of typical bellwether counties reflects "the overall trend that we are seeing toward greater geographic polarization."

"There are more and more places in this country that are consistently red or blue, so there are fewer and fewer counties that swing back and forth from election to election," he said.

David Niven, a political scientist at the University of Cincinnati, also told the Associated Press that it "speaks to an evolution in American politics" rather than fraud.

Ultimately, they are simply 19 counties  and this time, 18 of them voted for the candidate who lost the election.

Florida, Ohio and Iowa

The same can be said for the three states listed in the meme.

It's true that both Obama in 2008 and Trump in 2020 won in Florida, Ohio and Iowa. But those states represent just 29, 18 and six electoral votes, respectively.

Even combined, they represent only 53 votes  a fraction of the 538 total electoral votes or the 270 electoral votes required to win the White House.

As long as a candidate wins enough electoral votes from other states, there is no reason it's impossible to win an election while losing Florida, Ohio, or Iowa.

It's happened before. In 1960, President John F. Kennedy lost all three states and won the White House, beating out future President Richard Nixon, according to Snopes.

House of Representatives

It's true that it is unusual for the party of the candidate who wins the White House to lose seats in the House of Representatives. But it's also not unprecedented.

Democrats Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Grover Cleveland (twice) won elections while losing ground in the House, per The Atlantic. Republicans Ulysses S. Grant and William Howard Taft won a majority of the presidential popular vote but lost a handful of seats in House, too.

There are numerous theories about why it happened in 2020. None of them impacts the legitimacy of the presidential election.

It's also worth noting that some voters "split their tickets" between parties  voting for Biden but also for Republicans in Congress, for example.

Dave Wasserman, who analyzes election data for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, told the Wall Street Journal that ticket-splitting appeared to make "a fashion comeback in many places."

"It gave suburban moderates an opportunity to vent their anger at Trump directly at the top of the ticket but continue to vote for the down-ballot Republicans they liked," he said.

That's another reason results of the contests might not have lined up.

Our ruling: Missing context

Based on our research, the claim that these five statistics about Obama, Trump and Biden appear to discredit election results is MISSING CONTEXT. Most of the statistics in the meme are true  but they are not proof of voter fraud or other supposed issues with the election.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This fact check is available at IFCNs 2020 US Elections FactChat #Chatbot on WhatsApp. Click here, for more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: 5 election statistics do not discredit Joe Biden's victory
New Delhi:

Former Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos along with two other people were wounded by an explosive device hidden in an envelope, according to police.

The 69-year-old was rushed to hospital following the blast inside a car in central Athens on Thursday. A government spokesman claimed that the explosion was an attack and said all three who had been hurt - including Mr Papademos - were in a "stable condition, conscious and are undergoing all the necessary medical tests".

Papademos was appointed caretaker prime minister in November 2011 following concerns the country would exit the Eurozone. He remained in the position until May 2012 when elections were held.

ALSO READ: Thailand: Bomb blast at Bangkok military hospital injures 20

Former Greek PM Lucas Papademos is hurt when explosive device goes off inside his car https://t.co/Gh5fF9v5YW pic.twitter.com/MaHjoI76JG  AFP news agency (@AFP) May 25, 2017

Previously, he had served as the vice president of the European Central Bank from 2002 to 2010 and as governor of the Bank of Greece from 1994 to 2002.

READ: Egypt: At least 45 killed, over 120 injured in a powerful bomb blast inside church

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Local border authority has reported hundreds of illegal attempts to enter Vietnam over the last few days from the neighboring countries of Cambodia and China.

By 6:00 pm Wednesday, 104 attempts of border jumping into Vietnam had been documented on the daily count, said the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Border Guard High Command.

Out of the total, 88 cases of illegal entrance, one of whom is Chinese while the rest are Vietnamese, were found along the Vietnam  China borderline.

The remaining 16 were detected along the Vietnam  Cambodia boundary.

Wednesdays statistics brought the weekly tally of illegal entrances to Vietnam to 343.

Earlier, reports of Vietnamese communities in Cambodia being targeted by criminal rings, who lured them into taking illegal routes to return to their home country, have emerged.

Addressing this issue, Vu Quang Minh, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia, advised the Vietnamese nationals against endangering yourself and wasting money for illegal smuggling ploys.

Minh affirmed that all Vietnamese citizens with legal identification papers - passports, ID cards or citizenship cards, will be eligible for entrance to Vietnam after appraisal at border gates.

After the entrance, the entrants would be subject to COVID-19 testing and concentrated quarantine to ensure safety for their families as well as the community.

Since Saturday, the Ministry of Health has confirmed four coronavirus cases among a group of six Vietnamese people who sneaked into Vietnam on December 24 through the Vietnam  Cambodia border to avoid mandatory quarantine applied to anyone arriving from outside the country.

Security along the Vietnamese border has been tightened over the past days to prevent illegal entries and reduce risks of COVID-19 transmission from border jumpers.

The Southeast Asian country has documented 1,465 COVID-19 cases, with 1,325 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

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SPRINGFIELD - A 21-year-old city man was arrested in September and charged with illegal firearms possession was arrested again on Wednesday after police found him with an illegal large-capacity firearm with a laser attachment, police said.

Michael Bedinelli was taken into custody at around 7:30 p.m. after narcotics detectives found a gun in the bedroom of his home on Dorset Street. Police obtained a district court search warrant for his home as part of an investigation.

He was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition without a firearms identification card, possession of a large capacity firearm, and possession of a class D substance with intent to distribute.

Police also found some marijuana and $1,427 in his bedroom.

Bedinelli had previously been arrested in September with two other men for similar weapons charges, possession of narcotics, plus receiving stolen property, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

One of the two men he was arrested with, Gregory Chrichlow, 21, of Springfield, was later arrested and charged with murder in connection with a fatal Connecticut shooting in August.

At the time of Bedinellis arrest on Wednesday, he was wearing a GPS tracking device, which had been ordered as a condition of his release from custody as he awaiting trial for the September charges.

Springfield police said the arrest is the 10th instance this year where a firearms suspect has been released from custody and ordered to wear a GPS device, only to be subsequently arrested. Bedinelli is the third such instance where the subsequent arrest involved firearms.

The issue of repeat offenders being released before custody before trial has been a sore subject over the last few years for Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. News of Bedinellis latest arrest gave Sarno an opportunity to rail against the courts for denying bail for violent offenders.

What will it take to hold these repeat violent criminal offenders locked up and off our streets? Sarno said. These individuals obviously do not take our states court system and their release conditions seriously, as they continue to be rearrested on additional illegal gun charges while under court order of wearing a GPS ankle bracelet.

Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said the GPS devices are no deterrent for repeat offenders, and judges need to reconsider them in cases where someone is arrested on a firearms charge.

Any time an individual is arrested with a firearm and released into our city it impacts our innocent law-abiding citizens who live on their street or in their neighborhoods, she said. Its time some of our judges realize the danger they are putting our officers and our citizens in every day.
The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) against the Catalan MEP Clara Ponsati will become deactivated this Friday, due to Brexit, according to the Spanish digital newspaper El Confidencial. If Spain wants to resume its attempts to extradite Ponsati, it will have to replace the European procedural document with an international arrest warrant, and its processing will be based on the bilateral agreements established between the United Kingdom and Spain. As Ponsati has made her home in Scotland since 2018, the EAW against her lapses with the New Year.

This is so because January 1st, 2021 is the day that Brexit comes into full force. Because of the deal reached on December 24th, when the European Commission and the United Kingdom finally decided on the conditions for their future relationship after the current transitional period ends, profound changes come into force as the clocks strike midnight on New Year's Eve, and one of them is that of the European Arrest Warrants.

Legal sources quoted by El Confidencial state that this situation will delay the possible prosecution of Ponsati for months, and a hypothetical extradition to Spain would only occur if the United Kingdom wants it.

In March 2020, Scottish justice paralysed the execution of the European Arrest Warrant due to the Catalan's immunity from prosecution as an MEP, which prevented her from being tried in the United Kingdom.

A justice system that "engages in politics"

Just before Christmas, Ponsati criticized the attitude of Spanish justice in the European Parliament, and, in the presence of EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Council president Charles Michel, characterised the Spanish Supreme Court as "delinquent" and argued that the EU was "blind" to its action.

"Spain has a delinquent Supreme Court that engages in politics and openly defies the European Court of Human Rights, but the EU is blind to it," Ponsati denounced.

The MEP recalled that the Supreme Court has decided to put the pro-independence Basque leader Arnaldo Otegi on trial for the second time and for the same charges for which he had already served six years in prison, after the Human Rights court in Strasbourg ruled in 2018 that he had not had a fair trial.

"If Spain can behave like Turkey it is because the EU, you, the Council, the Commission, allow it. Double standards in Brussels are what are destroying the rule of law in Europe," she warned, looking squarely at Von der Leyen and Michel.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday, with both sides pledging to further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

In the face of major changes unseen in a century and a once-in-a-century pandemic, the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership has stood the test and maintained a strong development momentum, Wang said.

Wang stressed that whatever changes may take place in the world and whatever difficulties and challenges may confront the two countries, China will always stick to its friendly policy to Pakistan.

China is willing to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in a larger scope with Pakistan, and jointly build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a share future, he said.

For his part, Qureshi said that China is the anchor of regional peace and stability, and the progress made in Pakistan-China relations this year is encouraging.

No matter how the international and regional situation changes, Pakistan will continue strengthening its all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China, Qureshi said.

Enforcement Directorate

The ED on January 1 said it has attached assets worth Rs 72 crore of a Maharashtra-based man whose wife's alleged transaction with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's spouse is under its scanner in the over Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case.

The central probe agency alleged that the man, Pravin Raut, had "siphoned off" Rs 95 crore worth of funds from the scam-hit bank in the garb of loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife, Madhuri Raut, who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Varsha Raut, wife of Sanjay Raut, as an "interest-free loan."

The ED recently summoned Varsha Raut for questioning with regard to this transaction and a few other deals leading to a political blame game between Maharashtra and the Centre with various constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) led state government alleging that the Centre was using federal probe agencies to harass them. Varsha Raut skipped the agency's notice thrice and is now expected to join probe before the ED in Mumbai on January 5.

Sanjay Raut, while holding a press conference in Mumbai early this week, had denied any wrongdoing on the part of his wife and said they were in correspondence with the ED in connection with the case for about one-and-a-half months. Raut, 59, is a Rajya Sabha MP and also a spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, which is in power in Maharashtra and is a former ally of the BJP.

He said details regarding the Rs 55 lakh loan transaction have already been submitted to the ED during the correspondence. The ED said it has provisionally attached Rs 72 crore worth of assets of Pravin Raut under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as it explained in a statement the alleged financial links between him his wife and that of Sanjay Raut's spouse.

"Probe revealed that Rs 95 crore has been siphoned off through HDIL by one of the accused Pravin Raut in active conspiracy and connivance with various persons. "The source of the funds were illegal availed loans/advances by HDIL from PMC Bank. There was no document or agreement in support of these payments made to Pravin Raut," the ED alleged in a statement.

It said "as per the ledger of HDIL, the funds were given to Pravin Raut for acquiring land in Palghar area." The probe found, it said, that Pravin Raut "paid an amount of Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Pravin Raut from the proceeds of crime. Out of the said money, Madhuri Raut transferred Rs 55 lakh (Rs 50L on December 23, 2010 and Rs 5L on March 15, 2011) as interest-free loan to Varsha Raut who is the wife of Sanjay Raut".

"The amount was further utilised for purchase of flat in Dadar East, Mumbai," the ED claimed. The probe found that Varsha Sanjay Raut and Madhuri Pravin Raut "are partners in Avani Construction and Varsha Raut has received Rs 12 lakh from this entity (as overdrawn capital converted to loan) on a contribution of mere Rs 5,625."

"The loan amount of Rs 12 lakh still remains outstanding," it said. The ED had filed a criminal case of money laundering to probe the alleged loan fraud in the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank in October last year against Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), its promoters Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, his son Sarang Wadhawan, its former chairman Waryam Singh and ex-managing director Joy Thomas.

It took cognisance of a Mumbai Police economic offences wing FIR against them that charged them for causing "wrongful loss, prima facie to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank, and corresponding gains to themselves". The ED has attached assets of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Wadhawan family trust and others worth Rs 293 crore and had seized jewellery worth Rs 63 crore.

A chargesheet had also been filed by it in this case.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone of the Light House Projects (LHP) under the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC-India) and said the worldwide challenge of Covid-19 has given the scope to innovate and incubate with new technology.

The six LHP has been conceptualised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The project aims to identify and mainstream several innovative technologies from across the world which are sustainable and disaster-resilient.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi said: "This global challenge of Covid-19 has given us the scope to innovate and incubate with new technology. From today, work is starting on six Light House Projects at different locations. These projects will be completed by modern technology and innovative processes." The Prime Minister said at one time, housing schemes were not the priority for the Central governments as much as it should have been.

"However, we know that transformation is impossible without all-around development. The country has adopted a new approach and a different road ahead," he said.

He also said that these six projects are really like lighthouses. These six projects will show a new direction to the housing construction in the country.

"These projects are incubation centres for our planners, engineers, architects and students to learn from. They will also be able to experiment on new technology," Modi said.

The Prime MInister said to promote research and innovation, we're running the ASHA India project. Through this, we're developing new and cheap technology to build houses for the 21st century.

Citing examples of the use of new technology in construction, Modi said that in Ranchi, we are using 3D construction system from Germany. In this pattern, every room will be built separately and then the entire structure will be connected like lego blocks.

"In Agartala, we are building homes using steel frame technology from New Zealand. This is to prevent the houses from the perpetual risk of earthquakes," he said, adding, "In Lucknow, we are using technology from Canada. Plaster and paint would not be needed in this and pre-built walls will be used." Earlier in the day, Modi tweeted, "On the first day of 2021, will be taking part in a programme aimed at transforming India's urban landscape. Will lay the foundation stone of Light House Projects and distribute PMAY (Urban) and ASHA-India Awards." Under the project, LHPs will be constructed in Agartala, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, Chennai and Ranchi, with each location getting more than 1,000 houses for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

The period of construction is maximum 12 months from the date these sites are handed over to the construction agency after all statutory approvals.

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, and Chief Ministers of Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh respectively, also addressed the gathering.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The male healthcare worker has not officially been named. A roster of inmates at Ozaukee County Jail show that Steven Bandenburg, 46, was booked on Thursday on the same charges. Brandenburg is also listed as a licensed pharmacist in Wisconsin

Police have arrested a Wisconsin pharmacist accused of deliberately spoiling 57 vials of the moderna COVID-19 vaccine by taking them out of a fridge and leaving them out overnight before 57 people were given the 'ineffective' dose.

Grafton Police said the former employee of the Advocate Aurora Health Hospital in Grafton was arrested Thursday afternoon on charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property.

The male healthcare worker has not officially been named. A roster of inmates at Ozaukee County Jail show that Steven Bandenburg, 46, was booked on Thursday on the same charges.

Brandenburg is also listed as a licensed pharmacist in Wisconsin.

Police began investigating the incident at the hospital Wednesday but are yet to pin down a motive. The value of the spoiled vaccines is estimated to be around $8,000 to $11,000.

The suspect's arrest comes the same day Wisconsin health officials revealed that 57 people were given the ineffective dose of the vaccine after it had been 'deliberately' spoiled.

Dr. Jeff Bahr, president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group in Wisconsin, said Thursday that the culprit had not only taken the vials out of refrigeration overnight Friday as first thought but had also done so Thursday night - returning them to the fridge the next morning before anyone noticed.

The net closed in on the suspect when a pharmacist technician discovered the vials out of the fridge Saturday morning.

Because hospital officials were unaware they had also been left out the night before, some of the doses were presumed to be fine and were given to 57 people before the remainder was discarded.

Aurora Medical Center Grafton is now working with Moderna to determine how the affected individuals can now be vaccinated safely.

The medical center originally thought the doses 'were inadvertently removed from a pharmacy refrigerator overnight,' but on Wednesday said the culprit had acted 'intentionally' and fired him, while Grafton Police and the FBI launched an investigation.

Police arrested a Wisconsin pharmacist accused of deliberately spoiling 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine by taking them out of a fridge and leaving them out overnight before 57 people were given the 'ineffective' dose. Aurora Medical Center in Grafton

Bahr gave a press conference via Zoom Thursday where he revealed the culprit was a pharmacist at the hospital and gave further details on the saga.

He said a pharmacy technician first discovered 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine had been left outside the fridge in which they were being stored in the early hours of Saturday.

The technician returned the vials to the fridge and reported the incident to their superiors.

Bahr said the pharmacist responsible claimed at first they had simply made an 'inadvertent error' in leaving them out of the fridge when they were accessing other items in the same unit.

The vaccine can be kept outside of a fridge for up to 12 hours before it becomes ineffective.

Based on the belief that the removal was accidental and that the vials had been out of the fridge for less than this time, clinical leaders at the hospital 'determined that the vaccines were still able to be administered' that morning.

A total of 57 people were given their first dose of the Moderna vaccine on the morning of December 26 at Aurora Medical Center Grafton.

The remainder of the vials were then discarded after being 'rendered ineffective'.

Dr. Jeff Bahr, president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group in Wisconsin, revealed Thursday that the culprit behind the destruction had not only taken the vials out of refrigeration overnight Friday as first thought but had also done so the previous night - before returning them to the fridge before they were caught

But following an internal review, hospital staff grew 'increasingly suspicious' of the pharmacist's behavior over the next few days, according to Bahr.

He was suspended before finally admitting 'after multiple interviews' to 'intentionally removing' the vials from the fridge.

The pharmacist then also admitted that he had removed the vials from the fridgeand left them out overnight Thursday but had returned them to the fridge Friday morning before anyone saw.

This meant the vials were actually ineffective or noneffective, Bahr said.

Bahr insisted there is 'no evidence' the ineffective doses may have harmed the individuals given them and the hospital is working with Moderna to formulate a plan for how those affected can be given an effective dose safely.

'The 57 have been notified,' said Bahr.

'There is no evidence that the vaccines posed any harm to them other than being potentially less effective or ineffective.

'Moderna reassured us there are no safety concerns with administering a vaccine that has been out of the fridge too long. We will partner with them and the FDA to figure out a strategy on the future vaccination of the affected 57 individuals.'

The hospital boss also said he is confident that no other vials other than the 57 had been spoiled because the hospital had not received any doses prior to the day in question.

There is also 'no evidence' he tampered with the vaccine in any other way other han removing it from the fridge, Bahr said, as he sought to reassure people that this was the work of one 'bad actor rather than a bad process.'

Grafton Police said the former employee of the Advocate Aurora Health Hospital in Grafton was arrested Thursday afternoon on charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property

Police and federal authorities launched an investigation Wednesday after the Wisconsin health system said the employee had admitted to deliberately spoiling 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine.

Aurora Medical Center first reported that the doses has been spoiled on Saturday, saying they had been accidentally left out unrefrigerated overnight by an employee at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.

The health system said Wednesday that the doses of vaccine were deliberately spoiled.

In a statement late Wednesday, Aurora said the employee involved 'acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration.'

Aurora said it fired the employee and referred the matter to the authorities.

'We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individuals actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine,' the statement said.

Police and federal authorities launched an investigation Wednesday.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continued to rise after dipping in early December.

The state Department of Health Services reported 3,810 newly confirmed cases on Thursday, marking the third straight day of rising daily infections.

The state has now seen 481,102 cases.

COVID-19 was a factor in 41 more deaths, pushing the state's overall death toll to 4,859. The survival rate remained unchanged at 99 percent.
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(CNN) -- The World Health Organization has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use, paving the way for lower and middle-income countries to begin immunizing their populations against Covid-19.

The vaccine was first approved in the UK on December 8 for emergency use within the country, with the US, Canada and European Union following soon after. All have begun their own vaccination drives.

But the green light from the World Health Organization (WHO) means countries without their own regulatory bodies, or the means to rigorously assess the efficacy and safety of vaccines, can expedite their own approval processes and begin rolling out vaccination programs.

There have been concerns about unequal distribution of vaccines as wealthier countries have bought or signed contracts to purchase large amounts of the doses available or those waiting for approval.

In a statement Thursday, the WHO said organizations like UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization could now procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need.

"This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to Covid-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere," said Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant-director general for access to medicines and health products.

"WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards. We encourage even more developers to come forward for review and assessment. It's vitally important that we secure the critical supply needed to serve all countries around the world and stem the pandemic."

The WHO's team and independent experts reviewed the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality to conduct a risk-versus-benefit analysis, the statement said.

"The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address Covid-19 offset potential risks," it said.

A group of WHO immunization experts will meet on January 5 to lay out policies and recommendations for the vaccine's use in populations. It will also help them set up cold supply chains, as the vaccine needs to be stored at 60-90 degrees Celsius.

While the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the first to gain WHO approval, there are hopes that cheaper and easier-to-distribute options will be made available soon.

One such option is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which was approved by UK regulators on Wednesday. The country will begin administering the shots from January 4.

AstraZeneca has promised to supply hundreds of millions of doses to low and middle-income countries, and to deliver the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis to those nations in perpetuity.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "WHO approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in breakthrough for developing nations"
[January 01, 2021] Infosys to Announce Third Quarter Results on January 13, 2021

BENGALURU, India, Jan. 1, 2021 /CNW/ -- Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, will announce results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020 on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 around 3:45 p.m. Indian Standard Time (IST) (5:15 a.m. US ET; 2:15 a.m. PST; 10:15 a.m. London time; 6:15 p.m. Singapore/Hong Kong time). The results will also be available on www.infosys.com. Common press conference (Hosted virtually)

(4:30 p.m. IST; 6:00 a.m. ET) Following the release, the leadership team will be part of a common press conference at 4:30 p.m. IST. The participating executives will address questions from the media during this interaction, which will be streamed live on the Investor Relations section of Infosys website, following which it will be archived at www.infosys.com. The archive will be available after 7:00 p.m. IST on January 13, 2021 (after 8:30 a.m. US ET on January 13, 2021). In addition, a transcript of the conference will be available at www.infosys.com. Earnings call

(6:30 p.m. IST; 8:00 a.m. ET) The company will conduct a single 60-minute conference call at 6:30 p.m. IST (8:00 a.m. US ET; 5:00 a.m. PST; 1:00 p.m. London time; 9:00 p.m. Singapore/Hong Kong time) on January 13, 2021 (open to investors/analysts in all regions), where the senior management will discuss company's performance and answer questions from participants. To participate in the conference call, please dial the numbers provided below 10  15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the call. During this time, the operator will provide instructions on how to ask questions. Alternatively, you can also pre-register yourself using the DiamondPass link provided below which will enable you to connect to the conference call without having to wait for an operator. As participation in the call is limited, early registration is encouraged. This event will be webcast live on the Investor Relations section of Infosys website, following which it will be archived at www.infosys.com. The archive will be available after 8:30 p.m. IST on January 13, 2021 (after 10:00 a.m. US ET on January 13, 2021). In addition, a transcript of the conference call will be available at www.infosys.com. Summary of events







Event Date and Time Website/ Region Telephone No. Earnings release

over the wire

services 3:45 p.m. IST 5:15 a.m. ET January 13, 2021 www.infosys.com

Common press

conference

(Hosted virtually) 4:30 p.m. IST 6:00 a.m. ET January 13, 2021 www.infosys.com Dial-in details to be shared

with participants Event Date and Time Web-site/ Region Telephone No. Earnings

conference call (open for questions

from investors /

analysts in all

regions) 6:30 p.m. IST 8:00 a.m. ET January 13, 2021 Questions during the call can be addressed to sandeep_mahindroo@infosys.com DiamondPass

registration link https://services.choruscall.in/

DiamondPassRegistration/re

gister?confirmationNumber=9

887660&linkSecurityString=1

e3ac2cb64 India Toll, Mumbai: +91 22 6280 1168 +91 22 7115 8069 Toll, Bangalore: +91 7045671221 US Toll-free: 1 866 746 2133 Toll Number: +1 323 386 8721 Singapore Toll-free:

800 101 2045 Toll-number:

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800 964 448 Toll Number: +852 3018 6877 Japan Toll Free: 0053 116 1110 Toll Number: +81 3 4589 9421 UK Toll Free: 0 808 101 1573 Toll Number: +44 203 478 5524 Germany Toll-free:

00 8001 424 3444 Canada Toll- free: 011 8001 424 3444 France Toll-free:

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conference call Till January 20, 2021 www.infosys.com Toll-free, USA: 1 833 289 8317 International toll: + 1 347 974 7488 Toll, Mumbai/India: +91 22 7194 5757 +91 22 6663 5757 Playback code: 4637#

About Infosys Ltd.

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infosys-to-announce-third-quarter-results-on-january-13-2021-301199862.html SOURCE Infosys

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Like nearly every vaccine recipient interviewed for this article, Wilson stressed that she had no regrets about getting the shot, despite the headache, which was gone within 36 hours. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found the vaccines to be safe and remarkably effective. And public health leaders say mass vaccination is the only hope for controlling the virus that is now claiming the lives of close to 3000 Americans a day. Along with a card reminding them when to get the necessary second dose, vaccine recipients are handed information on how to report side-effects to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through an app called V-Safe. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines both rely on a genetic technology that has never before yielded a vaccine that won regulatory approval. They are authorised for emergency use only. Studies of their safety, including the cases of an Alaska health care worker and a Boston doctor who experienced severe allergic reactions after their shots, are still underway. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video And as Wilson crawled into bed at 10:30 on a weekday morning, she could not help but be "hyper-aware", she said, "that I had just been vaccinated with this novel vaccine."

Navigating a Brain Fog As vaccines go, experts have agreed, the two being distributed now elicit more reactions than most. At the Sundale Nursing Home in Morgantown, West Virginia, Betty Shannon, 81, said some fellow residents had an upset stomach after becoming some of the nation's first senior citizens to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Lorenzo Alfonso, 34, a nurse assistant in California, was unusually tired and achey. Delayna Frint, a nurse in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, said her arm was so sore after the shot that in order to hang intravenous therapy bags she had to lower the stands.

But for infectious disease experts, a nation down for the count with post-vaccine malaise would be the best news in a long time. The side-effects dissipate within a few days and they are a signal, the experts say, that the vaccine is working. "We call them 'side' effects, but it's really just an effect," said Dr Paul Offit, a University of Pennsylvania vaccinologist who is a member of the FDA's vaccine advisory panel. "This is what your immune response does when it's responding to an infection." Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant. About one in six people who received the Moderna vaccine in late-stage trials had a reaction that kept them from going about their daily routine. Credit:New York Times The vaccines each work by prompting the body to make a particular protein that the coronavirus uses to enter human cells; neither exposes the recipient to the virus itself. The presence of that protein in the body sets off the production of new antibodies that can destroy the protein  the key to providing protection against a future invasion of the actual virus. But the process also releases substances that can cause inflammation, which can result in fever, fatigue, headache and other symptoms.

Many more participants in the vaccine trials registered discomfort after the second dose, given three or four weeks later, than after the first. That is probably because by that time, the body is already primed to attack the protein, experts said. Most of the reactions experienced by the 1.9 million Americans who received a vaccine this month had already been seen among the roughly 35,000 people who were vaccinated in the Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials. But experts expect new ones to appear: "If it's a one-in-a-million thing, you need a million to see even one," said Dr Peter Doshi, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Some may be mild allergic reactions, like the "body-wide itching" and "mild, small hives along forearm" that Dr Megan Hajjar of Farmington, Connecticut, described in a Facebook post with a video clip. Or they may be more severe, like the handful of cases of anaphylaxis that the CDC has already identified. And others may simply be more intense versions of what the trials called "fatigue". Alyson MacGregor, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Brown University and an accomplished home chef, said she spent the day after her vaccination in a mental fog that turned her attempt at the most basic of meals into an inedible blob. "I can't believe I messed up ramen," she told her husband that night. She felt, she said, as if "there was a cloud over me, following me around."

Debating Disclosure The first several million doses of both vaccines are earmarked for health care workers and for nursing home residents who are at elevated risk of dying from COVID-19 if they become infected. Public health leaders have estimated that more than 200 million Americans will need to be vaccinated to effectively prevent the virus from spreading. In polls, a substantial fraction have expressed hesitancy about receiving COVID vaccinations. And some front-line health workers have wrestled with whether discussing their own side-effects might deter others from getting vaccinated. Dr Matthew Harris receiving his COVID-19 vaccine. Harris reported a fever and joint pain after receiving the vaccine. Credit:New York Times "I do worry  is it going to encourage someone to have second thoughts?" said Dr Matthew Harris, 38, an emergency medicine doctor in Great Neck, New York.

Harris was up all night with a fever, shivering underneath a blanket, after receiving the first shot. He had joint pain in his wrists and shoulders that lasted into the next day. But he had already published a post on Facebook about receiving his shot. It had been an especially emotional moment for him, nine months to the day after he was hospitalised with a severe case of COVID-19 and did not know whether he would survive to see his wife and two young children again. "Please," one non-medical friend commented on his vaccination post, "let us know what the experience is like!!!" So the next day, he posted about his reaction, with the hashtag #stillworthit. "Everyone has read, 'This is the light at the end of the tunnel'," Harris said. "But are people going to feel great 100 per cent of the time after this vaccine? No. And if we're not honest with them, how can we expect them to trust us?"

Loading Dr Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, an emergency physician in Pittsburgh, has also opted to chronicle her vaccine side effects on Facebook. She is African-American, and at the livestreamed inoculation earlier this month, she told reporters that she "wanted to share with my community that it is OK". Distrust of the vaccine is particularly high among Black Americans, because of a history of mistreatment of Black people by the medical establishment. In the name of transparency, Owusu-Ansah recorded "mild muscle aches and pains with left arm soreness" on day one and "nasal congestion, mild headache" on days three through five - pointedly beginning her posts with "I AM STILL HERE!". Another Dose Forty-eight hours after Wilson's post-vaccine headache sent her to bed, she returned to her job in the emergency room at a hospital. Like many hospitals around the nation, its intensive care unit was crowded with COVID-19 cases. On one recent shift, Wilson said, there were 12 patients in the critical care bay and only one bed available in the ICU to take them.
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With Covid-19 keeping many revellers indoors even on New Year's Eve, food delivery platforms seem to be having a hard time meeting the sudden spike in demand, with orders on Zomato alone going up to over 3,200 per minute on Thursday evening.

"Our order velocity right now is the highest we have seen in our life so far (approximately 2500 orders per minute (opm)). Surpassed India vs Pakistan day wala opm. And it's only 6pm! I hope our tech lives through this," Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal said in a tweet.

About 45 minutes later, the orders per minute reached 3,200.

The data revealed that Indians are ordering pizzas and biryani in huge numbers from food delivery platforms.

"Curfews across various cities, intended to keep people inside their homes and safe will further boost food delivery demand tonight. I strongly urge our customers to order early if possible, and not wait until the last minute," Goyal said.

In another tweet, Goyal wrote: "OPM 3,500. There are 1 lakh live orders right now. 1 lakh food deliveries in transit right now - between the kitchens, and the bikes. Never seen this before."

OPM 3,500. There are 1 lakh live orders right now. 1 lakh food deliveries in transit right now - between the kitchens, and the bikes. Never seen this before. https://t.co/EiWRgc8xLU Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) December 31, 2020

Insane amount of strain in the system right now. 1.4 lakh live orders right now. ~20k biryanis in transit. And 16k pizzas; 40% of them extra cheese pizzas. #facts https://t.co/2TK8IHyxHp Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) December 31, 2020

Goyal, ending his live-tweet session, revealed that the OPM had clocked 4,100.

One last tweet. OPM 4,100. OK bye. https://t.co/hj1pAeAGl8 Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) December 31, 2020

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Thursday ordered the imposition of night curfew in the national capital on December 31 and January 1 from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Odisha government has imposed night curfew across the state from 10 p.m. on Thursday to 5 a.m. on Friday to restrict New Year eve celebrations.

Zomato on Wednesday said it delivered 22 biryanis every minute in 2020.

The number of orders for pizza also increased steeply over the months as data from Zomato showed that from 4.5 lakh pizza orders in May, the numbers shot to over 17 lakh orders in November.

(With IANS inputs)
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 13:53:41|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Scores of Boko Haram militants were killed in a series of airstrikes by the Nigerian military in the country's restive northeastern state of Borno, an official said on Friday.

In a statement available to Xinhua, John Enenche, spokesman for the military, said armed forces attacked the hideouts of the Boko Haram group near Tumbun Gini in Borno on Wednesday.

The air raids were launched after "a series of aerial surveillance missions indicated that the location was being used as a staging area" where some Boko Haram leaders and their fighters met to plan and launch attacks, Enenche said.

The Boko Haram group has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009. The jihadist group has also extended its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Enditem
Das said that he would work by coordinating with all government departments. He thanked the Chief Minister for appointing him Chief Secretary (DC Image: Narayana Rao)

VIJAYAWADA: Senior IAS officer Adityanath Das assumed charge as Chief Secretary of the government of Andhra Pradesh here on Thursday. He took charge from his predecessor Nilam Sawhney on Thursday, in the Secretariat. Talking to the media, Das said that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy aimed to complete the Polavaram irrigation project and he would strive to achieve it in time. He said he would belp the state overcome all hurdles.

Das said that he would work by coordinating with all government departments. He thanked the Chief Minister for appointing him Chief Secretary. Principal secretary, general administration, Pravin Prakash, secretary, general administration, Sasibhushan Kumar, R&B chief secretary M.T. Krishna Babu, revenue chief secretary S.S. Rawat and other officials congratulated Das and priests blessed him on the occasion.

Later a farewell meeting was held in the honour of Nilam Sawhney in the Secretariat. Addressing the gathering, Das said she had worked relentlessly through the Coronavirus pandemic. Sawhney said that she started her career as a sub-collector at Takkali in AP 36 years ago, worked in various designations and was happy to retire as Chief Secretary. She said that she and her family had treated AP as their home state and thanked the Chief Minister for his cooperation.
Two more cops were involved with restraining a black man who died while telling officers 'I can't breathe' in March, it has been revealed, as the other four cops who arrested him remain on paid leave and his family accuses the police of a 'coverup'.

Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old father-of-two, died of oxygen deprivation on March 3 after being pinned to the ground by cops and having a spit hood put over his head as he walked home from a convenience store with a snack.

Tacoma police say they spotted him trying to get inside a car and that they restrained him when he violently threw one of the cops to the ground.

But bystander footage released in June cast doubts on this version of events as it showed Ellis being aggressively beaten and restrained by the officers.

His death was ruled a homicide by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office in June but no one has been charged in connection to his death.

Two more cops were involved with restraining a black man who died while telling officers 'I can't breathe', it has been revealed. Pierce County Sheriff's Office Det. Sgt. Gary Sanders (pictured), who was off duty at the time, also helped to shove the 33-year-old's leg into a hobble to hogtie him while he lay handcuffed and prone on the pavement

Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old father-of-two, died of oxygen deprivation on March 3 after being pinned to the ground by cops and having a spit hood put over his head as he walked home from a convenience store with a snack

Ten months on from the incident, authorities have now revealed that two additional law enforcement officers were also involved in the restraint of Ellis that led to his death.

Tacoma Police Officer Armando Farina placed a spit hood over Ellis' head after he told the officers he couldn't breathe, according to Washington State Patrol records released Wednesday.

Pierce County Sheriff's Office Det. Sgt. Gary Sanders, who was off duty at the time, also helped to shove the 33-year-old's leg into a hobble to hogtie him while he lay handcuffed and prone on the pavement.

Neither officer has been suspended and they are being treated as witnesses and not targets of the investigation.

The four cops already identified in the incident remain on paid leave.

The lawyer representing Ellis' family said the sudden emergence of the new details points to a 'coverup' within the city and the Tacoma Police Department as they say the black man was 'murdered' by the group of cops.

Tacoma Police Officers Matthew Collins, Christopher Burbank, Masyih Ford and Timothy Rankine had previously been named by authorities.

That a fifth Tacoma officer - Farina - was also involved was not revealed until now and Ellis' family said they were unaware any other officers were involved before this week.

Authorities had previously said an off-duty sheriff's sergeant was at the scene but Sanders, a 20-year veteran, had also not been named.

The presence of the sheriff's sergeant only came to light when the Pierce County Sheriff's Department was disqualified from its role as the independent investigating agency for conflict of interest when it emerged one of its own was at the scene.

Tacoma Police Officers Matthew Collins(left), Christopher Burbank, Masyih Ford and Timothy Rankine (right) had previously been named by authorities

Masyih Ford (left) and Christopher Burbank (right). The four cops already identified in the incident remain on paid leave

The newly-released records show that Collins and Burbank were the first law enforcement officers on the scene, according to the Seattle Times.

Ford and Rankine then arrived by which point Ellis was already in cuffs.

Burbank continued to hold Ellis down while the other two relieved Collins, the records state.

Farina then arrived on the scene to find Ellis 'face down in handcuffs which also had a hobble connected to them', according to his police report, obtained by the Times.

Manuel Ellis (above), a 33-year-old father-of-two, died of oxygen deprivation on March 3 after being pinned to the ground by cops and having a spit hood put over his head as he walked home from a convenience store with a snack. It has been revealed that two more cops were involved in his death

The officer then detailed how he put a spit hood over Ellis who had blood coming from his mouth.

'The subject was alert and breathing and had blood on his face and coming from his mouth,' the report says.

'Due to his assaultive behavior I placed a spit hood over the subject's head to protect everyone on scene from possible exposure.'

According to Sanders' police report, he had finished his day shift at the sheriff's department and was moonlighting at Pacific Lutheran University, when he responded to the call for assistance.

The sheriff's sergeant said he arrived on the scene to see 'four Tacoma police officers fighting with [Ellis].'

He said he helped place a hobble on the black man to hogtie him.

'I just grabbed his foot and pulled it up toward his, his waisthe cinched it into the handcuffs, and then he was, there, he was pretty much contained at that point,' the report states.

The revelation that more officers were involved in the restraint that ultimately killed Ellis comes a staggering 10 months after he died.

It also comes on the heels of numerous questions over the handling of the investigation into his death.

James Bible, the lawyer representing Ellis' family, told the Times 'it is clear that Manuel Ellis was murdered.'

'It's clear that he was on his stomach, that he was hobbled, that he was bleeding from his mouth and that he was telling officers 'I can't breathe sir' when the officers so callously disregarded his humanity and then put a spit mask over his head,' he said.

'We believe that this incident implicates more than just the officers in this case, but an entire system in Tacoma and Pierce County.'

Bible also accused authorities of a 'coverup' as he said the release of Wednesday's report was the first the family knew of the new details.

'There was a remarkable coverup by the city of Tacoma and the Pierce County Sheriff's Office,' he told KIRO.

Ellis died back in March 3 but his case gained more attention in early June, after the release of bystander footage of his death and in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day when a white cop knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes until he passed out while he begged for air saying 'I can't breathe.'

Footage of Ellis' arrest was posted on Twitter by the Tacoma Action Collective, a racial justice group, in June.

Footage of Ellis' arrest was posted on Twitter by the Tacoma Action Collective, a racial justice group, in June. Officers are pictured in footage from the video aggressively trying to restrain Ellis

Ellis seen in the video on the ground, kicking at the officers in the footage shot by the witness from her vehicle n the witness video, a woman filming the arrest from her car is heard yelling out to the officers to stop

The footage later shows the officers restraining Ellis as the witness drives by

In the witness video, a woman filming the arrest from her car is heard yelling out to the officers to stop as they are seen throwing punches at Ellis, who is on the ground and kicking at them.

'Hey! Stop! Oh my God! Stop hitting him. Stop hitting him. Just arrest him. Just arrest him,' the unidentified woman pleaded from her vehicle, before a man, also not identified, distracts her from outside.

The officers are later seen in the footage holding down the man as the woman drives past them.

Accounts from the people behind the footage - Sara McDowell and Samuel Cowden - and the footage itself suggest Ellis was placed in a chokehold and shocked with a Taser, reported the Times.

Prior to the release of the footage, Ellis had only been heard in a recording of police radio yelling 'I can't breathe' during the arrest.

James Bible, the lawyer representing Ellis' family, accused cops of a 'coverup' and said the black man was 'murdered' by the group of cops

According to police, Ellis started hitting their patrol car and asking to speak them about outstanding warrants against him.

Cops say he then picked up one of the officers by the vest and threw him on the ground.

They then tried to restrain him when he got combative on the floor, shortly before he died.

It is unclear how he was restrained, and how long he was restrained for before he died.

When the footage surfaced, protests erupted in Seattle demanding justice for Ellis and Tacoma Mayor Victoria Wooodards called for a full investigation and for the officers involved to face immediate firing.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that oxygen deprivation caused by restraint was the cause of death.

The four cops first identified were placed on administrative leave for two weeks after Ellis' death and then returned to work.

After the coroner's ruling, they were placed on leave again and continue to be paid.

Governor Jay Inslee also waded in to the case in the summer ordering an impartial investigation by the Washington State Patrol and taking it away from the Pierce County Sheriff's Department on learning of the department's sergeant's involvement.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson will determine if any of the officers will face charges.

His office is also reviewing 20 other incidents of death or serious injury at the hands of law enforcement in the first half of 2020.
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said while he hopes for a positive meeting with the leaders of the protesting farmers unions, he cant say whether the seventh round of talks between the Centre and the farmers will be final. I cannot say for sure now. I am not an astrologer. I am hopeful that whatever decision would be arrived at (in the meeting) will be in the interest of the country and of the farmers, the minister told news agency PTI.

After five failed attempts to break the ice between the Centre and farmers over the recently passed farm laws, the sixth meeting held on December 30 yielded some positive results as the Centre conceded to farmers demands regarding electricity and stubble burning. Farmers have demanded a legal guarantee of the minimum support price system, which the Centre has not agreed to. More discussion will take place on January 4 though there are slim chances that the situation will be solved as farmers are pursuing their demand of repealing the laws which the Centre is unlike to do.

The farmers, meanwhile, have decided to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met on January 4. Saying that only five per cent of their demands have so far been discussed, farmer leaders on Friday said they will announce dates for shutting all malls and petrol pumps in Haryana.

Farmers protesting at Shahjahanpur on the Haryana-Rajasthan border will also move towards the national capital, Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav said. Another leader Yudhveer Singh said that a tractor march will be held on January 6 if no concrete decision is taken in the next round of talks.

Meanwhile, more than 850 faculty members of various educational institutions, including Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, JNU, have written an open letter in which they have supported the farm laws, PTI reported. The Union government has repeatedly assured the farmers that these three bills on farm trade wouldnt do away with Minimum Support Price (MSP), but rather free the farm trade from all illicit market restrictions, open the market beyond mandis and further assists the small and marginal farmers to sell their produce at market/competitive prices, the letter said.
Hyderabad:

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has dared BJP president Amit Shah to contest from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, saying it is not as easy as eating cake.



Owaisi, the sitting MP from Hyderabad, said his party would ensure that the BJP lost from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, held by Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, and five assembly seats the saffron party has in the city.



You (BJP) want to contest Hyderabad....you are welcome. But why are you planning to field somebody else? You (Shah) come and contest, Owaisi said.



Hyderabad ki seat jeetenge....is it like eating a cake? We have worked a lot here for several years, the three-term Hyderabad MP told a gathering here on Wednesday night, referring to Shahs reported statement that BJP will win the seat.



Ridiculing Shahs claim that BJP would form its government in Telangana after the 2019 assembly elections, Owaisi said, You are dreaming. God willing, we will ensure BJP loses Secunderabad and also the five assembly seats held by them, he said.

ALSO READ: BJP wants to keep this communal pot boiling: Asaduddin Owaisi on triple talaq



I am telling you Mr (Narendra) Modi and Mr (Amit) Shah...mark my words...we will ensure that BJP is defeated from Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat. The people of Hyderabad will tell you. You will lose deposit from Goshamahal.. you (BJP) will lose Amberpet, Musheerabad, Khairtabad and also Uppal Assembly seats (in Hyderabad). You will face big loss in Telangana...Insha Allah, Owaisi added.



On Shahs three-day visit to Telangana, Owaisi said, The BJP President is on Telangana tour...theres sudden love (that he has developed) for Telangana. The AIMIM leader said Shah went to Nalgonda and had lunch at a Dalit home about which Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said was prepared by a member of a forward community.



What kind of love you (Shah) have? You have food at the residences of Dalits which has been prepared somewhere else. What kind of love you have for (B R) Ambedkar? he said. He rejected Shahs claim that the Centre had allocated Rs 1 lakh crore to Telangana, and insisted it got only Rs 24,000 crore.



Ok, even if you gave (Rs 1 lakh crore) did you give it from your pocket. We are not beggars...It is our (Telanganas) constitutional right to get (central funds). It is the right of the Telangana government to get not just Rs 1 lakh crore but Rs 10 lakh crore, he said.



Meanwhile, reacting to Shahs challenge, BJP floor leader in the Telangana assembly G Kishan Reddy dared the Hyderabad MP to contest from his constituency Amberpet.



Amit Shah is based in northern India. There are thousands of BJP workers here who can defeat Owaisi. I dare him to contest from my constituency Amberpet, Reddy said. Amberpet was among the five assembly seats Owaisi had said his party would ensure BJPs defeat.

ALSO READ: Owaisi slams Centre, says high time now to control anarchist 'gau rakshaks'

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More than a million people have now received their first coronavirus vaccination but the UKs chief medical officers have urged doctors to back decisive action to combat the pandemic which is running rampant in our communities.

A joint statement from Englands Professor Chris Whitty and the CMOs of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said the public would understand and thank them for a plan to give first jabs as a priority, delaying the follow up vaccination for others.

New Years Eve brought a new record high of 55,892 daily lab-confirmed cases in the UK  the highest since mass testing began in late May  with a further 964 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said pressure on hospitals was intensifying and warned: We are in for a very difficult new year.

Expand Close The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is easier to deploy than the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (Sean Elias/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is easier to deploy than the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (Sean Elias/PA)

The deployment of the newly approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will begin on Monday, almost a month after the roll out of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, but second doses of either will now take place within 12 weeks rather than 21 days as initially planned.

In response to criticism from GP leaders about the change of plan, the joint statement said while it was difficult to reschedule second jabs, it was better to offer more people the substantial protection given by the first dose within two to three weeks, as the UK waits for more vaccine stocks to become available.

Meanwhile, GPs are being offered 10 for every care home resident they vaccinate in a drive by NHS England to reach the majority of those deemed top priority by the end of January.

A total of 44 million people, or 78% of the population of England, are now living under the toughest Tier 4 measures and it emerged on Thursday that scientists advising the Government said in a meeting on December 22 it was highly unlikely measures comparable to the November circuit break would bring the R rate below 1.

Members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) blamed the new, more virulent strain, adding: R would be lower with schools closed, with closure of secondary schools likely to have a greater effect than closure of primary schools.

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Universities are being asked to reduce the number of students returning to campus from the beginning of the new term while those who do return should be offered two rapid coronavirus tests.

Figures published on New Years Eve show just less than a third of acute trusts have more Covid-19 patients than at any point since the pandemic began, with union leaders warning about staff burnout, soaring sickness levels and intolerable pressures.

The situation is dire in Northern Ireland, where bed occupancy in the health service is now at 100% with ambulance crews braced for long delays.

Just six beds were empty in Northern Ireland as of Wednesday night, according to official figures.

In Wales, critical care was in a precarious position, Health Minister Vaughan Gething said.

Expand Close Would-be New Year revellers were asked to stay at home, with more police on the streets (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA / Facebook

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All of mainland Scotland and Skye remained under the highest curbs as 2021 began.

Police forces and public health officials across the UK pleaded with people to celebrate the new year with their own household.

Professor Hugh Montgomery, an intensive care doctor at the Whittington Hospital, said people who mixed unnecessarily would have blood on their hands.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: They wont know theyve killed people but they have.

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Chairman in Fomena, Akwasi Nti Asamoah has informed the party of the decision to quit his post because of his health.



In a letter addressed to the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr Asamoah said he arrived at the decision "having considered advice from medical professionals for me to take leave of active politics".



He also gave the assurance that he will support the party to consolidate the gains it has made in Fomena.



"I have therefore arrived at this decision having considered advice from medical professionals for me to take leave of active politics," the letter reads.



"Having served our dear party in various roles and capacity since 1992: Ward Youth Organizer, Ward Chairman, Youth Organizer, Constituency Chairman, it is time to take a bow and allow others to serve the party.



"Notwithstanding my resignation, I want to give the firmest assurance that I will continue to support the party in all capacity to and make it possible in consolidating the gains made since the formation of the NPP.



The letter added that he had already "formally communicated this decision to the constituency, regional and the national hierarchy".



Read the entire letter below;



The Ashanti Regional Chairman,

New Patriotic Party (NPP)



Dear Sir,



Decision To Resign From Post As Constituency Chairman



I write to formally inform you of my decision to resign as the Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party Fomena Constituency on health grounds.



I have therefore arrived at this decision having considered advice from medical professionals for me to take leave of active politics.



Having served our dear party in various roles and capacity since 1992: Ward Youth Organizer, Ward Chairman, Youth Organizer, Constituency Chairman, it is time to take a bow and allow others to serve the party.



Notwithstanding my resignation, I want to give the firmest assurance that I will continue to support the party in all capacity to and make it possible in consolidating the gains made since the formation of the NPP.



I know this decision will receive various reaction from people, particularly my friends and loved ones but this decision has been made upon sober and deep reflection.



I have formally communicated this decision to the constituency, regional and the national hierarchy.



It has been a great honour serving my people and the Great Elephant Family.



LONG LIVE GHANA, LONG LIVE NPP



Signed



Akwasi Nti Asamoah

Constituency Chairman, NPP

Fomena



Cc

The President of the Republic of Ghana,

Jubilee House



Vice President,

National Chairman,



General Secretary,

New Patriotic Party.



Constituency Council of Elders









Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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D elaying second doses of coronavirus vaccines is the right call, the UK's chief medical officers have said.

A first dose offers "substantial" protection, they said as they urged health service colleagues to back plans to delay second doses so more people can have their initial jab.

The leaders said they "strongly supported" the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The committee recommended that the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive, rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible.

Boris Johnson warns of hard struggle in months ahead in new year message

They said they were "confident" that the first dose of both the Oxford-AstraZeneca and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines would provide "substantial" protection from the virus for two to three weeks.

Following the approval of the Oxford University vaccine, announced on Wednesday, a new dosing regimen was outlined, aimed at providing a speedier rollout. This means the second dose of both vaccines will be within 12 weeks of the first.

In their joint statement, the chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said: "We recognise that the request to reschedule second appointments is operationally very difficult, especially at short notice, and will distress patients who were looking forward to being fully immunised.

"However, we are all conscious that for every 1,000 people boosted with a second dose of Covid-19 vaccine in January (who will as a result gain marginally on protection from severe disease), 1,000 new people can't have substantial initial protection, which is in most cases likely to raise them from 0 per cent protected to at least 70 per cent protected.

Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /80 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. 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The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in 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Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. 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"Whilst the NHS, through all of your work, has so far vaccinated over one million UK patients with a first dose, approximately 30 million UK patients and health and social care workers eligible for vaccination in phase one remain totally unprotected and many are distressed or anxious about the wait for their turn.

"These unvaccinated people are far more likely to end up severely ill, hospitalised, or in some cases dying without vaccine.

"Halving the number vaccinated over the next two-three months because of giving two vaccines in quick succession rather than with a delay of 12 weeks does not provide optimal public health impact.

"We have to follow public health principles and act at speed if we are to beat this pandemic which is running rampant in our communities, and we believe the public will understand and thank us for this decisive action. We hope this has your support."

It comes as the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) warned that the "ill thought-out" plan to delay the second dose would leave many vulnerable staff in limbo.

General secretary Paul Donaldson said: "While a planned and orderly deployment of the Oxford vaccination including longer timelines makes epidemiological sense, the decision to throw a spanner in the works of the existing Pfizer rollout appears simply bizarre unless there is an unknown hitch in supply.

"We are hearing that vulnerable hospital doctors at high risk from Covid have been told not to turn up for their second dose and therefore will not receive full protection.

"They are now left in limbo by a hastily formulated policy which seems extremely ill thought-out."

Other healthcare experts have said the move to delay second doses will cause huge problems for thousands of partially vaccinated elderly and vulnerable people.

Richard Vautrey, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee, said: "It is grossly and patently unfair to tens of thousands of our most at-risk patients to now try to reschedule their appointments.

"The decision to ask GPs, at such short notice, to rebook patients for three months hence will also cause huge logistical problems for almost all vaccination sites and practices.

"For example, to make contact with even just 2,000 elderly or vulnerable patients will take a team of five staff at a practice about a week, and that's simply untenable."

An NHS spokesperson said: "The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), JCVI and UK chief medical officers have updated the second dose timing guidance which the NHS has to follow, so as to increase the number of vulnerable people protected against Covid over the next three months, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually laid the foundation stone of Light House Projects (LHP) under the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC) -India , conceptualised by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs. The project aims to identify and mainstream several innovative technologies from across the world which are sustainable and disaster-resilient.

Also Read | PM Modi to lay foundation stone of Light House Projects at 6 sites today

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said the six projects would give housing projects in the country, adding that this will also strengthen the cooperative federalism. The prime minister further said that earlier, housing projects were not given priority by various central governments and that the governments were not concerned about the quality of housing infrastructure. Today, the country has taken a different approach. We have decided to change the approach towards housing. Why should the country not get better technology? PM Modi remarked.

ALSO WATCH | People now believe: PM Modi lays foundation stone of Light House Projects

Talking more about the GHTC-India challenge, more than 50 companies working on innovative technologies participated in it. PM Modi then spoke about the technologies that will be used at the six locations: Agartala, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, Chennai and Ranchi. The ones in Indore, he said, wont have walls made of bricks; pre-fabricated sandwich panel system will be used for these. For Rajkot, PM Modi said, the French monolithic concrete construction technology will be used.

Precast concrete system from the United States and Finland will be used in Chennai, while in Ranchi, Germanys 3-D construction system will be used, PM Modi added. New Zealands steel frame technology will be used in Agartala and a technology from Canada will be used in Lucknow, he further said.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi had tweeted, On the first day of 2021, will be taking part in a programme aimed at transforming Indias urban landscape. Will lay the foundation stone of Light House Projects and distribute PMAY (Urban) and ASHA-India Awards. Join Live at 11 AM. Under the project,each location will get more than 1,000 houses for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). The period of construction is maximum 12 months from the date these sites are handed over to the construction agency after all statutory approvals.

On the first day of 2021, will be taking part in a programme aimed at transforming Indias urban landscape. Will lay the foundation stone of Light House Projects and distribute PMAY (Urban) and ASHA-India awards. Join Live at 11 AM. https://t.co/Eu3qx8xRVC  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 31, 2020

Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, and chief ministers of Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand, respectively, also addressed the gathering on Friday.
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan is ready to have "meaningful" talks with China as equals as long as they are willing to put aside confrontation, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday, offering another olive branch to Beijing in her New Year's speech.

Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which has ramped up military activity near the island.

China says it is responding to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei, angered at growing U.S. support for the self-governed island. Beijing views this a precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence, a red line for China.

Speaking at the presidential office, Tsai said that in the past year, Chinese military activity near Taiwan has threatened peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

"I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait relations we will not advance rashly and will stick to our principles," Tsai said.

"As long as the Beijing authorities are determined to defuse antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, in line with the principles of reciprocity and dignity, we are willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue," she added, echoing comments she made in October in her national day speech.

China, which cut off a formal talks mechanism in 2016 after she first won office, has repeatedly rejected Tsai's advances, saying she has to first accept Taiwan is part of China, something Tsai has refused to do.

Tsai expressed her hope that once the COVID-19 epidemic is under control, "normal and orderly exchanges to increase understanding and reduce misunderstandings" between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can resume.

While there was no direct response from Beijing, Liu Jieyi, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in his new year's message they would stand by the "one China" principle.

"Only by eliminating the scourge of 'Taiwan independence' can there be peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Story continues

Switching to English, Tsai said she was deeply grateful for the international community's continued backing for Taiwan.

"Our democracy is stronger because of your support."

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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South Philadelphia was the scene of what appeared to be the citys first homicide of the new year, quickly followed by two more in other sections of Philadelphia, all before the first morning light of Jan. 1, 2021.

A half hour into New Years Day, police responded to a radio call reporting a person with a gun on the 100 block of Ritner Street in South Philadelphia. The officers found a 37-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his thigh.

The victim was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:57 a.m.

Shortly before 4:30 a.m., police were summoned to a building on the 2000 block of South 66th Street in Southwest Philadelphia. They found a 26-year-old man who had been shot once in the arm and twice in the head. Medics took the man to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 5:36 a.m.

 READ MORE: Phillys violent year: Nearly 500 people were killed and 2,200 shot in 2020

And at 4:39 a.m. Friday, an unidentified man between 30 and 40 years old walked into the emergency room of Temple University Hospital. He entered through a side door and collapsed. He had been shot in the right side of his chest and shoulder. The man died at 5:38 a.m.

The exact location where the shooting took place was unclear.

The incidents are still under investigation. No arrests have made.

Philadelphia had 499 homicides in 2020, the most since 1990.
Help India!

By Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net

As students, brothers Khalid and Akram, bubbling with enthusiasm would dream of building a business of their own. They would experiment with entrepreneurship and were raring to do something.

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After several small ventures such as zamber, a social networking site, hostelneeds.com  an online e-store for dorm supplies and others  they finally succeeded in establishing yourlibaas.com.

In 2014, Khalid  then 24 years-old, was in Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) while his younger brother Akram, 19-years old then, had just joined Engineering in Aligarh Muslim Univsersity, the duo established yourlibaas.com, which is an online store for designer ethnic apparel bringing the best of Pakistani fashion to India. Their site has now gone global with top Pakistani and UAE Designers, including Sana Safinaz, Maria.B, Gul Ahmed, Sapphire, Zara Shahjahan, Elan, Faraz Manan, Charizma, Baroque, and Motifz, among others.

When we began in 2014, ecommerce was in a nascent stage with the market being fragmented and multiple small players existing. Amazon and Flipkart were yet to emerge as market leaders. We now have an office in Noida but after the lockdown we have shifted to Jasola Vihar, New Delhi said Akram while talking about their early days.

YourLibaas is an Urdu word that means your garment or attire. Today, the brothers claim that their online store is the market leader within the lawn suit market in India (by total revenue and market share).

What began as a small start-up in New Delhi quickly transformed into a strong brand with an international presence. If you search for all related terms for apparel, we rank on the top position at Google. Today we have 23 employees on our payroll, said Khalid Raza Khan, the founder and CEO of YourLibaas.

But it was not so easy to achieve success. Managing a business with college was difficult. There were several obstacles when they began.

They started off with inadequate capital pooling in their savings from the pocket-money they received from parents. Initially, they contacted small retailers and listed the suits on their site. When an order came in, they bought it from them and shipped it.

Khalid used to ship packages daily and often missed college because the courier offices and post-office closed by evening and packages would be delayed. In order to not miss college, he began sending the parcels from a post office that was 25 kmts from where he lived. This particular post office was open for 24 hours which was a good thing for the boys. During the nights, he would go on his scooty and send the parcels. And to save on costs, the duo delivered local orders themselves searching out the addresses while roaming on their two wheelers.

But missing classes had an adverse effect. Khalid could not cope with the lessons and failed in his exams due to which he had to repeat a year. The university in which he studied had different rules known as ATKT system wherein you have to repeat a year upon failing in a subject (unlike other colleges where you are promoted).

Akram who was pursuing engineering at AMU, handled digital marketing and technical development. And his studies also went downslide and he had a backlog of 14 papers.

As if that was not enough, they also suffered another set-back when they were duped by a wholesaler who didnt send the products even after receiving full advanced payment of around Rs. 1.2 Lakh from them. This was a major setback and it took some time for them to bounce back.

They did the sourcing and packing themselves travelling in an auto rickshaw to the wholesaler bringing in heavy katta bags. As they slowly grew and as profits increased, they hired their first full-time staff named Sarfaraz for packing and logistics and 3 interns from Aligarh Muslim University for customer support and content writing.

However, they still were not in a position to pay handsome salaries due to which the staff left and they were back to looking after the packing and logistics till they could find replacements. In this way  slowly and bit by bit and through sheer perseverance, the brothers kept going.

With time as the business grew, so did their team.

I remember how we generated enough profit to buy our own catalogue for around Rs. 60000. And we slowly moved to an inventory-model. Now, we completely own all the inventory displayed at the portal. It is imported from UAE as the majority of the dress designers are headquartered there said Akram Tariq Khan, co-founder of YourLibaas.

Apart from these glitches they also had market regulations and compliance to overcome.

In 2015 they set up a basement office-cum-warehouse in Sector 50, Noida. The products arrived in Delhi and inter-state logistics was proving to be difficult. The brothers shifted to Jasola Vihar, Delhi.

Another major problem was dead stock or unsold items lying in their warehouse. This blocked their capital. To deal with the unsold stock, they started attending trade fairs and managed to sell the stocked clothes.

But after 2018, they stopped attending the fairs when Akram moved to Jamshedpur to pursue MBA.

Why specific focus on Lawn apparels and Pakistani suits?

Lawn fabric is purest form of cotton and is lightweight. It is produced in bulk in Pakistan as 90% of the lawn producing centres were located in Pakistan at the time of partition. Lawn suits have gained huge popularity due to it being lightweight, wrinkle free and soft. Mostly due its suitability to the hot Indian climate.

Awareness regarding lawn suits primarily developed through Pakistani TV serials that were aired on Zee Zindagi in 2017, feels Khalid.

Pakistani suits were a rare commodity in India back then. The demand was high and supply limited. It wasnt sold on marketplaces (and still isnt) like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and so on, he added.

Pakistani brands had tried entering the market through official partnerships that failed to materialize (like Sana Safinaz partnering with OCM Fabrics), and they chose Indian actresses to model for the latest collections (like Kareena Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandes, Madhuri Dixit, and so on). We realized how a niche store specializing in Pakistani suits could be set up and that is what inspired YourLibaas explained Akram.

Despite logistical hurdles and a rather negative connotation attached with Pakistani suits, the market size in India of Pakistani apparel is estimated at over INR 400 Crore.

Even though they set up YourLibaas and sell genuine Pakistani brands, they have competition from imitators. Many fashion houses and sites have replicas of the Pakistani designs selling at a lesser price.

But YourLibaas stuck to the originals even though they were expensive. Customers who preferred authentic designs from the original designers continued to buy from YourLibaas.

We have at least 40% repeat buyers, disclosed Akram.

Designers and their team put in a lot of efforts and months of planning to launch a collection which the replica makers imitate thereby stealing the credit. Fortunately seasoned customers can easily make out an original from a replica. Moreover, selling replicas alongside originals hurts the brand equity. Replicas are a nuisance in India as these are manufactured by registered Indian companies and sold openly. A first time online buyer who is unaware of this would buy a replica since both display the same picture, but a replica is priced at 20-25% of the original cost. This leaves a bad impression of Pakistani Suits and the consumer never returns back to buying lawn suits. Further it creates trust issues especially if youre selling online. We have maintained our reputation and people largely buy from us since local shops and sellers usually sell replicas and fool buyers especially new customers,  elaborated Akram Khan.

Due to international demand, the duo made inroads into the global market by establishing a Dubai, UAE subsidiary and setting up a Freezone company. They have plans to also establish a physical office in Dubai.

Leveraging technology to their advantage

Being from a technical background proved to be an advantage and the duo used their technological skills to thwart competition wherever possible and establish a strong market presence.

For instance  they introduced cash on delivery as many of their customers where women who were non-working. They took this risk despite knowing that there could be cancellations and also non acceptance of goods when they arrived at their door step. They also offered no-questions asked returns. All this bolstered confidence amongst the customers.

Next was introducing Order on WhatsApp & Order on Phone options which made it easier for the women to order instead of logging on to websites. The YourLibaas WhatsApp commerce at YourLibaas employs AI-based NLP chatbots with human agents who answer the queries of the customers guiding them to successful shopping.

Why do people prefer buying from YourLibaas rather than the brand itself?

We provide multiple brands with easy accessibility, free shipping and easy returns on a single platform. Most of the consumers arent comfortable with buying online, so we have WhatsApp chatbots alongside human agents that assist them making the ordering process seamless. Secondly, buying from brands directly isnt a feasible option  the shipment might get stuck at customs, or it could end up being delayed otherwise. Even in a normal scenario, the delivery timelines will be longer than what a domestic player can offer, concluded Khalid Raza Khan.

Today, Khalid is totally dedicated to YourLibaas while Akram has his fingers in several pies. He writes for Entrepreneur.com a business magazine and has developed an online browser game called Bhag Corona and is also part of entrepreneurs leadership network in which he delivers lectures based on his experiences.

His game Bhag Corona has received millions of hits and this game was hosted on ShareChat, a social network site.

Akram continues to explore new venues while his brother, now married, is steadily managing YourLibaas which they had begun as students.
Home and Away actress Sam Frost has been sober for eight months.

The former Bachelorette told fans on New Year's Day she hadn't touched alcohol since celebrating her 31st birthday.

'I haven't had a drink since my birthday in April. Successfully made it through the silly season without a cheeky wine,' she wrote on Instagram.

Feeling good: Home and Away actress Sam Frost has been sober for eight months. She told fans on New Year's Day she hadn't touched alcohol since celebrating her 31st birthday in April

Without a hangover to deal with on January 1, Sam instead worked up a sweat at her local gym.

The actress performed a variety of exercises, including skipping, weighted sit-ups, Russian twists, shoulder taps and squats.

While Sam didn't specify why she quit drinking, she did speak generally about her decision to follow a healthier lifestyle in a blog post in August.

Training session: Without a hangover to deal with on January 1, Sam instead worked up a sweat at her local gym

New direction: While Sam didn't specify why she quit drinking, she did speak generally about her decision to follow a healthier lifestyle in a blog post in August

'I feel like there has been a shift in me this year. I'm not sure whether it's because I am single again, or if it's because I'm in my thirties and I am tired of having to apologise for who I am. Maybe it's because 2020 has been a real jerk of a year? I don't know why, all I know [is] I have changed,' she wrote.

'I have spent my entire life constantly beating myself up. My self-worth has had an ugly and brutal battle through my teens and twenties. Never feeling like I'm good enough, smart enough, pretty enough blah, blah, blah. The self-destructive tape would play over and over, which quite literally nearly killed me.

'I signed up to a gym and took baby steps getting back into shape. I have always been active, but never dedicated. It started with two sessions a week, and I worked my way up from up there. Now a year later, I happily go to the gym four to five days a week and I see a personal trainer twice a week. I am feeling really good mentally and physically.'

Healthy body, healthy mind: 'I signed up to a gym and took baby steps getting back into shape,' she wrote, adding: 'I am feeling really good mentally and physically'

Screen siren: In July 2017, Channel Seven announced that Sam would be joining Home and Away as a permanent cast member. Pictured with co-star Ada Nicodemou

In July 2017, Channel Seven announced that Sam would be joining Home and Away as a permanent cast member.

The former reality star, who plays nurse Jasmine Delaney in the long-running soap, made her debut in December that year.

Before finding her feet as an actress, she co-hosted the 2DayFM breakfast show with Rove McManus for a year.

She first rose to fame in 2014 as a contestant on The Bachelor, and was Australia's inaugural Bachelorette the following year.
Since the week before Christmas, when UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at a press conference that a new version of SARS-CoV-2 had become predominant in the south of England, one of the main concerns has been how these changes in the virus will affect the management of the pandemic. Do we have to fear a worsening of covid-19?
Seen above is a Shinhan Bank sales office in Seoul on Dec. 23 when watchdogs' regulations requiring banks to suspend issuance of credit loans to households were in full swing. Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



Domestic commercial banks are moving to resume their non-collateral (credit) loan business at the start of the new year despite growing pressure from financial regulators.



All leading lenders in Korea have been faced with tough regulations from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) since last year as the financial authority raised its bar on them to control the rapid rise of household debts by curbing credit loans.



As the end of the year approached, authorities urged lenders to tightly manage the 2020 household loan balance, so major banks had no choice but to follow the order and cut the credit lines of most households.



But with the arrival of 2021, Friday, KB Kookmin Bank, one of the biggest lenders here, plans to restart offering its household credit loans as of Jan. 4. For about two weeks since Dec. 22, the lender has been blocking households from receiving credit loans over 20 million won.



But the lender will keep restricting some loan products. For instance, the bank will continue keeping an upper limit on those in the high-income bracket  such as doctors and lawyers  blocking them from receiving credit loans worth more than 200 million won.



Shinhan Bank will also resume offering loan products for households and salaried workers. The bank suspended its online-only loan service for office workers from Dec. 15. But it will be available again as of Jan. 4.



This was made possible as financial authorities urged the banks to control the total household loan balance throughout 2020. But banks are still wary of pressure from the watchdog, so it will take more time for lenders to open up and resume all suspended loan services.



"Guidelines will be made from the watchdog to control the rising household debt this year, but for now, we can resume most of our credit loan business targeting individual customers with the beginning of the new year," an official from a major lender said.



As of Jan. 1, Kakao Bank  one of the country's internet-only lenders  also said it restarted sales of loan services for salaried workers. But households and salaried workers remain anxious over when commercial lenders will suspend the loan services or cut their credit lines again as the FSS made it clear recently that it will keep tight control of the rising household debt.



Starting last October, the FSS and other financial authorities prevented local banks from offering credit loans of more than 2 trillion won each month until the end of 2020.






Ruling Democratic Party (DP) Chairman Lee Nak-yon said Friday he will ask President Moon Jae-in "at an appropriate time" to grant pardons to two former conservative presidents imprisoned for corruption charges.







Lee, who served as prime minister under the Moon administration, made the remarks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency, also stressing that the party should play an active role in pushing for the matter in order to promote national unity.







"As this year will be effectively the last year that President Moon can work, I thought that the issue should be dealt with at an appropriate time," Lee said. "Going forward, the party should play a more active role."







Former President Lee Myung-bak, who governed the country from 2008-2013, is serving a 17-year prison term after being convicted of corruption, while his successor Park Geun-hye is serving a 20-year prison term after being impeached over a far-reaching corruption and influence-peddling scandal. (Yonhap)


Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 22:27:23|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and India on Friday exchanged lists of their nuclear installations and prisoners, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry and Indian external affairs ministry.

The exchanges were carried out through diplomatic channels at New Delhi and Islamabad, according to the two separated statements.

The list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission at the foreign ministry, while New Delhi also handed over the list of Indian Nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Commission.

According to an agreement between the two neighbors, both countries are required to inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities on Jan. 1 every year. The practice has been done consecutively since 1992.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also handed over a list of 319 Indian prisoners, including 49 civilians and 270 fishermen prisoners, in Pakistan to the Indian mission.

The foreign ministry here said that the step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India signed in 2008 under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on Jan. 1 and July 1 respectively.

India also simultaneously shared a list of 340 Pakistani prisoners in India, including 263 civilians and 77 fishermen. Enditem
The SSC added that objections in respect of the tentative answer keys, if any, may be submitted online from 31 Dec to 7 Jan on payment of Rs 100 per question

SSC Delhi Police constable recruitment exam 2020 | The answer key for the Delhi Police constable recruitment exam 2020 was released by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on Friday on the official website  ssc.nic.in. Candidates can check and download the answer key by submitting their roll number and password on the website.

An official notification by the SSC added that "representation in respect of the tentative answer keys, if any, may be submitted online from December 31 (6 PM) to January 7 (6 PM) on payment of Rs 100 per question or answer challenged. Representations received after 6 PM on January 7 will not be entertained under any circumstances.

Steps to check the SSC Delhi Police constable recruitment exam answer key:

Step 1: Log on to the official website

Step 2: Click on the relevant link

Step 3: Log in

Step 4: Document will appear on the screen

Step 5: Download, and take a printout for future reference

Step 6: Make note of the question you have an objection against, and reupload after paying the fee
The duo won the grants after due consideration of various entries of 12 and 33 applicants in various categories.

Two Senior lecturers of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Gabriel Omotoso and Aminu Imam have won three research grants.

The University of Ilorin Management disclosed that the notification was contained in separate letters signed by the Director of Professional Development Programmes, Rebecca Hadid and Alessandro Prinetti of University of Milano, Italy.

According to the letter, Mr Omotoso won the 2019 International Brain Research Organisation-African Regional (IBRO-ARC) and the International Society for Neurochemistry- Committee for Aid and Education in Neurochemistry (ISNCAEN) Research Grants.

"Imam won the International Society for Neurochemistry- Committee for Aid and Education in Neurochemistry (ISNCAEN)," it said.

It stated that the grants that came at the instance of their various research efforts are worth 5,000 euro, 4,700 dollars and 3,800 dollars respectively, and are to be used for both travelling and local expenses during their laboratory exchanges.

It added that the duo won the grants after due consideration of various entries of 12 and 33 applicants in various categories.

In his reaction, Mr Omotoso stated that the award is a competition award given to African neuroscientists for Laboratory Exchange in developed countries.

Mr Omotoso, who is also the Head of the Department of Anatomy, said that he was one of the four Africans that received the award to allow him visit a Laboratory at the University of Huddersfield, Hudderfield, United Kingdom, to carry out Neuroscience Research.

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He stated that the grant sum is 5,000 euro, adding that the visit is yet to be undertaken due to COVID-19 pandemic. He explained that the study, which is still on-going, is to investigate: "the role Kolaviron and Moringa Oleifera in enhancing remyelination in models of Multiple Scleroses".

Mr Omotoso also explained the Grants Award for Imam, saying that he received the International Society for the Neurochemistry-Committee for Aid and Education Neurochemistry (ISN-CAEN), research grant award in February.

He stated that this would enable him to visit a foreign laboratory at the Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, UP Medicina, Universitat Jaune 1, Castello de la Plana, Spain.

According to him, Mr Imam will undertake a three-month research and that this benefitted the grant sum of 3,800 U.S. dollars.
Thompson, Phillip

Phillip Dale Thompson, 58, was called home to be with his Lord & Savior on December 11, 2020. Phill was born on September 13, 1962 in Paducah, Ky. and had the ability to roll with the punches, go with the flow, and find humor in most every scenario including his last few weeks battling the complications of cancer.

Phill took his last peaceful breath after saying hed go first just to check things out for his family, because he looked out for those he loved like that. And he loved his children more than anything. Devin Scott Thompson of Philadelphia, Pa. and Samantha Jade Thompson of Trenton, NJ have survived him in death as well as in all of the embarrassing home movies he insisted on making of their accomplishments.

No one loved Phill more than his own mother, Jackie Graham who is well and living in Murray, Ky. He loved and cherished his mother, and he always said he was her favorite child.

Phill is also survived by his three sisters: Felicia Fisher of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Sandy Butler of Clinton, Ky. and Dana (John) Provo of Gulf Breeze, Fla. His intelligent and attractive sisters have collectively agreed to forgive him for torturing them as children and for contaminating them with cooties.

Phill is preceded in death by his father, John Daniel Thompson, from whom he inherited his unbridled curiosity, survival skills, unbeatable charm and huge ego.

His classmates from 1977-1981 at St. Mary High School in Paducah and Reidland High School probably remember an effervescent, handsome prankster who loved everybody and was a magnet of personality that always attracted people to him.

Phill appreciated everything because everything had worth, like his jobs. He took his responsibilities and duties seriously at AugustaWestland. He had mentioned many times his fun and cool co-workers, who he considered great friends.

The family would like to thank Phils close friends who helped care for him, especially Jerry Wagner Jr. of Philadelphia, Pa.

Phill dearly loved, and was loved by, his friends and family. He said he wants us to remember the good times, to be kind and to keep happy hearts.

No memorial service is planned, but a family reunion and celebration will be held at a later date.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to: Penn Medicine At Home Development, Attn: Kelly McBride, 3535 Market Street, Ste. 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Online condolences can be made at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com
Erick Alcala only remembers the flashlights, beaming into his room as immigration agents searched the house.

Alcala, a U.S.-born citizen, was 7 years old when his parents were deported.

They came early in the morning, the sun wasnt even up yet, Alcala, 19, said recently from his sisters home in San Antonio. He is the only member of his family born in the U.S. They started searching the house to see if there was anybody else.

It was the second week of September 2008. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had learned that his parents had been living undocumented in Rio Alto, Calif., for over a decade.

He said how they found out is still a mystery. But his familys story reflects an issue that has spanned multiple administrations: the separation of family members from U.S. citizens.

They miss so much of our life. Its really sad for them and its hard for us, Alcala said.

Bob Owen, Staff-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

More than 4 million U.S. citizen children live with undocumented parents, according to a survey from 2009 to 2013 conducted by the Migration Policy Institute. Of all children in Texas then, some 13 percent had undocumented parents, MPI found - the second highest rate in the country. Both numbers have likely increased since 2013.

Several immigration reform bills that would have protected citizens parents from deportation over the years have stalled in Congress. When former President Barack Obama introduced the Deferred Action for Parent Arrivals and Legal Permanent Residents program, or DAPA, to provide status for the parents of citizen or legal resident children, it was blocked in court.

President-elect Joe Biden has said he would introduce an immigration reform bill within his first 100 days in office.

Children of deported parents face a number of obstacles. In one study cited by the American Immigration Council, family income dropped about 70 percent after a members deportation.

Bob Owen, Staff-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

Some deported parents bring their citizen children with them - in 2010, nearly a half-million U.S.-born children lived in Mexico, according to an MPI estimate with the Urban Institute. Alcala was one of them.

His father, Jesus Alcala, said ICE agents put chains on his waist that day in 2008 as they escorted him from his house into ICE custody. Jesus Alcala was taken by bus across the border to Tijuana while Erick Alcalas aunt drove him there to meet his father. They both flew from Tijuana to Morelia, the familys hometown.

Erick Alcalas mom, Ma. Consuelo, was fitted with an ankle monitor. She was given 12 weeks in California to sell the familys possessions and make arrangements with her daughters before she was deported, too. Ericks two sisters, Janet and Cindy, who were undocumented at the time, stayed behind.

They were 17 and 22 and left to navigate the rest of their upbringing alone. Both sisters currently work at child migrant shelters run by the federal government in San Antonio. They asked that their full names be withheld in compliance with their workplace regulations.

The sisters lived in fear for years after their parents were deported. The possibility of deportation was real to them. At one point, fear and financial struggle overcame Janet. She decided to leave for Mexico - and then at the last minute changed her mind and canceled her flight.

Over there you go to a restaurant maybe once a month, for a fancy (occasion). Over there you have one car, per family, and thats if youre well-off, Alcala said.

Bob Owen, Staff-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

When he was in Mexico, he would receive donated gifts and clothes around Christmastime donated by U.S. church members. Now, in San Antonio, he and his sisters contribute to those donation drives.

In 2015, after Alcala finished eighth grade, the family decided to send him back to the U.S. to live with his sisters. Janet and Cindy had become financially stable enough to support him, and wanted him to take advantage of his citizenship to get a quality education. He attended Clark and Lee high schools in the North East district.

Erick, you were so blessed for being a U.S. citizen, Cindy, 34, told him recently.

Now 30, Janet is a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipient. Cindy became a U.S. citizen last year through marriage.

The Alcalas only have one family photo together, taken in 2006, two years before the parents were deported. After a required 10-year wait, the couple applied for permission to reenter the U.S.

Yes, I have a better life now, but its like, my parents arent here, Alcala said. You want to live with your parents, but then if you do live over there, what kind of life are you going to have?

Bob Owen, Staff-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

All three siblings send money back to their parents every month. In Moralia, the Alcalas own a small shop at a colorful, indoor marketplace similar to Market Square in San Antonio.

Alcala graduated from Northwest Vista College this year with an associates degree in business administration. He starts at the University of Texas in San Antonio in January. He won a Dell Scholarship, which paid for his tuition. He wants to be a banker.

As a citizen, Alcala was able to visit his parents in Mexico for Christmas. But Janet, the DACA recipient, had to stay behind. Its been 12 years since shes seen her parents in person.
Protests planned in support of US President Donald Trump on January 6 have been multiplying by the week.

Four seemingly competing rallies in Washington to demand Congress overturn the results of the presidential election  which their participants falsely view as illegitimate  are scheduled on the day Congress is set to convene to certify electoral college votes, declaring Joe Biden the winner.

The events will be headlined by Mr Trumps most ardent supporters, including recently pardoned George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy adviser to Trumps 2016 campaign who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during its Russia investigation, and long-time ally Roger Stone, whose sentence for seeking to impede a congressional probe into Russian election interference was commuted by Mr Trump in July before being upgraded to a full pardon.

Formal rallies are planned for most of the day and will draw pro-Trump demonstrators to the Washington Monument, Freedom Plaza and the Capitol. However, online forums and encrypted chat messages among far-right groups indicate a number of demonstrators might be planning more than chanting and waving signs.

Read More

Threats of violence, ploys to smuggle guns into the District of Columbia and calls to set up an armed encampment on the National Mall have proliferated online chats. The Proud Boys, members of armed right-wing groups, conspiracy theorists and white supremacists have pledged to attend.

Mr Trump, meanwhile, has continued to issue calls to supporters to converge on the District.

JANUARY SIXTH, SEE YOU IN DC! he tweeted on Wednesday.

Women for America First  a group of conservative women behind a pro-Trump march in November and last months Million MAGA March, which ended in a night of chaos on District streets  requested a permit from the N ational Park Service to hold a protest with about 5,000 attendees at Freedom Plaza.

Another protest, dubbed the Wild Protest in reference to Mr Trumps tweets earlier this month, is scheduled for the northeast quadrant of the Capitol lawn.

A smaller rally organised by Trump supporter James Epley, of South Carolina, will lead a few hundred people from the Mall to the Capitol, according to a permit application filed this month.

A new group called the Eighty Percent Coalition  a reference to the roughly three-quarters of Republicans who have said in polls they do not trust the results of the election  filed a permit request this week for a rally that organisers estimate could draw up to 10,000 people.

Incoming District police chief, Robert Contee III, said police are prepared to facilitate peaceful protests but

that violence will not be tolerated.

Last month, a day of largely peaceful demonstrations descended into violent chaos as small bands of Proud Boys dressed in the groups signature black-and-gold garb roamed downtown looking for a fight.

Several people, including passers-by who said they did not know about planned protests that day, were injured.
National Communication Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Sammy Gyamfi says his party is not the only one alleging fraud in the December 7, 2020 presidential polls.



The New Patriotic Party is alleging same, which he says raises questions about the credibility of the polls results as declared by the Electoral Commission.



His comment follows assertions by New Patriotic Party Election 2020 Campaign Manager, Peter Mac Manu, to the effect that the Electoral Commission credited NDC flagbearer, John Mahama with more votes than he actually got.



We believe, and will prove in Supreme Court that even John Mahama did not receive the number of votes that have been credited to him. Were going to show that during the course of the trial, Mac Manu is reported to have told Joy News Wednesday night in response to the Election Petition filed by the NDC and its flagbearer.



To Mac Manus assertion Sammy Gyamfi responds in a tweet on Thursday, saying it is perhaps only in Ghana that both victors and vanquished accuse the Electoral Commission of fraudulently aiding the opponent.



The 2020 Presidential Election is the first election in the history of Ghana and perhaps the World, in which the supposed loser, is alleging fraud by the EC in favor of the supposed Winner; and the supposed winner is alleging fraud by the EC in favor of the supposed loser as claimed by Peter Mac Manu, Campaign Manager of the NPP. This speaks volumes about the credibility of the declared results.



Sammy Gyamfi in another write up explaining the partys petition to the Supreme Court, says it is about the unconstitutionality of the actions of the Electoral Commission and the wrong votes it credited the two leading contestants in the polls, President Akufo-Addo and former President John Mahama.



The case of John Mahama is simply that, the declaration of Candidate Akufo-Addo as the winner of the 2020 Presidential elections is unconstitutional and null and void as Candidate Akufo-Addo didnt get more than 50% of total valid votes per the declaration of the Returning Officer, Jean Mensa, hence must be set aside.



Below is the write-up in full.



On the matter of the 2020 Election Petition filed by HE John Dramani Mahama:



1. The 1992 constitution of Ghana, specifically article 63(3), requires the winner of a Presidential election in Ghana to obtain more than 50% of Total Valid Votes. Failure of any of the candidates to attain more than 50% of Total Valid Votes must lead to a runoff between the first and second candidate.



2. The results of the 2020 Presidential elections were declared by the Returning Officer, Jean Mensah on 9th December. Per the content of the said declaration, none of the Candidates got more than 50% of the Total Valid Votes as required by the Constitution, i.e taken into account her assumption on Techiman south. Fact is, if all votes in Techiman South were added to the votes of candidate John Mahama, Candidate Akufo Addo would have dropped below 50%. The EC Chairperson and retuning officer, Jean Mensah lied when she said in her declaration that even if all votes in Techiman South were added to the 2nd Candidate, John Mahama, the first Candidate, Akufo-Addo will still obtain more than 50% of Total Valid votes. Her own declaration doesnt support this claim.



3. Also, Percentages allocated to the names of the candidates in the 9th Dec. declaration were wrong. The sum total of the percentages is 100.3%, a clear mathematical and statistical impossibility.



4. The case of John Mahama is simply that, the declaration of Candidate Akufo-Addo as the winner of the 2020 Presidential elections is unconstitutional and null and void as Candidate Akufo-Addo didnt get more than 50% of total valid votes per the declaration of the Returning Officer, Jean Mensa, hence must be set aside.



5. The next day after the declaration, 10th December, the EC posted a press release on their website claiming that the returning officer made a mistake by using Total Votes Cast in her declaration instead of Total Valid Votes and purported to rectify this alleged error. The so-called press release was not signed by the returning officer who made the declaration. In fact, it was not signed at all.



6. Also, the unsigned press release didnt make any reference to the Total valid votes figure the returning officer is alleged to have gotten wrong in her declaration of 9th Dec. Rather, it made reference to another figure, hence cannot be described as a true and proper correction of the alleged mistake the returning officer made in her declaration of 9th December.



7. Also, the EC claims in the unsigned press release that the mistake the returning officer made on the 9th Dec. was just a slip of tongue and does not affect the votes obtained by the candidates. Yet, the new total valid votes figure the unsigned press release of 10th Dec. introduced is different from the sum total of votes obtained by the 12 candidates per the declaration of 9th Dec. This is because, the unsigned press release varied the votes obtained by the candidates. JDMs votes were reduced by 1707 and NADAA votes increased by 174, among other variations. The sum total of votes obtained by the candidates per the Returning Officers declaration of 9th Dec. is completely missing in the unsigned press release of 10th Dec. The EC lied.



8. More importantly, article 63(9) requires the EC to pass the outcome of the Presidential election into law (Constitutional Instrument) and gazette same. The EC passed the declaration of 9th Dec., which it admits was in error (per the unsigned press release) into law (Declaration of President Elect Instrument, CI 135) and gazetted same. The unsigned press release of 10th Dec. that purported to correct the 9th Dec. declaration is neither part of CI 135 nor was it gazetted. Rather, it was the declaration of 9th Dec. that the EC admits was in error that was passed by CI 135 and gazetted.



9. Moreover, the new total valid votes figure introduced by the unsigned press release of 10th Dec. is fraught with padding and wrong aggregation of votes as shown by exhibit E & F, hence cannot stand.



10. To make matters worse, the new total valid votes figure capriciously and whimsically introduced by the ECs unsigned press release of 10th Dec. to purportedly correct the alleged mistake the Returning Officer committed in her declaration of 9th Dec. was done without the involvement of agents of the candidates as required by law. No one has seen the basis of that new total valid votes figure nor the new votes allocated to the names of the candidates. This is a gross violation of articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution in the opinion of the Petitioner.



11. Note that, the declaration of election results is a formal act, the form of which is prescribed by law. Also note that, as we speak, there is only one declaration of the 2020 Presidential election results; The declaration of 9th Dec. as captured by CI 135.



12. The NDC is asking the Supreme Court to set CI 135 aside on grounds of unconstitutionality, as the winner declared therein didnt obtain more than 50% of the Total Valid Votes as required by article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution.



And whats the NPPs response to this serious constitutional issue? That the NDC committed curable typographical errors in its petition? Hahahaha! 



NB: it is important to make the point, that the NDCs case is about fictitious figures declared by the Returning Officer of the 2020 Presidential Election in violation of the 1992 Constitution and not mere typographical errors committed by her. Hence, there is absolutely no basis for equalization.



Need I say more? Cant you see where this matter is going?



Well, while we wait for the ECs answer to our petition, all I can say is that Tsatsu Tsikata Esq. is a genius. Kudos to all the lawyers who worked with him in crafting this Petition.



Now can the NPP file their answer to the Petition and stop issuing useless press releases?



Sammy Gyamfi Esq.









Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Iran has warned that Soleimani's killers are 'not safe on earth' hours after President Hassan Rouhani hailed the end of Trump-ism and said that the 'life of this criminal will end soon'.

The Iranian President made the comments on Wednesday as the country this week honours the military commander who was assassinated a year ago by arch-enemy the United States and is revered as a heroic warrior across the Islamic republic.

Rouhani added that the end of Trump's presidency would bring about better conditions for regional and global stability.

Hassan Rouhani has vowed revenge for the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and has said that Donald Trump's life will end 'in a few days' when he will 'go to the dustbin of history.' Above, Rouhani pictured on December 26

Rouhani was quoted as saying: 'One of the effects of this stupid and disgraceful act was that Trumpism ended and in a few days, the life of this criminal will end.'

He continued: '[Trump] will go to the dustbin of history, and we are very happy about this and we believe that the period after Trump will be a better condition for regional and global stability.'

Speaking at an event in Tehran to pay tribute to Soleimani, Iran's judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi warned that his the general's killers will 'not be safe on Earth'.

Raisi added that all those who had a role in Gen Soleimani's killing will not be able to 'escape law and justice', even if they were a US president.

Iran's Foreign Ministry tweeted that Iran will not rest until perpetrators of Gen Soleimani's killing are brought to justice.

'By committing a craven act of terror against Gen Soleimani, the US violated int'l law & the UN Charter in a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty,' said a post on the ministry's Twitter account.

'The US' lawlessness in full show. Iran won't rest until bringing those responsible to justice.'

The event came less than a week after the anniversary of Soleimani's death on January 3.

Since Soleimani's death in a Baghdad drone strike that sparked mourning across Iran at mass funeral processions, the 'martyr' Soleimani has entered the ranks of Iran's glorious generals, immortalised in portraits, sculptures, ballads and an upcoming TV series.

The commemorations on Sunday come only weeks before US President Donald Trump, who ordered the killing, leaves the White House and Joe Biden takes over, offering hopes of a somewhat less bellicose relationship.

Soleimani's killing at age 62 sharply heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, whose decades-old animosity had deepened when Trump withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal and launched a 'maximum pressure' campaign to isolate Iran

The anniversary comes as sanctions-hit Iran remains in the grip of the region's worst outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 55,000 out of more than 1.2 million people infected in the country

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivering a speech in February next to portraits of Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

Soleimani's killing at age 62 sharply heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, whose decades-old animosity had deepened when Trump withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal and launched a 'maximum pressure' campaign to isolate Iran.

Within days, Iran retaliated to the killing of a military leader long deemed untouchable by firing rockets at Iraqi bases housing US forces, which claimed no lives but caused injuries and preceded a tragedy.

In the tense hours that followed the rocket strikes, when it appeared the conflict could escalate further, Iran accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane near Tehran, claiming the lives of all 176 aboard.

A year on, Iran is readying to honour Soleimani, whom the United States had labelled a 'terrorist' in 2005, but whose portrait has been displayed by supporters in Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen.

The anniversary comes as sanctions-hit Iran remains in the grip of the region's worst outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 55,000 out of more than 1.2 million people infected in the country.

Soleimani headed the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which directly answers to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A veteran of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, he went on to oversee Iran's military operations in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.

In the eyes of many Iranians, the country's projection of power beyond national borders under Soleimani saved the multi-ethnic nation from the conflict and disintegration suffered by Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

Huge crowds of Iranian mourners paid homage to Soleimani and other victims of the US attack in the capital Tehran

Khamenei had already declared him a 'living martyr' before his death, and in 2019 Soleimani became the only recipient of the highest military honour, the Order of Zolfaghar, since the revolution.

Khamenei said this month that 'Soleimani embodies Iranian values' such as 'courage and resistance spirit'.

Iran regards Soleimani as having joined the hallowed ranks of warriors who fell for the motherland, from the era of the Persian empire into modern times.

In one of the dozens of songs broadcast during his multi-city funeral procession, Soleimani was compared by the poet Milad Erfanpour to the mythical heroes of the Persian epic Shahnameh, The Book of Kings.

'We have had many heroes, some of them fictional, in our long history, but Soleimani was a real human being whom we have known in flesh and soul,' Erfanpour told AFP.

The late general's appeal transcended political, religious and class divisions, said academic Mehdi Zakerian, who noted that 'in his speeches, Soleimani always spoke to all Iranians and not just to one social class'.

Pakistani Shiite Muslim girls hold pictures of Iran's General Qasem Soleimani during a protest in Islamabad on January 19, 2020

'When he raised social or political issues in Iran, he always tried to express himself in a calculated and thoughtful way to avoid tensions,' Zakerian told AFP.

'It is rare to find a consensus figure like Soleimani in Iran,' said Fatima Alsmadi, a senior researcher at Doha's Al Jazeera Centre for Studies.

In a 2017 video widely shared on social media, the general is heard advising Iranian politicians to engage with citizens, no matter whether they are 'veiled, unveiled, left, right, reformist or conservative'.
UNICEF estimates that 140 million babies are likely to be born globally in 2021 with an average life expectancy of 84 years.

India is likely to see the highest number of births in the world on New Year's Day, with nearly 60,000 babies estimated to be born on the first day of 2021. The number of births, however, is 7,390 less than 2020.

According to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimates, over 3,71,504 babies are likely to be born across the world on January 1, 2021. Of these, 52 percent of the births will take place in just 10 countries.

"Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in 10 countries: India (59,995), China (35,615), Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), the US (10,312), Egypt (9,455), Bangladesh (9,236) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,640)," the UNICEF said in its report.

The global body even estimated that 140 million babies are likely to be born globally in 2021 with an average life expectancy of 84 years.

UNICEF will mark the 75th anniversary on January 1.

National Family Health Survey | Sex ratio of total population improves in 17 states/UTs, Himachal fares worst with 835 female births per 1,000 males in 5 years

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said the children born on January 1, 2021, enter a world far different than even a year ago, and a New Year brings a new opportunity to reimagine it.

"Today, as the world faces a global pandemic, economic slowdown, rising poverty, and deepening inequality, the need for UNICEFs work is as great as ever," he added.

As per reports, the life expectancy of the babies born in 2021 in India will be 80.9 years. The government interventions such as establishing Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) help survive additional 1,000 babies each day in India. Around 320 district level SNCUs have been set up by the government between 2014 and 2020.

Recently, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF launched the 'Reimagine campaign' to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from becoming a lasting crisis for children.

"Under its Reimagine campaign, Unicef appeals to governments, private sector entities, donors and all partners to join hands and lay the groundwork for building back better, to assure every childs right to survive and thrive is protected and promoted at all times," Hindustan Times quoted UNICEF India Country Representative Dr Yasmin Ali Haque as saying
Nicola Sturgeon defiantly urged the European Union to 'keep the light on' for an independent Scotland as Brexit finally took place.

The Scottish First Minister - who wants a new independence referendum - said her nation would be 'back soon' as the UK quit the bloc after more than 40 years.

Membership of the single market and customs union expired at 11pm - four and a half years after the in-out referendum which sought to settle the issue but sparked political turmoil.

The bells of Big Ben were rung as the UK left both the EU's single market and the customs union.

The chimes of Big Ben rang out at 11pm  midnight on the Continent  marking the UK's departure from the EU's single market and customs union.

But the SNP leader Ms Sturgeon, who is strongly opposed to Brexit, wrote on Twitter: 'Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.'

It came as hardcore Remainers insisted that the campaign to rejoin the EU would begin immediately.

Nicola Sturgeon urged the European Union to 'keep the light on' and said Scotland would be 'back soon' as the Brexit transition period came to an end on Thursday.

Scottish first minister Miss Sturgeon, who is strongly opposed to Brexit, wrote on Twitter on Thursday: 'Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on'

Labour peer and former minister Lord Adonis tweeted: 'The campaign to rejoin Europe starts today.'

Ms Sturgeon heads into Holyrood elections in May expecting to win an overwhelming majority for the SNP, which will increase the pressure on Boris Johnson to allow a new independence referendum, something he is refusing to do.

The nation voted 45-55 in favour of staying part of the UK in 2014, but the latest opinion polls show a majority in favour of a split.

In contrast to her paean to Brussels, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross issued an upbeat New Year message.

'As the bells ring out at midnight to mark the start of 2021, we should look forward with hope,' he said.

'If we pull together as a country, instead of trying to reopen old constitutional wounds, we can rebuild a better, brighter future.'

Ms Sturgeon's latest hint at her urge to press ahead with making Scotland and independent country came after she savaged Boris Johnson's Brexit deal on Christmas Day.

Hitting out at the agreement reached on Christmas Eve, Miss Sturgeon said the deal showed it was time for Scotland to 'chart our own future as an independent, European nation'.

She said Britain's departure was happening against her will and accused the PM of 'cultural vandalism' for ending the Erasmus programme, which allows students to study in Europe.

'Scotland did not vote for any of this and our position is clearer than ever,' she said.

'Scotland now has the right to choose its own future as an independent country and once more regain the benefits of EU membership.

'It beggars belief that in the midst of a pandemic and economic recession, Scotland has been forced out of the EU single market and customs union with all the damage to jobs that will bring.

In contrast to her paean to Brussels, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross issued an upbeat New Year message

The bells of Big Ben were rung the UK left both the EU's single market and the customs union

'A deal is better than No Deal. But, just because, at the 11th hour, the UK Government has decided to abandon the idea of a No Deal outcome, it should not distract from the fact that they have chosen a hard Brexit, stripping away so many of the benefits of EU membership.

'And while we do not yet have full details on the nature of the deal, it appears major promises made by the UK Government on fisheries have been broken and the extent of these broken promises will become apparent to all very soon.'

She said people in Scotland had voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, 'but their views have been ignored'.

The historic post-Brexit deal with the EU on Christmas Eve came four years after 62 per cent of Scots backed remain in the 2016 referendum.

Miss Sturgeon added: 'This is a far harder Brexit than could have been imagined when the EU referendum took place, damaging and disrupting this nation's economy and society at the worst possible time.

'We are doing everything we can to mitigate against the consequences of the UK Government's actions  but we cannot avert every negative outcome.

Her latest hint at her urge to press ahead with making Scotland and independent country came after she savaged Boris Johnson's Brexit deal on Christmas Day

'We know that businesses are already struggling under the burden of Covid-19, and are now faced with the need to prepare for this hard Brexit in little more than a week's time.

'We will do all we can to help them and are issuing updated information and advice and urge those most affected, including businesses, to prepare.'

Writing on Twitter about the Erasmus programme, Miss Sturgeon said: 'There will be lots of focus, rightly, on the economic costs of Brexit.

'But ending UK participation in Erasmus, an initiative that has expanded opportunities and horizons for so many young people, is cultural vandalism by the UK Government.'

Miss Sturgeon's Scottish Nationalist Party plans to go into next year's Holyrood elections aiming for a fresh mandate from voters for a second independence referendum.

The first minister has previously said that if Scotland opted for independence she would try to re-join the EU.

However, questions remain about whether an independent Scotland would be allowed to become a member of the bloc.

The SNP's existing currency policy - it seeks to keep the pound - conflicts with the EU's diktat that all new members must adopt the Euro.

Membership would also mean giving up control of swathes of policy areas such as over fisheries and possible trade barriers with England.

It could also mean a hard border is imposed between England and Scotland.

In his New Year message, Mr Johnson - who played a decisive role in the Leave campaign's victory in the referendum - said: 'This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it'

It remains to be seen if the Brexit deal will increase support for independence among Scots.

In his New Year message, Mr Johnson - who played a decisive role in the Leave campaign's victory in the referendum - said: 'This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it.'

Referencing the end of the Brexit transition period, the Prime Minister said the UK would be 'free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU' in 2021.

He said Britain will 'work with partners around the world, not just to tackle climate change but to create the millions of high-skilled jobs this country will need not just this year  2021  as we bounce back from Covid, but in the years to come'.

The PM added: 'I think it will be the overwhelming instinct of the people of this country to come together as one United Kingdom  England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working together to express our values around the world.'

He concluded: 'I believe 2021 is above all the year when we will eventually do those everyday things that now seem lost in the past. Bathed in a rosy glow of nostalgia, going to the pub, concerts, theatres, restaurants, or simply holding hands with our loved ones in the normal way.

'We are still a way off from that  there are tough weeks and months ahead. But we can see that illuminated sign that marks the end of the journey, and even more important, we can see with growing clarity how we are going to get there. And that is what gives me such confidence about 2021.'

Under the new arrangements, freedom of movement rights will end, and while UK citizens will still be able to travel for work or pleasure, there will be different rules.

Passports must be valid for more than six months, visas or permits may be needed for long stays, pets will need a health certificate and drivers will need extra documents.

The automatic right to live and work in the EU also ceases, and the UK will no longer take part in the Erasmus student exchange programme.
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The Minority Caucus of Ghanas Parliament has presented what it describes as evidence of rigging of the recently-held general election to some international partners from the United States of America and The United Kingdom.



It is part of the Caucus series of transparent engagements on its fundamental concerns about what it deems a flawed December 7, 2020, presidential and parliamentary elections.



The session with the American and British partners was held at Parliament on Wednesday, 30 December 2020 led by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and Second Deputy Speaker Alban S.K. Bagbin.



They presented evidence and the basis for the NDCs rejection of the multiple results declared by the Electoral Commission for the presidential contest and the dubious parliamentary declarations particularly in Techiman South and Sefwi Wiawso.



The Minority also highlighted the grave human rights violations, which, according to its calculations, led to the killing of 7 Ghanaians and left many with life-changing injuries.



We shall continue with our series of legitimate engagements in the spirit of democratic accountability, resisting subversion of the peoples will and preserving the pillars of the Fourth Republic birthed by our political tradition, the Minority said.



The Caucus emphasised that the engagements shall proceed without prejudice to the petition filed at the countrys apex court by former President John Mahama.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dua Lipa and boyfriend Anwar Hadid took to the beaches of Mexico on New Year's Day to soak up the sun.

The pop star, 25, and the model, 21, looked relaxed as they enjoyed their down time, and were seen cosying up on a sun lounger together.

Dua rocked a brightly coloured bikini, featuring a plunging top and daring thong bottoms.

January break: Dua Lipa and boyfriend Anwar Hadid took to the beaches of Mexico on New Year's Day to soak up the sun

At one point, the One Kiss hitmaker added a glamorous touch and covered it with a primrose yellow sarong.

She piled her windswept dark locks on top of her head, and added yellow shades and hoop earrings to the ensemble.

Anwar, meanwhile, relaxed in a tank top and board shorts as he soaked up the sun with his girlfriend.

The pair have slipped to Mexico for their New Year stay - currently able to travel from Anwar's native America - where they celebrated Christmas together, as long as they journeyed by plane under COVID-19 restrictions.

Smitten: The pop star, 25, and the model, 21, looked relaxed as they enjoyed their down time, and were seen cosying up on a sun lounger together

Pop star: Dua rocked a brightly coloured bikini, featuring a plunging top and daring thong bottoms

The pair were likely subject to temperature checks and other health screenings on arrival amid the pandemic.

Dua and Anwar first got together in June 2019 and the singer has since become close with the Hadid family.

Ahead of their January holiday, Dua and Anwar spent Christmas with his model sisters Gigi, 25, and Bella Hadid, 24. Also in attendance were his parents Yolanda and Mohammed, Gigi's partner Zayn Malik and their three-month-old daughter.

Throughout the festive period Dua shared updates to Instagram of them making a gingerbread house and rocking novelty Christmas accessories.

Quality time: The duo appeared to be in good spirits during the outing

Finishing touches: She piled her windswept dark locks on top of her head, and added yellow shades and hoop earrings to the ensemble

The trip comes after Anwar - brother of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid - had said that he would 'absolutely not' be taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

He changed his mind last week, saying: 'Im not "anti-vax" I think everyone has to be careful with each vaccine individually looking at positive and possible negative effects.'

Hadid - who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease alongside former Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills mother Yolanda and sister Bella - said his compromised immune system plays a part in the matter.

'I have taken vaccines before but as someone who has had a compromised immune system I want to continue to learn about the many ways I can protect myself and others,' said Anwar, who used to date Kendall Jenner.

Sun break: Anwar put on a black vest as he sat up from the lounger cushion

Details: At one point, the One Kiss hitmaker added a glamorous touch and covered it with a primrose yellow sarong

'Never meant to offend anyone with my words, and I am so grateful for all the frontline workers and doctors and the powerful work they have done during this time.'

He continued, 'I'm listening and I'm all about the conversation. My response was not to make a stance it was honestly just a thought, but I cant expect you all 2 know where my heart and head is at and that's where I went wrong. I will be more aware.'

His initial dialogue about the vaccine came about in Q+A form on Instagram as he was asked, 'Why are you anti vax' after saying he would not take it.

'Either I just don't get it or I get it and go willing heal from it and get antibodies rather than do that process unnaturally, our bodies are made by the creator to do way more than we think,' he wrote.

Anwar was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, shortly after his mother and sister, Bella, contracted the disease.

Not anti-vax: This comes after Anwar - brother of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid - had said that he would 'absolutely not' be taking the COVID-19 vaccine but then changed his mind [pictured in July]

Hesitant: Diagnosed with Lyme Disease alongside mum Yolanda and sister Bella, he said 'as someone who has had a compromised immune system I want to continue to learn about the many ways I can protect myself and others'

COVID-19 indications can appear completely asymptomatic or long-haul, flu-like symptoms, similar to symptoms described by people with Lyme disease.

The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society defined Lyme disease as: a bacterial infection caused by several members of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were recently approved and introduced in the United States, with more than 94 percent effectiveness rate battling COVID-19 after the second dose is administered.

In clinical trials only 16% of people experienced 'severe' adverse reaction which required medical attention or prevented them from going about their daily lives.

Interesting intel: The 21-year-old son of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Yolanda took to Instagram last week share a few of his views against vaccinations but was quick to clarify the statements on Monday

Lyme disease: Anwar, Yolanda, and Bella were diagnosed with the autoimmune disease around 2012 and COVID-19 indications can appear completely asymptomatic or long-haul, flu-like symptoms, similar to symptoms described by people with Lyme disease

Despite the seeming ease of the process, a quarter of Americans reported that they would 'probably' or 'definitely' refuse to get it in a survey taken in the late summer.

Nearly one million cases of coronavirus and 36,000 deaths have been documented in New York, where Anwar and girlfriend Dua have been based after spending the majority of their quarantine in London.

To date, the United States has recorded 18million cases and 330,000 deaths, while global deaths are slowly nearing two million.
A two-car crash on Thursday afternoon in rural Lincoln County killed a woman from Mill City and caused one adult driver and five children to be hospitalized for their injuries.

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to a report of a crash in the H.B. Van Duzer Forest State Scenic Corridor on Oregon 18 around 2:40 p.m. on New Years Eve. Six other government agencies or ambulance providers responded, in addition to state troopers.

According to state troopers, a preliminary investigation revealed that Julien Doudna, a 35-year-old father from Mill City, was attempting to cross from a rest area on the north side of the highway to a rest area on the south side in the familys Honda Pilot. Doudna collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser that Scott Brady, 49, of Salem, was driving eastbound on the highway.

Brandy Doudna, 44, also of Mill City, was a passenger in the Honda Pilot and was killed in the crash, police said in a news release.

The Doudnas four children were also in the SUV. One child was taken by helicopter ambulance to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland and the three other children and Julien Doudna were transported to Salem Hospital, according to police.

A child in Bradys vehicle was also injured and was taken to North Lincoln Hospital. Brady and two other passengers were not taken to the hospital.

This was the second tragic crash for the Doudna family in the last two years. In January 2019, 9-year-old Tristan Doudna was seriously injured in a crash on Oregon 22 near their home in Mill City, according to news reports from the time. Another vehicle hit the Doudnas car, after Brandy Doudna swerved to avoid a deer, hit a guardrail and was unable to move her car off the highway. Brandy and Julien told Portland television station KPTV at the time that Tristan was recovering from multiple facial fractures.

 Hillary Borrud
Mike Pompeo calls for release of Chinese Christian journalist jailed for Wuhan reporting

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called for the release of Chinese Christian journalist Zhang Zhan, who was sentenced to four years in prison over her coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. He said her case is evidence the Chinese Communist Party fears citizens who speak the truth.

On Monday, Zhang became the first independent journalist to be sentenced to prison in China for covering the pandemic in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus that sparked the ongoing global pandemic.

The 37-year-old Christian, who saw her work as Gods will, reported on the conditions of those suffering from COVID-19 infections as well as the overly harsh lockdowns implemented by the CCP.

In a statement Tuesday, Pompeo condemned Zhangs sentence and called on Chinas government to release her "immediately and unconditionally."

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has shown once again it will do whatever it takes to silence those who question the Partys official line, even regarding crucial public health information, he said.

According to Pompeo, lying is a feature, not a bug of authoritarian regimes. He accused the CCP of restricting and manipulating information about the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan from the start and brutally silencing other brave truth-tellers.

Because of the CCPs gross malfeasance, the rest of the world relied heavily on uncensored reports from citizen journalists like Zhang to understand the true situation in Wuhan after the CCP-imposed strict media controls were enforced and a controllable outbreak turned into a deadly global pandemic, he said. Her hasty trial, to which foreign observers were denied access, shows how fearful the CCP is of Chinese citizens who speak the truth.

Pompeo stressed that Chinas "fear of transparency and its ongoing repression of fundamental freedoms are a sign of weakness, not strength, and a threat to all of us.

Zhang was found guilty by Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Court of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a charge the Chinese government uses for human rights activists and other dissidents. Prosecutors accused her of publishing large amounts of fake information and receiving interviews to purposely stir up the Wuhan COVID-19 situation.

After her arrest in May, Zhang stopped commenting publicly and began a hunger strike in late June. By December, she was suffering headaches, giddiness, stomach pains, a throat infection, and had low blood pressure.

When one of her attorneys visited her in detention, she reportedly said she wished she had a Bible and quoted 1 Corinthians 10:13, in which the apostle Paul said, God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

The Hudson Institutes Michael Pillsbury told Fox News on Wednesday that Zhang is a hero for exposing a great deal of things China doesnt want out.

This hurts China's interest and excites really bipartisan anger at China, he said. There seems to be no limit to what they will do to crack down on whatever happened with the virus back in January. It remains a mystery. There's been no explanation for it.

Pillsbury said the case brings up bigger concerns and questions about how the incoming Biden administration will handle China and combat China and be tough on China like the Trump administration.

We've got to take measures, steps, sanctions, punishment against China. We can't just get away with virtue signaling, condemning China rhetorically, and then doing nothing, he said. We still treat China as a friend in many ways. That's got to change.

Though Zhang was the first of the citizen journalists known to face legal proceedings for her activities, other citizen journalists who covered the outbreak have disappeared without explanation, including Fang Bin, Chen Qiushi and Li Zehua.
It was the $45 blow-out seen around the world.

Four months ago salon owner Erica Kious was in the middle of a media firestorm after she gave security camera footage of Nancy Pelosi at her San Francisco beauty salon to a friend who passed it on to the media.

DailyMail.com caught up with the salon owner and stylist on Tuesday as she made a visit to the window display at Kitson in Los Angeles that showcases a still image of the incident.

'I had to see this for myself!' she said.

In the window was a blown up photo of Pelosi in Erica's salon, with the quote 'Rules for thee not for me!'.

Erica said she loved Kitson's decision to add a Santa hat to the Speaker of the House's head to make it more festive. 'That hair color box is a nice touch,' she said laughing.

DailyMail.com caught up with salon owner Erica Kious on Tuesday as she visited a window display at Kitson in Los Angeles that shows a photo of Pelosi in her salon

Erica, the owner of the e Salon SF, exposed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's maskless trip to her business in August. Pelosi is seen on the leaked security footage

Back on September 1, Nancy Pelosi was quickly branded a 'hypocrite' for not wearing a mask while inside Erica's salon for a wash and blow-out, at a time when salons were closed due to pandemic related state and local ordinances.

Erica tells DailyMail.com that what people didn't realize is how fed up she was at the point she released the video.

Nancy Pelosi was quickly branded a 'hypocrite' for not wearing a mask while inside Erica's salon for a wash and blow-out, at a time when salons were closed due to pandemic related state and local ordinances

She says she had emailed and called her local supervisors about the protocols her salon had put in place and the catastrophic damage of the closures but no one responded.

'I was on a plane to Tennessee when my phone alerted me to movement in the salon. I looked at it and was just like I'd had enough,' she said.

She said she knew ahead of time that Pelosi had booked an appointment.

'What do I do?' she said. 'It was a slap in the face that she went in, you know, that she feels that she can just go and get her stuff done while no one else can go in, and I can't work. We're supposed to look up to this woman, right? It's just disturbing.'

Erica didn't realize she would become the Norma Rae of the beauty industry.

'I was not a political person before, but now I get it. I understand ''Give me liberty or give me death.'' I don't want to live like this,' she said.

She says even her super liberal clients sent their support after the video was released.

'San Francisco was going down before Covid came along, it just accelerated it,' she added.

Erica had said she was forced to close because she was too afraid to do business in San Francisco after receiving death threats

After posing for photos in front of the blown up image, Erica posed for a few in front of the California Governor Gavin Newsom display holding the latest French Laundry cookbook by Chef Thomas Keller

Erica, 44, says that many of her clients were already moving out of the area due to crime and the homeless situation, 'And we're in Nancy Pelosi's district!'

'I would say a good 90 percent of feedback has been good. Almost everyone either has a family member in the [beauty] industry or a friend so they can identify,' she said. 'I had stylists who used to make $130,000 a year asking me for grocery money to eat. It's just devastating.'

Pelosi, 80, was a frequent client to the salon.

While the Speaker's net worth is an estimated $120million and she collects a $223k yearly salary from taxpayers, she wasn't big on letting it trickle down to the service industry.

'She's cheap! One time [after] I washed her hair she took some old wadded up one dollar bills and stuffed them in my hand,' Erica said.

Lawmaker Pelosi later claimed the salon, 'clearly, set her up,' and claimed ignorance when it came to her local laws and restrictions.

After posing for photos in front of the blown up image, Erica posed for a few in front of the California Governor Gavin Newsom display holding the latest French Laundry cookbook by Chef Thomas Keller.

Nancy's famous nephew Gavin was caught maskless as well, while violating his own social gathering, and indoor dining bans when he was photographed at the upscale French Laundry restaurant in the Napa Valley on November 6.

Unlike Aunt Nancy, Gavin later admitted to his 'mistake.'

The eSalon in San Francisco where the speaker had her hair washed and blown dry

At the time, President Trump chimed in to mock 'Crazy Nancy Pelosi' for her visit

Back on December 2, Donald Trump Jr., posted a video of the Kitson Holiday window to his social media and it went viral.

The windows give a shout out to the hypocrites of 2020, on one side, and the notable people of the year on the other.

Kitson owner Fraser Ross tells DailyMail.com he was happy to finally meet Erica. 'She's such a strong person. I feel like she was really the first person in our state to really stand up for what is right and fight back,' he said.

Back in September, a gofundme raised over $300k for the single mother-of-two after she lost her business.

'I plan on working again, setting up stations in both Fresno and the Newport Beach area,' as soon as health restrictions ease up in California, she says of her next step.

She's also been helping out other people in her industry who are being harassed.

'They've reached out to me and I'm doing whatever I can for them. I think I've given people courage to step up and say 'this isn't right.'
Photo: The Canadian Press President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is returning to Washington after visiting his Mar-a-Lago resort. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

President Donald Trump on Thursday extended pandemic-related bans on issuing green cards and work visas to large groups of applicants outside the United States through March 31.

Federal judges limited the impact but the bans, however short-lived, significantly tightened legal immigration, a goal that had eluded Trump before the coronavirus struck. They had been set to expire Thursday.

An extension is consistent with Trumps hardline stance on immigration and passes on the decision over when and whether to lift the bans to President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office Jan. 20. Biden's immigration platform doesn't specifically address the issue.

In April, Trump imposed a ban on green cards issued abroad that largely targets family members of people already in the United States. After a surprisingly chilly reception from immigration hawks, the administration went much further in June by adding H-1B visas, which are widely used by American and Indian technology company workers and their families; H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers; J-1 visas for cultural exchanges; and L-1 visas for managers and other key employees of multinational corporations.

Trump said the measures would protect American jobs in a pandemic-wracked economy, while business groups said they would hamper a recovery.

By contrast, the administration's edict to immediately expel asylum-seekers and others who cross the border illegally from Mexico was justified on grounds of containing the coronavirus, though reporting by The Associated Press and others found that government scientists saw no evidence for it. A temporary ban on non-essential travel across the Mexican and Canadian borders was also done for public health.

In October, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of San Francisco, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled that the work-visa ban could not be enforced against groups that sued and their members, who represent much of the U.S. economy: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, technology industry group TechNet and Intrax Inc., which manages cultural exchange programs.

In December, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of Oakland, California, an appointee of President Barack Obama, prevented the green-card ban from taking effect against families of 181 U.S. citizens and legal residents who sued.
In the wake of the recent terror attack on the airport of the southern Yemeni city of Aden, Iran on Thursday said the horrific incident was a result of the 'foreign occupation' of the nation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, in a statement, claimed that the supposed foreign occupation has resulted in the full devastation of Yemen and caused a terrible humanitarian crisis in the country.

"Continued foreign aggression and occupation of Yemeni soil are the key contributors to instability as well as a lack of order and enforcement of the law, and have jeopardized Yemen's territorial integrity," said Khatibzadeh. "The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns the aggressors' acts of aggression and war and stresses a political solution to the crisis, and once again asks all parties to end the futile conflict by returning to political negotiations," he added.

Read: Yemen: 30 Killed As Twin Blasts Rock Aden Airport, Ministers Blame Houthis

Read: Iran Fires Stern Warning To US, Says Soleimani's Killers 'won't Be Safe On Earth'

Aden Attack

Earlier on Wednesday, the Aden airport was attacked as a plane carrying newly sworn-in Yemeni cabinet ministers landed in the city. As per reports, at least 25 people were killed and over 110 were injured in the incident. Among those killed, there are three employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Yemen, located at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, has been torn between Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia in a war that has caused widespread violence, poverty, and hunger. Yemens Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani blamed the attack on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. In addition to that, Yemeni Communication Minister Naguib al-Awg, who was also on the government plane, told The Associated Press that he heard two explosions, suggesting they were drone attacks.

Russia, the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have already condemned the deadly attack.

Read: Iran Alleges Trump Trying To Fabricate Reason To Start War, Says Tehran Will Not Surrender

Read: Ukraine Plane Crash: Iran To Pay $1,50,000 Each To Families Of 176 Victims

(With Agency Inputs)
A shocking spike in Queensland's annual road toll has left police vowing to do everything possible to stop more deaths in 2021.

Fifty-seven more people lost their lives in 2020 than in 2019, a year with a record low death toll of 217 deaths. Across 2020, 276 people died on Queensland roads.

About 40 per cent of Queensland's fatal crashes across 2020 involved people not using seat belts. Credit:Joe Armao

The results came as two people were killed on the roads over New Year's night, one a 35-year-old woman in a single-vehicle crash near Bundaberg and the other a 21-year-old Sunshine Coast man in a suspected hit-and-run.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Ray Rohweder said people not using seatbelts, speeding, driving under the influence or using mobile phones, and driving at speed on regional roads were key contributors to the annual death toll.
New York City, a place synonymous with the glitter and noise of New Years Eve, marked the close of a most unpredictable and upside-down of years in quiet deference to its dangers. In sending off a year so many would like to forget, New Yorkers spent a night that will instead be remembered, for its communal rejection of the usual fanfare.

Not everyone stayed home. Sheriffs deputies watchful for large indoor gatherings raided three buildings across the city, including a Queens karaoke club with 300 patrons. The deputies were suspicious after conducting a stakeout on an emergency exit door. It was as if all eyes were very much not on Times Square, the center of the party for more than a century but practically deserted on Thursday evening.

The low-key rollout of one of the citys busiest nights came amid new infection numbers that underscored the threats of in-person gatherings. There were 176 deaths statewide from Covid-19 on Friday. The citys seven-day positivity rate was 9.4 percent; throughout the state, the daily positivity rate was 7.5 percent.

The sobering numbers did not keep everyone socially distant. But there seem to have been few enough large parties that the secret ones were easier to find.
President-elect Joe Biden's choice to be treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, collected more than $7 million in speaking fees over the past two years from major financial firms and tech giants.

Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chair, disclosed the more than 50 speaking gigs, including to government-regulated Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Google, as part of a set of documents that move her candidacy closer to consideration by the U.S. Senate.

Yellen's was among three financial disclosures turned in by Biden transition officials that were made public on Thursday by the Office of Government Ethics.

In a separate filing, Yellen listed firms and banks where she had received speaking fees and said she intended to 'seek written authorization' from ethics officials to 'participate personally and substantially' in matters involving them.

Yellen was the Federal Reserve chair from 2014 to 2018. Her term was not renewed by President Donald Trump. She took in the speaking fees in 2019 and 2020.

President-elect Joe Biden, right, listens as Janet Yellen, who Biden nominated to serve as Secretary of the Treasury, speaks at The Queen theater on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware

Janet Yellen's speaking fees Yellen disclosed the more than 50 speaking gigs, among them: Goldman Sachs, 6/17/2020: $67,500

Google, 10/30/2019: $112,500

City National Bank, 1/28/2019 - 1/31/2019: $562,500

Hong Kong Development Council, 1/13/2020: $270,000

Texas Christian University, 3/28/2019: $135,000

Barclays, 10/15/2019 & 7/29/2020: $180,000 & $54,000

National Retail Federation, 1/14/2019: $157,500

Bank of America, 10/2/2019: $45,000

Salesforce, 6/24/2020: $67,500 Advertisement

Yellen was paid $67,500 for a speaking gig to Goldman Sachs on June 17, $112,500 in October 2019 for a Google event, and an eye-watering $270,000 for speaking to the Hong Kong Development Council in January last year.

Over four days in January 2019, she was paid $562,500 in speaking fees by City National Bank.

There were multiple speaking gigs listed for Citi, including $217,200 in June 2019, $87,750 in May last year and $434,400 over two days in March 2019.

Her selection by Biden to lead the Treasury Department has been cheered by progressive Democrats, who support Yellen's work as a labor economist who has long prioritized combating economic inequality.

Since her nomination was announced, Yellen has pledged to work to fight systemic racism and climate change.

But receiving steep payments from Wall Street bankers and other powerful corporations could become an issue as her nomination works its way through a closely divided Senate.

Hillary Clinton faced criticism from the left wing of the Democratic Party while running for president in 2016 for having received lucrative speaking fees at Wall Street firms.

A Biden transition spokesperson said Friday that, since leaving the Fed, Yellen has 'spoken at economic conferences, universities and to business groups and financial institutions about her experiences and her views on what we can do as a country to build a stronger economy and increase our competitiveness.'

He added that 'this is not someone who pulls punches when it comes to bad actors or bad behavior.'

Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, ranking member of the chamber's Finance Committee, said he expects Yellen's nomination to 'move forward quickly, with her hearing held before Inauguration Day' on January 20.

'In the last few years, she has shared her views in a range of forums - congressional testimony, media interviews, speaking engagements, and opinion pieces,' Wyden said in a statement. 'Shes been fully transparent.'

Yellen (pictured with her husband in 2001) was the Federal Reserve chair from 2014 to 2018. Her term was not renewed by President Donald Trump. She took in the speaking fees in 2019 and 2020

Also released Thursday were disclosure forms from Bidens choice to be secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who detailed his work at a consulting firm he co-founded, WestExec Advisors, LLC.

They show that Blinken was paid more than $1.1 million and has entered into an agreement, negotiated in October, to sell his equity interest in the firm, where he advised clients including Bank of America and Facebook.

Avril Haines, Biden's choice to be national intelligence director, disclosed being a consultant at WestExec Advisors and collecting around $55,000 in fees between October 2017 and last summer.

In a separate letter to ethics officials, Haines promised to recuse herself for one year in issues involving WestExec as well as her other past employers, including Columbia University, Syracuse University and the Brookings Institution think tank.

Some advocacy groups began warning just after Election Day that Biden, who was a senator from Delaware for 36 years and served as vice president for two terms, could rely too heavily on officials with strong ties to past Democratic administrations.

Many of those left public sector posts for jobs in the private sector and are now seeking to return to government, raising concerns about the 'revolving door' between policy and corporate and financial influence.

Biden, however, has largely shrugged off such concerns, saying he's not afraid to rely on advisers with deep governmental experience. He's pledged to assemble a Cabinet well versed in the workings of government and full of members from across the racial and ideological spectrum who look like the diverse country they will represent.

The transition spokesperson said Biden's incoming administration is committed to 'restoring trust in government by establishing an administration of the highest ethical standards' while calling the release of financial disclosures 'merely one step in the process of ensuring the highest degrees of transparency and ethics.'

Biden's transition team says it expects to announce more Cabinet picks next week. Among those positions yet to be filled are the president-elect's selection for labor secretary and attorney general - a choice that could be complicated by federal prosecutors investigating the finances of Biden's son Hunter.
Zara Holland has reportedly been arrested in Barbados after trying to return to the UK with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus.

The former Love Island star, 25, and her beau Elliott Love, 30, are thought to have had a test when they arrived on the island on Sunday, reports The Sun.

However after receiving his result on Tuesday, the duo are said to have been given red wristbands but allegedly cut them off and tried to flee to the airport in a taxi.

Hotels in Barbados have given out red wristbands during the pandemic for guests who have not yet tested negative for the virus.

Those guests are then restricted to their rooms, only accessing meals by room service.

A member of staff at the 300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel is said to have found the bands and called police, who reportedly found Zara and Elliot at the airport.

Other guests at Sugar Bay are not having to quarantine as a result of the alleged breach, with staff confident no one else came into close contact, but visitors isolate on arrival anyway until a negative test is confirmed.

Making a break for it? Zara Holland has reportedly been arrested in Barbados after trying to return leave with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus (pictured in Barbados in April 2019)

Covid rules for visitors to Barbados Before arriving in Barbados visitors have to fill out an online form and preferably include an upload of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result. It is then mandatory for travellers from High-Risk and Medium-Risk countries to receive a second test while on island. While waiting for the results visitors then have to restrict their movements to their accommodation and cannot have visitors. If the result is positive, then the person is assessed at a government facility for a minimum of 24 hours. After this there is the option to self-isolate at your own expense or go to a government isolation location, such as the Paragon Military Base. However if a positive test is returned, the visitor cannot return home. They have to isolate until they have recovered. Upon recovery, you can resume your vacation or return home, Visit Barbados explains. The country has had just 383 Covid cases and only seven deaths since the start of the pandemic. Advertisement

The couple were thought to be being held on a Covid ward at the St Lucy Hospital in northern Barbados on Thursday night.

Island chief medical officer Dr Kenneth George told the publication: 'There are three tourists who are of special interest. Two are in quarantine and one in police custody.

'Two were apprehended at the airport. This is a police matter and I trust that the appropriate evidence will be submitted.'

Meanwhile, local reports in Barbados say that airport staff have been quarantined after coming into contact with two British tourists, believed to be the couple.

While a spokesman for the country's Ministry of Health and Wellness added: 'Police have held for questioning at least three tourists in relation to alleged breaches.

'We will take firm action against any individuals who breach protocols.'

Zara and Elliott could now face criminal charges, including endangering the lives of others, an 18,000 fine each and even the potential of 12 months in prison for allegedly flouting the rules.

MailOnline has contacted Zara's representatives for a comment.

Before arriving in Barbados visitors have to fill out an online form and preferably include an upload of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

It is then mandatory for travellers from High-Risk and Medium-Risk countries to receive a second test while on island.

While waiting for the results visitors then have to restrict their movements to their accommodation and cannot have visitors.

If the result is positive, then the person is assessed at a government facility for a minimum of 24 hours. After this there is the option to self-isolate at your own expense or go to a government isolation location, such as the Paragon Military Base.

Claims: The former Love Island star, 25, and her beau Elliott Love, 30, are thought to have had a test when they arrived on the island on Sunday and received his positive result on Tuesday

The Paragon Isolation Centre on Barbados where Zara Holland and boyfriend Elliot Love were taken after being arrested

Police called after staff at 300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel (pictured) found bands

Not an ideal start to 2021: The duo are said to have been given red wristbands but allegedly cut them off and tried to flee to the airport in a taxi (Zara is pictured in Barbados in 2019)

Hot spot: The couple, who have been together since 2016, have visited Barbados several times (pictured on a holiday with Zara's family in 2018)

Finding fame: Zara appeared on Love Island in 2016 and has since spoken out about how her 'rollercoaster' experience on the reality show left her battling anxiety and depression

In action: Since Love Island, Zara has turned her attentions to running a business with her mum (pictured on the reality show with Daniel Lukakis)

However if a positive test is returned, the visitor cannot return home. They have to isolate until they have recovered. Upon recovery, you can resume your vacation or return home, Visit Barbados explains.

The country has had just 383 Covid cases and only seven deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Zara, who was de-crowned of her Miss Great Britain title after romping with Alex Bowen on reality show Love Island back in 2016, found love with boyfriend Elliott.

The pair struck up a romance just months after Zara left the show, and she later told the Daily Star that he was 'the one'.

She gushed: 'We're very happy together and have such a great time. He is absolutely amazing and he's definitely the one.'
Kabul, Jan 1 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jan, 2021 ) :An Afghan radio journalist was shot dead Friday in a car ambush in the central province of Ghor, officials said, the fifth media worker to be killed in two months.

Besmullah Adel Aimaq, editor-in-chief of Voice of Ghor radio, was killed en route to Firoz Koh city, the capital of Ghor province, said governor's spokesman Aref Aber.

Aimaq's murder follows a similar pattern in recent months, where prominent Afghans have been ambushed by gunmen or killed in bomb attacks.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Aimaq's murder.

The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, a group working for the security of journalists in the violence-wracked country, confirmed the incident.
George Gascon, then San Francisco District Attorney who took office as Los Angeles County District Attorney on Dec. 7, 2020, speaks during a new conference in San Francisco, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2014. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

LA Judge Defies DA in Gang Murder Case; DA Accused of Backdoor Deal

Los Angeles Countys new, embattled district attorney, George Gascon, is facing allegations that his special adviser, Mario Trujillo, offered a backdoor sweetheart deal in the case of a gang member charged with murder.

Gascon has faced a backlashincluding being sued by the countys deputy district attorneysfor his sweeping reform of the countys criminal justice system since he stepped into office on Dec. 7.

His office issued a brief reply to The Epoch Times denying that Trujillo offered a backdoor deal in the case of Rudy Dominguez.

Dominguez is an admitted 18th Street gang member charged with the murder of 26-year-old Fernando Rojo Jr., attempted murder of five others, and six counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle.

In hearing the case on Dec. 15 and Dec. 28, Judge Mark S. Arnold criticized and defied Gascons reforms, which would provide leniency in sentencing for Dominguez.

During the Dec. 15 hearing, Dominguezs defense attorney Traci Blackburn also said Trujillo had offered a backdoor deal that would give the defendant a seven-year sentence. He was otherwise looking at the possibility of life without parole.

Blackburn said, according to a hearing transcript obtained by The Epoch Times, that the offer was conveyed to me. Arnold asked From who?

I believe it was Mario Trujillo, Jeffrey Herring, the prosecutor, said. Ive also been told from a separate set of supervisors there is no offer, and thats why were in a conundrum today.

Blackburn then confirmed that the offer came from Trujillo. The matter would be picked back up at the Dec. 28 hearing. At the Dec. 15 hearing, Arnold began his defiance of Gascons controversial reform banning most enhancements, which are additional charges or penalties based on the gravity of the crime or the defendants criminal history.

Judge Pushes Back on Reforms

Herring said at the hearing that enhancements shouldnt be allowed in Dominguezs case in the interest of justice.

And the interest of justice is met how? Arnold asked.

Herring said hes following the new DAs position that extended prison sentences are too long, costly, ineffective, and harm people in underserved communities.

At that point, Arnold initiated a dialogue with the victims four family members who were present.

What do you think about eliminating all of these allegations that Mr. Herrings office is looking to eliminate? he asked America Rojo, the sister of the deceased.

Im sorry, I dont think its fair, she said.

Are you crying? Judge Arnold asked. Why are you crying?

I just feel that we need justice, America Rojo said. Its just not fair that heif he doesnt get as much years.

The victims mother, Teresa Rojo, echoed the same sentiment.

Its not fair that they would lower many years  because somebody who is doing harm to people, they should pay, she said.

After hearing from the family, the court cited 1975s People vs. Orin to define what the interest of justice means, concluding that, if courts terminated prosecutions of crimes or enhancements  without adequate reason, it would frustrate the orderly and effective operation of our criminal justice procedure as envisioned by the legislature.

Arnold denied the motion to dismiss sentencing enhancements or special circumstances.

Despite the courts denial, when the case resumed on Dec. 28, the prosecution asked for permission to put specific language on the record, according to the hearing transcript.

Then, Herring read from a script Gascon issued on Dec. 15 to deputy district attorneys, a portion of which states, It is the position of this office that [these laws] are unconstitutional.  [They] provide no deterrent effect or public safety benefit of incapacitationin fact, the opposite may be true, wasting critical financial state and local resources.

After the reading, Arnold said, This is something youre reading. These are not your words.

He proceeded to explain why sections of the script the prosecution read didnt apply to Dominguezs case.

Arnold asked if this reading represented a second attempt to dismiss enhancements, the prosecution said yes, and the court denied the motion for a second time.

[The motion] does not rise, in any way, shape, or form, to the level of in the interest of justice, Arnold said. [Gascons] special directive has no legal authority.  Its just their view.

Alleged Backdoor Offer Dismissed

Arnold went on to say he was puzzled by the revelation from the previous hearing that an offer of seven years had been made.

At that point, Larry Droeger, head deputy of the Hardcore Gang Division, explained to the court that theres a longstanding, ingrained protocol whenever official offers are obtained. He said that this protocolwhich he clarified in detailwas apparently ignored in this case.

Theres a reason why we follow that procedure, Droeger said. The reason is to ensure against improper influence or bias in the decision-making process. Its also so that we have a uniform and fair application of our policies towards all similar situated defendants.

If [Trujillo made an offer], I dont know under what authority he did that.

Its a good thing, Arnold said, adding that such an offer should not exist given the circumstances. Because theres no way I could look at myself in the mirror and  live with a plea bargain of seven years on this case.  Theres no way I would have accepted that, based on my knowledge of this case.

Conflict of Interest?

Sam Dordulian, who represented the surviving members of the Rojo family at the hearing, sought to have the DAs office recused from the case due to a conflict of interest.

He pointed out that the seven-year offerwhich, by Blackburns admission on Dec. 15, was facilitated by deputy public defender Tiffany Blackwellrepresented a conflict of interest because Blackwell is part of Gascons transition team and a member of his policy committee.

The whole purpose of the chain of command that the court just heard is to avoid the specific thing that happened in this case, Dordulian said.

[Its] to avoid people like Mario Trujillo [going] through the back door [to] give a special offer to Ms. Blacknell, who was the public defender on this specific case, a sweetheart deal that just could not be justified by the facts of the case.

The court maintained that so long as the seven-year offer was off the table, no conflict of interest existed. Therefore, Dordulians request was denied.

[The] bottom line is they tried to get away quietly with a backdoor, unethical, and improper deal [with] Ms. Blacknells client and they got caught, Dordulian told The Epoch Times via email.

Thankfully it never materialized, but certainly not for a lack of trying on the part of Mario Trujillo, who was willing to let a gangbanger murderer walk the streets after one man was killed and another injured by a bullet after a few short years.

This is the new face of justice in Los Angeles under George Gascons policies.

The next hearing date is Jan. 27. The trial will commence within 60 days from that date.
Massachusetts abortion bill becomes law as state senate overrides Baker's veto

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A Massachusetts abortion bill known as the ROE Act has become law as both houses of the state legislature have overridden Republican Gov. Charlie Bakers veto of the measure.

On Tuesday, just one day after the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to override Bakers veto, the Massachusetts Senate followed suit. Thirty-two of the states 40 senators voted to override Bakers veto, far exceeding the two-thirds threshold needed to nullify a gubernatorial veto.

Baker vetoed the bill last week, citing concerns about the sections of this proposal that expand the availability of later-term abortions and permit minors age 16 and 17 to get an abortion without the consent of the parent or guardian. However, Baker expressed support for other portions of the bill that would codify a right to abortion into state law and permit abortions after 24 weeks gestation in cases of a fatal fetal anomaly.

Additionally, the ROE Act enables physician assistants, midwives and nurse practitioners to perform abortions and removes a provision in Massachusetts law banning the use of late-term abortion procedures designed to destroy the life of the unborn child or injure the unborn child in its mothers womb.

The pro-life group Massachusetts Citizens for Life warned on Twitter that the bill eliminated basic standards of care for women, legal protection for our underage daughters requesting surgical procedures, and requirements that physicians provide medical treatment to newborn infants.

In #MA, thanks to NARAL & pro-abortion lobbyists, we're actually leaving behind:

? basic standards of medical care for women

? legal protection for our underage daughters requesting surgical procedures

? requirements that physicians provide medical treatment to newborn infants https://t.co/2d1Kop2SdM  MA Citizens for Life (@MassProLife) December 30, 2020

In response to the passage of the ROE Act, Myrna Maloney Flynn, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, slammed the legislature for ramming this damaging bill through during Covid, inserting it into the state budget, knowing our opposition could not fight it in person due to quarantine restrictions. While we pause today to grieve for the many lives that will be severely damaged and lost as a result of the ROE Act, we anticipate, much as abolitionists did, the inevitability of a brighter tomorrow.

Flynn vowed that the passage of the ROE Act would not deter her organization from continuing its mission: We look forward to continuing our work alongside the citizens of Massachusetts, who already know the value of human life and are eager to educate and support others and to ultimately illuminate the inherent right to life of the unborn. As we have done since January 23, 1973, Massachusetts Citizens for Life will work tirelessly to make abortion unthinkable. And we will prevail.

Meanwhile, the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts reacted favorably to the development. Taking to Twitter, the pro-abortion group touted Massachusetts as the first state to legislatively ease burdensome restrictions on young peoples access to care, ensuring 16 and 17-year olds will no longer be forced to obtain a parents permission or ensure a shame-inducing court process to receive abortion care.

True reproductive freedom means everyone is empowered to make decisions about their own bodies & health care, free from medically unnecessarily barriers, free from medical racism & discrimination, & free from political interference. Now, MA is one stop closer to achieving reality, it added. This is an incredible victory, both for Planned Parenthood patients and people across the Commonwealth, and is thanks to the tireless work of so many advocates, patients, lawmakers, doctors, and more.

Following the passage of the ROE Act, Massachusetts will join 13 other states that have codified a right to abortion into state law that would remain in effect should the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide be reversed. According to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, the others are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Additionally, Massachusetts will become the ninth state that does not have any gestational limits on abortion. The others are Alaska, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont.

The ROE Act is one of several measures implemented by blue states in recent years to liberalize abortion laws. New York, Rhode Island and Illinois were among the states that passed similar legislation last year while lawmakers in New Jersey introduced the Reproductive Freedom Act following President Donald Trumps nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, citing concern about the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Despite the many challenges we face due to the continuing virus crisis and political and economic uncertainties, a leading expert on long-term care planning reminds us we control our feelings and how we respond to them.

"It is hard sometimes to listen to the radio or watch TV and stay optimistic about the future. Many people feel anxious and often become paralyzed. Yet, others are still focused on moving forward and finding ways to continue with their careers, businesses, and their families despite the issues we face. We control how we respond to the world we live in, and taking positive, proactive action will benefit you and your family," said Matt McCann, a nationally recognized expert on long-term health care planning.

Planning for future costs and burdens of long-term care is one way to reduce the stress and anxiety that can otherwise be placed on loved ones. Speaking on a Zoom conference with insurance and retirement planners in Kansas City, McCann said one thing learned from the COVID-19 experience is many of us are unprepared for a crisis.

"I have seen how a long-term health care event creates a family crisis when you are unprepared for the consequences that come with a long-term health care event. This has not changed in the twenty-one years I have been in this industry. While many people only look at the financial impact long-term care costs can have on a family's finances, too many people ignore the consequences of long-term care has on the family. We see these consequences on a grand scale now during this virus crisis," McCann said.

McCann said long-term care is both a cash flow problem and a family problem. Without some plan in place, the family goes into crisis mode. Decisions are made on the fly and may not be the best choices had the family been prepared in advance. Yet, too many people are not thinking about planning because of their anxiety about the world around them.

"People require long-term health care due to an illness, accident, or the impact of aging. The cost of care is expensive, and we see these costs increase even more due to COVID-19. Family members are unable and unprepared to be caregivers. Paid care creates cash flow problems. Families prefer loved ones to stay in their own home for extended care if possible. How will your family approach your future care in the decades ahead? Are you prepared? If not, you need a plan. Everyone needs a plan," McCann said.

While McCann acknowledges that we all have many things to worry about today. However, he says by taking a positive and proactive approach will give you and your family peace-of-mind.

"We see firsthand today that it is stressful dealing with older family members or those who are suffering from health concerns, particularly when you are physically distancing. Hopefully, in the future, we will beat COVID-19, and the amount of social distancing will diminish. However, families still live apart, and that trend will continue. The cost of long-term care services will continue to rise, adversely impacting income, lifestyle, and legacy. There is an easy and affordable solution," McCann added.

While the last thing most people want to do is buy insurance, McCann says Long-Term Care Insurance safeguards income and assets and gives your family the time to be family.

"We see how families are being affected by COVID-19 and long-term care. Caregivers are facing tremendous challenges keeping the care recipient and themselves safe. Family caregivers, who have always had pressure and anxiety providing care and maintaining their careers and family relationships, now face the concern about safety because of the virus. For those people who have Long-Term Care Insurance, the stress and pressures are reduced for everyone," he explained.

McCann said the time to purchase Long-Term Care Insurance is when you are younger and healthier. The ideal time is in your 40s or 50s when premiums are much more affordable. Long-Term Care Insurance is medically underwritten, so you much enjoy reasonably good health to obtain coverage.

He outlined several types of policies that are available:

Traditional/Partnership Certified - Most consumers purchase these affordable plans that provide an abundance of benefits and choices. In 45 states, Partnership policies are available that provide dollar-for-dollar asset protection.

Hybrid - Asset Based - Some consumers select this type of policy that combines life insurance or annuity with long-term care coverage. Be careful, as many of these products are not really providing adequate long-term care coverage or have policy language that limits your ability to obtain benefits. However, several very good plans exist that offer a death benefit along with long-term care benefits. These plans are more expensive and often are paid with one larger premium.

Limited-Duration/Short-Term - Some states offer these limited policies that provide one or two years of coverage. The big attraction is they will consider consumers with pre-existing health issues that traditional or hybrid plans would not.

McCann said it is important to seek help from a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist. The specialist should work with the major companies and have a substantial understanding of underwriting, policy design, and claims.

McCann helps consumers nationwide. He assists insurance agents and financial advisors with their clients as well. With over 20 years of experience, McCann is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. He can also discuss the many tax advantages available.

"Specialists like myself can find very affordable coverage that matches their age, health, family history, and their concerns. When I process claims, the families are pleased a plan was put in place. You can ease the stress and burden on your family by taking proactive action now," McCann said.

He recommends reading The Ultimate Long-Term Care Guide to start your research in long-term care planning. You can find the current and future cost of long-term health care by using the LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator.

McCann's website also has many resources: www.mccannltc.net
Crude oil futures edged higher to Rs 3,536 per barrel on January 1 as participants increased their long position as seen by the open interest. Crude oil price opened with a gap-up and traded in the positive territory in the afternoon session.

Crude oil prices held steady range post inventory data as investors and traders refrained from taking large positions ahead of New Year weekend.

Tapan Patel- Senior Analyst (Commodities), HDFC Securities said, Crude oil prices traded steady with benchmark NYMEX WTI crude oil were trading near $48.50 per barrel on Friday. MCX Crude oil January futures were trading marginally up at Rs 3,542 by noon session.

"We expect crude oil prices to trade sideways with support at $47 and resistance at $49.50. MCX crude oil January has support at Rs 3,490 and resistance at Rs 3,590," he said.

MCX iCOMDEX Crude Oil Index inched higher by 15.96 points, or 0.40 percent, at 4,027.54 at 15:43.

In the futures market, crude oil for January delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 3,559 and an intraday low of Rs 3,528 per barrel on MCX. So far in the current series, black gold has touched a low of Rs 3,130 and a high of Rs 3,639.

Crude oil delivery for January gained Rs 12, or 0.34 percent, to Rs 3,536 per barrel at 16:03 hours IST with a business turnover of 1,227 lots.

The value of January contracts traded so far is Rs 32.32 crore.

West Texas Intermediate crude was up 0.08 percent quoting at $48.44 per barrel, while Brent crude, the London-based international benchmark, soared 0.17 percent to $51.72 per barrel.

For all commodities-related news, click here

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
This story has been updated to reflect events from Thursday as the vaccine rollout was expanded to doctors and other professionals that dont work directly in hospitals.

Syracuse, N.Y.  Dr. Mitchell Brodey oversees a network of more than 450 medical professionals in family practices across Central New York. Three days ago, he had no idea when those people will get the Covid-19 vaccine.

We dont know when were getting the vaccines and we dont know where theyre going to be given, said Brodey, chief executive officer of the Family Care Medical Group. They might provide a whole big truckload for Family Care Medical Group and say, You figure out how to dole it out.

But as of late Thursday, hospitals and Onondaga County, in an effort to get as many vaccines off the shelf and into arms as possible, expanded testing to doctors in private practices like Brodeys. Some of the groups doctors got the vaccine and other employees have made appointments for next week, he said, but its not clear how many doses are available and how fast theyll be dispensed.

Its another hiccup in the sluggish and sometimes confusing rollout of the two Covid-19 vaccines approved for emergency use last month. Far fewer vaccines have been administered nationally than hoped, and the process nationwide and in New York has raised questions and concerns about whos getting it when  and who has to wait in line.

New York state had administered about 203,000 vaccines as of Thursday, about a third of the 630,000 distributed to the state by the federal government, the state Department of Health said. About 1% of the states 19 million people have gotten the vaccine, about the same pace as the nation overall. Nationwide, the rollout has been slower than planned: about 3 million doses have been given, just 15% of the Trump administrations goal of 20 million injections by the end of 2020.

New York is expected to get 259,000 doses next week, bringing the total in the first month to about 1 million. Still, the task of vaccinating the whole state is daunting. In just the first group to get the shots are 2 million health care professionals and 121,000 nursing home residents.

Everyone who is vaccinated needs two shots. The second is three or four weeks after the first, depending on the manufacturer of the vaccine.

Vaccines are being distributed by the federal government to the states, which then roll them out to cities and counties. In New York, the first round of vaccines has gone to hospitals, for immunizing their own front-line workers and to vaccinate other people in the community considered to be at high risk, including funeral home workers and substance abuse counselors.

Nursing homes are also on the top of the priority list, and many of them have begun immunizing their staff and patients through a distribution network set up through pharmacies. In Central New York, there are about 9,000 nursing home employees and residents.

Next week, health care workers in doctors offices and outpatient facilities are eligible for the vaccine. But being eligible is a long way from actually getting the shot, and many health care workers say theyve been kept in the dark about the process.

Id like somebody to shine some light on us whether we can be included in this first wave, said Anne DeRosa, an X-ray technician and mammographer who works at a standalone imaging center in Syracuse. Were in the line of fire.

DeRosa said imaging technicians like her work in close contact with people all day, and many of them might be carrying the virus.

Health care workers arent alone in wondering whats next. Madison County Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, a member of the Assemblys health committee, said early this week hes been told virtually nothing about the vaccine rollout in Central New York.

I have not received one bit of information, Salka said Tuesday. I have started to get more and more people who are more concerned about what the rollout is.

On Wednesday, Salka called back to say hed at least been told that the five-county Central New York region would be getting another 37,000 doses soon.

The initial rollout of vaccines went to 10 regional hubs in the state. Upstate was the hub for Central New York, which consists of Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said the county will take over the vaccine distribution from Upstate because the hospital staff is busy dealing with a surge of Covid-19 cases.

Upstate, the regions largest hospital, has vaccinated 2,000 employees in the past three weeks, said chief executive officer Dr. Robert Corona. The hospital will eventually vaccinate its remaining 5,000 workers, he said, including receptionists, which one study found had among the greatest exposures to the virus.

Were now vaccinating most of the people in the hospital -- anybody that may be exposed to Covid, he said.

Corona said the vaccine rollout is a work in progress, and that hospital officials dont know when shipments of vaccine will arrive or how many doses are coming.

When we get the vaccine, it just shows up, he said. We dont get an ETA on it.

A state health department employee tracks the vaccine as the doses leave the UPS truck and are delivered to the freezer, Corona said. The state has strict rules about who is eligible for the vaccine so far and has threatened to fine hospitals and clinics that violate the rules.

All vaccines must be injected within a week of delivery, the rules state.

After health care workers and nursing home residents get their shots, vaccines will be available to people 75 or older, and for essential frontline workers. That category includes teachers, food and agriculture workers, grocery store employees, corrections employees and public transit workers. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 30 million Americans fit that definition.

The next phase includes everybody over 65, anybody 16 or older with high-risk medical conditions, and all other essential workers, including those in food service, finance, and municipal services such as water and wastewater. There are about 57 million Americans in that group.

Its not clear when people in those next two phases will get their vaccines, or when the general public will get theirs. Experts say it could be late in 2021 or even early 2022 before anybody who wants a vaccine can get one.

I know theres frustration because everybody wants to get the vaccine now, and I understand that frustration, Corona said. Everybody has a reason why they should be getting the vaccine, and we agree, but we have to follow the directives.

Cayuga County issued a statement Thursday on who is eligible for the vaccine because of a significant amount of misinformation circulating on social media. The county Department of Health reiterated the states priority list and reminded anyone coming to a vaccination site to bring identification proving theyre in one of the eligible groups.

The vaccine cannot be used for any other populations or groups other than those the facility is instructed to vaccinate at this time, the release said.

READ MORE

Covid in US: Race to vaccinate millions off to slow, messy start

McMahon details who will get vaccines this week and next in Onondaga County

Can coronavirus vaccination be required to fly? Attend a concert or sporting event? Go shopping?


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Workers from China and Russia shake hands after the two ends of the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe highway bridge were joined together on May 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Jian)

BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that he stands ready to maintain close contact with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in various forms in a bid to lead their countries towards deeper comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields.

Xi made the remarks when exchanging New Year congratulations with Putin, adding that in doing so, greater benefits will be brought to the two peoples and more positive energy injected into the turbulent and changing world.

In his message, Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extended sincere greetings and best wishes to Putin and the Russian people.

Chinese medical experts pose for a photo before boarding a plane at an airport in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 11, 2020.(Photo by Xu Xu/Xinhua)

Noting that 2020 is an extraordinary year, Xi said the Chinese and Russian people have helped each other and worked together in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, writing a new chapter of good-neighborliness and friendship between the two countries.

In 2020, Xi said, the two sides launched the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation program, promoted the steady development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation under the condition of regular COVID-19 prevention and control, and achieved new progress in aligning the construction of the Belt and Road with the Eurasian Economic Union.

China and Russia also jointly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, demonstrating their firm determination to safeguard international fairness and justice, and making new contributions to building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added.

Photo taken on April 2, 2020 shows Chinese government's humanitarian aid at the Chkalovsky military airport in Moscow region, Russia.(Xinhua)

Xi said he and Putin in the past year have had several telephone conversations, jointly attended a series of multilateral summits via video link, had in-depth exchange of views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues, and reached new and important consensus, which the Chinese president speaks highly of.

Noting that the upcoming year is of special significance to bilateral relations, Xi said the two sides, centering on the theme of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, will vigorously promote the idea of a lasting friendship between the two countries, and envisage and enrich the development of China-Russia relations in the new era.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 17, 2020 shows a China-Europe freight train fully loaded with auto parts, mechanical facilities and garments bound for Moscow of Russia and Minsk of Belarus waiting for departure at Xiangtang railway port in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province.(Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)

For his part, Putin extended his sincere New Year greetings to Xi, and wished the Chinese people happiness and good health.

In the past year, the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has been rapidly developing, Putin said, adding that the governments, legislatures and various departments of the two countries have maintained close communication.

The two countries, he noted, have also smoothly launched the large-scale program of the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation and maintained high-level development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the two sides have maintained close coordination and cooperation to jointly promote the settlement of regional and international hotspot issues, and work together within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, Putin said.

Noting that the next year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Putin said he believes that the two sides will continue to uphold the spirit of the treaty and jointly achieve fresh outcomes in Russia-China relations.

A crane loads containers at the Manzhouli Railway Station in Manzhouli, a land port on the China-Russia border, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Yu Jia)

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also exchanged New Year greetings.

In his message, Li said that China and Russia have made great efforts to overcome the impact of the pandemic and external challenges over the past year, and maintained the positive momentum in the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two countries also successfully held the 25th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian prime ministers and reached many important consensus, Li said.

Li said he is ready to further strengthen communication and cooperation with Mishustin, give full play to the coordinating role of the regular meeting mechanism with his Russian counterpart and promote a sustainable, sound and stable development of practical bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Mishustin said he believes that the regular meeting mechanism will further help implement the goals and tasks set by the two sides and push the bilateral cooperation to a higher level in the new year.

[ Editor: WXY ]
New Delhi:

President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday that there should always be room for the "argumentative Indian" but not the "intolerant Indian", emphasising discussion and dissension as crucial for decision-making in the country.



"Our Constitution is a testament to the accommodation of our differences within the framework of an overarching idea of India," Mukherjee said, delivering the first Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture.



He said India's pluralism and its social, cultural, linguistic and racial diversity have been the bedrock of Indian civilisation.

Read | President Pranab says attack on doctors by patients' kin unacceptable



"That's why we need to be sensitive to dominant narratives, of those who make the loudest noise, drowning out those who disagree.



"That's why social media and broadcast news have seen angry, aggressive posturing by state and non-state players literally hounding out contrarian opinions," the President said.



President Mukherjee said Indian civilisation has always celebrated plurality and promoted tolerance.



"As I have said before, discussion, dissension are crucial to public debate for decision-making in a vibrant, healthy democracy such as India's. There should always be room for the argumentative Indian but not for the intolerant Indian. "That would be contrary to the spirit of the Constitution of India, to the very idea of India," Mukherjee said.

Read | President Pranab Mukherjee signs ordinance to amend Banking Regulation Act



Mukherjee said people here and globally are living in challenging times.



"Even as the youth look to the future, there has been considerable questioning of the past in the public discourse over the last few years. Each generation has the right to look back and reassess the strengths and weaknesses of the past. Let the brave new India draw its own conclusions," the President said.



Mukherjee said the spirit of tolerance and accommodation towards each other and those who differ from us is "what makes us Indians".



Talking about the role of the media, he said the press will be failing in its duty if it does not pose questions to the powers that be and it will have to simultaneously judge the frivolous from the factual and publicity from reportage.



Mukherjee said the news organisations need to ask themselves how they can find sustainable economic models that will allow them to resist all kinds of pressures and let them perform their role with honesty and transparency.



"However, such inquiry should not be blinkered by biases or resisted with a closed mind. Indian history and centuries' old civilisation is replete with examples of a willingness of the people to, as I have said, 'doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually'. "This is the bedrock of our nation, our Constitution is a testament to the accommodation of our differences within the framework of an overarching idea of India," the President said.



For centuries, India has witnessed a clash of civilisations and philosophies and survived it all to grow into the world's largest functioning democracy, he said.



"The question that faces all of us including the media is whether we will choose to define ourselves as a nation enriched by the diversity of views or allow partisan views to dominate our national narrative?" Mukherjee asked.



He said if the media believes in the freedom of expression, a free and a fearless independent media, it must choose to reflect a plurality of opinions for that is what breathes life into our democracy and has defined us as Indians.



"It must always remember that its fundamental task is to stand up and ask questions with honesty and fairness. That's the sacred compact it has with citizens in a democracy," the president said.



The President said that there is a need to question those in power as it is fundamental to preserving the nation and a truly democratic society. He also underscored the need for greater accomodation in public discourse as democracy will be the "loser" if people refused to hear voices other than their own.



Mukherjee said all stakeholders in a democratic system, from parties to business leaders, citizens to institutions, have to realise that asking questions is good and healthy.

Mukherjee said people in power, across the spectrum of politics, business or civil society, by virtue of the position they enjoy, tend to dominate the discourse and influence its direction.

He said this role of asking questions has been traditionally played by the media.



"It (media) must raise and create awareness about issues concerning public welfare, hold public or private institutions and their representatives accountable for their actions or indeed, their inaction.

Read | GST bill: President Pranab Mukherjee clears four supporting legislations



"In particular, the media has a duty to give space to the millions who still face the injustices of deprivation, gender discrimination, caste and social bias," Mukherjee said. He said media must learn the art of "withstanding pulls and pressures" without sacrificing its commitment to free and fair reportage, and always remain on guard against conformity. "The question that faces all of us including the media is whether we will choose to define ourselves as a nation enriched by the diversity of views or allow partisan views to dominate our national narrative? "We ought to remember that democracy will be the loser when and if we cease to hear voices other than our own," the President said.



Mukherjee also raised concern over the danger of paid news and asked news organisations to restore objectivity to regain public trust. "There is the ever present danger of 'paid news'. Ownership of media, concentration of ownership and distribution platforms in a few hands, and the personal beliefs of individual journalists can and do create conflicts of interest.



"They also reduce the plurality and diversity of the media. Objectivity has to be restored to regain public trust," he said. Mukherjee said media houses needed to ask themselves how they can find sustainable economic models that will allow them to resist all kinds of pressures and let them perform their role with honesty and transparency.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
"In Bermagui [NSW] people were just packing up and getting out when they could. "Our friends who left last night told us it took them six hours to get across, they were 30 kilometres from the border and slowly crawled. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "We were a little bit confused as to when the cut-off point was to come back without having to quarantine. It was just crazy because we were really only given seven hours' notice, that's why everyone panicked." The border closure has even split up some Victorian families who chose to return at different times.

Rachelle Connor, from Surrey Hills, drove back to Victoria from regional NSW with her three sons on New Year's Eve after the announcement that the border would be closing. But her husband, Peter, and daughter Genevieve stayed behind as they had been in Sydney on December 19, which meant they were not able to get a permit to come home. They now face an uncertain wait for the border to reopen, even though they had been in areas previously considered a green zone. "We're thinking potentially weeks [until they can return]," she said. "Making things worse was the confusion of how the closure was announced, with DHHS struggling to deal with phone calls asking for clarification.

Loading "We thought if they elected to go into hotel quarantine that they could come back," she said. "I guess its just the unknown, feeling like you can't trust the information you're getting. You stick to the rules then they slap this thing at you." The announcement of the border closure on Thursday afternoon prompted thousands of Victorians on summer trips to NSW to rush home, causing bottlenecks at checkpoints that had been set up across the border. Travellers reported being stuck for hours trying to cross. Police officers resorted to waving cars with Victorian number plates through border checkpoints to alleviate the traffic crush.

Deputy Police Commissioner Rick Nugent said public health authorities deemed it the safest method to deal with the dangers of leaving children and elderly people waiting in cars for hours. "When its really clear it's a holidaymaker, Victorian plates, a whole family, the risk is low," he said. A photograph from the town of Eden, about 40km north of the NSW-Victorian border, at 8pm on New Year's Eve. He said every car with NSW or non-Victorian license plates was checked. By lunchtime on Friday, Victorian police said the average wait time at border crossings was 15 minutes.

Readers who wrote to The Age and Sydney Morning Herald overnight said they moved at snail's pace as cars rushed to the border en masse, sometimes on single-lane highways. Social media posts from holidaymakers returning to Victoria reported delays of up to six hours. Mark Bernhard wrote: "Took six hours last night, from joining the queue at 10pm to get through crossing at Genoa. Absolute debacle, but police doing an exceptional job. Who signed off on the logistics and have they learned any lessons? Do they care about the inconvenience and ruined holidays with hours' notice?" Andrew Grange said he "joined the traffic on the Cobb highway three kilometres from the Echuca bridge and moved 100 metres in an hour. A number of people are out [of their cars] walking their dogs." Chelsea Dabner said: "A friend of mine is 20 kilometres from Genoa border and the line is not moving. They are trying to get across by midnight."

Loading Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said anyone waiting in line at 11.59pm on Friday evening would be allowed to pass through. "If you're in NSW and you want to be back in Victoria you need to leave now," he said. "Please prepare for a lengthy wait at the border so make sure you have fuel, water, food and whatever you need to isolate safely when you get home." Victorians will be turned away at the border if they arrive in queues after midnight and will not be allowed to enter hotel quarantine unless they had exceptional circumstances, Mr Weimar said.

"We need to close the border because we do not wish to continue to import high-risk COVID cases back into Victoria  We do not think that would be right or fair for the Victorian community," Mr Weimar said. "[This] is a very challenging thing to do and we do not ask it lightly." "Let's be very clear  we do not have capacity to put hundreds of people into hotel quarantine because they elected to come home late. "If youre going to come home, come home today. If youre not, thats fine, but were not planning to provide alternative accommodation for you.

Loading "If there are people whove gone to NSW, we did not design and set up a hotel quarantine system to enable people whove gone on holidays in NSW to come back a bit later." Were not running a hotel quarantine scheme for convenience. Weve been very clear for a number of weeks now around the risks of travelling to NSW, Mr Weimar said. On December 21, announcing the border closure to people from NSW hotspots, Premier Daniel Andrews said "as a returning Victorian [if] you arrive after midnight Monday then you will go into mandatory hotel quarantine". There are about 70 people in Victorian quarantine hotels who had returned from NSW and, for differing reasons, could not quarantine in their Victorian homes or find accommodation in NSW.

One returning traveller, Jessica, said the border controls were not what her friends expected after they drove back from NSW without being questioned about movements, having carefully avoided hotspots. "How is this going to stop people who won't tell the truth about where they have been? Another friend wasnt even stopped, just waved through at the border." The border troubles caused an influx of calls to the Victorian Health Department's hotline. The department said in a tweet late on Thursday that it understood the situation was stressful and directed people to a website. Anyone who enters Victoria from NSW must now get tested and isolate for two weeks at their home.

Health Minister Martin Foley warned on Thursday morning, before the government announced the "hard" border closure, that Victorians currently in NSW needed to return immediately if they wanted to be able to return home. The announcement came after eight cases were recorded in Victoria in two days and as 10 cases were recorded in NSW on Thursday. The Victorian outbreak is likely to have been set in motion by Victorian who had returned from NSW and dined at a Thai restaurant with others on December 21. "You do not want to be caught on the wrong side of a rapidly evolving situation," Mr Foley said.

Loading "This is a very serious situation. Victorians who have sacrificed so much are not going to go back to a situation where we faced what we did in the past winter. Rules will soon be announced by the state government to allow travel across the border by residents of border communities and arrangements for freight will remain in place. Albury councillor Murray King told Nine News on Thursday he hoped "both the Acting Premier of Victoria and the Premier of NSW realise the impact these decisions have on local people and the way they do business." Mixed messages: Victorians and hotel quarantine December 21 Premier Daniel Andrews: "If however as a returning Victorian you arrive after midnight Monday then you will go into mandatory hotel quarantine." DHHS text to Victorians in NSW: "From 00:01am Tuesday 22 December, anyone entering Victoria will be required to enter into Victoria's Hotel Quarantine Program for 14 days" December 31 Acting Premier Jacinta Allan, asked if returning Victorians who miss the deadline would need to enter hotel quarantine: Well, they are the arrangements that are currently in place for the existing red zone  so yes. January 1 Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar: "Let's be very clear - we do not have capacity to put hundreds of people into hotel quarantine because they elected to come home late  Were not running a hotel quarantine scheme for convenience. Weve been very clear for a number of weeks now around the risks of travelling to NSW.
One of the executors of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and occupiers of the Azerbaijani territories, Vitaly Balasanyan, stressed the need to create a military dictatorship on the territory of the self-proclaimed NKR. He actually called for further destabilization of the post-war situation in the South Caucasus.

Thus, he reports that border troops will be created on the territory of the unrecognized NKR, as well as permanent formations of a defense army, which will be subordinate to the Security Council. Balasanyan noted that a contract reserve and a militia will be formed in the republic, while the militia will be subordinate to the civil defense headquarters. "We will have our own armed forces, a police structure with a reinforced battalion, the National Security Service with a reinforced battalion. We will set tasks for conducting anti-terrorist operations," Balasanyan said.

He admits that now there are no forces to implement the plans since they were defeated by the Azerbaijani army. However, according to him, this issue will be resolved through cash injections. "Everyone is obliged to serve. People will receive high salaries," Balasanyan explains, stressing that the army will further clarify, means expand, the boundaries of the self-proclaimed NKR.

He further states that the activities of the local police will be expanded. Its task will be to restore order among both local residents and peacekeepers. "From January 1, 2021, the police will severely punish all citizens who abuse alcohol or drugs. This also applies to Russian peacekeepers. They will be punished with the help of the head of the peacekeeping contingent, Rustam Muradov," he said.

It should be noted that despite saying that among Russian peacekeepers their commander, Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov will be responsible for their behavior, Balasanyan says that the main role should be assigned to the armed forces of the fake NKR regime.

In the context of his intention to destabilize the post-war situation in the South Caucasus, he declares the necessity of forming a new concept of information war by the fake NKR regime. For this, a group of international technologists will be invited to the territory of the unrecognized NKR. I have invited a group of international technologists here to work with us, he says.

Thus, judging by the words of the executor of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it is obvious that as long as the fake NKR regime operates, its institutions are preserved, the terms of the trilateral agreement signed by the heads of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia will be systematically violated, since this the regime does not need a stable peace, but a new war.
Pope Francis ushered in the New Year on Friday with a traditional Angelus blessing from the papal library, pushing through nerve pain that forced him to skip New Year's ceremonies in St. Peter's Basilica.

The pope appeared relaxed as he stood at a lectern in the Apostolic Palace wishing the faithful watching via video "a year of peace, a year of hope."

He smiled into the camera as he repeated his customary sign-off, "don't forget to pray for me,'' and wishing everyone "a good lunch."

The papal blessing was moved inside from the usual perch at a window overlooking St. Peter's Square to discourage crowds as Italy is living under tighter COVID-19 restrictions this holiday season.

The Vatican on Friday announced that the pope would not preside over a New Year's Eve prayer service nor the New Year's Day Mass in St. Peter's Basilica due to "painful sciatica."

Francis has spoken openly about his sciatica in the past.

It is a form of pain in the lower body caused by compression or irritation on nerve roots or on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower spine down the thigh.

At the conclusion of the Angelus, the pope called for peace in Yemen, where children are living "without education, without medicine, hungry."

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
At least 140 Republicans in the House of Representatives are planning to vote against counting the electoral votes to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory, according to two congressman.

The certification will take place on January 6, and despite the numbers claimed to be planning to vote against, President Donald Trump's Republican allies have very little chance of overturning the 2020 election result.

Instead, they will likely just delay the inevitable affirmation of Biden as the winner of the Electoral College and the next President of the United States by a few hours.

Two Republicans in the House of Representative reportedly told CNN about the plot to vote against the certification of Biden.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell told fellow Senate Republicans that his vote to certify Joe Biden's election victory will be the 'most consequential' of his political career, a report claimed on Thursday.

The Majority Leader made the declaration in a conference call on Thursday morning, according to Axios, which spoke to one person who was on the call and two who were briefed on its contents.

Mitch McConnell told fellow Senate Republicans that his vote to certify Joe Biden's election victory will be the 'most consequential' of his political career on Thursday

'I'm finishing 36 years in the Senate and I've cast a lot of big votes,' one source paraphrased McConnell as saying. 'And in my view, just my view, this will be the most consequential I have ever cast.'

He referred to the vote as a 'vote of conscience', the source said, adding: 'The context was McConnell saying we're being asked to overturn the results after a guy didn't get as many electoral votes and lost by 7 million popular votes.'

The call came after Missouri Sen Josh Hawley voiced his support for the Trump-backed plan to object to certifying the Electoral College votes on Wednesday.

McConnell and two other senators reportedly asked Hawley to explain what he plans to do at the certification vote during the call, but Hawley was not present.

Hawley on Wednesday announced that he would file objections alongside a group of House Republicans when Vice President Mike Pence goes through the Electoral College vote tallies next week.

The process is a ceremonial one - with both a House member and a senator required to mount an objection. Hawley's objection will force lawmakers in both the House and the Senate to vote on whether to accept Biden's victory.

The change this year is that President Donald Trump, who has refused to concede the election to President-elect Biden, is backing the effort, which could hold up the announcement of the final results by hours, even days.

Missouri Sen Josh Hawley (pictured) on Wednesday voiced his support for a Trump-backed plan to object to certifying the Electoral College votes on January 6

Other lawmakers could join Hawley's effort to object to the certification, something McConnell has privately urged Republicans not to do, according to CNN.

The network reported more than a dozen Republican House members have publicly said they will support the attempt, including Reps. Mo Brooks of Alabama, who's spearheading the effort, Jody Hice of Georgia, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey and Joe Wilson of South Carolina.

A further eight Pennsylvania law makers announced their intentions to join the effort in a joint statement on Thursday, while several incoming Republican House members have said they will object to the certification process.

Trump has been pressuring Congress to attempt to overturn the election result, despite having his campaign's efforts to overturn the election repeatedly denied by the courts.

The president has asked his supporters to come rally in Washington, DC, as he continues to tweet conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud.

McConnell's latest comments about the vote are likely to further infuriate Trump, who has been clinging to hope that the election is not yet over.

Trump's chances at overturning the results took yet another hit on Thursday as the Department of Justice came out to condemn a Republican-led lawsuit that aimed to reverse Biden's Electoral College win by asking a judge to declare that Pence has the 'exclusive authority and sole discretion' to decide which votes should be counted.

Pence was named as a defendant in the case - led by Texas Rep Louis Gohmert and 11 Arizona Republicans - which the DOJ called a 'walking legal contradiction'.

Top DOJ officials asked a judge to reject the plaintiffs' request for an emergency injunction that would empower Pence to ignore the Electoral College votes from battleground states that handed the race to Biden.

McConnell's refusal to contest the Electoral College results has infuriated President Donald Trump (pictured arriving at the White House with Melania on Thursday)

Beyond Hawley, only a handful of Republican senators had expressed interest in objecting to state results on January 6, but just one senator needs to object to trigger two hours of debate in the House and Senate and then a vote for each state the lawmakers say they have a problem with.

A simple majority vote is needed to overrule an objection.

McConnell asked GOP senators not to engage in this effort because every one of his senators would have to go on-record and either dispute a state's result - or vote against Trump, which could have repercussions down the line in the form of Trump-backed primary challengers in 2022.

McConnell has already congratulated Biden for winning the election, doing so the day the Electoral College cast votes.

He's been joined by other moderate Republican senators, making Hawley's efforts to contest certain states' results doomed.

Republican Sen Ben Sasse threw his support behind McConnell on Wednesday as he called out 'institutional arsonist members of Congress' for signing on to the plot.

'When we talk in private, I haven't heard a single Congressional Republican allege that the election results were fraudulent - not one,' Sasse wrote in a long Facebook post.

'Instead, I hear them talk about their worries about how they will "look" to President Trump's most ardent supporters.'

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse wrote a Facebook essay explaining why he would not be taking part in the Trump-led plot to object to Electoral College vote tallies in January 6 and called out his colleagues, saying none of them believe vote was 'fraudulent' behind closed doors

Sasse, who's been one of the few Republican Trump critics on Capitol Hill, laid out the Trump campaign's court cases in each state and then explained why some reported instances of fraud or disparities would not flip the results.

'I started with the courts for a reason. From where I sit, the single-most telling fact is that there a giant gulf between what President Trump and his allies say in public  for example, on social media, or at press conferences outside Philadelphia landscaping companies and adult bookstores  and what President Trumps lawyers actually say in courts of law,' Sasse wrote.

Sasse points out that while there's no legal penalty for misleading the public, there is one for deceiving judges.

'[T]he presidents lawyers know that  and thus they have repeated almost none of the claims of grand voter fraud that the campaign spokespeople are screaming at their most zealous supporters,' Sasse said.

'So, heres the heart of this whole thing: this isnt really a legal strategy  its a fundraising strategy,' he added.

Sasse wrote about what he believed his colleagues' motivations were too.

'Let's be clear what is happening here: We have a bunch of ambitious politicians who think there's a quick way to tap into the president's populist base without doing any real, long-term damage,' Sasse said. 'But they're wrong  and this issue is bigger than anyone's personal ambitions.'

'Adults dont point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government,' he continued.

'All the clever arguments and rhetorical gymnastics in the world won't change the fact that this January 6th effort is designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party.'
How to commemorate the end of a year of widespread unemployment, racial unrest and political animosity, not to mention an ongoing pandemic? If youre at home looking for a festive yet socially distanced way to bid farewell to 2020, consider taking a virtual trip around the world.

Edinburghs Hogmanay celebrations, which typically involve processions, fireworks and singing, will be held online. In Paris, the composer-performer Jean-Michel Jarre will host a free livestreamed concert from a studio near the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. And you can virtually head to Rio de Janeiro for a light show along Copacabana beach at 10 p.m. Eastern.

Tomorrowland, a Belgian music festival franchise, is hosting a party with performers including David Guetta, the French D.J. and producer. Steve Aoki, the D.J., musician and music producer, will headline an event streamed by Grand Park in Los Angeles. Justin Bieber, KISS and Chris Potter, a jazz saxophonist, are among the other performers selling tickets to virtual concerts.

In New York City, a crystal ball will still drop from One Times Square, complete with confetti and Auld Lang Syne. A livestream of the event starts at 6 p.m. Eastern, and it will be covered on Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve, hosted by Ryan Seacrest on ABC, and CNNs New Years Eve, hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
After Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur blamed bureaucrats and officers for lack of development in the state, leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri hit out at him saying the CM was blaming others as he was not brave enough to accept responsibility for his own failures.

Agnihotri also slammed the CM for continuously transferring government officers. During the pandemic, the state government transferred deputy commissioners, secretary (health) and many IAS officers. Consequently, these officers have lost faith in the government. On top of it ministers pressure government officials to provide better jobs to their wives while MLAs tell them to provide jobs to their relatives. How are the officers to work for the people in such circumstances? he asked.

Thakur does not have the capacity to take decisions. The only thing the state government has done during its three-year tenure is to overturn its decisions. One cabinet meeting is held for decision-making, while the other cabinet meeting is held to overturn the decision. By making such statements, he is just demoralising officials, he said.

Jai Ram Thakur has proved himself to be the most incompetent CM in the history of the state. He is working as a puppet of the mafia, due to which the mafia flourishing in the state and crimes, especially rapes, are also on the rise in Himachal. Drug trade is increasing in the state at a rapid rate and state government has failed to control it, he alleged.

He also hit out at state government over its failure to prevent coronavirus pandemic and for inflating the bus fares, electricity charges, ration rates, petrol and diesel prices.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and some other leaders paid tributes at the Jay Stambh on Friday on the 203rd anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle.

State home minister Anil Deshmukh, Power Minister Dr Nitin Raut were also among those who paid tributes at the memorial, located near Perne Village on Pune-Ahmednagar Road.

Prakash Ambedkar, president of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) also visited the victory pillar and paid tributes.

On the occasion, Pawar appealed to the people not to visit the memorial and instead pay their tributes by staying indoors in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lakhs of people congregate every year at the Jay Stambh to offer tributes on the anniversary of the battle, which was fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

However, due to Covid-19 this year, the district administration and the members of Bhima Koregaon Vijaystambh Shauryadin Samanvay Samiti had urged the people to avoid coming to the memorial and pay their respects by staying indoors.

The district administration has already imposed section 144 of the CrPC, restricting entry to outsiders into Perne and other adjoining villages. However, representatives of the outfits and prominent personalities from political and social spheres have been allowed to visit the memorial and pay respects.

On the 200th anniversary of the battle on January 1, 2018, violence had broken out in and around the village, in which one person was killed and several others injured.
Private landowners may not deny telecommunications companies access to their property if fibre infrastructure must be deployed, but are entitled to reasonable compensation if a build results in damage or loss.

This is one of the issues which recently came to the fore after Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams gazetted a proposed policy on the rapid deployment of broadband networks in South Africa.

Among other provisions, the policy aims to expand the existing rights of network operators to access private property to construct network infrastructure  which could include cellphone towers and fibre cables.

This has angered many South Africans, many of whom are concerned that mobile network operators and other telecoms companies will now have the right to lay claim to private land without the necessary permissions or any sort of compensation.

Responding to a question in Parliament from ACDP MP Wayne Maxim Thring, Ndabeni-Abrahams said that the Electronic Communications Act of 2005 already determined that telecoms providers are allowed to enter upon any land to construct electronic communications networks and facilities.

She added that a licensee must, when constructing networks, have due regard to applicable law and the environmental policy of the Republic.

MyBroadband spoke to several major fibre network operators  Link Africa, MetroFibre Networx, and Vumatel  regarding fibre infrastructure rollout as determined by current and planned regulations.

30-day notification period

MetroFibre Networxs Eugene Slabbert told MyBroadband for private land such as sectional title developments, and all land owned by private companies and individuals, approval is required from the landowner.

This approval may be sought from the relevant authority, which would be the following persons in these cases:

Sectional title developments  The body corporate is the owner of all common property. MetroFibre usually obtains body corporate permission in the form of a Grant of Rights agreement signed by both parties.

 The body corporate is the owner of all common property. MetroFibre usually obtains body corporate permission in the form of a Grant of Rights agreement signed by both parties. Estate with a Home Owners Association (HOA)  Permission to install fibre infrastructure is obtained from the HOA if the roads are on a title that belongs to the HOA.

 Permission to install fibre infrastructure is obtained from the HOA if the roads are on a title that belongs to the HOA. Free-standing home  Permission is obtained from the property owner.

Link Africa said that in most cases, the users of the network are situated inside buildings where the service is consumed.

The fibre needs to be reticulated to a point inside the property where equipment will be placed, Link Africa said.

The company explained that telecommunications companies followed a 30-day notification period after they requested approval for a build on private land.

According to the operator, the landowners failure to respond to this notification grants the company a right to start the construction of the infrastructure.

Telecoms is a basic need

Link Africa said that landowners can respond to the notification with suggestions on how best the deployment can be done, but cannot deny access to land or property to deploy infrastructure.

The government issues ECNS [Electronic Communications Network Service] licenses to operators and its these operators that fulfil on governments mandate to provide communications services to South Africans, Link Africa said.

It added that telecommunications is regarded as a basic need similar to water or electricity.

As such, just as property owners cannot expect to make money from water and electricity consumed by their tenants, they are not entitled to revenue on the use of telecoms infrastructure.

By charging money for access to telecommunications services, their tenants end up paying more for services as telecommunications companies pass any extra costs over to the end-users, Link Africa added.

Compensation for damage or loss

However, Vumatel told MyBroadband that according to legal interpretation by the firm Cluver Markotter, in the very rare case that fibre installation processes would be required to extend into private property, the relationship between the fibre service provider and the landowner is governed by common law principles on servitudes.

This interpretation was based on a finding made against operator Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in 2018, when it asked the court to rule that the City of Cape Town was not entitled to impose conditions for the laying of fibre-optic cables along public roads owned by the City.

The Cape High Court had ruled in favour of the City, and the matter came before the SCA on appeal.

DFA argued that in terms of Section 22(1) of the ECA it did not need the consent of the City and was not obliged to pay levies imposed by the City for fibre rollout.

Relying on a previous judgment of the Constitutional Court in City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality versus Link Africa, the SCA held that the Act creates a public servitude over the land in question, subject to the common law rights of the owner.

The court decided that the servitude created by section 22 allowed the holder of the right to gain access to the property in so far as it was necessary for the exercise of the servitude, Cluver Markotter explained.

However, the licensee is constrained by its common law obligations to the landowner.

This means the licensee must exercise its rights under section 22 reasonably and may have to compensate the owner for any loss or damage; and that the landowner may determine how the construction of the fibre-optic networks should be carried out, Cluver Markotter stated.

The SCA held accordingly that Dark Fibre Africa is obliged to pay the levies imposed on it by the owner of the roads (the City).

Making recommendations

MetroFibre Networx told MyBroadband that the requirement to traverse private property, other than to provide the owner with fibre connectivity, is very slim.

The operator noted that homeowners were mainly concerned with the erection of structures like towers, which could be obtrusive or deny access to using certain parts of a property.

In the case of a fibre rollout, it is only the initial build which may temporarily prevent access to land or require temporary damage of the ground from digging or trenching.

Landowners can make recommendations regarding the fibre installation, particularly if they plan to install other infrastructure which may be hindered by the fibre cabling.

Telecommunications infrastructure owners do what is necessary to resolve bulk infrastructure challenges at their own cost. Fibre infrastructure can be relocated out of bulk infrastructure if required, Link Africa stated.

MetroFibre Networx said that landowners could be entitled to compensation in instances where builds would prevent the installation of infrastructure like sewerage or piping, but only if such intention is communicated at the time approval for the build is required.

Now read: Improving fibre connectivity in South Africa is a collaborative effort
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
File image: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

The Trinamool Congress on Friday celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day across West Bengal with Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee asserting that she will fight and work for the people.

Senior TMC leaders hoisted the party flag at its state headquarters and congratulated workers for their tireless efforts in serving people.

Read More: Trinamool Congress turns 23: Here are its biggest milestones as it prepares for massive political battle

"As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998. Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time, we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people." Banerjee said on Twitter.

As West Bengal steps into the election year and the party is set to complete a decade in power, Banerjee vowed to carry on her fight to make the state better.

"On #TMCFoundationDay, I extend my sincere gratitude to our Maa-Mati-Manush and all our workers who continue to fight with us in making Bengal better and stronger each day. The Trinamool family will carry on with this resolve for times to come!" she said on the microblogging site.

The TMC had issued instructions to its workers to conduct various programmes across the state to mark the occasion. The TMC leaders in districts have arranged for various functions and street-corner meetings to discuss and highlight the party's achievements in the last ten years. Banerjee broke away from the Congress and formed the TMC on January 1, 1998 with an objective to oust the then Left Front regime from power.

The party achieved its goal in May 2011 after forging an alliance with the Congress. The party faces a challenge in the next assembly elections, as the resurgent BJP has pulled out all the stops to defeat the TMC dispensation in the polls, slated to be held in April-May this year.
For just the second time in its history, Philadelphias annual homicide total threatened in 2020 to reach 500, another grim marker in a year where the city has been racked by the coronavirus pandemic, economic strife, and social unrest of racial inequity.

The number of people killed last year  499 as of late Thursday  is 40% higher than in 2019, and more than in all of 2013 and 2014 combined. The only time more people were slain in the city was in 1990, when police reported 500 homicides as violence surged alongside an intensifying crack-cocaine epidemic.

The spike in shootings was even more pronounced. More than 2,240 people were shot since Jan. 1, 40% more than police have ever recorded. Those statistics date back only to 2007, when the Police Department began keeping track of shooting victims separately from the broader category of assaults involving a gun.

As in most years, the vast majority of victims were young, Black men  many from impoverished neighborhoods lacking resources and long afflicted by gun violence. But shots also killed and wounded children playing on the street. A pregnant woman was struck by a stray bullet  forcing the early delivery of her baby. Some gunmen fired indiscriminately into block parties. A witness was shot dead near City Hall in what police believe was a targeted hit for his testimony in a murder trial.

Still, the citys crime picture continued to show uneven and unusual signs: As homicides and shootings soared, overall violent crime  which also includes rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults  remained near decades-long lows, while overall property crime was also lower last year.

In interviews, city officials including Mayor Jim Kenney, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, and District Attorney Larry Krasner said they believed a combination of factors unique to 2020 contributed to the spike in gun violence.

They pointed to a pandemic increasing stress and desperation for people in already-struggling neighborhoods; officers being pulled away from their regular neighborhood patrols to help monitor protests and respond to pockets of social unrest; COVID exposures forcing further staffing adjustments; and a series of trust-shattering episodes by officers  including use of tear gas and rubber bullets during protests in June  that may have further eroded law enforcement legitimacy in a city that has long struggled with the issue.

Many city services that function as checks against gun violence  or at least alternatives to the street  were also significantly disrupted last year: Criminal courts were all but shut down for months; the probation and parole systems struggled to operate regularly; schools and recreation centers closed; and many jobs disappeared as programs and businesses shuttered.

Its been a rough year, Kenney said.

Police also point to the proliferation of guns on the street. They logged more than 2,300 arrests for illegal firearm possession last year, double the total from 2015.

Pennsylvania State Police, meanwhile, said the state conducted nearly one million background checks through November for legal firearms purchases, 56% more than 2019s total. Its not clear how many were in Philadelphia; a countywide breakdown for 2020 was unavailable.

Other forms of routine policing in the city were impacted in 2020. Total arrests fell by more than a third compared to 2019, according to data from the District Attorneys Office, with drug arrests cut nearly in half, and arrests for violent crimes down 20%.

Some of that is likely due to policy shifts Outlaw temporarily implemented, in which officers were told not to immediately apprehend suspects in minor or drug-related offenses in a bid to avoid potentially spreading the coronavirus in the community or the citys jails.

Outlaw and Kenney denied that officers had intentionally pulled back in response to challenging circumstances, but Outlaw did say that morale has plummeted among rank-and-file officers  not only because they had to continue difficult and sometimes dangerous work in the face of a deadly disease, but also because many have perceived widespread calls for systemic reform as criticism of their service on the force.

Those of us who are doing the job, were human beings too. And I think it would be foolish to even believe that that doesnt have an impact on how motivated you are, Outlaw said in an interview Tuesday. We come and we do our jobs, absolutely. But is everyone going to continue to go above and beyond, knowing that were under so much scrutiny right now? We dont know at what point a mistake becomes a misstep, or something that can get punished.

 READ MORE: As shootings in Philly have surged, law enforcement has failed to deliver justice

A national problem

Philadelphia is far from alone in experiencing a homicide spike. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington are among the urban centers recording a surge in violence.

The Council on Criminal Justice, a D.C.-based research group, found that homicides in 21 American cities were up 32% between March and October compared with 2019. And some analysts believe 2020 could record the largest-ever single-year increase in murders in the United States.

Criminologists generally believe that the pandemic  which has disproportionately impacted communities of color  has intensified existing structural factors that lead to violence, such as concentrated poverty, while also disrupting law enforcement and social services designed to respond to crime.

Thomas Abt, a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, said that the national homicide spike hit its peak in June and July  after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd and protesters across the country demonstrated against police brutality.

A similar and widespread homicide spike occurred after Michael Brown was killed by police in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014. One theory at the time, known as the Ferguson effect  widely debated and controversial  was that police across the country, in the face of protests and criticism, had grown wary or even defiant about being proactive in trying to prevent crime.

Another theory, regarding residents confidence in police after high-profile killings, has also since garnered attention, Abt said.

Theres good research that suggests when theres a highly publicized killing like the one that we saw, it exacerbates mistrust in poor communities of color, which leads some to withdraw from law enforcement, even to take the law into their own hands, Abt said.

 READ MORE: Philly is seeing a spike in shootings of children. But motives and arrests are lagging.

Sustained local violence

Like other cities, Philadelphias violence crisis truly took off at the beginning of June  immediately following three days of widespread unrest over Floyds death.

Before June, the city had not recorded more than 180 shooting victims in a month in at least 13 years.

But from June through November, at least 200 people were shot every month, police statistics show  an average of nearly eight people per day.

The violence accelerated in neighborhoods that have long grappled with gun violence, such as Kensington, West Philadelphia, Nicetown, and North Philadelphia.

Krasner said summer could have been the moment when the near-total shutdown of social services and alternatives to gun violence collided with warmer weather and other traditional drivers of violence, such as long-simmering feuds  suddenly allowed to play out on streets where witnesses, like everyone else, stayed home in the pandemic lockdown.

 READ MORE: As Philly gun-possession convictions decline, DA Larry Krasner cites issues with witnesses appearing in court

As cases piled up, police struggled to secure arrests. Just one in six of last years shootings had resulted in a suspect in custody, The Inquirer reported last month.

Outlaw and Krasner have said that their agencies have rolled out new ways to work more closely together throughout the year, and the city said it is committed to continuing antiviolence strategies that involve more than law enforcement.

Bilal Qayyum, a longtime antiviolence activist in the city, said he remembers rallying against shootings when annual homicides in Philadelphia reached 500 victims 30 years ago.

Many of the issues then were the same as they are now, he said: Young Black men, living in neighborhoods with limited opportunities or hope, resort to crime or violence because they see little other choice.

Issues such as policing and law enforcement are important, Qayyum said. Still, he believes they are secondary to providing real chances  and especially jobs  to young people.

And he hopes that can be part of the discussion as the city seeks to recover from a devastating year.

The real problem is, How do we create more opportunities in the Black community? Qayyum said. When you have a group of folks whove been excluded from opportunities in society, theyre in their own neighborhood with no hope. And the negative behavior plays out on the people closest to them.
On St Stephens Day  last Saturday  the first consignment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived in Portugal. It was immediately shipped to five of the countrys biggest hospitals. The following day, 4,534 vaccines were given to critical-care health professionals.

The director of infectious diseases at Portos Hospital de Sao Joao was the first person to be vaccinated, at 10.07am on Sunday.

A shipment of the vaccine also arrived in Ireland on St Stephens Day. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and HSE chief executive Paul Reid were photographed in front of the consignment. But the first vaccine wasnt administered until Tuesday lunchtime, when 79-year-old Dublin grandmother Annie Lynch was given her dose at St Jamess Hospital.

Ireland was among the last of the EU countries to begin vaccinating as it emerged that the HSE had concerns over consent and a litigious culture surrounding vaccinations. Elsewhere, the vast majority of EU member states began their programmes on December 27. Some, including Hungary, began theirs the day before. In the US, 2.5 million doses were administered in the last two weeks of December, including to vice-president-elect Kamala Harris.

Soon, there were questions about the apparent delay in getting the vaccination programme under way here. Former minister Lucinda Creighton captured the mood of many when she tweeted: Perfectly reasonable to ask why roll-out plans in Ireland are slower than other developed countries. People have made enormous sacrifices and businesses have gone bust.

Read More

David McWilliams, the economist and broadcaster, also expressed concerns. Why are Irelands vaccine plans so slow? he asked at the weekend. Contrast with the 250,000 Israelis vaccinated already.

In the world vaccination league, Israel leads by a considerable distance. Having begun to vaccinate with the Pfizer vaccine in mid-December, it is on course to have more than 10pc of its population  close to one million people  vaccinated this weekend.

While some were quick to praise Israel for the speed with which it has brought in vaccinations  the army has been drafted in to help with the 24/7 operation  others noted that Palestinians living under Israeli control in the occupied West Bank and Gaza are not included in the drive. And with manufacturers working around the clock to produce the vaccine, it is thought unlikely that the country will be able to get hold of enough stock immediately to continue its rate of vaccinations.

Oil-rich states have also started mass vaccinations  with Bahrain, for example, having vaccinated almost 4pc of its population. In the UK, 500,000 people have received the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine over the past fortnight. But the second dose necessary to confer full immunity is being delayed by 12 weeks as the NHS rethinks the programme amid a surging death rate in Britain. Under its new plan, the focus will be on giving the first dose to as many people as possible.

Vaccinations in nursing homes here are not set to happen until Monday. Even then, that will be as part of a soft roll-out: the full programme wont begin in the states 500 care homes until the following Monday, January 11.

The Republic is already playing catch-up with the North. With case numbers there far higher, per capita, than in the Republic, the vast majority of patients in care facilities have already been vaccinated. This week, Northern Irelands health minister Robin Swann said 80pc of care home residents have received the first dose. It is hoped that 70,000 of the Republics residents and staff will have received the first dose of the vaccination by the end of this month.

Expand Close Annie Lynch from Dublin was the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in the Republic of Ireland. Photo by Marc O'Sullivan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Annie Lynch from Dublin was the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in the Republic of Ireland. Photo by Marc O'Sullivan

As an EU member, Ireland has to wait for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to formally grant vaccination licences. UK, Israeli and the US licensed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine several weeks before the EU. In fact, this week the UK licensed the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. With the EMA requesting further information on the efficacy of its trials, it may not be licensed for the EU until the end of this month or beginning of February.

The EU buys vaccines in bulk for its members and its approach is already under the spotlight. Der Spiegel, Germanys bestselling news magazine, has been scathing about the EUs preparedness for mass vaccinations. In Berlin and at EU headquarters in Brussels, too little action was taken for too long, and it was often justified with complacent arguments, it said.

Before Christmas, the EU had ordered a total of 1.3 billion doses from six manufacturers. This week, it placed an order for an extra 100 million of the Pfizer vaccine.

In the first couple of weeks of January, about 20,000 doses are likely to be shipped to Ireland. This will rise to 40,000 towards the end of the month.

Niall Conroy, an Irish public health doctor working in Australia, has first-hand experience with vaccination drives.

Its always better to start when youre properly ready, he says. Thats even more important now, where mistakes will be criticised very publicly and very loudly.

The success of vaccination programmes should be judged on how they affect disease in populations, not in individuals, he adds. The aim of the Covid vaccination programme is to protect a critical mass of the population. A difference of a few days in starting might result in avoidance of disease in a handful of people.

Dr Conroy is especially concerned about difficulties in the Irish public health system. How well a vaccination programme actually works really depends on how strong your public health teams and systems are, he says. Sadly, in Ireland the public health doctors are going on strike in two weeks because theyre not being resourced to do their jobs. Thats a reflection on how public health medicine is viewed in Ireland, which is a real worry when the country is so dependent on them being able to function at the top of their licence.

One of the features of the pandemic has been a focus on things, rather than systems, he adds. A universal truth is that vaccination programmes involve a complex interplay between lots of moving pieces, like the healthcare workers giving the jabs, the logistics processes, the safety protocols, the communications strategies etc. Weve seen this kind of thinking from the start, with many people focusing on things like masks or ventilation systems or handwashing or sick pay or St Patricks Day parades in isolation, when the way to kick a pandemic is with strong public health processes. All parts of the vaccine process need to work or youre wasting your time.

Jack Lambert, infectious disease consultant at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, has been a trenchant critic of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) and the Governments response to the pandemic. He is concerned that the vaccine roll-out wont be as effective as it should be and is dismayed that the communication with specialists such as himself has been poor.

We need to get this vaccine thing right. Even with Niac [the National Immunisation Advisory Committee], we find out stuff through announcements on Twitter. The document says we need 2,000 skilled people to vaccinate. Do we have anything like that?

Its the usual, Were doing great. Look, we vaccinated our first person, were over the line. But this happened back in March: we ordered 30,000 tests but they didnt have the reagents to do even 500 so they had to be sent off to Germany. And the HSE requestioned all the PPE [personal protective equipment], so none of the GPs could get it, and the GPs were the ones supposed to do testing, and they were supposed to access PPE themselves and they couldnt get it. This will be deja vu if were not careful.

Expand Close Queues of people wait to receive a Covid-19 vaccine in Fort Myers, Florida this week / Facebook

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Whatsapp Queues of people wait to receive a Covid-19 vaccine in Fort Myers, Florida this week

Lambert has been frustrated by the slow roll-out and he says the manner with which the flu vaccine was handled in the autumn does not bode well when it comes to Covid. The Government stood up and said, We did a great job  theres less flu this year. Every respiratory virus has decreased this winter, but the [flu] vaccine roll-out was two months too late and a total disaster: they met only 20pc of their target.

Meanwhile, Karina Butler, chairwoman of the Niac, has said protecting healthcare workers must be a priority. People have been critical of the speed at which this is being done in comparison to other countries, she said on Wednesday. But we have nowhere near the workforce in health services as in other countries.

Thats in all levels, from consultant level to junior doctors, down to nursing and especially public health levels. Nowhere near. Its also public health doctors, the most underfunded and under-resourced, who are being called upon to do all the contact tracing in addition to doing the vaccination programme.

For hospital doctor Anthony OConnor, the programme brings hope for a return to normality, but he says it is important that people remember there is a long road ahead. A lot of people are getting a bit panicky [about the speed of roll-out] but it will be months before we see any benefits from the vaccine, he says. The most important thing is still social distancing and getting tested.

Expand Close Prof Jack Lambert, professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the Mater. Photo by Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prof Jack Lambert, professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the Mater. Photo by Steve Humphreys

Dr OConnor is concerned that there will be a growing resistance to vaccinations, despite polls suggesting that 70pc of Irish adults will take one. (This week, a survey in France showed just 40pc there wanted to be vaccinated.)

I think theyre doing the right thing by going with the most vulnerable, he says, but we have to bear in mind that were tied in with the European Union on this and we can only vaccinate when the consignments come in  theres only so fast that we can go with it. But there are an awful lot of questions that people have  and maybe a public information campaign would help.

Communications expert Johnny Fallon says authorities here should be credited for building up public faith in the vaccine, especially as its come so quickly, but he believes the message about the roll-out needs to be far more effective.

Like everything to do with Covid, the communication has been far too complicated, he says. People just want to know one thing: When, roughly, will I be vaccinated? And, a key one, when is the end date? In a crisis like this, people want an end-date  they want some kind of timeframe  for the Taoiseach to be able to say something like, By early June, we will have enough people vaccinated to be able to return to normality. That would have had everybody in a much calmer place.

I think people cant accept it if theres no target at all. I think theres been too much looking at details and not a look at the big picture and saying, Look, heres the end date were aiming towards. Without that, it creates this image that the Government are maybe even less in control than they are.

20,000 injections a day

Despite the hope provided by the first vaccinations here, an end date to the pandemic is looking further away than many might have imagined in early November when news of vaccine breakthroughs prompted celebration.

Professor Brian MacCraith, chairman of the Governments vaccine task-force, says it may be August before everyone in Ireland who wants a vaccine can get one.

One fairly positive scenario that wed be looking at for the month of August would be over two million doses of vaccine arriving, he told RTE this week. If all things come to pass that are in that model in terms of expected approval dates and expected delivery schedules, one would be looking at that stage of being very close, or at the point of closing out, the vaccination of as much of the population of Ireland that want to receive vaccines.

But with experts such as Trinity College Dublins Luke ONeill and Kingston Mills suggesting 70pc vaccination may be required, the scale of the task is daunting. To vaccinate 3.5 million people (about 70pc of the Republics population) in one calendar year would require almost 20,000 injections a day, seven days a week, and comprising both jabs required.

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Economist and data researcher David Higgins has been sharing Covid-related statistics on his Twitter feed for months. Goldman Sachs looked at the various manufacturing orders that are in place from different countries, including the EU as a bloc, he says. It shows a growing gap in vaccination rates between the UK and the EU until about March and then it looks like with all the other vaccines the EU has ordered, it will catch up by June.

The unknown question is if the UK can get a first dose to half its population by March, will that allow it to ease restrictions sooner than the rest of the EU? What I think will happen with these roll-outs is youll get to a certain level of vaccination  30, 40, 50pc of your population vaccinated  and then you will gradually ease measures as you go. The core principle of all of this has been to keep R [the reproduction number] below one, but you wont be able to let R go above one.

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

Right now, the R number is between 1.6 and 1.8 according to Philip Nolan of Nphet, and full Level 5 restrictions will be in place until at least January 31 to bring it down and to stop the health system becoming overwhelmed.

Theres a long way to go  and a new set of figures is likely to be part of our lives for a large chunk of 2021. While daily case numbers will continue to be announced, Stephen Donnelly says the Government is planning to publish regular updates on the people who receive the coronavirus vaccine.

Weve focused on Covid case numbers for so long, the minister tweeted. Will be good to have another set of figures with positive news.
Mumbai: Actor Kangana Ranaut violated the sanctioned plan while merging her three flats, a civil court here has remarked while rejecting her plea seeking to restrain the Mumbai civic body from demolishing the unauthorized construction. A court in suburban Dindoshi dismissed an application filed by Ranaut last week. The detailed order became available on Thursday.

Judge L S Chavan noted in the order that Ranaut, who owns threeflats on the fifth floor of a 16-storey building in Khar area of the city, merged them into one. In doing so, she covered thesunkarea, duct area, common passage and converted freeFloor Space Index (FSI) intohabitable area, the judge observed.

Thesearegrave violation ofthesanctioned planfor whichthepermissionofthe competentauthority is required, the court said. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had in March 2018 issued a notice to the actor for unauthorized constructions at her Khar flats.

Another notice asked her to restorethe structure to its original position as per the original plan, warning that otherwise the unauthorized portion will be demolished. Ranaut challenged the demolition notice and also requested the court to restrain the civic body fromcarrying out demolition. The court had then ordered status-quo.

In the latest order on December 23 judge Chavan rejected the actors application, sayingthe interference ofthis court is not required. However, the court has given her six weeks to approach the Bombay High Court against the order.

On September 9, the BMC had demolished parts of Ranauts bungalow in the Pali Hill area for alleged unauthorized construction. She moved the HC against it. The high court later termed the BMCs action as illegal and malicious.
GOAL has thanked the hundreds of people all over Limerick who turned out over Christmas to do a virtual GOAL Mile to support vulnerable communities all over the world.

Every Christmas for four decades it has been a tradition for family, friends and neighbours to take time out to walk, run or jog a mile for GOAL at various locations across the country to support the agencys work in 14 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Determined to keep the tradition going, and to give people that chance to connect in a different but meaningful way over the festive season, the 2020 GOAL Mile went virtual.

Thousands of people in Limerick and across the country registered doing their mile at a time and place of their choosing, within the Covid-19 guidelines.

GOAL CEO, Siobhan Walsh, said: I want to extend a world of thanks to each and every person in Limerick for uniting as one global family this Christmas to make a difference. Thank you for your humanity.

She added: This year has seen all of our lives upheaved in ways unimaginable just 12 months ago. The impact of COVID-19 has been profound in the 13 countries in which GOAL works, exacerbated by the unresolved humanitarian issues that plague progress including climate change, global hunger, access to clean water, basic medical care, and sustainable livelihoods.

Since March, GOAL teams have implemented a wide range of activities to reach over 17 million people with Covid-19 awareness and supports. This would not have been possible without the generous support of the people of Ireland.

"Whilst this Christmas we were all asked to keep apart, I am so happy that so many stood together to do a mile in solidarity for GOAL, especially all our friends and supporters in County Limerick. It has been tremendous. The pandemic means the GOAL Mile is more important than ever as we work to rebuild communities shattered by disease, conflict and climate change."

Apart from Covid-19 in 2020 GOAL reached more than eight million people in its countries with food, health, livelihoods and emergency response support.

See goalglobal.org for more details on the work that GOAL does.


President Mnangagwa has ordered a forensic audit on Harare City Council to get to the bottom of deep-rooted corruption that has seen two mayors, many councillors and senior officials being arrested.

Corruption in the MDC-run council  mostly involving the irregular parcelling out of land  has resulted in the arrest of former mayor, Herbert Gomba, his successor Jacob Mafume and many councillors.

Senior managers arrested include town clerk, Hosiah Chisango, housing director Addmore Nhekairo, city planner Priscilla Charumbira, finance director Tendai Kwenda, housing development officer Edgar Dzehonye, human capital director Cainos Chingombe and former acting human resources director Mr Matthew Marara.

In his End of Year message at State House in Harare yesterday, the President said his Government would not relent the fight against corruption.

My Government is unrelenting in the fight against corruption, through the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and other relevant institutions.

In the case of Harare City Council, I have directed the Auditor General to carry out a thorough forensic audit to establish the alleged intricate web of corruption within the local authority, said President Mnangagwa.

The pursuit of proceeds of crime has also gathered momentum with ill-gotten wealth being forfeited to the State. Efforts are also underway to extradite all fugitives of justice. Rest assured that these efforts will be undertaken without fear or favour.

He condemned the gruesome murder of children and urged criminal courts to ensure that perpetrators faced appropriate full wrath of the law.

Let me also warn the perpetrators of armed robberies and other crimes that our security agencies will be vigilant and not tolerate the degeneration of law and order in our country. I call upon communities not to harbour or hide criminals, he said.

President Mnangagwa congratulated newly-elected MDC-T leader, Senator Douglas Mwonzora for winning the opposition partys just-ended extraordinary congress that was held in compliance with a Supreme Court judgement.

Let me take this opportunity to formally and personally congratulate Senator Douglas Mwonzora for prevailing at that congress. We took particular note of his declared wish to guide and reshape the politics of opposition towards constructive engagement with the Government of the day.

This is a very welcome move for our nation which is likely to put politics of rancour behind us, thus triggering collaboration, development and the harmony we sorely needed for national progress, he said.

He assured Mr Mwonzora of collaboration between the MDC-T and the Zanu PF Government towards the growth and prosperity of the nation. Once the pledge and positive shift extended by the opposition happens, a new chapter will indeed begin, paving the way for consensual politics grater unity, peace, harmony and accelerated development. We appeal to all those still stuck to yesterdays politics of destructive confrontation and obstruction to learn from this salutary gesture by the MDC-T. To be in opposition need not mean being unduly negative, confrontation, divisive and disloyal to ones nation and people, he said.

Mr Mwonzora trounced his three rivals, Dr Thokozani Khupe, Engineer Ellias Mudzuri and Mr Morgan Komichi.

He has since appointed a new-look executive in which he has retained the three to their original portfolio. Herald
Pakistan on Thursday said China has assured it of providing over one million doses of coronavirus vaccine, developed by Sinopharm, for emergency use. Earlier in the day, China granted conditional approval to its first homegrown coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm. According to media reports, Pakistan has decided to pre-book the COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for healthcare workers.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and exchanged views on COVID-19, bilateral relations, and regional and international issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said. During the conversation, Wang assured that China would work to provide over one million doses of the vaccine to Pakistan for emergency use, it said. Qureshi underlined that both Pakistan and China were making efforts to contain and combat the coronavirus and have established various mechanisms which were playing a useful role in controlling the pandemic, resuming economic growth and restoring supply chains across the region.

Noting that China has made remarkable achievements in developing COVID-19 vaccines, Qureshi said the Phase-III clinical trials of Chinas vaccine were progressing well in Pakistan. He added that the government has approved Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use in Pakistan and expressed hope for its early availability from China.

Reaffirming the depth and breadth of Pakistan and Chinas all-weather strategic co-operative partnership, Qureshi supported China on issues of its core interests, including Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and South China Sea, the Foreign Office said. He also briefed Wang on Pakistans ties with India.

Wang expressed satisfaction over Pakistan and Chinas cooperation on regional and international issues. He expressed hope that the next year would witness further deepening of the time-tested relationship between China and Pakistan, the Foreign Office said.
For 17 elections and two primaries, the people of the 51st Senate district have placed their trust in Jim Seward. Now after 34 years, he's saying goodbye to politics, and hello to retirement. Seward made the announcement last January due to ongoing cancer treatments. 2020 also through another challenge at the Senator. He was hospitalized for COVID and recovered.

Seward said his interest in public service began when he was young. In grade school, Seward said he was always interested in what was happening across his community and across the world.

"I thought it would be more helpful and it would have more impact to get a seat at the table where decisions are being made," said Seward.

In 1986, the people then decided to place their trust in 35-year-old Seward by electing him as a New York State Senator. He then began his commitment to trying to make his community a better place. Seward worked to improve our area's economy and Infrastructure. He even helped give people a break on their taxes.

"I derived a great deal of satisfaction with helping people as a Senator. The number one complaint I've heard is high property taxes, in particular, school taxes. So I was very pleased to have been apart of the effort to enact the Star Program. I received letters from a number of senior citizens saying that said the only reason they could stay in their homes, was because of the star program," said Seward.

But out of those 34 years of service, Seward said there was one thing he wished he could accomplish.

"A source of frustration for me is that we have not been able to reverse the source of the out-migration from New York State yet. I certainly hope that my successor and legislators and even within the administration will take up that cause because that is a very disturbing trend," said Seward

Seward would like to thanks all of his constituents for showing their support to him. He said "Serving you has been the honor of a lifetime.

Republican Peter Oberacker will succeed Seward. Oberacker will be sworn in in January.
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New Delhi: India on Friday called for urgent, practical, and time-bound assistance to 39 Indian sailors stranded on two cargo ships in Chinese waters in view of the "grave" humanitarian situation developing onboard the vessels. Citing coronavirus-related restrictions, Chinese authorities have not allowed the ships, MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia, to either dock or go for a crew change for months.

"There is a growing stress on the crew members on account of the long delay. Given this and our concern for the increasingly difficult conditions for our crew members, these two cases are being pursued vigorously," Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

He said while the shipping companies concerned are examining the logistics of moving the ships away from their current points of anchorage, the Indian embassy in Beijing is in touch with relevant Chinese authorities for berthing approvals to facilitate the crew change.

Srivastava said Indian bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand, with 23 Indian sailors, has been on anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since June 13 while MV Anastasia, with 16 Indians as crew members, is on anchorage near Caofeidian port since September 20.

"We have noted the statements of the Chinese side, expressing their willingness to extend their assistance in this matter. We expect that this assistance will be provided in an urgent, practical, and time-bound manner, given the grave humanitarian situation that is developing onboard the ships," he said responding to a media query on the matter.

Srivastava said the Indian embassy in Beijing continued to remain in close and continuous touch with the Chinese authorities in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, adding the MEA is also following up on the matter through the Chinese Embassy here for "an early resolution".

He said the Indian embassy has repeatedly taken up the issue both with the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs and also with the local provincial authorities, requesting that the ships be allowed to dock and/or the crew be allowed to be changed.

"They have been following up on this matter for the last few months. The Indian Ambassador has personally taken up this issue with the Vice Foreign Minister. The Ministry has also been following this issue with the Chinese Embassy," Srivastava said,

He said the Chinese authorities have conveyed that on account of various COVID-19 related restrictions imposed by the local authorities, crew change is not being permitted from these ports.

"While the shipping companies are examining the logistics of sailing the ships away from their current points of anchorage, our embassy is liaising with relevant authorities in Tianjin for berthing approvals to facilitate the crew change," Srivastava added.

He said the shipping companies have been requested to ensure that they submit their plans for a crew change at the earliest for approvals by the local Chinese authorities.

"We also understand that MV Anastasia is exploring the possibility of a crew change at sea at its current point of anchorage in Caofeidian. Our Embassy has yesterday written to Chinese authorities proposing this alternative and sought approval for the same," the MEA spokesperson said.

He said the Chinese foreign ministry conveyed in late November that while crew change from Jingtang port would not be feasible, the shipping company or agent may apply for crew rotation from Tianjin port in China and that the local authorities would examine after receiving requests for the same.

Srivastava said the shipping companies concerned have been asked to make crew change applications expeditiously.
Wrexhams Calon FM to close after 13 years of serving the community

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 1st, 2021

Wrexhams community radio station Calon FM is to air its final broadcast early in this new year period as the financial position of the company is untenable in the long term.

The station, which has been broadcasting since 2008, says it is having to close due to the withdrawal of support from Wrexham Glyndwr University, and is therefore no longer able to keep running.

Calon Communications Limited Board, who run the station, say they are very saddened to see Calon FM have to close and have done all we can to try to prevent this from happening, with a statement released to Wrexham.com detailing why they had to make this difficult decision.

The station is based on Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys main campus at Plas Coch in new, as of 2015, studios in the Centre for the Creative Industries.





The Board explained, Calon FM has formed part of the university experience for some students studying related courses including radio production and broadcasting and journalism. The university has hosted the station and provided much valued funding but they have now made the decision to end this partnership.

Up to 2019, Calon Communications Limited (CCL) were working with the university on a five year plan, with Calon working towards the radio station covering its own costs as far as possible. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints at the university, the plan had to be laid aside and the radio station was faced with the challenging task of covering its costs faster than anticipated.

Tony Pugh, who is chair of the Calon FM board, detailed, We are hugely saddened to see Calon FM close. We felt that the station was thriving, despite the many challenges that the past year has brought.

We do, however, respect the decision of the university, which has left us in an untenable position, with no alternative but to close the station and to hand the licence back to Ofcom

We know that the loss of Calon FM will be a great sadness to its listeners both in the UK and beyond. The CCL Board would like to thank Amy Hughes and her former colleague Katherine Wade for their untiring effort and hard work that has made Calon FM the excellent community radio station that it now is.

We would also like to thank the hundreds of volunteers, listeners and supporters over the years, without whom the radio station would not exist. We hope in the future that a new community radio station in Wrexham may rise from the ashes.

We are incredibly proud of what Calon FM has achieved through the years, supplying a vital service to the community of Wrexham and reaching across the globe through its online presence.

The station has won awards, launched radio careers and given so many people invaluable opportunities to get involved in broadcasting since it was launched in 2008. Calon has undoubtedly changed lives through helping people with career opportunities and increasing their confidence.

Although the radio station has continued to remain successful and broadcast excellent content throughout this challenging time and, in addition, has started to raise additional income through advertising and sponsorship, the university and the CCL board have had to recognise that the ongoing financial position of the company is untenable in the long term.

Calon FMs community programming has ranged from music and arts shows to Welsh and Polish language shows, broadcasting to a diverse range of people across the community.

Calon FM won the Radio Academy Award in 2013 and the Community Radio Award in 2016, with many of the volunteer broadcasters have gone on to work in the media industry.
New Delhi:

The Centre's sanction for setting up an AIIMS campus in Kamrup district, on the suburbs of the city, has led to a mixed bag of feelings from the locals.

The medical community in Assam allied to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Assam Medical Services Association (AMSA) on Thursday hailed the Centre's approval of setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Changsari in Kamrup in the outskirts of the city.

Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, "our efforts to overhaul facilities in Assam will get massive boost with AIIMS with facilities of super specialty health care to people."

Mentioning that illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular, trauma, diabetes and road traffic accident incidents has been increasing in the state, medical professionals said AIIMS in the state will function as a referral centre and will be able to attend to the vital health issues that, till now were not being covered by the existing facilities in a viable manner.

"AIIMS in Assam will also be able to cater research in complicated medical subjects. It will benefit the northeast. Such research will help the medical fraternity more than ever. At the same time, people in the state should know that AIIMS in Assam will be a referral centre that will consider major ailments. People here will definitely be benefited in the long term," said Satyajit Borah, vice president of the state chapter of IMA.

Resonating his view was Kanak Talukdar of AMSA who was quoted as saying that AIIMS will bring in a radical phase in medical sciences particularly in research oriented topics. "This is a great beginning for Assam that has been witnessing shortcomings in the health sector for a while now. Doctors who are oriented towards research will really benefit," said Talukdar.

Some, however, were cynical about the move. "The city is already burdened with traffic and crowd. If Raha or someplace besides Guwahati had been selected, this would have given an opportunity for these places to be developed," said a doctor.

Meanwhile, just a day before PM Narendra Modi lays down the foundation of the AIIMS campus, the Central Assam AIIMS Demand Committee appeared on the streets of Raha in Nagaon district to object against the cabinet's sanction of setting up of AIIMS in the outskirts of Guwahati.

The committee has announced a middle Assam bandh on Friday. Raha was one of the recommended sites for AIIMS in Assam. Guwahati was preferred over Raha because of its better connectivity.

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[January 01, 2021] Balmoral Sells VESTA Modular, a Leading Provider of Temporary and Permanent Modular Space Solutions

Balmoral Funds LLC ("Balmoral") announced today the sale of VESTA Housing Solutions LLC ("VESTA" or the "Company") to Kinderhook Industries, LLC ("Kinderhook") and management. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Southfield, MI, VESTA is a leading provider of temporary and permanent modular space solutions. The Company operates two divisions - (i) modular space leasing whereby it leases units from its owned fleet of over 3,200 floors to customers across a diverse range of end markets and applications, and (ii) modular construction services whereby it facilitates the design, manufacturing, logistics, and installation of modular buildings. VESTA's core end markets include education, industrial, construction, government, municipalities, and retail sectors. In addition to its Southfield, MI headquarters, VESTA operates strategically-placed branches in some of the nation's fastest growing markets - Atlanta, Houston, and Miami. "I have every confidence that the VESTA team will continue their remarkable track record of success," said Managing Partner and founder of Balmoral, Jonathan Victor. "It is a rewarding if bittersweet achievement to execute this transaction within three short years of first meeting VESTA's founders. We wish them the best of luck in their partnership with Kinderhook." "Money is fungible - great partners are not. We owe our success to those investors who supported our growth and vision over the years, through the highs and lows of business and life. Balmoral provided both the captal and advice we needed to prepare our team for the next stage of our growth plan with Kinderhook," said Dan McMurtrie, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VESTA. "We believe firmly that VESTA will continue its rise to become the preeminent modular building provider in North America, evidenced by our significant retained ownership in the enterprise."



"We're thrilled with the qualitative and financial success the management team and our investors have enjoyed leading up to and through this transaction," added Robin Nourmand, a Managing Director at Balmoral. "VESTA has a top-notch, high integrity, high-EQ management team that will continue to provide excellent service to its customers and inspire employees and partners." About VESTA Modular

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Southfield, MI, VESTA is a leading provider of temporary and permanent modular space solutions. The Company operates two divisions - (i) modular space leasing whereby it leases units from its owned fleet of over 3,200 floors to customers across a diverse range of end markets and applications, and (ii) modular construction services whereby it facilitates the design, manufacturing, logistics, and installation of modular buildings. VESTA's core end markets include education, industrial, construction, government, municipalities, and retail sectors. In addition to its Southfield, MI headquarters, VESTA operates strategically-placed branches in some of the nation's fastest growing markets - Atlanta, Houston, and Miami. For more information please visit: www.vestamodular.com. About Balmoral Funds Balmoral is a Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) based private equity fund, founded in 2005, with approximately $500 million of assets under management. Balmoral partners with talented, aligned and committed management teams to invest in and revitalize companies. Balmoral typically invests in companies that have revenues between $30 to $500 million and require equity investments of $10 to $60 million. For more information please visit: www.balmoralfunds.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210101005018/en/

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Police officers have slammed 'selfish' Tier 4 tourists who flouted lockdown to climb Snowdon in Wales - as crowds gathered in Richmond Park for a New Year's Day walk.

North Wales Police blasted Bank Holiday walkers who journeyed up to 270 miles to snow-covered Snowdonia National Park to scale Wales' biggest mountain.

Hikers traveled from as far away as Kent, Southampton and Solihull, the force revealed on Twitter.

Images of parked cars lining the streets of the picturesque Welsh beauty spot came as countless ramblers flocked to London's Richmond Park for a brisk winter stroll.

Long queues of cars snaked through the popular walking spot and nearby carparks appeared jam-packed as eager revellers took to the outdoors on the first day of 2021.

Police officers have slammed 'selfish' Tier 4 tourists who traveled up to 270 miles to climb Snowdon in Wales - in breach of lockdown rules. Pictured: Officers in Snowdonia

Members of the public enjoyed their New Year's Day walk despite the cold, rain and snow flurries in a busy Richmond Park

All of Wales is under Alert Level 4, the harshest set of lockdown restrictions imposed by the country's devolved Government and equivalent to England's Tier 4.

The top tier limits travel into Wales to essential only - such as for work - meaning travelling from England for a walk is against the law.

The Welsh Government also encourages exercise to 'be done locally'.

Furthermore, all three areas listed by North Wales Police are under England's Tier 4 lockdown which also imposes travel restrictions.

People under England's highest-tier lockdown can only leave their Tier 4 area for essential reasons - such as for work or medical care.

Exercise outdoors is permitted under the rules, but this must be done alone, within a household or with one other person - if social distancing is maintained.

North Wales Police blasted New Year's Day walkers (the force's tweet, pictured) who flocked to snow-covered Snowdonia National Park to scale Wales' biggest mountain

All of Wales is under Alert Level 4, the harshest set of lockdown restrictions imposed by the country's devolved Government and equivalent to England's Tier 4. Pictured: Cars parked in Snowdonia as visitors flocked to the beauty spot

Southampton is around 240 miles from Snowdonia and Solihull, in the West Midlands, is 120 miles away.

North Wales Police wrote on Twitter: 'Patrols continue across North Wales and we are working closely with our colleagues.

'Several reported for Covid-19 breaches already today - with some travelling here from as far as Southampton, Kent and Sollihull.

'Please do not travel for exercise.'

The top tier limits travel into Wales to essential only - such as for work - meaning travelling from England for a walk in against the law. Pictured: A police car stationed in Snowdonia

Snowdonia National Park's Twitter page issued a similar warning on December 28, writing: 'Although the snow does look pretty on the mountains the current Welsh Government guidelines say people should only travel if it's essential'

Long queues of cars snaked through the popular walking spot as eager ramblers stepped out for a New Year's stroll

Crowds of people were seen walking through the green space on a chilly New Year's Day

Snowdonia National Park's Twitter page added: 'Remember: Exercise should start and finish from home. Keep Wales safe.'

The account issued a similar warning on December 28, writing: 'Although the snow does look pretty on the mountains the current Welsh Government guidelines say people should only travel if it's essential.

'No journeys of any significant distance should be taken, for example, just in order to exercise in the countryside or at beauty spots.'

Many used the Bank Holiday as an opportunity to get some fresh air. Richmond Park in London was a popular spot

Earlier this week, hikers from different households in England travelled more than 75 miles in a minibus together to climb a Welsh mountain.

Police said the walkers were from mixed households and had travelled from Cheltenham to South Wales for a hike.

Under Level 4 restrictions, nearly all people are banned from mixing with other households both indoors and outdoors and travel into the country for non-essential purposes is banned.

On the Welsh Government's website, a Q&A section asks: 'I do not live in Wales, can I travel to Wales for a holiday or to visit family and friends?'

The answer states: 'Travel is limited to essential travel only when alert level 4 restrictions are in place, for example travelling for work purposes or to return home.'

The hikers' minibus was one of more than 300 vehicles parked at the foot of Pen-Y-Fan mountain in the Brecon Beacons, which had received a dusting of snow.

Intensive care medic Dr David Hepburn said he was 'very disappointed' to see the mass of cars parked.

An intensive care doctor has hit out at crowds of people visiting the Brecon Beacons despite Wales' nationwide lockdown. Pictured: Cars parked below Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain

Pen-Y-Fan is the highest peak in south Wales and popular with visitors wanting to reach the 2,907ft summit.

Police said they issued fixed penalty notices for 'blatant' breaches of lockdown rules and many other visitors had turned away.

And while Dr Hepburn, a consultant in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, said he could understand why people want to visit beauty spots, he warned it was in most cases against the rules.

He added that it was still unclear what impact Christmas had had on case numbers.

'All the hospitals across the health board are now very, very full,' he told the BBC.

'In terms of the intensive care unit actually where we're managing to sort of hold our footprint, and we haven't exploded, you know we haven't burst our banks as yet.

'But we've still got quite a lot of time to go before this pandemic is under control, so really anything could happen over the next month or so.'

Dr Hepburn, a consultant in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, said he could understand why people want to visit beauty spots but he warned it was in most cases against the rules

He added: 'We don't want to lose any more friends, loved ones, neighbours. I don't want to watch anyone else die from this cruel disease, and I've done that more than I can count.'

Dr Hepburn was himself 'wiped out' by coronavirus in March, leaving him bedridden and asleep for up to 18 hours a day.

Wales has been in a nationwide Level 4 lockdown since 20 December, with restrictions also tightened for Christmas Day.

The rules state that people must not visit other households, or meet other people they do not live with.

Wales has been in a nationwide Level 4 lockdown since 20 December, with restrictions also tightened for Christmas Day

Travelling is only allowed for essential purposes, such as for work and for caring responsibilities. International travel is also not allowed.

People are still allowed out of their homes to exercise, for unlimited times and periods each day, and exercise should start and finish at your home.

Inspector Andrew Williams said: 'We are carrying out high-visibility patrols at Pen y Fan and engaging with people to remind them of their responsibilities to adhere to Welsh Government lockdown restrictions.

'There are a couple of hundred vehicles in the area.

'Officers have spoken to one man who had driven from Hertfordshire to walk up the mountain, while a minibus of people from mixed households had travelled from Cheltenham.

'Fixed penalty notices have and will be issued to those blatant breaches where engagement fails, but the vast majority of people are listening to advice and when they are turning up and seeing RPU vehicles at the site, they are turning around and going home - which is the objective of our high visibility patrols.'

Aled Davies, the Conservative deputy leader of Powys County Council, said he was 'not angry... just disappointed' to see people driving out to the rural areas of south Wales.

Mr Davies said: 'I can understand why people want to get out into the fresh air' but that 'the rules are very, very clear around this'.
London, Jan 1 : The UK's chief medical officers have defended the Covid vaccination plan, after criticism from a doctors' union.

The UK will give both parts of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines 12 weeks apart, having initially planned to leave 21 days between the Pfizer jabs, the BBC reported.

The British Medical Association said cancelling patients booked in for their second doses was "grossly unfair".

But the chief medical officers said getting more people vaccinated with the first jab "is much more preferable".

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first jab approved in the UK, and 9,44,539 people have had their first jab.

The first person to get the jab on December 8, Margaret Keenan, has already had her second jab.

Pfizer has said it has tested the vaccine's efficacy only when the two vaccines were given up to 21 days apart.

But the chief medical officers said the "great majority" of initial protection came from the first jab.

"The second vaccine dose is likely to be very important for duration of protection, and at an appropriate dose interval may further increase vaccine efficacy," they said.

"In the short term, the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest; the great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine." The decision to delay the second dose has, understandably, caused concern.

There is some evidence regulators say - at least for the Oxford vaccine - that it will actually boost immunity.

But for those who are due to get a second dose soon it will undoubtedly be upsetting that they now have to wait.

But the move is about practicalities. The UK is in the middle of a public health crisis and despite the fact that millions of doses are pre-ordered, there is concern the supply of the vaccine will not be as smooth as everyone would ideally want.

There is a global demand for these vaccines and there are bound to be times when supply does not meet demand.

So the logic of the move is that by spreading this thin resource the most widely, it will have the greatest benefit - not only to the vulnerable but to everyone.

Lives have been put on hold and livelihoods lost.

This is the quickest way back to some degree of normality.

Even if it does leave some of the vaccinated susceptible to infection, it should in theory at least protect them from serious illness.

Given where we are now, the argument is that that is a price worth paying.
Gurugram, Jan 1 : Due to lack of a waste-to- energy plant, a mountain of waste reaching upto nearly 42 metres has accumulated at the Bandhwari garbage plant in Gurugram.

The waste-to-energy plant is yet to be set up by Ecogreen Energy Private Limited at the site. The company has a contract to collect house waste from Gurugram and Faridabad districts.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) pays crores of rupees every month to the company for garbage collection.

According to MCG officials, nearly 10 acres of land is required for the waste-to-energy plant while the Bandhwadi plant is spread over 30 acres of municipal land.

In 2017, Ecogreen Energy had started work on setting up a waste plant at the same site. For this, 10 acres of land was provided by the MCG at the Bandhwari plant but due to the non-construction of the plant, three million tonnes of garbage has accumulated at the proposed plant site.

The corporation officials informed that the civic body has paid more than Rs 126 crore to Ecogreen in 31 months but the company did not begin the work even after a year of getting environmental clearance.

The officials said nine trommel machines are working to reduce the mountain of garbage. The height of one part of the garbage mountain had reached 42 metres. Nearly 1,700 tonnes of garbage from Gurugram and Faridabad is reaching the Bandhwari landfill daily.

According to information through a Right To Information (RTI) query, fines have been imposed several times on Ecogreen.

As per a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, the State Pollution Control Board imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh on November 11, 2019, on the company for spreading pollution and harming the environment. The Faridabad Municipal Corporation did not take action to cancel the company's contract till June 2020, despite imposing a fine of more than Rs 1.57 crore.

"Nine trommel machines are working to reduce the garbage mountain. The company's representatives have been instructed to set up the waste-to- energy plant soon," said Dheeraj Kumar, Joint Commissioner, Swachh Bharat Mission, MCG.
President Donald Trump is unhappy that the Department of Justice responded for Vice President Mike Pence in a last-ditch lawsuit to overturn the election

The New York Times reported Friday that Trump called Pence to express 'surprise' and voiced additional displeasure to other sources

The lawsuit in question was filed by Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert and Arizona's slate of 'alternate' Electoral College electors

In a new filing Friday, Gohmert argued that Pence was more than a 'glorified envelope-opener in chief' when he presides over Congress on January 6

Gohmert and his allies want a federal court to rule that Pence has the power to 'to conduct that proceeding as he sees fit'

On December 14, in a White House-backed effort, Republican 'electors' in swing states President-elect Joe Biden won gathered and voted for Trump

Gohmert et. al. want Pence to be able to pick the uncertified votes from the rogue 'alternate' electors over real Electoral College results

President Donald Trump is unhappy that the Department of Justice responded on behalf of Vice President Mike Pence in a lawsuit filed by Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert that aims to give Pence the power to overturn the presidential election.

The New York Times reported that Trump called Pence Friday morning to express surprise at the development. The president was more vocal to others about his displeasure, sources told the paper's Maggie Haberman.

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Gohmert and Arizona's slate of GOP 'alternate' electors have sued Pence to expand his powers, so that he can solely determine which Electoral College votes to count when he presides over the January 6 session of Congress to make President-elect Joe Biden's win official.

In a fresh filing Friday afternoon, Gohmert argued that Pence is more powerful than a 'glorified envelope-opener in chief.'

'Under the Constitution, he has the authority to conduct that proceeding as he sees fit,' Gohmert wrote. 'He may count elector votes certified by a states executive, or he can prefer a competing slate of duly qualified electors. He may ignore all electors from a certain state. That is the power bestowed upon him by the Constitution.'

Legal experts have strongly disagreed with Gohmert's assessment.

In the Thursday night DOJ filing, Pence's lawyer, Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Coghlan, pointed out a basic fallacy in this case - in order to sue, the plaintiff and the defendant must be in opposition.

President Donald Trump (left), pictured returning to the White House Thursday with first lady Melania Trump (right), is unhappy the Justice Department stepped in on behalf of Vice President Mike Pence to crush a lawsuit aimed at giving Pence the power to overturn the election

Vice President Mike Pence's Justice Department lawyer wants a judge to toss out a case being spearheaded by Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert that seeks to expand Pence's powers so that he can choose which Electoral College votes count

Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas, filed a federal lawsuit in Texas alongside Arizona's 'alternate' Electoral College electors - and now some of Michigan's too - that seeks to allow Vice President Mike Pence to choose Trump electors over Biden electors on January 6

In this case, Gohmert and Pence's interests are aligned.

'The Vice President is not the proper defendant in this lawsuit,' Coghlan wrote. 'The Vice President - the only defendant in this case - is ironically the very person whose power they seek to promote.'

'A suit to establish that the vice president has discretion over the count, filed against the vice president, is a walking legal contradition,' Coghlan noted in a Thursday night filing.

Still, on Friday, a number of Michigan's 'alternate' electors filed a brief in the case.

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If Trump had won Michigan, these individuals would have been the state's members of the Electoral College.

However, because Trump didn't win Michigan, the state's electors are Democrats - and cast their votes in favor of Biden in Lansing on December 14.

In court documents the rogue electors say that 'with the permission and endorsement of the Michigan Legislature' they cast votes in favor of President Donald Trump 'at the time, place, and manner required under Michigan state law and the Electoral Count Act.'

'At the same time, Michigans Governor and Secretary of State appointed a separate and competing slate of electors who cast Michigans electoral votes for former Vice-President Joseph R. Biden, despite the evidence of massive multi-state electoral fraud committed on Bidens behalf that changed electoral results in Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states that have also put forward competing slates of Presidential Electors,' the court document reads.

The group did not have the permission of the Michigan legislature - with Michigan State Police blocking their access to the capitol - but they did have approval from the White House.

On December 14, White House aide Stephen Miller revealed a plot to have separate Republican electors cast votes for Trump in key swing states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

'As we speak, today, an alternate slate of electors in the contested states is going to vote and we're going to send those results up to Congress,' Miller said on 'Fox & Friends.' 'This will ensure that all of our legal remedies remain open. That means if we win these cases in the courts, we can direct that these alternate electors be certified.'

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This is where the Gohmert lawsuit comes in.

The suit argues that the Electoral Count Act, which was passed in 1887, violates the 12th Amendment, which outlines the procedure for electing the president and vice president.

The amendment, which was ratified in 1804, says that the 'President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall be counted.'

On Friday, Trump continued to push his supporters to come to Washington, D.C. to protest on the day Pence will oversee a Congressional session in which the Electoral College votes are tallied

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Trump's White House backed the effort to have 'alternate' electors show up in state capitols to vote on December 14, so that those votes could be used to challenge the actual Electoral College results when Congress meets on January 6

While the lawsuit aims to give Pence unprecedented power to choose from slates of electors, lawmakers have the ability to challenge the count, with Sen. Josh Hawley saying he would object to some states' results

The lawsuit argues that the 'President of the Senate,' which is Pence, has the sole authority to determine which votes to count.

'That, with respect to competing slates of electors from the State of Arizona or other Contested States, the Twelfth Amendment contains the exclusive dispute resolution mechanisms, namely, that (i) Vice-President Pence determines which slate of electors' votes count, or neither, for that State,' the lawsuit says.

Legal experts called the reasoning laughable.

Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe tweeted that Gohmert effort 'may be the dumbest law suit of all' adding that it's 'jaw-droppingly stupid.'

'The idea that the Vice President has sole authority to determine whether or not to count electoral votes submitted by a state, or which of competing submissions to count, is inconsistent with a proper understanding of the Constitution,' Ohio State University law professor Edward Foley told The Hill.

Gohmert will also be joining the effort backed by more than 140 House Republicans to object to state vote counts during the Congressional session.

Congress has the power to toss out Electoral College votes - though has never done so.

If a House member and a senator both sign on to an objection, lawmakers debate the merits of that objection for two hours and then vote.

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has said he will file objections, but he hasn't said how many states' votes he will protest.

That effort, which could drag out the January 6 session for hours, even days, is doomed to fail, as only a simple majority is needed to knock down an objection.

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With Democrats in control of the House and enough Republicans objecting to the plot in the Senate, Biden's win will get the Congressional seal of approval.
G etting to Sa Pa takes time.

My adventure starts on the overnight train which rumbles out of Hanoi at 10pm. My eight-hour journey, in a four-berth carriage, costs 25, and my neighbours include six elderly Vietnamese women squeezed into the four-berth cabin next door. They spend most of the night cackling uproariously as they down shots of wine lined up on the tiny table.

Aaron Joel Santos

The train takes me to Lao Cai, a town two kilometres from the Chinese border and a one-hour bus drive from Sa Pa. The final stretch - a wiggly road with steep drops on either side - soon takes its toll on several of my fellow passengers, including a toddler perched on the lap of his father, who somehow manages to catch a stream of projectile vomit inside a hastily-retrieved plastic bag.

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Its misty and damp when I arrive in Sa Pa, a small hill town nestled in North Vietnams Hoang Lien Son Mountains. Through the mist, I spot the dark outline of Mount Fansipan, the countrys highest mountain.

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Growing numbers of tourists are heading here to explore the regions rice paddy-carpeted hills on treks led by guides from two local hill tribes: the Black Hmong and the Red Dzao. Both are famous for their embroidery skills, and almost every woman I see appears to have a needle and thread surgically attached, whether its the teenage girl in her garishly-bright woven dress, killing time in Sa Pas misty town square, or Mai, the guide for my trek through the villages above Sa Pa.

She explains that the two tribes are identified by their headwear: Black Hmongs wear squat black caps while Red Dzaos (such as Mai) wear jaunty red hats which remind me of Father Christmass headwear. We live in different villages and weve got totally different dialects, explains Mai as we hike past swirls of rice paddies and thick bamboo forests originally planted by the French, who flocked here in the early 1900s to escape the sticky heat of Hanoi.

Mai, my guide / Tamara Hinson

As we dodge a herd of water buffalo ambling down the track, Mai points to a house with sprigs of greenery dangling over the front door, and explains that its a way for the owners to let neighbours know that someone inside is seriously ill. She adds that Black Hmongs are known for their work with indigo dye, and points to washing lines sagging under the weight of dripping swathes of dark blue fabric. Many of the tiny cottages are surrounded by fields of bright purple Indigofera tinctorial, the altitude-loving plant which produces the dye.

Aaron Joel Santos

I learn that Sa Pa O Chau, the guiding company Mai works for, was founded by Shu Tan, a single mother from the Black Hmong community. Profits support various good causes, including a boarding house in Sa Pa for ethic minority youth who previously struggled to reach the towns schools. The vast majority of Sa Pas tour operators have close connections with the local communities, so perhaps its understandable that the news that Sa Pas first five-star hotel would be opening its doors in late 2018 was initially greeted with concern.

One guiding company, run by a British man and his Vietnamese wife, refuse to work with me once they find out Im staying at the hotel, citing its lack of integration as a reason. Luckily, they turn out to be the exception rather than the rule, and its immediately obvious the hotels owners have gone out of their way to pay authentic nods to Sa Pas past.

Handout

Yes, theres a distinctly un-Vietnamese (but incredibly beautiful) claw-footed bathtub in my bedroom and one of the sexiest swimming pools Ive ever seen, and yes, the interior has been designed by American architect Bill Bensley, but South East Asia has always been the Bangkok-based architects preferred stomping ground.

And its a common misconception that the nods to France reference the Paris-based Sofitel brand; theyre actually a nod to Sa Pas history, more specifically the early 1900s, when the town was established as a hill station for French colonial administrators. Behind the reception desk is a rainbow-hued wall of French cotton spools which were brought to Sa Pa and wrapped in local silk, and at the centre of an art-like collection of hats, displayed to appear as though theyre floating in thin air, is a traditional Vietnamese hat wrapped in French polka-dots. Bensley found it in a Paris flea market.

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Its certainly a world away from Mais tiny village of Ta Phin, where she proudly shows me the beautiful winding main street, carved from an exposed ribbon of natural marble (they wanted to tarmac it but we wouldnt let them - its so smooth!) and leads me past gaggles of curious, weaving Red Dzao women to the home she shares with her husband and two children.

Guiding has obviously served her well; she now has room for 15 homestay guests in several rooms upstairs. On the sparse but cosy ground floor, a bag of freshly-caught fish dries over the open fire in the centre of the concrete-floored main living area. In a side room, she proudly shows me two enormous barrels, made from golden strips of fragrant cedarwood, which double as herbal spa baths  a popular local remedy for everything from indigestion to stiff joints aching after long hikes through the surrounding hills. Suddenly my claw-footed bathtub looks rather plain.

Details:
Mamata Banerjee vows to carry on her fight on TMC's Foundation Day

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Kolkata, Jan 01: Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections the Trinamool Congress has on Friday celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day across West Bengal with Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee assuring to fight and work for the people.

"As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998. Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time, we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people," tweeted Banerjee.

As Bengal steps into the election year and the party is set to complete a decade in power, Banerjee vowed to carry on her fight to make the state better.

"On #TMCFoundationDay, I extend my sincere gratitude to our Maa-Mati-Manush and all our workers who continue to fight with us in making Bengal better and stronger each day. The Trinamool family will carry on with this resolve for times to come!" she added.

The TMC leaders in districts have arranged for various functions and street-corner meetings to discuss and highlight the party's achievements in the last ten years.

Banerjee broke away from the Congress and formed the TMC on January 1, 1998 with an objective to oust the then Left Front regime from power.

The party faces a challenge in the next assembly elections, as the resurgent BJP has pulled out all the stops to defeat the TMC dispensation in the polls, slated to be held in April-May this year.

As the fire over the poll setting up in the state BJP has claimed that more than 130 of its cadres were killed or found dead under mysterious circumstances, since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Flashpoints in state politics were one too many, as the state hogged national limelight for all the wrong reasons and witnessed widespread political violence.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 14:44 [IST]
Supreme Court of India (SC)

In the biting cold of the January 2019 winter, while the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens were raging in Delhi, a four-month-old child of a protesting mother died of pneumonia. Hearing a public interest petition filed by a 12-year-old seeking a ban on children participating in demonstrations (mark the irony!), the Chief Justice, SA Bobde observed: Can a 4-month old child be taking part in such protests? That for countless infants born to homeless mothers living on the streets, surviving the elements has always been matter of luck, which possibly escaped the mind of the Chief Justice.

As winter turned to spring, and the pandemic forced the country into lockdown, migrants left without a source of livelihood or transportation began walking back to their home villages. Newspapers carried heart-breaking images of death and destitution. Yet, this time, the court chose to defer to the government in its handling of the lockdown, or the lack of it. Never mind the equally horrific pictures of young children walking miles, or suddenly finding their parents dead out of sheer exhaustion.

Take another example: During the high profile hearing of the contempt of court case against lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who had tweeted about the Chief Justices closeness to the ruling party, Bhushan had filed several applications questioning the process adopted to punish him, such as whether statutory requirements had been followed. These applications were dismissed perfunctorily. Remember, since it was already at the apex court, there was no appeal possible, making the denial of hearing egregious.

When commentators talk about how the Indian Supreme Court, in its polyvocality was always a flawed apex court, they miss the fact that over the last two years or so, it has begun to even abandon the veneer of bipartisanship that it was famous for. The deference to the government is almost without apology. It certainly doesnt help that the only cases in which the attorney general has given permission to prosecute citizens for contempt of Court have been in respect to those insinuations that tie the court to the ruling party at the Centre  never mind that far graver allegations have been levelled at the court contemporaneously.

It doesnt help that in recent times, both the supreme courts of the United States (Donald Trumps attempt at overturning the result of the general election) and the United Kingdom (the Prime Ministers decision to prorogue Parliament for unhindered sway over Brexit negotiations) have unequivocally rebuffed the executive.

That doesnt mean that these courts havent been controversial themselves. The Supreme Court of the United States has shown unprecedented alacrity in permitting execution of death row convicts as Trump tries to rush them in his last days in office. A conservative majority on the court suggests that many hard fought civil rights might well be overturned in the days to come.

The Australian High Court (their apex court) invited widespread criticism when it recently overturned the conviction of Cardinal George Pell, who was found guilty of child sex abuse, on a technicality. In another case, it ruled that a non-citizen of aboriginal descent who was illegally in the country could not be deported. [The argument will find parallels in the challenge to the Citizenship Amendment Act in India, where the government is seeking to retrospectively legalise the presence of non-Muslims who have illegally entered into and continue to stay in India. In both cases, the criticism is that the constitution does not permit giving such a favour to only certain classes among equally placed people].

The difference, then, is not that the Supreme Court is controversial in its judgments, as much as the cases it chooses to hear, and the way it goes about hearing those. This has been repeated in just about every opinion piece about Supreme Court inaction, but it cannot be said enough  the Supreme Court has still not heard the constitutionality of the near-martial law state that Kashmir has been locked in for the last 16 months as well as several other cases of constitutional importance with grave effect on fundamental rights.

Prestige in decline

Indias reputation as a justice system to be emulated is taking a hit, consequently. India is ranked 69 in the World Justice Projects Rule of Law index 2020 (out of 128 countries)  wedged between Belarus and Burkina Faso, both practically dictatorships.

In a study analysing judgments by apex courts of 43 countries between 2009 and 2019, lawyer Mitali Gupta concluded that there has been a clear fall in the number of times international judges cite Indian Supreme Court judgments in their writings  an indication of the declining prestige of the Supreme Court of India.

What does not get reflected in rankings and citations is its goodwill among citizens, a commodity that the Supreme Court enjoyed abundantly in decades past. That is eroding. Perhaps a time will come when the court is forced to reckon with the old classic line you don't know what you've got til it's gone. Will it be too late?
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This is a contributed article by Chetan Dube, CEO and founder of Amelia.

A recent report found that more than half of non-tech workers are contemplating moving into tech-based careers in the UK. With technology investment growing across industries including healthcare, finance, law and education, its not surprising that more people are exploring what their place could be in the world of tech. Rather than being seen as a growth sector a few years ago, it is now difficult to imagine an organisation or industry not being influenced or changed by technology.

Yet while this research suggests we might see an increase in non-tech workers wanting to learn and develop their technical skills  this may not be entirely necessary. The rise of new no-code and low-code technologies may mean that rather than having to start from scratch and retrain entirely, those looking to start in tech without the technical know-how may well have opportunities to do so.

What does this mean for the role of the developer going forward? Could we see a future where our children will not have to learn to code?

While no-code and low-code hold lots of potential for companies of all backgrounds looking to rapidly implement and scale technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI)-powered assistants, we also need to think about the wider implications of such platforms  taking their benefits and challenges into consideration.

Democratisation of sophisticated technologies will open many doors

The most significant benefit of no/low code platforms will be to allow organisations without dedicated IT teams to run and implement tailored solutions into their organisation, more rapidly and in an integrated way that will see the technology directly benefit a particular function.

Rather than relying on developers, no/low-code will democratise the use of applications by significantly lowering the technical barrier to adoption. While there will be an initial cost involved, in the longer term, the solution will also be a cheaper option for many businesses who may not have a dedicated DevOps team.

In an AI-use case scenario, no/low code will essentially allow for the democratisation of AI for many businesses. AI development platforms which offer pre-built algorithms and simple drag and drop workflows will allow a range of non-technical individuals to implement the technology  opening doors for business partners, executives and salespeople to develop intelligent solutions to improve their working practices, as well as assisting application developers and IT operations professionals.

Enter a hybrid workforce

But whats the impact of rapidly running and scaling AI applications through low code platforms? For organisations looking to grow their operational side without a dedicated DevOps team  it could be huge.

For example, low-code platforms that develop AI solutions allow businesses to easily design, deploy and implement conversational AI that can support with day-to-day tasks. The easy-to-use platform will enable organisations that dont have the extensive AI expertise internally to quickly and easily design, deploy and implement conversational AI agents in roles such as a Customer Service Representative, an IT Help Desk Engineer, or a HR specialist.

Use of AI in this way can have a transformational impact on customer-based industries, such as finance, healthcare and law, by creating a hybrid workforce to share the load of customer enquiries across channels. With human and digital employees working together, humans will be able to focus their energies on marketing, project management and more sophisticated customer enquiries, while the AI will constantly improve its responses through automated learning capabilities.

The changing role of the developer

We can see how low-code solutions will increase accessibility and empower subject matter experts to act as citizen developers, who are able to drive intelligent automation across businesses. While this has huge potential for many businesses who want to benefit from new technologies, lowering the barrier to entry could also have an impact on developers and their skillset.

However, rather than making coding skills redundant, on the contrary no/low code platforms show that being able to write and understand code is still important. Even though low code applications are among the easiest solutions for their users to understand, once the applications are built they may uncover new opportunities where more complex refining will drive even greater efficiencies or improve outcomes. Being able to edit code in this instance will be vital. Moreover, having a disconnect between low-code users and high-code software, could also be detrimental in the long term  resulting in systems that dont align and can prevent collaboration.

Coding is here to stay  but its become more accessible

Overall, while no/low code solutions and tools are making it possible to create powerful applications running on a small amount of code, its increased accessibility should by no means call for the end of coding.

What no/low code does mean, however, is that a range of businesses  of all sizes and at various stages of their journey with technology  can consider implementing new applications across AI and ML that could truly revolutionise how their teams operate. While no code may not mean the demise of the developer, its certainly helping to pave the road to more sophisticated deployment and use of intelligent technologies in our everyday lives.

Chetan Dube has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Amelia, an IPsoft Company, since 1998 and also serves as its Director. He has over twenty years of experience with large-scale, high-performance internet infrastructure. Prior to Amelia, Dube served as an Assistant Professor at New York University, where he began exploring artificial intelligence principles and philosophies while researching deterministic finite-state computing engines.
With Brexit, the conditions for travel between the UK and the EU have changed. The maximum time that you can spend as a tourist without a visa will be limited, you will not be able to cross the border with certain foods, and new documents will be necessary to drive. Despite the agreement that London and Brussels have reached to regulate the future relationship, as of January 1 free movement between the UK and the EU ends and new restrictions are imposed.

EU citizens can continue to enter the UK with their national identity card (DNI, in the case of Spain) until October 1. If they are registered as residents in the Settlement System in the British Isles, that identification will remain valid at the border until December 31, 2025. British citizens, for their part, must show a passport issued less than ten years ago and with at least six months remaining. When crossing the border, in both directions, tourists may be required to have purchased a return ticket or to demonstrate that they have the means to pay for it and support themselves during their stay abroad.

A European visitor may stay a maximum of six months in UK territory without applying for a visa. The stays of UK tourists in the EU, on the other hand, will be more limited. They can only stay in an EU country as visitors for 90 days, spread over a period of 180 days. For longer stays and to work they must apply for a permit.

From now on, you cannot enter an EU country from the UK with meat and dairy products. For example, a visitor who has bought a cheese and ham sandwich in the UK will have to dispose of it before passing through customs of an EU country. Exceptions to this rule will apply in the case of baby milk powder and special foods required for medical reasons. Fruit and vegetables must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, except in the case of pineapples, bananas, coconuts, dates and durians. When entering the UK from the EU, however, there will be no restrictions on fruit, vegetables, meat or dairy products.

The agreement reached between London and Brussels means that EU and British citizens will maintain the right to receive medical care similar to that ensured by the current European Health Card. European cards in force on January 1 will continue to be valid until they expire. The UK hopes to issue its citizens with a Global Health Card but has not yet provided details. In any case, the UK government recommends taking out private insurance before travelling.

British and EU citizens using their own vehicles will need to apply for a "green card" document proving that they have compulsory insurance. British drivers will need to affix a 'GB' (Great Britain) sticker to the vehicle. Some EU countries may require an international driving licence. Spain will allow British residents to use a UK licence until June 30; they will need to exchange it for a Spanish one

Britons must obtain a health certificate every time they travel with a pet to a country in the EU. Dog or cat owners must request this document from a veterinarian within ten days prior to travel; the animal must have an identification chip. There will be no additional restrictions to the current ones to travel from the EU to the UK with a pet.

With Brexit, the guarantee that the cost of mobile phone calls between the UK and the EU will not increase comes to an end. Although some operators have said that they do not have plans to change their rates for now, customers should consult prices that will apply.
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A staffer of a parking contractor was booked for extortion and cheating on Friday following a complaint of forceful overcharging at the multi-storey parking lot near the municipal corporations Zone-A office .

As per the complaint submitted by Budh Raj, a resident of Jain Nagar, Rahon Road, the accused Rahul Kumar forced him to pay Rs 60 as parking fee, even when the rate fixed by MC for four wheelers is Rs 20. He further alleged that Kumar gave him a manual receipt even when it is mandatory to issue the receipt through e-ticketing machine.

High drama was witnessed at the parking lot and additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Deepak Pareek also reached the spot. Following the complaint, an FIR was lodged under Sections 384 (extortion) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of Indian Penal Code.

Station house officer (SHO) of division number 1 police station, Harjit Singh, said,  We are investigating the matter and the parking contractor has also been summoned. No arrest has been made yet.

MC secretary Neeraj Jain said, A complaint has not been submitted with the civic body yet. But, I have directed the superintendent concerned to submit a record regarding the entire incident, following which action will be taken after discussion with higher authorities.

An MC official, requesting anonymity, said that complaints against overcharging have been received in the past, but it is the first time that police has directly intervened in the matter without taking up the matter with the civic body.
Workers raise the side of their first of the three tents they are installing for COVID-19 patients at Vista Medical Center in Waukegan. Vista Hospital staff, under the guidance of staff from the International Medical Corps an N.G.O. with funding from Abbvie, built three tents in the hospitals parking lot, giving them 32 extra beds to treat COVID-19 patients in April, toward the beginning of the pandemic. (Rob Dicker/Lake County News-Sun) (Rob Dicker / Chicago Tribune)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The 2020 U.S election didnt produce a blue or a red wave, as some expected. Instead, the people of the United States refused to grant a clear mandate to either party and chose what is likely to be a divided government. As a matter of fact, millions who cast their ballots for former Vice President Joe Biden or President Donald Trump supported policy positions held by the other candidate.

The close election and an analysis of the results make it clear that the experts were wrong in promoting the theory that the United States is divided into two extreme camps. The election indicates that voters rejected chaos and fringe agendas that the extremists from both parties pushed to the limits.

Also, the election proved that the majority of voters from the two parties are moderates who prefer compromises on major issues that serve the interest of the American people. Voters meant to send a strong message that they want to see Republicans and Democrats work together to heal our nation and implement an agenda that would bring harmony and prosperity to our country.

The American people want their government to act on urgent priorities that were ignored for too long due to gridlock in Washington. Examples of these priorities include improving the economy, controlling the pandemic, enacting reasonable immigration laws that serve the U.S. interest, improving our health care system, eliminating poverty and promoting equality, reducing the budget deficit and protecting and improving the environment. This is a list of some of the issues that the majority of the American people will agree that the Biden administration should act on.

President-elect Joe Biden will have a narrow margin in the House, and the Senate will be close. This will force his administration to seek consensus and bipartisan support. Although the two parties may have different approaches to deal with national issues, the new administration needs to work with Republicans to come up with solutions that serve the interest of the American people. This can be done only by controlling obstreperous extremists, partisans and self-serving special interest groups that derailed progress in the past.

Almost three decades ago on election night, President-elect Bill Clinton declared that he intended to bring us together as never before.

The new administration and Republican Party should make healing our nation a priority. Accomplishing this goal will not be easy, because it will require them to take actions that may antagonize the fringe of their parties. But healing is what our country needs right now, and thats what the American people expect and want.

George A. Elmaraghy is a former Ohio Environmental Protection Agency official.

In a recent interview, former President Barack Obama advised the nation and the new administration that healing would be accomplished by setting a new consolatory tone, resisting the temptation of revising everything that President Trump did and openness to accept and implement others good ideas. He also warned us about the role of some in the media in inflaming public opinion and demonizing people they disagree with. Mr. Obama summed up the current political climate by stating that, instead of hating, we must seek to understand deeply, to be able to see another persons point of view.

Every day, we are bombarded with gloomy news about the pandemic. However, the stars are aligned for the nation and for the new administration. New therapies are already in place to treat victims of the coronavirus and two vaccines are available now to control this pandemic. The economy recovered sooner than many had feared and the stock market recently hit new high records.

The close election results weakened the extremists on both sides, and the American people and the whole world are hopeful and ready for a new era of cooperation, predictability and harmony. It would be a real tragedy if we missed this opportunity.

George A. Elmaraghy spent most of his career in Ohios state government and currently is a federal commissioner for the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission and a member of the International Joint Commission Water Quality Board.

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Oh, to time travel! Id head to midnight of August 15, 1947, to see my beloved nation freed. Id rewind 65 million years and warn the dinosaurs. Id zip back to 2009 and tell young Rachel to buy bitcoin.

But being the meta-nerd I am, Id also head to March 22, 1957, and watch a new calendar take effect in India. We needed one. Of course, everyone followed the 365-day Gregorian version. But with so many religious almanacs and regional date-management systems, it was impossible to set, for instance, a common date for Diwali. Record-keeping in the new nation was a bit of a mess.

A Calendar Reform Committee, an elite team headed by astrophysicist Meghnad Saha, was appointed in 1952. By November 1955, after studying more than 30 local variations, they had submitted a report to the government, outlining a revised, accurate, uniform Indian National Calendar to usher a new element of unity in India.

It was to have two uses: to fix the dates of religious observances, and standardise date documents in rural areas. Sahas report was thorough. He found the Gregorian calendar inconvenient  no way to evenly split the 365 into halves or quarters, no day-date connections, leap years. But local calendars, he said, violated several scientific principles. They miscalculated the length of the year (our planets circle around the sun) by .01656 days  which meant that every 1,400 years, the new year came more than 23.2 days earlier.

Worse, unlike with the Gregorian calendar  which had the Pope  there had been no central authority in India to ascribe order.

Help, this time around, came from distinguished international experts. Harold Spencer Jones, Britains Astronomer Royal, and Donald Sadler of the UKs Royal Observatory, offered precise solar and lunar data to help with recalculation. Austrian-American astronomer Otto Neugebauer helped clear up doubts about date-keeping history around the world.

Sahas team recommended an updated version of the Saka Era calendar, one Indian astronomers have been using since 500 AD. They suggested it be put it into effect on March 21, 1956, which lined up with the first day of Chaitra, 1878. To help with the switch, the last month of the year, 1877, the month of Phalguna, which has a normal length of 30 days, will have an extra 6 or 7 days, the report advised.

Saha died of cardiac arrest on his way to a meeting of the Planning Commission at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in 1956. He wasnt around to see India adopt the new calendar the following year. But its why the official public holiday for the Hindu New Year always falls on March 22 (or 23, in a leap year). Its the template by which national religious holiday dates are set.

The committee also supported a radical notion  a recalibrated, 12-month, perpetual World Calendar, in which half-yearly and quarterly sections had equal days, each quarter began on a Sunday and ended on a Saturday, there was a leap year day and a year-end world holiday. It would be as elegant and easy to follow as a 12-hour clock. Saha even discussed the idea at a United Nations meeting. It never took hold. Why? Thats a time-travel tale for another time.
My maternal great-great grandfather finished the Civil War at Hart Island Prisoner of War camp, just off New York City in Long Island Sound.

Confederate Army Private John Edward Jackson was sick, wounded, and a long way from his home in Petersburg, Virginia. His father seems to have held slaves, but records list John as a clerk in civilian life.

Nevertheless, he and four brothers wrongly backed the Confederacy, fighting at Seven Pines, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and elsewhere. All five were captured; two were killed. John was wounded and hospitalized, later captured, exchanged, and captured again.

As the new year begins after possibly the most fraught election since 1860, which led directly to the Civil War, we're again talking of irreconcilable differences. Social media is full of speculative partitions into blue and red nations. Armed people are appearing on the streets of American cities.

Plowshares beaten into swords

My mothers people were from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, but she married north, as people down there still sometimes say in a half-joking tone meant to be about half that funny.

Dad was a Hoosier, and his family also included Civil War soldiers: My great-great grandfather on that side, John B. Hagerman, and his son, John H. Hagerman (I cant help it that everyones named John here), both joined the Union Army.

This is surprising, as that whole side of the family are Quakers. But it wasnt unusual to find Friends of that era agonizing over whether violence or countenancing violence was the worse sin. Witness the 1956 Gary Cooper film Friendly Persuasion, from a novel by Jessamyn West, an Indiana Quaker.

A study published by Indiana University Press in 1985 found about 1,200 Indiana Friends who set aside their pacifism to fight for the Union  about a quarter of Hoosier Quaker men of military age  even though they often were disowned by their Meetings for doing so.

Its interesting that the fighting Quaker was almost a staple of the eras fiction. There were titles like The Quaker Soldier (1858), The Quaker Partisans (1869), and others.

Story continues

A Quaker troop of horse, with a Quaker captain, exclaimed one Friends character in a 19th century novel set in the Revolutionary War. Why, I think the cause that has made that sort of fightin men is a good one, and must succeed.

Report for America: As pandemic lingers, students in Virginia school struggle with frustration, distractions

It was as though America looked to pacifist Quakers beating their plowshares into swords as proof of the new country's virtue. We still believe in American exceptionalism, of a sort. But as in 1860, contradictory visions of what that means leave us prone to conflict, lately in Charlottesville, Virginia; Portland; Washington, D.C.; and elsewhere.

Limping home, if they returned at all

It would be wise to remember how civil war develops, not flaring suddenly from nothing, but building to violence the way a forest crackling with years of fallen timber needs but a single lightning strike to burst into a devastating wildfire. As before the Civil War, our nation is bristling with fuel.

My Quaker relatives didn't make it back from that conflagration. John B., age 49, died at the Battle of Nashville. His son John H. died at the Wilderness in Virginia a week before turning 18.

Harder than it looks: For sake of our democracy, Americans need to rediscover the art of good conversations

As for Moms Confederate great grandfather, after three years of war, a battlefield wound, two dead brothers, and two POW camp internments, he must have been in a terrible state. He was released in June 1865 after signing a loyalty oath.

Family history has it that he couldnt make it home on his own. A Union-loyal Staten Island family named LaTourette apparently took him in and nursed him back to health. This is remarkable, considering that a local Staten Island monument lists a Cpl. David LaTourette, who was killed near Atlanta a year before John turned up struggling and ragged in his rebel uniform.

Despite that, somehow, the LaTourettes chose to help him. Afterwards, John named a newborn son for them out of gratitude, and one hopes from remorse: David Latourette Jackson.

But dont mistake that for a happy ending.

David Latourette Jackson in about 1883.

A rocky recovery

Suffering from an anguish wed call PTSD, John tumbled into erratic behavior and drink. About eight years after the war, he picked up a gun and committed suicide, a release sought by so many soldiers wracked with shame for having killed and guilt for having survived.

Eventually David, his son named for the LaTourettes, landed in Asheville, North Carolina, where he wrote a local newspaper column under the playful pseudonym Jay Walker. Look Homeward, Angel author Thomas Wolfe was a family friend. A daughter taught at Finch College in New York. Another sold private subscriptions to her reports from international travel-writing journeys. Their Confederate grandfather, John, had attended school only through 4th grade. Families sometimes reach even greater heights after a collapse. Nations can do the same, but at what price?

Today the house David built in Ashevilles historic Montford District is a beautiful A-list bed and breakfast called Abbington Green. A United States flag flies from the broad veranda most days, supplemented by red, white and blue banners on July 4th, the birthday of a nation re-unified, but once again fracturing in the angry wake of a watershed election.

In that long-ago winter just months away from Fort Sumter, Gen. Winfield Scott watched national fault lines give way and worried, We are now in such a state that a dog-fight might cause the gutters of the capital to run with blood.

We know how this ends. Its time to get a leash on our anger while we can.

Daniel H. Lee is a writer in Indiana.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @USATOpinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A Civil War family history: America survived once. But twice?
In a controversial decision, the Centre has decided to give companies, including state-owned ones, access to the national database of crimes and criminals across the country for the purpose of background checks, people familiar with the development said. Currently, companies have to make such requests to the police.

The idea, they added on condition of anonymity, is to monetise this data; companies will be charged for the background check. But internet activists say that the move could lead to misuse of data, and discrimination.

Having access to this repository of data on arrests, convictions, ongoing investigations, court cases, and lists of proclaimed offenders, companies will be able to verify peoples criminal history on their own before hiring them.

Right now, only the government and police have exclusive access to this crucial and sensitive data.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has already given its approval to monetise the CCTNS national data centre, also called CAS (Core Application Software) Centre, located at Shastri Park, New Delhi, for background checks, the people familiar with the development said. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has been asked to develop a portal for this.

As part of the project, companies will have access to database of National Data Centre (NDC), National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) and Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) for which they will have to pay a prescribed fee. The fee amount has not been decided yet, the people cited above said.

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The portal, once developed by NIC, will enable a user (only companies ) to register and request antecedent verification in bulk and pay online. The system will match the given details of persons such as name, age/age range, state, district and police station of his current and permanent address, with existing criminal records under CCTNS. If a persons name is found in the data, the user will be able to check the details, down to the level of the FIR, in the case of police cases. However, if the persons name is not there in the database, it will show no criminal record found,  said one of the people cited above.

CCTNS (Crime & Criminals Tracking Network Systems) is a comprehensive and integrated system connecting all the police stations and investigation agencies across the country. It has a database that updates in real-time details of cases, criminals, courts, finger print bureaus, forensic labs etc. The database also has information on arrests, convictions, charge-sheets, lists of proclaimed and habitual offenders, missing persons, unidentified dead bodies (UIDB), registered vehicles. It even has photographs and, where applicable, screenshots.

As of now, 97 % (15,620) out of 16,098 police stations across the country have already been connected to CCTNS. The database has about 280 million records till December 2020 and is being updated every minute.

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Ish Kumar, former director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), said: The current process of antecedent verification is cumbersome as the request is sent to police, which takes time. The CCTNS data centre has national level data which can be checked within seconds. This can help companies verify if their employee has any criminal record anywhere in the country and simultaneously generate some money for the government. Similarly, at a later stage, this data can be used for passport verification, verification of private security guards/agencies across the country.

On possible discrimination by companies against employees who have been acquitted or are yet to be held guilty. Ish Kumar added: The government can only provide information. Whether the case (against the employee) amounts to disqualification depends on the policy of the company.

MHA officials declined to comment on the matter.

Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia policy director at Access Now and board chairperson, Internet Freedom Foundation, said: There is a pattern of government collecting data and making it available for the industry. Aarogya Setu app is one such example. CCTNS itself has lot of sensitive data which is problematic and there is no oversight. Giving a third-party access to it not only infringes the right to privacy but it can lead to misuse of data, especially when the data protection bill has not been passed by Parliament.

Amber Sinha, research director at Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), said, Such sensitive data, which already suffers from social inequality and discrimination, coming into the hands of companies can lead to further discrimination.
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Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:47 pm

The Lewis County Public Utility District raised $7,000 for the Lewis County Food Bank Coalition through a three-week, employee-sponsored food bank fund drive.

We live in a fantastic community and weve seen a lot of that this year. It helps tremendously to fill the gaps in food purchases and to make sure that theres enough food out there, said Susan Barlow, a six-year volunteer with the Lewis County Food Bank Coalition.

Through the food bank, each donated dollar has $1.72 in buying power, so the donation from the PUD is able to purchase about $12,000 worth of food in bulk, the LCFBC estimated.

Historically, the PUD has sponsored families with meals throughout the holidays including items like turkey, ham and side dishes.

However, due to the pandemic, we still wanted to help families experiencing hardship in the community while also maintaining social distancing, etc. Therefore, we decided to host an employee fund drive to support food banks in our service territory, Willie Painter, public affairs manager with the PUD, said.

Painter said it was important to the PUD that the funds raised benefit multiple communities throughout the PUDs service area. The Lewis County Food Bank Coalition distributes food to nine food banks in Lewis County  the Centralia, Chehalis, Toledo, White Pass, Pe Ell, Salkum, Mineral, Morton and Winlock/Vader Food Banks.

The PUD is fitting because they serve the whole community. They keep us warm and lit up. Its really cool, Barlow said.

The Lewis County Food Bank Coalition is a non-profit organization that has been in operation since 1988. The Coalition acts as a central warehouse where donations are collected from the public, local companies and sponsors. Barlow said that the LCFBC is always looking for new volunteers and donations. More information can be found on the LCFBCs website at lcfbc.net/.
Bank takes customer experience to next level by harnessing the power of 5G, in line with the launch of its smart branch

SINGAPORE, Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the Philippines' customer experience solutions in the banking industry, Frost & Sullivan honored UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) with the 2020 Philippines Excellence In Customer Experience in ATM Ambience Experience and In Online Customer Experience.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1393620/Frost_Sullivan_UnionBank_Award.jpg

The award is in recognition of the bank's initiatives to stay ahead of the demand curve by offering best-in-class, personalized customer experience with robust 24/7 services.

"UnionBank has ramped up its digitalization efforts in the past few years. A customizable system, self-service options, and personified robot assistant are among the digital options available to customers, half of whom now transact digitally," said Edurra Talib, senior research analyst. "The bank also became the first in the Philippines to launch the smart branch leveraging 5G technology for seamless connectivity with internet of things (IoT)-enabled services."

Combining 5G and artificial intelligence (AI), UnionBank can better anticipate customers' preferences and behaviors through. This commitment to continuous, data-driven innovation has helped the bank deliver enriched customer experiences.

Frost & Sullivan presented this award to the banks that demonstrate outstanding performance for branch, specifically ATM ambience and online experience. The bank has used the customer experience framework of process, space, and people in its digitization process, bridging offline with online to deliver a seamless customer experience.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Kala Mani. S.

Best Practices Awards Branding - Asia-Pacific

Email: kala.manis@frost.com

About UnionBank

UnionBank has consistently been recognized as one of Asia's leading companies in banking and finance, ranking among the Philippines' top 10 universal banks in terms of key performance ratios in profitability, liquidity, solvency, and efficiency.

In the past three years, the bank has garnered a record number of recognitions from global awards bodies for its digital expertise, including Digital Bank of the Year from The Asset, Best Digital Bank Philippines from Asiamoney, Asia Pacific Retail Bank of the Year from Retail Banker International, Top 2 Most Helpful Banks in Asia Pacific during COVID-19 by BankQuality.com, Asia's Best Bank Transformation from Euromoney and Digital Transformer of the Year Philippines from IDC's DX Awards Philippines.

Contact:

Mr. James P. Ileto

VP for Corporate Media Affairs

Email: jmpileto@unionbankph.com




President Moon Jae-in flew on a Peace Eye military aircraft early Friday and inspected South Korea's combat readiness in a show of commitment to national defense on New Year's Day, the presidential office said.







It is the first time that a South Korean president has flown on the airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft regarded as a core part of the South Korean Air Force, according to Cheong Wa Dae.







The E-737 Peace Eye took off with Moon aboard at around 6:30 a.m. from the military airfield in Seongnam, south of Seoul, after the president was briefed on details of the plane by Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul.







The aircraft flew for about two hours over South Korea's territorial sea and land, it added.







Later, Moon praised soldiers for training day and night to keep a high level of military readiness and thanked them for their sacrifice to keep the country safe and help people enjoy New Year's Day in peace, the presidential office said. (Yonhap)


An impending baby boom may be on the way thanks to lockdown, and it looks like Luna and Milo could be the top choices for parents welcoming new arrivals in 2021.

US-based parenting website Nameberry has revealed the most searched names of 2020, with new trends emerging such as mythology-inspired names for girls - think Persephone and Athena - and retro choices such as Atticus and Silas for boys.

The website shared the names which had the most views on the site this year, stating: 'Theyre the ones on name-savvy parents (or future parents) minds, so theyre a pretty good measure of what will be hot in the year ahead.'

Topping the list was Luna, which finally knocked Olivia off the top spot after the name spent four years at number one on the list.

The most popular baby names have been revealed, with Luna taking the top spot for girls and Milo the winner for boys. Stock image

The Harry Potter-inspired name entered the UK's Top 100 in 2012, and broke into the US Top 100 in 2016.

Taking the second spot for girls was Maeve followed by Aurora, while Atticus and Asher were in the top three for boys.

Other names included were Aurelia, Ophelia and Genevieve for girls and Silas, Leo and Arlo made the list for boys.

The website revealed that girls names are far more popular with their readers, explaining that of the top 50 name pages, 41 are female and only 9 are male.

MOST SEARCHED BOYS NAMES 1. Milo 2. Atticus 3. Asher 4. Silas 5. Leo 6. Arlo 7. Theodore 8. Oliver 9. Felix 10. Jasper 11. Levi 12. Finn 13. Oscar 14. Kai 15. Jude 16. Ethan 17. Jack 18. Caleb 19. Henry 20. Hugo 21. Aarav 22. Ezra 23. Atlas 24. Cassius 25. Elijah 26. Soren 27. Arthur 28. Liam 29. Sebastian 30. Rowan 31. Tobias 32. Lucas 33. Jayden 34. Eli 35. Theo 36. Owen 37. Aryan 38. Miles 39. Zachary 40. James 41. Archer 42. Xavier 43. Aaron 44. Wyatt 45. Benjamin 46. Thomas 47. Phoenix 48. Charles 49. Bodhi 50. Axel 51. Declan 52. Louis 53. Emmett 54. Alexander 55. Archie 56. Enzo 57. Otto 58. Julian 59. Josiah 60. Amias 61. Nathaniel 62. Mateo 63. William 64. Ronan 65. Cyrus 66. Roman 67. Otis 68. Everett 69. Luke 70. Elio 71. Callum 72. Daniel 73. Ezekiel 74. Andrew 75. Isaac 76. Micah 77. John 78. Ambrose 79. Cassian 80. Caspian 81. Lucius 82. Adrian 83. Gideon 84. Lucian 85. Samuel 86. Jacob 87. Max 88. Gabriel 89. Elias 90. Lucifer 91. Zane 92. Lachlan 93. Luca 94. Caius 95. Magnus 96. Nathan 97. Malachi 98. Rhys 99. Orion 100. Sawyer Advertisement

MOST SEARCHED GIRLS NAMES 1. Luna 2. Maeve 3. Aurora 4. Isla 5. Ava 6. Eleanor 7. Ophelia 8. Olivia 9. Aurelia 10. Eloise 11. Iris 12. Freya 13. Charlotte 14. Ivy 15. Hazel 16. Alice 17. Amelia 18. Elodie 19. Cora 20. Astrid 21. Amara 22. Maya 23. Aria 24. Mia 25. Clara 26. Adelaide 27. Violet 28. Ada 29. Genevieve 30. Nora 31. Isabella 32. Lilith 33. Rose 34. Esme 35. Maisie 36. Chloe 37. Anastasia 38. Penelope 39. Evelyn 40. Arabella 41. Lucy 42. Elena 43. Adeline 44. Evangeline 45. Claire 46. Phoebe 47. Cordelia 48. Imogen 49. Audrey 50. Zara 51. Anna 52. Seraphina 53. Thea 54. Clementine 55. Lyra 56. Beatrice 57. Elsie 58. Mae 59. Josephine 60. Mabel 61. Florence 62. Willa 63. Elizabeth 64. Mila 65. Poppy 66. Jane 67. Emma 68. Grace 69. Matilda 70. Delilah 71. Athena 72. Ellie 73. Julia 74. Eliza 75. Lily 76. Edith 77. Emilia 78. Quinn 79. Scarlett 80. Nova 81. Eliana 82. Ella 83. Stella 84. Sadie 85. Sienna 86. Eva 87. Celeste 88. Persephone 89. Sophia 90. Ayla 91. Daphne 92. Wren 93. Elise 94. Lydia 95. Jasmine 96. Kiara 97. Margaret 98. Evie 99. Daisy 100. Caroline Advertisement

For girls, the new entries show that names beginning with El such as Eleanor or Eloise remain popular.

The research showed an ever-growing interest in names from mythology such as Athena and Persephone and vintage names that are favorites in the UK such as Daisy or Edith.

Names starting with Lu such as Louis, Luna and Lucy are more popular than ever before.

For boys, O-ending boy names have become more popular, with Leo and Arlo entering this years top ten names.

Meanwhile, controversial name Lucifer has been rising steeply on real birth certificates over the past year.
The frantic bid to save Femi Odekunle from COVID-19 complications yielded donations and pledges of over 170 cylinders of oxygen from his family, friends and close associates, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Mr Odekunle, a professor of criminology and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), battled the highly infectious disease for 12 days.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the professor was left gasping for air during his treatment due to shortages in oxygen supply at the isolation centre at the Abuja University Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada. He died on Tuesday evening at the facility.

In a bid to save him, his friends, largely top government officials and politicians rallied for oxygen from far and near to support his breathing, those familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES.

This resulted in the donation of over 170 oxygen cylinders by friends and associates. It is unclear if some of the pledges were eventually redeemed since the professor died before a good number of the equipment are delivered.

The hospitals Chief Medical Director (CMD), Bissallah Ekele, admitted there was shortage of oxygen in the facility, a situation he blamed on the recent surge in coronavirus infections officially declared the second wave.

He, however, said Mr Odekunle died because of the severity of his infection.

The medical director, in a text message Thursday afternoon to this reporter, said when we had the crises last week, some patients and other Hospitals in the FCT supported us with cylinders of Oxygen but that was resolved as soon as the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 waged into the matter and we now have adequate supply!

Scramble for Oxygen

According to details obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, there were multiple interventions by the governors of Lagos and Osun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Adegboyega Oyetola, the health ministry, the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, and the Air Force to procure oxygen for Mr Odekunle.

Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior, led the intervention process, our sources said.

While efforts to get oxygen began over the weekend, many of them did not arrive before Tuesday evening when Mr Odekunle died.

Our sources said the Gwagwalada isolation centre hurriedly sent 100 big cylinders, through the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, for refill in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Those were billed to be delivered to Abuja on Tuesday.

The facility was also to receive about 50 big cylinders from Jos on Tuesday. It is unclear who made that donation.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that 10 oxygen cylinders were delivered to Mr Odekunles bedside by a donor identified as NHA late Monday.

Also, four big cylinders were stationed at Air Force base, Ikeja, Lagos, to be flown to Mr Odekunles ward on Tuesday morning.

Another 10 big oxygen cylinders were also arranged by Olu Aina, a professor, and Mr Aregbesola, from Osogbo, and were scheduled to be flown to Abuja by special helicopter.

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This newspaper also learnt that one big cylinder was donated by the Nigerian Air Force and was delivered to Mr Odekunles ward by his son, Dayo, and an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

A lot of the oxygen procured for Professor Odekunle were not delivered before he died, an associate of the late University teacher said. I think in the interest of humanity, his friends and family should ensure that all the oxygen cylinders donated and pledged are delivered to the isolation centre to save the lifes of patients still alive.

In a statement he released after Mr Odekunles passage, former Minister Olu Agunloye said the late professors friends rose stoutly to his support  but it was just too late.

Top Government functionaries amongst them led by Hon Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola along with Presidents Spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, SGF Boss Mustapher and two sitting Governors tore through bureaucracies and red tapes and pulled stunts but the damages to Femis health appeared to have gone too far for remedy, Mr Agunloye said.
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In 2018, I was elected to represent New Mexicos sprawling Second Congressional District. The only mandate you get when you win by less than 2% is to build common ground and serve your country as best you can.

When the COVID-19 crisis struck, I helped save rural hospitals like Gila Regional, support small businesses like The Waffle and Pancake Shoppe in Alamogordo, and fight for workers who had lost their jobs. I helped doctors reach patients by phone when clinics were closed. And the year before, I forged bipartisan support to deploy better technology that stops drugs at our border, get money for safer roads in the Permian and establish White Sands as a National Park. Through the toughest times, I learned that part of working together is holding ourselves and others accountable. I did so by voting to impeach President Trump, but was proud to serve my district by working with him and others to improve trade with a better USMCA and (to) enact the Great American Outdoors Act.

Weve got big problems as a country, and 2020 exposed great divides, which we wont solve if we turn whole groups of people into enemies. Thankfully, rather than see me as an enemy, many of you chose me as a partner  whether it was the farmer who explained global markets at the airport, the customs officer who showed me non-intrusive inspection technology, the oil worker who thanked me for protecting our environment while representing the dirty south or the rural police chief who shared that she had bought body cameras years ago to protect officers and those they serve. Disagreement, it turns out, can lead to better understanding, which often creates even stronger solutions.

Weve got to stop shouting at each other in sound bites, because theres room to work together when we dive into the details. Thats what it will take as we work to rebuild in the wake of COVID-19. We need to understand balance sheets to help main street businesses get people back to work. We need to work with rural superintendents and utility providers so kids can do their homework at home instead of the parking lot of a McDonalds. As we build infrastructure for the 21st century, we must also get running water to homes in Alamo Navajo and gas to trailers in Chaparral. This will take diving into the details and a willingness to learn them from each other.

The (November election) loss stings, but I am even more convinced of the need to show up, listen and lift up different voices, whether we agree or disagree. Nothing made me prouder than when someone whod never met a member of Congress told me they were grateful I visited their town. And in D.C., I loved getting to know our wildly diverse country through its representatives, and finding ways to act together on all we learned from the people we serve. Amidst our challenges, I find hope in this common ground.

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Photo courtesy Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center

One of the first babies to be born in Houston in the new year entered the world approximately seven minutes into the year.

Hudson Ryder Galvez, who weighed 7 pounds and 12 ounces and measured 21.5 inches, was born at 12:07 a.m. at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, according to the hospital.
Description

Anxious to put 2020 in the rearview mirror? Why not plan for something fun on New Year's Day -- or that first weekend in January?

Take a nature break and celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the First Day Hike events across the state and nation.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invite New Yorkers to kick off 2021 by participating in one of the many hikes being held at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, trails, and public lands across the Empire State.

Join Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center for our first day Seal Hike! Meet at field 10, and join use to see seals swimming in Hudson Channel.
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A federal judge has ruled that local election officials in one Georgia county cannot stop more than 4,000 people from voting in the states high-stakes Senate runoffs just because they filed paperwork to change their address.

US District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardners ruling on Wednesday came amid efforts by the Texas-based conservative group True The Vote to coordinate challenges to the registration of more than 364,000 voters statewide, based on change of address data obtained from the US Postal Service.

Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler both face runoff elections Tuesday. Should both Republicans lose to Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, Democrats would take control of the Senate.

Georgia law allows any registered voter to challenge the eligibility of any other voter within the same county. Local election officials decide if theres probable cause to accept the challenges.

Gardners ruling affects only Muscogee County, which includes Columbus, where county election officials had determined there was probably cause to challenge roughly 4,000 voters. That means anyone on the challenged list attempting to vote would have been required to prove their eligibility - as would anyone challenged who mailed in an absentee ballot.

Gardner ruled that challenged voters in the county must be given provisional ballots, but those ballots must be counted unless theres evidence to show a voter is ineligible other than their appearance on the federal change of address registry.

A temporary restraining order by the same judge earlier this week had also blocked election officials in rural Ben Hill County from keeping 150 similarly challenged voters from the polls. But that order was dissolved by Gardners ruling Wednesday, which imposed no restrictions on Ben Hill County.

Election officials in several Georgia counties, including in Fulton and Cobb counties in metro Atlanta, have rejected similar challenges.

Attorneys for the Muscogee and Ben Hill county election boards had asked Gardner to recuse herself in the case. The judge is the sister of Stacey Abrams, Georgias Democratic nominee for governor in 2018 and founder of the voting rights group Fair Fight.

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US President-elect Joe Bidens national security/foreign policy team is nearly complete, with one exception. He has still not named a nominee for Central Intelligence Agency director, but the rest are all in: Antony Blinken, nominee for secretary of state; Lloyd Austin for secretary of defence; Avril Haines for director of national intelligence; Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, and John Kerry, special envoy on climate.

So, what does this team augur for United States (US)s ties with India on Bidens watch? Some of them know India well  and Indians know them well also: Blinken, Sullivan and Kerry chiefly, as carry-overs from the Obama-Biden administration  and others not so well. But Austin and Haines, who have had no known direct dealings with India, know South Asia well. Austin, because he led the US militarys Central Command, the marquee combat formation that is responsible for operations in Afghanistan and deals with Pakistan. Haines may know the region even more intimately as she oversaw the drone programme for the Obama White House. As National Security Council legal adviser, she cleared the strikes, a large number of which took place in the restive Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.

But after January 20, when Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th US president, their resumes, past speeches and writings will matter less than what they will say and do in their new roles. Take China, for instance. Its a top concern for Indians now, notwithstanding a campaign promise that a Biden administration will work with India to support a rules-based and stable Indo-Pacific region in which no country, including China, is able to threaten its neighbors with impunity. With the Chinese amassing troops along the border, Indians want to see more, even as they acknowledge that the US will not conduct its foreign policy to please India, echoing a Democratic congressional aide who is normally sympathetic to India but is frustrated by constant pushing on China .

Where would the Biden administration stand, next, on Indias purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems, which could potentially attract secondary sanctions under a US law? Nothing heard from the Biden team yet, but the US, under outgoing President Donald Trump, sanctioned Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, for buying the same weapon systems a fortnight ago.

The Biden team has also not remarked on India-US trade differences. Will he continue the trade talks initiated by Trump? Katherine Tai, who is Bidens nominee for US trade representative, will be a key figure to watch.

The Modi government, I suppose, will also want to gauge the new administrations stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which had been criticised by a section of candidate Bidens election platform. They were not mentioned in Bidens agenda for the Indian American community. Biden has been accused of missteps on foreign policy before, but it needs to be noted, not on India.

The views expressed are personal
Unlike port cities, which usually expand outwardly from fixed historical cores, ports themselves tend to be rather portable. Needing to accommodate changing economies and technologies, the wharves and facilities for loading and unloading vessels are often moved to more versatile spaces, else shippers will opt for better ways to get goods to market.

Maritime activity in New York City, for example, was once centered on Manhattan Island; now its in the outer boroughs and New Jersey.

Ships that once called at San Francisco now go to Oakland, while those that dock at Seattle can also go to Tacoma.

New Orleanss port, too, has shifted over the centuries, and another big move appears to be forthcoming.

Last month, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans unanimously approved the acquisition of 1,100 acres in the St. Bernard Parish community of Violet, fronting the Mississippi and straddling the Violet Canal.

The chief motivator behind the downriver expansion is to accommodate the next generation of containerized ships, which are designed to take advantage of the recently widened Panama Canal. These enlarged vessels have higher vertical clearance and deeper water-draft needs than those that currently dock at the Uptown wharves.

Docking at Violet would avoid the height restriction imposed by the Crescent City Connection, and benefit from the current Army Corps of Engineers program to dredge the river to a depth of 50 feet. This semi-rural part of St. Bernard Parish has the available space, while still being within the federal levee system. Being farther downriver, it also eliminates 15 miles of river navigation in each direction, saving time and fuel.

Its not yet a done deal. The land purchase still needs to be finalized, after which there will be a two-year due diligence and permitting period that will include robust community engagement, according to a Port press release.

The planned move isnt expected to affect the Uptown container wharves. Port NOLA will continue to invest in and utilize our existing Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal in New Orleans, the press release said. Rather, the new Violet project will increase our capacity to handle projected demand and ample acreage to support ancillary logistics and value-added businesses to meet the industrys evolving needs.

But the boards approval represented a significant milestone, and it signals the latest in a sequence of port expansions and relocations dating back to the earliest days of Louisiana.

The colonial port

A port or two (here) would make us masters of the whole of this continent, wrote Robert La Salle to King Louis XIV of France, after claiming Louisiana in his name in 1682.

It would take 36 years to make good on that vision, when Bienville established New Orleans in 1718. Like La Salle, Bienville realized the colonys premier city ought to be near the mouth of the Mississippi River, for defensive reasons but also to serve as an entrepot, or transshipment port.

For decades to come, most maritime activity at New Orleans occurred directly in front of the original city, todays French Quarter, as well as at a depot in present-day Algiers Point known as the Company Plantation.

But New Orleans needed help to get the shipping job done. Because strong currents and treacherous shoals made it difficult to sail up the mouth of the Mississippi, engineers in 1722 established a tiny entrepot at the rivers mouth. Known as Balize (beacon), this precarious facility allowed ocean-going ships to transfer their cargo to smaller vessels for the 95-mile river trip to New Orleans.

Balize later became obsolete and was eventually swept away by the river. But the eastward-leaning, downriver-trending pull of port activity that motivated its creation would persist.

In 1788, New Orleans expanded upriver into the present-day Central Business District, and port activity soon followed, as vessels docked along what is now the Warehouse District riverfront. Because this bank was shallow and prone to sand deposits, piers perpendicular to the bank were installed into deeper waters for vessels to moor.

'Leading port of the world'

Starting in the 1810s, steamboats began calling at New Orleans, and soon scores of them jockeyed for space alongside ocean-going sailing ships, coast-wise schooners, and river craft such as flatboats and barges.

Port officials generally directed sailing ships, because they came upriver from the Gulf, to the lower wharves, from around Conti Street down to the Faubourg Marigny.

Flatboats, which came down from the upcountry, moored at the upper wharves, from Julia up to Felicity Street.

Steamboats took center stage, docking on either side of the foot of Canal Street, from Conti to Julia.

Together, the port made for a dazzling sight. Visitors in the 1830s marveled at its ant-like bustle and confusion set against a forest of masts; one called it the most extraordinary medley ofcraft of every possible variety.

By one estimate, New Orleans ranked as the fourth port in point of commerce in the world, exceeded only by London, Liverpool, and New York; by another, it was the leading export city of the United States and one of the leading ports of the world.

The port in the early 1800s was not a formal entity overseen by a single agency, as it is today. Rather, city, state, and federal officials all had a hand in administration.

The city enacted ordinances and regulations, while the governor appointed a harbor master and various assistants to oversee day-to-day operations.

At the federal levee, a presidentially appointed collector of customs controlled outbound vessels, collected duties and policed against smugglers and pirates.

By 1860, port activity had expanded to four miles along the river, from the Faubourg Marigny to the Irish Channel, as well as other wharves farther uptown and in Carrollton, three mini-ports on Lake Pontchartrain, ship-building and dry docks on the West Bank and dozens of smaller landings fronting sundry industries and plantations.

But troubles were brewing. Canal excavation in the North, and an ever-growing network of railroads, had been letting more and more western cargo move eastward, rather than southward down the river to New Orleans. The outbreak of the Civil War triggered a blockade on shipping. All the while, silting had impeded navigation at the mouth of the Mississippi.

Move the port?

After the war, private interests vied to reinvigorate trade by circumventing the rivers silting problem, along with its high pilotage fees.

In 1868, the New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Co. proposed a radical plan to dig a 150-foot-wide, twelve-foot-deep navigation channel from present-day Old Metairie eastward all the way to Lake Borgne and on to the deep harbor of Ship Island, off present-day day Gulfport.

A later version had the seaways western terminus adjoining the Mississippi River with a gigantic lock, near an inland harbor carved into the Fontainebleau area.

The West Bank had its own river-circumventing scheme. In 1878, Congress authorized the Barataria Ship Canal Co. to dig a deep-draft seaway southward across the Barataria Basin to the Grand Isle area, aiming to be the only gate through which the largest ships will reach the port of New Orleans, as the Daily Picayune explained.

Neither proved necessary, because the brilliant nautical engineer Capt. James Eads had a better solution to the silting problem: constructing parallel jetties at South Pass to constrain the water flow, increase its velocity, and scour out the sediment.

Eads jetties, completed in 1879, worked perfectly. With the lower Mississippi now passable, the seaway proposals died out, sparing New Orleans what probably would have been an environmental and economic disaster.

But, like the Balize concept, the idea of a manmade seaway and inland harbor would persist.

Come the railroads

New Orleans in the late 1800s raced to catch up with railroads investments in competing port cities. New track beds were built here to connect to wharves, and shipping firms and railroad companies worked in tense unison to move cargo, even as they competed elsewhere.

Port operations by this time had become problematic. The leasing system, in which the city rented wharf space to private operators, gave leaseholders little incentive to maintain wharves, and every incentive to overcharge for their use.

City officials, for their part, failed to keep up with the latest technologies, such as steam-powered grain elevators and specialized warehousing facilities. Something had to be done.

In 1896, the state Legislature restructured local maritime activity under the authority of a new state agency, the Port of New Orleans. Guided by a governor-appointed Board of Commissioners (the Dock Board) and run like a business by an executive team of experts, this capital-P Port was charged with administering all public wharves and maritime servitudes while regulating traffic and trade.

The new board worked assiduously to modernize facilities, creating, among other things, the mile-long Stuyvesant Docks along the Uptown riverfront, complete with power generators, pavilions, platforms, grain elevators and an integrated railroad network. It also helped form the city-owned New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, which gave private rail operators consolidated access to wharves.

Most significantly, the board had the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal dug through the Ninth Ward, connecting the Mississippi River with Lake Pontchartrain. Started in 1918 and opened in 1923, the Industrial Canal shifted the fulcrum of port activity eastward and off the Mississippi. Former swamplands became valuable wharf space around a stable-water inner harbor, which could be leased out for bulk cargo, vessel-building, value-added industries, and storage.

The same was happening on the West Bank, when the Army Corps of Engineers selected the Harvey Canal to host the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a public canal being built to run from Texas to Florida and continue up the Eastern Seaboard. Soon, new industries lined its banks as well.

In 1943, the Intracoastal was extended through eastern New Orleans, allowing domestic barge traffic to spend less time on the Mississippi. All the more, the fulcrum tilted eastward.

Seaway proposals

The spate of canal-building enticed shipping interests to once again think big. Why battle the currents and meanders of the Mississippi when you can dig a tidewater channel and relocate the port to its flanks? It seemed to work for barge traffic; why not for ocean-going vessels?

East Bank interests proposed cutting a seaway eastward through Lake Borgne to the Mississippi Sound, an idea not unlike the Ship Island Canal scheme from the late 1860s.

The idea was nicknamed the Alexander Seaway, for former Dock Board president Col. Lester F. Alexander, who had advocated for it since the early 1900s.

It gained momentum in 1946 when famed New York planner Robert Moses envisioned an enormous harbor facility carved into the marshes east of the Industrial Canal, adjoining what Moses called the East Bank Tide Water Ship Canal. The proposal appeared in his "Arterial Plan for New Orleans," best known for broaching the later-infamous and eventually cancelled Riverfront Expressway.

West Bank advocates wanted in on the action. They proposed something similar to that Barataria Ship Canal idea of 1878, only grander  a 55-mile long seaway cut across the Barataria Basin, with a huge inland harbor and lock at Westwego, and a mouth by Grand Isle.

The East Bank proposal won out. Dug in four phases starting in 1958, the channel would fork off from the Intracoastal in eastern New Orleans and continue southeastwardly for 40 miles through St. Bernard Parish to Breton Sound.

This time, the big ditch was dubbed the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal.

After it was completed in 1968, planners conceived an even more radical shift of port activity. It would be called Centroport, and the name said it all.

Maritime activity would move off the Mississippi River en masse to vast new centralized facility in eastern Orleans Parish, where barges could use the Intracoastal, where ocean-going vessels could ply the MR-GO, where there was plenty of space for cargo, and where railroad lines and the new Interstate 10 could provide intermodal transportation.

Historian Leonard Huber in 1971 wrote that Centroport would free the banks of the Mississippi of the unsightly steel sheds and allow for development of choice high-rise riverfront apartments, hotels, tourist terminals, (and) riverfront parks.

Geographer Peirce Lewis predicted in 1973 the ports pending eastward shift would represent the most drastic change in New Orleans economic geography since the citys founding.

For a while it looked like it might happen, with the creation of the France Road Terminal and the erection of its towering blue cranes.

But then problems started to develop. The Industrial Canals narrow lock became a bottleneck for barge traffic. Bankside erosion along the MR-GO required constant and costly dredging, else ships had to lighten their loads and lose money.

Firms hesitated to relocate their facilities eastward, which discouraged shippers from sailing there. Usage of the MR-GO diminished.

Intended practically to replace the Mississippi River for large-scale navigation, the MR-GO instead carried only 11% of port tonnage by 1990, and 5% by 1998. Meanwhile, coastal land loss and storm surge risk mounted.

Retreat to the river

By centurys end, maritime activity refocused on the Uptown river wharves, with leaders aiming to expand and consolidate the Napoleon and Nashville Terminals into a mega-wharf, while upgrading facilities at the Henry Clay Wharf.

The Ports eastward shift instead became a westward reinvestment back on the Mississippi, as well as a spatial concentration at certain wharves. That is, containerization technology had the effect of intensifying activity to where cranes, gantries, rails, and truck access were located.

Other wharves, where cargo ships from Central America and elsewhere once moored, now went empty, a transformation furthered by the tropical fruit trades relocation to Gulfport, Mississippi, largely on account of labor discord.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 further illustrated what a fiasco the MR-GO had been, as it allowed surge to penetrate the metropolis from the east, leading to catastrophic breaches of under-engineered federal floodwalls. The coastal erosion it had helped cause during the prior 40 years exacerbated Katrinas surge and flooding.

Congress closed the MR-GO to navigational traffic, and the France Road Terminal equipment was relocated back to the Mississippi Riverwhere Bienville had wanted the port to be in 1718, and where La Salle foresaw it would be needed in 1682.

The retreat seemingly ended the centuries-long story of the portable port.

But the drivers behind these shifts are more global than local, and they continue to tug maritime activity toward spaces of greater convenience and fewer obstaclesthat is, eastward and/or downriver, closer to global commerce.

In the late 1990s, officials contemplated a Millennium Port somewhere along the river in lower St. Bernard or Plaquemines Parish. And in 2000, the Millennium Port Authority suggested building a containerized cargo terminal at Head of Passes, a resurrection of the entrepot role of historical Balize.

Now, as post-Panamax ships beckon and world ports race to accommodate them, authorities at the Port of New Orleans are devising the next chapter in the story of the portable portand it appears its address will be at Violet in St. Bernard Parish.

-Richard Campanella, a geographer with the Tulane School of Architecture, is the author of The West Bank of Greater New Orleans, Bienvilles Dilemma, Cityscapes of New Orleans, and other books. He may be reached at rcampane@tulane.edu, http://richcampanella.com, or @nolacampanella on Twitter.
There will be more disruptions and costs on doing business with Britain from today, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney is warning.

Mr Coveney insisted the worst impacts of a no-deal Brexit have been avoided after a trade deal was struck between the EU and UK just before Christmas.

However, the FG deputy leader said there will still be significant problems for businesses trading with Britain.

"We are going to see more disruption and more delay and therefore more cost on doing business and that's the downside of Brexit," Mr Coveney told the Herald.

Checks

"There's no such thing as a Brexit that happens without some disruption or inconvenience because what we're moving to is a far lesser trading arrangement than what we had before," he added.

Mr Coveney said the deal struck by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier does ensure there will be no quotas or tariffs on goods going to or coming from the UK.

However, there will be checks on goods coming into Ireland, and Dublin Port has been transformed to deal with a new regime for examining goods and checking certificates of goods coming into Ireland.

Mr Coveney said there will be some British products that will no longer be sold in Ireland due to transport delays.

He al so said some medicines and medical products may not have EU certificates that would allow them be sold in Ireland.

Mr Coveney had in the week leading up to the Brexit deal said there was a "real risk" the deal could fall apart but said in the end "all of Ireland's core vulnerabilities" were protected.

He said the Border was protected through the Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Coveney said the country also avoided 1.5bn tariffs on trade. However, the minister said he was disappointed on the deal around fishing rights and said he is still working on improving the agreement for Ireland.

"One area where we've been asked to take some pain, which I'm not fully happy, is the fisheries," he said.

Disruption

"We are still working now on how we can ensure there is fair burden-sharing and of course how we can support the fishing sector through that disruption," he added.

He said the deal could be the "best of both worlds" for Northern Ireland despite the DUP voting against the trade agreement in Westminster.

Mr Coveney said the DUP supported Brexit yet opposed every solution put in place to try to address the Border on the island of Ireland.

"If you're going to keep voting against things you've also got to propose alternatives, and I've never heard a credible alternative to solve the issue of the Irish Border that doesn't involve either a backstop or a protocol," he said.

Herald
New Delhi:

The government has introduced minor changes to the startup definition, saying a business not older than seven years will now qualify for benefits under the Startup India Action Plan.

So far, only companies up to five years from the date of incorporation were eligible for concessions under the plan announced last year. As per the new definition, an entity shall be considered as a startup if its turnover is less than Rs 25 crorewhich remains unchangedand has not completed seven years from the date of its incorporation/registration.



However, in the case of startups in the biotechnology sector, the period shall be up to 10 years, the commerce and industry ministry said in a notification. It also said that an entity shall be considered as a startup if it is working towards innovation, development or improvement of products or processes or services, or if it is a scalable business model with a high potential of employment generation or wealth creation.



It added that an entity shall cease to be a startup on completion of seven years from the date of its incorporation/ registration or if its turnover for any previous year exceeds Rs 25 crore.

ALSO READ: Google announces 6 Indian startups for its 4th accelerator program



To obtain tax benefits, it said, a startup should obtain a certificate of an eligible business from an inter-ministerial board of certification as constituted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.



It said if the recognition would be obtained without uploading the relevant documents or on the basis of false information, the DIPP reserves the right to revoke the recognition certificate and certificate of an eligible business for tax benefits immediately without any prior notice or reason.



Further, the notification said the process of recognition as a startup would be through an online application made over the mobile app/portal set up by the DIPP. The definition is important for budding enterprises to avail government-sponsored venture funding and tax and other benefits.



Certain sections of startups had criticised the old definition saying defining such firms as those that are less than five years old was restrictive. Meanwhile, the commerce ministry in a statement said, an entity shall be considered as a startup up to seven years from the date of its incorporation or registration from earlier 5 years taking into account the long gestation period for such entities to establish.



No letter of recommendation from an incubator/industry association shall be required for either recognition or tax benefits, it said. The statement further said that the scope of definition has been broadened to include scalability of business model with potential of employment generation or wealth creation.



The above changes are an effort to ensure ease of starting up new businesses to promote the startup ecosystem and build a nation of job creators instead of job seekers, it said.

ALSO READ: 'Smart Jacket' for BSF wins 1st prize at Startup Hackathon

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AS the country ushers into New Year 2021 more than 100,600 smallholder farmers in the country will be receiving grain and vegetable seeds' grants worth US$ 493,500 to assist them in sustainable food production.

Through its new "Better Farms, Better Lives" initiative, Bayer, a life-science oriented multinational company will run the programme for the next 12 months, starting this month and it will cover 25 districts in the Mainland Tanzania.

Bayer will complement its current commitment of supporting smallholder farmers in Africa, by providing them with free hybrid corn and vegetable seeds.

The boost, according to Bayer Tanzania Manager Frank Wenga, is meant to assist them to combat effects of global Covid- 19 pandemic, which caused series of global food shortage crisis in the previous year.

"Smallholder farmers are essential in providing food security to billions of people, but the on-going Covid-19 pandemic is placing extra challenges on their ability to produce food for their communities and beyond," said Liam Condon, President of Bayer's Crop Science Division.

Also targeting to assist more than 700,000 small scale farmers across the African continent, Bayer's 'Better Farms, Better Lives,' programme also aims at providing assistance with market access to the growers in line with Bayer's overall aspiration in building a world, where there is 'Health for All, Hunger for None'.

This special food security programme was launched at Bayer Life Science Tanzania offices in Njiro, Arusha by the Executive Director of the Tanzania Seed Trade Association Bob Shuma.

The programme, though flagged off in Arusha, will be implemented in eight countries across the continent, including, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

The initiative focuses on providing smallholder farmers with the assistance needed to address the additional challenges they may be facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

To ensure maximum impact, Bayer will work and expand its partnerships with governments, recognised NGOs and local organisations; to provide accelerated access to agronomy services and knowledge; scale up existing and new value chain partnerships and further expand value chain partnerships across Africa.

"In line with our vision 'Health for All, Hunger for None', Bayer is focusing on providing smallholder farmers with the help they need to address immediate challenges, while building resilience for the future, and working to ensure the Covid-19 pandemic does not turn from a health crisis to a hunger crisis," noted Klaus Eckstein, Head of Africa, Crop Science Division.

In Tanzania, Bayer will collaborate with Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and with the Agriculture Council of Tanzania (ACT) to distribute 200 metric tonnes of Bayer's Dekalb corn and 100 gramme of Seminis vegetables seeds brand all valued at US $493,500 to 25 districts among them Meru, Songea, Iringa and Kondoa.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Tanzania Agribusiness Food and Agriculture By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"Together with partners, we aim to multiply the social and economic impacts of smallholder farmers in tackling poverty and hunger, improving health and livelihoods and, ultimately, spurring economic development for their families, communities and nations," added Bayer East Africa Limited Managing Director, Laurent Perrier.

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition.

Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population.

At the same time, the group aims at increasing its earning power and creating value through innovation and growth.

Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world.

In fiscal year 2019, the group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, research and development expenses to 5.3 billion euros.
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Hyyype! Cant even tell ya how stoked I am to be riding for Santa Cruz Bicycles for 2021 and beyond. I cant wait to work on some exciting bits with these guys alongside these dreamy companies Title, Five Ten, WTB, Giro and SRAM. LETS GOOOO!  Veronique Sandler
A mock drill of the Covid-19 vaccination drive will be conducted across all states and Union Territories on Saturday, as per the central government order. The exercise is aimed at testing the preparedness for the vaccine rollout.

A two-day trial run was earlier conducted on December 28 and 29 in four states - Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat. The planned operations and the laid-out mechanisms for the drive was successful then, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had announced.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

"All states expressed satisfaction in terms of the operational approach and use of IT platform to ensure transparency and effective monitoring of vaccination processes expected to cover a large number of people across the country," the ministry said.

Here are the details of the dry run tomorrow:

The drive is aimed at testing the vaccination process and included planning and preparations, creation of facilities and users on Co-WIN application, session site creation and mapping of sites, Health Care Workers (HCW) data upload, receipt of vaccines and vaccine allocation by the district, session planning, deployment of vaccination team, logistics mobilization at session site.

The exercise will be conducted in all states in at least three session sites.

A concerned medical officer-in-charge will identify 25 test beneficiaries or healthcare workers at each of the three-session sites.

Some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain/have poor logistical support.

The vaccine introduction will be planned following the operational guidelines issued by the health ministry on 20 December.

States are also augmenting the state helpline 104 (which shall be used in addition to 1075) for any vaccine/software related query. Call centre executives have been given an orientation and capacity building.

In Delhi, the dry run will be at Venkateshwara Hospital in South West district, the Daryaganj dispensary in Central district and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Shahdara district

Maharashtra will hold the dry run at Pune, Nagpur, Jalna and Nandurbar

Jharkhand will conduct the dry run in Ranchi, East Singhbhum, Chatra, Palamu and Pakur

Bengaluru Urban, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Mysuru and Shivamogga will undergo the dry run in Karnataka

Tamil Nadu will conduct the dry run in Chennai, Nilgiris, Tirunevlevi, Tiruvallur and Coimbatore

In Kerala, the dry run will be conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad

The nationwide dry run comes as the first vaccine candidate  Covishield developed by Oxford/Astrazeneca  inches towards getting approval in India





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The Monroe County District Attorneys Office on Thursday morning released the name of the 33-year-old New York woman who died after a vehicle flipped onto its roof after apparently driving over a gas line eruption early Christmas morning in Pocono Township.

The office also presented more information on the aftermath of the incident.

Township police arriving about 1:30 a.m. found a blue Ford Explorer on its roof off Lower Swiftwater Road, the district attorneys office said.

One of the passengers, Jobanni Peralta, 49, of New York, had managed to get out of the SUV and told officers there were three people still inside, the district attorneys office said. Officers helped the driver, Luis Mercado, 33, of New York, and his 2-year-old son, who was in a car seat, from the vehicle, the district attorneys office said.

The Pocono Township Fire Department extracted Ana Abreu -- who police said had been visiting family in the area -- from the vehicle, the district attorneys office said. She suffered head trauma and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono where she was pronounced dead at 2:50 a.m. from her injuries, the district attorneys office said. An autopsy took place Tuesday and authorities are awaiting results from a pathologist, the district attorneys office said.

Officers noticed a gas propane-like smell at the scene and could hear gas leaking from a large hole in the road, the district attorneys office said. Pavement, dirt and stone could be seen in the right lane, the district attorneys office said.

UGI personnel arrived, shut off the gas and made other repairs, the district attorneys office said.

We have been advised no further threat remains, the district attorneys office said.

The news release did not say if a natural gas release caused the Explorer to flip. The district attorneys office, the county coroners office and township police continue to investigate. The Pennsylvania Utilities Commission has its own investigation, the district attorneys office said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call district attorneys office Detective Tom McMahon at 570-517-3025.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Health Minister Hala Zayed stressed her keenness on boosting cooperation with China on providing coronavirus vaccine.

Zayed's remarks came on the sidelines of her signing a memorandum of understanding between Egypt and China on boosting cooperation for fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The MoU aims at continuing the running cooperation and coordination between Cairo and Beijing in the field of coronavirus vaccine, other health domains, and creating a platform for sharing expertise, Health Ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said.

The minister conveyed greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli to China and its people for supplying its Sinopharm vaccine to Egypt.

Zayed discussed with China's ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang providing Egypt with urgent shipments of the vaccine, after it was proved effective by the scientific committee, tasked with fighting the pandemic.

For his side, Liao said the signing of the MoU proved the current strategic partnership between Egypt and China, and boosted cooperation between the two countries in the field of producing vaccines.

MENA
HOLYOKE  The Holyoke Public Schools has released its Return to School schedules, effective Jan. 19. The district will operate on a remote and live (synchronous) learning model for the rest of the school year.

The citys public schools will adhere to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education COVID-19 guidelines for transporting students, social distancing, and health and safety protocols while in class.

Families can expect more information from their childs school in the coming days, including cohort designations.

Holyoke High Dean Campus, Transitions Academy, Peck, Metcalf, E.N. White schools will operate from 7:55 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., with Veritas 7:55 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. Half-day PreK times are 7:55 to 10:55 a.m. for in-person and 11:25 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. for remote learners.

Holyoke High School North Campus and Lawrence, Donahue, Sullivan, Kelly, Morgan, McMahon, and STEM schools will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Half-day Pre-K is scheduled for 9 to 11:30 a.m. for in-person and 12:30 to 3 p.m. for remote students.

The first day of in-person instruction for Pre-K through grade 2 is slated for Jan. 21.

Providing all our students with the best learning model possible while prioritizing the health, safety and well-being of all students and staff is our top priority, read a statement released by the district. We will continue to follow Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidance and partner with the Holyoke Board of Health to monitor our district and Holyoke health data to bring more students back to inperson learning slowly.

State health officials extended the flu shot to Feb. 28. Students must get the flu shot before returning to the classroom. Parents must submit flu shot documentation and medical/religious waivers to the childs school nurse.

Remote learners must also get the flu vaccination.

In other news:
They now live in memory. People like Veronica Alice Mildred Coody, one of the first Berkshire County residents to fall to COVID-19 last April.
New Delhi: The subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Friday (January 1, 2021) recommended the emergency use of Covidshield, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and drug manufacturer AstraZeneca.

The Covidshield has become the first vaccine to secure a recommendation for emergency use approval in India, but the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) will take a final call in this regard. Sources told Zee News that experts have given their approval for mass immunisation with the vaccine to begin within the next few days.

In phase 1 of vaccination, as many as 1.7 Lakh frontline workers will be vaccinated. In Jammu and Kashmir, 5000 centers have been established for the vaccination of healthcare workers in Phase 1.

The expert panel today held its meeting to decide on issuing an approval on the emergency-use authorisation for the vaccines of Serum Institute of India (SII) Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccines.

According to official sources, the panel`s recommendation has been sent to DCGI VG Somani for approval, which will pave the way for the vaccine`s rollout in India. The rollout will begin on January 6, according to sources.

The Serum Institute had partnered with Oxford-AstraZeneca for conducting clinical trials and manufacturing `Covishield` while Bharat Biotech has collaborated with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to make `Covaxin`.

America's Pfizer was the first one to apply for the accelerated approval on December 4, followed by Serum and Bharat Biotech on December 6 and 7, respectively. Pfizer has, however, sought more time to present the data.

As India awaits a vaccine against coronavirus, the DCGI, on Thursday, hinted at the approval of the vaccine and said that the country will have a "Happy New Year with something in hand".

Notably, the Centre plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of the drive.
A medical worker warms herself under an electric heater at a makeshift clinic for coronavirus testing in front of Seoul Station, Thursday, amid a cold snap hitting the country. Yonhap





By Bahk Eun-ji







With mass vaccinations beginning around the world, people are wondering if the end of the prolonged pandemic is in sight.







Likewise, many Koreans are pinning high hopes on the government's series of vaccine rollout plans but experts expect it will take quite a while for vaccinations to bring the coronavirus completely under control. Moderna, the U.S. biotech company, confirmed Thursday that it signed a deal with the Korean government to provide 40 million doses of its vaccine.







"It is highly likely that the pandemic will continue into the second half," said Choi Won-seok, a professor of the division of infectious diseases at Korea University.







"I don't think the pandemic will end overnight as the virus is too contagious and is well adapted to human hosts. In addition, animals such as pets and minks are easily infected, so the virus outbreak is likely to repeat. But the vaccine rollout, which is a great achievement for sure, will restore normal daily life by reducing the fatality rate."







Even if vaccinations begin, the government and experts agree that the number of daily new cases would not be reduced immediately as it usually takes more than half a year for mass immunization after vaccinating.






Efforts to send eligible Americans a $2,000 second stimulus check are effectively deadfor now. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to allow a vote in the Senate on the House-passed CASH Act. That bill would have increased the second-round stimulus checks approved by the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act from $600 to $2,000. Senate Democrats made repeated requests this week for a vote, but each request was immediately blocked by McConnell or another Republican senator.

SEE MORE When Will Your Second Stimulus Check Arrive? It May Already Be On Its Way

Democrats delayed the inevitable for a few days by holding up a separate vote to override President Trump's veto of the defense spending bill. However, on New Year's Day, the override vote was held, which meant that the Democrats lost whatever leverage they had to force a vote on the CASH Act. The current session of Congress ends at noon on Sunday. At that point, the CASH Act and all other pending bills will expire.

The IRS has already started sending out the $600 second stimulus checks authorized by the recently enacted COVID relief law. If a deal to increase payments to $2,000 had been reached, the tax agency said it would have sent another payment for the additional amount to anyone who already received a $600 check. That, however, won't be necessary now absent some unexpected change of circumstances before Sunday.

[Stay on top of all the new stimulus bill developments  Sign up for the Kiplinger Today E-Newsletter. It's FREE!]

Momentum for $2,000 Second Stimulus Checks

For a while, it appeared as if there might be enough momentum behind the $2,000 second stimulus check effort to get it across the finish line. Right after the COVID relief bill authorizing $600 checks was passed by Congress, President Trump reignited the push for $2,000 payments by threatening to withhold his signature if the $600 second stimulus checks weren't increased. Then, after the president signed the bill, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the CASH Act. In addition to boosting the already authorized $600 second stimulus checks up to $2,000 per eligible person, it would have increased the additional $600 payment for children 16 years of age or younger to $2,000 and allow these extra payments for all dependents, regardless of their age.

Story continues

SEE MORE Second Stimulus Check Calculator

As President Trump continued to push for $2,000 second stimulus checks and concerns over the Georgian runoff elections surfaced, a handful of Republican Senators also climbed on the $2,000 payment bandwagon. By Tuesday, Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Susan Collins (R-Me.), David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) all expressed support for $2,000 checks. (Perdue and Loeffler are involved in the close runoff elections in Georgia that could determine who controls the Senate for the next two years, and both their opponents favor $2,000 payments.) Although these Republican senators didn't directly say they would vote for the CASH Act itself (they simply liked the general idea of $2,000 checks), the idea that the CASH Act could receive the 60 votes it needed to pass in the Senate didn't seem too farfetched by Wednesday morning.

No Vote for the CASH Act in the Senate

However, once the CASH Act hit the Senate floor, it quickly became apparent that it was stuck in the mud. As mentioned, Democratic senators made repeated requests this week for a vote on the bill. But, each time, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) or one of his Republican colleagues blocked the request. The CASH Act couldn't get a vote on the Senate floor without Sen. McConnell's consent, and Democrats were not able to change the majority leader's mind and persuade him to allow the bill to move forward. On Wednesday, Sen. McConnell said the bill "has no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate." That statement signaled Sen. McConnell's reluctance to reverse course.

For Sen. McConnell and other Republicans opposing the bill, one of the primary reasons given for blocking a vote on the CASH Act was that the bill doesn't target people in need. For example, on Thursday, Sen. McConnell said the bill would "send thousands of dollars to people who don't need the help." He further noted that "a family of five where the parents earn $250,000 and have not seen any income loss this past year" would receive a $5,000 stimulus check under the CASH Act. This, he said, was "socialism for rich people." Sen. Thune (R-S.D.) described the bill as "a shotgun approach where a rifle makes a lot more sense."

Republicans also suggested that the $464 billion it would take to provide $2,000 checks under the CASH Act could be put to better use. For example, on Friday, Sen. Thune noted that "for the cost of the CASH Act, we could do another round of assistance to help small businesses keep their employees on the payroll and still, still have almost $200 billion left over." He added that, "the expanded unemployment benefit signed into law last week cost approximately $120 billion for 11 additional weeks. That means that we could provide more than [an] additional 40 weeks  10 months of enhanced unemployment insurance benefits  for those who have lost their jobs for the same cost" as the CASH Act.

In response, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), referring to a study by the Tax Policy Center, claimed that less than 1% of the additional money proposed by the CASH Act would go to Americans with income in the top 5%. "Virtually nothing goes to the very, very rich," according to Sen. Sanders. "An overwhelming majority of those funds," he said, "go to the middle class, the working class, [and] low-income people."

As for spending $464 billion on other items, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) suggested boosting the second stimulus amount to $2,000 and providing more relief. During the New Year's Day debate on the Senate floor, he said the CASH Act "can be in addition to the expansion of unemployment insurance and other things. Given the state of the economy, that is what's needed."

McConnell's Alternative Bill

As an alternative to the CASH Act, Sen. McConnell introduced his own bill to provide $2,000 second stimulus checks. His bill would:

Increase the base amount for second stimulus checks to $2,000, but not increase the additional amount for children or allow the additional payments for all dependents;

Repeal a law protecting internet companies from liability for posts on their websites; and

Set up an advisory committee to study the integrity and administration of the 2020 general election.

President Trump requested these are the three things when he signed the COVID relief bill establishing $600 stimulus checks.

However, this bill had no chance of being enacted into law. Even if the Senate passed the bill, the House would have to pass it as well. But the House has already adjourned for this legislative session. That brings us back to the CASH Act. According to Sen. Schumer (D-N.Y.), "there is one way and only one way to pass $2,000 checks before the end of the year," and that was to pass the CASH Act. To that end, on Thursday, he proposed holding three separate votes: One on the CASH Act, one on the internet company liability question, and one for the election study. On Friday, Sen. Sanders also tried to bring both the CASH Act and Sen. McConnell's bill to the floor for votes. Both proposals were rejected by Sen. McConnell and the Senate Republicans.

More Stimulus Checks in the Future?

On Friday, Sen. Schumer said, "today is the last chance to take up and pass the House bill to provide $2,000 checks to the American people." It didn't happen. With the current Congress ending and the CASH Act expiring on Sunday, the drive for additional stimulus checks  for $2,000 or any other amount  will therefore have to start from scratch.

For those who support additional stimulus checks, the good news is that the effort is likely to continue. Many lawmakers have already called for a third round of stimulus checks in 2021. President-Elect Joe Biden has also said he'll push for more direct payments (although he didn't suggest an amount for each check). So, despite the demise of the CASH Act, we still might see more  and higher  stimulus check payments down the road.

SEE MORE Is Your Stimulus Check Taxable?

So, stay tuned. We'll report any new stimulus check developments as they occur. In the meantime, you can find more information about the $600 second stimulus checks already authorized by the recently enacted COVID relief law at Your Second Stimulus Check: How Much? When? And Other FAQs.
EVERETT, Wash., Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Qatar Airways Cargo took delivery of three Boeing [NYSE:BA] 777 Freighters as the airline continues to build its cargo division with the world's largest and most capable twin-engine freighter. The milestone also marks the 200th 777 Freighter to be delivered.

The triple delivery comes as air freight is playing a pivotal role amid the COVID-19 pandemic  including transporting newly approved vaccines  and is projected to increase more than 4% over the next two decades.

With the arrival of the trio of 777 Freighters, Qatar Airways Cargo now operates 24 of this airplane model along with two 747-8 Freighters. As one of the leading air cargo carriers in the world, Qatar's dedicated freighter fleet serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight on the belly-hold deck of passenger aircraft to an extensive network.

"With the arrival of these new freighters, we are injecting more capacity in the market which is very much required during the pandemic. The added capacity will also enable us to support the logistics around the COVID-19 vaccination, which is projected to be one of the greatest logistical challenges for the industry," said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker. "With our investments in innovation and fleet, we are able to fulfill our customers' logistical requirements and facilitate the continuity of global trade."

The 777 Freighter can fly 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 kms) and carry a payload of 224,900 pounds (102,010 kg). The airplane's long range translates into significant savings for operators like Qatar Airways Cargo as fewer stops reduce landing fees, congestion, cargo handling costs and delivery times.

"During these challenging times, Qatar Airways Cargo has been transporting humanitarian relief and medical goods to those in need, and we are proud that their growing fleet of 777 Freighters is supporting such a commendable effort," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president, Commercial Sales and Marketing, The Boeing Company. "We deeply appreciate our long-standing partnership with Qatar Airways and their confidence in the 777 Freighters as the backbone of their expansive global air cargo operations."

The 777 Freighter is now Boeing's top selling freighter. Customers from around the world have ordered 242 777 Freighters since the program began in 2005, including a record 45 units in 2018. Boeing, the market leader in air cargo aircraft, provides more than 90% of the dedicated freighter capacity around the world, including new production and converted freighters.

Contact:

Saffana Michael

Boeing Communications

+971 50 459 0651

[email protected]

Jessica Kowal

Boeing Communications

+1 206 660 6849 (Seattle)

[email protected]

SOURCE Boeing

Related Links

http://www.boeing.com


A seven-kilometre-long Nagar Kirtan attended by hundreds of farmers marked New Year at Singhu Border on Friday as protesters rung in the new year amid muted celebrations.

This is the first Nagar Kirtan  a religious procession meant to mark a special occasion  organised at the border protest site by the Sikh farmers, after they had to give the ritual a pass during Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 30.

The procession was headed by a tractor pulling a large customised trolley that was heavily decked with flowers and carried at least six people chanting hymns and distributing prasad. The tractor was followed by hundreds of devotees on foot, some Nihang Sikhs riding on horses, followed by other devotees riding modified vehicles.

If we were in Punjab, we would have had the Nagar Kirtan on the New Year day. Since we are settled here now, we thought it would be feasible to have the Nagar Kirtan on this day, said one of the organisers, Jagdeesh Singh, who is from Jaldiyala in Jalandhar district of Punjab.

The procession began around noon on Friday and slowly crawled its way through the maze of vehicles and people gathered at Singhu Border.

Among the vehicles which were a part of the procession was a Maruti Alto modified into an open-air vehicle and a 1958-make modified Villy Jeep, which carried eight devotees.

Read more| Farmers continue protests outside Delhi, say no question of withdrawing 2 demands

Our New Year celebrations will happen when the government agrees to our demand. Until then, we will keep any festivities limited to religious rituals and speeches, said Khushwant Singh Sidhu, who belongs to Jagraon village in Ludhiana.

Apart from the Nagar Kirtan, another smaller function included a dance performance by a Haryana farmer.

No one wanted to celebrate the New Year here. So, I decided to put up a performance for my farmer friends from Punjab and my state, said the performer Chand Singh, a farmer from Kathura village in nearby Sonepat, amid hookah puffs.

Farmers at the borders said call dropping had been a big challenge for them on Thursday night as they tried calling back home to wish their families for New Year. Paramjeet Singh, from Rampursunra village in Phagwara, said that the five Wi-Fi points arranged by the Delhi government recently were not enough to cater to the huge number of farmers present in the area.

We usually go to sleep here by 10.30-11 pm. But last night we stayed awake until 2 am just to wish our families. I could connect to them only around 2am after repeated attempts, said Singh.
Newly reelected Sen. Carlo Leone, of Stamford, will not take the oath of office next week and instead will join Gov. Ned Lamonts administration as a special adviser to state Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti.

Leone, an Air Force veteran who first served in the House for more than three terms before joining the Senate after a special election in 2011, said Thursday night that he is eager to start a new chapter in public service.

An opportunity has presented itself to join the administration, said Leone, 57, a Democrat who in recent years has been the co-chairman of the Transportation Committee. Ill miss the legislature, which has given me a lot of rewarding, great experiences, but Im looking forward to a new chapter.

Leone was a solid supporter of Lamonts plan for trucks-only tolls on state highways, a plan that the governor withdrew last February amid bipartisan opposition in the General Assembly. In a phone interview, he said that with the states dedicated fund for transportation infrastructure scheduled to go broke by 2024, keeping it afloat at a time of diminishing gas taxes and the rise of electric cars, is a major challenge.

With Democrat Joe Biden scheduled to take the oath of the presidency on Jan. 20, the Lamont administration expects much more direct communication with Washington. As special assistant, Leone will troubleshoot issues for Giulietti and will likely lean on his relationships with other state lawmakers.

There is still a lot to accomplish, said Leone, who was born in Italy. We still have to get money into transportation. Itll be kind of weird to be on the other side, but we still have the needs. Serving in the legislature and being a senator from Stamford has been an honor.

While it may be too soon to figure out who might seek to replace Leone, who crushed Republican Eva Maldonado in the November election, fellow state lawmakers from Stamford delegation include Rep. Patricia Billie Miller, Rep. Dan Fox, Rep. David Michel, Rep. Caroline Simmons and Rep. Matt Blumenthal.

I have a very strong delegation with great colleagues and any number of them could step in, said Leone, who in addition to leading the Transportation Committee, is the vice chairman of the tax-writing Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee.

While in the General Assembly Leone helped revamp the mediation process in foreclosures; helped write legislation to offer tax credits to the film industry. Upon his return from six years in the military, Leone worked at Xerox Corp. for 17 years. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from Sacred Heart University.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
BENGALURU, India, Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE, BSE,NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, will announce results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020 on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 around 3:45 p.m. Indian Standard Time (IST) (5:15 a.m. US ET; 2:15 a.m. PST; 10:15 a.m. London time; 6:15 p.m. Singapore/Hong Kong time). The results will also be available on www.infosys.com.

Common press conference (Hosted virtually)

(4:30 p.m. IST; 6:00 a.m. ET)

Following the release, the leadership team will be part of a common press conference at 4:30 p.m. IST. The participating executives will address questions from the media during this interaction, which will be streamed live on the Investor Relations section of Infosys website, following which it will be archived at www.infosys.com. The archive will be available after 7:00 p.m. IST on January 13, 2021 (after 8:30 a.m. US ET on January 13, 2021). In addition, a transcript of the conference will be available at www.infosys.com.

Earnings call

(6:30 p.m. IST; 8:00 a.m. ET)

The company will conduct a single 60-minute conference call at 6:30 p.m. IST (8:00 a.m. US ET; 5:00 a.m. PST; 1:00 p.m. London time; 9:00 p.m. Singapore/Hong Kong time) on January 13, 2021 (open to investors/analysts in all regions), where the senior management will discuss company's performance and answer questions from participants. To participate in the conference call, please dial the numbers provided below 10  15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the call. During this time, the operator will provide instructions on how to ask questions. Alternatively, you can also pre-register yourself using the DiamondPass link provided below which will enable you to connect to the conference call without having to wait for an operator. As participation in the call is limited, early registration is encouraged.

This event will be webcast live on the Investor Relations section of Infosys website, following which it will be archived at www.infosys.com. The archive will be available after 8:30 p.m. IST on January 13, 2021 (after 10:00 a.m. US ET on January 13, 2021). In addition, a transcript of the conference call will be available at www.infosys.com.

Summary of events

Event Date and Time Website/ Region Telephone No. Earnings release

over the wire

services 3:45 p.m. IST 5:15 a.m. ET January 13, 2021 www.infosys.com

Common press

conference

(Hosted virtually) 4:30 p.m. IST 6:00 a.m. ET January 13, 2021 www.infosys.com Dial-in details to be shared

with participants Event Date and Time Web-site/ Region Telephone No. Earnings

conference call (open for questions

from investors /

analysts in all

regions) 6:30 p.m. IST 8:00 a.m. ET January 13, 2021 Questions during the call can be addressed to [email protected] DiamondPass

registration link https://services.choruscall.in/

DiamondPassRegistration/re

gister?confirmationNumber=9

887660&linkSecurityString=1

e3ac2cb64 India Toll, Mumbai: +91 22 6280 1168 +91 22 7115 8069 Toll, Bangalore: +91 7045671221 US Toll-free: 1 866 746 2133 Toll Number: +1 323 386 8721 Singapore Toll-free:

800 101 2045 Toll-number:

+65 3157 5746 Hong Kong Toll-free:

800 964 448 Toll Number: +852 3018 6877 Japan Toll Free: 0053 116 1110 Toll Number: +81 3 4589 9421 UK Toll Free: 0 808 101 1573 Toll Number: +44 203 478 5524 Germany Toll-free:

00 8001 424 3444 Canada Toll- free: 011 8001 424 3444 France Toll-free:

0 800 914 745 Replay of

conference call Till January 20, 2021 www.infosys.com Toll-free, USA: 1 833 289 8317 International toll: + 1 347 974 7488 Toll, Mumbai/India: +91 22 7194 5757 +91 22 6663 5757 Playback code: 4637#

About Infosys Ltd.

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

SOURCE Infosys

Related Links

http://www.infosys.com


As always, this was an interesting performance in terms of pure theater. Putin held forth for over four hours, and throughout showed impressive self-confidence as well as command of information. In deference to the continuing pandemic, he met with the media remotely from his home outside Moscow.
A historic Hindu temple was destroyed and set on fire by an angry mob in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district. Over thirty people, mostly members of the Islamist Party were arrested after the vandalism.

A historic Hindu temple was destroyed and set on fire by an angry mob in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Karak district. Over a land dispute, an angry mob vandalized the Hindu temple in the Karak district of Pakistan marginalizing minorities in Pakistan. A mob led by local clerics destroyed the temple on Wednesday. Video clips are going viral on social media, in which a violent mob is seen destroying the walls and roof of the temple.

Hundreds of Muslims attacked the Hindu temple and set it on fire which showed the extend of violence against religious minorities is prevailing in Pakistan. Over thirty people, mostly members of the Islamist Party were arrested after the vandalism of the said Hindu Temple which took place in North-West of Pakistan. The act against the Hindu minority community has been widely condemned by human rights activists based in Pakistan and other parts of the world.

As per multiple sources, a rally was organised by a Sunni Deobandi political party in Pakistan nearby where speakers delivered fiery speeches after which the charged crowd stormed the temple, set it ablaze and razed it to the ground. According to human rights activists, incidents of vandalism on places of worship of minority communities have gone up.

Also Read: Mission Vaccine: India Gears Up For COVID Vaccine; 130 Cr Await DGCI Nod

Also Read: Mission 2021: Steps and Plans to Revive Indias Economy & Businesses

This incident has given rise to public anger against the Pakistan Army and Prime Minister Imran Khans government. Activists said that the vandalism on the century-old temple has revealed that no minority communities are safe in Pakistan as they can not even go to temples safely.
Vice chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chung Luu on December 31 handed Resolution 1111 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the establishment of Thu Duc City to the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo Le Toan.

This is the first time that a city is established inside a city. Thu Duc city, after its establishment, has an area of more than 211 square kilometres and more than a million people on the combined area of districts 2, 9, and Thu Duc. The city borders districts 1, 4, 7, 12, Binh Thanh, as well as Binh Duong province and Dong Nai province.

The resolution takes effect from January 1, 2021, after 60 days, agencies and organisations in the new city must complete the restructuring of their organisations to ensure stability for locals.

Deputy Chairman Luu said that the establishment of Thu Duc City is not only a particularly important event for the people of three districts but also a milestone for the development of Ho Chi Minh City in general.

This embellishment also received the attention of the whole country because it is the first time when a city is established inside a city.

Ho Chi Minh City must focus on building and submitting the construction planning of Thu Duc city towards a smart and creative city that will become the driving force of economic development for the whole of Ho Chi Minh City, Luu said.

Besides, he added that the city should soon submit for approval specific policies and mechanisms for Thu Duc city and speed up investment in infrastructure development while attracting skilled quality workers to improve people's living standards.

Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said that the establishment of Thu Duc city will help minimise local authorities and promote resources for the local socioeconomic development.

Thu Duc city is not only a driving force for economic development but also a motivation to improve people's lives. It is expected to contribute 30 per cent of the GRDP of Ho Chi Minh City and 7 per cent of the national GDP, Phong said.
The all-new Seat Leon has been voted Autobest 2021, the European accolade for the Best Buy Car of Europe 2021.

The Autobest jury is a panel of 31 judges made up of some of the most recognised automotive journalists from all over Europe. It is the second time in Seats 70 years of history that the company has taken the honour; in 2017 the Seat Ateca took the same award. It highlights the dedication to developing vehicles that go beyond the ordinary and offer something truly exceptional in the market.

The all-new Seat Leon has an amazing track record, across all generations of the segment-defining vehicle, with more that 2.3 million units sold. The Seat Leon has been a bestseller in Spain since 2014 and the introduction of the fourth-generation vehicle brought the best Leon ever to the market. The Seat Leons success has been built on a 1.1 billion investment to help take it to the next level in terms of connectivity, efficiency, dynamism and safety, but also to prepare the vehicles production facilities, as for the very first time, it is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, in addition to the other energies.

Technology

The all-new Seat Leon was designed and developed in Barcelona, to maintain its standing as not only a core pillar in the brands vehicle line-up, but also a standout vehicle in the segment.

Greater levels of connectivity, making it truly part of our digital lives and the first fully connected car of the brand, a suite of new powertrain technologies; petrol (TSI), diesel (TDI), mild-hybrid (eTSI), and plug-in hybrid (e-HYBRID), giving drivers a vehicle that most closely matches their lifestyle and needs, and the integration of the most advanced driver assistance systems available, make the Seat Leon one of the best in its category.

The advances to the all-new Seat Leon in terms of connectivity, efficiency, performance and safety, recently proven by the five stars accomplished in the 2020 Euro NCAP, have been achieved, in part, thanks to the vehicles MQB Evo architecture, providing the toolkit required to develop a vehicle that meets the many and varied needs of Seats customers.

The Autobest Award is among the most prestigious in Europe and has run consecutively since their inception in 2001. The 31 journalists who make up the awarding panel had the possibility to test drive the range of Seat Leon powertrains  including the plug-in hybrid version  during the final, celebrated in Austria at the beginning of November.

The all-new fourth generation Leon is in retailers nationwide and is now available with the new plug in e-hybrid.

Contact TP Waters, Kildare, at 045 521400.
Piers Corbyn was fined by police after leading a New Year's Eve anti-lockdown protest in Central London.

Corbyn, 73, brother of the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn posted a video of what was dubbed the 'NYE Party of Parties' on his Twitter feed, proclaiming: 'TOTAL SUCCESS! #NYEPartyofParties by London Eye.

'Over 1000 defied all threats +chanted #LetLondonLive! & #Corbyn4London after I announced I will stand for Mayor! Thank you +well done all!'

Corbyn also revealed: 'We broke through a police line (VID) and Tony & I only got FPNs.'

Piers Corbyn was fined by police after leading a New Year's Eve anti-lockdown protest in Central London

Corbyn, 73, brother of the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn posted a video of what was dubbed the 'NYE Party of Parties' on his Twitter feed

Corbyn bragged that around 1,000 people took part in the protest but in the video, barely two dozen are visible

Prior to the demonstration, Corbyn revealed that he is standing in the London Mayoral elections in May because 'enough is enough.'

In the video of the protest, Corbyn can be seen confronting a line of police officers along the South Bank close to the London Eye, where thousands usually gather for New Year's Eve celebrations which were cancelled this year due to Covid restrictions.

Corbyn bragged that around 1,000 people took part in the protest but in the video, barely two dozen are visible.

A red arrow on the video points out Corbyn as he approaches police, accompanied with the words 'Go on Piers!!!' Another slogan boasts: 'He's standing up for we the people!!!'

Wearing a black woolly hat, Corbyn can be seen leading a group of protestors chanting 'Freedom' as they approach the police line. Despite attempts by officers to prevent them from continuing, they manage to break through and continue along the banks of the River Thames.

Seconds later, he is confronted by a group of police officers and appears to be having a conversation with them before the fixed penalty notice of 200 is believed to have been issued.

Corbyn has become one of the country's leading anti-lockdown campaigners and has been arrested nine times over the past nine months as he finds himself involved in multiple legal battles over his opposition to lockdown measures, claiming they are an attack on civil liberties.

He also rails against the Government's vaccination programme and its overall handling of the pandemic, describing it as a 'Covid con.'

Announcing his intention to stand for London mayor elections, Corbyn stated: 'In 2021 we must reserve the fascistic measures under the Covid con.'

He claimed that his policies to end Covid restrictions would help London 'live again' because they are 'destroying London life.'
Actor Alia Bhatt welcomed the New Year with her family and boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor in the jungles of Ranthambore in Rajasthan. She and Ranbirs families are in the national park to ring in the New Year.

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Shaheen Bhatt shared pictures from New Years eve party, which also featured Ranveer Singh. Riddhima shared a picture on Instagram Stories with Alia and her mother Neetu Kapoor, Riddhima. Sharing the picture with Ranveer, she wrote: Vibe @Ranveer Singh. Deepika Padukone and Ranbir were missing in the pictures.

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor with family and Ranveer Singh.

Shaheen, meanwhile, shared a cute picture with Alia and wrote: Hope Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering it will be happier...- Alfred Lord Tennyson. She also shared pictures with Alia and mother Soni Razdan.

Alia posted more pics from Ranthambore.

Sharing a solo picture of hers earlier, Alia had written : On some days happiness smells like coffee, breeze & trees. The picture had been clicked by her sister Shaheen. It showed Alia smiling cheek to cheek, wearing a warm poncho and sipping coffee, out in the open. A day ago, she had shared another picture of herself, cropping Ranbir from the frame partially and had written: & to whatever lies ahead of us.. cheers! She was wearing a short pink dress, knee length boots, a warm head gear and a long trench coat.

Kajal Aggarwal is in Kufri.

Couple of days ago, Alia, Ranbir, Shaheen, Soni, Neetu , Riddhima and her family had been spotted arriving at Jaipur airport.

Also read: Anil Kapoor jokes about taking up Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchans rejected films. Watch video

Actor Kajal Aggarwal is in Kufri in Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the New Year with her husband Gautam Kitchlu. She said: #HappyNewYear #2021 wish everyone a year full of happiness, health and peace! Sharing another post with the word love written on snow and wrote: Reflecting on the year gone by... Yes, its been difficult for all of us sitting at home and being uncertain about what the future holds for us and our loved ones, but its the many blessings we must remember to be grateful for and I wanted to share what Im grateful for.

Sharing another picture, she had written: Winter is not a season, its a celebration. Kajal and Gautam married on October 30. They left for Maldives for their honeymoon. She had also resumed shooting for Chiranjeevis Acharya,sometime in December.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Moldovan President Maia Sandu has appointed Foreign Minister Aurel Ciocoi as acting prime minister.

Sandu announced the appointment on Facebook on December 31, following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ion Chicu last week.

Sandu defeated pro-Russian President Igor Dodon in an election last month on a platform of combating corruption and building on her countrys Association Agreement with the European Union.

Ciocoi, a career diplomat, previously served as Dodons foreign policy adviser. Under Moldovas constitution, Sandu was obliged to choose an acting prime minister from among the outgoing cabinet.

Sandu has asked the Constitutional Court to weigh in on a request by parliamentary deputies from the Party of Action and Solidarity -- which Sandu headed before becoming president -- to allow parliament to dissolve itself and hold snap elections.

I hope that the court will consider this requestin a few days, Sandu said on December 31.
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A pandemic that created global havoc throughout most of 2020 showed no signs of abating on the year's final day as the number of new infections in the greater Washington region entered record territory, fueled by a record in Virginia.

The District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia reported 8,437 new infections Thursday, topping the previous single-day record of 8,001 new cases on Dec. 12.

The 5,239 cases in Virginia set a state record Thursday that was well above its rolling seven-day average of 3,667 daily cases.

Maryland reported 2,973 new cases Thursday while District had 225 cases. Both numbers were above recent averages but short of a record.

The region also added 101 virus-related fatalities Thursday, with 48 deaths in Virginia, 47 in Maryland and six in the District.

Public health officials have said the nation could experience a spike in infections after holiday gatherings and recent record airline travel, even after warnings to avoid gatherings that include people outside someone's household.

Despite Virginia's record caseload Thursday, the rolling seven-day average of 6,118 new daily infections across the greater Washington region remains below the peak of 6,989, recorded on Dec. 10.

The elevated rate comes as public health officials locally and nationwide acknowledge their efforts to vaccinate front-line workers and health care professionals has lagged expectations.

More than 123,000 vaccine doses were administered in the Washington region as of Thursday, including 64,882 in Virginia, 47,012 in Maryland and 11,370 in the District. The totals represent a fraction of the doses each jurisdiction has been allotted.

Operation Warp Speed, the federal vaccine rollout program, planned to inoculate 20 million people by the end of the year, but 2.5 million people were vaccinated as of Thursday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Members of the Virginia National Guard began receiving the Moderna vaccine Thursday through the Defense Department and the National Guard Bureau.

"This is an important, anticipated and much-welcomed chapter in our collective fight against COVID-19, and it is a huge positive [that] the Virginia National Guard has been offered these vaccines early in the overall national rollout of vaccines," said Col. Robert Mancini, the Virginia National Guard state surgeon.

Mancini added that he plans to receive the vaccine when it is his turn.The vaccine will be administered in phases, starting with those conducting coronavirus testing - as well as police officers, security workers and firefighters - followed by personnel preparing to mobilize, then to remaining healthy service members and civilian employees.

Federal officials said Wednesday more than 12 million doses have been distributed to states, which were responsible for coordinating vaccine distribution.

The Washington region has reported 655,229 infections and 11,713 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
As Sydney's coronavirus outbreak extends into its third week, and appears now to have spread to Melbourne, it is self-evident there is no quick fix in sight. This means the detailed and laborious work of testing, tracing and isolating individuals will need to stay at scale for some time to come  well into the new year. So much for a summer reprieve.

It's a battle well worth waging. For while many nations have learnt to live with large numbers of daily positive infections, almost becoming numb to the high death tolls, Australia's geographic advantage has allowed it to take a different path. Its island continent status has allowed it to closely manage those coming into the country. And while the hotel quarantine system has had its flaws, it is much preferable to be contending with occasional breaches there than with the extended and relatively open borders most nations deal with.

While the external borders may be tightly managed this has not stopped the country being divided along the lines of its internal borders. For all the prolonged negotiations and commitments at national cabinet to reopen borders by Christmas, it only took until New Year's Eve for a number of states to shut up shop again.

Many who were finally extending their travels over summer beyond their own state's boundaries have been brought sharply back to earth. Victorians rushing to return home before the state's border closed to NSW spent hours in traffic jams on New Year's Eve. While holidaymakers were probably aware that things could change quickly, border restrictions have been introduced so rapidly and and harshly, in some cases with poor signals given, that many people were still caught out.

As the Melbourne outbreak will likely prove once again, the virus needs little encouragement to hitch a ride. Before Christmas, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was on shaky ground denouncing other states for what she called their overreactions to Sydneys outbreak. Now it appears to have seeded a suburban Melbourne cluster. Earlier in the year, it spread in the opposite direction, from Melbourne to Sydney, the busiest transit route in Australia.

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Bobbie Shelton is an advocate of workers rights  especially background actors.

For years, the New Mexican has worked tirelessly on set with others to help make New Mexico productions shine as a background actor.

Behind the scenes, she is one of the driving forces in getting the New Mexico Background Actors Bill of Rights in place, along with the Background Actors Association of New Mexico.

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Whats been really great is that it has the backing of the New Mexico Film Office, Shelton says. (NM Film Office Director) Amber (Dodson) is a supporter, as well as (Secretary of Economic Development) Alicia J. Keyes.

According to its mission, the Background Actors Association of New Mexico is dedicated to enhancing the professionalism of the New Mexico background acting community through education, training, and positive mentoring. The association also seeks to work with all film industry stakeholders to create an environment that is safe, encouraging, fair and equitable.

Shelton says the protections have been long overdue.

Were proud to be the first non-union state to have a bill of rights, Shelton says.

On Dec. 3, the Screen Actors Guild  American Federation of Television and Radio Artists endorsed the bill of rights.

SAG-AFTRA believes this document can be a significant step to improve workers rights, and part of an overall effort that includes protection of bargaining rights and other worker safeguards, the union says in a statement. The New Mexico Background Actors Bill of Rights calls for safe workplaces free of harassment, as well as reasonable amenities to provide background actors with shelter from the elements, clean bathrooms and first aid services, among other basic measures. We encourage all productions to respect the creative professionals who make storytelling possible, and to provide fair compensation and safe workplaces for all performers.

Shelton says the group is trying to meet with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to talk about the bill of rights.

Theres also an attempt to bring it to the Legislature and bring it into law, Shelton says. Background actors are often a huge chunk of a production. Its also a forgotten chunk. Were trying to remain non-union by the request of the productions. The main part of it is to make sure that New Mexicans are taken care of as far as health and safety. Productions coming from Los Angeles dont understand the New Mexico climate and how quickly it can all change.

Shelton has gotten a lot of backing from New Mexicans, including Shayne Hartigan of Alessi Hartigan Casting New Mexico.

Hartigan says he helped Shelton find ways for background actors to be taken care of properly by productions.

We have to grow together, Hartigan says of the film industry. We figured there was a place for it, and we had to try. There are standards that we believe that everyone should abide by. There are basic human rights that people get denied sometimes. We set forth some guidelines so that people can make a living off background work.

Online

To view the New Mexico Background Actors Bill of Rights, visit nmfilm.com/resources

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.
There has been a further 12 Covid-19 related deaths while 1,620 new cases of the virus confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.

This brings the Covid-19 death toll to 2,237 while the total number of confirmed cases in Ireland now stands at 91,779.

A total of 794 are men and 819 are women.

Of the cases notified today, 498 are in Dublin, 203 in Limerick, 89 in Galway, 73 in Cork, 67 in Mayo and the remaining 690 cases are spread across all other counties

The median age is 34 years old and 65 pc are under 45 years of age.

As of 2pm today, 490 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 42 are in ICU. 58 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: We are once again in the mitigation stage of this pandemic.

"The alarming escalation in the incidence of the virus in the general population gives great cause for concern. This disease is now widespread in our communities and as a result we are asking everyone to behave as if they are a close contact.

To support the testing system through this surge, we are no longer advising close contacts of confirmed cases to get tested.

"Testing and tracing is an exercise in containment and we are no longer in a containment phase. However, it is imperative that if you are a close contact of a confirmed case you restrict your movements and contact your GP immediately if you develop symptoms.

The average number of contacts per case has risen from 2.5 in November to an average in recent days of 6.3.

"This is very far from where we need to be and I am appealing to everyone at every age to adhere to the mandated restrictions that the government has introduced  stay at home, except for essential reasons, other than for exercise up to 5km.

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE, said: The pressure on our public health system, including testing and tracing services is not sustainable.

"A collective response by every individual, across every county, to follow the public health advice is essential to address the recent acceleration in case numbers that we are now seeing.

"The reintroduction of Level 5 restrictions is essential to protect our vital public services such as hospital admissions and non-COVID care and to have the maximum impact in shortest possible timeframe to minimise the spread of this disease.

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: While we are currently in a very serious situation, we are not powerless against COVID-19. The best tool we have right now is each other. We have shown on multiple occasions that we can act collectively to break chains of transmission, reduce the intensity of this epidemic and slow down the increase in cases.

As we look to the New Year, we remember the 2,237 people who have sadly died with COVID-19 in Ireland in 2020, along with all of their families and loved ones who are grieving their loss. Lets do all we can to ensure that as few families as possible are similarly impacted in 2021.

Prof. Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group said: The epidemiological situation is very serious and the virus is spreading rapidly amongst all age groups, increasing the risk to those most vulnerable to severe infection, such as the medically vulnerable and people over 60 years of age. The reproduction number is at least 1.6-1.8. The daily growth rate is estimated now at 7%-10% giving a doubling time of 7-10 days or less.

We project significant further increase in cases and hospitalisations in the coming days before public health measures take effect and are likely to see over 700-1000 people in hospital with COVID-19 early in the New Year. While it is difficult to face into further restrictions, it is vital that everyone plays their part by following the public health advice to protect those most vulnerable in the population.

Download the Sunday World app Now download the free app for all the latest Sunday World News, Crime, Irish Showbiz and Sport. Available on Apple and Android devices

Online Editors
New Delhi :

India has not received any information on the status of appeal or the petition given by the mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on spying charges, to the Pakistan government.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said it was up to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to decide the future course in the case.

We have no information on the petition and appeal Jadhavs mother had sent. Our High Commission has handed over it to the Pakistan government. We do not know the charges against him. We had sought court documents which have not come to us, he said.

On the reports emerging from Pakistan quoting a former Pakistani army officer that Jadhav was arrested from Iran, Baglay said the government has been saying since last year that he had been kidnapped from Iran.

Also Read: Cleric offers reward of Rs 20 lakh for garlanding Pak PM with Kulbhushan Jadhavs shoes

In the absence of the consular access to him, the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan remains unexplained, he added.

On the future course of action in the case, Baglay said, ICJ matter is sub judice. We had a great relief last week when the ICJ passed the order for provisional measures. It is up to the court to decide what will be in future...As the court proceedings unfold, we will have to see what facts to submit to ICJ. It is up to the legal team which the government has assembled.

Also Read | Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Shiv Sena asks govt not to get over excited about ICJ verdict

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Coronation Street bosses and stars have paid tribute to actor Mark Eden after his death at the age of 92.

The soap star passed away peacefully in hospital on Friday January 1, after a battle with Alzheimer's, his agent has confirmed.

The actor - who was best known for playing TV villain Alan Bradley in Corrie from 1986 to 1989 - leaves behind his wife Sue Nicholls, 77, who still plays Audrey Roberts in the ITV soap.

Eden had been living with Alzheimer's disease 'for some time', and was hospitalised in November.

'We are hugely saddened': Coronation Street bosses shared a touching tribute to actor Mark Eden, who played Alan Bradley, on Instagram on Friday after the star's death at the age of 92

The show's bosses shared a tribute to Mark on Instagram after news of his death was reported on Friday, writing: We are all hugely saddened to hear that Mark Eden passed away peacefully, in hospital, earlier today.

Our love and thoughts go out to Sue and their family and friends at this time.

While soap star Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Metcalfe, posted a tribute to Eden on Instagram Stories, calling him a beautiful man and brilliant actor.

Edens on-screen daughter Sally Ann Matthews, who played Jenny, also remembered the star sharing the same snap and penning: I loved this man so much. Thank you for being the most wonderful TV dad, teacher and friend.

Eden played baddie Alan Bradley on the ITV soap in the 80s. His time on The Cobbles came to an end when his character was killed by a Blackpool tram.

Icon: Coronation Street fans will know Mark as baddie Alan Bradley who appeared on the ITV soap in the 80s (pictured with his on-screen daughter Jenny, played by Sally Ann Matthews)

A statement from his agent said: 'We are very sad to announce the death of actor Mark Eden.

'He died peacefully, in hospital, earlier today, January 1, 2021. Mark had been living with Alzheimer's disease for some time, and was hospitalised in November.

'Mark, 92, had a long career spanning more than 50 years, including eight years in Coronation Street as character Alan Bradley.

'He is survived by his wife Sue, his daughter Polly, his stepson Paul and grand-daughter Emma. We ask that their privacy be respected at this very difficult time.'

Remembering him: Fellow Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor also shared a snap of Eden as she penned 'beautiful man and brilliant actor RIP'

'I loved this man so much': Sally Ann Matthews who played Eden's on-screen daughter Jenny, shared the same black and white image and wrote:  Thank you for being the most wonderful TV dad, teacher and friend

Peaceful passing: The actor passed away peacefully in hospital on Friday, after a battle with Alzheimer's (pictured in 1960)

The death - which happened after he chased character Rita Fairclough - has become one of Corries most famous scenes and was watched by 21.4million viewers.

Mark, whose birth name was Douglas John Malin, was first married to his first wife Joan Long from 1953 until 1959.

The couple welcomed son David in 1957, but the actor, musician and composer tragically died in 2017.

Mark met his second wife, Diana Smith (who later used the stage name Diana Eden), in 1971 with the pair getting married two years later and going on to have a daughter named Polly.

Sad news: He leaves behind his wife Sue Nicholls, 77, who plays Audrey Roberts in the ITV soap (pictured together in 2016)

Long-term love: The actor tied the knot with third wife - and former Coronation Street co-star - Sue Nicholls in 1993 (pictured together in 1995)

The actor tied the knot with third wife - and former Coronation Street co-star - Sue Nicholls in 1993.

The London-born actor's autobiography, titled Who's Going To Look At You?, was published in 2010.

Sue, who doesn't have any children of her own, told The Mirror in October 2019: 'I met Mark late in life, I was nearly 40, so children just didn't happen.

Tributes: Soap fans also shared their sadness at news of Edens death, with one calling him the first super villain of Coronation Street

'As much as I'd have liked it, I didn't have a family to bring up and worry about maybe that's helped keep me young.

'I've never dwelled on it and I'm glad in a way because I probably wouldn't have been in the show all these years if I'd had children.

'It's probably why I love coming to work. I get my family here. I've got surrogate children and grandchildren.'

Although achieving great success during his acting career, Eden didnt have his first role until he was almost 30.

Widower: Sue doesn't have any children of her own, and said October 2019: 'I met Mark late in life, I was nearly 40, so children just didn't happen' (pictured together in August 1998)

He told the Daily Express in 2013: I contracted tuberculosis, spent two years in a sanatorium, worked on the fairgrounds, got married in fact, I was almost 30 by the time I joined Everyman Theatre Group in Ramsgate.

After appearing on the stage, Edens first on screen credit was for his part in in Quatermass And The Pit which came out in 1958.

As well as Coronation Street, Mark also appeared in TV series The Avengers before playing the role of Marco Polo Doctor Who in 1963. He then starred in 1965 film Doctor Zhivago.

In more recent years he had roles in TV shows Doctors and Casualty. His final on-screen title was TV movie An Adventure in Space and Time, where he played Donald Baverstock, in 2013.
1. Vietnam assumed both responsibilities - non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020  2021 and ASEAN Chair 2020.

Taking this dual role, Vietnam has left an impressive mark in terms of its proactive and positive contributions to the common work of the region and the world, thereby improving the countrys overall position in the international arena.

During the year Vietnam was ASEAN Chair, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement was signed following eight years of tough negotiations.

2. The European Union (EU)  Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) officially took effect on August 1, 2020, creating a strong impetus for the development of Vietnam - EU relations as well as having a positive impact on each economy. The agreement marked an important milestone in Vietnam's international integration process.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at a video conference on the action plan to implement the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU.

3. The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world, killing millions of people and pushing the global economy into its biggest recession since the 1929-1933 Great Depression. The world developed a keener a sense of solidarity in having to deal with this "invisible enemy", including intensive research for a vaccine against Covid-19, while trying to recover the economy following the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world.



4. The US and Taliban signed a historic peace agreement, paving the way in Afghanistan for a national dialogue moving towards an end to the bloody conflict that has lasted nearly 20 years and Washingtons withdrawal of troops from yet another South Asian battlefield. In addition to Afghanistan, the US called home a significant number of forces from Iraq.

The US and Taliban signed a historic peace agreement.



5. The UK and the European Union (EU) reached a post-Brexit trade agreement thanks to efforts to strengthen negotiations in order to resolve disagreements, avoiding negative impacts on commercial activity as the transition takes place, focusing instead on economic recovery.

The UK and the EU reached a post-Brexit trade agreement.



6. Democratic nominee Joe Biden was elected 46th president of the US following one of the longest and most expensive elections in history. The new head of the US administration will face numerous difficulties such as mending socio-political divisions, controlling the COVID-19 epidemic, restoring economic growth, reducing unemployment and settling the problem of immigrants.

Joe Biden (right) was elected 46th president of the US.

7. Iran-US tensions have escalated since January 3 after a US drone strike in Iraq killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of Irans elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGCs) Quds Force. The United Nations Security Council called on stakeholders to restrain and reduce stress and increase dialogue to seriously and fully implement the Iran nuclear deal, for peace and stability in the region.

The Iran-US tensions have escalated since January 3.



8. Israel signed agreements to normalise its ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco with the assistance of the US. These were "historic" steps to improve relations between the Jewish State and Arab countries, paving the way for the enhancement of cooperation across many fields.

Israel signed agreements to normalise its ties with several Arab countries under the presence of the US.



9. Libya's peace-seeking efforts have made important strides, with a long-term ceasefire agreement signed thanks to the mediation of the United Nations and the international community. The move paved the way for political dialogue, towards a general election to put Libya back on a stable trajectory following nearly ten years of civil war.

At the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum

10. Various disasters killed many people. A terrible explosion at a chemical warehouse in the port area of Beirut, Lebanon, on August 4 left more than 190 people dead and more than 6,000 injured. On January 8, the Iran army mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing 176 people. In addition, terrorist attacks in Europe, including a knife attack in France and shootings in Austria, raised concerns about a potential security threat.

The terrible explosion at a chemical warehouse in the port area of Beirut, Lebanon.
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Police arrested six family members, while the prime accused is at large. (Representative Image)

HYDERABAD: The Falaknuma police booked cases against a 57-year-old man for illegally marrying a 16-year-old girl and raping her in a lodge. The victims family got them married as a settlement for a pending debt.

Police arrested six family members, while the prime accused is at large.

According to police, the victim, a resident of Teegala Kunta in Falaknuma, was living with her aunt, Hoor Unnisa, after her mothers death a few years back.

Her father had remarried and was living in another part of the city. Earlier this month, Hoor conspired along with her husband Mir Farhathullah and son Mir Rahmatullah to marry the girl off to some rich person, for which they sought the help of two brokers, Mohammed Abdul Rahman and Waseem Khan. They found a man from Kerala, Abdul Lateef Paramban, who was willing to marry a young girl from the city and the marriage was finalized, said DCP of South Zone, Gajarao Bhupal.

As per their plan, they took the girl to the office of Qazi Mohammed Badiuddin Quadri at Malakpet on December 27 and solemnized the marriage by using forged documents despite the girl resisting the match.

After the police were alerted by the victims step-brother on December 28, Falaknuma police formed special teams and arrested all the six persons, including Quadri, while the groom fled from the lodge before the police could reach.

The Falaknuma police, who initially registered a case under various sections of Child Marriage Act 2006, later added Sections 120 B, 376 (2) (I) (N) and 420 of IPC and also Section 5 (N) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Efforts are on to arrest the prime accused and other absconding persons in the case, the DCP said.
Expressing solidarity with the agitating farmers in Delhi, the Kerala Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of the three contentious central laws, saying they were "anti-farmer" and "pro-corporate" and would push the farming community into a deep crisis.

In a rare gesture, not only the legislators of the ruling CPI(M)-headed LDF and Congress-led UDF, but the lone BJP member in the 140-member state Assembly, O Rajagopal, also supported the resolution against the Centre, saying "it is the democratic spirit."

However, Rajagopal opposed some of the references in the resolution, which was presented in a nearly two-hour-long special session convened in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the central laws have been amended to help the corporates.

The Centre had presented and passed the three agriculture laws in Parliament at a time when the agriculture sector was facing a severe crisis, he said.

"The three contentious agri laws were passed even without sending them to the standing committee of Parliament. If this agitation continues, it will severely affect Kerala, which is a consumer state," he said.

Stating that the reforms in the field of agriculture should be implemented as carefully envisioned, he said with the implementation of the laws, the bargaining power of farmers would be weakened, giving an advantage to the corporate sector.

The laws did not have any provision to ensure legal protection for farmers, Vijayan said adding that they do not have the capacity to wage a legal battle with the corporates for this.

It was clear that the major cause of the agitation was the possible price drop for agriculture products due to these laws, he added.

As agriculture is the state subject and it is an issue which directly affects the states, the Union Government should have convened the meetings of the inter-state committees and held detailed consultations, he said.

"So, the Kerala Assembly requests the Centre to accept the justifiable demands raised by farmers, who are the backbone of the country, and take immediate steps to withdraw the three controversial farm laws," the Chief Minister added.

The session was held after Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had in an unprecedented action earlier turned down the plea of the LDF government to convene a special session on December 23 to discuss the contentious laws saying Chief Minister Vijayan had not addressed the question raised by him on the nature of emergency warranting the very brief session.

Law Minister A K Balan and Agricultural Minister V S Sunil Kumar, had met Khan on Friday last after the state government decided afresh to convene a one day session on December 31 to discuss and pass a resolution against the farm laws.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who is in quarantine after recovering from COVID-19, was not present in the House.

In his reply,senior congress leader K C Joseph (Congress) attacked the Governor for not convening the house on December 23.

Joseph said though the Governor's act was a challenge to democracyas a recommendation of a majority government had not been accepted, "what surprised us was the cold response of the government to the Governor's action".

Two ministers were then sent with Christmas cake to the Raj Bhavan and they pleaded before the Governor to convene the session, he charged.

Joseph said the controversial laws were passed by the Centre 100 days ago and some state governments, including Punjab, had already passed a resolution against it and brought in a legislation.

The state government should have brought in legislation and passed a resolution, he said adding the three laws were unconstitutional and against the federal structure as states were not consulted.

Raising objections, the BJP legislator, Rajagopal said those who oppose the central laws were the ones who oppose farmers.

"The Congress had mentioned this law in their election manifesto before. The new law is meant to double the income of farmers," he said during the discussion.

However, he did not object to it when the Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan put the resolution for voice vote.

"The resolution was passed unanimously. I have told my views... with regard to some matters (in the resolution) there was a difference of opinion, which I had pointed to in the House. I fully support the resolution," Rajagopal told media persons after the session.

When pointed again that the resolution was for scrapping the three central farm laws, Rajagopal said he supported it (resolution).

"I supported the resolution and the central government should withdraw the three farm laws," the senior BJP leader said, adding he agreed with the general consensus in the House.

Though the UDF demanded an amendment to the resolution strongly criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was allegedly not ready to hold talks with the agitating farmers, the House rejected it.

Replying to the opposition charges, the Chief Minister said there was enough reference in the resolution against the union government, which was against the Prime Minister also.

Vijayan also said the state was exploring possibilities to bring legislation to overcome the central farm laws.
Four more people have tested positive for the UK coronavirus variant in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on January 1.

In India, a total of 29 people have tested positive for the SARS-COV-2 variant so far, which is believed to have a higher rate of transmission.

Also read: Preparation and training for COVID-19 vaccination being done on 'war-footing', says Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Samples of the UK returnees who tested positive for COVID-19 were sent to 10 laboratories. Flights from the UK to India are currently suspended till January 7 to prevent the spread of the virus mutation.

So far there is no evidence to suggest that the new strain causes more severe illness.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The new SARS-CoV-2 variant could be as much as 70 percent more transmissible, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

The government on December 29 said current vaccine candidates that are in the pipeline will work against the new variant as well.

Several countries have reported cases of the UK variant, such as US, Japan, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and Canada.
More than 2,000 victims of domestic violence in Northern Ireland sought court orders to protect themselves from their abusers this year, while 600 were made homeless, new figures show.

Non-molestation orders are a special kind of injunction that can be obtained by victims of domestic abuse to prevent any violence or harassment against them or their children.

A Freedom of Information request by the Belfast Telegraph showed that between April to September this year, 2,152 applications were made.

This represents an 8% increase from the same period last year when 1,998 applications were made.

Figures for applications over the last decade were also revealed in a written question by Green Party MLA Rachel Woods to Justice Minister Naomi Long.

From 2010 to 2019, a total of 52,681 applications for non-molestation and occupation orders (which set out who has a right to live in the family home) were made, of which 45,090 were granted.

The numbers of applications for both orders during this period has steadily decreased, with 4,876 applications granted out of 6,069 in 2010, to 3,527 out of 3,959 granted in 2019.

Ms Woods said it was an encouraging sign that more people were seeking help via non-molestation orders this year, but the true picture was likely to be far worse.

"We know that there are many people out there who suffer, including from domestic abuse, and are not in a place where they take help and support on board," she said.

"The data we have doesn't even scratch the surface of the reality that many are facing.

"There has been a surge of domestic abuse incidents during 2020 and we know that lockdown means increased risk for victims of domestic abuse."

She added: "Non-molestation orders can be useful for people affected by domestic abuse, so I would hope that the rise in orders continues as more people help seek help.

"More generally, we need to do everything possible to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and any type of harassment. If you are at risk of abuse or are a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out. Please make a call or contact someone.

"Contact the amazing support organisations that are there, be it the police, a health professional or your GP, or somebody whom you trust. If it is an emergency, please call 999. Please do not continue to suffer in silence."

In another written question to the Communities Minister from SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly, it also emerged that around 600 people were left homeless due to domestic violence during a six month period this year.

Between April 1 to September 30, there was an increase in those presenting as homeless because of domestic violence - up from 620 to 668 during the same period in 2019.

Of these, there were 594 acceptances, increasing from 589 the previous year.

In terms of resources, the Housing Executive funds 134 units in 13 Women's Aid Refuges at a cost of just under 2.6m a year. Further resources of an additional 1,173 units of floating support are also provided at a cost of just over 1.8m.

Belfast & Lisburn Women's Aid (BLWA) at Ulsterville Avenue operates as an 'emergency crash pad' which can be used for 24 hours before women and their families are moved on to more suitable accommodation.

During the Covid-19 lockdown period, this facility remained opened for referrals and the length of stay was doubled to 48 hours.

'Crash pads' are now operating in Belfast, Ballymena and Foyle with each supported by each corresponding Women's Aid organisation.

In response to Covid-19 cost pressures faced by Supporting People service providers, an extra 10m in funding was secured from the Executive.

In addition, 400,000 has been allocated to Foyle Women's Aid as a contribution to the development of the Family Justice Centre.

The Department of Health provided Women's Aid with an extra 60,000 for an initial care package for families experiencing domestic abuse.

Advice and support is also available from the 24 hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414, which is government funded and run by Nexus.
James, 11, was reunited with his emotional father at London's Heathrow Airport

He was taken to an orphanage in 2017 after he refused to live with his mother

His father, Charles, 42, is fighting to win back custody of his two other children

A father had been reunited with his son after the schoolboy was trapped in a Dubai orphanage for over a year while his parents fought over who had custody of him.

The boy's father Charles said being able to hug 11-year-old son James was the 'best present ever' after a complex legal battle with his French ex-wife was finally settled.

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The emotional moment when the boy ran into his father's arms at London's Heathrow Airport was caught on camera by his delighted family.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Charles, 42, said: 'Words cannot describe what it feels like to have my son back home with me.

Charles has been reunited with his son James after three years apart. James, 11, has been living in an orphanage since 2017 after refusing to live with his mother

Charles, 42, said: 'Words cannot describe what it feels like to have my son back home with me'

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'The custody battle has cost me over 500,000 and at times my sanity, but I was never going to give up on my son.

'It is such a relief that I have him home with me and we can try and re-build our lives. This should never have taken so long but for the lies told by my ex-wife.'

James's ordeal began in August 2017, when, then aged nine, he was unwittingly used as a pawn in his parents' bitter custody battle.

Living with his father in Dubai after his parents' divorce in 2015, a court in France awarded his 37-year-old mother full custody of the boy.

The father and son were torn apart in 2017 after a court in France awarded full custody to James' mother

But when French officials arrived in Dubai to take him back, James refused to get on the plane because he was fearful of his mother.

As the two warring parents battled it out, he was taken to an orphanage 'with only the clothes he stood in' where he languished for a year.

Following a drawn out three-year fight spanning three countries this month, another French court overruled the original decision and gave Charles full custody of his son.

After their emotional meeting, James told MailOnline: 'I am super happy. This is the most relaxed I have been for years. Now I am really excited and looking forward to the New Year with my dad.'

Charles, from Northumberland, England, said: 'James was adamant that he did not want to live with his mother, and I was not going to send him back. He was scared of her.'

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Charles added: 'I would have gone to prison for my son, but I would not have been any use to him there.

'James had made it very clear that he did not want to live with his mother and the authorities in Dubai refused to force him to live with her.

'My ex-wife was so vindictive that she let him stay alone in an orphanage rather than be with me. It is unreal how she could do that to her son but showed the sort of person she was.'

James has returned to Britain after a three-year custody battle

A French court has overruled its previous decision to award custody of James to his mother

James was eventually placed with a foster couple and in July flew back to the UK after his mother told him he would be allowed to stay with his father.

But instead, her lawyers went to the Family Division of the High Court in London and they enforced the French ruling that she had custody and he was taken to France.

Charles and James were reunited at London's Heathrow Airport, before returning to the family home in Northumberland

Charles said: 'The courts would not listen. They would also not listen to James. His views were never taken into consideration.

James was kept in the psychiatric wing of the Arles hospital near Marseille while social workers reviewed his case.

In her interview, James' mother admitted that she 'beats' her children because it was accepted in her culture.

James told social workers he feared her and only wanted to live with his father.

In awarding Charles custody, the judge said James had been a 'powerless onlooker of a chaotic family story in which his deep needs have never been heard.'

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Meanwhile Charles, who, after the ruling, met James at the airport and whisked him back to the family home in Northumbertland, blasted the lack of support from the British social services.

Despite having his son home, Charles has yet to see his two other children who live with their mother in France

'James was tricked into the taking the flight and was expecting to be me,' he said.

'Instead he was held for 12 hours and even though I was at the airport not allowed to see him.

'He was put into a foster home for three days and then three people from a specialist company took him to France.

'If the authorities had listened to James and allowed him to have a voice then this might not have taken so long.

'My ex-wife lied and lied to the courts and they believed her. I have only my son's interests at heart.'

'He is still very fragile from the trauma of what has happened to him in the last couple of years, but he is getting better all the time,' he said.

Despite having his son home, Charles has yet to see his two other children who live with their mother in France.

'I have had no contact with them for almost two years. My fight to see them will continue, he added.

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Charles's lawyer Toby Cadman said: 'This has been an incredibly long battle for Charles, and I am delighted that he has been reunited with his son.'
Camilla has already championed the cause of literacy, making it a cornerstone of her royal work.

Now the Duchess of Cornwall is following in the footsteps of TV couple Richard and Judy by setting up a book club.

Avid reader Camilla, 73, will unveil her new venture  a royal first  on Instagram this month with four recommended books she has chosen.

The Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room will be a 'celebration of literature' and, she hopes, a hub for literary communities around the world.

The Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room will be a 'celebration of literature' and, she hopes, a hub for literary communities around the world

The titles in her first Winter Season are being kept under wraps until January 15. New books will be added each season.

She has previously highlighted favourite books by authors including William Boyd, Charles Dickens, Susan Hill and Philip Pullman.

Camilla was inspired to set up the free initiative as a result of the phenomenal response to two suggested reading lists she published during lockdown.

She also took heart from research which showed book sales soared by 400 per cent in the spring lockdown.

The royal decided to set up a more permanent platform to celebrate and explore literature from around the world with @duchessofcornwallsreadingroom and, say sources, has put her 'heart and soul' into the venture.

Each recommended book will be accompanied by exclusive content from the authors, as well as the royal herself, to spark conversation and debate.

Charlie Mackesy, author and illustrator of best-seller The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, has leant his support to the project (pictured during a video call with the Duchess)

Author Charlie Mackesy penned a letter, complete with his signature drawings, to a delighted Camilla

Since joining the Royal Family with her wedding to Prince Charles in 2005, Camilla has made the issue of literacy  particularly among children  central to her work and is patron of seven charities including the National Literacy Trust and First Story.

A royal source said Camilla hoped the new reading room will 'encourage all ages and levels of reader to pick up a book  that it will spread awareness of the emotional, social and educational benefits of reading. But also, fundamentally, that it creates an opportunity for connection, engagement and discourse with and about authors and books around the world.

'That is as important to her as recommending any particular title herself. Ultimately, though, her hope is that this should put more books into the hands of more people.'

Through the National Literacy Trust, the Reading Room has already linked up with libraries across the UK to ensure the featured titles are available free for as many people as possible.

Camilla, who describes herself as a 'voracious' reader, said last year: 'There is no friend as loyal as a book'  a quote from US author Ernest Hemingway.

Camilla, pictured in January last year, at a library where she read to a group of school children as part of her work as a patron of the National Literacy Trust

Launching her earlier reading lists, she said: 'In these challenging times when we are isolated from the ones we love, many of us are finding comfort in reading, to fire up our imaginations, to take us on journeys and to make us laugh.'

Charlie Mackesy, author and illustrator of best-seller The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, has leant his support to the project, writing a letter, complete with his signature drawings, to a delighted Camilla.

In a video call between the two, excerpts of which are published today, Camilla said of Mackesy's work: 'It's lovely. I adore it.'

At the height of the pandemic last Easter, the Duchess shared a reading list which included A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and Travels On My Elephant by Mark Shand, which is about her late brother.

She followed up with her summer 'must-reads' which featured a selection of bestsellers across mystery, classics and contemporary works.

'I am delighted to share a few more of my favourite books. At present, it might be ambitious to describe them as "beach reads", but I very much hope they provide a welcome bit of escapism,' Camilla said.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, Girl by Edna OBrien, The Roy Grace series by Peter James, The Queens Necklace by Alexandra Dumas and The Island by Victoria Hislop all made the list.
Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami says politicians need to help reduce public uncertainty and fear over the coronavirus and gain peoples support by speaking sincerely about the pandemic.

Murakami, in a two-hour live New Years Eve radio show, urged political leaders to talk honestly from the gut to the people to encourage their participation in slowing an upsurge in infections, which are on the verge of getting out of control.

His comments came hours after Japans capital announced its new daily cases soared to a record 1,337 on Thursday, up sharply from the previous high of 949 on December 26.

I think an essential problem with the coronavirus is our uncertain future, which is triggering a sense of fear, anger and escapism among people, which I think is the biggest danger, Murakami said in a conversation with one of two guests, Nobel physiology prize winner Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University.

It would be difficult for the people to squarely cooperate with the (anti-virus) measures when politicians are not communicating with messages in words that can reach peoples hearts, Murakami said, without identifying any politician by name.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, have been criticized for reading carefully scripted statements prepared by bureaucrats at news conferences, often repeating the same phrases in response to questions asked by reporters.

Japan so far has avoided an explosive growth in infections, but its recent upsurge has many people worried.

Suga took few pandemic measures until mid-December, when he suspended a state-funded discount travel promotion campaign. He has also been criticized for joining a steak dinner for eight people when the government advised against parties of more than five.

Known for bestsellers such as A Wild Sheep Chase, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and 1Q84, Murakami said during the show that issues raised by the coronavirus seem to be part of developments such as globalism, climate change, rise of populism and widening social disparity.

Murakami has hosted Murakami Radio shows almost every two months since August 2018 on Tokyo FM. Thursdays program was his first live show. In May, he hosted a pre-recorded show from his home to cheer up people who were under stress during a state of emergency in place in parts of Japan, including Tokyo.

Murakami began writing while running a jazz bar in Tokyo after graduating from university. Following his 1979 debut novel Hear the Wind Sing, the 1987 romance Norwegian Wood became his first bestseller, establishing him as a young literary star.

He has written stories inspired by events that have shaken society, including the 1995 Tokyo subway gassing attack by an apocalyptic cult and a deadly earthquake in Kobe, where he grew up.
What distinguishes Modi regime is its complete disregard of popular opposition, its ruthlessness and eagerness to exploit every opportunity



In essence this is what the MS Swaminathan Commission of 2004-06 advocated. Besides recommending that the MSP should be 50% above the production cost, it called for assured and remunerative market opportunities, and an agricultural produce market within a 5 km radius. However, as soon as the threat of mass starvation due to insufficient grain production was overcome, Indian state did not extend such measures to other parts of the country.

Farmers in most of the country were deprived of one set of policies which had helped stabilize increased productivity in the north-western part of the country. Despite high yields in Punjab, the average crop yields in India are about half of those in China, where family farms are even smaller than in India. Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia -- all these countries have higher yields than India.

A common argument against the MSP and the existing pattern of grain procurement is that godowns of government owned FCI are over flowing with grains. This is also used to show that India is self-sufficient in agricultural production. This is a complete lie. The most recent family health survey has shown that close to one third Indian children are malnourished, underweight and stunted. Food godowns in India are overflowing because the Indian government does not care if a significant proportion of Indians, including children, go hungry every day.

At the minimum, India needs to produce double the quantity of grains it produces now to properly feed its people.Public expenditure in agricultural infrastructure, and assured markets and prices to incentivize production are urgently needed to fulfil this dire need. Both positive and negative lessons from the institutional arrangements which expanded grain production in the north-west of India need to be learnt, and their successes replicated in other parts of the country.

Modi regimes farm laws are meant to precisely undo these institutional arrangements. Their aim is to create a completely unregulated private market in agricultural products in which big capitalists with deep pockets have a free run at the cost of Indian peasantry. It should be noted that at present only about one fourth of the agricultural produce is routed through state regulated mandis, and receives some form of MSP. However, this is the most productive sector of Indian agriculture.

Most of the trade in agricultural produce in other parts of the country is already in private hands.Free markets in farm produce here have done no wonders to increase farm income and productivity. Big capital is not much interested in these markets. How much profit they can extract from an already squeezed peasantry, which barely survives at subsistence level! Their target are the most productive sectors of Indian agriculture.

Modi government is committed to fulfill monopoly capitalist greed. Its farm laws are tailor made for this purpose. These laws create a favourable terrain for private trade, as it will be free from any public regulation, and would not pay any transaction fees and local taxes. Any dispute between farmers and traders/capitalists will be settled at the level of corrupt lower bureaucracy with judicial recourse available only at the level of high courts and supreme court. How many farmers can afford this?

The first mantra of the neoliberal fascist agenda of Indian rulers is private loot at the expense of public welfare. In the pursuit of this aim, if the relatively successful parts of the economy, like the highly productive farming sector in the north-west of the country, need to be destroyed, so be it. Modi regime is the most aggressive and violent agent of Corporate houses. It has no public morality. It shamelessly spreads lies, and tries to divide people. Indian farmers have seen through its dirty game.

However, it will also be suicidal to overlook this regimes social base. All economically, socially and culturally privileged strata of Indian society, urban svarna castes, and richer classes of the society are behind the union of Hindutva, neoliberalism and centralized authoritarianism forged by this regime. Enough Indians have bought into Hindutva fascist fold to see violence against minorities, degeneration of institutions of governance, and declining economy as normal state of affairs. They are ready to clap for all vainglorious follies of the leader, even while they end up suffering due to his misdeeds.

India is fast sliding towards fascism. Popular mobilisations of farmers, workers, youth, students and enlightened citizenry are urgently needed all over India to stop and reverse this slide. As the history of Germany and Italy shows, once societies get stuck in fascist trap, they come out of it only after wholesale disaster. Will farmers agitation enlighten further resistance to neoliberalism, Hindutva and the Modi regime? Or, will it prove to be a temporary flare in the road to darkness?

All left-progressive organisations, democratic forces and citizens of India should come out in support of the ongoing farmers protest against agrarian laws and authoritarian rule of the Modi government. This is the moment to forge a practical unity of organized and unorganised working class, peasantry, youth and democratic citizenry. Modi regime represents the most reactionary, anti-people fascist forces in Indian society. Only such a unity with socialist goal can defeat these forces and take Indians towards a democratic and prosperous future.

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*President of Progressive Organization of People (POP) Availability of grains per capita in India is about 180 kg. In Bangladesh it is 200kg. It is 450 kg in China, and 1100 kg in the US. In the global hunger index for 2019 India was ranked at 102 among a total of 117 countries. All countries of South Asia barring Afghanistan are better able to feed their people than India. Citizens of Nepal (rank 73) Bangladesh (rank 88) and Pakistan (rank 94) are better fed than Indians. Investment in rural infrastructure, regularisation of agricultural markets, minimum support prices, institutional credit and input subsidies were some of the measures taken by the Indian state after independence to stabilize peasant economy and make farming sufficiently remunerative so that agricultural production could increase. These measures were concentrated in the north-western part of the country comprising Punjab and Haryana and were restricted to essential grains like wheat and paddy. Ideally these measures should have been extended to all crops, all over India.In essence this is what the MS Swaminathan Commission of 2004-06 advocated. Besides recommending that the MSP should be 50% above the production cost, it called for assured and remunerative market opportunities, and an agricultural produce market within a 5 km radius. However, as soon as the threat of mass starvation due to insufficient grain production was overcome, Indian state did not extend such measures to other parts of the country.Farmers in most of the country were deprived of one set of policies which had helped stabilize increased productivity in the north-western part of the country. Despite high yields in Punjab, the average crop yields in India are about half of those in China, where family farms are even smaller than in India. Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia -- all these countries have higher yields than India.A common argument against the MSP and the existing pattern of grain procurement is that godowns of government owned FCI are over flowing with grains. This is also used to show that India is self-sufficient in agricultural production. This is a complete lie.

Farmers agitation against the three agrarian laws of the Modi government has snowballed into a major political challenge to the regime. When important institutions of the state like the parliament, and the criminal justice system including judiciary have been systematically hollowed out, and opposition political parties are falling to regimes moneybags and threats, it is important that large sections of the rural people of India have taken a stand, and are standing as bulwark against governments transgressions.Modi government has been monumentally shameless, perfidious and vindictive in its aggression. When the ordinary people of the country were suffering from corona epidemic, economic downturn and unemployment, this government found the moment opportune to force the three agrarian laws on Indian peasantry. It did the same with labor laws.In its arrogance, it thought that suffering people will fail to organize protests, and even if they do, its police will be able to contain them through brute force. Police of BJP ruled sates of Haryana and UP did try that. They erected concrete barricades, dug up roads, used water cannon and tear gas to stop farmers from marching towards the national capital.However, the brave farmers of India, particularly form the northern state of Punjab and Haryana, have shown that the political machinations and aggression of even the most authoritarian rulers cannot break the will of the people. Now, when farmers have blocked important entry points to the national capital, the regime, its godi media, and digital goondas are following their time tested dirty tricks and spreading falsehoods against protesting farmers.Their communal mouth-pieces have tried to brand protestors from Punjab as Khalistanis. Simultaneously regimes mercenary intellectuals are trying to argue that protests are limited to pampered rich farmers who do not want to lose state subsidies on MSPs, fertilizers and electricity bills. Against such dirty politics of the regime stands the solidarity of farmers, and their will to struggle for what is rightfully theirs.The significance of farmers struggle actually goes beyond opposition to the three agrarian laws of Modi regime. These laws are motivated by the neo-liberal agenda of the Indian ruling establishment, which has been followed by all governments in the past three decades. What distinguishes Modi regime is its complete disregard of popular opposition, its ruthlessness and eagerness to exploit every opportunity.While earlier governments had to negotiate this agenda politically, the electoral successes of Modi governments hatred-filled Hindutva politics have meant that it sees no need for such negotiations. It has reduced parliament to a rubber stamp. It has torn the federal structure of the Indian state to bits. It has used central government agencies to target state governments, passed laws like the three farm laws which violate the constitutional division of legislative powers between center and states, and broken up and turned the state of Jammu and Kashmir into union territories without the consent of its assembly.A pliant judiciary has greatly helped it in these misdemeanours. Modi regime is the union of three most anti-people currents of Indian politics and economy. Authoritarian centralization of state power, revanchist nationalism and communalism, and neo-liberal crony capitalism are its three planks. Farmers protest hits at all the three. These are a direct challenge to the hold of a pro-corporate cabal on state economic policy. Hundreds of thousands of farmers sitting on national highways for three weeks in biting cold have shown that popular mobilizations relying on the organized strength of people at large, and under principled leadership can successfully counter authoritarian state power. The failure of regime propaganda against protestors shows that Indians are not buying every fascist falsehood.Neo-liberalism is the class attack of the rich and the privileged against working people, and it works at diverse levels. Its first target is economic functions of the state, which are used to weaken the bargaining power of working people. Reforms, deregulation,market freedom etc. are ideological tools to confuse people.Hired intellectuals and establishment media retail these notions to cover up the way neo-liberal economic policies strengthen the rich, and dis-empower the poor. Markets provide freedom to sell and buy. However, buyers and sellers enter market along with their already endowed economic and social power. There cannot be any equality between a wage worker who has to sell his/her capacity to work to survive, and a fat capitalist who buys labour power for the sake of earning more profit.A small farmer has little equality in market dealings with big corporations which deal with thousands of farmers, and hence have the real freedom to pick and choose. Since the private freedom to buy and sell has an inbuilt bias towards the powerful, the latter want it to remain a private affair. On the other hand, the weaker parties in market have always tried to put out their conditions of subjugation into the public domain.Protests, marches, strikes, or riots are diverse ways through which the weak try to bring their condition in the public domain, so that the public authority is forced to take remedial measures. Laws for minimum wage, workers safety, trade union organizing, and market regulation, and against child labour, and alienation of land from peasants are different policies that people who otherwise are at the mercy of the bigger fish infree market, have forced state to undertake.Farming for market is an especially precarious activity.Production is linked with plant life cycles and weather. Any disruption in either of the two can play havoc with production.Demand for agricultural produce on the other hand is inelastic. Demand for food cannot be satisfied by any other product, nor can excess agricultural production be consumed in alternate ways. Prices crash even with little over production, while they sky rocket at the whiff of a shortage.Hoarders, traders, stockists and speculators regularly make a killing in agricultural commodities markets. Marginal, small and middle farmers, who use their own and their family labour in production, are caught in the cycle of crop to crop debt. They have no capacity to hold their produce, and are at the receiving end of market forces, both when production is good, as well as when it is bad.Pauperisation is an ever present danger. Agrarian distress has broken millions of farmers in capitalist India. Finding no way out, many have committed suicide.Even the colonial government thought it better to intervene in agrarian economy. It passed laws to stop dispossession of peasant land by money lenders and traders.

The nation's biggest business groups have lashed state and territory governments for shutting down interstate travel, saying the reaction to the latest coronavirus outbreak has been disproportionate and will leave entire industries failing without more federal support.

The Australian Industry Group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a range of tourism groups are warning the closing of the borders by the Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian governments to all of NSW risks damaging business confidence and leaving multibillion dollar industries in tatters.

Border closures and travel restrictions in response to Sydney's coronavirus outbreak have caused headaches for travellers. Credit:John Russell

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said borders were being shut "at the drop of a hat".

"Our economy can't succeed without open borders and the more they are shut without thought to the broader consequences, the bigger the hit to business confidence and the longer our recovery will take," Mr Willox said.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 1, 2021 - 11:34 | All, Japan, World

A post-Brexit trade deal between Japan and the United Kingdom came into force Friday, ensuring business continuity and strengthening the bilateral relationship as London seeks to join the larger Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.

The two countries signed the FTA in October as the existing Japan-European Union trade pact ceased to cover the United Kingdom on Thursday, the end of the transition period following the country's exit from the European Union in January 2020.

The lack of an agreement could have resulted in impositions of higher tariffs by both countries on bilateral trade.

The deal largely duplicates the Japan-EU FTA, including gradual elimination of British tariffs on Japanese cars by 2026 and immediate removal of its duties on most Japanese agricultural goods such as beef and tea.

Under the pact, Japan did not set new preferential treatment for British agricultural imports, although the issue was a major sticking point in their four months of negotiations through October.

Rules on e-commerce and financial services set in the Japan-Britain deal have become more ambitious than in the Japan-EU pact, including a prohibition on governments requesting businesses to disclose algorithms used in artificial intelligence technology and encryption data.

London said the deal with Tokyo, the United Kingdom's first trade pact with a major economy after its departure from the European Union, is a major stepping stone in its aspiration to join the TPP, a regional FTA formerly called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The partnership involves 11 countries such as Japan, Australia, Canada and Vietnam.

Related coverage:

U.K., EU strike trade deal to likely relief of Japan carmakers

Toyota to pause plants in Britain, France amid new virus strain fears

Japan, U.K. sign post-Brexit free trade agreement
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The San Antonio Spurs will continue playing without fans in stands as COVID-19 trends worsen in the city.

The team released an official statement regarding the situation in San Antonio.

While we are confident in the plans and protocols we have in place, we are uncomfortable hosting fans at this moment as the COVID-19 numbers and data in our community continue to trend in the wrong direction.

Today we announced well continue to play without fans at the @attcenter. We miss you #SpursFamily and cant wait until youre back at our home with us.



MORE: https://t.co/dJVyAKwUIj pic.twitter.com/lwr3QvfLO2  San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 28, 2020

The Spurs news release did not reveal when the team planned to starts allowing fans back in the stadium.

KSAT reported the current COVID-19 trends are similar to the summer surge in San Antonio when reopening phases had to be paused due to the virus spread across the state of Texas.

Despite dealing with similar situations, the Houston Rockets are allowing fans into the Toyota Center on a limited basis.
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Marc Ching runs the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation in Sherman Oaks

A bombshell report from the LA Times details allegations that he exaggerated the injuries of rescue animals

Ching claimed an animal that went on to become a poster dog for his firm and had an animal rights bill named after it was sodomized

The owner of Riley the dog said two vets said this was false

One of the vets who examined the dog said she told Ching at the time that there was no evidence of such an assault but the charity continued to push the story

Ching is also accused of falsely claiming rescued dogs had been saved from the meat trade in Thailand - claims refuted by a Thai rescue center

Under Californian law, charities are banned from engaging in deceptive fundraising practices

Hollywood's favorite animal welfare activist Marc Ching has been accused by named vets and pet rescue workers of exaggerating dogs' injuries to raise more money for his shelter.

Ching, who runs the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation in Sherman Oaks, California, allegedly made several false claims including that rescued dogs had been saved from the meat trade when they were actually injured in road accidents, according to a bombshell report from the Los Angeles Times.

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In another alleged incident, Ching claimed an animal that went on to become a poster dog for his firm and had an animal rights bill named after it was sodomized but vets examinations found no evidence of such an assault.

Under Californian law, charities are banned from engaging in deceptive fundraising practices.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation and its attorney Russell Selmont for comment.

Hollywood's favorite animal welfare activist Marc Ching has been accused by named vets and pet rescue workers of exaggerating dogs' injuries to raise more money for his shelter

Sedna Moseley, who became the foster owner of a rescue pit bull mix named Riley in 2017, told the Times Ching claimed in a Facebook post for the charity that as well as having his face burned with acid and being abandoned by a San Bernardino school, the dog had been sodomized.

'He was burned with acid. Sodimized. Jaw shattered and broken in separate places,' reads the Facebook post from August 2017.

The story achieved national attention and led to the introduction of animal cruelty bill 'Riley's Law' supported by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian.

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Moseley, who worked as a veterinarian technician at Loma Linda Animal Hospital at the time, said examinations by two separate vets showed the sodomy claims to be false.

One of the vets, Natalia Soto, from Studio City, told the Times she had examined Riley and told the charity the sodomy claims were incorrect but it continued to push the story on social media.

'I told them I never found any evidence that that happened,' she said.

Medical records for the puppy, who died from injuries related to its abuse in January, also show no mention of rectal trauma, according to the Times.

Ching claimed Riley (above) - who went on to become a poster dog for his firm and had an animal rights bill named after him - was sodomized but vet examinations found no evidence of such an assault

Sedna Moseley, who became the foster owner of Riley in 2017, said 'he used my dog to make money'

'Marc didn't need to make up anything extra - the truth was more than horrifying,' Moseley told the Times.

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'He used my dog to make money.'

Both Moseley and Lydia Savala, the owner of local rescue charity Poochmatch who first took the dog to the hospital for treatment before Ching stepped in, claimed Ching told them the violent abuse was the result of a gang initiation.

Ching's lawyer Selmont told the Times the charity had been told of the sodomy by the owner of a local animal rights group who handed Riley to the shelter.

The woman, who has not been identified, told the outlet she was told the dog had suffered rectal trauma by a vet but could not recall the name of the vet or veterinary hospital.

Selmont also said Soto had examined the 'many days or weeks' after the dog was rescued meaning Riley's injuries had healed.

Medical records seen by the Times show the examination was eight days after Riley's rescue.

The charity has also been accused of falsely claiming in a 2016 social media post that eight dogs rescued from Thailand were saved from the meat trade and that one had its limbs cut off in a slaughterhouse.

John Dalley, head of Thailand-based Soi Dog Foundation which gave Animal Hope and Wellness the animals, told the Times he had told Ching none of the animals were from the meat trade.

He said Ching was given a history of each animal with most having been injured in road traffic accidents.

The charity has also been accused of falsely claiming in a 2016 social media post that eight dogs rescued from Thailand were saved from the meat trade and that one had its limbs cut off in a slaughterhouse

The Facebook post still online shows Ching posing with eight dog cages in an airport (above) writing alongside it: 'To hope, and to healing. We are coming home. #MarcChing and eight #DogsFromTheMeatTrade'

The Facebook post still online shows Ching posing with eight dog cages in an airport writing alongside it: 'To hope, and to healing. We are coming home. #MarcChing and eight #DogsFromTheMeatTrade.'

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The charity's attorney told the Times the claim about the animal with its limbs cut off was 'an unfortunate but honest mistake' by the charity's former executive director Valarie Ianniello.

Ianniello, who has previously filed a complaint to the California attorney general claiming the charity was making misleading claims in soliciting donations, told The Times she wrote the social media post based on what Ching told her.

The ex top charity exec claimed she came to realize many of Ching's stories about the rescue dogs were 'created'.

She recalled one allegedly false tale of a puppy that had been raped with a beer bottle.

Selmont told the Times the charity had been given the information from a group that handed the dog to the shelter and that the group has since maintained the details are true.

Ching has made a name for himself as an animal crusader after claiming he was attacked and had the barrel of a machine-gun put in his mouth in a series of dog rescue missions across countries including China, South Korea and Indonesia.

Ching has made a name for himself as an animal crusader after claiming he had the barrel of a machine-gun put in his mouth in a series of dog rescue missions across countries including China, South Korea and Indonesia. Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation above

He enlisted several Hollywood stars for campaigns including a 2016 campaign appeal featuring Matt Damon, Joaquin Phoenix and Minnie Driver to stop China's dog meat trade.

A separate investigation by the Times reported that Indonesia butchers featured in the video were paid by Ching to hang a dog and burn it alive for the footage.

It also raised questions about $350,000 spent by the charity on trips to different countries.

Ching has denied the allegations and a statement on the foundation's website says that the board carried out an internal review which found 'no evidence of financial wrongdoing and no evidence of Marc paying for torture that would otherwise not occur'.

The latest claims come three months after Los Angeles prosecutors charged Ching with seven counts, including practicing veterinary medicine without a license and false advertising, over allegations he convinced pet owners to give their animals products from his store the Petstaurant instead of prescribed treatments from vets.

Ching is due to appear in court on the charges in March.

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This came after he reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission in July after he was accused of making false or deceptive claims that some of his products could treat COVID-19 and cancer.
Skymaster 56498 served in WW2's Pacific theatre and flew in vital supplies for Vietnam and Korea conflicts

It was also used to repatriate British Prisoners of War from Japanese concentration camps in 1946

Had several other lives as a protecting California against wildfires and as an airshow performance aircraft

Allan Vogel rescued the plane from a scrapyard in 2017 and embarked on a 1million restoration project

In the winter of 1946, Skymaster 56498 soared over the midwest plains of the United States as it neared the end of a 6,000-mile journey, carrying a very precious cargo.

On board were dozens of British prisoners of war being repatriated from the battlefields of World War Two after the allied victory over Imperial Japan.

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And now it is saving British servicemen again - as former members of the armed forces find camaraderie and new skills as they work to restore the aircraft to its former glory.

At the forefront of technological innovation at the time, the Skymaster's 4,000-mile range regularly took it from US airforce bases in the Pacific Theatre to the Californian coast, and occasionally on to Delaware, where troops could be brought back home to the UK by ship.

Today, the very same Douglas C-54 type aircraft finds itself on British soil; somewhat more rusted in its 75th year, and facing a 1 million restoration project to see it take to the skies once again.

It is one of only a handful that still exists and had a lucky escape when Allan Vogel, an aircraft broker, spotted it lying in a scrapyard at North Weald Airfield in Essex.

'I was over at the airbase looking at another airplane when I saw this Skymaster standing next to another Skymaster, which had just been totally cut up in to pieces,' recalls Allan.

The Skymasters had been brought across the Atlantic for a Steven Spielberg war epic based on the Berlin Airlift - which several Skymasters were involved in - but when the film didn't come to fruition the planes were left to rust in what would have been their final years.

She will fly again: The 1945 Douglas C-54 Skymaster that was saved from a scrapyard is undergoing a 1 million refurbishment by veterans and volunteers to return it to its former glory. Pictured: Volunteers with the plane at North Weald Airfield in Essex

The planes had enjoyed a service life three times as long as many modern jets, with 56498 taking part in supply drops in Iwo Jima, carrying in US troops to the Korean war, and providing relief during the Vietnam War. Pictured: The Skymaster crossing the Atlantic in 2002 for a Steven Spielberg film project

In the 1970s, the Skymaster and her squadron took part in relief efforts during the Vietnam War, flying out of Guam and Atsugi and Iwakuni airbases in Japan to deliver supplies and much needed blood for the wounded of the conflict. Pictured: The aircraft at NAS Iwakuni in Japan during the Vietnam campaign on 13 June 1971

Pictured: Allan Vogel, the former South African police detective who saved the plan from a scrapyard, said he had become passionate about bringing military veterans and engineering students together to complete the restoration project

The planes had enjoyed a service life three times as long as many modern jets, with 56498 taking part in supply drops in Iwo Jima, carrying in US troops to the Korean war, and providing relief during the Vietnam War.

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'I was just flabbergasted these two huge old airplanes were just standing there and one of them was just getting the chop.

Allan, a former South African police detective with a passion for aviation, approached the owner and asked '"do you mind me looking for a buyer for this airplane instead of chopping it up?", and he said "well yes go for it".'

After initial calls to friends didn't provide a backer, in December 2017 Allan created the Save The Skymaster charity and his project to raise money for the restoration was born.

Today, an army of retired military veterans and apprentices just starting out in their careers are working together to change the plane's engines, restore its fuselage, and prepare it for its first flight in 18 years.

But the monumental task, which has even attracted the attention of an aviation college as a potential partner, comes at a whopping 1 million cost, and the pandemic has put the group severely off track.

'We only just launched as a charity, and Covid has not been kind to us from a funding point of view,' says Allan.

'Our target this year was 500,000, and we were pretty much on target according to the Charity Commission grants that we applied for. This would have got our engines done and most of the necessary repairs.

Instead weve probably raised 15-16,000 from grants, and in donations very little, only a few thousand. Each airshow we would go to we would do 2-3,000 easily.'

Skymaster 56498 served in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two, and later returned to service in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts to bring in aid and supplies and return wounded soldiers. Pictured: The aircraft around 1964 in Vietman, taken by Jon Voss

An army of military veterans and apprentices just starting out in their careers are working together to change the plane's engines, restore its fuselage, and prepare it for its first flight in 18 years. Pictured: 56498 seen in 1964

The Skymasters had been brought across the Atlantic for a Steven Spielberg war epic based on the Berlin Airlift, but when the film didn't come to fruition the planes were left to rust in what would have been their final years. Pictured: The planes at North Weald in 2003 for a film about the Berlin Airlift believed to have been called 'The Candy Bomber

Leading the engineering side of the project is Sam Evans (pictured), an ex-RAF serviceman who worked on Harrier and Phantom jets in the RAF for 17 years before becoming a contractor for several years

But Allan reports that the men and women volunteering are still 'so enthusiastic', with some working in their own Covid bubbles under tight regulations to push the project forwards.

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'Weve got chaps who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s, veterans, who are working on the plane as we speak. They stick together, theyre local. They go home, they go to the airplane, they go home, that's pretty much it! But they love it.'

Of the dozen veteran volunteers the most senior is Sam Evans, an engineer and aircraft mechanic who cut his teeth working on Harriers and Phantoms in the RAF for 17 years.

He has taken on a similar challenge before, managing and maintaining his very own Vulcan strategic bomber as it toured the country before being retired. He called the experience 'absolutely fantastic'.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster specifications Years of service: 1942 to 1975 (retired from military use) - still used by Buffalo Airways, Canada and some performance airshows Number built: 1,170 Crew: Four Capacity: 50 troops / 32,500 lb (14,700 kg) cargo Length: 93 ft 10 in (28.60 m) Wingspan: 117 ft 6 in (35.81 m) Height: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) Engines: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasps Maximum range: 4,000 miles (6,400 km) Maximum speed: 275 mph (443 km/h

Sam worked at some of Britain's most prestigious airbases in St Athen, Brize Norton, and for five years at RAF Gutersloh in West Germany, but was made redundant just at the point when the Cold War ended.

It was less than unfortunate timing for Sam, who was in a wheelchair from a motorbike accident when they told him he would be leaving the force. But six months later he went back to work on RAF aircrafts as a civilian contractor.

Contracted work in the aviation industry has proven to be extremely turbulent though according to Sam, and at the start of the pandemic in March he again saw his work cut by the RAF.

'9/11 was a disaster for aviation, but coronavirus has been far, far worse, Ive actually had to take a permanent job with Bombardier for the stability of a permanent employer. I've already lived through one massive recession so I wasn't going to do it again,' he said.

Sam got involved with Save The Skymaster after being introduced to Allan Vogel through a mutual friend; originally with the intention of just helping to get it air worthy, the project has given Sam an outlet to meet other RAF engineers and veterans who have experienced the similar struggle to adapt to civilian life after years in a tight-knit group in the armed forces.

'It's about being part of a team, that's what you get used working in the forces, working towards a common goal.

'That's what you miss when you first come out all of a sudden, you've had these mates around you all of the time -its the same guys day in day out for years at a time - and then all of a sudden you're cast out.

'I had the motorbike accident and then I didnt see anyone else from the air force from the day I had the accident until the day I left, no one came to see me. So that was quite extreme, and thats what happens to these guys, they come out of the military and suddenly your whole life is changed. Youve been living in service accommodation because you move so regularly, that you dont have your own house, and so you lose all of that, your whole world comes to an end and it does take quite a bit to adapt to it.

'Weve got guys who are still serving involved in the project as well, so this sets them up for civilian life when they leave.'

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The opportunity to volunteer on the aircraft can also give much needed emotional relief to those still serving in the armed forces, and project founder Allan is actively encouraging servicemen suffering from PTSD and other conditions to get involved in the project.

Garry Verducci, 53, serves as the charity's membership secretary as well as getting his hands dirty fixing fuel tanks on the weekend, and says the plane gives him a 'getaway' from an incredibly stressful day job.

Garry has worked in counter-terrorism with the Ministry of Defence for the past 17 years, and has found his work to be distressing at times. His love of aviation is 'for me, escapism from that role'.

'In the job, (security) creates quite a bit of stress, and the things we're doing can make it quite a stressful environment.

Work in progress: The project's 18-month timescale has been knocked back by the pandemic, with volunteers entering Covid bubbles to work on fuel tanks, electronics and the fuselage. Funding to repair all four of its piston engines still needs to be found

The opportunity to volunteer on the aircraft can also give much needed emotional relief to those still serving in the armed forces, and Allan is actively encouraging servicemen suffering from PTSD and other conditions to get involved in the project

Sam Evans got involved with Save The Skymaster after being introduced to Allan Vogel through a mutual friend; originally with the intention of just helping to get it air worthy, the project has given Sam (left) an outlet to meet other RAF engineers and veterans who have experienced the similar struggle to adapt to civilian life after years in a tight-knit group in the armed forces

'Ive always been interested in aviation and I just came across Skymaster by chance on the internet, I was invited along, and for this year its been absolutely brilliant for me because its not really about the aircraft - the thing you initially join for - but I found with this group everyone is about getting the aircraft off the ground. Apart from being quite enthusiastic, were learning lots of skills.

Garry's past attempts to find a rewarding hobby have found him struggling to strike a balance between his passion for duty and service and finding fulfilment.

For 12 years I was also involved in search and rescue (as a volunteer), but that was also stressful because youre pulling bodies out of rivers and god knows what

'Im sure you can imagine there is a certain amount of post-traumatic stress from the job and also from the search and rescue. That got too much after a while because of some of the things you see and do, so afterwards I thought I needed to do something for myself and thats where I came across the Skymaster and it just ticked all the boxes.

'Im not from an engineering background so Im learning lots of new stuff which is escapism really. But the actual group itself, its just a happy place. I know it sounds weird, but you go along and you have fun!

'You go to work on an airplane, and you end up making friends and just having that relief.'

He added that the plane had delivered a 'hope-inspired' message during three major conflicts, and its return to former glory was what 'is driving us to get other people involved'.

David Shaw, CEO of the Veterans Foundation, praised Save The Skymaster's work to encourage veterans to get involved in the project, and also meet to talk about their shared struggles during a pandemic which has significantly affected traditional forms of support.

Mr Shaw added that pandemic had help reinvigorate the sectors purpose and motivation to help people who need more support than they might normally because of the lockdown.

Skymaster are motivating people, theyre working in teams. I think the support that they [veterans] get and the motivation and enthusiasm is really beneficial, and their purpose is wonderful as well.

Its very true particularly for people who are unemployed or made redundant to give them a real focus, and rather than twiddling their thumbs at home and wondering what to do next theyre in this tremendous project. Its that camaraderie'

Owen Mansfield, an engineering apprentice who has volunteered to help on the plane's restoration

Owen with fellow volunteer Joe Malkin working on plane parts

Garry Verducci, 53, serves as the charity's membership secretary as well as getting his hands dirty fixing fuel tanks on the weekend, and says the plane gives him a 'getaway' from an incredibly stressful day job

Most of the fuselage repairs are under way, but a major investment is needed for repair each of the four piston engines at a cost of 65,000 each. The project is expected to cost 1million in total

The Skymaster project, now a registered charity, has also attracted the attention of budding engineers, with founder Allan and veterans like Sam keen to pass on their skills to the next generation of aircraft designers and innovators.

When I spoke to Sam about developing younger talent he said: 'We want to pass our skills on so we don't get a group of people who don't go in to look at it and go "oh no this is too much", we want to get people thinking "Yes, we can make this happen".'

Owen Mansfield, 21, is one student who has taken up the opportunity to work on the aircraft as he starts out on his career in engineering.

'We started off just cleaning bits and pieces, but in the last year weve been working on the engines, myself and other volunteers have been taking bits off the engines and cleaning them and refurbishing them and check they all work. There is not a lot of tea-making going on,' he said.

Owen found his passion in engineering from his dad who has worked on older aircraft for over 30 years. When the Skymaster flew over to the UK in 2002, he was working for the company that looked after them, so when the restoration project was started in 2017 Owen knew he wanted to help out.

He had already taken on a three-year apprenticeship scheme at aerospace firm Marshall's in Cambridge in 2017, but unlike many work experience projects the Skymaster has given him the chance to get more hands on and gain a better insight.

'I would like to be a fully qualified aircraft engineer, so working on the Skymaster definitely helps. Not only does it show you are willing to learn all different aspects, it gives you the experience that not everyone may have, it gives you that edge.'

And given his age, is he at all worried about the impact of the pandemic on the industry's long term future?

'I still want to carry it on, and I'm still determined to do what I love so no I'm not going to give it up too easily,' he says defiantly.

Allan Vogel appears determined to inspire more young people to take up engineering, as there is also a potential partnership with Stanstead Airport College on the horizon.

The Skymaster R5D-3, with serial number 56498, was first delivered to the US Navy on 20th May 1945, and was assigned to her first unit VR-11, a Naval Air Transport Squadron based in Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean

Douglas DC-4 Skymasters were even involved in picking up Yemenite Jews from the British Protectorate of Aden to bring them to safety in the newly formed state of Israel in November 1949. Pictured: A DC-4 at the Near East Air Transport (in Alaska Airlines trim)

Pictured: A school visit by an Orthodox Jewish community in March 2019. C-54 Skymasters were used to lift out over 40,000 persecuted Jews to Israel from the Yemen & Saudi Arabia in 1948 in a secret operation by the USAAF called Operation Magic Carpet

Skymasters became famous for the role they played in delivering food and supplies in the Berlin Airlift when the city was cut off from the west of Europe by Soviet forces. 56498 was not involved in the delivery, as it was left stationed in the Pacific. Pictured: Skymasters and Skytrains at Templehof Airport in 1948-49

Having worked with 'famous faces' such as RyanAir and TUI, Jennifer Hogan, the college's head of engineering, said: 'We have lots of students with a very keen interest in some of the older aircraft, so it just gives them a different option rather than working for some of the big passenger airlines.

'We have every hope and ambition that we will have really healthy applications for next academic year

'Weve seen similar things happen in 9/11 and other big hits to the industry and it has always bounced back. There is a lot of airplanes out there and they have to fly again, and we certainly have the students who are ready and keen to take those places and work in the industry as soon as it picks up again.'

While Allan's 18-month timescale to have the plane taxiing up and down the runway with passengers may have been knocked off course, Sam, Garry, Owen and the other volunteers continue to plough on relentlessly.

Most of the fuselage repairs are under way, but a major investment is needed to repair each of the four piston engines at a cost of 65,000 each.

I cant see this getting back to normality any time soon, so really we just need to ride out this storm. I think there is going to be a lot of fallout from it,' says Allan.

'I think we will be a good outlet for people who might have suffered as a result, getting people retrained and refocused. Thats where the Skymaster comes in, it can actually lift people up again and give them hope and an opportunity in life again.

The long-term objective is to operate the Skymaster on the UK and European airshow circuit as a performance aircraft and also for enthusiasts to come and visit.

'It will be a flying museum, its configured with some stretchers in like it was during WW2 with the hospital stations in it.

'The way were going about this restoration is very different to one man and his aeroplane, for his own benefit. This is more about people, and lifting people up.

You can support Save The Skymaster's project to restore the Skymaster 56498 in a variety of ways.

To give 10, text SKYMASTER 10 to 70085 for a regular donation and SKYMASTER 10 to 70450 for a once off donation.

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You can also become a member and be kept up to date with Skymaster's restoration progress by visiting their website at https://www.savetheskymaster.org/membership/.

Clues can be found in his New Year address.

2021: 'Striving is the only way forward'

China will enter a new stage of development to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way in 2021, as the CPC leadership has adopted proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan and long-range goals.

"The road ahead is long; striving is the only way forward," Xi said in his address, calling for efforts to set up a new pattern for development to be accelerated, deeply implementing high-quality development and further deepening reform and expanding opening-up.

Rising above virus test, China's top leaders set the economic priorities for 2021 in the key Central Economic Work Conference held in December, stressing that China will keep its macro policies consistent, stable and sustainable in 2021, with continued implementation of a proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy.

In 2021, the country will take a solid first step in building the new development paradigm in which domestic and foreign markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay.

Meanwhile, the president stressed the need to keep working hard to promote rural vitalization as the country has achieved decisive success in eradicating extreme poverty in 2020.

In the next five years, efforts will be made to consolidate achievements in the fight against poverty and fully promote the strategy of rural vitalization, according to the CPC Central Committee's proposed major social and economic development targets for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

Read more:

China is set to end absolute poverty by 2020, what's next?

To realize all these goals, upholding the Party leadership is the most fundamental guarantee, Xi has said on many occasions.

In his New Year address, Xi described the Party as a gigantic vessel that leads China forward steadily with people's expectations and the hope of the nation and stressed the importance of "original aspiration."

The CPC was founded with an original aspiration: the mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and has remained committed to the people-centered philosophy of development.

The CPC's original aspiration is even firmer 100 years later, Xi said.

2020: 'Extraordinary' in various areas

Looking back at 2020, the president described the year as an "anti-epidemic epic" and devoted much of his address to highlighting China's all-out people's war against COVID-19.

"Greatness is forged in the ordinary. Heroes come from the people. Every person is remarkable!" Xi said, before sending his sympathies to all those infected with the coronavirus.

In September, three outstanding medical professionals were conferred the national honorary title "the People's Hero," while a total of 1,499 individuals, 500 groups, 186 CPC members and 150 primary-level Party organizations were commended for their roles in fighting the epidemic, and another 14 Party members were posthumously awarded.

Read more:

Wuhan's war on COVID-19: How China mobilizes the whole country to contain the virus

Remembering the medical professionals we've lost to coronavirus

Meanwhile, China has participated actively in several global meetings to provide the international community with solutions and experiences, such as the G20 virtual summit on COVID-19, the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN Plus Three or APT) on COVID-19, and a special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' meeting on the outbreak.

President Xi also reviewed China's achievements in various areas.

China is the first major economy worldwide to achieve positive growth in 2020, and its GDP is expected to step up to a new level of 100 trillion yuan. China has seen a good harvest in grain production for 17 years in a row, according to the president.

Within eight years, under the current standard, China has eradicated extreme poverty for the nearly 100 million rural people affected, and all the 832 impoverished counties have shaken off poverty, he added.

China has seen breakthroughs in scientific explorations like the Tianwen-1 (Mars mission), Chang'e-5 (lunar probe), and Fendouzhe (deep-sea manned submersible). Construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port is proceeding with vigor, Xi said.

The president also recalled the unforgettable memories in 2020, including his inspections of 13 provincial-level regions, the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and his phone calls with friends from the international community to combat the pandemic.

Read more:

Ten moments from Xi Jinping's inspection tours

Xi's 'cloud diplomacy' in the first half of 2020 instills global confidence

As the pandemic is still ravaging the world, President Xi highlighted the significance of a community with a shared future for mankind, especially for the post-pandemic world.

Read original article: here.

VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUevNynvlkw

SOURCE CGTN
The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Monday 28th December 2020 paid a visit to the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev Prof Obiri Yeboah Mante at his residence at Fafraha in Accra.



The purpose of the visit by the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was to wish the Moderator a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance and also reflect on Gods goodness towards Ghana and explore ways of safeguarding that blessing bestowed on the citizens.



The Vice President and the Moderator discussed a catalogue of issues ranging from peace of the nation, national development, COVID-19, and the just-ended presidential and parliamentary elections.



The Vice President commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on its role to ensure peace before, during and after the general election. He urged the Church and the entire Christian community in Ghana to continue to pray for the nation.



Rt. Rev. Prof. Mante commended the government on how it has handled the COVID-19 pandemic so far.



The Moderator assured the Vice President that the Church would continue to play its watchdog role to ensure that Ghana continues to enjoy peace.



The Vice President was accompanied by Mr Fred Oware, Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Dam Authority, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku and Deputy Minister for Health and Dr Gideon Boako, Special Assistance to the Vice President.



The Moderator was joined by some other Ministers of the Church to receive the Vice President.



They included Rev Dr Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church, Rev Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, Chairperson of the Ga Presbytery, Rev Col. Rtd Addotey Asare, Fafraha District Minister and Rev George Larbi, Public Relations Officer.







Source: Rev George Larbi, Public Relations Officer Presbyterian Church of Ghana









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Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday demanded that Lt Governor Manoj Sinha order an "impartial investigation" into the killing of three persons in what security forces said was an encounter at Lawapora on Srinagar's outskirts.

"I am sure you are aware of the unfortunate incident at Parimpora on December 30. Three boys, the youngest one all of 17 years, were killed in what the families have alleged to be a staged gunfight. This incident has come close on the heels of an inquiry that held an Army Captain guilty of a fake encounter at Amshipora in Shopian. Again, the three victims now established as innocent through an investigation were killed and later dubbed as militants," her letter reads.

"You and I may not agree on most political matters that concern Jammu and Kashmir but I am certain that we agree that such incidents bring disrepute to the armed forces and are a grave violation of human rights."

"I urge you to intervene and ensure that these families get a chance to perform their last rites as per their wishes. Questions are looming over this encounter as well and there are conflicting versions and reports from the police and the Army. Justice can be served only if it's swift. Therefore, I request you to initiate an impartial investigation into the matter immediately," she said in her letter.

The PDP chief said that she was aware that the UT administration was apprehensive about returning the bodies of the youths to the families "but this callous decision will only exacerbate their sense of loss and pain".

She said: "One hopes that you will rethink this decision and allow them to get a closure."

The letter pointed out that a mother who was grieving over the sudden and tragic death of her son shouldn't be deprived of the last chance to see his face. "Nor does she deserve to have to beg for his dead body. This is simply inhuman and unacceptable."

Aijaz Maqbool Ganai, Ather Mushtaq, and Zubair were killed in an 'encounter' with the security forces on December 30. The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday maintained that the three persons killed at Lawapora had militant connections and denied claims to the contrary.
HANOI  Coffee trading in Vietnam was tepid as a shortage of containers in the country sent freight rates soaring, while crimping demand, a trader said, with Indonesian market also being muted due to holidays.

Farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnam's coffee-growing capital, sold coffee at VND33,200 ($1.44) per kg, slightly lower than VND34,000 last week.

A shortage of containers has made it difficult for traders to ship beans to their customers. Freight (rates) have skyrocketed at least five times higher, said a trader, who is based in the coffee belt.

Trading activities, therefore, are very tepid. This problem will persist until at least after the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls in mid-February.

Traders said the fact that coffee exports in December from Vietnam would likely drop 54.7 percent to 85,000 metric tons, according to official figures, was mostly due to the shipping container crunch.

There is still demand from buyers who need to stock up for holidays but roasters are not looking to buy, said another trader, who is based in Ho Chi Minh City.

March robusta coffee settled $7 lower at $1,376 per metric ton on Wednesday.

Traders in Vietnam offered 5 percent black and broken grade 2 robusta at a premium of $135-$145 to the March contract, higher than last week's $100.

Coffee exports from Vietnam is likely to drop 8.8 percent to 1.511 million metric tons in 2020, or equivalent to 25.2 million 60 kg bags, the countrys General Statistics Office said.

($1 = VND23,088)
The makers of Mohanlal starrer upcoming Malayalam crime drama Drishyam 2 on Friday on the occasion of New Year announced that the film will skip its theatrical release and land on Amazon Prime. The announcement was made via the teaser release.

Drishyam 2 becomes the first mainstream Malayalam film to announce its direct-OTT release in 2021. The sequel to the highly successful 2015 film, which will begin from where Drishyam left off, promises to raise the stakes with double the thrills.

The teaser gives us a glimpse into the life of George Kutty, played by Mohanlal, and his family and how they are coping with the fall-out from the fateful night. With the entire family harbouring a secret that could make or break them, the gripping teaser, sets the premise of what lies in store.

Speaking about the film actor Mohanlal said in a statement:, Drishyam was one-of-a-kind thriller film, way ahead of its time, that was loved by all. With Drishyam 2, we are taking the story of George Kutty and his family ahead from where we left it off. I am delighted to associate with Amazon Prime Video to release one of the most-awaited movies of the year.

The sequel marks the reunion of Mohanlal and filmmaker Jeetu Joseph. Interestingly, the duo recently joined hands for Malayalam thriller, Ram. The makers of Ram even released a title poster when the project was announced. However, Jeetu recently revealed that he put Ram on hold to commence work on Drishyam 2.

Also read: Arjun Rampal hints at drugs probe in new post, says many friends disappeared: I have never been on the wrong side of the law

Drishyam 2 went on the floors last September. It also stars Meena, who was part of the first part, as the leading lady.

Drishyam, which is the story of a father covering up a murder to save his family, was the first Malayalam film to gross over Rs 50 crore. The sequel will also star Meena, who played Mohanlals wife in the first part.

Meanwhile, Mohanlal recently started shooting for his latest Malayalam film Aaraattu, which is being directed by B Unnikrishnan. This project marks the fourth time collaboration of Mohanlal and filmmaker Unnikrishnan.

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Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
The top ten most dangerous areas of the country for violent crimes such as murders, sex attacks and thefts are almost all in the north of England, a new league table of misdemeanours revealed today.

Cleveland has the highest proportion of crime victims in England and Wales where almost one in ten people living in towns such as Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar have been targeted in the past year.

Six people in the area were murdered or killed there in a spate of violent crimes between Christmas and New Year 2019 alone.

Cleveland, where arson rates are four times the national average, is followed by nearby West Yorkshire in second, South Yorkshire in third, Durham in fourth and Humberside in fifth.

The northern-dominated group also includes Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Northumbria - with only Kent and London representing the south in the top ten.

The safest of the 42 police force areas in England and Wales are Hertfordshire, West Mercia, Gloucestershire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Dyfed-Powys, Devon and Cornwall and North Yorkshire.

The Home Office data covers five crime areas: arson, theft, robbery, sex offences and violence against a person. Drugs offences and crimes involving weapons are not included.





Cases of crimes per 1,000 people in each category were grouped together to find overall figures for each region. The regions were then ranked in order.





Cleveland had the highest rate of 99.4. North Yorkshire had the lowest with 45.8, while the average is around 60.





London, which has a rate of 80.3, is the area you are most likely to be stolen from or suffer a violent robbery.

Between June 2019 and June 2020, Cleveland saw 23,675 instances of violence against a person , Home Office figures revealed.

Falling within this category were 11 homicides, 5,485 instances of violence with injury and 9,135 without, 9,040 cases of stalking and harassment and four deaths or serious injuries by unlawful driving.

North Yorkshire, on the other hand, saw 16,386 crimes involving violence against a person. Of those, just six were homicides and 3,883 involved stalking.

North Yorkshire saw 5,181 instances of arsons and criminal damage - while Cleveland saw nearly double that, with the figure standing at 9,699.

In Cleveland there were six deaths after violent attacks last Christmas, including four murders.

Michael Deakin died after a fight in Stockton on December 27 2019 and Francis Betteridge, 62, died after a violent attack in Middlesbrough on the same day.

Two days later John Wright, 41, was murdered by Jordan Vaughan, 21, and in nearby Redcar Stacey Cooper, 34, was knifed to death on New Year's Eve. Her suspected murderer was found dead in a prison cell before his trial.

In Redcar, Stacey Cooper (right), 34, was knifed to death on New Year's Eve. Her suspected murderer was found dead in a prison cell before his trial. Left: Suspect Liam Murray

Arson in the Cleveland area is also costing the taxpayer 18million-a-year with 85% of fire brigade calls for deliberate fires such as the torching of bins or cars reaching almost 4,000 in 2018/19.

In second place West Yorkshire, they launched Operation Jemlock to combat serious violence and knife crime because it had the highest rate of violent crime - including 26 murders.

Last month the force revealed more than 4,000 arrests have now been made by officers and more than 500 weapons have been seized.

This included the death of 39-year-old Asghar Badshah, who was reported missing on December 4 last year. His body was discovered in the wall cavity of the former Yorkshire Bank building in Batley, which is believed to have been empty since its closure in 2016.

Pictured: Detectives arrive at Ms Cooper's house after she was found dead in Redcar

The Home Office data, from June 2019 to June 2020, also reveals how the first national lockdown led to a collapse in recorded crime, especially criminal damage, sex attacks, burglaries, sex offences and thefts.

But murder went up almost 10 per cent, domestic violence and violent crime rose three per cent and stalking cases - likely to be via social media as people were stuck at home - spiking 13 per cent in that time, according to The Sun.

Last month the chief constable of England's second largest police force dramatically quit last night over a damning report which found one in five crimes was going unrecorded.

Less than 24 hours after Greater Manchester Police was placed in special measures over the findings, chief constable Ian Hopkins announced he was quitting his 200,000-a-year post.

The measures were introduced after a damning report found GMP had failed to record a staggering 80,000 crimes in just 12 months.

Mr Hopkins' position became untenable after Boris Johnson branded the scandal 'incredibly disappointing' on a visit to the region, adding: 'Those responsible obviously must be held to account.'

Labour mayor Andy Burnham faced calls from opposition MPS for his own resignation - but he refused.
When Vikas Gupta entered Bigg Boss 14 as a challenger, he only had good things to say about Jasmin Bhasin. However, the equation could not remain cordial for long and Vikas Gupta and Jasmin have been at loggerheads for sometime now. On Thursdays episode of the Salman Khan show, Jasmin claimed that Vikas was kicked out of the show Khatra Khatra Khatra because he created a dispute.

Talking to Rahul Vaidya, Jasmin said she trusted Vikas earlier and found him to be a genuine person but not anymore. Ye jab channel head karta tha, show chalata tha to logon se aise baat karta tha kya (Was this the way he talked to people when he headed a channel or ran a show)? I know him. This is not his reality.

Mujhe sab pata hai. The vibe, the trust wo sab nakli hota hai (It is all fake), she added. Vikas, who was standing right there, listening to Jasmin said that people change with time. I have forcefully changed myself. Now I am scared to become someone else. I am okay. In Khatra Khatra Khatra, I was thrown out. The channel ousted me.

Jasmin then said, Aap nikale gaye the (you were thrown out). There were reasons, there were disputes. You created a dispute. When Vikas objected, she added, I dont like the way you behave, you make your eyes, your face gestures, the way you talk. I dont see any truth in it. Pehle mujhe Vikas real lagta tha, abhi made-up lagta hai (I found Vikas real earlier but he seems all made up now).

Earlier, Vikas was seen praising Jasmin and he had said, If she decides to be loyal to a person, Jasmin will give her 100 %. I was impressed when despite Abhinav not taking her name during the nomination, she stood by him. She doesnt see right or wrong. Ever since I came in the house, I wanted to be her friend.

Also read: Tribhanga teaser: Kajol, Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar in a web of complex relationships, watch

Jasmin and Vikas worked together on the comedy show, Khatra Khatra Khatra.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that insecurity is destroying investments in Nigeria under his watch.

Mr Buhari in his New Year broadcast on Friday said 2020 was tough but he is hopeful that 2021 will be productive.

The president said his administration needs to strengthen the security of the nation to avoid the repeat of the December 11 abduction of schoolboys in Katsina State in any part of Nigeria.

He promised to re-energise and reorganise the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police with a view to enhance their capacity to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities in some parts of the country.

In line with the current security challenges we are facing as a nation, I would like to reiterate the promise I made recently when over 300 of our boys abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara were successfully rescued by our security operatives.

The professionalism shown by our Security Forces and the collaboration from all stakeholders across both State and Federal Governments that led to the successful rescue of the boys is proof that Nigeria has the internal capacity to decisively deal with terror attacks on our citizens.

Mr Buhari said his administration is adopting new strategies to deal with Nigerias security challenges.

However, we recognise that we rapidly have to move to a more proactive and preemptive posture to ensure that these sorts of traumatic incidents do not become a norm. Our administration is fully aware of the responsibility we have to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, and we will not relent in learning and adapting to changing threats to our national security and civic wellbeing, he said.

He said insecurity has a direct effect on the countrys economic growth.

Insecurity as a challenge has direct repercussions on our national economic stability, growth, and development, setting us back at critical points through the destruction of public and private investments.

In parts of the country where chronic poverty, social exclusion, and disillusionment among sections of the youth were already a problem, the cycles of violence that have been unleashed by mindless groups like Boko Haram and others have thwarted the efforts of government to undertake the social policy and associated investments that could make a huge difference in the quality of life of our citizens, he said.

Hundreds of Nigerians were killed and many others kidnapped in various parts of Nigeria in 2020.

While Nigerians continue to call for the removal of service chiefs, Mr Buhari appears not to link their overstay in office to the security situation.

The security situation has been deteriorating but presidential media aide, Femi Adesina, during an interview on December 21, said Nigerians should be grateful to Mr Buhari for his fight against insecurity in the country.

The comment drew him a backlash online as Nigerians many tagged it reckless and inhumane.
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NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Friday exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, lists of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under an agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between the two countries

The two countries  that have been having frosty ties especially since India revoked a special provision of its constitution granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019  also exchanged lists of civilian prisoners in each others countries, two separate statements from the Indian foreign ministry said.

India in its list said 263 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 77 fishermen were in its custody. Similarly, Pakistan shared lists of 49 civilian prisoners and 270 fishermen, who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians, in Islamabads custody, one of the Indian statements said. This is in keeping with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement under which such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and 1st July," the Indian statement cited above said.

In view of the covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civil prisoners and fishermen," it said.

India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen, along with their boats, from Pakistan's custodyIn addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the Indian fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners who are in Pakistan's custody and are believed to be Indian," it added.

According to the terms of Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities pact between India and Pakistan, the two countries keep each other informed about nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first of January of every calendar year.

This is the 30th consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992," a second Indian statement said. The pact was signed on 31 December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991.

Separately, India conveyed its its serious concerns" to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi over the repeated instances" of atrocities against the members of the minority community -- a sign of underlying tensions between the two countries.

We expect the Government of Pakistan to investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible for this vandalisation and demolition of a temple in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province," a person familiar with the matter said.

We also asked for the investigation report to be shared with the (Indian) Ministry," the person added.

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Deepika Padukone deletes all posts on her Twitter and Instagram accounts

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Mumbai, Jan 01: Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone deleted all her posts from her social media profiles on Twitter and Instagram, much to the surprise of her fans. The posts seemed to disappear overnight, and many wondered if her account had been hacked. However, a source close to the actor told The Indian Express that it was not the case.

The actor on Friday took to the platforms to launch an audio diary and also wish her fans a Happy New Year. In an audio message, she said, "Hi everyone, welcome to My Audio Diary, a record of my thoughts and feelings. 2020 was a year of uncertainty for everybody but for me, it was also about gratitude and about being present, and for 2021, all I can wish for myself and everybody is good health and peace of mind. Happy New Year."

Deepika Padukones 'former manager questioned by NCB in Mumbai

Deepika, who is active on social media, has over 52.5 million followers on the photograph sharing application Instagram and about 27.7 million followers on micro-blogging site Twitter. She had around 1200 posts on Instagram, a Twitter user noted.

Several users on social media tweeted screenshots of her profile, wondering if it was a new campaign strategy as well.

"Deepika has went from 1200 posts to 196 and continues to decrease. Looks like she has a New Years Present planned for all her fans," the user tweeted.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

Deepika is currently reported holidaying with Ranveer Singh in Rajasthan. The duo was spotted separately at Mumbai airport on Tuesday and have flown to the same Ranthambore resort to celebrate the New Year.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 15:33 [IST]
Now that Britain has finally completed its exit from the European Union, the main challenge for business in the French port of Calais is the coronavirus pandemic, the port head said on Friday.

Port chief Jean-Marc Puissesseau was speaking as the first ferry transporting vehicles arrived from Dover to Calais, France's busiest road freight port, after Britain left the bloc at 11 p.m. (2300 GMT) London time on Thursday.

Calais-Dover is the shortest sea route between Britain and the EU - just 23 miles (37 km) - and Calais handles some 2 million trucks per year.

"What we really hope for is to soon put the coronavirus crisis behind us, to have all the possible vaccines and for normal life to return," Puissesseau told reporters, adding the health crisis would cost the port 30 million euros in lost revenue in 2020.

Puissesseau said that having prepared for Brexit for three years, Calais was ready for the return of customs formalities on trade moving between Britain and the European Union.

"Brexit is not synonymous with a snarling up of traffic but everyone must do their job. We are relieved because we know how we will work," he said.

British and European businesses have warned of mayhem at the border as they learn to navigate red tape and paperwork that threatens to impede the smooth flow of nearly 1 trillion euros in annual trade.

But the disruption would have been worse if Britain and the EU had not reached a last-minute trade agreement on Dec. 24. Until Thursday's final departure, Britain had been in a transition period that lasted 11 months after it formally left the bloc on Jan. 31.

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Authorities in Hong Kong have transferred 24-year-old democracy activist Agnes Chow to a top-security prison that places Category A prisoners convicted of violent crime in solitary confinement, according to the city's Apple Daily newspaper.



Chow was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment in Dec. 2 after pleading guilty to charges relating to "illegal assembly" linked to protests outside Hong Kong's police headquarters on , 2019.



She was taken after sentencing to the medium-security Lo Wu Correctional Institution near the border with mainland China.



But the Apple Daily cited sources as saying that she has since been transferred to the Tai Lam Women's Correctional Institution, a Category A facility.



Shiu Ka-chun, who once represented the city's social welfare sector in the Legislative Council (LegCo) who served an eight-month jail term in connection with the 2014 Occupy Central campaign for universal suffrage, said the move was highly unusual.



Category A prisoners, of whom there are only a few hundred in a city of seven million, are often people who have been convicted of murder or drug trafficking, Shiu told the paper.



"To give you some idea, Cat. A prisoners aren't even allowed out to attend the funeral of a family member," he said.



Fellow activist and former 2014 student leader Joshua Wong, who co-founded the now-disbanded political party Demosisto with Chow, is also believed to have been placed in Category A, the report said.



The government's prison service has given no explanation for Chow's categorization. She had received a visit from



The Correctional Services Department declined to comment on individual cases, saying only that crimes committed, length of sentence and the extent to which someone was a security risk would all be taken into account, the Apple Daily said.



Its report came two days after a friend of Chow's posted a video to YouTube about her transfer, saying that pro-democracy District Councillor Tiffany Yuen had paid her a visit in Lo Wu last week, before she was moved.



In 2019, the Correctional Services Department admitted 128 Category A prisoners, of which 86 percent had been convicted of drug-related crimes, and the remaining 14 percent violent crimes including murder and rape.



There were 552 category A prisoners in Hong Kong at the end of the year, according to the department's annual report.



Reported by RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trumps extraordinary challenge of his election defeat by President-elect Joe Biden is becoming a defining moment for the Republican Party before next weeks joint session of Congress to confirm the Electoral College results.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging Republicans not to try to overturn the election, but not everyone is heeding him. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri vows to join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies. On the other side of the partys split, GOP Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska warns such challenges are a dangerous ploy threatening the nations civic norms.

Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure and a lawsuit from Trumps allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session Wednesday.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden set to be inaugurated Jan. 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232. But the effort to subvert the will of voters is forcing Republicans to make choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era and an evolving GOP.

I will not be participating in a project to overturn the election, Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post.

Sasse, a potential 2024 presidential contender, said he was urging my colleagues also to reject this dangerous ploy.

Trump, the first president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials that there wasnt any. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still, the president has pushed Republican senators to pursue his unfounded charges even though the Electoral College has already cemented Bidens victory and all thats left is Congress formal recognition of the count before the new president is sworn in.

We are letting people vote their conscience, Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol.

This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent setting, he said. This is a big vote. They are thinking about it.

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges Hawley and others mount.

The vice president is being sued by a group of Republicans who want Pence to have the power to overturn the election results by doing away with an 1887 law that spells out how Congress handles the vote count.

Trumps own Justice Department may have complicated what is already a highly improbable effort to upend the ritualistic count Jan. 6. It has asked a federal judge to dismiss the last-gasp lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a group of Republican electors from Arizona who are seeking to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote.

In a court filing in Texas, the department said they have have sued the wrong defendant and Pence should not be the target of the legal action.

A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction, the department argues.

To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans.

But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said.

His office did not respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who has acknowledged Bidens victory and defended his states elections systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagrees with Hawleys plan to contest the result, his office said in a statement.

McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues. In essence, lawmakers would be forced to choose between the will of the outgoing president and that of the voters.

Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.

Hawley became the first GOP senator this week to announce he will raise objections when Congress meets to affirm Bidens victory in the election, forcing House and Senate votes that are likely to delay but in no way alter the final certification of Bidens win.

Other Republican senators are expected to join Hawley, wary of ceding the spotlight to him as they, too, try to emerge as leaders in a post-Trump era.

Several Republicans in the Democratic-majority House have already said they will object on Trumps behalf. They only needed a single a single senator to go along with them to force votes in both chambers.When Biden was vice president, he, too, presided over the session as the Electoral College presented the 2016 vote tally to Congress to confirm Trump the winner. The session was brief, despite objections from some Democrats.

Jen Psaki, speaking for the Biden transition team, dismissed Hawleys move as antics that will have no bearing on Biden being sworn in on Jan. 20.

___

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Chicago contributed to this report.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
The signing ceremony of the RCEP marks the beginning of one of the largest free trade agreements in the world

The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic has done much to upset Vietnams 2018 and 2019 preparations for taking ASEANs chairmanship role this year. While all member states focused resources on protecting their people, the question was whether or not nations would, or could, continue with the commitments to pursue the long-term goals of developing the ASEAN Community.

Vietnam has to find ways to adapt and has switched plans to properly meet what ASEAN countries need. So we have turned our priorities to fighting COVID-19, said Nguyen Quoc Dung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Moreover, we also didnt want to abandon all of the works that regional countries have built and to interrupt community-building efforts, so we have continued to come up with initiatives to maintain the process of building the ASEAN Community.

The workload has become 2-3 times heavier than before but fortunately, we have made efforts since early this year to accomplish the responsibilities, he added.

Never has ASEAN witnessed the signing of a record number of cooperation agreements laying firm groundwork for the bloc to develop in the new decade  as at the recent 37th ASEAN Summit and related summits  with one of the focuses laid on economic connectivity in which further cementing trade and investment cooperation counts most.

At the event last month, over 80 documents were adopted to cement the joint efforts of ASEAN member states and their partners in strengthening cooperation against the backdrop of the pandemic. The number of approved documents was the largest in the history of all ASEAN meetings, stated Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Trade significance

All initiatives proposed by Vietnam as ASEAN chair for the year were discussed, approved, and welcomed by the blocs leaders and partners. Initiatives on establishing an ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, and ASEAN Regional Centre on Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases received donations from many countries. The bloc has also established the ASEAN Smart Logistics Network with its first project, the Vinh Phuc ICD Logistics Centre.

This project, located in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, was approved by the provincial Peoples Committee which is now seeking investors. With an estimated total investment of $166.3 million, it is designed for a combined cargo capacity of 530,000 twenty-foot equivalent units. The centre will act as a distribution hub as well as an inland clearance depot in a bid to provide logistics services and meet market demand.

Notably, the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) holds a significant meaning to not only ASEAN but also global trade, helping minimise impacts caused by global supply chain disruption, PM Phuc stated.

After the signing, RCEP member countries will follow their internal process to ratify the deal, he said. This will help drive ASEANs economic, trade, and investment ties forwards and make it more convenient in materialising the blocs vision to build a more prosperous ASEAN by 2025.

On November 15, the 10 ASEAN member states were among the 15 Asia-Pacific nations that signed the RCEP. Together with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, the RCEP marks the worlds largest free trade agreement (FTA) by population and GDP, as well as the first time China, Japan, and South Korea have entered into an FTA together.

The RCEP seeks to eliminate 90 per cent of import tariffs between member states within 20 years of it coming into effect, as well as promote the ow of services and investment while setting out regulations around rules of origin and intellectual property.

As such, ASEAN countries are expected to benefit from an easing of trading restrictions with the five other RCEP members, potentially bolstering goods exports and increasing the supply of high-quality products into their respective domestic markets, global data analyst and provider FocusEconomics told VIR last week in a statement. Furthermore, the signing of such a significant trade deal  coming at a time when protectionist policies are creeping into fashion among many major international economies  could boost business sentiment and broaden appetite for ASEAN investments and services.

Ma Tieying, economist at Singapore-based DBS Bank, commented that the RCEP would help to further promote Japan, China, and South Koreas foreign direct investment in ASEAN. The three respectively ranked as the first, third, and fourth-largest foreign investors in ASEAN in the 2015-2019 period on a single country basis.

Chinese firms have been actively investing in ASEAN in recent years, in the context of trade tensions with the US, as well as Chinas push for the Belt and Road Initiative and Digital Silk Road. Japanese businesses have also been looking for more investment opportunities in ASEAN, as part of their long-term strategy of supply chain diversification.

The investment chapter under the RCEP is an upgrade and enhancement of the existing provisions under the ASEAN+1 FTAs. Therefore, it would help to further facilitate investment ows between ASEAN and North Asian countries in the coming years, Tieying said.

We noted the progress made in efforts to integrate the ASEAN region into the global economy, which include the implementation of the ASEANs Free Trade Area (FTA) and comprehensive economic partnership agreements with major trading partners including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, as well as engagement with potential new partners. Recognising the important contribution of these FTAs to ASEANs comprehensive recovery efforts and in creating stronger and more resilient supply chains, we reiterated our call on officials to redouble efforts in ensuring that they incorporate mechanisms for the smooth flow of supply chains and continue to deliver new opportunities for businesses in the region. We announced the completion of the substantial negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and welcomed its signing, which demonstrated our strong commitment to supporting economic recovery and inclusive development as well as our support for an open, inclusive, rules-based trade and investment arrangement. We acknowledge that this agreement is critical for our regions response to the pandemic and will play an important role in building the regions resilience through an inclusive and sustainable post-pandemic economic recovery process. Excerpt from ASEAN chair statement at the 37th ASEAN Summit: Cohesive and Responsive organised during November 12-15

Key beneficiaries

According to experts, investment from South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, which are now the three largest foreign investors in Vietnam, will maintain these places next year at the very least.

Statistics from Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment showed that as of November 20, registered investment capital from South Korea, Japan, and Singapore into Vietnam totalled $70.5 billion, $60.1 billion, and $56.3 billion, respectively.

According to analysis by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam stand to benefit the most from the trade pact, which will add $2-4 billion each year to their respective economies by 2030.

Meanwhile, panelists that we surveyed see Vietnam as the ASEAN country set to benefit most from the RCEP, likely due to its highly competitive export sector that will benefit from being plugged even more tightly into regional value chains, the FocusEconomics statement said.

It cited Somprawin Manprasert, chief economist at Bank of Ayudhya  the fifth-largest bank in Thailand in terms of assets, loans, and deposits  as saying, Vietnam would benefit from integration under a number of effective FTAs, including the RCEP, the EU-Vietnam FTA, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The harmonisation of tariffs and rules of origin and simplifying of customs obligations under the RCEP present the principal benefit to ASEAN economies. As a result, manufacturing is set to gain from a relocation of labour-intensive industries to ASEAN countries, particularly those with competitive employment costs such as Vietnam.

In a survey of 14 global institutions that FocusEeconomics conducted on December 4-8, most respondents commented that manufacturing would be the industry that would benefit the most from the RCEP. Within manufacturing, electronics was the sector most often mentioned as likely to gain.

ASEAN is now Vietnams fourth-largest export market, after the US, the EU, and China. Vietnams export turnover to the region surged to $24.7 billion in 2018 and $25.3 billion last year, up 1.9 per cent on-year. However, in the first 11 months of 2020, the figure hit $20.9 billion, down 10.6 per cent on-year.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asia is also Vietnams third-largest import market. The countrys import turnover from other member states totalled $32 billion in 2018 and $32.1 billion last year. Due to the pandemic, the figure touched $27.3 billion in the first 11 months of 2020, down 6.9 per cent on-year.
Of 1,435 passengers who arrived at the Mumbai international airport from Europe, Middle East and South Africa on Friday, 627 were quarantined in the city, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said.

A total of 1,435 travelers from these three regions landed at the Mumbai airport by 18 flights during the day, he said.

As many as 627 of them were quarantined as per the BMC's protocol for dealing with those who have arrived from Europe, Middle East and South Africa, whie 93 were exempted, the official said.

The BMC has made seven-day institutional quarantine mandatory for those arriving from these regions in the wake of discovery of a new variant of coronavirus in the UK.

Some 715 travelers were allowed to proceed to other states, the official said.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Atlantic Honda - Honda Civic Type R Models

The newly updated 2021 Honda Civic Type R performance hatchback model is now in stock at the Atlantic Honda dealership. An icon of the brand, this high-performance model is an affordable and thrilling experience now available to drivers in the greater area of Long Island, New York.

The 2021 Honda Civic Type R performance hatchback model is equipped with a 2L turbocharged inline 4 engine. This engine option is rated at 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. Highlights of the 2021 Honda Civic Type R model include a 3-mode drive system, an Adaptive Damper System, a center-mounted triple-outlet exhaust, a Helical limited-slip differential, the Honda LogR datalogger system, a rear wing spoiler and sport front seating. The 2021 Honda Civic Type R model has a starting MSRP of $37,495*.

The 2021 Honda Civic Type R performance hatchback model also debuts with a Limited Edition heritage package trim level, which is also currently available at the Atlantic Honda dealership. The 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition model pays tribute to Honda Civic Type R models of the past in terms of style and performance with the exclusive Phoenix Yellow paint color option, gloss-black exterior accents, BBS forged-aluminum wheels, weight-reduction modifications, recalibrated steering and specially-tuned dampers.

To learn more about the 2021 Honda Civic Type R, or to schedule a test drive with the Honda performance hatchback model, drivers in the greater Long Island area are encouraged to contact the Atlantic Honda team. The dealership staff can be reached at the number of 631-665-0005. Additional means of communication include online messages and on-site visits to the store. The Atlantic Honda dealership is located at 1375 Sunshine Hwy., Bay Shore, New York 11706.

*MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $955 destination charge and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $395 charge for select premium colors. $395 charge only applies to 2021 models.
Tighter Covid-19 curbs on contact between people may be necessary on top of the new Level 5 restrictions from New Year's Eve, the National Public Health Emergency Team has advised Government.

The possibility that stricter restrictions might be needed is outlined in a stark letter from NPHET's chairman and the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan to the Minister for Health and Government.

It was this letter that gave rise to the Taoiseach announced a second Level 5 with no exceptions for six weeks. The Government has put an initial five-week timeframe on the measures with a review on January 12.

Dr Holohan set out what it believes had to happen to protect health and allow essential health services to remain operational.

"The NPHET is of the view that the virus is circulating in the community at such a level that it requires strict stay at home measures (with exemptions provided only for those activities and services that are essential in nature) to significantly and

comprehensively reduce opportunities for contact and further transmission of the disease.

"The NPHET advises that this will require, at a minimum, the implementation of and adherence to the full suite of Level 5 measures as set out in the Governments Plan for Living with COVID-19. The NPHET recommends that these measures are put in place as a matter of urgency and remain in place for a period of six weeks," it advised.

Dr Holohan said further steps should be taken due to the spread due to the situation faced.

"However, the NPHET cautions that the situation remains extremely fragile, with disease incidence and hospitalisations accelerating faster than the most pessimistic modelling scenarios had projected. It is likely that there is still some element of under-reporting as a result of the festive period and coupled with the potential additional risks posed by the UK and South African variants, the NPHET is worried that there could be a further acceleration in incidence and severity indicators in the coming days.

"The NPHET, therefore, cautions that the additional Level 5 measures recommended may not be sufficient to bring the disease under control and that additional measures may be required if there is a continued deterioration over the coming period. The NPHET will continue to monitor the situation closely in the coming days," wrote Dr Holohan.

The letter warns that there could be 3,000 new cases a day by the second half of January with up to 1,300 people in hospital.

The HSE says hospitals face being overwhelmed by the number of admissions faced.

TEXT OF LETTER

Mr. Stephen Donnelly TD,

Minister for Health,

Department of Health,

Miesian Plaza,

50-58 Lower Baggot Street,

Dublin 2.

30th December 2020

Dear Minister,

I write further to todays meeting of the COVID-19 National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

The epidemiological profile of COVID-19 has continued to deteriorate very substantially since the NPHET met last week on the 23rd December:

 A total of 8,016 cases have been notified in the 7 days to 30th December, which is a 61% increase on the previous 7 days in which there were 4,992 cases; and a 324% increase on the 7 days to 9th December in which there were 1,889 cases;

 As of 30th December, the 7- and 14-day incidence rates per 100,000 population have increased to 168 and 273, respectively; these compare to rates of 105 and 153 on the same day last week, and rates of 40 and 80 on 9th December;

 Nationally, the 7-day incidence as a proportion of 14-day incidence is 62%, demonstrating that there have been substantially more cases in the last 7 days compared with the preceding 7 days;

 The 5-day rolling average has increased rapidly from 785 on 23rd December to 1,213 today and is 4.2 times greater than the figure for 9th December (286 cases);

 Of cases notified in the past 14 days, 65% have occurred in people under 45 years of age; the median age for cases notified in the same period is 35 years;

 In the last 14 days, 10% of cases notified were aged over 65; incidence rates are now increasing across all age groups;

 There has been an increase in the 14-day incidence rate in the country overall, however 25 counties now have a 7-day incidence as a percentage of 14-day incidence greater than 50% indicating an increase in cases in the last 7 days compared with the previous 7 days;

 The best estimate of the reproduction number (R) is currently 1.6-1.8. R is now estimated to be higher than at any point since last March. The current daily growth rate of cases is 7-10%. This compares with daily growth rate of 7-9% at the last NPHET meeting on 23rd December. The doubling time is currently 7-10 days.

 A total of 103,683 tests were undertaken in the last 7 days. The 7-day average test positivity rate has rapidly increased to 9.3% on the 29th December from 5.0% last week on the 23rd December;

 Excluding serial testing, the test positivity rate has also rapidly increased over recent days. It was 12.8% over the 7 days to 30th December, up from 7.2% over the 7 days to 23rd December, and up from 5.2% in the 7 days to Friday 18th December.

 According to contact management programme data, 24 counties have test positivity rates great then 5% and 15 counties have positivity rates great than 10%.

 There are currently 454 confirmed COVID-19 cases in hospital this morning, compared with 239 on 23rd December. There have been 69 newly confirmed cases in hospital in the preceding 24 hours;

 There are currently 37 confirmed cases in critical care, compared with 25 on 23rd December. There have been 6 admissions in the last 24 hours.

 To date, there have been 123 deaths notified with a date of death in December. This compares with 126 and 158 deaths notified (to date) with a date of death in October and November, respectively. Of the 110 deaths so far in December, 40 have been associated with hospital outbreaks and 38 have been associated with nursing home outbreaks.



Further relevant information includes:

 There were 10 new clusters notified in acute hospitals with 57 linked cases in week 52.

 There are currently 57 open clusters associated with 23 acute hospitals. In total, 990 cases have been linked to these outbreaks with 48% (475) of these cases related to healthcare

workers. There have been 71 deaths linked to these outbreaks. Four acute hospital outbreaks have more than 100 linked cases each.

 There were 13 new clusters notified in nursing homes/community hospitals with 146 linked cases in week 52; There are 7 new clusters in the current week with 39 associated cases.

 There are currently 47 open clusters associated with nursing homes. 974 cases have been linked to these outbreaks with 41% of these cases related to healthcare workers. There have been 54 deaths linked to these outbreaks.

 There have been 21 outbreaks associated with schools in week 52 with 43 linked cases (although transmission in the school setting has not necessarily been established in these outbreaks).

 There were 2 outbreaks in the Irish Traveller community in week 52 with 12 linked cases. This is a decrease from the previous 2 weeks when there were 60 cases notified amongst Irish Travellers in week 51 and 48 cases in week 50.

 A range of mobility and compliance data suggest that movement and social contact in the population have increased significantly since the introduction of Level 3 measures.

 The number of close contacts during week ending 27th December was 33,390, a 119% increase (more than double) compared to the previous week.

 As of 28th December, the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population in Northern Ireland was 524, this more than double the 14-day incidence in the Republic of Ireland (246 per 100,000 population as of 29th December). The 7-day incidence per 100,000 population in Northern Ireland was 305, which is double the 7-day incidence in the Republic of Ireland (152 per

100,000 population).



Modelling Projections

The latest modelling scenarios, calibrated using case data to 29 December 2020, show a very challenging time ahead even if we achieve immediate suppression of viral transmission sufficient to bring R below 1.0 (Figure 1). The model scenarios can be summarised as follows:

 If R is reduced to 1.4 from today, we will see at least 2000 cases per day on average by 9 January 2021, and 3000 cases per day by 23 January 2021.

 If R is reduced to 1.1 from today, we will see 1800 cases per day by 6 January 2021, rising to 1900 per day by the end of January.

 If viral transmission is suppressed, bringing R to 0.9 from today, we will peak at around 1800 cases per day in early January, and have about 1200 cases per day by the end of January.

 It is unlikely that significant suppression will be achieved in so short a time frame, so actual case numbers are likely to exceed these latter projections.

The age profile of cases in this third wave is older than in the second wave, and as such we are seeing earlier and more significant increases in hospitalisations (Figure 2). When the above scenarios are applied to a simple age-stratified model of hospitalisation, assuming the age profile of cases remains as it was over the last 14 days:

 for R=1.4 we project 800 people with COVID-19 in hospital by 15 January 2021, and 1300 by the end of January;

 for R=1.1 we project 800-900 people with COVID-19 in hospital throughout January

 for R=0.9 the numbers in hospital with COVID-19 should peak at over 700 in mid-January

 a more sophisticated model of healthcare demand and capacity gives higher projections, from a low of 1000 for R=0.9 to a high of 2000 by end of January 2021 for R=1.4



Summary of Epidemiological Situation

In summary, the epidemiological situation as set out is the most concerning observed since the onset of the pandemic in Ireland. The level of infection in the country continues to increase very rapidly with the 5-day average per day at 1,213 cases and the 14-day incidence at 273 per 100,000.

Of significant concern, disease incidence is rising across all age groups, especially in those aged 19-24 years. Growth

rate is estimated to be at least 7-10% per day with a doubling time of 7-10 days. Growth rates are now greater than those seen approaching the peak of the second wave.

The best estimate of reproduction number is very high at 1.61.8, the highest level since estimates have been produced. The average number of close contacts has been increasing and is now approximately 6 per case, with recent increases in mobility observed leading up to Christmas. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in hospital is rapidly increasing, the number of COVID-19 cases in intensive care may be starting to increase and, while deaths per day are static at this time, they are likely to increase very soon in line with an expected lag effect.

Ireland is now experiencing a third wave of infection, with older and vulnerable adults an ongoing key concern and at high risk of significant morbidity and mortality. The current epidemiological situation gives rise to immense concern and represents an immediate and grave threat to all key public health priorities which include the protection of vulnerable groups and the continuation of care across all areas of the health and social care system, and the continued delivery of education and childcare services.

Novel Variants and ECDC Rapid Risk Assessment

The NPHET also received an update on the two novel variants of the virus: the UK variant VOC 202012/01 (also known as B.1.1.7), and the South African variant 501.V2. The ECDC published a Rapid Risk Assessment on the variants on the 29 December 20201

.

 The ECDC Assessment states that preliminary analyses indicate that the UK variant has increased transmissibility compared to previously circulating variants, while the South African variant is associated with a heightened viral load and may have increased transmissibility. It also states that there is no evidence to date that either variant is associated with higher severity of infection. UK researchers estimate that the UK variant has an increased transmission rate of 50-70% compared with other variants in the United Kingdom.

 As of 26 December 2020, more than 3,000 cases of the UK variant, confirmed by genome sequencing, have been reported from the UK. The ECDC report that the new UK variant has been detected in 14 EU/EEA/Swiss countries (up to 29 December): Denmark (46), Portugal (21), Italy (14), Iceland (13), Netherlands (11), Spain (9), Ireland (7), Belgium (4), Switzerland

(2), Germany (2), Finland (2), Norway (2), France (1) and Sweden(1). It has also been detected in 10 other counties - Japan(8), India (6), Israel (5), Australia (4), Canada (4), S Korea (3), Jordan (2), Hong Kong (2), Lebanon (1), and Singapore(1).

 More than 300 cases of the South African variant have been detected in South Africa. The ECDC report that 2 cases of this variant have been detected in the UK and 1 case in Finland to date.

 Genomic tests on the 24 December 2020 confirmed the presence of the UK variant in Ireland. It has already been reported that seven cases out of 77 which underwent genomic sequencing carried the VOC 202012/01 mutations. Further sequencing will take place over the coming weeks to establish the extent of the presence of both variants in Ireland. The NPHET also had a preliminary discussion on the development of a surveillance strategy to guide this sequencing process and it will consider this matter further next week.

The ECDC Rapid Risk Assessment concludes the level of risk as follows:

 The probability of the two novel variants being introduced and further spread in the EU/EEA is currently high, and due to increased transmissibility, the impact in terms of hospitalisations and deaths is assessed as high, particularly for those in older age groups or with co-morbidities.

 The probability of increased circulation of any SARS-CoV-2 strains and this placing greater pressure on health systems in the coming weeks is considered to be high due to the festive season and, higher still, in countries where the new variants are established.

 The impact of this increased pressure on health systems is considered to be high even if current public health measures are maintained. Therefore, the overall risk of an increased impact on health systems in the coming weeks is assessed as high.

The ECDC recommend the following for delaying the introduction and further spread of these variants:

- Targeted and representative sequencing, enhanced testing, contact tracing and isolation, and the avoidance of non-essential travel. In addition, Member States are recommended to continue to advise their citizens of the need for non-pharmaceutical interventions in accordance with their local 1 Risk Assessment: Risk related to spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA (europa.eu) epidemiological situation and national policies and, in particular, to consider guidance on the

avoidance of non-essential travel and social activities.



NPHET Advice

The continuing overarching objectives of NPHETs recommendations are to: protect public health in the first instance, particularly in relation to those most vulnerable to the severe outcomes of COVID19; to ensure the safe delivery of health and social care services for care needs unrelated to COVID19; to enable safe provision of childcare services and to ensure that schools remain open.

In light of the accelerating rate of deterioration in the incidence of disease, the rapid increase in hospitalisations, growing concerns about the increased transmissibility of the UK and South African variants, and most recent ECDC advice, the NPHET remains extremely concerned about the current situation and the potential consequent implications for morbidity and mortality. It is further concerned that there is now a very considerable risk that the continued protection of the above core priorities will be jeopardised in the short term.

The NPHET reiterates its view that the current set of measures will not be sufficient to interrupt transmission patterns to the extent necessary. The NPHET is of the view that the virus is circulating in the community at such a level that it requires strict stay at home measures (with exemptions provided only for those activities and services that are essential in nature) to significantly and comprehensively reduce opportunities for contact and further transmission of the disease.

The NPHET advises that this will require, at a minimum, the implementation of and adherence to the full suite of Level 5 measures as set out in the Governments Plan for Living with COVID-19. The NPHET recommends that these measures are put in place as a matter of urgency and remain in place for a period of six weeks.

However, the NPHET cautions that the situation remains extremely fragile, with disease incidence and hospitalisations accelerating faster than the most pessimistic modelling scenarios had projected. It is likely that there is still some element of under-reporting as a result of the festive period, and coupled with the potential additional risks posed by the UK and South African variants, the NPHET is worried that there could be a further acceleration in incidence and severity indicators in the coming days.

The NPHET therefore cautions that the additional Level 5 measures recommended may not be sufficient to bring the disease under control and that additional measures may be required if there is a continued deterioration over the coming period. The NPHET will continue to monitor the situation closely in the coming days.

The NPHET today gave specific consideration to the reopening of schools next week. The NPHET was of the view that schools should reopen as planned. However, the NPHET did note that the high and rising levels of community transmission will become a risk to the ongoing provision of education at primary and secondary level unless these levels of transmission can be addressed. NPHET will continue to review this issue over the coming weeks.

The NPHET also reiterated its concerns of the 23 December in relation to the pressure being experienced across all aspects of the health service. In particular, the level of demand across the full testing and contact tracing pathway, including general practice, swabbing, laboratory testing, contact tracing and case and outbreak management by public health departments, is likely to be unsustainable in the short term.

The level of the disease has now exceeded containment and, as such, we are now in a mitigation phase. The NPHET emphasised that the role of testing changes considerably when disease transmission is at the level currently being experienced  and can no longer be expected to control the disease. Everyone needs to behave as if they are close contacts and to restrict their movements by staying at home, except for essential purposes; it is only through the collective actions of everyone

that we can hope to interrupt chains of transmission, prevent further spread, reduce the intensity of the epidemic and to slow down the increase in cases.

The NPHET, of course, remains available to provide any further advice and recommendations that may be of assistance to you and Government in relation to ongoing decision-making processes in respect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As always, I would be happy to discuss further, should you wish.

Chief Medical Officer

Chair of the COVID-19 National Public Health Emergency Team

cc. Ms Elizabeth Canavan, Department of the Taoiseach and Chair of the Senior Officials Group for COVID-19
SINGAPORE, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has launched the first renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) prices for Asia. These prices are designed to meet the growing need for greater transparency in renewable fuel markets as countries in the region seek to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

China, Japan and South Korea have set ambitious decarbonisation targets in the past two months. And a number of private-sector companies have announced that they will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

As these countries and companies move away from fossil fuels, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), or renewable diesel, is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel can be blended into the existing petroleum diesel pool or used as a substitute.

The new Argus prices are for renewable diesel produced from three different groups of feedstocks  food and feed crops, used cooking oil/palm oil mill effluent, and tallow.

SAF is made from waste products such as used cooking oil and can be mixed with conventional jet fuel to provide a lower-carbon alternative to purely petroleum-based jet fuel.

The new Asian renewable diesel and SAF prices are published daily in the Argus Biofuels report and the SAF price is also included in the Argus Jet Fuel report.

Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said: "These new prices help shed light on an increasingly important part of the diesel and jet-kerosine pool in Asia. Argus is already the industry's publisher of choice for European biofuels prices, so we are very proud to be at the forefront of providing transparency to these nascent markets in Asia."

Argus publishes an international range of price assessments for environmentally friendly fuels, including renewable diesel and biodiesel, SAF, ethanol, renewable feedstocks and environmental credits.

Argus contact information

London: Seana Lanigan

+44 20 7780 4200

Email Seana

Singapore: Tomoko Hashimoto

+65 6496 9960

Email Tomoko

Moscow: Alexey Komarov

+7 495 933 75 71

Email Alexey

Houston: Karen Johnson

+1 281 732 9489

Email Karen

About Argus Media

Argus is an independent media organisation with more than 1,000 staff. It is headquartered in London and has 25 offices in the world's principal commodity trading and production centres. Argus produces price assessments and analysis of international energy and other commodity markets, and offers bespoke consulting services and industry-leading conferences.

Companies in 140 countries around the world use Argus data to index physical trade and as benchmarks in financial derivative markets as well as for analysis and planning purposes.

Argus was founded in 1970 and is a privately held UK-registered company. It is owned by employee shareholders, global growth equity firm General Atlantic and Hg, the specialist software and technology services investor.

ARGUS, the ARGUS logo, ARGUS MEDIA, ARGUS DIRECT, ARGUS OPEN MARKETS, AOM, FMB, DEWITT, JIM JORDAN & ASSOCIATES, JJ&A, FUNDALYTICS, METAL-PAGES, METALPRICES.COM, INTEGER, Argus publication titles and Argus index names are trademarks of Argus Media Limited.

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File image: A ground staff walks past a container kept at the Cargo Terminal 2 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, which according to the officials will be used as a COVID-19 vaccine handling and distribution center. (Image: Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis)

Some 50 countries around the world have already started vaccinating their people against COVID-19, barely a year after the first alert by China signalled the start of the epidemic. A snapshot:

China leads the way

China, where the pandemic first emerged, was also the first to start vaccinations over the summer, without waiting for a vaccine to be formally authorised but targeting the most vulnerable.

To date nearly five million Chinese people have been vaccinated. Beijing on Thursday granted "conditional" market approval to a Sinopharm vaccine with a reported 79 percent efficacy rate against Covid-19.

Russia followed on December 5, rolling out vaccinations for those considered high risk with its contentious Sputnik V vaccine, which has since been approved in Belarus and Argentina, which launched their vaccination campaigns on Tuesday.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Algeria is set to follow them in January.

Britain first in West

Britain led the way in the Western world, authorising the vaccine made by US-German pharma alliance Pfizer-BioNTech. Its vaccination campaign started on December 8 since when nearly 800,000 people have received their jabs, according to the National Health Service.

Britain was also the first on Wednesday to approve the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. It will be administered for the first time on January 4.

Canada and the United States started their vaccination drives on December 14, Switzerland on the 23rd, Serbia the 24th, the vast majority of the European Union on December 27, Norway Sunday and Iceland on Tuesday. All of them are using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The United States and Canada are also the first two countries to have authorised the vaccine by American pharma company Moderna, which is up for approval on January 6 by the EU.

Some 2.8 million Americans have already been given their first dose of the Covid-19 jab. In the 27-nation EU Germany has so far given the most injections, with more than 130,000 in five days.

Israeli target

In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates were the first to launch their vaccination campaign with doses of China's Sinopharm, on December 14 in the capital Abu Dhabi. Dubai started its vaccinations on December 23, using doses of Pfizer-BioNTech.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain launched their campaigns on December 17, Israel two days later, Qatar on the 23rd, Kuwait the 24th, and Oman on December 27.

All are solely using the Pfizer- BioNTech jab, except for Bahrain which is also using China's Sinopharm.

Israel, which has set itself the ambitious goal of inoculating a quarter of its population in a month, has already injected nearly 800,000 people. Bahrain has vaccinated nearly 60,000 and Oman more than 3,000.

Turkey, which has received doses of China's Sinovac, will launch its vaccination drive in mid-January.

In Latin America, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica were the first to launch, on December 24, jabs with the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine.

In Asia, Singapore launched its campaign on Wednesday with the same vaccine.

Other countries on the Asian continent however have decided to take their time: India, Japan and Taiwan plan to begin vaccinations in the first quarter of 2021 and the Philippines and Pakistan in the second quarter, while Afghanistan and Thailand plan to start in mid-2021.

In sub-Saharan Africa and in Oceania vaccinations have yet to take off. But in West Africa Guinea this week administered its first few doses of Russia's Sputnik V on a trial basis.
File image: A ground staff walks past a container kept at the Cargo Terminal 2 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, which according to the officials will be used as a COVID-19 vaccine handling and distribution center. (Image: Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis)

With India on the verge of granting emergency use authorisation to COVID-19 vaccines, the government has identified priority beneficiaries and over 70.33 lakh frontline healthcare workers have been registered on the Co-WIN platform. The government is planning to inoculate them in the first phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive.

To vaccinate the beneficiaries, the government has also identified over 2.30 lakh vaccinators, sources told CNBC-TV18. Additionally, over 51,000 public health facilities have been shortlisted for the vaccine rollout.

Track this LIVE Blog for all the latest updates on coronavirus pandemic

The Health Ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to identify days when the vaccination drive would be held.

Dry run in all states, UTs on January 2

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

A dry run for COVID-19 vaccination will be conducted by all state and Union Territory administrations on January 2 to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify challenges, the Centre said.

The activity is proposed to be conducted in all state capitals in at least three session sites.

Read: WHO clears coronavirus vaccine for emergency use

While some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrains/have poor logistical support, Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to schedule the dry run in major cities other than their capital, the Union Health Ministry said.

"The objective of the dry run for COVID-19 vaccine introduction is to assess operational feasibility in the use of Co-WIN application in the field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guideway forward prior to actual implementation. This is also expected to give confidence to programme managers at various levels," the ministry said.

Read: Serum Institute to have 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses ready by January first week

The central government has also asked all states and UTs to ensure effective preparedness for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. They have been asked to ensure that the data of these beneficiaries is uploaded in Co-WIN. The data will also be available at the session site during the dry run.

The states and UTs shall prepare facilities and users to be created on the Co-WIN application, including uploading the data of Health Care Worker (HCW) beneficiaries, the ministry stated.

The Health Ministry developed the Co-WIN app for real-time monitoring of the coronavirus vaccination process.
'The Black Widower' Thomas Randolph, 65

A Nevada man known as the Black Widower because four of his six wives have all died had his murder conviction for allegedly killing the sixth reversed and will now stand trial again.

Thomas Randolph, now 65, has been remanded in custody until the new trial but he is no longer on death row.

In 2017, he was sentenced to death for the murder of his sixth wife Sharon Causse and Michael James Miller, a man he was accused of paying to kill her to win a life insurance policy payout.

He has always denied the murders and says he came home to find his wife dead, having been shot by the Miller, and that he shot Miller in self-defense.

The jury didn't believe him. Part of the reason was that years earlier, in 1986, his second wife had also turned up dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

He was cleared of that killing but evidence from that case was allowed to be presented at his second trial, including the fact that he inherited $500,000 in life insurance money from the first woman's death.

Prosecutors said he was motivated to kill Causse to collect more than $360,000 in life insurance money from a policy she had taken out.

But on December 9, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the jury should never have been able to hear about that case.

They overturned the decision and ruled that Randolph should get a new trial.

He will not be freed from prison in the meantime.

He reacted gleefully, telling podcast Killer Genes: 'I'm just as happy as can be because as I've told everybody - I didn't do this.

RANDOLPH'S WIVES Kathryn Thomas No 1: Kathryn Thomas - ALIVE It's unclear how long the pair were married but she testified at trial that he threatened to kill her when they were together. She told the jury that he was abusive and manipulative. The pair lived in Utah together. Prosecutors also claimed at his trial that he tried to have her killed by a hitman but that the plan was unsuccessful. Becky Gault No 2: Becky Gault - DEAD Dead: 1986 He claimed she committed suicide by shooting herself in the head and that she'd threatened it once before. He was charged with her murder and the trial included a star witness coming forward to say he'd tried to hire him to kill her. Eric Tarantino said he'd tried to hire him to kill Becky and that he feared he would then be killed himself. 'Until the day they find him dead in his cell, or they stick a needle in him, I sleep with a gun at my side,' he told the court. Despite his testimony, he was acquitted. Gayna Allmon No 3: Gayna Allmon - ALIVE Gayna testified against him at his second trial. She said she believed he was also trying to have her killed but that he couldn't convince a hitman to do it. She recalled at trial one occasion where he was cleaning his gun in front of her and it went off. Gayna said she believed it was a threat to her life. No 4: Francis - DEAD Francis Francis died in 2004. A man testified at trial that he'd been asked by Randolph to kill her. Glen Morrison told the jury that Randolph plotted with him to kill her in a trailer in Indiana. He declined the job because, he said, he didn't want to be killed by Randolph himself afterwards. Francis then died in suspicious circumstances and he cremated her immediately. He then sued a hospital where she'd been treated for an unspecified illness, won a settlement from them and a payment from a life insurance policy he had taken out on Francis. No 5: Leona Stapleton - DEAD Little is known of Leona or when she died but Randolph, according to The Review Journal, told friends and family she died of cancer. No 6: Sharon Causse - DEAD Sharon was found dead from by gunshot wound in 2008. Randolph called police, claiming he had come home to find her dead and Michael James Miller in his home. He said Miller was armed and to stop himself from being killed, he shot him. But Causse's family was suspicious of his story, as were police. He was charged with double murder but had it overturned earlier this month. Sharon Causse and Michael James Miller. Randolph claimed he came home to find Sharon already dead and Miller in the house with a gun Advertisement

Thomas Randolph police interview after murder of Sharon Causse

'I didn't kill Becky, I didn't kill Sharon.

'I think I'm more happy not with the fact I'm getting a new trial...

'I am more happy that the system didn't let me down like it has let me down for going on 13 years.'

He said he would 'absolutely' take the stand at the next trial, and said: 'I've got nothing to hide.'

Thomas Randolph (pictured in 2017) has had his murder conviction for killing his sixth wife overturned. He'll now stand a new trial

His daughter from one of his marriages - Krista - was just as enthusiastic.

'Im speechless. That's awesome wow wow. I'm in total shock.

'This never happens...this made my day, my life,' she said.

But the victim's family is sickened by the decision.

Causse's daughter, Colleen Beyer, said: 'Everybody needs to know he's guilty.

'He's 100 percent guilty.

'I'm mad now. This is just not right. This is not justice for me and my family. He can't get out. He's a killer.

'He'll do it again. He is such an evil, evil person.

'He did it. There is no doubt. I'm really mad, I'm really angry with this system. This should not have happened. I'd like some more answers.'

Before moving to Nevada, Randolph lived in Utah. That is where he is believed to have lived with his first three wives.

Information about three of the women is unknown beyond the fact that his only living ex-wives are his first and his fourth.

They survived but were expected to testify at his murder trial that he threatened to kill them when they were married.

His third wife is not alive but no details about her have been publicly shared either, beyond the fact that she died as a result of an illness.

That is also the cause of his fifth wife's death. Francis Rudolph died in 2004 and left him as the beneficiary of her life insurance policy.

In this Wednesday, July 5, 2017 photo, Colleen Beyer, right, the daughter of victim Sharon Randolph, celebrates his conviction. She is now outraged that it has been overturned

It's unclear how long they'd been married.

At Randolph's murder trial, Francis' daughter testified that he hadn't allowed her to see her mother before she died.

He also had her cremated within 24 hours, took a payout from her life insurance policy and successfully sued the hospital where she had been treated for another lump sum.

He was never arrested in connection with her death.

In 2008, four years later, Sharon, his fifth wife, was killed in Nevada, where he had moved to by then.

He told police that he came home to find her dead and a man in a black ski mask at their home.

He said he then shot the man five times to stop him from killing him too.

But police and prosecutors didn't believe him. He then cashed in $360,000 of Sharon's life insurance money which made them even more suspicious.

The Nevada Supreme Court, in their ruling decision, said: 'Ultimately, the State lured the jury into finding (Thomas) Randolph guilty based on myriad other bad acts that were not even marginally relevant for a nonpropensity purpose, rather than constraining the testimony to evidence relevant to the charged offenses.

'We cannot look to the prior-bad-act evidence to conclude that the error in admitting that evidence was harmless.'

A new trial date has not yet been set.
Is it fair or even patriotic to threaten states that do not conform to the Democratic Socialists' mandate to control the outcome of Free and Fair elections enacted by constitutionally guaranteed states' legislatures?

Yes, all elections must be federalized so that the whim of the majority political party can set the standard for all elections.

No, Our Founders purposefully decentralized elections by guaranteeing only states' legislatures the independent right to enact Free and Fair elections.
Department store giant John Lewis has said it's preparing to resume deliveries to Northern Ireland following new guidance on sending consumer parcels here.

But a body representing hauliers warned of "trepidation" about the new era in the transport of commercial goods between Great Britain and NI.

Last night at 11pm marked the start of a new regime for trade from GB into NI, at the end of transition period following the UK's exit from the European Union.

Under the NI Protocol, Northern Ireland effectively remains in the EU single market for goods, and while still part of the UK customs union, will enforce EU customs rules. The changes mean checks and paperwork, including customs declarations for commercial goods coming into NI ports from GB.

Seamus Leheny of transport representative body Logistics UK said the volume of lorries coming in would be "fairly low" for the first few days. "It's like that scene in Jaws where no-one wants to go into the water. Everyone is waiting to see how everyone else's freight runs from today. There is a bit of trepidation and looking to see what happens."

A three-month grace period which will allow consumer parcel deliveries to continue from GB unimpeded was announced yesterday, and will reassure people here who shop online with big retailers based in GB.

But it's not clear what will happen from April 1, with the Government stating that further details will come "in due course".

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The prospect of change had prompted Debenhams, Dunelm, John Lewis and TK Maxx to pause deliveries to customers here. But a John Lewis spokesman said yesterday: "We temporarily paused deliveries and collections in NI from December 30 while we awaited further guidance on the new trading arrangements.

"We are reviewing the guidance we have received and look forward to resuming these services as soon as possible."

Yodel, one of the UK's largest delivery firms, has told customers they will have to pay additional charges for shipments to Northern Ireland because of the extra bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, Dunelm reiterated it's on track to resume deliveries by January 11, but it was unclear whether the three-month grace period would alter Debenhams' policy. The department store chain said: "We have informed our customers in NI and the Republic that we are temporarily closing the debenhams.ie website and not shipping to NI for the time being, because of the changes that need to be made for compliance once the UK leaves the EU. A number of other retailers are acting similarly."

The NI Consumer Council said that despite the grace period, it was still concerned about the long-term solution for NI consumers and business.

The guidance requires business receiving a parcel with goods over 135 to submit a declaration through The Trader Support Service within three months.

Kellin McCloskey, the council's head of postal services, said: "The Consumer Council remain concerned that any long term solution which involves customs declarations and checks will impact on NI consumers in terms of additional cost, or a reduction in the number of retailers selling to NI.

"We will continue to work with UK Government to reinforce this issue."

Mr Leheny said Logistics UK members were getting to grips with the official Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) for clearing customs checks.

"They are telling me that the systems are up and running and the declarations are going through but it is administration-heavy," he said.
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What promises did President Donald Trump keep during his four years in office? Stacker took a look using data from PolitiFacts Trump-o-Meter.
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The President of Azerbaijan held telephone talks with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov.

According to the head of the Bulgarian government, the implementation of the TAP gas project is very important for Bulgaria.

In turn, Ilham Aliyev pointed out that the delivery of Azerbaijani gas through TAP to Bulgaria is important both from the point of view of the development of bilateral ties and the expansion of international cooperation.
They now live in memory. People like Veronica Alice Mildred Coody, one of the first Berkshire County residents to fall to COVID-19 last April.
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The breathtaking fireworks display, perfectly timed to the show on the facade of the Burj Khalifa, was complemented by dazzling lights and lasers, all synchronised to The Dubai Fountain show, leaving global watchers enthralled both on and offline.

Commenting on the spectacular New Year's Eve in Downtown Dubai, Mohamed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar, said: "Emaar is proud to celebrate world class experiences and this year, despite the challenges we have all faced as a global community, was no different. In a theme that celebrated togetherness and paid tribute to the heroes of 2020, we sent a message of hope to everyone around the world. In the spirit of the UAE's courageous and wise leadership, we will continue to follow their lead and look forward to 2021 with optimism and excitement."

In an Emaar first, the Burj Khalifa shared New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world and invited global audiences to join virtually through a partnership with Zoom and live streams on YouTube and other social media channels.

Emaar and government authorities overcame huge challenges in hosting a largescale event during a pandemic. With the help of widespread disinfection measures and innovative social distancing measures to ensure the health and safety of New Year's Eve guests, the seamless event was an example of great team effort. The success of the night would not have been possible without the support of the leadership of the UAE, Dubai authorities, the Supreme Committee for COVID-19 Crisis Management, Dubai Police, all members of the Events Security Committee, Emaar contractors, suppliers and volunteers, and the Emaar team.

The experience can be re-watched online on Emaar's social media channels. Burj Khalifa will show Emaar NYE 2021 nightly until January 7 and will feature a new laser & light show until March 31st.

SOURCE Emaar
Ahead of the first anniversary of the assassination of Irans Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani by the United States, both sides have said they are prepared for escalation from the other side but will not be the first to make a move.

Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted today, Instead of fighting Covid in the US, [Donald Trump] & cohorts waste billions to fly B-52s & send armadas to OUR region. He continued, Intelligence from Iraq indicates plot to FABRICATE pretext for war. Iran doesnt seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests.

US officials claim they have sent submarines and bombers to the Persian Gulf in order to deter Iran ahead of possible attacks against US bases or interests in the region. Other US officials, however, have disputed the claims that Iran is seeking to attack US bases.

As the anniversary of Soleimanis assassination approaches, many Iranian officials have been talking about his legacy. Given that Soleimani approached domestic politics through a nonpartisan approach, various political sides have attempted to co-opt Soleimani as one of their own. What Soleimani understood was his national, religious and revolutionary responsibilities, and he never doubted their implementation, President Hassan Rouhani said today. When he understands that something is our responsibility, we must do it for our country, our people and our region.

Saeed Jalili, former hard-line nuclear negotiator and critic of Rouhanis outreach to the West and attempts to negotiate, said that Soleimanis actual legacy is that he had a realistic outlook on political issues. Some say we have to be pragmatic in foreign policy, said Jalili, who was often accused of being ideological during the nuclear negotiations when he was in charge. Actually, Soleimani was pragmatic in the world of politics. Jalili warned his critics and political opponents that if you do not see this reality, you will remain in the same place for years.

Iran has continued to vow revenge for the assassination of Soleimani. However, they are still pursuing a legal case as well. The human rights office of Iran, which is headed by Ali Bagheri, said the case is not a show and that the head of Irans Judiciary, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, is seriously pursuing the case. The assassination was an act against the national security of the Islamic Republic, Bagheri said.

It is not clear in what ways Iran will pursue a legal case, but they claim that other countries were involved as well. According to Bagheri, American bases in Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan were used in the assassination, as well as a base in Germany. He added that a security firm in the United Kingdom, which was in charge of security for the Baghdad airport, was also involved.
Ananya Panday is currently in a happy space, as despite the ongoing novel Coronavirus pandemic, work is keeping her busy. She was last seen in Khaali Peeli, which released on Zee5 on November 6, 2020. She will next be seen in Shakun Batra's next, which is a domestic noir and Puri Jagannadh's tentatively titled Fighter.

Ananya Panday With Mom Bhavna Panday spotted at salon Bandra | FilmiBeat

In a recent tete-a-tete with a leading daily, when Ananya was asked if she's nervous or excited about 2021, she said, "It's a mix of everything. Both are very different films. Shakun's film is what he calls a domestic noir, very different from what's been done before. I'm very excited to be working with him, Deepika and Sid, we've all bonded and become really close."

She further added, "Plus, the shooting experience in Goa after so long, it feels like I have another family on that set. Shakun is my bucket list director. Working with Puri (Jagannadh, director of Fighter) sir was a completely different experience. It's an out and out masala action comedy, he's the best at that. It's a pan India film, releasing in four different languages."

ALSO READ: Ananya Panday-Ishaan Khatter's Vacation Pictures From Maldives Take Internet By Storm

In the same interview, Ananya spoke about being paired opposite Vijay Deverakonda in Fighter, and said that she is nervous about her first pan India film. Recalling her debut in Bollywood, Ananya said when Student Of The Year 2 had released, it made her excited yet anxious.

"Now, it's like entering four industries at the same time! There's the same thought process, 'Will I be accepted? Will people like me?' India is such a big place, filled with so much love, culture, everyone loves movies and watching them," added the Pati Patni Aur Woh actor.

ALSO READ: Ananya Panday Celebrates Christmas In All Its Glory; Dons A Simple Yet Super Chic Outfit
The airwaves are buzzing with all the noise today. Aside from all the fake news coming from unreliable mainstream media, the voices of the trolls on the internet, and all the chaos that's happening with regard to the U.S. Elections, there are also the voices that seek to lull the American church back to sleep. A very vocal pastor warns even against listening to such voices.

Prominent California-based pastor Mario Murillo is calling on Christians to stop going after predictions about what will happen in 2021, and instead focus on going after God and making things happen in obedience to the Lord.

Murillo, a very vocal voice in the fight for religious freedom, noted that the internet has been inundated with so many "prophecies" claiming that this new year will bring relief and comfort to people. Many of them, he said, are not of God.

"Social media is flooded with preachers predicting the events of 2021. Many are not of God. They are driven by the desperate need to console the weary American Church. They are telling you the worst is over. They are telling you that we are about to be relieved and no longer on a war-footing. They are saying that we can now return to a peacetime church culture," he said.

"Not only are they horribly wrong-their message will leave you open to the attack of the enemy. Their words may be sweet to the taste, but in the end, they will be bitter in your stomach. (Rev. 10:9)"

The fiery minister then urged American Christians to see the reality that America, right now, is faced with a very huge problem, and that this is no time to "have our ego stroked." Rather, since there is the "reality of a threat" and the people of the nation are "facing a long and hard road ahead," "We need someone to raise our morale as we prepare for war."

Murillo shared how the great Winston Churchill, during his time, resisted making peace treaties with Germany.

"Unlike [resigned Prime Minister Neville] Chamberlain and Lord Halifax, politicians who sought peace treaties and truces with Germany, Churchill recognized the necessity of war. Peace, he thought, meant submission-and submission meant death," he said.

The tenacious Prime Minister, who was called in to take Chamberlain's place, gathered his war cabinet and delivered his most famous speech: the one that caused Britain to resist the illusion of peace, take arms, and fight until the nation won.

Churchill's success in rousing up an entire nation to fight against a "monstrous tyranny" led to the nation's freedom from what could've been it's end. His success in convincing a nation to accept nothing less than victory led to winning against the impending doom.

"You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs - Victory in spite of all terrors - Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival"

It is for this very reason that Murillo is calling on Christians to see the evil that has befallen America.

"China, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, CNN, Hollywood, and the Democrat Party have woven the most insidious and vile web of deceit in American history. The rigged election is, for all real Americans, our version of "a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime,"" he said.

Mario Murillo is calling for a "white hot rage" from people that will not accept going "into that dark night of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris." A determination that will make American Christians say a resounding "No!" against "surrender and capitulation," education that will destroy children, the stealing of businesses and churches.

"No! You will not offer us as a living sacrifice to Communist China. We will not bow. We will not surrender. Not ever!" he said.

Murillo said that 2021 is not a year of "soothing lambs." Rather, it is the year of "igniting lions" - a year where God's people will say to Satan, "we have not even begun." This is the year where Christians should stop listening to the noise, stop going after prophecies, and start going after God.

"I know I have been given this mandate about 2021," Murillo said. "Forget predictions about what will happen. Instead, go after God and make something happen!"
A newly-wed woman was charred to death after the car, in which she and her husband were travelling, burst into flames on the Lucknow-Agra expressway in the early hours of Friday, police said.

The victims husband tried to rescue her, but in vain as the central locking of the car failed. The couple, in their late twenties, was returning to Lucknow after visitng temples at Mathura and Vrindavan, police said.

The matter is being investigated. The husband, Vikas Yadav, from Mohanlalganj in Lucknow said that he was married to Reema from Krishna Nagar in Lucknow on December 2. They both had gone to Mathura and Vrindavan to have darshan at temples and stayed in Mathura on Wednesday night, said Pradeep Kumar, in-charge of Fatehabad police station.

The couple began the journey back to Lucknow on Thursday night and had moved 30 km on the expressway from Agra when they saw smoke emanating from the cars engine. At around 2.30 am, Vikas stopped the car and opened the bonnet and the fire that had started in the engine quickly spread to the cabin.

Reema, who was still inside the cabin, was trapped after the central locking system jammed. Vikas also suffered burn injuries while fighting the fire. He also called the police who reached the spot. The fire brigade was called, but it was too late and Reema was charred to death, police said.

Family members reached the Fatehabad police station on Friday and broke down after seeing Reemas charred body.
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LOS ANGELESAVN Media Network is pleased to announce the launch of the Ring in the New Year Contest on AVN Stars.

We may not be able to throw a big party but that doesnt mean we cant celebrate the end of 2020 and kick off the New Year in style. Show your fans how youre starting 2021 with a bang and get creative with a personal photo on AVN Stars. Just be sure that youre in the image that you submit.

This three-day, 72-hour, fan-voting contest starts at midnight PDT on New Years Day, Friday, Jan. 1 and goes until 11:59 p.m. PDT on Sunday, Jan. 3.

All AVN Stars are eligible to enter and the Top 10 vote-getters will each receive cash prizes with the winner getting $750! To enter, just go into your Settings, click on the Contests tab and upload your image.

Under contest rules, all uploaded images must feature the content creator; in addition, creators are required to post a tweet about their participation in the contest.

In the spirit of competition, AVN Stars is implementing new rules for the 2021 contests that are effective immediately. The winner of the previous contest may join the following weeks contest, however for that week their fan votes will only count 50% toward their contest ranking. For example, every 2 votes would count as 1 toward the following weeks contest ranking. The payout amount for votes will remain unchanged.

Additionally, for every consecutive week that the same creator wins a contest, that following week their votes for ranking purposes will be reduced by 50%. For example, if the same creator wins two weeks in a row, their votes for the third week would accrue at 25% toward their contest rank for Week 3.

To join AVN Stars for free, visit stars.avn.com.

Built for adult entertainers, AVN Stars is a subscription-based community where creators can monetize their content without the worry of censorship, discrimination, shadow-banning or suspensions. Creators may charge a subscription fee or make their posts available for free.
Beijing, Dec 31 (AP) China has given conditional approval to a coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned Sinopharm.

The vaccine is the first one approved for general use in China.

The deputy commissioner of China's Medical Production Administration said Thursday that the decision had been made the previous night. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, January 1: The Civil Aviation Ministry on Friday decided to resume flight services between India and the United Kingdom from January 8, 2021. However, flight operations will remain restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of two countries to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad only. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted to give this information.

Puri tweeted, It has been decided that flights between India and the UK will resume from January 8 2021. Operations till January 23 will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly. New Coronavirus Strain: Suspension of UK Flights Extended till January 7, Strictly Regulated Resumption Afterwards, Says Hardeep Singh Puri.

Tweet by Hardeep Singh Puri:

It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 1, 2021

India on December 22, suspended all flights to and from the United Kingdom till December 31 in the wake of the new mutant strain of novel coronavirus. However, the Centre on Wednesday extended the temporary ban on flights to and from the UK till January 7, 2021. India Suspends All Flights from UK Till December 31 Over Fears of New COVID-19 Mutant Strain.

On Friday, India reported four more cases of the new coronavirus strain, taking the total number of cases to 29. Of the 29 cases of the mutant virus, 10 were registered by National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences Hospital (NIMHANS) Bengaluru, eight by Delhi-based National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and five by National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 01, 2021 08:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Ahead of the certification process of the Electoral College and President-elect Joe Bidens victory, some of the Republican lawmakers are planning to object to the certification in their last attempt to overturn the results. US President Donald Trump and his allies have been trying to overturn the election results on the basis of unproven claims of large-scale electoral fraud.

According to a CNN report, at least 140 House Republicans are planning to vote against the counting of electoral votes on January 6. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has also announced that he will object to the Electoral College vote, reportedly prompting Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell to ask him about the rationale behind the decision.

Republican leader explains the motive

However, several Republican leaders, including McConnell, have been warning their GOP colleagues to not disrupt the certification process. Republican Senate Ben Sasse wrote in a Facebook post that he has been urging his colleagues to reject the dangerous ploy to overturn the election. Sasse said that he hasnt heard a single Congressional Republican allege in private that the election results were fraudulent.

Instead, I hear them talk about their worries about how they will look to President Trumps most ardent supporters, he wrote.

Sasse explained that there are a bunch of ambitious politicians who think theres a quick way to tap into the presidents populist base without doing any real, long-term damage. He warned that Trump and his allies are playing with fire, adding that the president and his arsonist members of Congress have no evidence to prove voter fraud.

Also Read | Trump aims to fabricate pretext for war: Irans Foreign Minister

Delay in transition

While such attempts have virtually no chance to succeed, it could further delay the certification by a few hours, affecting an already delayed transition. Biden had earlier singled out the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), accusing the office of obstructing the incoming administrations efforts to prepare for the presidency.

Trumps budget chief Russ Vought said that the Biden transition team has been making false accusations about Office of Management and Budget. In a letter to Bidens transition chief Ted Kaufman, Vought said that OMB has fully participated in transition efforts, including more than 45 meetings. He further added that redirecting staff and resources to draft your teams budget proposals is not an OMB transition responsibility.

OMB will not participate in developing policies that will weaken border security, dismantle the Presidents deregulatory successes, and draft budgets that will bankrupt America, the letter read.
Texas Southern University will debut an endowed bankers program next fall to boost commercial lending in Houston and train the next diverse generation of bankers in an industry that has largely lacked people of color.

The goal is to educate and prepare bankers for the industry, to fill that void, and give opportunity to those new bankers to go out in their respective communities and work with those small communities who dont know how to work with a bank, said John Scroggins, senior vice president of commercial lending and community development at Allegiance Bank.

The Future Bankers Leadership program will be the first of its kind at a historically black college in Texas and will join the ranks of existing banking programs at Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Southern Methodist and Sam Houston State universities.

The program, in partnership with Allegiance Bank and the Texas Bankers Association, will launch with up to 50 students. Its courses, from financial technology and commercial bank management to lending activities and accreditation analysis, will be taught by banking executives and professionals to give students an accurate depiction of the industry, said Muriel Funches, executive director of advancement for the Jesse H Jones School of Business.

A Risk Management Association certification, which is widely recognized by banks across the world, will also be included as part of the curriculum. In addition, initiatives like a mentors program, case competitions, field trips, networking events and a Future Bankers Club, are geared toward keeping students engaged and on a trajectory to graduate with a job in banking.

We want to make sure were building pipelines out of our universities, said Brent* Cox, vice president of the Texas Bankers Association, and that were building a specific banking curriculum that develops those students and gives them the skills to be bankers.

Cox said the goal is to develop bankers who return to community. TSU fit a lot of the boxes.  Were going to develop bankers who are going to be able to go back to the community and reach across the table to people theyre comfortable with.

The banking industry is going through a transition with an increased need for artificial intelligence, cyber security, and data analytics, and industry executives have noticed a shortage of and lack of diversity in its commercial lenders and businesses.

The Houston region, in particular, has a significant gap in representation, according to Scroggins and Cox.

Of the 90,000 Black-owned businesses in the city, about half are considered unbanked or under-banked, meaning they have minimal or no working relationship with a commercial lender or bank, Scroggins said.

The tragedy in that is they dont have access to capital, Scroggins said. Theyre not able to take advantage of that. Its the lifeblood of small businesses.  You have to have a banking relationship so you can do some of those things while youre moving along with your business.

Scroggins, a TSU alum, said throughout his 40 years in the industry, he has also noticed the lack of Black commercial bankers. Executives would also say that they would love more minority bankers, he said, but they argued that they didnt have a pool to pull from.

The TSU program will offset that.

Cox, who works to support and contribute money to banking programs and ensures internships are filled, said he too noticed that while Houston was producing finance majors, the city had low representation in banking programs at its higher institutions.

Scroggins said he thought, If we started a program at TSU, we would fill that void.

The two have since collaborated on the bankers program at Texas Southern, and the response has been promising, they said. About 30 top banks are partnering with TSUs program in the Houston area, including JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and CitiGroup.

TSU has also launched a $10 million campaign that will help operate the first three years of the program, Funches said. The rest of the money raised will fund the endowment.

It will live in perpetuity because we believe there will always be a need for banking for businesses, Funches said.

The Texas Bankers Association Foundation, a charitable arm of TBA, has committed an initial $100,000 to the program, Cox said.

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of Brent Cox, vice president of Texas Bankers Association. The Chronicle regrets the error.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Hundreds of Christians on December 31st defied the COVID-19 pandemic to mass up at the Korle-Gonno Lighthouse Chapel International branch of the United Denomination, to participate in a night vigil to usher in 2021.



The Church members and other visitors who were mostly clad in white clothes to signify triumph over 2020, sang and danced to glorify God for His love, mercies and protection and above all for a successful year and asked for a better year in 2021.



The churchs auditorium was filled to capacity with several others seated outside with screens mounted at vantage points to allow for the observation of the COVID-19 social distancing protocol as well as to enable everyone to access the activities in order to ease congestion.



Security was tight even prior to the commencement of the service as people were thoroughly scrutinized before entry.



In a televised sermon to the congregation, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Founder of the United Denomination admonished Christians to exhibit behaviour that depicted their faith and glorified God, in 2021.



He explained that behaviours such as backbiting, fornication, lies and betrayal, among others were injurious to oneself, others and the church and hindered them from receiving the favour they required to prosper.



Bishop Heward-Mills, December 31st Watchnight message was based on Matthew 10:16 and declared 2021 as: The Year to be Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Dove".



He noted that even though the just-ended year 2020, was a strange one, particularly with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was still much Ghanaians ought to be thankful for, especially considering how devastating impact the disease had had on some "scientifically developed countries."

Source: GNA









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Britain on Thursday finally severed its turbulent half-century partnership with Europe, quitting the EU single market and customs union and going its own way four-and-a-half years after its shock vote to leave the bloc.

Brexit, which has dominated politics on both sides of the Channel since 2016, became a reality as Big Ben struck 11:00 pm (2300 GMT) in London, just as most of mainland Europe ushered in 2021.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- the figurehead of the "Leave" campaign -- described it as an "amazing moment" for the country and played up his upbeat narrative of a "Global Britain" unshackled from rules set in Brussels.

He vowed that post-Brexit Britain, despite being battered by a surge in coronavirus cases, would be an "open, generous, outward-looking, internationalist and free-trading" country. "We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it."

Legally, Britain left the European Union on January 31 but has been in a standstill transition period during fractious talks to secure a free-trade agreement with Brussels, which was finally clinched on Christmas Eve.

Now the transition is over, EU rules no longer apply. The immediate consequence is an end to the free movement of more than 500 million people between Britain and the 27 EU states.

Customs border checks return for the first time in decades, and despite the free-trade deal allowing Britain continued access to Europe's nearly 450 million consumers, queues and disruption from additional paperwork are expected.

At Eurotunnel in Calais, French officials began implementing the new formalities at midnight on the dot, starting with a truck coming from Romania carrying post and parcels.

Driver Toma Moise, 62, said being the first subjected to the new rules was a "privilege", as Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart symbolically waved him through to the cross-Channel freight train.

Matt Smith, managing director of HSF Logistics, which ships mainly fresh meat and chilled goods between Britain and Europe, said he was sending around 15 truckloads to the EU on New Year's Eve ahead of the changes.

The government's new post-Brexit customs systems are largely untested and Smith was doubtful how his business would fare with the new paperwork. "We're not too sure to be honest, it seems to be a bit of a headache," he told AFP. "There'll be delays along the line at some stage."

Britain is the first member state to leave the EU, which was set up to forge unity after the horrors of World War II.

The 2016 referendum opened up abiding wounds between Leavers and Remainers, and ushered in years of political paralysis before Johnson took power last year, vowing to chart a future for Britain built on scientific innovation and new partnerships across the seas.

A parliamentary debate on Wednesday to ratify the trade deal was marked by elegiac farewells from pro-EU lawmakers, and warnings of disruption as Britain dismantles the intricate network of ties built since it joined the EU's forerunner in 1973.

While the EU tariff- and quota-free trade deal averted potential business chaos in the immediate future, the divorce will play out in many practical ways.

Changes apply to everything from pet passports, to how long Britons can visit their holiday homes on the continent and an end to British involvement in a student exchange programme.

Potential disruption at ports is stoking fears of food and medicine shortages, as well as delays to holidaymakers and business travellers used to seamless travel in the EU.

British fishermen are disgruntled at a compromise to allow continued access for EU boats in British waters.

The key financial services sector also faces an anxious wait to learn on what basis it can keep dealing with Europe, after being largely omitted from the trade agreement.

In a landmark deal sealed just hours before 2300 GMT, the tiny British territory of Gibraltar will become part of Europe's passport-free zone to keep movement fluid on its border with Spain.

Northern Ireland's border with EU member state Ireland will be closely watched to ensure movement is unrestricted -- a key plank of a 1998 peace deal that ended 30 years of violence over British rule.

And in pro-EU Scotland, where Brexit has given a boost to calls for a new vote on independence, Johnson faces a potential constitutional headache as 2021 dawns.

Scotland's pro-EU First Minister Nicola Sturgeon promised in a tweet: "Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on."

But opinion polls indicate that most Britons, on both sides of the referendum divide, want to move on and are far more worried about the worsening coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed 73,500 lives.

Johnson, who himself is among nearly 2.5 million struck down by the virus, warned of tough times ahead because of a resurgence of Covid-19 infections but said a UK-developed vaccine offered grounds for hope.

"It's going to be better," said Maureen Martin, from the port of Dover that lies across the Channel from France. "We need to govern ourselves and be our own bosses."

Britain is a financial and diplomatic big-hitter and a major NATO power with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and in the G7 grouping of the world's richest economies.

The EU has now lost 66 million people and an economy worth $2.85 trillion, and there is regret that Britain wanted out.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Britain will remain "our friend and ally" but lamented that Brexit was the fruit of "a lot of lies and false promises".

Britain's chief trade negotiator David Frost tweeted: "Britain has just become a fully independent country again -- deciding our own affairs for ourselves."

But his EU opposite number, Michel Barnier, was more downbeat. "No one has been able to show me the added value of Brexit," he told RTL radio. "It's a divorce... you can't celebrate a divorce."

Boarding a Eurostar train in Paris as the Brexit hour approached, Francois Graffin, 59, said he was going to pack up his life in London and return to live in France. "It breaks my heart," he said.

In Britain, Brexit has been the culmination of years of anti-Brussels agitation as the union morphed from a trading community to a more ambitious political project.

However, the 2016 referendum never spelt out what shape Brexit should take.

Johnson's predecessor Theresa May repeatedly failed to drive through a "soft" separation that would have kept Britain largely bound to the EU.

But he drove a much harder bargain, to the profound unease of UK businesses and opposition parties.

Now after months of stormy negotiations that were repeatedly upended by the pandemic, Brussels, too, is keen to move on.

But UK lawmaker Chris Hazzard, from the Irish republican Sinn Fein party, said Brexit was far from over. "When all the bluster dies down... it will become depressingly clear that this trade deal is... the beginning of a new trading relationship built on permanent negotiation, disputes and recriminations," he warned.

The Daily Telegraph, where Johnson made his name as a Brussels-bashing Europe correspondent, said the government faced a new reality shorn of the EU bogeyman.

"Politicians will have to get used to bearing much greater responsibilities than they have been used to while the UK has been in the EU," it said.
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Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:45 pm

Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System announced on Wednesday, Dec. 30, it had acquired an ownership interest in Capital Medical Center in Olympia.

The 107-bed hospital, located at 3900 Capital Mall Drive, will be renamed MultiCare Capital Medical Center. The transition in ownership is not expected to affect service to patients.

The announcement was made in a news release from MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit health care organization which operates 10 hospitals throughout Washington state, mostly in the Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane areas. The transaction, the company said, will expand its ability to meet the health care needs of South Puget Sound communities and the Pacific Northwest.

Capital Medical Center is an important part of the Thurston County community, and we are looking forward to working with the employees and providers in the area to improve the health of the South Sound region, Bill Robertson, president and CEO of MultiCare Health System, said in a statement.

MultiCare has been in Thurston County for 30 years and adding Capital Medical Center to our family is the natural next step in our journey to expand access to care and services. Together, we will contribute to the health and vitality of the community in Thurston County and across Washington state.

MutliCare Health System says it currently operates 18 clinics in Thurston County, including multispecialty clinics, Indigo Urgent Care centers and Mary Bridge Childrens clinics.

The hospital was previously owned by Tennessee-based LifePoint Health, a nationwide health care facilities operator which has hospitals and clinics in the Tri-Cities area and Lewiston, Idaho, according to its website. Capital Medical Center was the groups only Western Washington-based operation.

MultiCare Capital Medical Center was originally opened in 1985, and currently serves communities in Olympia and Thurston, Lewis, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties.

The transaction, MultiCare says, is expected to be seamless for the hospitals patients and staff.

There should be no disruptions to care, and patients will continue to access services from the Capital Medical Center providers they know and trust, the news release read.
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Barely three weeks before his term ends, US President Donald Trump extended the ban on skilled immigrant worker visas, such as the H-1B visa, till March 31 extending into the Joe Biden presidency.

This extension pertains to the June 22 proclamation, where he banned the entry of non-immigrant workers such as H-1B, L-1 and J-1 visa holders from entering the US in a bid to protect American jobs Covid-19.

Indians are among the largest beneficiaries of H-1B visas and when the ban was imposed, it impacted them. IT industry body NASSCOM had then commented that the move was misguided. Milind Lakkad, EVP and Global Head, Human Resources, TCS, had said then that the visa ban was unfortunate and unfair.

A study by the American research firm Brookings revealed that the June 22 proclamation resulted in a $100 billion loss for Fortune500 companies. Among the Fortune 500 companies are tech firms Amazon, Apple, Alphabet (Googles parent company), Microsoft, and Cognizant Technology Solutions, among the top H-1B employers.

So how badly will the extension of the ban by three months impact IT firms or Indians?

Immigration experts and H-1B visa aspirants expect the extension to have a minimal impact.

The Biden factor

Joel Yanovich, immigration attorney at US-based Murthy Law Firm, said: I do not believe it (the visa ban extension) would make much of a difference. Presumably, President-Elect Biden would end the visa ban shortly after taking office.

Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the US on January 20, 2021, barely three weeks from now. Biden, prior to the elections, had promised that he would revoke the visa ban, including the one for skilled immigrant workers, after he assumed charge.

Secondly, due to the pandemic, US consulates are either closed or working at reduced capacity. This has already resulted in huge delays in getting appointments. The US Consulates in India, barring expedited appointment requests, have already cancelled visa interviews for February and March 2021, even for emergency requests.

So, the wait time for visa appointments is already longer and the ban for another couple of weeks is hardly expected to impact a large number of Indians.



The interviews currently open in February and March exist to facilitate expedited appointment requests. February and March interviews will be cancelled, and applicants will need to reschedule once we resume regular processing.

 U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) October 22, 2020

Litigation possible

Even if the ban is not revoked, the extension could be sued in US courts. American business groups had filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for banning highly skilled immigrant workers through the June 22 executive order.

The group won the demand for preliminary injunction for the lawsuit, on the grounds that the President exceeded his authority in banning non-immigrant visa holders from entering the US.

In the October 1 order, US District Judge Jeffrey White of Northern District of California, granted preliminary injunction to the plaintiffs and asked the government to process visas with immediate effect.

The relief is applicable to plaintiffs and members of the plaintiff associations. Tech firms that are not part of the plaintiff organisations will not be covered by the ruling.

The lawsuit was filed by the US Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, TechNet, a technology organisation whose members include Accenture, Facebook, and Google and Intrax Inc, a California-based cultural exchange firm, in July. TechNet does not have any Indian IT firms listed as members on its website.

Offshoring is gaining precedence

Lastly, a lot of work has already moved offshore and this pace is likely to continue, with or without the visa ban. With remote work gaining traction, most IT firms reported increased offshoring and have said they would continue to offshore employees in the coming months.

So, the impact the extension will have on IT firms will be minimal since the companies have already put in place steps to ensure that project delivery is not affected. This includes offshoring apart from local hiring in the US.

C Vijayakumar, CEO, HCL Tech, told Moneycontrol recently that the company would look at enhancing its fresher strategy in the US and increase offshoring. Since it has been proven that a lot of onsite requirements can be done remotely, there is going to be more traction for offshore volumes, he added.

In a recent interaction, Keshab Panda, CEO, L&T Technology Services, said: Whatever the policy changes the government brings in, (H-1B visa) will not be eliminated completely. The only thing is whatever happens, we need to optimise our workforce accordingly.

He added that the change going forward would be to create a global company with a local workforce. That is what we are trying to do, he added.

The extension of the ban will, however, impact employees who were aspiring to go to the US. Though Biden may revoke the visa ban, with companies changing their strategies, many aspirants who have a valid H-1B visa are worried about their chances to go overseas.

Vikram (name changed), a techie who got his H-1B visa stamped in January 2020, is wondering about his chances of going to the US. He was set to travel to the US in March 2020. But with international travel suspended and the extension of the June 22 proclamation, his travel plans were postponed.

Now with companies increasing offshoring, he says, his move to the US is uncertain. His visa expires in 2022.

There are many like Vikram who are either unable to travel with their valid visa or who have been forced to come back to India as their project ramped down amid the pandemic.

For these techies, the onsite opportunity is uncertain. As Vikram pointed out: Maybe onsite to the US is only a dream now.
airlines on Thursday said that some of its servers were hacked earlier in the month of December and hackers might upload some internal documents on public platforms.

"We would like to make this disclosure that some of our servers were subject to a incident earlier this month. We were able to restore our systems in a very short span of time with minimal impact," said the airlines in an official statement.

Airlines said that there were some segments of data servers that were breached, and therefore "there is a possibility that some internal documents of the company may get uploaded by the hackers on public websites and platforms."

"We realise the seriousness of the issue, and are continuing to engage with all relevant experts and law enforcement to ensure that the incident is investigated in detail," it added.
Update:

A family member has identified the man shot and killed Friday at an East Side hotel.

Abian Huel, 38, was shot at the Knights Inn on East Houston St. near the AT&T Center.

His wife, Alicia Johnson, described Huel as "a kind and gentle man." Johnson had no time for Huel when he chased her in high school, but they reconnected years later and were married for over 10 years.

"He loved playing Yu Gi Oh," Johnson said.

Original:

A San Antonio man was shot and killed Friday at an East Side hotel, police said.

Officers were called to the Knights Inn on East Houston St. near the AT&T Center for a shooting around 6:07 a.m.

They found a 38-year-old man lying on the ground outside with multiple gunshot wounds. The man was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

A witness told police that a 43-year-old man was inside his room when the 38-year-old man arrived and began to kick in the door. When the door was breached, the man inside opened fire with a handgun, striking the intruder multiple times.

The 43-year-old man fled the scene before officers arrived.

The victim has not been identified. The shooting remains under investigation.
But achieving the goal of vaccinating 10 to 20 percent of the city is still a far way off. In the first 17 days of the vaccination rollout, about 88,140 people had received the first of two doses, the equivalent of about 1 percent of the citys population. Those vaccinated so far have overwhelmingly been hospital employees, residents and workers at nursing homes and the staff at certain health clinics.

The pace is worrying some experts. I do feel concern, said Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, an epidemiology professor at Columbia University. Despite months to prepare, there still seemed to be a steep learning curve when it comes to the nitty-gritty of how do you get it from the freezer to the arm as quickly as possible, she said. I think there are growing pains as people are picking up how to do this.

The first phase should have been the simplest, she added. Weve started out with the easiest populations, an almost captive audience: nursing homes and hospital workers  you know who they are and where to find them.

For now, the vaccination effort does not resemble the sort of mass mobilization many imagined. New York City has yet to open any large vaccination sites. Instead, hospitals administered many of the first vaccinations to their employees. Hospitals have been encouraged to use each shipment of vaccines within a week, and the operation does not always have a race-against-the-clock feel.

The number of vaccinations plummets on weekends and all but stopped for Christmas Day, when more planes landed at Kennedy International Airport than vaccine doses were administered in New York City.

The vaccination program is now in its third week and has yet to accelerate dramatically, even as supply has begun to increase. More than 340,000 doses have been delivered to New York City so far.
Luke Letlow, 41, died Tuesday from complications brought on by COVID-19

He was undergoing treatment for the virus at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport

Letlow had developed a COVID-related blood clot and underwent two procedures to treat it

The second follow-up procedure appeared to go to plan on Tuesday

Letlow then suffered a heart attack later that day and died

His death sent shockwaves through the government and the nation given his age and that he had no underlying health conditions

He is the first federally-elected official to die from the infection

The 41-year-old's funeral is planned for Saturday afternoon at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe

Weeks before his death he held campaign rallies indoors and outdoors

Letlow was due to be sworn in on Sunday and is the first member or member-elect of Congress to die from the coronavirus

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, had undergone surgery for a blood clot before he suffered a heart attack and died Tuesday, it has been revealed.

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The Louisiana Republican House Representative-elect tragically passed away due to COVID-19 complications while undergoing treatment for the virus at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport, weeks after he spoke at GOP campaign events to maskless crowds.

His death sent shockwaves through the government and the nation given his age and that he had no underlying health conditions, as he became the first federally-elected official to die from the infection.

New details have emerged about the treatment he was undergoing in hospital in his final moments.

Letlow had developed a COVID-related blood clot and underwent two procedures to treat it, the Monroe News-Star reported.

The second follow-up procedure appeared to go to plan on Tuesday but Letlow then suffered a heart attack later that day and died.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor G.E. Ghali told the paper his death was 'devastating to our entire team'.

'He had no underlying conditions. It was just COVID,' he added.

This comes as Letlow's wife and two children prepare to mourn the 41-year-old at his funeral which is planned for 2p.m. Saturday afternoon at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe.

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Letlow, who had spoken in favor of ending lockdowns, was due to be sworn into office Sunday by his predecessor US Representative Ralph Abraham.

Because he could not attend the in-person event in Washington, arrangements were being made for it to take place at his hospital bedside, before Letlow's shock death Tuesday.

His death was first confirmed in a post to his official Facebook page.

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The married father-of-two died just 11 days after revealing he'd tested positive for the virus on December 18.

At the time, he said he was at home, 'resting, following all CDC guidelines, quarantine protocols, and the recommendations of my doctors'. He was being treated with Remdesivir and steroids - part of the same treatment President Trump was given.

But the following day, he revealed he was undergoing treatment at St Francis Hospital in Monroe.

Letlow, pictured wearing a mask in this photograph is pictures with his wife and two kids last month

In the weeks and months before his death, Letlow held multiple campaign events, including meet-and-greets where sometimes both he and attendees did not wear masks and in some cases were not adhering to social distancing. Pictured in a social media post November 3

An image from a Nov. 9 campaign event in Washington Parish shows a maskless Letlow addressing the crowd, who many also appeared to have forgone PPE

A packed campaign event shows supports - some wearing masks - applauding Letlow as he enters a crowded room (picture taken September 12)

The Congressman-elect sometimes wore a mask when campaigning, sometimes he didn't

Three days after being admitted, his office said he had been transferred to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center.

Chancellor of the hospital, G.E Ghali , later confirmed he died after going into cardiac arrest after undergoing an operation related to the virus.

It's not currently known when or where Letlow may have contracted the virus.

In the weeks and months before his death, Letlow held multiple campaign events, including meet-and-greets where sometimes both he and attendees did not wear masks and in some cases were not adhering to social distancing.

He posted numerous photos to his Facebook page of himself and dozens of others at campaign and community events without masks and without social distancing.

Letlow and his family pictured on December 5 casting their votes at a local elementary school

In one image, posted November 3, Letlow is seen speaking to the media surrounded by supporters holding placards. None of the 17 people depicted - including Lutlow - are wearing a face covering.

Just six days later, at an outdoor campaign event in Washington Parish, Letlow uploaded images to Twitter of him posing for photos with attendees. Once again neither he nor they were wearing facemasks at the time the images were taken.

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Other pictures from the event show Letlow speaking in front of the maskless crowd as they sit down for a meal. The vast majority either don't have, or aren't wearing, a facemask.

Similarly, at an earlier indoor event on September 12, a maskless Letlow is seen walking inside to be greeted by a group of cheering supporters. A large number of those in attendance, the majority elderly, do appear to be wearing masks.

Then again on October 30, Letlow met with supporters for an event outside of a Big Box Bargains store. While he and the guests pictured were not wearing masks, they did appear to be standing at a social distance.

On other occasions while campaigning, however, Letlow was seen to be wearing a mask, particularly for indoor events.

Pictures posted to his campaign's since-deleted Facebook page indicate that he'd typically wear a mask for indoor events, but often not for those staged outside.

In October, during a Congressional seat debate, Letlow also voiced support for states across the US easing lockdown restrictions and reopening their economies - despite the ongoing pandemic.

'So while we've been cautious and I think both the state and federal level have taken numerous precautions for COVID-19,' he said during the candidate forum. 'We're now at a place if we do not open our economy we're in real danger.'

Letlow also credited President Trump early on in the pandemic for showing 'tremendous leadership and a remarkable ability to get things done quickly during this national emergency.

'America is defeating COVID-19,' he wrote in an April 7 tweet, 'and our nation will come out stronger because of it.'

Letlow, from the small town of Start in Richland Parish, was elected in a December runoff election for Louisiana's sprawling 5th District U.S. House seat representing central and northeastern regions of the state, including the cities of Monroe and Alexandria.

He secured the seat with a landslide 62 percent of the vote and would have been Rep. Ralph Abraham's successor who didn't seek reelection after honoring a pledge to serve a limit of three terms.

He is the first member or member-elect of Congress to die from the coronavirus. It's unclear whether any of his family has tested positive for the virus.

Friends of Letlow have spoken out in shock over his death, remembering him as a champion of rural America who was 'destined for great things'.

'He was very uncommon when you compare him to modern-day politicians, especially the younger politicians. He was very rural rooted and he loved being from a rural community,' Scott Franklin, Letlow's best friend and campaign chairman, told Insider. 'He fully understood the struggle that rural America is going through.

'Luke was going to be the rural champion,' he continued.

Mike Smith, a longtime friend of Letlow, told WAFB that he was born to be a House Representative.

'What I found most interesting about Luke was the fact he really cared about people,' Smith told the network.

'He was more interested in knowing where they worked and where the family was from and, you know what they did to sustain themselves and how they were maybe in a related and some instances. He was more interested in the people part of politics than the petty part of politics.'

Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to call a special election to fill the now-vacant congressional seat.

The new election will likely be combined with an existing special election in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District. That seat is being vacated by Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond, who is joining Joe Biden's cabinet.

Letlow is pictured with President Trump, who also contracted COVID-19 earlier this year. In April, Letlow tweeted that Trump was 'defeating COVID'

Wife Julia has not yet issued a public statement on her husband's passing

The couple are pictured together in their younger years

When he announced his positive test for COVID-19, Letlow joined a list of Louisiana officials who have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began, including U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Attorney General Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson and U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond.

On December 21, while hospitalized in Monroe, Letlow urged those who had recovered from the virus to donate plasma to help 'save lives'.

'Your plasma is ESPECIALLY needed by those who are suffering,' he wrote in a tweet. 'I cannot stress this enough. Please consider saving lives by going out and donating at your local blood bank.'

In a statement announcing his death Tuesday, his campaign manager Andrew Bautsch wrote: 'Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, passed away this evening at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport due to complications from COVID-19.

'Letlow was admitted into a Monroe Hospital on December 19 after testing positive for the coronavirus and was transferred to Ochsner-LSU Health on Tuesday, December 22, and placed in intensive care.

'Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, Phd., and two young children.

Gov. John Bel Edwards offered condolence via Twitter and in a lengthier statement

'The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time.

'A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.'

Gov. Edwards offered condolences via Twitter Tuesday night, writing: 'It is with heavy hearts that @FirstLadyOfLA and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlow's family on his passing after a battle with COVID-19. #lagov.'

'COVID-19 has taken Congressman-elect Letlow from us far too soon,' Edwards said in a lengthier statement. 'I am heartbroken that he will not be able to serve our people as a U.S. representative, but I am even more devastated for his loving family.

'I hope all of the people of Louisiana will join Donna and me in praying for Congressman-elect Letlow's family, especially his wife Julia and their two children, his many friends and the people of the 5th Congressional District. Louisiana has lost more than 7,300 people to COVID-19 since March, and each one of them leaves a tremendous hole in our state.'

Gov. Edwards said that flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of Letlow's funeral.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also lamented Letlow's passing during her weekly press conference Wednesday.

'[W]e extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old. Coronavirus blood clot complications,' Pelosi said.

'This could have happened to anyone and it has to nearly 350,000 Americans,' she added.

Letlow had tweeted several times since receiving his diagnosis on December 18th

Letlow appeared to have been preparing for Congress all of his life ever since he was president of the College Republicans at Louisiana Tech University. He is pictured here at the Republican National Convention in 2000

Letlow secured the seat with 62 percent of the vote and would have been Rep. Ralph Abraham's successor, left, who didn't seek reelection after honoring a pledge to serve a limit of three terms. The pair are pictured together in August 2020

Letlow spent his career in politics.

He arrived in Abraham's office in 2014 after a stint working for a Denver energy company in governmental relations but he seemed as though he had been preparing for Congress all of his life ever since he was president of the College Republicans at Louisiana Tech University.

He interned for former Louisiana Republican 5th District Congressman John Cooksey of Monroe and was so keen to be involved after returning home he became Cooksey's driver in 2001 while still in college.

Letlow then managed to become involved with Bobby Jindal working on his failed 2003 governor's campaign.

When Jindal finally became Louisiana's Republican Governor from 2008 to 2016, Letlow was there once again, working as a senior staffer for the young governor during his first term.

Jindal tweeted his condolences on Tuesday night.

'Supriya and I are heartbroken to learn of @LukeLetlow's passing. Luke has been a good friend for so many years, and we are saddened he was taken from us at such a young age. We had talked in recent days about his excitement about the opportunity to serve the people of the 5th Congressional district, and his love and devotion for Julia and their kids.

'I first met Luke when he was still a college student, and spent countless hours with him in his truck driving the back roads of Louisiana. His passion for service has been a constant throughout his life. He truly enjoyed meeting people, learning about them, and helping them. We keep Luke, his family, and especially his young children in our prayers,' Jindal wrote.

Letlow is pictured at another campaign event alongside some prospective voters

Letlow then managed to become involved with Bobby Jindal working on his failed 2003 governor's campaign and then as a senior staff from 2008

Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, Phd., and two young children. The couple are shown above on their wedding day in 2013

Letlow is pictured in July after signing up to run for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Letlow was able to connect Jindal with Louisiana's rural voters.

He took him to Protestant churches, volunteer fire stations and convenience stores at country crossroads in northern and central Louisiana according to The News-Star.

'In his first campaign Bobby had trouble connecting with rural voters; we changed that in 2007,' said Letlow.

'Those were exciting times,' he said. 'Bobby was young and brilliant and energetic. It was an electric atmosphere.'

Just two years into Jindal's first term as governor Letlow left the team abruptly after sensing that Jindal's focus was shifting to national politics and a possible presidential bid.

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'There's not necessarily anything wrong with that, but it wasn't a path I wanted to take even though I thought he might win,' he said.


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In 2020, India has had deteriorating relations with China and Pakistan and it is being firm on its stance against the two countries. Entering 2021, India is set to face challenges with its neighboring countries.

As we enter 2021, India has rejoined the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member in the new year for a two-year term. In 2020, India faced deteriorating ties with China in the wake of the protracted military stand-off at eastern Ladakh and Pakistans continued support to cross-border terrorism were the two biggest challenges for India on the foreign policy front.

After months of diplomatic and military level talks, the border issue between India and China remains unresolved and has entered into other spheres of relations. India has already banned several Chinese apps on grounds of security while reports have hinted at the government mulling over raising tariffs on Chinese products.

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh recently said in an interview, It is true that in order to reduce the standoff between India and China, talks were taking place on the military and diplomatic level. But no success has been achieved so far. There will be a next round of talks on the military level which can take place anytime. But no meaningful outcome has come and there is status quo.

Also read: India gears up for Covid-19 Vaccine; 130 crore await DGCIs nod

The Indian armed forces are prepared for a long run, apprehending that 2021 may pose more challenges for them at the LAC. Pakistan, the iron brother of China, continued its state-sponsorship of terrorism against India, particularly in the Kashmir Valley. Unhappy with the gradually improving law and order situation in the valley, it violated the 2003 ceasefire agreement time and again to push terrorists into India.

Tensions between the two South Asian neighbors is likely to continue even in 2021 with India making it clear that peace with Pakistan is impossible until it stops its support to cross-border terrorism.

As the political crisis in Nepal continues, China has been accused of unprecedented meddling in Nepals political turmoil. In contrast, Indias stance has been more restrained. The Ministry of External Affairs said that, while it had noted the developments, these were internal matters for Nepal to decide as per its democratic processes.

Also read: Temple vandalism in Pakistan: 30 members of Islamist Party arrested
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  The City of Manila has launched a pre-registration program for residents who want to avail of free COVID-19 vaccines.

Through the website manilacovid19vaccine.com, city residents may sign up for a slot ahead of the rollout of the local vaccination process. The link went live just before New Year and features a sign-up sheet, a summary of COVID-19 cases in the city, a still empty heat map for areas where people have already been vaccinated, and an online database.

Some Manila residents were informed about the online registration through a Dec. 31 text advisory.

READ: Over 300,000 Manila City residents to be prioritized for future COVID-19 vaccination  mayor

According to the website, the vaccines will be administered in two doses to be given four weeks apart. It provides disclaimers on the effect of the doses, such as the warning that people may still get infected with the coronavirus immediately after the vaccine is injected.

In a tweet, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso explained that the city has reached out to US drug makers Pfizer and Moderna for vaccine supply and that they have an established vaccination process on standby.

The website also assured that only vaccines certified safe for use by the Food and Drug Administration will be purchased by the city hall.

"While it is true that uunahin natin ang mga medical frontliners at ang mga senior citizens base sa polisiya ng World Health Organization, DOH at IATF... after natin mabakunahan ang mga nasabing sektor, agad tayo makapagpabakuna sa mga taong interesado na magkaroon ng kapanatagan sa pang-araw-araw nilang mga buhay," Moreno said on Thursday evening.

[Translation: While it is true that we will prioritize medical frontliners and senior citizens based on the policies of the World Health Organization, DOH and IATF... after we vaccinate them, we will immediately inoculate those who are interested to have peace of mind in their everyday lives.]

The vaccine of Pfizer and its partner BioNTech is the first to be approved by foreign regulators for emergency use. It secured WHO approval on Friday, which is said to fast-track regulatory clearances in other nations.

READ: Emergency use approval for Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine may be out within a month  FDA

Moreno earlier said that the city has set aside 200 million to buy COVID-19 vaccines, adding that they can cancel more projects to free up more funds if needed.

The Philippine government has yet to finalize supply deals with foreign vaccine makers, but expects to receive doses from China's Sinovac by March. There are conflicting efficacy rates for Sinovac, which is assured to be "over 50% effective" by its manufacturer, compared to Pfizer's 95% and Moderna's 94.5%.

Among the details required for the vaccine registration are the person's full name, birthday, mobile number, and home address. The city resident must also fill up data regarding previous COVID-19 infections, recent exposure to a patient or foreign travel, and symptoms experienced.

Medical history must also be disclosed, such as hypertension, diabetes, lung problems, recent dog bite, previous vaccination, blood transfusion, allergies, and antiviral drugs being taken, if any.

Pregnant or nursing mothers also need to disclose such conditions to the Manila Health Department.

After this, the registrant's mobile number will be validated through a one-time PIN, which they must encode in the next page. This is to ensure that the contact number is active and may be used once the vaccination program is implemented.

The last step for registration is the signing of an online waiver.

Manila has 295 active cases out of 24,893 total infections, according to latest local government data.
Read the full article in the January 2021 digital edition. . .

Besides protecting and holding us together, skin is an effective communicator. It can indicate emotion, turning red with embarrassment or anger, or pale with fear. It glows with vitality when were happy and healthy, or dulls, yellows, flares up, itches, wrinkles, cracks, sags, etc., with age, imbalance and disease. It even tingles and warms with excitementor betrays us as dark circles and under-eye bags if weve stayed out too late, or as redness and inflammation when weve surpassed our UV limit.

It has even been explored as a coronavirus indicator; take COVID-19 fingers and toes, for example. As weve previously reported,1 work published by researchers at Kings College London proposed the diagnostic potential of COVID-19 fingers and toes, which present with reddish and purplish bumps or rashes. These can occur even in the absence of other symptoms and could be used to identify carriers of the virus.

This proposal was based on data collected from 336,000 users of the COVID Symptom Study app in the UK. Of these, 8.8% reporting positive coronavirus swab tests also reported skin rashes as part of their symptoms, compared with 5.4% of those reporting negative test results.

Another online survey collected data and photographs of nearly 12,000 individuals with both skin rashes and suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of the respondents testing positive for the coronavirus, 17% reported a rash as the first symptomand for one in five people (21%), the rash was their only symptom. These rashes generally fell into three categories: hive-type (urticaria); prickly heat or chickenpox-type; and chilblains on fingers and toes.

The lead author of this study, dermatologist Veronique Bataille, M.D., Ph.D., stated, Many viral infections can affect the skin, so its not surprising that we are seeing these rashes in COVID-19. However, it is important that people know that in some cases, a rash may be the first or only symptom of the disease.

Even after recovering from the coronavirus, an individual may see their skin continuing to tell the tale of COVID-19. In reviewing nearly 1,000 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients with skin manifestations, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found rash-like morbilliform (measles-appearing rashes) and urticarial (hives) eruptions could last an average of 4-7 days and up to 28 days. Papulosquamous eruptions (scaly papules and plaques) lasted a median of 20 days, and one confirmed eruption lasted up to 70 days.2

From a personal care market perspective, skin/skin care also serves as an indicator of trends to come. Technologies frequently transfer from skin into hair and other categories; take anti-aging, sun protection, anti-pollution, naturals, clean beauty and the microbiome, for example. With this in mindand considering the year weve just hadwe looked to industry experts to share their insights on current concerns and trends shaping skin care, health and hygiene, as well as future directions for product development. Perhaps these will eventually roll out across product categories. Heres what they had to say.

Simplistic, Stress-Reducing and Nutricosmetics

Due to the pandemic, there was a [major] shift in work and lifestyle, dress codes, emotional needs as well as economics for many of us, writes Liki von Oppen-Bezalel, Ph.D., a consultant with Israel-Germany Bio-Tech Consulting. This led to different needs from cosmetic, health and personal care products. Consumers want more down-to-earth, healthy, effective, easy-to-use and affordable products, yet natural, sustainable and climate-preserving, innovative stories and routines that are simple, less time-consuming and [that fit into a] healthier lifestyle.

She noted products are expected to provide hydrating, soothing and emotional stress-reducing effects, especially in light of our new environmentincluding increased digital stress. This includes products targeting cell machinery related to aging and stress. Other benefits sought include anti-inflammation, immuno-modulation and mood modulation.

How might the industry find a way back to normal? I believe that finally, we [have come] to the era of nutricosmetics/beauty from within as part of integrative platforms for skin health and beauty via nutrition,  physical activity and mindset (soul), she writes. For example, she is working with the development of products such as ButyQuin (INCI: Nigella Sativa Seed Oil) and the nutraceutical ThymoQuin, a standardized, cold-pressed black cumin oil. These topical and edible ingredients target key benefits such as [the] mitochondrial functions [of] revitalization, inflammation, oxidation and immuno-modulation.

In addition, BlueGuard-Oral is a standardized nutricosmetic blend of components to protect against digital aging thanks to exposure to damaging blue light emitted from digital deviceswhich, of course, has increased during the pandemic due to social distancing and working remotely.

Psychodermatology, Inflammaging and Scalp Care

Ezgi Todurge, marketing director for Jeen International Corp., provides a spot-on example of technology transfer from skin into hair care. Scalp care is the latest area of focus for skin care, she writes, followed by maskne and psychodermatology. Excessive use of dry shampoos and an increase in bleaching coupled with environmental stressors and high levels of mental stress all play a significant role in causing scalp concerns.

She adds that society is now embracing mental wellness as an important factor of overall well-being, which has been challenged by the uncertainty of the global pandemic. In relation, she believes that psychodermatology will take the lead in the skin care category.

As proven by science, the interaction between the mind and skin is undeniable. Increased levels of stress/anxiety cause an increase in cortisol production, leading to inflammation and excess oil production, which then leads to various skin concerns; from acne and rosacea, to microbiome imbalance and premature aging of skin, among many other concerns.

For brands, Todurge points to targeted solutions against inflammaging as an area of focus, especially as more studies prove it to be at the core of skin/scalp issues. She also thinks consumers will begin favoring efficacious skin care products that offer multisensorial experiences as users start to rely on them as accessible, gratifying indulgences that offer a mental escapeeven if only for a minute, during times of uncertainty and high anxiety.

Specific to inflammaging, Todurge underlines extensive studies that have shown the capabilities of the plant-powered technology series known as StrataPhix (INCI: Not Provided). [These products are] capable of both reversing and preventing skin inflammaging to combat a large variety of skin/scalp concerns by suppressing the formation of active caspase-1the protein responsible for triggering cellular inflammation.

Safer Naturals with Standards

Patricia Leon Melgar, vice president of U.S. sales and marketing for Candela Organic, sees a rise in consumer concerns over ingredient safety as a continued driving force for naturals. Consumers are turning to natural and organic personal care products [due to] concerns about synthetic chemicals in cosmetics and [personal care], she writes. Many consumers believe there is a link between  parabens, sulfates, phthalates and aluminum salts to conditions such as breast cancer, rosacea and Alzheimers Disease. Consumers are buying natural and organic personal care products because these products are considered safer than conventional products.

According to Melgar, the North American market expanded by 3.1% to $5.2 billion in 2017 although the growth rate declined because of a contraction in the natural cosmetics category this year. However, she observes, Healthy growth rates are envisaged to resume in the coming years, pushing revenues to $6.8 billion in 2023.

She cites Ecovia Intelligences projection that the North American market will show a 4.6% compound annual growth rate, driven by: consumer concerns about contentious chemicals in cosmetics and personal care; increasing distribution in mass market retailers; broadening sales channels for natural personal care products; and new product launches.

In relation, she also emphasized, There is a high level of  confusion with consumers unable to differentiate between legitimate natural and organic personal care products, [and] falsely labeled ones. This confusion is leading retailers to develop their own standards or criteria for natural personal care products. [For example], Whole Foods Market introduced its Premium Body care Standard in 2008, whilst Sephora launched the Clean at Sephora label in 2018.

Empowered Consumers and Sustainable Supply

Rosanna Stokes, business development manager for the Americas at Emerald Kalama Chemical, underscored, This is the era of the empowered consumer. Consumers want to understand the ingredients in their products, and they are more likely to purchase products that meet their values for safety and sustainability.

She added that this is exemplified in the way label trends have evolved. Consumers are looking for clean labels with shorter INCI lists and more recognizable ingredients, as well as indicators that products are greener, more eco-friendly and gentler on the skin, she writes. According to Mintel, the fastest-growing claims for skin care products  [in] the past 5 years are related to vegan ingredients (10.1% growth), environmentally friendly packaging (4.7%), no animal cruelty (4%), recyclability (3.9%), lower impact to habitats and resources (3.8%) and environmentally friendly products (3%).

Manufacturers are addressing these needs by adopting milder surfactants, multifunctional ingredients and eco-friendly, non-irritating preservative systems to replace chemistries under scrutiny. For example, 99.9% pure Purox S sodium benzoate and Kalama Sodium Benzoate provide a nature-identical alternative to sensitizing preservatives and are biodegradable. And multifunctionals such as Emerald 3PP (INCI: Phenylpropanol) boost cleansing, stability, processing and antimicrobial efficacy.

Looking ahead, Stokes sees sustainable sourcing and nature-identical offerings as the way forward in skin care. The definition of sustainability is evolving to include a focus on the total supply chain, she explains. There is a growing consumer concern about how the various components of a finished commercial product are produced, processed and transported.

This includes considerations such as protecting the communities from which raw materials are sourced, and a growing awareness that extracting these ingredients can negatively impact sensitive ecosystems. In addition, there is a significant opportunity for nature-identical ingredients in skin care, she adds.

Barrier Care, Microflora and Anti-acne

During the COVID-19 pandemic, skin hygiene-related products have gained market share. In response, according to Arunasiri Iddamalgoda, Ph.D., director of R&D for Ichimaru Pharcos Co., Ltd., There may be an increasing number of products supporting barrier protection due to regular [cleansing] with high-ethanol content products. Therefore, barrier care and skin microflora-targeting products may become more important concepts for formulators.

Perhaps an even greater impact of the pandemic has been on marketing channels such as online business, which Iddamalgoda believes may keep the pace even after COVID-19 recovery. Furthermore, the industry has witnessed different mask-induced skin problems such as acne, depending on age or skin type, which have become an important issue during the pandemic.

Even after the pandemic, people may keep using masks (probably), Iddamalgoda writes. [In] countries like Japan, it is a general practice to use masks during spring to prevent pollen allergies, and in winter to prevent influenza. So, [these] mask-induced effects may be less in Japan  than [in] other countries [that are wearing] masks for the first time.

To address acne and related skin problems, the company offers Soapnuts Extract Powder (INCI: Sapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract). In addition, to effectively rebalance the skin microflora, a product from a Lactobacillus species derived from Japanese rice has been developed: Fairy Flora K-1 (INCI: Lactobacillus). Finally, Iddamalgoda stresses, Anti-inflammatory ingredients are important for any of the above product concepts, [for which we have] developed [a] multifunctional  anti-inflammatory cosmetic ingredient with proven efficacy, in vitro and in vivo: IZAYOI (INCI: Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract).

. . .Read more in the January 2021 digital edition. . .

References
Acting Director of Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought speaks during a news briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on March 11, 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trumps Budget Director Denies Biden Teams Claims of Obstructing Transition

President Donald Trumps Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director, Russell Vought, on Dec. 31 defended his agencys handling of requests from the transition team of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, denying claims that the Trump administration is obstructing the transition process.

In a letter addressed to the head of Bidens transition team, Ted Kaufman, Vought said he wanted to correct several false statements and noted that his agency will not allow current OMB staff to write Biden policy proposals to dismantle this administrations work.

Since ascertainment, OMB has provided significant briefing materials on its operations, and has provided factual information about ongoing programs to the [Biden transition team] upon request, he wrote.

Vought insisted that the office has been fully cooperative over the course of 45 meetings with Bidens staff to discuss specific issues, operational questions, and more. He also noted that his OMB staff had briefed transition officials on Operation Warp Speed and other coronavirus pandemic relief efforts.

Furthermore, there is record of your team accessing these critical documents just last week, Vought wrote.

As the record shows, OMB has fully participated in appropriate transition efforts. What we have not done and will not do is use current OMB staff to write the BTTs [Biden transition teams] legislative policy proposals to dismantle this Administrations work, he said.

Bidens team has received $9.9 million in federal funding to ensure a smooth transition, Vought noted.

OMB staff are working on this administrations policies and will do so until this Administrations final day in office, Vought continued. Redirecting staff and resources to draft your teams budget proposals is not an OMB transition responsibility.

Vought added, Our system of government has one president and one administration at a time. OMB will not participate in developing policies that will weaken border security, dismantle the presidents deregulatory successes, and draft budgets that will bankrupt America.

Voughts letter comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the Biden team amid a rocky transition period.

Biden has declared victory in the 2020 election and is preparing to take office. President Donald Trump and some Republicans are contesting the election results in certain counties with alleged evidence of election fraud. While the legal challenges continue, Trump last month expressed his support head of the General Services Administration, Emily Murphy, to begin the transition process according to Section 3 of the Presidential Transition Act. Murphy said she made the decision independently after receiving threats for not having started the transition process.

In a letter, Murphy explicitly stated that the presidency had not been decided.

GSA does not dictate the outcome of legal disputes and recounts, nor does it determine whether such proceedings are reasonable or justified, she wrote. The actual winner of the presidential election will be determined by the electoral process detailed in the Constitution.

On Monday, Biden asserted that his team had encountered roadblocks at the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense, who were not cooperating fully, making it more difficult to prepare for him to come into office in January.

Weve encountered roadblocks from the political leadership in the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget. Right now, we just arent getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas, Biden said at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware.

Its nothing short, in my view, of irresponsibility, he said.

In a statement later Monday, acting defense chief Christopher Miller defended his agencys coordination with Bidens team and disputed the former Vice Presidents claims, noting that the Pentagon has conducted 164 interviews with more than 400 officials, responded to 188 requests for information, and handed over more than 5,000 pages of non-public and classified information, far more than initially requested by Bidens transition team.

DODs efforts already surpass those of recent administrations with over three weeks to go and we continue to schedule additional meetings for the remainder of the transition and answer any and all requests for information in our purview, Miller said.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Firefighters battled a double car fire in west Belfast on New Year's Eve.

Police were called to the scene on Pembroke Loop Road on Thursday night after reports of a two-vehicle crash.

Sergeant Begley said: Shortly after 9:25pm, it was reported that a Citroen Berlingo and a Renault Laguna were involved in the incident.

"The Citroen Berlingo was alight upon arrival of police and was extinguished by Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. The drivers of the vehicles were not in the area following the incident.

Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw anything suspicious in the area, to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1647 31/12/20. A report can be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport . Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org .

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts watches as the flag-draped casket of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is carried in the Great Hall at the Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images)

Chief Justice John Roberts Praises Work of Federal Courts During Pandemic

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts praised courts across the country in an annual end of year report for how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roberts noted that the nations highest court in March asked employees to work remotely, and moved most filings and opinions online. In May, the Supreme Court held oral arguments by teleconference for the first time, an arrangement that remains in place at least through January.

Other appellate courts around the country have responded with similar considered flexibility, he wrote in the 7-page report. Trial courts, meanwhile, have worked to carry out their vital functions while following the best available health guidance amid the pandemic, he added. Hearings went virtual; video and audio conferencing became normal practice. Courtrooms that needed to be in session did so in reconfigured spaces.

All this is a credit to judges and court staff, but also to the citizens who serve as jurors. Judges from around the country report that, where jury trials have resumed, responses to jury summonses have met or exceeded their high hopes for the publics willingness to participate in the legal system during these very challenging times, Roberts wrote.

The way the courts responded wouldnt have been possible without unsung heroes, both in the judicial branch and throughout the government, he added, conveying his condolences to judiciary employees who have contended with illness and loss over the course of the year.

Roberts, 65, has spent 15 years on the court, the entire time as the chief judge. He was nominated by President George W. Bush.

Roberts drew ire from some conservatives in 2020. They accuse him of drifting leftwards over the years as he increasingly sides with the bloc of justices nominated by Democratic presidents.

Roberts oversees an altered court, with six of the justices nominated by Republican commanders-in-chiefsthree by President Donald Trump alone.

Trumps most recent nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, was approved by the Senate in November. She filled the seat held for decades by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a President Bill Clinton nominee.

The report came as millions of Americans receive the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines. At least some justices have received injections, a spokeswoman told The Associated Press. They were provided with the doses under a directive from Trump, which directed injections to key government figures.

Trump, who recovered from the disease in October, has not been vaccinated, but Vice President Mike Pence has. Other government officials getting the shot include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Surgeon General Jerome Adams.
China has detected its first imported case of the new coronavirus variant that is spreading rapidly around Britain, according to a publication run by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Countries around the world have cut off travel links to Britain to stop the spread of the new variant, which scientists have said is 40-70% more transmissible than the original virus.

The variant was detected in a 23-year-old female student returning to China from Britain, who was tested in Shanghai on Dec. 14, according to the latest edition of China CDC Weekly published on Wednesday.

The case "poses a great potential threat to the prevention and control of COVID-19 in China", the publication said.Researchers ran gene-sequencing on the patient's sample on Dec. 24 and found the strain is a variant known as "VUI202012/01", the publication said.

The variant includes a genetic mutation that, in theory, could result in COVID-19 spreading more easily between people.

China will suspend direct flights to and from Britain indefinitely, a foreign ministry spokesman said last week.The patient in Shanghai has been transferred to a designated medical institution for quarantine, and investigation into her close contacts has started, according to the publication.

Also Read: Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine becomes first to get WHO nod for emergency use

Also Read: BT Buzz: Who will fund India's mega COVID-19 vaccination?
Our scholarships help us achieve our goals for our members and other participants, so we encourage all who can to take advantage of the many possibilities, said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at the iaedp Foundation.

The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp), recognized for its high-level education and training standards for eating disorders healthcare professionals, is announcing the availability of select scholarships to help as many as possible participate in the 36th annual iaedp Symposium, premiering virtually on March 18, 2021 and running 24/7 through September 1. Scholarships will be awarded during the first week of February 2021, so the time to apply is limited. All applicants will be contacted by email.

The iaedp Foundation strives to provide understanding to eating disorders treatment professionals through education, research and best practices, said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at the iaedp Foundation. Our scholarships help us achieve our goals for our members and other participants, so we encourage all who can to take advantage of the many possibilities.

The iaedp scholarship opportunities include:

Christine Hartline - This scholarship covers the cost of one full symposium registration.

Dick Wilson - This scholarship covers the cost of one full symposium registration.

Certification Committee  These scholarships reduce the cost of one full symposium registration to $200.

AAEDP Committee  For Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), these scholarships reduce the cost of one full symposium registration to $200.

Financial Aid - These scholarships reduce the cost of one full symposium registration to $200. First-time iaedp Symposium attendees or iaedp members who have a financial hardship are eligible to apply.

Erin Riederer Foundation - This scholarship provides financial support towards completion of the iaedp Certification process. Preference is given to those clinicians operating in Wisconsin/Chicago-land area/Minnesota (treating Wisconsin-based patients). A scholarship also is being offered to a clinician in Australia. The Foundation awards a $1,000 check, which must be applied toward the cost of Certification, including the Symposium.

About the iaedp Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. For more information on the 2020 iaedp Symposium, visit iaedp.com.

Now in its 36th year, the 2021 iaedp Symposium premieres on March 18, 2021. Because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, iaedp will conduct the 2021 Symposium virtually, which allows all participants complete access to all Symposium sessions from the first day on March 18, 2021 to the last day on September 1, 2021. Highlights of the over 60 total sessions include: family involvement in eating disorders, the use of body language to interpret the relationship between exercise and eating disorders and insights into the relationship of brain development and eating disorders, among many others. To register for the 2021 iaedp Symposium, visit iaedp.com.

The Presidents Council provides iaedp support and includes: Alsana; Center for Change; Center for Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; Laureate; The Meadows Ranch; The Renfrew Centers; Rogers Behavioral Health; Rosewood Center for Eating Disorders; Selah House; SunCloud Health; Timberline Knolls; Veritas Collaborative; Walden Behavioral Care; Willow Place.
Angela Merkel said in her last New Year's address to the nation as German chancellor that 2020 was by far the most difficult of her 15-year leadership, yet the start of vaccinations against COVID-19 made 2021 a year of hope.

In a rare show of emotion, Merkel, who steered Germany and the European Union through the 2008 financial crisis, the Greek debt crisis a year later and the migrant crisis five years ago, condemned a protest movement opposed to lockdowns and said she would get vaccinated when the shot is widely available.

"Let me tell you something personal in conclusion: in nine months a parliamentary election will take place and I won't be running again," said Merkel, 66. "Today is therefore in all likelihood the last time I am able to deliver a New Year's address to you."

She added: "I think I am not exaggerating when I say: never in the last 15 years have we found the old year so heavy and never have we, despite all the worries and some scepticism, looked forward to the new one with so much hope."

Her message will resonate with most people in a country struggling with a rise in coronavirus infections and deaths and where a majority support lockdown measures and vaccination as the best weapons against the virus.

Praise for Merkel, a trained physicist whose management of the pandemic has been guided by scientific advice, for having tamed the first wave has however turned to criticism of her perceived failure to tackle the second.

Europe's biggest economy holds an election in September and Merkel, whose conservatives are expected to win most seats in parliament, will most likely hand over the baton to one of three men vying to lead her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

"I can only imagine how bitter it must feel for those mourning loved ones lost to corona or who are having to fight against the repercussions of an illness when the virus is disputed and denied by some hopeless individuals," said Merkel.

"Conspiracy theories are not only false and dangerous, they are also cynical and cruel," she added. "I will also get vaccinated when my turn comes."

Merkel's fourth and last term was marked by discontent within conservatives after losses in regional elections which many blamed on her decision to welcome more than one million asylum seekers in 2015.

The setbacks at regional polls in 2018, in which conservatives lost voters to both the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the ecologist Greens, prompted her not to seek a fifth term.

Should coalition building after September election drag on beyond December, Merkel will remain as caretaker chancellor in 2022 until a new government is in place.
They now live in memory. People like Veronica Alice Mildred Coody, one of the first Berkshire County residents to fall to COVID-19 last April.
Rohingya refugees disembark from a navy ship as they arrive at the Bhashan Char Island in Noakhali district, Bangladesh, Dec. 29, 2020.

The United Nations confirmed on Thursday that Bangladesh had not yet permitted it to assess the habitability of an island where the government has relocated nearly 3,500 Rohingya refugees, although Dhaka said it was prepared to facilitate U.N. participation.

This week, Bangladeshi authorities moved about 1,800 Rohingya to Bhashan Char, a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, as part of a program that government officials say aims to ease crowding at densely populated refugee camps on the mainland.

The group was the second batch of Rohingya refugees to be sent to the island since Bangladesh launched the controversial program in early December.

[T]he U.N. has been consistent in seeking access to Bhashan Char and to the refugees, Andrej Mahecic, acting head of the news and media unit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, told BenarNews.

The U.N. has continuously indicated that it is ready to undertake technical and protection assessments of Bhashan Char, while we have not yet been permitted to do so by the Government.

An assessment would be the concrete next step in deciding whether the U.N. can be involved in the Bhashan Char project, Mahecic added, in an email response to questions from BenarNews.

We remain ready to continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the Government and continue to request additional information from the Government regarding their plans, he said.

When Bangladesh started the program in early December, the U.N. said at the time that it had not been involved in preparations for the mass relocation of refugees offshore and had limited information on the plan.

Independent assessments carried out by the United Nations would review the safety, feasibility and sustainability of Bhashan Char as a place for refugees to live, as well as the framework for protection and the assistance and services they would be able to access on the island, UNHCR said back on Dec. 2.

On Wednesday, a day after the second batch of refugees disembarked from navy ships at Bhashan Char, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the government against what it called misinformation and allegations that the stateless refugees were transported offshore by force or against their will.

The Government would like to make it unambiguously clear that the relocation process, which was commenced  in line with the [Governments] efforts to decongest and de-risk the camps, strictly followed the principle of voluntariness and was conducted with utmost transparency, the ministry said in a long statement.

It was referring to refugee camps and settlements in mainland Coxs Bazar district in southeastern Bangladesh, where most of the 1 million Rohingya refugees from neighboring Rakhine state in Myanmar have been sheltering.

There was no question of the use of force, intimidation or the use of money to influence the decision of the participants, the ministry added.

Bangladeshs plan is to move 100,000 refugees to Bhashan Char in stages. The government spent about U.S. $280 million to construct housing, a large embankment, cyclone shelters and other infrastructure on the island, officials had said.

In its statement on Wednesday, the ministry also said it was willing to smooth the process for U.N. involvement in the relocation of Rohingya to Bhashan Char.

The [Government] reiterates its stance on the involvement of the U.N in the process and is ready to facilitate participation of the U.N. as per its mandate, it said.

Earlier this month, Minister of Foreign Affairs A.K. Abdul Momen told BenarNews that the government had no objection to the U.N.s going to Bhashan Char but that the world body had not put in a formal written request for a visit.

BenarNews asked Mahecic, the UNHCR spokesman in Geneva, whether it was true that the U.N. had not sent a written request to the Bangladesh government. He, however, did not address this issue in his response.

Rohingya photographer arrested

Meanwhile in a joint letter, 33 prominent figures as well as refugee and human rights advocates from Bangladesh and other countries called on Bangladeshi authorities Thursday to release a Rohingya photographer, Abul Kalam, who they said was detained on Monday as he took pictures of refugees who had boarded buses leaving for Bhashan Char.

Photography is not a crime. Abul Kalam was taking photographs of buses on their way to Bhashan Char. He was doing so in a public place, albeit in a refugee camp. The relocation to Bhashan Char is a widely publicized program of the Bangladesh government. It is by no means a secret and has been extensively covered in the media, they wrote.

BenarNews spoke to Kalams wife, who is a fellow Rohingya refugee.

Some people caught him while he was taking photos of his sister who was shifting to Bhashan Char, and handed him over to the CIC, Syeda Begum said, referring to an administrator in charge of the refugee camp. He was beaten for no fault of his, and finally sent to jail.

Khalilur Rahman, the administrator of the Kutupalong camp, denied that Kalam was beaten.

He possessed a fake national identity card of Bangladesh. I do not know anything more, Rahman told BenarNews on Thursday.

According to Ghazi Salahuddin, officer-in-charge of the police station in the Ukhia sub-district, Kalam was arrested for suspected involvement in an attack by Rohingya on a local magistrate and a camp administrator in late May, as the officials tried to remove illegal structures at a refugee camp. Three people were injured in the attack with machetes, brickbats and other weapons.

We produced him before the court on Thursday [for the May incident.]. The court sent him to jail, Salahuddin told BenarNews.
Two maverick high schools that flipped the traditional teacher-student dynamic and gave their pupils a bigger say in the structure and content of their education have achieved their best ever VCE results in 2020.

Templestowe College once declared "RIP VCE", so it might seem surprising that it just achieved a cherished median study score of 30 in the mainstream student performance measure it ceremonially buried just four years ago.

Templestowe College principal Peter Ellis with maths students earlier this year.

But principal Peter Ellis said it was a result of the school's philosophy that allows students to steer their own studies.

The progressive state school has no uniform or distinct year levels and students work according to their passions and ability. Each of its 1250 students has a personalised learning plan.
Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda has directed the Independent Police Complaints Commission to probe the incident when police and civilians engaged in running battles at Bvumbwe Trading Centre in Thyolo where two members of the community were shot by a police officer.

The minister says this will ensure unbiased justice delivery.

The shooting incident occurred at Bvumbwe trading Centre in Thyolo on Monday.

According to the findings of a preliminary inquiry by the police, the two that were killed are Chipiliro Masikamu aged 21 and Solomon Mandindi aged 32.

The findings indicate that they were shot accidentally when they were resisting arrest and attempted to grab a gun from a police officer before the firearm was discharged.

Chimwendo Banda said what happened at Bvumbwe is unfortunate because it brought about disorder and that two people lost their lives.

He has since directed the Complaints Independent Commission to probe the matter.
A car bomb detonated near a Russian military base in northeastern Syria Friday in the first such jihadist attack in the area against the ally of Damascus, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported several wounded in the attack after midnight in the Tal Saman area in Raqa province, but did not give an exact figure.

There was no immediate Russian report of the incident, which occurred in a broader area controlled by Kurdish-led forces but where the Syrian regime and its ally Russia are also present.

A statement circulated on social media and attributed to the Al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen jihadist group claimed the attack.

The Observatory said two men parked an explosives-laden pickup truck outside the base and fled, in what was a rare such assault by Hurras al-Deen in the area.

"It's the first such direct attack against a Russian base in northeastern Syria," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Hurras al-Deen has fighters in the country's last major rebel bastion in the northwestern region of Idlib, but very rarely operates outside that area.

Russia entered Syria's war in 2015, and its air force has backed Damascus regime forces in several deadly military campaigns against Idlib.

Russia has repeatedly accused rebels in Idlib of attacking its Hmeimim airbase west of the opposition stronghold with drones, but car bomb attacks are much rarer.

Russian troops are stationed in northern Syria, including as part of several deals brokered with rebel backer Turkey.

Syria's war has killed more than 387,000 people and displaced millions from their homes since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

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The Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has allocated 197 million yuan (about US$30.2 million) from the CPC membership dues to assist Party members in difficulties ahead of the New Year and Spring Festival holidays.

Retired CPC members and officials also benefit from this plan, said the department. It urged special care for those working at the primary level, especially those at the frontline of the country's fight against poverty and the COVID-19 epidemic.

The awardees of national-level honors and families of grassroots officials who died on duty will also receive this assistance, said the department.

Party organizations at all levels should put the people first when delivering the care and greetings, and ensure the funds are delivered to the recipients before the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12, 2021, said the department.
The HSE has urged people to stop attending Covid-19 test centres without an appointment or a referral from a GP after it saw an increase in the number of people arriving at the centres asking for a test.

A letter sent to GPs from the HSE stated that since December 23, there has been a "notable increase" in the number of service users attending the test centres without a referral.

"This is putting significant pressure on the efficient operations of the testing services and subsequently is leading to long delays and poor service user experience," the letter read.

The HSE then went on to request GPs' help in ensuring that only people who need a test are given a referral, and those who do not require testing stop presenting at the test centres.

The letter said that GPs should now inform their patients that a referral is mandatory for a test, and to ensure that individuals accept and attend their appointment in the centre it was scheduled in, as opposed to attending another centre.

The letter also encouraged people to not arrive for the test early, to avoid queues.

#NEW



Its simply overrunning our entire capacity to respond



- @CMOIreland says testing of close contacts are containment activities and symptomatic patients are higher priority.



Dr Holohan says it will be reinstated when disease is back into control.@VirginMediaNews pic.twitter.com/6e8OpQy3Oq  Zara King (@ZaraKing) December 31, 2020

As of Wednesday, December 30, more than 2.3m Covid-19 tests have been completed in Ireland.

However, the HSE warned that testing and contact tracing capacity could be breached soon if the spread of the virus does not slow down.

Yesterday, it was announced that the HSE is no longer advising close contacts of confirmed cases to get tested, in order to help the testing system get through the surge.

However, if you are a close contact of a confirmed case, you are still obliged to restrict your movements and contact your GP immediately if you develop symptoms.

'It's clear we're not in a containment phase any longer', @CMOIreland says, as he sets out the rationale behind the decision to pause testing of close contacts. We are now in a mitigation phase in the fight against #Covid19, he says | https://t.co/pO7lVq2dTO pic.twitter.com/Wr7flWQMnf  RTE News (@rtenews) December 31, 2020

In a briefing on Wednesday, the HSE's chief operations officer Anne O'Connor said they planned for a surge in the testing and tracing system, and now they are using all surge capacity.

All six National Ambulance Service pop-ups are now in operation, and all trained Defence Forces staff are now working in swabbing centres.

The HSE has also increased the number of lanes and the opening hours of test centres.

Laboratory capacity in Ireland has also increased, and the HSE has engaged with an external provider in relation to processing swabs.

"Capacity is, however, finite, and each part of the pathway has a maximum capacity which we are close to reaching," said Ms O'Connor.

"Continued exponential growth will challenge our system."
Indonesian fishermen have discovered a suspected Chinese submarine drone in waters considered strategically important to Australia, between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, according to a report in ABC news. Images published in local media show Indonesian military officers posing with the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), which was found just before Christmas near Selayar Island in South Sulawesi, the report said.

A fisherman in Selayar Island, South Sulawesi, has found a UUV:



Length: 225 cm

Tail: 18 cm

Wingspan: 50 cm

Trailing antenna: 93 cm



Very similar to China's 'Sea Wing' UUV, which, if it's true, raised many questions especially how it managed to be found deep inside our territory pic.twitter.com/RAiX8Xw2BK  JATOSINT (@Jatosint) December 29, 2020

Drone seized by the Indonesian military

The UUV was recovered from the water by a local fisherman on December 20 but was only reported to authorities six days later. According to Indonesian media, the captured drone is 225cm in length, with a 50cm wingspan and a 93cm-long trailing antenna. Another report in Independent said that the torpedo-shaped object equipped with camera and antenna was apparently still active when it was netted near Selayar Island 20 December, with its light blinking and sensors working. The drone has now been seized by the military and transferred to the 6th Main Naval Base in Makassar, where it is currently being inspected.

Writing in his blog, submarine warfare expert H I Sutton said Sea Wing gliders have been recovered in Indonesia on at least three occasions. According to him, China has deployed a number of underwater drones called Sea Wing (Haiyi) glider in the Indian Ocean, which can operate for months on end and make observations for naval intelligence purposes.

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Writing for the Forbes magazine, Sutton said that these sea gliders, which the Chinese are deploying "en masse", are a type of Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) which were launched in mid-December 2019 and recovered in February after making over 3,400 observations. Citing the government sources, Sutton in his report said that these gliders are similar to those deployed by the US Navy, one of which was seized by Beijing in 2016 to ensure "safe navigation of passing ships."

"Taken at face value, it may be surprising that China is now deploying these types of UUV en masse in the Indian Ocean. China has also deployed the Sea Wing from an ice breaker in the Arctic," Sutton wrote. According to the defence expert, reports from December last year suggested that 14 would be employed in the Indian Ocean mission but only 12 were used. Furthermore, the defence analyst said these Chinese gliders that are placed in the Indian Ocean were reportedly gathering oceanography data, which "sounds innocuous" however, is commonly gathered for naval intelligence purposes."

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(With agency inputs)
COVID-19 has affected just about every aspect of life, but few have been so acutely endangered as arts and culture.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held phone conversations respectively with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Thursday, pledging to further deepen ties with the two countries.

Strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership

In the face of major changes unseen in a century and a once-in-a-century pandemic, the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership has stood the test and maintained a strong development momentum, Wang told his Pakistan counterpart.

Wang stressed that whatever changes may take place in the world and whatever difficulties and challenges may confront the two countries, China will always stick to its friendly policy towards Pakistan.

China is willing to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in a larger scope with Pakistan, and jointly build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, he said.

For his part, Qureshi said that China is the anchor of regional peace and stability, and the progress made in Pakistan-China relations this year is encouraging.

No matter how the international and regional situation changes, Pakistan will continue strengthening its all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China, Qureshi said.

Push China-Mexico ties to new height

When talking with Ebrard, Wang stressed that the two sides should bring China-Mexico ties to new heights and maintain a momentum of China-Latin America ties sound development.

Noting that China always regards Mexico as an important strategic partner, Wang said China will unswervingly promote long-term friendship between two sides, and firmly support Mexico in developing its economy and improve people's livelihood.

The Chinese foreign minister believes that the New Year will bring new opportunities for China-Mexico and China-Latin America relations, calling for maintaining high-level contacts and deepen political mutual trust.

Wang also said China attaches great importance to the Mexican side's demand for vaccine cooperation.

"From the China-Mexico friendship perspective, the Chinese government supports Chinese enterprises to carry out vaccine cooperation with the Mexican side, and is willing to actively coordinate enterprises to dock with the Mexican side and promote bilateral vaccine cooperation in strict accordance with the law and regulations."

China is willing to further improve coordination and cooperation between the two sides in multilateral fields, and work with the Mexico to jointly uphold multilateralism, defend the basic norms governing international relations and expand the interests of the developing world, Wang said.

Saying a friend in need is a friend indeed, Ebrard expressed his gratitude to China for its strong support to Mexico's fight against the epidemic, adding that Mexico sees China as a partner and a friend who stick together in times of difficulty.

He hopes that the Chinese government will facilitate the procurement of Chinese vaccines for the Mexican side.

(CGTN)
The Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv has chosen the custody status for ex-head of Ukrbud Maksym Mykytas suspected of ordering the kidnapping of a lawyer in Kyiv as mandatory two-month detention.

The court issued the ruling on Thursday, December 31, after hearing a motion against Mykytas for changing his custody status.

Thus, the court granted the prosecution's motion.

As reported, on December 8, a group of persons kidnapped an employee of a law firm in Kyiv that provided legal assistance to the head of a well-known house development firm. The attackers lured the victim under the pretext of a meeting. After the abduction they demanded that he returned a non-existent debt and forced him to sign a receipt for $800,000 given of the head of the house development company. Subsequently, they seized two mobile phones, money and a car ID card of the victim. A source in law enforcement agencies told Interfax-Ukraine that the developer, in whose favor the receipt was signed, is ex-MP Mykytas.

Mykytas until this time was under house arrest at night. He is suspected of perpetrating a fraud with housing intended for the National Guard, which incurred a loss of UAH 81.635 million. He was informed on October 2, 2019 that he will be prosecuted, and on December 3, 2020 Mykytas entered a plea agreement, after which his custody status was changed to the round-the-clock house arrest.
After a gap of over nine months, schools and pre-university colleges in Karnataka reopened for students on Friday with strict COVID-19 safety norms.

While regular classes began on Friday for class 10 and second year PUC (class 12) students, who will be facing board exams; students from grades 6-9 came to campuses for the Vidyagama programme, which enables continued schooling.

Wearing masks, students with consent letters from their parents were seen entering the classes after thermal checks and sanitising their hands at schools and PU colleges across the state.

Inside the classes too, students were seen seated maintaining social distancing.

According to reports so far, with Friday being the first day, also New Year, not all students attended classes.

While there was opposition from certain sections about opening schools and PU colleges amidst prevailing pandemic situation, others including Education Minister Suresh Kumar were of the opinion that opening of schools and colleges along with preventive measures were necessary for students, especially in rural areas, with online education mostly not available and cases of them being forced into labour.

Schools and PU colleges have remained closed in the state since March just ahead of the national lockdown was first enforced to combat COVID-19.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the school and colleges are restarting in the interest of educational progress of the students.

Happy New Year to everyone. In the interest of educational progress of the students, from today class 10 and 12 will start, also Vidyagama will restart for class 6 to 9 students. All the necessary arrangements have been made for the safety of the students. Compulsorily use masks, maintain social distancing, cleanliness and cooperate with the government, he said in a tweet.

Anxious parents were seen accompanying their children to schools, while teachers were seen welcoming students and guiding them regarding safety protocols that need to be followed.

Classrooms and premises of schools and colleges were sanitised ahead classes resuming Friday.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar, who visited schools and PU colleges at various places, also inspected the arrangements and interacted with students said, parents need not worry as all the necessary precautionary measures are being strictly followed.

There is scene of celebration and joy at school premises...the worry that is there among some parents will not go easily in a day it will be there, so Im saying two things, those who still have worries send your children to schools once it is resolved, as it is not compulsory, and those sending to schools dont worry, precautionary measures are in place, he said.

About the worry around the second wave and UK variant, I have spoken to expert committee members, there is no need for worry, it is not more dangerous than the earlier COVID variant, same precautionary measures will hold good and the vaccines that are getting ready will be able to address it, he added.

Expecting attendance of 40-50 per cent on Friday, the Minister also said we are not expecting good attendance on the first day itself, as attending classes are not compulsory, also (Friday) being a New Year many may want to come to classes from Monday.

He also said that the department was mulling over setting up a vigilance team at all districts to visit schools and to check about precautionary measures and look into shortcomings if any.
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After going almost all of 2020 without a nursing home death from the coronavirus, five residents in Cayuga County facilities died in the years final week.

In its daily situational update Thursday, the Cayuga County Health Department reported the fifth COVID-19 nursing home death, a woman in her 90s. Until this week, Cayuga County was one of the few New York state counties without a COVID-19 death in a nursing home.

On Friday, the state Department of Health released an update to its nursing home fatality report showing all of the deaths in Cayuga County this week took place at The Commons on St. Anthony in Auburn.

Last week, when The Commons was conducting its first vaccinations of residents under the federal nursing home vaccination program, the facility disclosed that it had an outbreak.

On Dec. 22, officials there said they had 26 positive cases among its residents. The residents were moved to a COVID unit within the facility. The Commons has about 260 residents and 130 employees.

With Thursday's update from the county health department, Cayuga County was at 24 total deaths among its population from the coronavirus.
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RTHK: Serbian president opens part of Russian gas project

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday opened a portion of a Russian gas project running through his country and hailed it as key for the security of its energy supply.

The 403-kilometre-long stretch -- from Zajecar in eastern Serbia to Horgos on Hungary border -- is part of the larger TurkStream pipeline which supplies Russian natural gas to Turkey and central Europe.

"This morning at 6:00 am (0500 GMT) gas from Bulgaria started to flow and entered the newly-built Serbia's pipeline.

"A big day for Serbia!" Vucic wrote on Instagram.

At a ceremony held in Gospodjinci in northern Serbia, Vucic hailed the opening of the so-called Balkan Stream pipeline as "key for Serbia's future development" that would enable the country's "energy stability and security".

Russian ambassador to the Balkan nation Aleksandar Bocan-Harcenko said the pipeline would "provide energy security also for the wider region, central Europe," the state-run RTS television quoted him as saying.

TurkStream is a landmark project of Turkey and Russia to deliver Russian gas via the Black Sea.

In July last year US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described both TurkStream and Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is to bring Russian gas to Germany, as "Kremlin tools to expand European dependence on Russian energy supplies" that "undermine Ukraine".

US President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly slammed Germany and other European nations for their reliance on energy from Russia.

In 2019 it imposed sanctions on companies involved for the two projects.

Serbia, which aspires to join the European Union, has traditionally been an ally of Russia and is heavily dependant upon Russian gas. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-01-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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A driver accused by police of killing two pedestrians in downtown San Francisco on New Years Eve while intoxicated and in a stolen car is a parolee who remained free despite being arrested several times in the city in recent months, according to city officials and public records.

Troy Ramon McAlister, a 45-year-old city resident who was released on April 10 from a state prison sentence for robbery, was not charged with new crimes by the District Attorneys Office after any of last years arrests, the most recent of which occurred on Dec. 20.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin said his office opted instead to refer each case to state parole agents, who can seek to imprison those who violate the terms of their release.

We referred these cases to parole because we believed there was a greater likelihood of him being held accountable and having the kind of intervention that would protect the public and break this cycle of recidivism, Boudin said.

He later acknowledged that clearly, it was a mistake to think parole supervision would be adequate.

In a statement late Friday, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which runs parole, pointed to prosecutors repeated decision not to file charges.

Our top priority is public safety and we will work with our local partners on this unfortunate incident, the statement said. None of the parolees arrests following his 2020 release have yet to result in filings of criminal charges by the District Attorney. Our parole office followed all procedures after these incidents, including conducting investigations and making appropriate referrals for the individual.

Under California law, people accused of violating parole can be given added restrictions, treatment or punishment by parole officers. They have a right to a hearing in front of a judge and, if their parole is revoked, can spend a maximum of 180 days behind bars. Boudin said that parole officers did not hold McAlister for a single day after the Dec. 20 arrest, though its not clear what happened in the other cases.

Prosecutors deciding whether to file a new charge  rather than enter parole proceedings  may weigh the strength of the new case, as well as whether the defendant will be released by a judge while the case is pending, and the potential punishment from a conviction.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott called the deaths a senseless tragedy that shouldnt have happened.

While he didnt refer to Boudin or the District Attorneys Office by name, Scott made his displeasure clear when he commended officers for the work they have done to arrest and hold this individual responsible for his criminal conduct.

The Police Department takes responsibility whenever we fall short of expectations, Scott said. Thats an approach every element of our criminal justice system needs to embrace. We must all be held equally accountable for the decisions we make, because they can have serious implications for the safety of those we serve.

The deaths of the two pedestrians appeared certain to escalate tension between Boudin, a former public defender working to reform how authorities punish and rehabilitate offenders, and critics who say the city is less safe because he is not holding criminals accountable.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified one of the crash victims Friday as Elizabeth Platt, 60. Her city of residence is unknown.

KPIX-TV indentified the second victim as Hanako Abe, 27, a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas who moved to San Francisco in recent years to work as an analyst at the commercial real estate services company JLL.

Police said McAlister was driving a gray Honda that had been reported stolen in Daly City on Tuesday. According to officers, McAlister was speeding down Mission Street toward the Embarcadero at about 4 p.m. when he ran a red light at Second Street, struck a gray Ford and then the two pedestrians.

After the wreck, officials said, McAlister got out of the vehicle and fled into a nearby commercial building, where officers, assisted by a witness, found him within minutes and detained him. Inside the vehicle, they found a handgun with an extended magazine and suspected drugs.

San Francisco jail records show McAlister was booked late Thursday on suspicion of a raft of charges, including two counts of voluntary manslaughter, possession of a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, burglary, driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, driving while addicted to drugs, possessing a gun and a large-capacity ammunition magazine, and violating the terms of parole.

One of the victims died at the scene, and the second victim died after being taken to San Francisco General Hospital, police said.

The streets around the crash were sealed off to traffic for hours as investigators interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence. The stolen Honda was seen partially on the curb and bike lane, its airbags blown.

Police Cmdr. Raj Vaswani told The Chronicle that the motorist whose car was struck was not badly injured.

Court documents show McAlister was arrested in July 2015 on suspicion of robbing a San Francisco store with a gun. While in jail awaiting trial, he filed a federal lawsuit against three city officers, alleging they used excessive force during the arrest. The officers alleged McAlister was combative and high on methamphetamine, and had to be restrained at the Mission District police station, records show. A judge dismissed the case.

In a sworn deposition in that case, McAlister said he had three prior felony convictions, including one for robbery and another for attempted carjacking.

McAlister has been on parole for the past nine months, and his term was set to end on Nov. 15, 2022.

Records show that on the night of Nov. 6, the San Francisco State University Police Department arrested McAlister on suspicion of auto burglary, possessing burglary tools and violating the terms of parole at the Towers at Centennial Square, a student housing complex.

On Dec. 20, records show, San Francisco police arrested McAlister on suspicion of car theft and possessing stolen property, methamphetamine, burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.

McAlister has been arrested in San Francisco on other occasions since being paroled, officials said, but details of those cases were not immediately available.

Boudin said in an interview that his office did not file new charges in the cases because parole officials have more leverage than the District Attorneys Office to keep a person in custody for nonviolent charges. He said parole officers have much deeper knowledge of the individual and the challenges that are leading to that criminal behavior than my office is able to obtain.

After each case, Boudin said, we evaluated the facts, the strength of the case and the charges, and decided it was more likely that he would be held accountable through parole.

Changes, though, are coming, he promised.

We will make changes to ensure that people on parole receive the supervision and structure needed from parole to prevent this kind of tragedy from recurring, Boudin said in a tweet Friday. This is a terrible tragedy and awful end to a brutal year. It is a system failure that resulted in irreversible harm to two families. My heart goes out to the families of the victims.

Some of Boudins peers questioned his offices approach in dealing with an alleged serial offender. Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said its very concerning to see several arrests without a prosecution.

Rockne Harmon, a retired Alameda County senior deputy district attorney, noted that it is not parole officers responsibility to make charging decisions. When they see youre not charging the case, he said of parole officers, they interpret that as its not prosecutable.

Harmon said of the McAlister case: You see this pattern  at some point, if you care about the public, you say this isnt working.

Tatiana Sanchez and Rachel Swan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tatianaysanchez, @rachelswan
Shimla/Chandigarh, Jan 1 : Chandigarh and most of the plains in Punjab and Haryana were on Friday colder than the 'Queen of Hills' -- Shimla.

The reason: the sun is shining brightly in Himachal Pradesh these days while a thick blanket of fog refuses to lift off from most parts of the northern Indian plains.

Many places on the plains -- Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala and Hisar were colder than hilly tourist destinations Shimla, Kufri, Dharamsala and Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, the Met Office in Chandigarh said.

Chandigarh, located in the Shivalik foothills, recorded a minimum temperature at 6.1 degrees Celsius, while Shimla, located around 7,000 feet above sea level, saw a low of 6.8 degrees, Kufri 4.8 degrees, Dalhousie at 7 degrees and Dharamsala 3.2 degrees Celsius.

Shimla, the Queen of Hills, is recording the 'warmest' days owing to long sunny spells, while cities like Chandigarh, Amritsar, Karnal, New Delhi and Lucknow, located in the plains, are reeling under a severe cold wave as the sun remains fogged out. Some parts of Delhi recorded 1.1 degree Celsius, coldest so far this season.

Hill destinations have been experiencing long hours of sunny weather for over a week and the day temperatures in most places have risen. The dry weather would prevail till January 4, the Met office in Shimla said.

But nights and mornings are intensely cold.

Data accessed from the weather bureau indicates the weather in hill destinations of Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Chail, Kasauli, Dharamsala, Palampur, Dalhousie and Manali is 'warmer' in the day, perfect for a break from the biting chill of the plains.

"What a pleasant sun in Shimla. In Delhi, basking under the sun these days is a rare occasion," said tourist Sahil Khanna.

"We are enjoying the long sunny days," his wife Shilpi added.

Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological department in Shimla, told IANS that the maximum temperatures increased by one-two degrees due to prevailing dry weather.

He said the humidity level of plus 80 per cent causes fog. "In the plains it is more than 80 per cent. However, in the hills it's around 50 per cent these days." Hisar in Haryana shivered at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, while it was 0.2 degree in Narnaul, 4.4 degrees in Ambala and 3.5 degrees in Karnal.

Punjab's Faridkot recorded a low of 0.2 degree Celsius.

"It will be bright and sunny till January 4, when there are chances of widespread snow and rain in the state," added Singh. This will be along with other parts of northern India where rainfall is forecast by the IMD.
Amid a sputtering vaccine rollout and fears of a new and potentially more transmissible variant of the coronavirus, Britain has quietly updated its vaccination playbook to allow for a mix-and-match vaccine regimen. If a second dose of the vaccine a patient originally received isnt available, or if the manufacturer of the first shot isnt known, another vaccine may be substituted, health officials said.

The new guidance contradicts guidelines in the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that the authorized Covid-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, and that the safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series have not been evaluated. Both doses of the series should be completed with the same product.

Some scientists say Britain is gambling with its new guidance. There are no data on this idea whatsoever, said John Moore, a vaccine expert at Cornell University. Officials in Britain seem to have abandoned science completely now and are just trying to guess their way out of a mess.

Health officials in Britain are caught in a deadly race with the virus, which is surging again, and are struggling to get as many people vaccinated as possible. Hospitals continue to strain under a crush of coronavirus patients, and tens of thousands of new infections are reported each day. Schools in London and other regions hit hard by the virus will remain closed for at least the next two weeks, government officials said on Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 06:26:34|Editor: huaxia

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by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- When iconic rock band the Grateful Dead sang the lyrics "what a long, strange trip it's been" nearly 50 years ago, they would have never anticipated what a bizarre year 2020 has been.

"AWFUL YEAR"

The year has truly been something out of a Hollywood movie: the COVID-19 pandemic swept the United States, causing some states to impose draconian lockdowns.

Nationwide protests against racial injustice followed the police killing of black man George Floyd. In some cities such as Portland, Oregon, protests turned into months' nightly riots.

2020 also witnessed one of the most divisive presidential elections in history with record voter turnout. Sentiments of confrontation and division boiled over the pandemic, protests and other major issues during the year as Americans were seen profoundly divided along partisan lines.

When Americans were asked to describe the year 2020 in a single word in a recent survey, nearly one in four of them used "awful,""terrible," or "horrible."

The USA Today/Suffolk University poll of 1,000 registered voters taken on Dec. 16-20 also found that 15 percent of the respondents used expletives, and that nearly all of them cited words that reflected strain or pain.

The government's response to the pandemic has caused the rift between rich and poor to widen.

Professional class people's stock market portfolios have surged dramatically, as stocks from companies that help employees work from home have climbed sky-high. They enjoy a more relaxed work atmosphere while collecting a paycheck at home. Their kids benefit from private instruction from expensive, in-house tutors.

But many working class people have been reduced to poverty due to the lockdowns. Some who were employed just a few months ago are wondering where their next meal will come from. Their kids are out of school and falling behind, as children cannot focus well in an online learning environment.

The draconian lockdowns have cost the nation trillions of U.S. dollars in stimulus money. President Donald Trump signed the 900-billion-dollar stimulus bill into law on Sunday evening. It is the second-largest relief deal after the 2-trillion-dollar CARES Act that Congress approved in March.

THE BEST, THE WORST

Many opine that the pandemic brought out the best and the worst in people.

Mark, who is in sales in Virginia and declined to give his last name, told Xinhua the pandemic has accelerated people's direction in life.

People who are selfish became more so. Those who are generous have ramped up their generosity. Hard-working people have become more hard-working. Lazy people have become more lazy -- some have not got a haircut for a year, reasoning that they are not going to the office so there's no need to bother with personal grooming. Others have gained a lot of weight on the same rationale.

Ronald Beamer, a chemist in Pennsylvania, told Xinhua the pandemic brought out the worst in people because it "created unnecessary division and paranoia in our society" but brought out the best because it "motivated people to help others."

Communities and local businesses have stepped up more than ever before to donate to food banks. People are sending cash to friends who they know are in financial trouble this holiday season.

In an op-ed published earlier this month in USA Today, top Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg noted a new survey from OptionB.Org and SurveyMonkey, which found that nine out of 10 people said they helped others this year.

The list included running errands, sending care packages, or calling regularly to check in, Sandberg noted, adding that more than 60 percent said they did more to help others this year than they've ever done.

Sally English, a retiree in the U.S. state of New Jersey, told Xinhua the pandemic "brought out the worst in people who are alone and watch doomsday news."

Grace Kim, an office worker in the D.C. area, said the pandemic "brought out the need for more analytical thinking."

WANT NORMALCY AGAIN

As the nation rings in 2021 and a vaccine is being distributed, many Americans are looking toward the future.

Kim said that going forward, it's important for Americans to have some savings to get through the next pandemic.

English, the retiree, echoed those thoughts, adding that it's important to eat right and make provisions for the elderly, in a bid to ward off any future illness.

Beamer said personal savings and good hygiene are important lessons to remember from 2020.

Many are also tired of news and politics, and realized this year that nothing can be gained by arguing over political candidates. That will only help the media and politicians reach their goals, not average citizens, some Americans opined.

"People are sick of politics and want normalcy again," said Mark, in sales. "At our house, we turned off the news and watch the Olympics channel now." Enditem
As 2020 wound down, Samantha Armytage tied the knot with millionaire businessman Richard Lavender on New Year's Eve.

The couple were married at Richard's sprawling country property in Bowral on Thursday, before celebrating with a reception nearby.

The 44-year-old Sunrise host only announced her engagement to Richard in late June, with the couple walking down the aisle just six months later.

Just married: As 2020 wound down, Samantha Armytage tied the knot with millionaire businessman Richard Lavender on New Year's Eve

Sam and Richard, 61, tied the knot at his 40-hectare property in the picturesque Southern Highlands in NSW.

The pair married at his home around midday, and then moved to a luncheon at the Centennial Vineyards Restaurant in Bowral.

The venue features a picturesque and rustic setting, a gorgeous outdoor courtyard, and even a helicopter landing site.

Newlyweds: The couple were married at Richard's sprawling country property in Bowral on Thursday, before celebrating with a reception nearby

The happy couple: Sam and Richard, 61, tied the knot at his 40-hectare property in the picturesque Southern Highlands in NSW

Put a ring on it: The 44-year-old Sunrise host only announced her engagement to Richard in late June, with the couple walking down the aisle just six months later

According to a local wedding photographer, Jack Chauvel Photography, 'most premium wedding venues in the Southern Highlands region charge $160 per pax.

Centennial Vineyards offers a decadent and unique menu, created by owner chef Robin Murray.

Some of the tasty food includes dukkah-crusted barramundi, sage crumbed pork cutlets, and aged rib eye steaks.

Part two: The pair married at his home around midday, and then moved to a luncheon at the Centennial Vineyards Restaurant in Bowral

Stunning: The venue features a picturesque and rustic setting, a gorgeous outdoor courtyard, and even a helicopter landing site

Dessert includes apple and rhubarb crumble, affogato and a cheese plate.

Of the event, a source told Daily Mail Australia: 'Champagne was flowing, and at one point they had several waiters attending to their every need.

'However, they didn't get any VIP treatment, and while they were away from other guests, they were sitting among locals and tourists.'

On hand: Of the event, a source told Daily Mail Australia: 'Champagne was flowing, and at one point they had several waiters attending to their every need'

Rustic elegance: Centennial Vineyards offers a decadent and unique menu, created by owner chef Robin Murray

A local from Burradoo said it was 'pretty much a "slap-on" lunch', and Sam looked relaxed while she 'rubbed Richard's back, chatting to guests'.

The TV star looked elegant for the nuptials in a white long-sleeve dress and a matching ribbon in her hair.

She opted for minimal makeup for the big day, enhancing her eyes with a sweep of brown shadow and adding a touch of bronzer on her already sun-kissed skin.

Chic: The TV star looked elegant for the nuptials in a white long-sleeve dress and a matching ribbon in her hair

Delicious: Some of the tasty food includes dukkah crusted barramundi, sage crumbed pork cutlets, and aged rib eye steaks

She had her hair styled in a half-up, half-down 'do and had a navy blazer draped over her shoulders as she arrived at the restaurant.

In her hands she carried a stunning bouquet of white flowers, matching perfectly with her ribbon and Richard's flower in his lapel.

He looked dapper in a charcoal suit and blue tie, and was in high spirits as he walked with his new wife to dine with guests at the luxury venue.

Going rate: According to a local wedding photographer, Jack Chauvel Photography , 'most premium wedding venues in the Southern Highlands region charge $160 per pax

Making an entrance: She had her hair styled in a half-up, half-down 'do and had a navy blazer draped over her shoulders as she arrived at the restaurant

Once inside, Sam removed her navy blazer to unveil her figure-hugging frock as she she sat down beside her new husband for the celebratory meal.

It's said to have been an intimate ceremony with a 'small number of guests' due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Richard's daughters, Sasha and Grace, and Sam's beloved dog, Banjo, were also believed to be in attendance.

Mixing and mingling: A local from Burradoo said it was 'pretty much a "slap-on" lunch', and Sam looked relaxed while she 'rubbed Richard's back, chatting to guests'

Stylish: Her dress of choice was by designer Carla Zampatti, who she is known to wear on a regular basis

Sam's father, Mac, sat at the head of the table at the luncheon, while her younger brother, Charlie, sat nearby.

Her dress of choice was by designer Carla Zampatti, whose outfits she has often worn in the past.

Sam and Richard, who have been dating since April 2019, officially confirmed their romance in November that year.
You wont be getting a $2,000 stimulus payment after Republicans on Friday blocked a final request for a vote despite President Donald Trumps call for larger checks.

The Senate then prepared to adjourn after overriding Trumps veto of the defense policy bill.

GOP lawmakers blocked Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumers final effort to get the chamber to take up the House-passed bill increasing the payments in the coronavirus stimulus package from $600 to $2,000.

The unusual New Years Day session took place as Senate Democrats prevented the chamber from wrapping up its work for days while demanding votes on the higher checks. The clock ran out on them Friday after the 81-13 vote overriding Trumps veto on the defense bill, which included support for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and a pay raise for U.S. troops.

It was the first time Congress overrode one of Trumps vetoes. Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker was one of the 13 senators who voted no.

Regarding the $2,000 stimulus payments, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., complained that some of the checks would go to wealthier households.

A huge chunk would essentially be socialism for rich people  money flowing to households earning well into six figures who did not lose any jobs or income last year, he said on the Senate floor. The House Democrats bill is just simply not the right approach.

Calculations by the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget said that a family of four, which would start with $8,000 in stimulus checks, could earn up to $310,000 before the entire payment would end. For a family with five children, the cutoff would be $430,000.

But U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said the Tax Policy Center, a research group, calculated that the richest 5% of Americans would get just 1% of the direct payments.

Sanders said Republicans had no problem in 2017 passing a tax cut bill that independent studies showed gave most of its benefits to corporations and the rich while the Congressional Budget Office said it would increase the federal deficit by $1.9 trillion over 10 years.

In addition, at the insistence of Senate Republicans, the $2 trillion stimulus law known as the CARES Act included a tax break that the Joint Committee on Taxation said gave 82 percent of its benefits to taxpayers making more than $1 million a year.

Its OK if the Republican leader wants to call direct assistance to American people poorly targeted and socialism for the rich  even after he drove the passage of a $2 trillion, across-the-board reduction in corporate taxes, Schumer said on the floor. But give us a vote. Make the argument, let the Senate work its will.

To me, it seems like the Republican leader is afraid to schedule a vote on $2,000 checks because hes afraid it will pass, he said.

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Even as he signed a $2.3 trillion bill on Sunday, which included $900 million in stimulus and $1.4 billion to keep the federal government open through Sept. 30, Trump called on Congress to raise the $600 payments in the new law to $2,000.

He also wanted Congress to investigate allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election that have been debunked by dozens of judges and state election officials, and to repeal a provision enacted by a Republican Congress in 1996 that protected social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook from being sued for content posted on their sites.

McConnell introduced legislation incorporating all three provisions, but didnt bring that measure up for a vote either.

Schumer said Friday he would support separate votes on all three demands.

We have offered to vote on whatever unrelated issues the Republican leader says he wants to vote on, so long as we can get a clean vote on the House bill to provide $2,000 checks the only way to actually make it happen in this year, this session of Congress, he said.

Trump also insisted that Congress repeal the social media provision, known as Section 230, when he vetoed the bill setting defense policy through Sept. 30. His veto message also objected to renaming military bases that bear the names of Confederate military officers who took up arms to defend slavery.

But large majorities both the House and Senate overrode his veto, ensuring the defense policy bill would become law. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., was the only New Jersey House member who opposed the override.

Heres what the Senate is focused on: Completing the annual defense legislation that looks after our brave men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform, McConnell said. Its a serious responsibility. But its also a tremendous opportunity: to direct our national security priorities to reflect the resolve of the American people and the evolving threats to their safety, at home and abroad.

The 117th Congress begins Sunday and President-elect Joe Biden and congressional Democrats said they would push for another coronavirus stimulus bill.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com or on Twitter @JDSalant.
Photographer: Yonas TadesseListed as the 96th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, and the highest-ranking African woman on the list, Sahle-Work is Africa's only serving female head of state. This first female President of Ethiopia has been the symbol of hope in addressing gender inequality issues in their conservative country. At her swearing-in ceremony in parliament, Zewde planned to raise the issue of women empowerment non-stop over her six-year term. I know today I have said a lot about female empowerment, but expect me to be even more vocal in the coming years about female rights and equality, she said. The social media was flooded with praises for Zewed acclaiming her appointment to the presidency as a Positive first step in Ethiopian cabinet system.I grew up in a family of four girls. Im the firstborn. But I had a very amazing family, especially my father, who has always told us that there is nothing that a woman or a girl cannot do. So this has been my motto all my life and in whatever I did, by the way, I was the first woman to do this, the first woman to do that, so I was daring," opines Sahle-Work Zewde.

LOS ANGELESThe state of Utah has been in the forefront of the legislative anti-porn movement for several years. In 2016, Utah became one of the first states to officially declare porn a public health crisis. And earlier this year, the state passed a law requiring all porn sites to include a health warning label at the start of every online video.

But the state is not done yet, apparently. According to a report by The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper, Republican state House Rep Susan Pulsipher is pushing new legislation that would require all smartphones and tablet computers sold in the state to automatically block porn sites.

Right now, those devices come with the filters turned off, and then the parent has to figure out how to turn them on. In many cases, they dont quite know how to do it, Pulsipher said as quoted by the Tribune. That can be frustrating, so were saying lets have those devices come with the filter turned on.

Pulsiphers bill, HB72, would slap device-makers with a $2,500 fine for each phone sold without anti-porn filters turned on by default. That financial penalty is similar to the fine that would be paid by porn sites who fail to include the health warning, under that previous legislation.

The Tribune noted that the automatic porn block proposal originated with anti-LGBTQ crusader Chris Sevier, who once protested against laws permitting same sex marriage by filing a lawsuit demanding that he be allowed to legally marry his laptop computer.

Sevier has also advocated for legislation in Utah that would penalize social media sites for supposedly suppressing posts due to political or religious reasons. Such a law would come into direct conflict with Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which gives sites the right to moderate user content as they see fit.

Pulsipher told The Tribune that she had talked to Sevier about the new, porn-block legislation, but would not confirm that that she had worked with the outspoken activist to craft the bill.

Under Pulsiphers proposed law, smartphone purchasers would be able to switch off the porn filters if they choose to.

Were trying to keep minors safe from pornography. We restrict minors access to tobacco. Its been so easy for them to get pornography, Pulsipher told the paper. Were just trying to make it less easy for them to access pornography and other online content that may be harmful.

Photo by Utah House of Representatives
BRIDGEPORT  Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Diocese of Bridgeport said.

A statement posted to the Diocese website Wednesday said Caggiano is asymptomatic and is feeling well.

However, he will observe a 10-day quarantine consistent with CDC guidelines, the statement reads. As a result, he will not engage in public ministry or attend any previously scheduled events during this time.

Caggiano tested positive on Monday, according to the statement.

The bishop has been tested on a weekly basis because of his travel schedule to different parishes under the Diocese, according to the statement.

He learned of the positive test on Wednesday and he immediately went into quarantine.

The test was conducted at a COVID-19 testing site set up at Queen of Saints Hall in the Catholic Center, at 238 Jewett Avenue in Bridgeport.

The statement noted that site is open to the public, as well as additional testing sites at Our Lady of Fatimah Parish in Wilton and the Immaculate High School Retreat Center in Danbury.

The statement also said the Dioceses has consistently followed and often exceeded all state and local recommendations, and highlighted a registration feature at Mass so congregations can be notified if any who attended a service later becomes aware of a positive test.

The Diocese asks for prayers for Bishop Caggiano and for all those throughout the Diocese who are afflicted by the virus, those who have lost loved ones, and for the many people suffering from anxiety related to the pandemic, the statement said.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines December 31)  A human rights group is calling for an investigation on the killings and arrests of members of an indigenous people's group after a joint police and military operation on Panay Island.

Karapatan said many of these IP members were also red-tagged by authorities due to their opposition to militarization in their communities, and the construction of the Jalaur Mega Dam project in Iloilo.

"These killings and arrests are meant to instill fear upon indigenous communities in order to silence their opposition to so-called development projects that encroach upon their ancestral domains and right to self-determination," Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said in a statement.

The group also slammed the claim of the police that those killed fought back when the operation was being conducted.

"The police and the military are already peddling the tokhang-style 'nanlaban' narrative and red-tagging them to somehow justify these killings, but the narratives from their relatives and their communities themselves debunk all the lies to prove one thing: this is a gruesome, cold-blooded rampage of killings," Palabay added.

Early morning of December 30, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Western Visayas and military men served search warrants in Tapaz, Capiz province, and Calinog, Iloilo against supposed members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The operation led to the deaths of nine people, of which seven were identified as IP leaders. At least 17 others were arrested.

The family of Eliseo Gayas, Jr., one of the killed IP leaders, said they were ordered to go out of their house before armed operatives entered and killed Gaya with four gunshots. Others claimed authorities forcibly entered their homes then killed their relatives.
Market indices closed on a positive note on Friday, the first session of the year amid robust buying in IT, auto and FMCG stocks. Extending gains for the eighth consecutive session, Sensex ended 117 points higher at 47,868 and Nifty closed 36 points higher at 14,018. During today's session, Sensex hit a lifetime high of 47,980 and Nifty rose to a new high of 14,049.

M&M, ONGC, NTPC, ITC, SBI, L&T, Bajaj Finance, Infosys and HDFC were among the top gainers today. Except for banking and financials, all the other sector-based indices closed higher today, with over 3% gains in PSU banking index, followed by 0.80% rise in IT and realty, and 0.60% rise in pharma and media index.

Overseas, Asian markets were shut today on account of New Year. Markets in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong are set to close earlier than usual on Thursday, while markets in Japan and South Korea are closed for a holiday.

In US, Wall Street advanced on Thursday as investors closed the book on a turbulent year of pandemic, recession and recovery. Traders said investors looked toward an improving economic outlook in 2021 on the back of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and hopes for even more fiscal support. US markets will be closed today for New Year's holiday.

European markets closed with minor fall even after UK lawmakers approved Brexit trade deal and investors reacted to fresh covid vaccine news after the UK authorised AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services said, "With a hope that 2021 will be a year of economic recovery, the market is touching all-time highs on a daily basis. Stocks across sectors cheered with mid & small caps at the forefront. The combined effect of foreign inflows and real earnings growth can keep the market rallying going forward"

S Ranganathan, Head of Research at LKP Securities said,"Markets ended in the Green on the First Day of the New Year buoyed by record GST collections and we saw a host of stocks buzzing around in the broader market weeks ahead of the Earnings Season. TCS led the rally with the Auto numbers providing the momentum as a number of companies announced price hikes today."

On the currency front, after rising for six straight sessions, the Indian rupee traded in a narrow range and depreciated by 4 paise to close at 73.11 against the US dollar in the first session 2021. Market participants remained on the sidelines due to lack of fresh cues. Forex traders said the momentum for the currency is likely to stay low as no major economic data is expected to release on the domestic as well as on the global front.

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PUNE The Pune rural police have put forward a proposal for a chargesheet in cases lodged by the Pune rural police against Samasta Aghadi president Hindu Mahasangh Milind Ekbote and Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide, according to Anil Deshmukh, home minister of Maharashtra.

When asked about cases against Milind and Bhide, Deshmukh said, We have recently received a proposal for a chargesheet in this matter. We will take due action at the earliest possible time.

However, of the multiple cases that Ekbote and Bhide are booked in, he did not clarify which one was awaiting sanction for prosecution from the government.

In one case, Ekbote was booked with at least 38 others for rioting, public property damage, and criminal conspiracy.

In another case, Bhide was also booked along with Ekbote for attempted murder, and inciting communal violence.

There is no clarity on which case the proposal for prosecution was sent in, from either the home minister or the police.

When it comes to some of the sections of IPC, a proposal for prosecution has to be sent to the government. In our case, a proposal for prosecution has been sent two months ago. Im assuming that is what the home minister was referring to, even though I cannot be sure. However, the proposal sent by us is against Ekbote and others, and not Sambhaji Bhide, said Abhinav Deshmukh, superintendent of Pune Rural Police.

There are 36 cases registered by the Pune rural police after riots broke out in Bhima Koregaon in 2018, according to another senior official of Pune rural police.

Of these cases, chargsheets have been filed in 16 of them, while summary reports of logical conclusions have been filed in at least 18 others.

The cases against Ekbote and Bhide, however, remain open.

At this point, we cannot reveal many details about which case the proposal has been sent in. Whatever the home minister said is all we can reveal, said deputy SP Rahul Dhas of Daund division of Pune rural police.

The statement by the home minister was made on January 1, exactly three years since the riots broke out in Bhima Koregaon.
Mahindra & Mahindra has said that it hoped to conclude an agreement with investor for SsangYong next week. The company has also said that it is optimistic that a buyer would come on board.

Mahindra & Mahindra has said that there are about two months left to conclude the deal. The announcement comes as Mahindra's plans for becoming a global SUV maker hit a rocky patch with SsangYong filing for bankruptcy.

Mahindra & Mahindra to hike prices of its tractors from January

SsangYong will go into receivership if we dont fail to conclude the deal, the company said in a statement. The South Korean automaker filed for receivership in the Seoul Court on December 22.

Currently, Mahindra owns 75 percent equity stake in SsangYong. Going forward, the company will cease to be a major stakeholder by the end FY20-21.

Ford, Mahindra call off auto joint venture

In other news, Ford and Mahindra have also decided to terminate their business transfer agreement. The companies have agreed that the decision was prudent considering the present situation.

Ford, however, has clarified that independent operations in India will continue and the company is not looking to exit the country entirely.

All of this comes in the time when Mahindra & Mahindra is facing stiff competition especially from the likes of the new entrants like Kia with their Sonet and Seltos SUVs as well as MG with Hector and ZS electric SUV.

Shares of Mahindra & Mahindra, however, jumped almost 3 percent post announcement of the December auto sales numbers.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
JAMMU, DECEMBER 31: Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo, today chaired an officers meeting to review preparedness for Covid -19 vaccination expected to be launched after 15th of January 2021 besides taking stock of implementation of AB-PMJAY SEHAT scheme in Jammu and Kashmir.

Financial Commissioner also had detailed deliberation on functioning of Jan Aushadhi and Amrit stores, vital healthcare issues besides discussing handling of UK returnees.

The meeting was attended by Director SKIMS, Soura Srinagar, Chief Executive Officers, JKSHA, J&K, Principals Government Medical College, Jammu and Srinagar, Managing Director, JKMSCL, Jammu, Directors Health Service, Jammu and Kashmir, Director Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, J&K, State Drug Controller, J&K while Deputy Commissioners, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents of District Hospitals and other concerned officers participated through video conferencing.

A Power point Presentation was presented highlighting the broad contours of the plan and preparations being put in place for Covid vaccination in the Union Territory.

The PPP focussed on several important issues regarding the subject which inter alia included key assumptions during COVID-19 vaccination, vaccination booths, vaccination rooms, observation rooms, inter sectoral convergence within departments, public and private health facilities mapped in CoWIN and related matters.

It was informed in the meeting that as part of phased introduction of Covid vaccination the first round would be covering the healthcare Workers, frontline workers and high risk population including those above 50 years of age and less than 50 years with associated co-morbid conditions.

It was also informed that further phases may be planned based on vaccine availability and epidemiology besides high risk group will further be categorized as 50-60 years, 60-65 and above 65 years.

Financial Commissioner, while exhorting all the stakeholders to put in their best for making this vaccination programme a grand success, said that the goal of the department is to protect public health, minimize societal and economic impact by reducing Covid-19 mortality. He asked the officers for inclusion of Anganwari workers and employees of Revenue department in the first round of the vaccination in view of the nature of their services.

Dulloo, while taking stock of preparations regarding the vaccination, was informed that the session site planning has been envisaged keeping in view the socio-economic, demographic and climatic considerations of the UT. Besides, great care is being taken to minimize chances of any adverse impact following the immunization.

Regarding Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT scheme, Financial Commissioner had a detailed assessment of district wise registrations and BIS status report till December this year besides reviewing other important aspects of the programme. Dulloo asked the officers to accelerate the process of preparing Golden Cards of the registered persons so that they get benefitted at the earliest. He also directed for bringing the left over people under the ambit of this scheme in a speedy manner so that all are benefitted by this innovative and people friendly scheme of the government. Regarding the handling of UK returnees, Financial Commissioner asked the officers to speed up the process of tracing out these travellers with the support from concerned district administrations.

He asked for keeping these returnees in the government quarantine centers after they are identified. During the meeting, a toll free number 14555 was also given for registration of any complaint or related issues regarding the AB-PMJAY SEHAT scheme.
Ten tons of honey from Georgia was exported to Italy, the press service of the National Food Agency of Georgia informs.

Recall that in 2016, the European Commission positively assessed the system of state control of Georgia and included the country in the list of the countries that import honey into the EU.

It is noted that Georgian honey, in comparison with Chinese and Argentinean sorts for two dollars, is quite expensive, but it is distinguished by high taste and ecological purity, Sputnik Georgia informs.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress has overridden President Donald Trump's veto of a defense policy bill, a first by lawmakers since he took office nearly four years ago.

In an extraordinary New Year's Day session, the Republican-controlled Senate easily turned aside the veto, dismissing Trump's objections to the $740 billion bill and handing him a stinging rebuke just weeks before his term ends.



FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump had lashed out at GOP lawmakers on Twitter, charging earlier this week that Weak and tired Republican leadership will allow the bad Defense Bill to pass.

Trump called the looming override vote a disgraceful act of cowardice and total submission by weak people to Big Tech. Negotiate a better Bill, or get better leaders, NOW!"

The 81-13 vote in the Senate followed an earlier 322-87 override vote in the House of the widely popular defense measure. The bill provides a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops and guides defense policy, cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, personnel policy and other military goals. Many programs, including military construction, can only go into effect if the bill is approved.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said before the vote that Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act every year for 59 years in a row, "and one way or another, we are going to complete the 60th annual NDAA and pass it into law before this Congress concludes on Sunday.''

The bill "looks after our brave men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform,'' McConnell said. But its also a tremendous opportunity: to direct our national security priorities to reflect the resolve of the American people and the evolving threats to their safety, at home and abroad. Its our chance to ensure we keep pace with competitors like Russia and China.''

The Senate override was delayed after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., objected to moving ahead until McConnell allowed a vote on a Trump-backed plan to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000. McConnell did not allow that vote; instead he used his parliamentary power to set a vote limiting debate on the defense measure, overcoming a filibuster threat by Sanders and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Without a bipartisan agreement, a vote on the bill could have been delayed until Saturday night. Lawmakers, however, agreed to an immediate roll call Friday once the filibuster threat was stopped.

Trump rejected the defense measure last week, saying it failed to limit social media companies he claimed were biased against him during his failed reelection campaign. Trump also opposed language that allows for the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders.

There was no immediate comment Friday from Trump or the White House.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed with Trumps veto and called the bill absolutely vital to our national security and our troops.

This is the most important bill we have, Inhofe said. It puts members of the military first.

Trump has succeeded throughout his four-year term in enforcing party discipline in Congress, with few Republicans willing to publicly oppose him. The bipartisan overrides on the defense bill showed the limits of Trumps influence in the final weeks of his term.

Earlier this week, 130 House Republicans voted against the Trump-backed COVID relief checks, with many arguing they were unnecessary and would increase the federal budget deficit.

The Democratic-controlled House approved the larger payments, but the plan is all but dead in the Senate, another sign of Trumps fading hold over Congress.

Besides his concerns about social media and military base names, Trump also said the defense bill restricted his ability to conduct foreign policy, particularly my efforts to bring our troops home. Trump was referring to provisions in the bill that impose conditions on his plan to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan and Germany. The measures require the Pentagon to submit reports certifying that the proposed withdrawals would not jeopardize U.S. national security.

Trump has vetoed eight other bills, but those were all sustained because supporters did not gain the two-thirds vote needed in each chamber for the bills to become law without Trumps signature.

Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Trump's Dec. 23 veto a parting gift" to Russian President Vladimir Putin "and a lump of coal for our troops. Donald Trump is showing more devotion to Confederate base names than to the men and women who defend our nation.

(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)
The U.K. leaves the European Union behind Thursday, 48 years after it joined the bloc, a significant shift in the global order that will also bring big changes for ordinary Britons.

On Jan. 1, decades of trade with the EU unencumbered by customs declarations and regulatory obstacles will cease, one of several changes likely to have big and lasting effects on the British economy. The rights of a U.K. citizen to live, work or study in any other EU member state will also fall away, highlighting the extent of the EUs reach into its citizens daily lives. EU citizens will also lose those rights in the U.K.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

For supporters of Brexit, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, such costs are justified by the benefits and opportunities that exiting the EU will bring. Leaving will allow the U.K. to boost British trade with the rest of the world and set laws to shape its economy and society without interference from Brussels, they say.

Brexit is not an end but a beginning and the responsibility now rests with all of us to make the best use of the powers that we have regained," Mr. Johnson said Wednesday during a debate on the U.K.-EU free-trade agreement in Parliament.

The agreement reached on Christmas Eve between London and Brussels on the terms of their future relationship ran to more than 1,000 pages, covering areas as diverse as fishing rights and cooperation between law-enforcement agencies.

Still, some major areas of the U.K.s post-EU arrangements with its neighbors have yet to be completed, notably the long-term basis for trade in financial services and the cross-border exchange of data. The U.K. is a powerhouse exporter of the former, while the latter is one of the most important lubricants of global commerce.

For businesses, the keenest changes on Jan. 1 will be felt by British exporters and importers trading with the EU. New procedures on customs declarations and regulatory paperwork will come into effect. Tariffs wont be levied on goods trade but companies importing components from across the world to produce goods for sale in the EU will need to comply with rules of origin, which specify a maximum level of foreign inputs that a finished product can contain to avoid tariffs.

The U.K. has said it would give firms bringing goods into the U.K. a degree of leeway in enforcing the new rules to smooth the passage of goods. The EU hasnt given any such assurance, raising the possibility of delays and disruption to cross-border trade while the new arrangements bed in.

That disruption is likely to hurt economic growth, especially in the first quarter, and linger throughout the year, economists at Citi said in a research note this month. They said the effects are likely to be compounded by the pandemic, which has distracted company managers in the U.K. from making the necessary preparations. A Bank of England survey in November of corporate executives found only 40% said they were fully ready for Jan. 1.

Overall, Citi estimates the disruption will reduce U.K. gross domestic product in 2021 by about 2%, compared with what it would have been if it had remained within the EUs single market, its zone of common regulation and its customs area.

Services firms face similar, if not greater challenges from Jan. 1. The free-trade agreement between the U.K. and the EU included only general provisions for trade in cross-border services that dont match the level of access available within the single market, the Institute for Government said in a report published after the deal was agreed.

The IfG, a nonpartisan think tank focused on policy-making, said U.K. services firms will also face local restrictions depending on the laws that individual member states apply to non-EU firms. Professional qualifications wont always be automatically recognized, for example, and business travelers may need a visa to see clients depending on their length of stay. Neither hurdle applies to professionals from EU members. Some services are prohibited to non-EU providers altogether.

U.K. nationals wont, for example, be able to sell actuarial services in Italy or construction services in Cyprus. They wont be able to be surveyors in Bulgaria or tobacconists in France," the IfG report said.

Most U.K.-based financial-services firms will from Jan. 1 no longer be able to provide services to EU clients, pending a so-called equivalence" decision by the EU on the extent of market access that has yet to be made. However, the Bank of England said in November that major U.K banks, insurers and asset managers have already established EU-domiciled subsidiaries to ensure no interruption to their EU operations.

The U.K. Treasury has granted temporary permission to EU firms offering a range of financial services to U.K. clients, but the EU has done the same only for clearing some financial assets through U.K. exchanges. EU officials have said they cannot give any timeline for giving equivalency to the U.K. financial services sector, though the two sides are supposed to establish an agreement on cooperation on financial regulation by the end of March.

Data is another outstanding issue. Firms will still be able to shuffle personal data electronically across the U.K.-EU border on Jan. 1, for up to six months. The EU has said it would make a decision on whether U.K. laws meet its standards to permit the continuing movement of data in the first few months of 2021.

Brexit will change trade even inside the U.K. To avoid the need to rebuild a customs border on the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland remains in effect in the EUs customs area and single market. That will require an increased number of checks on products moving from the British mainland to Northern Ireland.

For British families, Jan. 1 will bring changes, too. Tourists with a British passport will no longer be able to use fast-track lines for EU citizens with automatic gates at airports. Those traveling to EU destinations will have the chance to shop duty-freebut will face new restrictions on how much alcohol they can buy. EU caps on certain cellphone charges will no longer apply, likely meaning higher prices for international calls and texts.

British students will face higher fees and access requirements to study at EU universities. And pets, who could travel freely with their owners throughout the bloc under an EU pet passport program, will from Jan. 1 need a vet to issue them a clean bill of health to enter an EU country.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Tikri Bhagat Singh, 12, of Buwana village in Haryanas Jind is among hundreds of other children, who have joined the farmers agitation on Delhis borders to celebrate the new-year with parents and other farmers.

On Thursday, around 1035pm, Bhagat, along with Aditya Kumar, of Bahu Akbarpur village, and a couple of elderly protesters were using firewood to keep themselves warm near the main stage of the protest site.

The celebrations had been done and dusted in the morning, with young farmers and elderly protesters driving their tractors around the site of their stir, while playing Haryanvi Ragnis (folk songs), with hookah in hand. Some youngsters were seen dancing, while standing on tractor-trolleys. Farmers from Punjab danced near their tents on Punjabi songs.

Bhagat arrived at the Tikri border on Wednesday and says his father Balwant, who owns 3 acre of their ancestral land, has been camping here for 16 days.

Our family used to celebrate new-year at our village, but this time, my father and I are here. I know little about these laws, but our elders are saying that these will wipe-out the farming community and some businessmen will snatch our land. My father told me that this year, we suffered a huge loss in paddy, because prices have fallen. The government should accept farmers demand, otherwise we will also not go back, Bhagat added.

Kumar, a Class-8 student, said he was proud that as a farmers son that he had joined the agitation on eve of the new year.

We (kids) helped protesters by offering them tea, water, milk, medicine and by doing errands like folding carpets every morning and evening. I have not joined online classes for the past five days. If farming and land is snatched from our parents, from where we will get money for education and food. We have learnt a few slogans here. These are Modi-Khattar Kisan Virodhi (Modi-Khattar Oppose Farmers), Sadda Haq Ethe Rakh (Hand over our rights) and a few others, he added.

Kumar said it was difficult for them to spend cold nights in tents, but the enthusiasm of the elderly inspired them to stay put. Balbir Singh, a farmer from Jhajjar, said farmers had decided not to celebrate new-year function at night, as they feared miscreants would gain entry and malign their image of protesters.

Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda also visited the Tikri border on Friday to celebrate the New Year with protesters.
Various media reports and independent sources indicate that Turkmenistan is being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Yet Turkmen officials continue to say there have not been any incidents of COVID-19 in the country.

But the cases of two diplomats assigned to Turkmenistan suggest the virus is indeed there -- though in both cases their governments remain quiet. Such silence helps allow Turkmen authorities to continue spouting the official line that the country is somehow unaffected by the global pandemic.

Guzide Uchkun is the widow of Kemal Uchkun, a Turkish diplomat who died in a hospital in Turkmenistan on July 7.

She recently filed a lawsuit against Turkeys ambassador to Turkmenistan, Togan Oral, and several other government officials for their failure to transport her husband from Turkmenistan to Turkey for proper medical treatment.

Starting in January 2018, Kemal Uchkun was stationed at the Turkish Embassy in Turkmenistan as an adviser on religious affairs.

On June 27, 2020, Uchkun was admitted to a hospital. His symptoms were breathing problems, heavy coughing, and a fever, signs associated with the coronavirus. Doctors treated him for pneumonia.

Guzide Uchkun says Turkmen doctors treated her husband with antibiotics, which don't work against viruses.

Turkish doctors said the X-rays they received of Uchkun from Turkmenistan indicated there was a better than 90 percent chance he had COVID-19.

Guzides lawyer, Ahmet Basci, told Azatlyk that the embalming of Uchkuns body was done in Turkmenistan, so a subsequent autopsy in Turkey was unable to determine if the diplomats death was due to the coronavirus.

But Basci said Uchkuns family showed the chest X-rays to other Turkish forensic experts after his death. Basci said those experts had no doubt that Uchkun had died of COVID-19 and that he probably would have survived if he had been brought back to Turkey.

I pleaded [with Turkish authorities] to send a medical transport plane or any kind of plane to bring my husband back to Turkey, Guzide told the Turkish newspaper Sozcu. I filled out applications and provided all the necessary documents every day until his death.

Turkmen officials did not give official permission for a Turkish plane to come to Ashgabat, which has not been accepting international flights since March, until after Uchkun died on July 7.

Publicly, Turkish authorities have still not criticized Turkmenistans reluctance to allow an ill diplomat to be evacuated home for treatment, although it seems cause for some outrage. Ankara has also not said anything that might question Turkmenistans claim of being free of the coronavirus.

Guzide Uchkun also plans to file a lawsuit against Turkmen authorities, charging them with negligence and obstruction.

Britains ambassador to Turkmenistan, Hugh Philpott, is known for promoting the culture of Central Asian countries where he has been stationed, sometimes through song.

Philpott performed a Tajik song when he was ambassador to Tajikistan and recently sang a Turkmen tune.

On December 16, Philpott tweeted that he was recuperating from a virus trending in the physical world.

Philpott did not say where he was recuperating, but he has been in Turkmenistan since returning from a trip abroad in late September.

RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.

The British government has not publicly commented on Philpotts condition or where he contracted the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also not confirmed that the coronavirus is in Turkmenistan, despite making an official visit.

The WHO sent a team to Turkmenistan in July after more than two months of delays caused, apparently, by Turkmen authorities procrastination in giving official permission.

The WHO team was guided around Turkmenistan and afterward could only say they had not seen any clear evidence of the coronavirus in Turkmenistan, though they did express concern at reports of increased cases of acute respiratory disease or pneumonia of unknown cause and advised activating the critical public-health measures in Turkmenistan, as if COVID-19 was circulating.

The team also recommended that surveillance and testing systems are scaled up, and that samples are sent to WHO reference laboratories for confirmed testing.

Eurasianet.org contacted the WHO about that and in December received a reply that "unfortunately, due to many travel restrictions currently in place, this has as yet not been possible."

Given the Turkmen governments penchant for exaggeration, if not outright lying, it is not surprising that officials there continue to cling to their narrative that the coronavirus has been prevented from entering Turkmenistan.

It is somewhat surprising that international organizations and individual governments are not challenging this claim by the Turkmen government, especially considering the heavy impact it is having on the citizens of Turkmenistan.

RFE/RL's Turkmen Service contributed to this report
Neither the city's ban on fireworks nor the chilly weather could stop San Antonians from lighting up the skyline on New Year's Eve.

Pyrotechnics blasted off across the Alamo City, from the official San Antonio Parks Foundation show to amateur  but no less spectacular  neighborhood productions.
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Bharat Biotech expects approval of Covaxin for emergency use from WHO in July- September

Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 crore doses for 2021

Emergency approval not recommended to Covaxin, Govt panel asks Bharat Biotech to give more data

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 01: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) expert panel set up by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to examine vaccine proposals, recommended 'interim efficacy analysis for Covaxin'.

The vaccine was developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the CDSCO asked the firm to expedite volunteer recruitment for the ongoing clinical trial and said it may conduct interim efficacy analysis for further consideration of restricted emergency use approval for its vaccine Covaxin, they stated.

The SEC, which earlier had sought additional safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data from SII and Bharat Biotech, deliberated on their applications seeking emergency use authorisation (EUA) for their shots on Wednesday, and met again on Friday to review the matter.

CDSCO expert panel recommends approval of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield for emergency use in India

The SEC noted that the ongoing clinical trial is a large one with 25,800 subjects of which 22,000 have been enrolled, including subjects with comorbid conditions, which has demonstrated safety till date but efficacy is yet to be demonstrated. "After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended that the firm should try to expedite the recruitment and may perform interim efficacy analysis for further consideration of restricted emergency use approval," an official source said.

While granting emergency use approval for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Covishield, the panel imposed certain regulatory provisions, including that the shot is indicated for active immunisation in individuals of 18 years or more to prevent the disease and that it should be administered intramuscularly in two doses at an interval of 4 to 6 weeks.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Covishield, has been developed in collaboration with Serum Institue of India (SII).

The decision to approve the Oxford shot clears the vaccine's rollout in India ahead of a country-wide dry run scheduled for Saturday.
While distribution of the vaccine has been slower than expected nationally, Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration has not set a timeline for the rollout in Illinois and has been cautious about projecting too far into the future when enough vaccines will arrive to immunize people beyond the top priority group. The governor has indicated more details could be released this month on how further vaccine distribution will be prioritized.
The Government has decided to extend the delay in reopening of schools to childcare after earlier deciding to allow the open from next week.

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The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic OGorman made the announcement following consultation with the early learning and childcare sector.

It means that thee pre-school programme will be postponed until 11 January.

A statement said the reintroduction of full Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions was previously announced by Government on 30 December. Under these restrictions and in line with the Plan for Living with COVID-19, it was announced that early learning and childcare services and schools would continue to operate in Level 5 and are deemed essential, with early learning and childcare services reopening after the Christmas break as usual and schools reopening at a slightly later date of 11 January.

Also read: Health service will 'not cope' as NPHET warns of 9,000 new Covid-19 cases within days

A statement said that on 31 December, Minister OGorman met with the Early Learning and Childcare COVID-19 Advisory Group to discuss this matter. It said representatives from the Advisory Group shared their concerns about the full resumption of early learning and childcare from early January. While accepting the need to maintain early learning and childcare for priority groups, the Advisory Group asked that the pre-school programme (ECCE) would be aligned with the reopening of schools on 11 January.

The Minister has agreed with his Cabinet colleagues that the pre-school programme can resume at a slightly later date of 11 January 2021. The ECCE pre-school programme is delivered by over 4, 000 services nationwide and provides two years of State funded pre-school for all children in the eligible age cohort. Over 100, 000 children are currently enrolled on this programme.

WATCH | Keeping the tradition alive...Longford Pipe Band ring in the New Year for 55th consecutive time

A statement said that by postponing the return of these children to the pre-school programme, social mixing will be reduced, which will help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the post-Christmas period.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will provide funding to providers for the pre-school programme for the week of 4 to 8 January.

Also read: Longford woman wins luxury 815,000 London City Island apartment in Club Rossie draw

Under the full Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions, early learning and childcare services, including childminders that provide services other than, or in addition to, the pre-school programme, can continue to operate. These services provide an essential service which supports parents to go to work.

The Minister is asking these services, which are private businesses, to reopen as planned from 4 January to provide childcare, particularly to priority groups. The Department will provide guidance to services on how to prioritise demand for places in their services, if they are short staffed and unable to reopen with a full staff complement for the week of 4 to 8 January.

Then National Public Emergency Team did not recommend a delay in the reopening of schools or childcare but has warned that the spread of the virus puts education at risk.

Also read: Two county Longford families are aiming to become Ireland's Fittest Family
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday released an 88-page document giving out details of its communication strategy to support the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in India. The introduction of the document says that the communication strategy that supports the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in India seeks to disseminate timely, accurate and transparent information about the vaccine(s) to alleviate apprehensions about the vaccine, ensure its acceptance and encourage uptake.

'Support & encourage appropriate uptake of the vaccines'

The strategy will also serve to guide national, state and district level communication activities, so that the information on the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination process reaches all people, across all states in the country. It aims to support and encourage appropriate uptake of the vaccines by managing and mitigating any potential disappointment expressed by unmet demand for the vaccine or eagerness amongst people; addressing vaccine hesitancy that could arise because of apprehensions around vaccine safety, efficacy; and any other myths and misconceptions and providing information on potential risks and mitigate unintended crisis (e.g. AEFI clusters, delay in vaccine rollout for certain population categories) during the introduction and rollout.

COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Strategy 2020 by Republic World on Scribd

The strategy also seeks to build trust and enable greater confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine amongst all people by employing transparency in communication, while also managing any mis/disinformation and rumours around it. According to the Health Ministry, this will be achieved in three ways:

Using the social influence or endorsements from experts and official voices to:

Spell out the process of immunization (where, how, who, when - date and time)

Emphasize on the safety and efficacy of vaccines

Explain the decision to conduct the drive in a phased manner

2. Establishment of a National Media Rapid Response Cell (NMRRC) at MoHFW to:

Ensure preparedness through media monitoring and social listening and respond in real-time

Unfold media and public discourse, through extensive monitoring of print, electronic and digital media

3. Involving community mobilizers and frontline workers to engage with the community at various levels:

Through community consultations, faith leaders and religious meetings

Engaging youth, civil-society organizations, self-help groups

Panchayats and other community-based platforms

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The interventions will address four main areas: give information on COVID-19 vaccines, address vaccine hesitancy, build vaccine eagerness and maintain and sustain COVID appropriate behaviours as key preventive behaviours such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and handwashing with soap.

The communications approach will further steer the spirit of the Prime Minister of India through Jan Andolan or peoples movement such that citizens feel confident to engage and participate in the vaccination process. COVID Appropriate Behaviours (CAB) must be followed not just during and after vaccination but even otherwise, and also by the people not getting the vaccination in the initial phases.

SEC to meet on January 1

With the United Kingdom (UK) giving approval for emergency usage of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, India's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Wednesday met to consider the request of Pfizer, Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech Pvt. Ltd (BBL). After the meeting, SEC informed that it has analysed and perused the additional data presented by SII and BBL and will meet again on 1 January 2021. American pharma giant - Pfizer, on the other hand, has asked for further time to provide additional data and information.

Coronavirus in India

Meanwhile, a total of 25 people in the country have tested positive for the new UK variant genome of SARS-CoV-2 so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. These 25 people include the 20 who were found positive with the mutated strain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

India's COVID-19 caseload increased to 1,02,66,674 with 21,822 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98.60 lakh pushing the national recovery rate over 96%, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll increased to 1,48,738 with 299 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98,60,280 pushing the national recovery rate to 96.04%, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45%. The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh for the tenth consecutive day. There are 2,57,656 active Coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 2.51% of the total caseload, the data stated.

READ | Abhishek Banerjee's 'saree & bangles' misogyny slammed, BJP asks 'insult to Pishi Mamata?'

READ | Speedy Sir: Lewis Hamilton knighted in year-end royal honors
Five robbers and two people who bought stolen property have been arrested in connection with an over Rs 1.5 crore burglary that was reported from north Delhis Kinari Bazar near Chandni Chowk on November 22, police said on Friday. Stolen diamond, gold and silver jewellery items and documents of two properties, which were purchased after selling some stolen valuables, have been recovered from the arrested persons.

To escape arrest in Delhi, two key members of the gang on December 4 had surrendered themselves before the Uttar Pradesh police in a robbery case in which they were wanted, a police officer said.

The duo was sent to Dasna jail, from where one of them, identified as Jeeshan Ali,32, was bailed out on December 24. The Delhi Police have taken custody of the other jailed burglar, 35-year-old Mobin (single name), in the Chandni Chowk case, said police officers associated with the probe.

Deputy commissioner of police (north) Anto Alphonse said on November 22, a businessman, Ankit Gupta, had reported to the police that the gate of his Kinari Bazar house was broke open and Rs 5 lakh cash and jewellery worth around Rs 1.5 crore were stolen.

During the probe, an investigator said, it was learnt that Guptas parents lived in the house but they had moved to his northwest Delhi home in October after their house help went to his hometown. The special staff team was roped in on December 22, as the local police could not solve the case.

The team collected information about the suspects through technical surveillance and a ring of informers. On December 26, three of them Jeeshan Ali, Ikram alias Lambu, and Azad Ali, were arrested while they were going to dispose of the stolen jewellery in Karol Bagh.

Their interrogation led to the arrest of two other burglars  Rijayul Hasan,32, and Mobin  and the two receivers of their stolen property Mohammad Akram,48, and Irfan alias Chunnu,35. Mobin and Jeeshan had purchased one property each in Uttar Pradesh using their booty, said the officer.
A doctor performs an ultrasound scan on a pregnant woman at a hospital in Chicago, Ill. on Aug. 7, 2018. (Teresa Crawford, AP Photo)

Indiana Law Requiring Women to Have Ultrasound Before Abortion Going Into Effect Jan. 1

A new law going into effect in Indiana on Jan. 1, 2021, will require that pregnant women seeking an abortion have an ultrasound performed at least 18 hours prior to undergoing the procedure, Attorney General Curtis Hill announced on Twitter.

For women considering abortions, ultrasounds are an important part of informed-consent counseling. Anyone interested in protecting womens health, including their mental health, should support giving them as much information as possible to aid their decision-making, Hill wrote on Dec. 31.

This new law serves to empower women with knowledge, he added.

The law was passed in 2016 by the Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence (R) but just months later in July, Planned Parenthood sued Indiana, saying the law placed an undue burden on the patient and would prevent some women from getting abortions.

Hill has argued it gives women time to reflect on a momentous life decision.

According to the Indy Star, the woman can decline, in writing, to view the ultrasound imaging or hear the heartbeat.

In April 2017, the law was struck down by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt who issued a preliminary injunction. However, Hill appealed and on July 2, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the case back to the federal appeals court to be re-heard.

Eventually, in August 2020, Planned Parenthood dropped its lawsuit against the state and agreed that the preliminary injunction be vacated on Jan. 1, and for the lawsuit to be dismissed.

In the agreement, the decision is in part attributed to events that have occurred in the more than three years since this court entered the preliminary injunction, including Planned Parenthoods addition of an ultrasound machine at its Fort Wayne clinic.

My office successfully defended a challenge to this law by Planned Parenthood, which dropped a lawsuit against the state in exchange for the states agreement to refrain from enforcing the law until 2021giving clinics time to train staff on proper use of ultrasound equipment, Hill said on Thursday.

We held the line in our commitment to respect womens health and the sanctity of human life. Planned Parenthood folded because they saw the likelihood that they would lose their lawsuit if they persisted in fighting Indianas very reasonable and well-grounded law.

Despite the agreement, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky says it still opposes the new law.

In a statement to ABC affiliate WHAS 11, they said, This medically unnecessary law passed by the state is only meant to shame, stigmatize, and restrict access to abortion, but we are fortunately able to maintain the same level of access to patient care and comply with this medically unnecessary law.

The burden falls heaviest on our most vulnerable community members. Women of color already bear the brunt of needless abortion restrictions and may face greater barriers to getting the abortion care they need, the statement continued.

Pregnant people already struggling to survive this pandemic are now being forced to navigate mandatory waiting periods that require multiple trips to a health center, placing them and their health care providers at a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Abortion remains legal in all 50 states across the United States.
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When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, IIT-Bombay Professor Rajneesh Bhardwaj was studying how droplets evaporated for applications in spray cooling and inkjet printing, and his collaborator Amit Agrawal was working on point-of-care medical devices and electronic cooling.

But once it became clear that the pandemic was mainly spreading through cough and sneeze aerosols from infected individuals, the duo began applying their knowledge to understand the evaporation of respiratory droplets from surfaces and the spread of cough clouds.

Our plans were to continue in the domain of thermal and fluid engineering. However, the pandemic came as an opportunity to diversify and explore other research areas. We thought of extending and applying our knowledge to several unanswered questions in the context of COVID-19, Agrawal, Institute Chair Professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT-Bombay, told PTI.

Bhardwaj and Agrawal, both experts in the field of fluid mechanics, said their understanding of the motion of fluids helped them model how the novel coronavirus spread.

Air and water are the most common fluids, and also the carrier of most viruses and bacteria, it is not that surprising that the subject is playing an important role in understanding and managing the current pandemic, Bhardwaj told PTI.

Numerous studies, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, applied principles of fluid mechanics to provide scores of important insights about the distance over which different size respiratory droplets travel, the safe distance between people, and the efficacy of various types of masks in reducing the transfer of contaminated droplets.

Scientists also probed into the process by which larger droplets underwent evaporation and subsequently precipitation to turn into microdroplets called aerosols.

During this process, big droplets settle on the ground after a short distance in flight while the smaller ones remain airborne for a longer period forming aerosols, explained Saptarshi Basu, from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

In short, the entire story of droplets leading to infections is a fluid dynamics problem, Basu, Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, told PTI.

Two studies by Basu and his team, both published in the journal Physics of Fluids, applied fluid dynamics experiments to show how the respiratory droplets dried and formed aerosols, and how virus particles are distributed within them.

According to the IISc scientist, factors such as peoples mask wearing behaviour, social distancing, population density, and movement of individuals contribute significantly to the infection rate and severity in a region.

However, he believes some of the primary contributors include how respiratory droplets evaporate after ejection, how far they travel, and how they disperse.

All the above control how droplets can infect other people and norms like safe distance for social distancing, said Basu, who has been studying the physics of droplets in applications ranging from 3D printing, surface patterning, combustion, and biomedical engineering.

As economies slowly opened across the world post lockdowns, and travel restrictions eased, scientists and engineers also applied fluid mechanics to shed light on the indoor spread of the coronavirus.

Scientists, led by Verghese Mathai from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, US, performed computer simulations to understand the aerosol spread of the coronavirus inside car cabins.

I had gained industrial experience with this specific type of computational fluid dynamics simulations while I was in India, and my suggestion to use these simulations was primarily motivated by the fact that we could not perform experiments due to the stay-at-home orders, and the pandemic situation required results with a short turnaround time, Mathai said.

The scientists could quickly apply principles used to test flows inside an aircraft engine and suggest the safest way to prevent possible transmission of COVID-19 when people travel in cars in a study published in the journal Science.

This is an excellent example of how the pandemic made researchers revisit their complementary skills and come together to work on an important topic, Mathai said.

So this simulation approach can be extended to trains or buses and we can answer important questions about airflows and aerosol type of particles. We can also look into confined buildings, or long queues of people and how potentially pathogen laden airflows around them might get diluted, he said.

Several studies, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, helped predict how the virus spread at different conditions, such as temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, and humidity.

Those predictions allowed us to identify critical situations for virus transmission, explained Douglas Fontes from the University of Central Florida in the US.

As the models better represent the real phenomena, we can use them to determine better safety measures for specific conditions, people, and type of disease, Fontes told PTI.

According to Fontes, future simulations could detail the physical properties of mucus, tissue structures within respiratory systems, and how they interact with each other.

The better our knowledge of the biological characteristics associated with respiratory events that transport diseases, the better our capacity to accurately model how disease transmission through droplet dispersion occurs, he added.
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LF Mall in Gwangju's Sangmu district / Courtesy of LF



By Kim Jae-heun



Local fashion firms are pursuing "online for offline" (O4O) strategies appealing to consumers who want to try on clothes before making online purchases.



The O4O strategy aims to combine fashion companies' online and offline businesses to utilize the strengths of the two amid the rising contactless consumer trend.



Fashion firms collect data on customers online and use it to attract them to stores with new technologies and services. This helps them offer a tailored shopping environment to customers and increase their revenue in the end, said analysts and officials.



Global companies have been working on digitizing their offline bases over the last four years. The retail giant Amazon already opened an unmanned Amazon Go convenience store in Seattle in December 2016. Customers there don't need to wait in line and their app will pay the price automatically once they leave the store.



In Korea, LF introduced its O4O store in last October. It turned 20 outlets into O4O special stores recently, where customers can purchase clothes online and get their items at stores after trying them on. Before, apparel purchased online could not be experienced or exchanged at stores.



In addition, LF Mall offers after-sales service for items purchased online at any of its outlets across the country. "It is necessary to combine the strengths of an online store and offline business while compensating for the defects," an LF Mall official said.



Lotte Shopping's online mall Lotte ON also integrated 15,000 stores in the country and brought them online, letting customers shop via mobile. Lotte, one of the largest retailers in Korea, is utilizing its department stores and discount stores to help customers pick up their purchases at the nearest outlet at their desired time after purchasing online.



"It is hard for old consumer trends to return. Even after the end of COVID-19, consumers will continue shopping online and fashion companies will keep developing their O4O strategies as more consumers will shop online after comparing for the cheapest price and checking their wishlist products before buying them in (physical) stores," an industry source said.






Yes, along most or all of the coast

Yes, but only places where an entry fee can cover their cost

No, people can continue swimming at their own risk

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In another sign of rift within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Congress announced that it will oppose any proposal to rename Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar. The renaming of Aurangabad has been Shiv Sena's longstanding demand. Addressing the media on Thursday, Maharashtra Congress president and state Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat maintained that this issue does not find a mention in the MVA's Common Minimum Programme.

In a veiled dig at the Sena, Thorat added that the life of the common person cannot be improved by changing the names of cities. He stressed that the three-party alliance's agenda was limited to empowering the common person. This comes in the wake of Congress openly expressing its displeasure at Sena MP Sanjay Raut's criticism of its party leadership citing that a "weak opposition is bad for democracy", Raut demanded that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar should replace Sonia Gandhi as the UPA chairperson.

Read: MVA Govt Stirs Another Row With BJP; Reminds Of Local Opposition To Centre's Vadhavan Port

Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat remarked, "This is not included in the Common Minimum Programme. Congress does not believe in changing names but focusing on development. The development of the common person cannot take place by changing names. The agenda of the Maha Vikas Aghadi is to empower the common person and make him happy. If such a proposal comes up, we will oppose it."

Read: Congress Warns Shiv Sena Over Remark On UPA: 'Being In MVA Govt Not A Priority For Us'

Demand for renaming Aurangabad

Aurangabad was a prominent Mughal city in the Deccan region and derives its name from the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. On the other hand, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was tortured to death by Aurangzeb. In 1995, a proposal was passed in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation to rename the city as Sambhajinagar. However, it was challenged by Congress corporator Mushtaq Ahmed in the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court. As his plea was rejected by the HC, Ahmed moved the Supreme Court which stayed the process of renaming the city.

Incidentally, it was Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who had publicly promised to rename Aurangabad in August 2015. Welcoming the New Delhi Municipal Councils decision to rename Aurangzeb Road in Delhi as Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road, Thackeray called for Aurangabad to be renamed as Sambhajinagar. He assured that requisite resolutions would be passed in this regard as the Sena was in power both at the Centre and in Maharashtra.

Read: No Plans To Topple Maharashtra Govt, Congress May Withdraw MVA Support: NDA-ally Athawale
(CNN)  Several explosions hit Yemen's Aden airport as the newly formed power-sharing government arrived from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

The blasts killed at least 22 people and injured scores more, Rajeh Badi, the spokesman for the new government, told CNN. All the Cabinet members are safe, according to Yemen Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalek.

It is unclear if the explosions were caused by missiles fired on the airport. Badi told CNN that the investigations have not been concluded yet.

Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed Houthi rebels of being behind the explosion, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The group has not claimed responsibility.

Col. Turki Al-Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, said the coalition intercepted and downed an explosives-laden Houthi drone on Wednesday that was targeting the presidential Al-Maashiq Palace in Aden, according to SPA.

Al-Malki said the drone downing "confirms the responsibility" of the Houthi militia in the airport attack.

"The attempt to assassinate the Yemeni Cabinet is an attempt to thwart the Riyadh Agreement, which Yemeni people have adopted as a path toward unification of ranks, restoration of normal life, security and stability and a roadmap to reaching a comprehensive political solution in Yemen," Al-Malki was quoted as saying in a statement carried on SPA.

Earlier, Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al Eryani accused the Houthi rebels of being behind the explosion.

Prior to the attack, hundreds of people had gathered at the airport for the arrival of the government, which was sworn in in Saudi Arabia last week.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said one of its staff was killed, three were injured and two others were unaccounted for in the explosions.

"Our staff were transiting through the airport with other civilians. This is a tragic day for us and the people of Yemen," the ICRC in Yemen said on Twitter. "We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and we hope for a speedy recovery for anyone injured."

Footage from Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel showed the moment of the attack: A loud boom was followed by gunshots. Smoke was seen billowing out of the terminal building.

The attack created a large hole in the ground and caused severe damage to an airport hall, according to footage from Saudi state broadcaster Al-Ekhbraiya.

"The cowardly terrorist act that targeted Aden airport is part of the war being waged against the Yemeni state and our great people, and it will only increase our insistence on fulfilling our duties until the coup is ended, the state is restored and stability," the Yemeni Prime Minister said.

United Nations Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths condemned the attack on Twitter. "I wish the Cabinet strength in facing the difficult tasks ahead. This unacceptable act of violence is a tragic reminder of the importance of bringing Yemen urgently back on the path towards peace," he added.

A US State Department official said that they "are aware of the reports of the attacks in Aden and are saddened by the reports of casualties and injuries."

"The United States supports the Yemeni Government and stands with the Yemeni people," the official said.

Last week, Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council and the existing Saudi-backed government announced a new Cabinet to end a power struggle between them.

Both groups are part a coalition backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that has been engaged in a years-long civil war with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The conflict has cost thousands of lives and has plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis.

This story was first published on CNN.com.
Donegal Gardai have urged motorists to make road safety a priority in 2021.

They made the appeal after attending a road traffic accident in the early hours of this morning in Letterkenny.

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The driver of the vehicle involved was arrested on suspicion of drink driving", gardai revealed on a post alongside a picture of the crashed car.

Please make it your resolution this year to never drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Make road safety a priority in 2021, they added.

The Annual Christmas and New Year Road Safety Appeal for 2020 that commenced on Friday, December 4 and runs until Tuesday, January 5 is primarily focused on Mandatory Intoxicant Testing  detecting those who drive having consumed alcohol or drugs.

On the weekend the campaign commenced, Gardai nabbed 85 people driving under the influence of alcohol and 26 driving under the influence of drugs.

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Despite traffic volumes being reduced by up to 70% at times this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a 133% increase in the amount of people detected driving under the influence of drugs on our roads (2537 have been detected to date in 2020 which compares to 1192 detections for the same period in 2019).

Speaking at the launch, Assistant Commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, said: "An Garda Siochana would ask all road users to remember the basics of road safety. Our message is clear - do not drive if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a combination of both.

"We have a shared responsibility to help each other to stay safe on our roads this Christmas. An Garda Siochana will be visible on our roads playing our part.

Ms. Liz ODonnell, Chairperson, Road Safety Authority, added: "The consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs can be devastating. I would appeal to anyone about to drive after drinking alcohol to stop and wait until they are alcohol free and safe to drive.

"If you see a friend or family member about to drive while under the influence, please intervene, offer to get them a taxi or if necessary, call the Gardai. Allowing someone drive while under the influence is simply not worth the risk.

"We want everyone to enjoy the festive period, but we want people to do so sensibly and safely.

Professor Denis Cusack, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, said: "drink and drug driving remain major problems for road safety in Ireland, particularly at a time when we see road deaths increasing.

The number of sample tests by the Bureau for drugs has increased dramatically. This is despite two significant Covid-19 lockdowns and a decrease in traffic volumes.

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the presidential election petition filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama at the Supreme Court, coupled with the evidence and pleadings by the petitioner has given more assurances that the 2020 Elections was "won fair and square" by the NPP.



"Indeed, the evidence presented by the NDC has only reassured the people of Ghana that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the elections."



"The fact of transparency of the General Elections was also resoundingly affirmed by the myriad of local and international observers that participated in the electoral process."



"It is quite curious that John Dramani Mahama, the NDC flagbearer and Petitioner, who grounds his Petition on supposed errors made by the Electoral Commission, has himself submitted a Petition fraught with errors, including requesting a run-off between himself and the Electoral Commission.



"It is also unfortunate that even after filing the Petition in court, the NDC led by John Dramani Mahama continues to incite supporters to pour onto the streets to cause chaos and anarchy."

The NPP in a statement issued by its Director of Communications, Yaw Buaben Asamoah on Thursday evening [December 31, 2020] said its lawyers were preparing a response to the petition and will meet the petitioner in court.



"NPP wishes to assure its supporters and the People of Ghana that the Legal Team of H.E. the President is ready to expose the emptiness of John Mahamas Petition and the NDCs denial of the electoral truth that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo indeed won this election without any iota of doubt," it added.



"Our response will show that the NDC has presented no material evidence of value in Court to support its blatantly false claims regarding the results of the 2020 Presidential Election. They lied to their supporters that they had won and started referring to John Dramani Mahama falsely as the President-Elect.



Now they have backtracked, settling futilely for a run-off which they themselves know will not happen. They have attempted and continue to use lies, threats, violence, and intimidation to seek forlornly to overrule the manifest will of the people as freely expressed on 7th December, 2020.



We are absolutely confident that the facts and figures as presented in court, even by the NDC, will very easily, in a transparent and indisputable manner, reaffirm the expressed will of the voting public that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the 2020 Presidential Election one touch and convincingly so.



It must, however, be stressed that it is quite worrying that John Dramani Mahama, through his social media handles, continues to incite violence even as he invokes his right to use the court process to settle his grievance. He posted on his Facebook page and Twitter handle as follows;



While in court, the NDC will continue all legitimate actions, including protests, to demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana.



This is rather unfortunate and unbefitting of a former President of the Republic. It is obvious that the Petitioner himself has very little confidence in the Petition he is presenting and is still resorting to intimidation to overturn the express will of the people of Ghana. In his latest Press Conference, he explained he is going to court only to remove doubt. Does he need the Supreme Court to remove his doubts about losing the elections?



The several attempts to use lies, threats, violence and intimidation to overrule the will of the People is disappointingly undemocratic of the NDC and its leader, John Dramani Mahama.

By calling on his supporters to continue going on the streets, John Dramani Mahama has not only flagrantly flouted but also abused the Peace Pact signed on the 4th of December 2020 where he undertook amongst others, in the presence of witnesses and on National Television, to accept the results of the elections and concede to the winner accordingly and to use judicial resolution of election disputes, where necessary.



We call on John Dramani Mahama to immediately retract his inciteful statements to his supporters. It is highly irresponsible of John Dramani Mahama to commence the judicial process yet still admonish his supporters to continue with the violent protests that have threatened the security and peace of Ghanaians and caused Ghanaians to live in unnecessary fear and panic over the past few weeks. The good people of Ghana hold John Dramani Mahama accountable to his sacred undertaking to comply with the Peace Pact, just as H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo did in 2012 and 2016.

Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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(Natural News) Members of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Elections in Georgia held a joint hearing the other day to discuss the states election laws and address the many irregularities that surfaced during the 2020 election.

Renowned inventor and author Jovan Pulitzer testified as a witness, demonstrating that the state of Georgia used two different ballots during the election: one for Democrats and another for Republicans. The Republican ballots, as seen in the below photo, bore a distinct barcode that was not present on the Democrat ballots.

This disparity caused the Republican ballots to be rejected by the Dominion Voting Systems machines, Pulitzer explained. There was also another anomaly present on the Republican ballots  see the photo below  that caused the Dominion machines to not know where to look for votes.

Pulitzer also recently spoke with Kevin Freeman of the Economic War Room, explaining in-depth how the entire ballot process in Georgia was fraudulent. Pulitzers expertise in such matters makes him a credible source of information, by the way, and what he has to say is definitely worth your while  be sure to watch below (approx. 20 minutes long):

Raffensperger should be publicly hanged for treason

None of this fraud would have been possible were it not for the blessing of Georgia Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger, who not only allowed it to happen under his watch but also signed off on it. The guy is in deep, deep water once charges are filed, it would appear.

This kind of thing might completely invalidate Georgias results, wrote one commenter at The Gateway Pundit about the revelations. And the courts will ignore it, this same commenter added cynically.

Raffensperger, as you may recall, oversaw a fake audit and recount of Georgias initial election results, a process that resulted in the very same fraudulent outcome as the first time the ballots were tabulated.

Raffensperger made every effort to ensure that there was no transparency in the second count, rejecting petitions from Republicans to require a signature match on both the ballots and their envelopes. He also made a point of not disclosing the relationship between Pro V&V, the company that conducted the audit, and Dominion Voting Systems, which owns the machines that were supposedly audited.

Pulitzer further noted in his testimony that on election night, Republican poll watchers were told to go home due to a pipe leak that never actually occurred. Meanwhile, Democrat operatives stayed behind to roll out suitcases full of phony ballots, which were run through the Dominion machines and counted for Biden.

Pulitzer says it would take him no time at all to dig into the ballots and find 10,000 fraudulent ones, which would be enough to deliver a victory for President Trump in the state. Should the same type of scenario unfold in Pennsylvania and Arizona as well, then Trump wins the Electoral College.

Raffensperger should be publicly hanged, wrote another commenter, expressing an increasingly popular sentiment among patriotic Americans that it is time for the deep state to pay for its crimes.

They threw everything into the pot to produce this slimy, fetid pile of glop they want to call election returns, wrote still another. Im reminded of the witches of Macbeth: Well do and well do and well do! And brother did they ever!! Yet, these claims of election fraud are disputed.

More related news about the fraudulent 2020 election can be found at Trump.news.

If you would like to learn more about the efforts of attorney Sidney Powell to overturn the fraudulent election, you can do so at DefendingtheRepublic.org.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com

TheGatewayPundit.com
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

Hedge fund firm Alden Global Capital is making a push to acquire Tribune Publishing in a $520 million deal. The hedge fund is already a significant shareholder in Tribune with a 32% stake in the company.

According to an SEC filing, Alden is offering $14.25 per share, valuing Tribune at approximately $520 million.

Alden already has three seats on the Tribune board. The hedge fund is known for its aggressive restructuring of the news businesses it acquires leaving very little staff or new coverage in its wake. Alden has already offered buyouts to reporters at a number of Tribune papers. Alden's track record suggests this is only the beginning of layoffs if the deal is approved.

If the firm is successful, there will be very few localities left with news coverage that does not fall under the Alden footprint. The hedge fund also owns some broadcast news and radio stations as well.

According to Axios, Tribune Publishing has made some efforts to cut costs as pressure mounts. The publisher terminated several office leases this year and has implemented other cost cutting measures. Alden's significant board presence has created an Alden-like management strategy even though the hedge fund is not yet a full owner of the business.

As of the time of this writing, Tribune Publishing had not yet r......................

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 00:59:49|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Dec. 31, 2020 shows the "London Eye" in London, Britain. Britain and the European Union (EU) have started a new chapter in their relationship as the Brexit transition period ended at 2300 GMT Thursday. Another 55,892 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking the highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in the country, according to official figures released Thursday. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Another 55,892 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking the highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in the country, according to official figures released Thursday.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 2,488,780, the data showed.

It is the third day in a row when more than 50,000 cases were reported in the country.

Another 964 have died within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain to 73,512, the data showed.

On Thursday, emergency field hospitals known as Nightingale hospitals across England are being "readied" for use if needed.

Apart from the hospital at London's Excel centre site, other Nightingale hospital sites across England include Manchester, Bristol, Sunderland, Harrogate, Exeter and Birmingham.

A spokesman for the British National Health Service (NHS) said hospitals in London were coming under significant pressure from high COVID-19 infection rates.

"The NHS in London is opening more beds in NHS hospitals across the capital to care for the most unwell patients. It is crucial that people do everything they can to reduce transmission of the virus," the spokesman said.

"In anticipation of pressures rising from the spread of the new variant infection, NHS London was asked to ensure the London Nightingale was reactivated and ready to admit patients as needed, and that process is under way," he said.

Under the new government measures, an additional 20 million people were put into Tier Four from Thursday, meaning a total of 44 million people will now be in Tier Four, or 78 percent of the population of England.

London and many other parts of England have already been under the highest Tier Four restrictions, which require residents in the areas to stay at home, with limited exemptions. People are also urged to work from home when they can, and should not enter or leave those areas.

The British government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has urged all regions of England to be placed in Tier Four restrictions

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. Enditem
The nation's biggest business groups have lashed state and territory governments for shutting down interstate travel, saying the reaction to the latest coronavirus outbreak has been disproportionate and will leave entire industries failing without more federal support.

The Australian Industry Group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a range of tourism groups are warning the closing of the borders by the Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian governments to all of NSW risks damaging business confidence and leaving multibillion dollar industries in tatters.

Border closures and travel restrictions in response to Sydney's coronavirus outbreak have caused headaches for travellers. Credit:John Russell

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said borders were being shut "at the drop of a hat".

"Our economy can't succeed without open borders and the more they are shut without thought to the broader consequences, the bigger the hit to business confidence and the longer our recovery will take," Mr Willox said.
Right now countless chimney swifts, a small migratory bird that can eat 2,000 insects per day, are hanging out in the Brazilian rainforests, waiting for their summer homes on the United States East Coast to warm up again. When they fly back up north and prepare to make the journey again, theyre going to need a place to stay.

One of those particular places year in and year out is in Bethlehem.

The chimney swifts dont perch like most birds, but rather cling with their long claws to rough, vertical surfaces. Picture if you will, well, a chimney. And the chimney of the old Bethlehem Masonic Temple is a hotspot for the small birds during their migration. Thats why the plans to tear down the temple to expand the adjacent E.P. Wilbur Mansion meant doom for the swifts -- at least it did until a few weeks ago.

John Noble, who has owned the property on which the temple and the mansion stand since 2016, had plans to demolish the water-logged temple and revamp the Wilbur Mansion, adding a 4,800-square foot building that holds an event space, outdoor dining areas and kitchen facilities. He still has those plans, but they were put on pause and adjusted when Bethlehem resident Jennie Gilrain got his ear in early December. Through a network of personal and professional connections, Gilrain informed Noble of the importance the temples chimney has to the migratory swift population, and once Noble was privy to its role in the ecosystem, he knew there was no way the chimney was coming down if he could help it.

Once you realize the impact this thing has on potentially tens of thousands of birds, Noble said, it becomes a no-brainer.

Gilrain, a member of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, first noticed the swifts two years ago from a distance in her backyard. After discovering they were chimney swifts, she and her husband spent that summer on a mission to determine which chimneys the hordes of swifts were inhabiting. One evening Gilrain spotted a screaming frenzy, which is one of the terms used to describe a group of swifts, flying in and out of the Masonic temple chimney. In the months that the swifts are in town -- usually late April to mid-October, though primarily in August and September -- she would frequently take a walk by the temple, occasionally bringing along a group of people to witness the spectacle.

A "screaming frenzy" of chimney swifts.Courtesy of Jennie Gilrain

But recently she noticed a chain-link fence put up around the temple and some signage, and recalled the 2016 news of the propertys redevelopment. She knew she had to act fast. She got a hold of Artefact Inc., the Bethlehem architectural firm working on the project, and founder Christine Ussler passed along the message to Noble. Shortly afterwards, he reached out to Gilrain, and the project had a new facet: save these birds.

Noble, his family and other members of the development team sat down with Scott Burnet, chairman for the habitat committee with the local Audubon Society, who laid out all of the pertinent information regarding the swifts and their living requirements. From there, two plans were formed.

Plan A is to leave the chimney standing and intact. The development team is well on their way to completing that plan, as the demolition that started earlier this week has been adjusted to destroying individual chunks of the temple surrounding the chimney, rather than knocking down the whole thing in one fell swoop (swoop -- another term for a group of chimney swifts).

26 Masonic Temple demolition in Bethlehem

While Noble is optimistic theyll be able to stick with Plan A, Plan B requires building a new structure close enough to the site of the temple that the swifts can find it.

Swifts are very site-specific during their migration, said Peter Saenger, president of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. If the chimney were torn down, the swifts that are migrating next fall would find nothing to roost in and probably end up having to hang on the sides of buildings and trees in the area.

That would leave a lot of swifts -- Gilrain once counted 2,200 flying into the chimney -- exposed to the elements and predators. Saenger said that if a new structure was placed a mile away, its unlikely the swifts would find it. But the replacement structure would be within 60 feet of the original chimney, according to Noble. Nobles checked out the experiences with ersatz chimneys that other Audubon Societies have had up and down the East Coast after dealing with similar issues.

The replacement chimneys are nowhere near as successful, Noble said of his findings. We will replace (the temple chimney), heaven forbid something happen to it. But really, we are trying to save that existing one.

Leaving the current chimney standing would be the first, but hopefully not final step in an effort to spread the ever-growing awareness the swifts and the importance the community plays in their survival.

Recently, Gilrain started a Save Our Swifts Go Fund Me page for the Audubon Society to raise money supporting the extra expenses the development is taking on to protect the swifts and their chimney. The current goal is $50,000, but wont be paid until the project is completed. Then, whatever money is left over will go toward community awareness and education through documenting active roosts, building new towers and more.

The education is already well on its way.

I know more about these birds than I ever thought I would in my entire life, Noble said.

Gilrain says the same. Shes in the process of applying for a grant from the Lehigh Valley Engaged Humanities Consortium that would help to set up public forums with the Bethlehem Area Public Library to educate residents on not only the birds themselves, but changing construction methods to benefit them.

Our first goal is to save this chimney in order to save tens of thousands of birds, Gilrain said. And after that, we dont stop.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
A 57-year-old farmer died of heart attack while protesting against the Centres farm laws at the Ghazipur border here on Friday. Mohar Singh, a resident of Bhagwanpur Nangal village in Baghpat district, was rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead, an official said.

Indirapuram DSP Anshu Jain told PTI that as per medical information, the farmer died of a heart attack.

Commenting on the incident, the state president of the BKU, Rajbir Singh, said all those farmers who died during the protest against the farm laws must get the status of a martyr.

The body was wrapped in a BKU flag. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait paid homage to him.

On the eve of the New Year, a tribute was paid to all farmers who died during the protest. A candlelight march was also brought out.
Headstones bearing Nazi swastikas are not worth keeping.

Their recent removal from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery should be celebrated. The event should have been broadcast far and wide to raise awareness about the horrors of the Holocaust, the genocide of 6 million Jewish people and the murder of millions of others under the Nazi regime. This was a teachable moment. Never again.

Instead, the removal and replacement of two headstones for German prisoners of war Alfred P. Kafka and Georg Forst was a stunningly quiet moment, even if it was a welcome about-face from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The removal was chronicled by Express-News reporter Sig Christenson thanks to a tipster, not a formal announcement or press briefing.

While this reflects Christensons outstanding sourcing on all things military, we agree with the sentiments of Michael L. Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who slammed the VAs decision to keep the removal quiet.

The fact that ... they were trying very hard not to have anyone see it shows that they were embarrassed. They dont like having to do it, and its as simple as that, he said.

There is simply no compelling argument to maintain these headstones on a military cemetery. Americans died fighting the Third Reich. And what were Nazis fighting for?

To ignore their cause  inscribed on the headstones as He died far from his home for the Fuhrer, people and fatherland.  is an insult to history and the dead.

And this is why the argument that these headstones somehow preserve history falls way short and is so insulting and infuriating.

In an earlier statement, the VA defended the preservation and continued display of these headstones, saying there was an obligation to protect historic resources, including those that recognize divisive historical figures or events.

But these headstones offered no historical context or understanding about the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust.

That context can be found at the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio. Never again.

And yet we worry people are forgetting.

In recent years there has been a sharp increase in documented anti-Semitic incidents, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Its 2019 audit found 2,107 such incidents. This is an increase from 2018, when 1,879 incidents were reported. In 2016, there were 1,267 incidents, and in 2015, 942 incidents.

A depressing survey from 2020 commissioned by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany found a worrying lack of basic Holocaust knowledge among adults younger than 40.

This included 1 in 10 adults never having heard the word Holocaust. The majority of those surveyed did not know 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust, and some respondents thought Jewish people perpetrated the Holocaust.

So, in this context, how does displaying Nazi headstones at a military cemetery inform us about our history or deepen our understanding about the horrors of the Holocaust?

It doesnt. The headstones had to be removed because they never should have been there.
Haryana DGP Manoj Yadava launched the official Twitter account of DGP Haryana to connect with various sections of society, share important information about daily activities, and create awareness about crime prevention strategies.

The DGP said that the information shared on @dgpharyana will be related to topics like cybercrime, economic offences, road safety, and crime against women and children.

The essential idea behind making my debut on Twitter is to harness the extensive following of social media to reach out to common public for sharing crime prevention strategies and to make them aware about various pro-public initiatives of Haryana Police. However, if a citizen has a problem or a complaint, I would request them to lodge it online on HarSamay portal of Haryana Police where they can also track the progress of the disposal of their complaints, said Yadava.
As questions swirl around the Lawaypora encounter, in which three youths were killed on Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir police said on Friday that all angles were being investigated while reiterating that the killed youths were over ground workers (OGWs) for terrorists.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, police said that the youths were given a chance to surrender. Lawaypora Srinagar encounter started with army inputs and eventually fructified into a joint operation of army, CRPF and the police. After the cordon was laid, terrorists lobbed grenades from inside and fired upon the search party. Although as per (the) SOP, terrorists were repeatedly appealed (to) by the troops to surrender in the evening and again in the morning. However, instead of surrendering, they fired upon troops and eventually got neutralised in a firefight.

The police spokesman said that the claims, made by the parents that Aijaz Maqbool Ganai had gone to the university to fill up a form on the day the encounter began, was found to be untrue after verification and cross checking using modern techniques, including studying the records stored by the telecom department.

Contrary to the claims, the verified digital evidence revealed and corroborated that Aijaz and Ather had gone to Hyderpora and from there to the place of occurrence (encounter) only. Similarly, Zubair had gone first to Pulwama, then to Anantnag, then Shopian to Pulwama and finally came to (the) place of occurrence.

Also Read: Mehbooba Mufti seeks impartial and swift probe into Lawaypora encounter

The spokesman said that background checks also reveal that Aijaz and Ather Mustaq, both OGWs (over ground workers) variously provided logistic support to terrorists.

Antecedents and verifications too show that both were radically inclined and had aided terrorists of the LeT (now so-called TRF) outfit. One of the OGWs, presently under police custody, has also corroborated Aijazs association with LeT terrorist Faisal Mustaq Baba, who was killed in Meej (Pampore) encounter in June last year. Pertinently, Ather was a relative and OGW of HM (Hizbul Mujahideen) top commander Rayees Kachroo, who got killed in 2017.

Nevertheless, (the) police are investigating into the case from all possible angles, the spokesperson said.
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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 1 : The state Budget for 2021-22 will be presented in the Assembly on January 15, the Kerala government announced after a Cabinet meeting here on Friday. The Budget Session will begin on January 8.

The Budget session -- the last one for the Pinarayi Vijayan government and the current Assembly as state elections are scheduled in May -- is likely to see much firework as the opposition will try to put the LDF government on the back foot on several issues.

With Finance Minister Thomas Issac presenting his last Budget in this Assembly's term, expectations abound regarding new proposals and projects that the government has proclaimed its support for in the past.

Coming only months ahead of the Assembly polls, the Budget is expected to reveal the LDF government's people-friendly schemes and various welfare projects and sops.

Sparks are likely to fly during the session as the opposition will certainly rake up various issues to corner the government, including gold smuggling case in which the Chief Minister's then Principal Secretary M Sivasankar is one of the accused.

Vijayan's Additional Private Secretary CM Raveendran too has been called for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, which will provide additional ammunition to the opposition.

Controversies bedevilling the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board are also likely to be discussed threadbare in this session.

On the other hand, the treasury benches will be gung-ho after the convincing victory of the Left Democratic Front in the recent local body polls in Kerala.

Induction of young faces and women as heads of local bodies at several places has given the ruling CPI-M a foothold among the youth, women and the middle class. These developments will certainly add to the government confidence to take on the opposition in the Assembly.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Welcome to the house of Benigna Parfums - an elegant gender-neutral and transformative fragrance brand that has stunned the world with their exquisite perfumes.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Benigna Parfums, whose heart and focus has been dedicated to using the rarest and most expensive ingredients combined with superior craftsmanship, recently launched The Floral Trio. And, in a bold, creative move - they are set to premier a film inspired by their exquisite perfumes in Cinema soon.

With a glance at the stellar list of ingredients in Benigna Parfums, you will instantly notice the most precious and elusive ones such as Bulgarian Rose, Ambergris, Musk, Oud and Orris . Interestingly, many of them have to be aged from 2 to 5 years to produce only 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of fragranced oil.

These wonderful notes and ingredients can be seen in the following Youtube video, where the master perfumer, Cecile Zarokian, talks in detail about the process of producing the Benigna Parfums fragrances. In the film she refers to the Bulgarian rose, its cost, and the quantity of 10,000 pounds of rose petals that are needed to distill only one pound of the highly coveted rose oil. As a result of its rarity and the difficulty of harvesting it, to make only 1 kg of rose oil you will need about 4 tons of rose petals, hand-picked at dawn. She explains that 200 roses are needed to make 1kg of petals! Ambergris and Orris are two of the most expensive perfume ingredients today, and the Oud value is estimated to be 1.5 times the value of gold, and is why it is often referred to as "liquid gold". Orris butter is another of the most costly ingredients in perfumery, around 20 000 /k . The roots of Orris have a very long aging process of about 3 years, and a drying process of 3 or more years, which sums up to at least 6 years total. With those statistics, it is easy to understand why the exquisite perfumes are so expensive.

The masterfully-crafted scents are specifically curated to cater to those who are seeking something truly unique, superior in quality, and leave it to the wearer to create their own personal, intimate story. Each scent is carefully formulated to spark joy, harmony, and a luxurious sensory experience, presented in diamond-faceted crystal bottles with hand-cut crystal stoppers, adorned with Swarovski crystals circling the 24-karat gold-plated neck. The gender-neutral scents bring diversity and a modern, fresh perspective, and the brand stands out for its commitment to sustainability, boasting eco-friendly packaging, and refillable bottles.

Recently, Benigna Parfums supported and motivated talented screenwriters to compose a film screenplay inspired by the three-year journey to create their exquisite perfume collection, with the idea of integrating true-life with fiction.bringing together the best of the two unique worlds. The plot revolves around a female protagonist on a mission to produce the most exquisite perfume ever created. When the formula is stolen by her rival, the film takes a new turn that is truly entertaining and enlightening. The new-age movie - "Impossibility Nonexistent" @Impossibilitynonexistent, where a strong heroine makes her debut in action-packed sequences, is set to arrive in movie theaters and stream online in the near future. The film, which features well-known actors, is a must-see for everyone! Additionally, the creative process behind this screenplay has touched on a few trending topics that we feel need to be showcased on-screen. One important aspect is that we created a role for a woman of color as the main character, and which also goes against pre-established stereotypes in action movies where primarily males have been leading characters.

Find out more about Benigna Parfums here.

Benigna Parfums

www.BenignaParfums.com

@Benignaparfums

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1393777/Exquisite_Fragrance_Collection_by_Benigna_Parfums_3.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1393778/Exquisite_Fragrance_Collection_by_Benigna_Parfums_2.jpg

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COLUMBUS, Ohio  In the minutes that ticked by after a police officer shot Andre Hill inside his friends garage, officers scoured the driveway for shell casings, strung crime scene tape around the house and blocked off the street.

At one point, two Columbus officers rolled Hill over and put handcuffs on him before leaving him alone again. None of them, according to body camera footage released Thursday, offered any first aid even though Hill, a 47-year-old Black man, was barely moving, groaning and bleeding while laying on the garage floor.

Roughly 10 minutes passed before a police supervisor showed up and asked, Anybody doing anything for him? It wasnt until then that an officer began pumping the chest of Hill, who later was pronounced dead at a hospital on Dec. 22.

While Officer Adam Coy, who is white, was fired this week over accusations of incompetence and gross neglect of duty in the fatal shooting, the officers who failed to treat Hill also are under investigation for failing to follow department policy.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



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Police Chief Thomas Quinlan said he was horrified by the lack of compassion shown in the bodycam videos.

As a police chief, and just as a human being, the events of the last week have left me shaken, and heartbroken for the family of Andre Hill, Quinlan said in a statement. Every man and woman who wears this badge should feel the same.

Family members on on Thursday blasted officers treatment of Hill at an emotional news conference.

The way that my brother was treated, to me, its like an animal, said his sister, Michelle Hairston. He was preyed upon. He wasnt given any kind of chances.

Where is the humanity? said Benjamin Crump, a civil rights and trial attorney representing the family and who, with family members, called on Coy to be arrested and charged. This is a couple days before Christmas. Why is nobody being Christ-like?

Coy, a 17-year member of the force, shot Hill when he emerged from the garage holding a cellphone with his left hand and his right hand not visible. Another officer on the scene said she didnt perceive any threats and didnt see a gun, contrary to a mistaken claim by Coy.

According to the bodycam video released Thursday, Coy told another officer leading him away from the home: Ive got to figure out what I missed.

Well take care of that, I promise you, Officer Jared Barsotti responded.

Coy and Officer Amy Detweiler were responding to a neighbors nonemergency call when they encountered Hill.

A woman inside a house where Hill was shot told the officers moments after the shooting that he was coming over to bring her money, according to the bodycam footage.

He was bringing me Christmas money. He didnt do anything, she shouted.

Roughly five minutes after Hill was shot, one officer shouted: Lets cuff him up. Hes still moving.

Shawna Barnett, another one of Hills sisters, called out officers directly for their lack of action.

How can you sleep at night knowing that you did this, and left him there, and had the nerve to turn him over and handcuff him but not offer him any type of help? she said Thursday.

Hill was shot two weeks after a white Franklin County sheriffs deputy shot 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr., who was Black, outside Goodsons house on the north side of Columbus.

Twenty faith leaders, including the Roman Catholic bishop for the Columbus diocese, called for changes Thursday in central Ohio policing. The problem goes deeper than a few bad apples in departments, the leaders said in a letter sent to Columbus city and police officials.

The deeper problem is the existence of a systemic culture within many police departments, as evidenced here in Columbus, where Black men are perceived as threats by the police, the letter said. The result is that Black communities always feel harassed and threatened.

___

Seewer reported from Toledo. Kantele Franko in Columbus and Mark Gillispie from Cleveland contributed.
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(KHSL) - Some first-time drivers have to wait a little bit longer to take their driving test. The reason? A surge in COVID-19 cases in California.

Behind-the-wheel tests at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are suspended until January 11, 2021, according to reps.

With an ongoing pandemic, tests look a bit different. Every time an exam is underway, the driver and instructor each have to wear a mask and the windows have to be cracked.

The tests will automatically be rescheduled that were planned through January 11th.

Prior to this announcement - the DMV suspended tests through January 4th, 2021.

The temporary suspension does not impact motorcycle drive tests.

DMV offices are still open on business days, workers encourage everyone - if they can - to handle all their paperwork online.

To visit the DMV website, CLICK HERE.
United States Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Pottinger looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 11, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Senior US Security Adviser Slams EU-China Investment Deal: Report

The White House deputy national security adviser has reportedly slammed a major business investment deal that was made in principle between the EU and China on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Matthew Pottinger said that the deal, made despite Chinas grotesque human rights abuses, has shocked American politicians on both sides of the aisle at a time when a new U.S. presidential administration is imminent, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an international group of lawmakers focused on combating threats posed by the Chinese regime.

IPAC said in a tweet that Pottinger told its European Co-Chairs that Leaders in both U.S. political parties and across the U.S. government are perplexed and stunned that the EU is moving towards a new investment treaty right on the eve of a new U.S. administration.

No Longer Kid Ourselves Over China

There is nowhere for bureaucrats in Brussels or Europe to hide. We can no longer kid ourselves that Beijing is on the verge of honoring labor rights, while it continues to build millions of square feet of factories for forced labor in Xinjiang Pottinger said, according to IPAC.

The EU Commissions haste to partner with Beijing despite its grotesque human rights abuses has removed a fig leaf, he added.

The Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) pact was made after the Chinese communist regime, according to the EUs executive body, the European Commission, made commitments to improve the EUs access to Chinese markets and also to pursue ratification of the International Labor Organisations rules on forced labor.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are seen on a screen during a video conference, in Brussels, on Dec. 30, 2020. (Johanna Geron/Pool/Reuters)

The CAI pact was seven years in the making and was concluded in principle at a video conference attended by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The White House did not respond to a query about Pottingers alleged comments to IPAC.

Pottinger, who played a key role in shaping President Donald Trumps China policy, has previously criticized Beijings predations around the world.

In a rare speech in October that he delivered in Mandarin Chinese, Pottinger called on the world to speak out against the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) human rights abuses and malign influence.

Paradoxical Mindset

He said that The CCPs goal is to coax people and nations into a paradoxical mindsetthrough coopting or bullyingthats conducive to Beijings grand ambitions.

By portraying truth-telling as an act of belligerence, autocrats try to badger democracies into silenceand often succeed, he said.

Its a mindset that on Monday says, Its too early to say whether Beijing poses a threat, and by Friday says Theyre a threat, all right, but its too late to do anything about it now.

EU lawmakers have also often condemned the Chinese regime over its human rights abuses, including the use of forced labor and the suppression of Chinas ethnic and religious minorities.

Magnitsky Sanctions

On Dec. 7, following von der Leyens State of the Union speech in September, in which she said the EU must call out the Chinese regimes human rights abuses and make decisions on sanctions more efficiently, the bloc decided to establish a global Magnitsky sanctions regime, enabling it to target individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses.

On Dec. 17, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for EU sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for the abuse of ethnic Muslim Uyghurs and to ban Chinese imports made with forced labor.

Von der Leyen has also previously called out the Chinese regime for failing to uphold its promise under a 2019 deal to allow greater access for European companies or drop its rules requiring investors to share their know-how in Chinese joint ventures.

Nevertheless, she said the EU China pact was an important landmark in our relationship with China and for our values-based trade agenda.

It will provide unprecedented access to the Chinese market for European investors, enabling our businesses to grow and create jobs, she added.

Both China and the EU are now working on the text of the CAI deal which requires legal review before being put to the EU Council and the European Parliament for approval.

Alexander Zhang and Eva Fu contributed to this report.
The services sector, which makes up 80% of Britains economy, does not even know what the rules will be for business with the EU in 2021  many of the details have yet to be hammered out. Months and years of further discussion and argument over everything from fair competition to fish quotas lie ahead as Britain and the EU settle into their new relationship as friends, neighbors and rivals.
Alex Kane and Andree Murphy assess 100 years of partition in Ireland

Alex Kane: We should all take a few months to ask difficult questions of ourselves

Partition is a fact of history. It is also a fact of history that neither unionists nor nationalists wanted it. And, a century on, it remains the chief bone of contention between both sides: the subject around which every and any election revolves.

A line on a map. A line in a mindset. A line that predominates and eclipses every other socio/economic/political issue. A line which still represents the permafrost barrier between possible reconciliation and dreary steeples retrenchment.

A line at the dead centre of our past, present and future. A line which needs to be discussed rationally and honestly by the primary political traditions (whose beliefs and strategies have been shaped by it), as well as by a younger generation which doesn't quite get the stranglehold it continues to exert over politics here.

I support the Union and will continue to do so. I welcome the opportunity to make the case for Northern Ireland. But I also accept that many, including some from a perceived unionist background, have difficulties with marking its centenary.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch tells his children: "If you just learn a single trick you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it."

And maybe that is the trick we need to learn as we reflect on the events of the last century and the fact of history which led us to where we are now.

I can understand why nationalists are wary of anything that looks like celebrating, rather than marking, the centenary of partition.

I understand why they think there will be elements of unionism which will adopt a triumphalist approach to the centenary - although it strikes me that the plans by political unionism to mark the event have, generally speaking, been fairly measured.

But the history of the last 100 years isn't just about "Ulster" unionism. The closing of Stormont in March 1972 - 49 years ago - removed unionism's power-base and put decision-making in the hands of Westminster (which often worked hand-in-glove with Irish governments).

A whole raft of legislation and reform changed Northern Ireland beyond recognition: opening doors for new political parties and new ways of cross-community engagement.

Nothing about the change was overnight, but the changes, collectively and cumulatively, finally made it possible to build a peace/political process which, for all its faults, is still in place.

That is why I was disappointed when Sinn Fein and the SDLP (along with a number of key figures from within civic nationalism and academia) turned down the opportunity to participate in the Centenary Forum marking the formation of Northern Ireland.

As I say, I understand their concerns about finding themselves attending some sort of celebratory event, yet their absence means there will be no significant, or substantive, nationalist input into an important debate.

The story of Northern Ireland cannot simply be told by one community. As one very shrewd observer of nationalism noted: "There is a real opportunity to reflect on how different sections of the community view the last 100 years and how they feel the partition of the island has impacted on generations of people who live here."

That is the opportunity which, I think, is now being missed. Fine, a very broad-based, inclusive, respectful debate about partition isn't going to put-to-rights all the divisions and dismantle all the barriers: yet it might open doors to the Atticus Finch position of being able to see your situation from the perspective of your opponents.

A fact of history a century ago still dictates and shapes our socio/political engagement: so maybe we should take a few months in 2021 to ask difficult questions of ourselves and of those we perceive as irreconcilable enemies.

I have long argued that unionists should not be afraid of engaging with nationalism on the subject of possible Irish unity. Many nationalists have praised me for that stance.

Yet, some of the people who have praised my willingness to engage with nationalism on various panels and at some Sinn Fein-organised conferences are now telling me that nationalism should remain "pretty aloof" when it comes to engaging with unionism during Northern Ireland's centenary. You can't have it both ways.

One of the main pitches made by nationalists to unionists during the various unity projects of the last decade is that unionists, along with their culture, traditions, heritage and identity, would be accommodated, recognised and respected in a "new Ireland".

An essential dimension to that unionist culture, tradition, heritage and identity can be summed up in the very words "Northern Ireland": a place unionists regard as their home. Yet, or so it seems, the vast majority of political/civic nationalism and republicanism doesn't want to engage in a centenary debate about Northern Ireland.

It always seems trite to say it is important we talk. Yet it's a simple, unavoidable truth: we do need to talk. About our shared present. About our shared past. About our shared future. About the facts of history which continue to shape and steer our engagement with each other after a century.

Alex Kane is a writer and commentator

Andree Murphy: the exciting conversation is on unity, not the stale promotion of lies

This month, Arlene Foster marks her fifth anniversary as leader of the DUP. In her acceptance speech of a position, by her own admission, she was never destined to achieve, she spoke of the centenary of partition. She set the frame for how she wanted to mark 2021 in this first missive.

Like so much else, events have got in the way of her ambition.

In words that might have been, but were not, influenced by the Gettysburg Address, she wondered what it was like for "our founding fathers... building a new state from scratch", how Northern Ireland was "our birthright" and, most telling of all, that after 100 years "we" are "safe in the knowledge that Northern Ireland's place in the Union is secure".

Instead of this secure picture-postcard of secure reflection, the marking of the centenary will occur at a time when there is an unprecedented focus on the constitutional future of the north.

Brexit, the sorry failure of the northern Executive to deliver on the promise of basic human rights, the Covid pandemic, a booming southern economy and demographics have all combined over the past three years to convince many that our future lies in a different constitutional one to that which has gone before and failed.

While for Foster, and those who are like-minded, the northern state was founded as a "birthright", for the other citizens living here the past 100 years has been the denial of the legitimacy of that other birthright - Irish identity.

An artificial line was drawn across Ireland in 1921 to secure a Protestant majority and deliberately create the conditions for what Fine Gael's Peter Barry called the "nationalist nightmare".

Decades of systemic discrimination against Irish citizens, upheld by a militarised police force and a system of laws which was the envy of South Africa's apartheid regime, was how the state was purposefully created "from scratch".

Of course, the tale of the north is a play of two halves, with the first half being the sectarian utopia to which some unionists look on with rose-tinted glasses and nationalists look on with trauma, sadness and anger, and a second half of the reaction to attempts to dismantle that infrastructure, the ensuing devastating conflict and the peace process.

The Northern Ireland Office, and some in unionism, want to make this a year of pretence. They want to talk about what unites "us", to celebrate the best of "us" and to think about "the future".

I am quite sure they do, but that is a deliberate sham, and not how we have done any other part of this decade of centenaries.

Every other reflection has been about interrogating the facts of what happened, uncovering the stories of those who received little attention at the time (mainly women, children and the working classes) and reflecting on modern-day implications of those events.

And those reflections have been about who were beneficiaries of those historic events and who were its victims.

The truth is there is no "us" when it comes to this anniversary.

For some, it is the anniversary of the "state" which was founded for "us" - the beneficiaries of the "state".

For others, it is the anniversary of partition and the purposeful delegitimisation of "them" - Irish citizens left as strangers in their own land.

The longer unionism and the Northern Ireland Office seek to sanitise, or avoid an honest and embracing truth, the more they look entirely happy with the endorsing of an official history which justifies discrimination, pogrom and murder.

It is worth noting that the formal structures by which both governments and all parties agreed to interrogate the second half of "Northern Ireland", the legacy structures of the Stormont House Agreement, haven't been implemented and have become politically contested.

Why? Primarily because the British state wishes to sidestep and sanitise its own record and history in this place.

Objective and independent scrutiny would shine a light on the lie that Britain was neutral during the conflict and on the lie that there were "two warring factions", when in fact the British state was at the heart of the conflict.

In this context, the idea that the Northern Ireland Office would swoop in and lead reflection on the "centenary", while denying truth to bereaved and injured victims of the latter half of the same "centenary", would be a sick joke, except there is nothing funny in this shamefaced approach.

Happily, irrespective of the prospect of an officially endorsed revision-fest, there is momentum towards positive conversation.

And that conversation is framed by planning for a constitutional future very different to the past. A future which has respect for identity and universality of rights at its heart.

This year's most exciting conversation is more likely to concentrate on this generational opportunity, rather than the stale promotion of official lies, or conveniences, regarding the past.

Andree Murphy is deputy director of Relatives for Justice
Welcoming the New Year, Congress leader took a veiled dig at the BJP-led Central government and said his heart is with the farmers and labourers who are fighting 'unjust forces'.

"As the begins, we remember those who we lost and thank all those who protect and sacrifice for us. My heart is with the farmers and labourers fighting unjust forces with dignity and honour. Happy to all," the Congress leader tweeted.

Gandhi has been slamming the government on multiple occasions on the issue of farmers and migrant labourers.

On December 24, after meeting President Ram Nath Kovind along with other party members to discuss the demands made by farmers, he said, "India is now an imaginary democracy".

It has been more than a month that farmers are protesting against the new farm laws brought by the government. They are demanding for the complete repeal of all the three farm laws while the government suggested at amending the laws.

There have been several rounds of talks between the government and representatives of the farmers. These have remained inconclusive so far and there is another round of meeting between them on January 4.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW DELHI: The Indian army has signed a contract with Goa Shipyard Limited for 12 Fast Patrol Boats for surveillance and patrolling of large water bodies.

A Twitter post from the Indian army said the boats would be used for patrols in high altitude regions as well  an indication that the order was being placed for patrolling the Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh  one of the sites of the ongoing military standoff between India and China.

Delivery would commence from May 2021," the post on Friday said.

The signing of the contract comes eight months after India first detected intrusions by Chinese soldiers into Indian territory including along the banks of the Pangong Tso lake. India had detected intrusions on the north bank of the lake in early May with troops involved in hand-to-hand fights. Nearly two-thirds of the lake is controlled by China, with the rest under Indian control. Troops of both countries have not vacated positions they took in the summer months of 2020 including on heights of mountains in Ladakh where temperatures could reach minus 50 according to some accounts. New Delhi had placed emergency orders for high altitude clothing, tents and other equipment for its troops.

The order for the patrol boats also indicates that India is gearing up for the coming summer months when China could make another bid to alter the status quo or the perception of just where the Line of Actual Control lies.

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Chinese police have detained a woman in the southwestern province of Yunnan on suspicion of subversion, as part of a crackdown on dissent in the southern province of Guangdong, her associates confirmed Friday.



Wei Yani, who hails from the southern region of Guangxi, was detained by police in Yunnan in November as part of a nationwide operation.



She was taken away from the home of fellow activist Zhang Lin in the Xishuangbanna border area of Yunnan by officers from the state security police department in Guangzhou, Guangdong's provincial capital.



Police searched Zhang's home and confiscated a computer and mobile phone belonging to Wei.



An associate of Wei's, Chen Chuangchuang, said she may have been getting ready to flee China by crossing the border into neighboring Myanmar.



"Yunjinghong town [where Zhang lives] is right on the border," Chen told RFA. "Zhang Lin has already been sentenced for helping to smuggle people across the border."



"It seems that Wei Yani was planning to leave the country, which was why she was in Yunjinghong."



Wei is being treated as a co-defendant with activists Fan Yiping, Fan Wencheng, Lai Jianjun and Qiao Lianhong, who were detained on Nov. 12 by police in Guangdong.



While RFA has learned that the two Fans, Lai and Qiao are all currently under "residential surveillance at a designated location (RSDL)," few details of the case have been made public so far.



Wei is also being held under RSDL, under which detainees suspected of crimes linked to "national security" may be held incommunicado in an unknown location for up to six months, with no access to lawyers or family visits.



Casting a wide net

Chen said her detention suggests the police are struggling to compile enough evidence against the Guangzhou detainees, and have had to widen their net.



He said the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) often uses subversion charges to target groups of democracy activists or rights campaigners.



"The CCPs subversion cases often mean that they will be prosecuting a group of people together, and that it is very nervous about them," Chen said.



"The CCP prioritizes cracking down on any form of organized opposition," he said. "They probably only found out about Wei Yani when they started casting their net wider."



"Otherwise it wouldn't have taken this long for them to bring her in."



A person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified said it is still unclear how the cases are linked in the minds of the police.



"Wei Yani was once a petitioner, but now we are looking at subversion of state power, and RSDL," the person said. "It's hard to say how, but this is definitely linked to the Fan Wencheng and Fan Yiping cases."



Wei was active in a grassroots petition and protest movement over official graft linked to the construction of the Longtan hydropower project in 2006, over which she was sent by her community in Tian 'E county to lodge an official complaint in Beijing.



She was sent to a police-run labor camp for two years for "re-education" on public order charges linked to her activism.



She was then sentenced to four years' imprisonment by a local district court, also on public order charges.



RSDL means increased risk of torture

U.S.-based activist Yang Zhanqing said RSDL detainees are at increased risk of torture and other forms of mistreatment.



"In these situations, its easier for the authorities to extract a confession through torture," Yang told RFA. "That's what it's for."



"Detainees may be subjected to unbearable physical and mental torture," he said. "It may be legal, but it runs counter to the [Chinese] constitution and to international human rights principles."



Yang said there has been no sign of a let-up in the crackdown on any form of public dissent or political opposition to the CCP under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who is currently serving an indefinite term in office.



"The CCP has been implementing tougher and tougher social controls ... and the bar just keeps getting lower," he said. "When they can't find a crime to pin on you, they use subversion of state power."



The RSDL system has been strongly criticized by rights organizations for leaving detainees vulnerable to torture and other forms of ill-treatment.



Fan Yiping was born into a CCP family, graduated from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Medical University, then worked as a surgeon, before starting a food trading company.



His father was a former secretary-general in the Guangdong provincial government.



Fan Yiping was sentenced to three years in prison for receiving Chinese dissident Wang Bingzhang after he secretly returned to China to promote the democracy movement, as well as for helping dissident Wang Xizhe escape to the United States.



Fan Wencheng once ran his own real estate business, while Lai Jianjun, who originally hailed from Chongqing, served one year in jail on charges of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," a charge frequently used to target peaceful critics of the CCP.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Burma AA Frees Three Abducted NLD Members, Three Soldiers in Myanmars Rakhine State

The three NLD candidates who were abducted in Rakhine State's Taungup Township on Oct. 14: (from left) Daw Ni Ni May Myint, Daw Chit Chit Chaw and U Min Aung.

The Arakan Army on Friday released three members of the ruling National League for Democracy who were abducted by the ethnic armed organization while campaigning in Rakhine State in October ahead of the election, and also freed three government soldiers captured in late 2019. Local political and security analysts said the move was aimed at building mutual trust and achieving a longstanding ceasefire between the government, the AA and the Myanmar military, paving the way for Rakhine State to hold voting canceled in November.

It has been two and a half months since the three then-candidates, Daw Chit Chit Chaw, Daw Ni Ni May Myint and U Min Aungwho stood for seats representing Rakhines Taungup Township in the Lower House, Upper House and Rakhine State parliament, respectivelywere abducted in the townships Hpaung Kha Village on Oct. 14.

Fridays releases came as the result of the second online meeting between AA chief Major General Tun Myat Naing and military peace negotiation committee chairman Lieutenant General Yar Pyae on Dec. 30, according to AA spokesman Khaing Thu Kha, who said the meeting lasted about 35 minutes.

The AA released three soldiersofficer U Myint Aung and privates Nan Win Maung and Wai Lin Aungof Light Infantry Battalion 313 under Brigade 77 on Friday morning in Paletwa Township, southern Chin State, according to the AA spokesman. The group detained them during fighting on Nov. 19, 2019 in a village in Paletwa. The three soldiers are in ill health, according to sources.

The three NLD members were transferred to the militarys Western Command chief, Brigadier General Soe Tint, in Minbya Township in the afternoon, in line with plans outlined to The Irrawaddy by the AA spokesman on Friday morning.

Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun confirmed to The Irrawaddy the release of the civilians and soldiers. We have received the three soldiers, and we will transfer the three NLD members to Sittwe [Rakhine States capital] on Friday afternoon, he said, adding that the releases came about as a result of negotiations between the military and the AA.

The AAs Khaing Thu Kha said the group would release more detainees who are older or ill, depending on the progress of the peace talks.

The AA and the military called a pause in clashes about two months ago after near constant fierce fighting since November 2018.

Negotiations leading to the pause were mediated by the chairman of Japans Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, who expressed hope that it would set in motion voting in Rakhine.

In a Nov. 12 statement, the AA urged the government to hold voting in the affected areas before the end of December and said it would collaborate with the military to create the necessary conditions. To the surprise of many, the military welcomed the overture. The two sides have held informal talks three times, on Nov. 25, Dec. 9 and Dec. 30, to try to formalize the peace. Tens of thousands of IDPs have returned home since the fighting paused.

U Maung Maung Soe, a political and ethnic affairs analyst, said that as the latest meeting involved key decision-makers, it would help build mutual trust, adding that it appeared both sides appear to be genuinely trying to have a strong ceasefire.

He felt sure that the hiatus in fighting would last for some time in Rakhine State.

According to sources, one of the topics discussed by the AA and military (or Tatmadaw) was troop deployments, considered a key to establishing a more permanent ceasefire in Rakhine State.

The AA is one of the four-member Northern Alliance, which has been negotiating to sign bilateral ceasefire agreements between its members and the government.

To achieve this, further discussions are needed among the Northern Alliance members, the Tatmadaw and the governments Peace Commission under the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, U Maung Maung Soe said.

Dr. Min Zaw Oo, the director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, said the AA clearly intended the release of the detainees as a gesture of goodwill, adding that it was cause for optimism.

The AAs release of the NLD members, two of whom are sitting parliamentarians, is significant given the groups call for elections to be held in nine townships in northern Rakhine State where voting in the Nov. 8 general election had to be canceled for security reasons.

It will also likely be a factor in the NLD government and Union Election Commissions decision on whether the area can hold voting freely and fairly, Dr. Min Zaw Oo said.

The AA said in a statement on Oct. 19 that it would not release the candidates until the government freed all ethnic politicians and civilians arrested for affiliation with the AA and student protesters detained for demanding peace. The process of releasing students and alleged AA affiliates would be complicated, however, as their legal cases are at various stages of completion.

Also on Friday, the AA and its two partners in the Brotherhood Alliance, the Taang National Liberation Army and Kokangs Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, extended their unilateral ceasefire for two more months until Feb. 28. The alliance declared a truce in September 2019, though it has been disrupted by frequent fighting.

The military on Dec. 31 extended its own unilateral truce covering much of the country until Jan. 31, 2021 to restore eternal peace, to expedite the peace process with the EAOs and to facilitate COVID-19 prevention, containment and treatment in the country. However, the truce excludes areas where groups declared by Myanmar to be terrorist groups are active.

The AA has been on the governments list of terrorist groups since March.

Regarding Fridays move, observers speculated that the military and the AA are trying to return to the situation that prevailed in the region before serious fighting erupted two years ago.

Dr. Min Zaw Oo said, Before January 2019, the AA and military engaged on the border and in Paletwa, and avoided escalations in fighting. The military did not deploy its units and the AA did not attack local battalions. I think they are trying to find a way back to that situation.

In a statement issued by the Nippon Foundation on Friday, Sasakawa welcomed the AAs release of the three NLD members and three soldiers. He expressed confidence that the two sides will continue to negotiate, adding that he hoped free and fair elections would be held in Rakhine soon.

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Myanmars NLD Again Calls on Arakan Army to Release Three Abducted Ex-Candidates
At least 25 civilians have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's troubled east, local officials said Friday, blaming the attack on the notorious ADF militia

Beni (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jan, 2021 ) :At least 25 civilians have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's troubled east, local officials said Friday, blaming the attack on the notorious ADF militia.

The army was chasing ADF fighters on Thursday when they found the bodies of 25 civilians, who had been "taken by surprise in their fields on New Year's Eve," Donat Kibuana, the administrator of the Beni territory, told AFP.

The ADF is one of more than 100 militias that plague the eastern provinces of the vast country and has been blamed for the deaths of hundreds of civilians over the past year.
Over 2,000 farmers from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana and members of trade unions on Friday gathered at Bawal in Rewari. The farmers at Bawal were seen asking their counterparts in Shahjhanapur to join them so that they could hold a meeting and proceed towards Delhi on January 4.

On Thursday, farmers had broken the barricades at Shahjahanpur and they had entered Rewari on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, crossing the Shahjahanpur interstate border in Rajasthan, as the police were not letting them enter Haryana.

Hundreds of commuters were stuck on both carriageways of the highway for around two hours on Thursday before the police removed the barricades and let commuters move towards Delhi, and then towards Jaipur.

Gurugram Police on Friday put in place tight security at the border with Rewari to ensure no protesters cross the border to enter the district. The arrangements could lead to traffic snarls until January 4, said police.

The police said they have received information that protesters intended to block the expressway to Delhi on January 4, due to which they have deployed over 700 personnel in two shifts at all checkpoints with the national capital and another 700 at borders with Rewari and Nuh. The Haryana Police have tightened security at 13 border points with districts neighbouring Gurugram, officials said.

All police personnel have also been given instructions to check vehicles heading to Delhi from other districts for protesters.

Astha Modi, the deputy commissioner of police (headquarters), said, We are coordinating with our counterparts in Rewari district and will not let anyone block the carriageways or cross the border. We have started checking at all borders. Patrolling vehicles are taking rounds on the expressway and borders and special teams have been formed from Sirhaul border to Bilaspur, to keep a check on vehicles.

Five police control room (PCR) vans and six motorbikes have also been stationed at the Sirhaul border, Kherki Daula toll plaza, Sohna Road and Bilaspur crossing to deal with any situation that may arise, Modi said.

Also, crime units have been deployed to keep a tight vigil to maintain the law and order, police said, adding that additional forces are also on the standby.

Modi said that they have deployed extra forces on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway as farmers might take this route as well. All routes leading to Gurugram and Delhi have been barricaded and deployment at all checkpoints is increased, she said.

Haryana Police allegedly lathi-charged the protestors on Thursday and used water cannons, mild force and released tear gas to stop them. However, more than 20 tractors and hundreds of farmers were able to cross the border and enter Bawal in Rewari.

The community leaders have requested the police to let them cross the stretch peacefully and have tried to pacify the protestors but police at the borders have set up barricades and have refused to allow movement of farmers.
Although the Egyptian Cabinet announced earlier the banning of New Year celebrations in public places, hundreds gathered on Alexandrias iconic Stanley Bridge to celebrate after midnight.

Photos circulated on social media showing the bridge packed with people, without maintaining social-distancing and with many of them not even wearing face masks.

This comes two days before a Cabinet decision to impose a EGP 50 fine for not wearing masks in public was set to come into effect.

Banning New Year celebrations and toughening penalties on hotels or institutions violating the decision came while Egypt is suffering from a second wave of coronavirus.

Between 21 and 31 December, the number of daily cases recorded by the African country had duplicated. The health ministry reported on Thursday 1,418 cases and 55 deaths.

According to the latest announcement by the ministry, the total number of cases and deaths since the outbreak began in Egypt in February reached 138,062 and 7,631 respectively.

Short link:


How Covid disrupted India's TB programme

Even though around 150,000 people have been reported to have died because of Covid-19, tuberculosis remains Indias severest health crisis killing over 1,200 Indians daily, according to a report in Scroll.

The TB treatment programme and its services have been upended by the pandemic with delays in diagnosis, treatment, access and possibly increased suffering, and mental health issues. TB and Covid-19 together present a deadly mix for Indias health system, the report said.

TB affected individuals are scared of Covid-19 and are not visiting labs and hospitals. Patients are also struggling to access medicines putting the treatment in jeopardy. Fewer transportation options have restricted access to health centres. TB drugs have been reported to be in short supply in both the public and private sector, the report said. Read more here

Why poorer nations have low Covid deaths per million

If one compared countries on deaths per million basis, poorer countries such as India have a much lower fatality rate than richer countries. This report in The Print delves into the reasons behind it.

The deaths per million figure is 45 in Pakistan, 46 in Bangladesh, 80 in Indonesia and 107 in India. Belgiums deaths per million figure was 1667 on Wednesday. This rate is 16 times Indias even as Belgiums per capita GDP is 16 times higher. There are several factors, but age seems to be a key one. The poorer the country, the younger the population. And, those over 60 are the most vulnerable. In richer countries, the Covid fatality rates on a per million basis are 10 to 15 times. For instance, San Marino, where the rich retirees of the world live, the deaths per million is highest in the world at over 1700, the report said.

Another factor is a history of communicable diseases, according to a paper to be published in a journal called Current Science. The study finds that there is a negative correlation between fatality rates and a history of communicable diseases such as typhoid and tuberculosis, the report said. Read more here

Indias own Covid variant could emerge sooner or later: Top expert

While many UK returnees have tested positive for the new variant in recent days, here are views from a top expert at CCMB in Hyderabad, one of the ten labs in the country conducting genome sequencing of the Covid-positive samples of UK returnees. This report appeared on The Print.

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Research (CCMB) has said there could be a large number of UK variant positive cases in the coming days. CCMB director Rakesh Mishra said there is a good chance that the country might make our (its) own variant sooner or later as India has the second-largest cumulative caseload.

There is no evidence to support if this variant is more dangerous. Nevertheless, a faster rate of transmission means more people could get infected than before. This in turn could lead to an added burden on an already strained healthcare system. Read more here

Year 2020 in words, from youre on mute to the rona

2020 was an unprecedented year. The pandemic has disrupted the lives and lifestyles of millions of people. The year has also popularised several words and expressions so that we could better understand what this bizarre time has been like with some much-needed humour, a report in The Hindu said. Read twenty such coronacoinages here

The role data played in containing the virus

Advancements in technology have enabled scientists and researchers to track how the virus is spreading in real-time, according to a report in Hindustan Times. Within weeks of the outbreak, the scientific community around the world kicked off large-scale tracking exercises. This produced real-time data that was shared online. The data, together with advances in computing power, would go on to play a massive role in containing the virus. This was the biggest collaborative public data-gathering exercise in history, the report said. Read here
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Pakistan will purchase 1.2 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from China's Sinopharm, a minister said on Thursday, the first official confirmation of a vaccine purchase by the South Asian country as it battles a second wave of infections.

China approved a Covid-19 vaccine developed by an affiliate of state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm on Thursday, its first approved shot for general public use.

"The Cabinet Committee has decided to initially purchase 1.2 million doses of the vaccine from the Chinese company Sinopharm, which will be provided free of cost to frontline workers in the first quarter of 2021," Pakistani Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Twitter.

Pakistan had earlier this month approved $150 million in funding to buy Covid-19 vaccines, initially to cover the most vulnerable 5% of the population.

The country did not announce which vaccine it would procure, but said a panel of experts was compiling a list of recommendations and that it could tap more than one source.

"If the private sector wants to import any other internationally-approved vaccine, it can do so," Hussain said on Thursday.

The country of 220 million is in the midst of another spate of infections, with 58 deaths on Wednesday taking its death toll past 10,000.

It also reported 2,475 new infections, taking the total to 479,715.

Pakistan is also running phase III clinical trials for CanSino Biologics' Covid-19 vaccine candidate, Ad5-nCoV, led by the government-run National Institute of Health.
Zanu PF UK/EU District chairman Cde Masimba Tawengwa has died of Covid-19.

He was 48.

He died at Arundel Hospital in Harare, around 4pm yesterday.

Cde Tawengwa, who had been on political internship in the Commissariat Department at Zanu PF Headquarters, attended yesterday's 114th Central Committee meeting, but left midway after falling sick.

He reportedly sought medical assistance at a Harare medical facility, where some tests were conducted on him. But his health deteriorated yesterday while in Marondera and got tested for Covid-19, and results came out positive.

Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, who worked with him in the United Kingdom, said after he got tested, Cde Tawengwa suffered from shortness of breath. He was then taken to Harare, where he died at Arundel Hospital, about 10 minutes after admission.

"I can confirm that Cde Tawengwa has died. He died today (yesterday) of Covid-19 at Arundel Hospital. He was on political internship in the Commissariat Department at the Zanu PF Headquarters and attended yesterday's 114th Central Committee meeting as part of his brief to have an appreciation of how party systems work.

"Unfortunately, he started feeling unwell and left the meeting and sought medical assistance. Today (yesterday), he felt unwell again while in Marondera and was tested for Covid-19 and the results came out positive," said Mr Mangwana.

Mr Mangwana described the son to National Hero Cde Solomon Tawengwa as a patriotic cadre whose credentials are "never questioned", adding that he was a "gentle giant".

Mr Mangwana and Cde Tawengwa worked together as chairman and deputy chairman for the Zanu PF UK/EU District respectively.

Cde Tawengwa then took over as chairman in 2018, when Mr Mangwana left to take up the position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

He is survived by two children; a boy and a girl.

Meanwhile, Cde Shiela Mabasa, commonly known as Cde Yondo, has died. She died yesterday at a hospital in Norton after a short illness.

Cde Yondo was a ZANU PF Central Committee member.

Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson, who is also Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi said: "It is with great sadness that l have to inform to you that our dear Comrade and Central Committee member Cde Sheila "Yondo" Mabasa, has passed away. It's indeed a dark day for us. May her dear soul rest in peace."

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Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, who is also the provincial secretary for Finance, Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said: "It is a sad day for Mashonaland West province. We have lost a true heroine and cadre who was ready to serve the party at all costs. The gap that she has left behind is irreplaceable."

Zanu PF provincial Women's League chairperson, Cde Josephine Shava, said Cde Yondo was a pillar in the province. Her friend and provincial Women's League secretary for Education, Cde Margaret Hoshiki, said she learnt of Cde Yondo's death with great shock.

Cde Yondo was a decorated war veteran who joined the military after independence in 1980.

Burial arrangements are yet to be made.
A 23-year-old demonstrator from Florida faces rioting and other charges from a night of post-election mayhem in downtown Portland that left windows smashed at a church and many businesses.

Jarrod DeFerrari of Sunrise, Florida, originally gave the name Candle Moma when stopped with a group of other black-clad people in a parking garage in the 500 block of Southwest 10th Avenue about 7:10 p.m. Nov. 4, according to court records.

A sheriffs deputy found a hammer, a gas mask, an empty can of spray paint and an illegal mortar firework in DeFerraris backpack, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

DeFerrari was indicted Wednesday on charges of felony riot and three counts of first-degree criminal mischief. DeFerrari caused more than $5,000 of damage at Riverside Tobacco, more than $1,000 of damage at St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church and more than $1,000 of damage at Alco Properties, according to the indictment.

Multnomah County Deputy Nicholas Bohrer had been on duty that night covering demonstrations when he encountered DeFerrari and other people in the parking garage, according to the affidavit.

One of the members of the group identified himself as an FBI agent and said he had been following them because they had been rioting, the affidavit said.

The agent reported that DeFerrari was with about 100 people, including eight who were actively breaking windows, the affidavit said.

Other businesses vandalized that night included the Hoxton Hotel, a Starbucks, Wildfang, a feminist clothing brand, and the gift shop Woonwinkel.

Police declared a riot following the vandalism as Gov. Kate Brown activated the Oregon National Guard to help respond.

Brown and Mayor Ted Wheeler condemned the destruction and Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt promised to prosecute people who had engaged in violence or vandalism.

-- Margaret Haberman
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Were now getting mass media reports that yet another country the US government doesnt like has been trying to kill American troops in Afghanistan, with the accusation this time being leveled at China. This brings the total number of governments against which this exact accusation has been made to three: China, Iran, and Russia.

The U.S. has evidence that the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] attempted to finance attacks on American servicemen by Afghan non-state actors by offering financial incentives or bounties, reads a new scoop from Axios, quoting anonymous officials who refused to name their sources.

The Trump administration is declassifying as-yet uncorroborated intelligence, recently briefed to President Trump, that indicates China offered to pay non-state actors in Afghanistan to attack American soldiers, two senior administration officials tell Axios, the evidence-free report claims.

The Axios report is already being circulated into public consciousness by mass media outlets like CNN. It is co-authored by Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, whose career lately has been focused on churning out extremely aggressive narrative management about China for a liberal audience, including a ridiculous hit piece on The Grayzone and its coverage of Xinjiang which failed to list a single piece of false or inaccurate reporting by that outlet. This eagerness to help manipulate public perception of Americas number one geopolitical rival has seen Allen-Ebrahimian rewarded with plenty of attention from sources who provide her with endless career-amplifying scoops.

A few months ago, it was Iran we were being told is trying to use proxies to kill US troops in Afghanistan.

US intelligence agencies assessed that Iran offered bounties to Taliban fighters for targeting American and coalition troops in Afghanistan, identifying payments linked to at least six attacks carried out by the militant group just last year alone, including a suicide bombing at a US air base in December, CNN reported in August without any evidence.

Before that it was Russia this same accusation was being leveled at, with mainstream news media shamelessly regurgitating claims by anonymous intelligence operatives and then citing each other to falsely claim theyd confirmed one anothers reporting back in June. The story was sent so insanely viral by mass media narrative managers eager to pressure Trump on Russia during an election year that when the top US military commander in Afghanistan said in September that no solid evidence had turned up for this claim it was completely ignored, and to this day the liberal commentariat still babble about Russian bounties as though theyre an actual thing that happened.

Three imperialism-targeted nations, same exact accusation. Pretty soon theyll be telling us that bounties are being paid on US troops in Afghanistan by China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Hezbollah, WikiLeaks, Jimmy Dore, and the entire staff of World Socialist Website.

The Bountygate narrative was one of the most brazen psyops weve seen rammed straight from the US intelligence community into public consciousness with no lube in recent years, and it was so successful that theyre just spraying it all over the place to see if they can replicate its effects on other targeted governments.

It is not a coincidence that the information landscape is so confusing and bizarre right now. Our psyches are being hammered with more and more aggression by mass-scale psyops designed to manufacture support for increasing aggressions against the governments which have resisted absorption into the US-centralized empire, because as China rises and the US declines were moving toward a multipolar world.

A movement toward a multipolar world should not be a frightening prospect  its been the norm throughout the entirety of human civilization minus the last three decades  but after the fall of the Soviet Union the drivers of the US power alliance decided that US global hegemony must be preserved at all cost. Drastic measures will be undertaken to try and retain hegemony, and propaganda campaigns is being rolled out with increasing urgency to grease the wheels for those measures.

Meanwhile weve got nuclear-armed nations brandishing armageddon weapons at each other with increasing urgency and unpredictability because a few imperialists decided the entire planet should be governed from Washington DC. This, to put it gently, is an unsustainable situation.

_____________________

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More family time, a wedding, the birth of a baby  Berkshire residents find ray of hope from 2020
New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday that flight services between India and the UK will resume from January 8, 2021.

These services were suspended last month to stop the spread of a mutant COVID-19 strain which was recently discovered in the UK.

In a tweet, the minister announced, "It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly.

It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021.

Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 1, 2021

After finding several cases of people returning from the UK testing positive for the new strain of the virus, The Civil Aviation Authority had decided to suspend flights coming from the UK. Flights from India to the UK were suspended for that period as well.

The previous announcement of the Civil Aviation Minister said the temporary suspension of services would go on till December 31 and announced the details of the resuming of services on January 1.

Several countries including India had suspended flight services to the UK in the wake of the new mutant Covid-19 strain.
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She had spent New Year's Eve at her friend Ashley's house, on the Calypso development in Mijas Costa, to help look after her younger brother. The next day, New Year's Day, they went to the Calahonda market and returned to Ashley's house. At 10pm Amy Fitzpatrick said goodbye to her friend and set off for her home in Riviera del Sol, a walk of around two kilometres on a tarmacked path (except for a 50-metre unsurfaced stretch) but that was little-used. No one has seen her since. And that was 13 years ago.

The Irish teenager, who was then 15 years old, disappeared on that walk home without a trace. The Guardia Civil, who inspected the route she should have taken, found no evidence of an abduction, which is what her mother Audrey had feared had happened. Officers never ruled out that theory although they initially gave more credibility to the idea that Amy had run away of her own accord. She had apparently wanted to go and live with her father, who had stayed in Ireland when his marriage with her mother broke up. The teenager lived in Mijas with her mother, brother and her mother's partner, David Mahon.

Amy's Day

Mother and stepfather, David Mahon, who was convicted in 2016 for killing Amy's brother. / SUR

Over the last 13 years the family have launched several campaigns and tributes to keep Amy's disappearance in the public eye. In 2010, her mother and her partner even offered a reward of a million euros for anyone who could provide information that would lead to the whereabouts of the young girl. The following year they started a campaign with the slogan 'Amy's Day', which took them around different towns in the province of Malaga on the first day of each month to remind people of the case.

In January 2012, the couple moved to Ireland, where Audrey's son Dean lived after moving back there a year after Amy's disappearance. But fate was to deal another huge blow to the Fitzpatrick family. Barely a year and a half later, in May 2013, Dean was fatally stabbed in a fight with his stepfather in Coolock, a district on the north side of Dublin, near the flat the family had moved into when they moved back to Ireland. He was 23.

Dave Mahon was accused of killing his stepson. At the trial, which he attended on the arm of Audrey, Dean and Amy's mother, he pleaded innocent and blamed the death on an accident or possible suicide, stating that the youth had stabbed himself. The jury cleared him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter. In June 2016 he was sentenced to seven years in prison. His appeal was rejected.

"Don't forget Amy"

On the thirteenth anniversary of Amy's disappearance, her biological father, Christopher Fitzpatrick, wrote on social media, "As we say goodbye to a very tough 2020 please don't forget Amy. 13 years missing. Amy is missed so much and will never be forgotten. Always and forever in my heart. Until we meet again my princess. Dad xxx"

Anyone with any information should contact the Guardia Civil (Spain) on (+34) 636 079 619, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station in Ireland.

The Lucie Blackman Trust supports families with missing loved ones abroad. They run two 24-hour hotlines: Spain (+34) 951 242 878 and UK 02380 988 899. From the UK you can also use their 24/7 central freephone information hotline on 0800 098 8485. Calls are free from landlines but may be charged from mobiles. Alternatively, email information to ops@lbtrust.org.

If you live in Ireland, phone Missing Persons Helpline Ireland on 1890 442 552. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, use their Help Bring Them Home confidential line 1800 911 999 or email info@missingpersons.ie.

https://www.facebook.com/missingamy
A councilman was shockingly sworn in to office during a New Year's Day ceremony all the while serving a jail sentence stemming from a robbery late last year in northeast Brazil.

Fabio Alves, who won a Marizopolis municipal seat during November elections, has been imprisoned since December 18 after he was arrested for participating in the home invasion robbery of a businessman on October 18.

The 37-year-old politician, who received 194 votes to pick up the council seat, made his bizarre appearance via teleconference from a room at the jail, where he is currently serving a 30-day temporary sentence.

He was surrounded by the Agricola Colonia Jail's warden and a prison guard.

Fabio Alves, who won a Marizopolis municipal seat during November elections, has been imprisoned since December 18 after he was arrested for participating in the home invasion robbery of a businessman on October 18

Still image from a surveillance camera shows three of the suspects during the October 18 robbery at a home in Sousa, Brazil. The assailants pretended to be officers and used a fake warrant to enter the residence before they took off with $770 and checks

Alves allegedly assisted in the escape of three men who identified themselves as police officers when they visited the home in the city of Sousa.

A still image of the home surveillance camera shows two men wearing what appear to be the local police department's polo shirts and carrying belongings as they made their way through the victim's dwelling.

Brazilian politician Fabio Lopes was elected in November to the Marizopolis city council. Despite serving a 30-temporary sentence for his alleged role in a robbery, he was sworn in via video conference on Friday

The suspects reportedly entered the residence with a fake search warrant and stole $770 and checks.

The gang then abandoned a stolen car after one of the tires caught a flat, and escaped.

Abdon Lopes, who is representing Alves in the case, told Brazilian news outlet UOL that authorities do not have evidence linking his client to the robbery.

'Fabio participated in the inauguration session and voted for the election of the chairman,' Lopes said. Although it was an atypical moment, it was also very peaceful. Fabio got emotional and did not want to use his speech right in the virtual gallery.'

Lopes said that Alves was arrested because one of the suspects who allegedly participated in the robbery was arrested at his home.

Alves is the most recent Brazilian officials who has reportedly ran afoul of the law.

Rio de Janeiro former mayor Mayor Marcelo Crivella, who lost a bid reelection, was arrested at his home last Tuesday in connection with an alleged kickbacks scheme which pulled in at least $9.7million.
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Virus detectives are searching for the source of a concerning COVID-19 cluster in Sydneys west as northern beaches residents wait to hear what relief from restrictions Premier Gladys Berejiklian will grant them on Saturday.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the results of genomic sequencing for three new western Sydney cases expected on Sunday will reveal whether they are linked to the Avalon cluster.

Gladys Berejiklian will likely announce a relaxation of some northern beaches restrictions on Saturday. Credit:Sam Mooy

At this point the western Sydney cases are not linked [to the Avalon cluster]. Well be interested whether that sequence matches the Avalon cluster, Dr Chant said, though there were other possibilities, such as the patient transport worker living in western Sydney who caught the virus from the overseas returned travellers he had shuttled.

The new cases - a man in his 40s and two men in their 20s - set off public health alerts for several new venues where people may have been exposed to the virus. Dr Chant urged people to check NSW Healths website regularly for its updated venue list.
Aided by a sustained recovery in demand for compact cars and utility vehicles after the festive season, passenger vehicle manufacturers reported a robust double-digit growth in domestic wholesale dispatches in December. Most of them replenished inventories at dealerships after improved sales during the Diwali festival in November.

The growth in dispatches comes as a result of low base in the corresponding period when auto makers witnessed contraction in consumer demand as a consequence of the economic slowdown and increase in vehicle prices due to change in emission and safety norms.

Market leader, Maruti Suzuki India, reported a robust 17.8% year-on-year growth in domestic wholesale to 146480 units in December as demand for its hatchbacks continue to rise on the back of gradual recovery in economic activity and increased preference for personal mobility to avoid Covid-19 infection.

Sales of the companys small cars and hatchbacks increased by 14.5% year  on - year to 102568 units in December, while those of utility vehicles rose 8% to 25701 units.

Shift in customer preference towards sport utility vehicles, especially in the urban areas, continues to benefit Hyundai Motor India  the second largest  as vehicle dispatches to dealerships increased by 24.9% to 47400 units. Hyundais sport utility vehicles  Venue (a compact SUV and Creta (a midsize one) have been experiencing robust demand throughout the year despite Covid-19 induced economic slowdown.

According to S S Kim, president, Hyundai Motor India, the world has witnessed multiple challenges in 2020. However, as the most innovative brand, Hyundai has emerged stronger out of this crisis, leading the way for economic revival.

This clearly reflected in our domestic sales that achieved new horizons, with Hyundai managing to increase market share for the second year in succession. Hyundai has also emerged as one of the most preferred brands for SUVs in the country with Creta and Venue leading sales charts. Looking towards the future, we are proceeding with cautious optimism and positively anticipate green shoots of recovery in 2021, added Kim.

Hyundai reported the highest ever production of 71178 units in December as demand in domestic and export markets continue to rise on the back of a gradual recovery in the global economy.

Mumbai based Tata Motors witnessed a whopping 84% increase in wholesale to 23545 units during the month, albeit on a low base, as demand for its compact vehicles like Altroz and Tiago continue to rise. Mahindra and Mahindra also improved its monthly dispatches by 3% to 16182 units on the back of increased demand for its new Thar.

The passenger vehicle industry continued to grow robustly in Q3FY21, owing to pent up demand, strong festive season and shift towards personal mobility. Tata Motors passenger vehicle business has been witnessing strong response for its New Forever range, which is being supported by continuous ramp up of supplies, said Shailesh Chandra, president, passenger vehicle business unit, Tata Motors.

Despite marginal decline in sales, wholesale of commercial vehicles continues to show signs of a pick-up due to the low base and improvement in economic activity, after a gap of more than two years. Dispatches of commercial vehicles at Tata Motors dropped by 5% to 29885 units while the same at Ashok Leyland increased by 14.2% to 11857 units. Volumes at Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles also declined by 7.7% to 4069 units.

Automobile companies delivered better than expected volume performance in December with continuation of positive growth trajectory for most segments. Decent retail sales coupled with inventory refilling supported overall performance in the month. Moreover, commercial segment has been exhibiting good improvement since past two months. We expect volume traction to continue for automobile industry in coming months, said Mitul Shah, vice president, research, Reliance Securities.
Tyrese announces divorce, says wife made him better man of God

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Hollywood entertainer Tyrese Gibson and his wife of nearly four years, Samantha Lee, announced that they have decided to get a divorce.

Gibson and Lee, an outspoken Christian who hosts #MIRACLEMONDAY Bible studies weekly for hundreds of thousands online, both shared a joint statement on Instagram Tuesday night.

We have decided to make a statement of a painful and significant development in our lives. After much thought, consideration, and prayer, We unfortunately have made the difficult decision to officially separate & divorce, the statement read.

The couple, who frequently celebrated their romance on social media, wed on Valentines Day in 2017. They share a daughter, Soraya Lee Gibson, together.

Our intention is to remain the best of friends & strong coparents. We feel incredibly blessed to have found each other and deeply grateful for the 4 years we have been married to each other, the post continued.

"Our journey together has been a ride of both ups & downs, but its a journey that neither of us would have chosen to take with anyone else. We truly have so much love & respect for each other. We both have grown tremendously within this relationship; we have shared so many beautiful memories and moments, and we also look forward to see the amazing futures we have ahead of us individually.

The pair said they decided to share the news now because they wanted to keep this in 2020 and not bring it with them into the new year.

If 2020 hasnt already been extremely grueling and challenging we wanted to mutually speak on this now to keep this energy in 2020 and not take this energy into 2021. We would really appreciate your most sincere prayers and to respect our privacy at this time as we deal with the reality of where we are.

Under Lees post, Tyrese shared a little more about their split as well as the impact his wife had on him. The Fast & Furious star also revealed he is hoping for reconciliation.



"Black families and marriages are under attack.... Ive wrestled with this question...How can we naturally know how to BE something we never raised by? Most of us were raised in broken homes with NO examples of what being a husband, wife or FATHER is. I repeat. How can we naturally know how to BE something we were never raised by? Gibson questioned.

He then added a message directed toward Lee, My heart is so full because you blessed me with 5 years of magic. Samantha Gibson, I owe you everything. I am a better man of God, friend, and father because of you...I pray we leave the door open because the God that we serve is a mountains mover and can make a way out of now way."

Several people shared their dismay regarding the announcement, including many of their pastor friends. Many of them have committed to pray for their union.

On Wednesday, Lee took to social media again to honor Gibson on his 42nd birthday.

Happy Birthdayyyy @tyrese! she wrote along with a video clip of the actor holding their daughter. Thank you for going half on this angel with me, she is HANDS DOWN the best gift Ive ever been given. You saw a mother in me when I truly didnt see it for myself- a true visionary. Its been a hell of a year, but youve still managed to accomplish so much professionally despite all of it! I admire your ability to create even during a whole pandemic! Soraya adores her Daddy Twin with her whole heart & we are hoping, praying, and wishing you the happiest of birthdays. Sending you positive vibes on this day. Time is a limited resource, make the absolute best of every moment! No regrets! Turn up for em one time!
Out-of-season foods have become scarce on supermarket shelves as labour is disrupted and crops are at risk of rotting in the fields

One sincerely hopes that the United Nations is wrong, and that what it has predicted for the coming year doesnt come true. After a disastrous 2020, the world truly needs a break. Yet the facts cant be ignored. The UNs World Food Programme, based in Rome, has already warned that after facing the trauma of the Wuhan-origin Covid-19 virus in 2020, things arent going to get any better. 2021 is literally going to be catastrophic (with) global famine knocking on the door, it said.

The early warning signs are already there, with Australia and New Zealand likely to be adversely affected. Out-of-season foods have become scarce on supermarket shelves as labour is disrupted and crops are at risk of rotting in the fields. Covid-19 has put brakes on labour movement and deployment. The situation is even more dire in Africa and South America, which could trigger global shortages and economic shockwaves. The WFP says this could be the worst humanitarian crisis since the beginning of the UN in 1945, as multiple famines are looming.

What makes the WFPs assessment even more alarming is that today 690 million people dont have enough to eat while 130 million additional people face imminent risk of being pushed to starvation.

That could potentially be fatal for mankind. Although India doesnt figure in any of gloomy official assessments yet, its 1.3 billion people need to look back at its own history of food crises due to agrarian distress. This is vital to thwart any future famine across its 32.88 lakh sq km mass, 54 per cent of which are arable fields. Given the growing agrarian turbulence over the past few years, the emerging scenario looks hazy and blurred. A look at the past is in order, such as when the British traders had looted India.

Around 420 years ago, on December 31, 1600, was born the East India Company, headquartered in London. Subsequently, this private company directly ruled over a large portion of India for 93 years, from 1765 to 1858. Thanks to a generous grant of diwani (sovereign power to administer) bestowed on the foreign English traders by tottering Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, in one stroke the most fertile lands of India producing food -- the Bengal Subah (province), comprising todays Bangladesh and Indias West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, were handed on a platter to profit-seeking foreign traders. Was it a prelude to the 21st century privatisation spree by New Delhi of prime state assets?

This marked the beginning of direct rule by a British multinational company over clueless, helpless Indians as their 1765 Delhi ruler was totally inefficient, incompetent and cowardly. Expectedly, the private company of profiteering merchants ruined India, and after creating a complete monetary and military mess, handed over the baton to its countrys monarch in 1858 which managed to rule by force for another 89 years, till 1947.

Coincidentally, both the mercantile and imperial rule by the British began and ended with catastrophic famine, killing millions in India. While the London merchants saw the unprecedented Bengal famine after only five years of rule in 1770, the wartime government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill was singularly culpable for the manmade famine of 1943, four years before the British finally left India, killing over three million Bengalis in their homeland.

In between these two mega disasters, however, were several more famines in India in which the British rulers in India cut a sorry figure over their inbuilt indifference, ineptitude and incompetence. The mass death of non-whites seemed to matter little, except to a few conscientious Englishmen.

The real nature of the English traders ruling India was aptly described by a later-day English historian: It took five years (1765-1770) for the full effects of the regime of unregulated plunder to become apparent; but when it did so, the results were unparalleled in their horror. The was stage set for the great 1770 Bengal famine. This killed over 1.2 million people, around one-fifth of Bengals population. The starvation death of millions generated millions of rupees in profits, particularly for the traders of the East India Company.

Fast forward to 1866-1867. In Odisha, known for its fertile river basin, the entire coastline up to (then) Madras was in grip of a severe famine, with a high toll in human lives. Next were the 1868-1869 local famines in United Provinces (now UP), Punjab and Rajputana (now Rajasthan) and fertile North Bihar in 1873. Then came two terrible years (1876-1877) of famine across a large swathe of Madras, Mysore, Hyderabad, Bombay and United Provinces.

At the turn of the nineteenth century, in the twilight years of Queen-Empress Victorias rule, the terrible famines of 1896-1897 and 1899-1900 ruined the countryside further; from UP to Bihar, Central Provinces (MP-Chhattisgarh), Punjab, Baroda, Madras and Bombay.

But what outperformed and outclassed them all was the 1943 king of all famines in Bengal thereby turning the adage, to an empty stomach, food is God, into a joke. The cynical template now was: Farmers and food are for business and profits. The racist and India-hating Winston Churchill, the incumbent British PM, ensured the death of three million Bengalis in their own land. By completely choking all transport, communications, distribution and assistance, the 1943 famine exposed the true face of the British rulers, brazenly supporting the private traders, making fortunes over the starving, emaciated bodies of dead Indians, scattered all over their own villages, fields, roads and backyards.

The perennial alibi, justification and defence, was that Britains war effort had to be ensured at all costs. In a macabre, Faustian repeat of Indian history, after almost 700 years, it was a rerun of Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khaljis rule (1296-1316), ensuring feeding of his rampaging troops around the countryside at the cost of the farmers producing the food. Understandably, thus, was the historians poignant, yet pertinent, comment: While the capital was fed, the country at large was allowed to be bled.

For the 1943 killing of Bengals three million people, the then British government should have been charged before an international tribunal with criminal mass murder, akin to Hitlers murder of the Jews. One can only hope history will not repeat itself in India, given the ominous warnings coming from the UN for the year 2021.
If ever there was a year to indulge in central Pennsylvanias New Years Day tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut for good luck, this is the year.

Chambers Hill Fire Company contributed to the overall good fortune of 250 Central Pa. residents with their annual fundraiser, which sold out 250 dinners in less than an hour.

The fire company in Swatara Township shifted to a drive-thru format for its annual pork and sauerkraut dinner fundraiser. The dinners included pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, rolls and butter.

Almost every area has a variation on the belief that the first food you eat at the turn of the year can influence what kind of year youll have. Around the world, different cultures indulge in traditional New Years foods.

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Pennsylvania Dutch lore dictates eating the fermented cabbage and pork will bring good fortune in the new year.

The pig roots forward so if your first meal includes pork, youll move ahead all year, according to Pennsylvania German folklore. The swelling of the sauerkraut symbolizes bounty.

This year, a handful of restaurants and fire companies are selling the meals, and following Gov. Tom Wolfs orders are selling takeout or drive-through pickup.
A suburban New York jewelry wholesaler has pleaded guilty to fraud for running a $200 million Ponzi scheme targeting current and retired police officers and firefighters who were promised big profits from the resale of jewelry.

Federal prosecutors said Gregory Altieri, 53, of Melville, New York, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and admitted to securities fraud at a hearing before US District Judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn.

'Mr. Altieri, like every one of us, should be shown grace and mercy,' his lawyer Edward Sapone said in an email. 'He has accepted full responsibility and has made Herculean efforts to make amends for his misconduct.'

A suburban New York jewelry wholesaler has pleaded guilty to fraud for running a $200 million Ponzi scheme targeting current and retired police officers and firefighters who were promised big profits from the resale of jewelry

Altieri's company, LNA Associates Ltd, is listed at this Long Island address. According to a LexisNexis search, Altieri also lives at this home in Melville, New York

The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison at his scheduled March 31, 2021, sentencing.

Altieri, the president of LNA Associates Ltd, allegedly told investors he would use their money to buy wholesale jewelry at 'closeout' prices and resell it at higher prices, generating 30 to 70 percent profit within a few months.

Prosecutors said Altieri initially bought some jewelry but later used money from new investors to repay earlier investors, who reinvested that money believing he was generating the promised returns.

Altieri allegedly solicited $75 million to $85 million from more than 80 investors in the New York city boroughs of Queens and Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties and elsewhere, starting in August 2017.

Prosecutors said when Altieri stopped making payments in January 2020 he owed about $200 million based on the inflated, promised returns.

Creditors who filed an involuntary bankruptcy case against Altieri in April said he invoked the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse not to pay them, saying 'once the courts open we will ... pay everyone their money.'

The US Securities and Exchange Commission filed related civil charges on Wednesday against Altieri, saying he misappropriated $3.8 million for real estate, vacations, credit card bills, his children's college tuition and other expenses.
She is known for her flawless complexion.

And on Friday, Naomi Watts flaunted her youthful visage in a makeup-free Instagram selfie as she celebrated the New Year.

The 52-year-old actress showed off her naturally radiant complexion as she relaxed at her home in New York City.

Natural beauty: Age-defying Naomi Watts, 52, flaunted her youthful complexion in a makeup-free selfie as she celebrated the New Year on Friday

'Ok 2020, I'd like to politely ask you to eff off now. You've made yourself known and I will more than remember you,' she captioned the post.

She continued: 'In all seriousness...While I'm glad to see the back of you, I understand you'll hang around for a little while longer. But I do appreciate your lessons.'

'So thank you for those. That is not nothing. Wishing you all a happier and healthier 2021.'

Revealed: It comes after Naomi shared her skincare routine while on set of a photo shoot in New York last month

It comes after Naomi shared her skincare routine while on set of a photo shoot in New York last month.

She uploaded a photo to Instagram herself in the makeup chair while wearing $19 eye masks from Kat Burki.

Makeup artist Mary Wiles used a rose quartz de-puffer tool, which costs $54.

Over on her Instagram Story, Naomi showed off the range of skin and beauty products she uses on her visage.

Secrets: She uploaded a photo to Instagram herself in the makeup chair while wearing $19 eye masks from Kat Burki

Skincare prep: Over on her Instagram Story, she showed off the range of skin and beauty products she uses on her visage

Among them were Tatcha's $83 Silk Canvas Protective Primer and $45 lip mask, as well as Dr. Barbara Sturm Glow Drops, worth $222.

There were also several products from BeautyCounter, including the Dew Skin Tinted Moisturiser ($62), the concealer ($42) and foundation ($62).

On her makeup table was the Mineral Mattifying power by Australian beauty brand Inika, which retails for $45.

Naomi has long been an advocate for clean beauty and co-owns a franchise of beauty stores in Sydney, London and New York called Onda.
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Nak-yon answers reporters after paying tribute to patriots buried at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, Friday, New Year's Day. Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon is seeking to propose pardons for former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, who have been behind bars on corruption charges, to President Moon Jae-in.



"I will propose pardons for the two former presidents to President Moon Jae-in at an appropriate time," Lee said during a New Year interview with local news agency Yonhap. Lee said the pardons of the two former presidents could be a way to promote reconciliation and overcome the ideological gap between conservatives and liberals.



"This year is the de facto final year for President Moon to practice policies, and this matter (of pardoning the two former presidents) needs to be solved at a right time," Lee said. "I am seeking to propose it (to President Moon) apart from pros and cons from the supporters of the ruling bloc.  The party will have to play a more active role from now on."



As former President Lee was sentenced to 17 years by the Supreme Court last October while Park is still on trial, a special pardon and suspension of sentence will be sought for each case, if President Moon pardons the two former presidents.



Political parties showed different reactions to Lee's suggestion.



Kim Chong-in, emergency committee chief of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) whose predecessors produced the two former conservative presidents, told reporters Friday after paying tribute to patriots buried at Seoul National Cemetery that DPK Chairman Lee hasn't consulted him about the plan. Last month, Kim apologized for the crimes of the former presidents to vow to the public that the party would push ahead with reforms to become an opposition that can hold the liberal party in check.



Minor opposition People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, who declared his bid recently for the Seoul mayoral by-election in April, told reporters, after paying tribute to patriots buried at Seoul National Cemetery, that the matter of pardoning the former presidents should not be used for political purposes. "This is a matter in which the consensus of the whole people of the nation is important," Ahn said.



Progressive minor opposition Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol criticized Lee, saying pardoning the former presidents is not the right way to realize social justice.



Far-right minor opposition Our Republican Party, whose members have been staging rallies to support Park's pardon using Korea's national flag as symbol, welcomed Lee's stance.


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Senator David Perdue and his wife will quarantine after coming into contact with someone on his campaign who tested positive for COVID-19, Perdue's campaign announced on Thursday. The decision to quarantine comes days ahead of the crucial runoff Senate elections in Georgia on January 5.

"This morning, Senator Perdue was notified that he came into close contact with someone on the campaign who tested positive for COVID-19. Both Senator Perdue and his wife tested negative today, but following his doctor's recommendations and in accordance with CDC guidelines, they will quarantine," Perdue's campaign said in a statement. "The Senator and his wife have been tested regularly throughout the campaign, and the team will continue to follow CDC guidelines. Further information will be provided when available."

According to CDC guidelines, Perdue and his wife should quarantine for 14 days after their last exposure to the person who tested positive for COVID-19. If he were to do so, it would mean that he could not campaign in public until after the election. Perdue is locked in a close race with Democrat Jon Ossoff. Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler also has a runoff election on January 5, and is being challenged by Democrat Raphael Warnock.

The two Georgia runoff elections are critical because they will determine which party has control of the Senate. Republicans currently have a razor-thin majority of 50-48 in the Senate. If Democrats win both seats, then the balance of the Senate would be 50-50, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would be the tie-breaking vote.

Money moves and savings solutions for 2021

How to better focus on our mental health in the new year

Doctor discusses health resolutions for 2021
Top 10 most popular articles of 2020

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The outbreak of a global pandemic and a fiercely divisive presidential election were among the topics that drew the most attention this year.

Other popular topics on The Christian Post included persecution, racial injustice and fatal tragedies.

Here are The Christian Post's top 10 most popular stories of 2020, listed in order.

10. Former pastor fatally shoots himself, wife and son also found dead

Richard Logan, a former pastor and CEO of faith-based anti-poverty nonprofit Attack Poverty, was found at the property of a company in Texas with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His wife and son were also found shot dead in the family's home.

The 53-year-olds daughter, a college student, is the only surviving member of the family. Police were investigating the motive behind the killings that left members of their church and Logans nonprofit in shock.

Logan formerly served as a pastor at River Pointe Church and founded Attack Poverty in 2011.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

German firm BioNTech said Friday it was racing to ramp up production of its COVID-19 jab in Europe, to fill the "gap" left by the lack of other approved vaccines.

The vaccine developed by BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer was the first to be approved in the European Union in late December.

Countries including Britain, Canada and the United States okayed the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine earlier and have since also greenlighted jabs by US firm Moderna or Oxford/AstraZeneca, leaving the EU's inoculation drive lagging behind.

"The current situation is not rosy, there's a hole because there's an absence of other approved vaccines and we have to fill this gap with our vaccine," BioNTech co-founder Ugur Sahin told Der Spiegel weekly.

Criticism of the slow pace of Europe's vaccine rollout has grown louder in recent days.

In Germany, where the focus has been on inoculating elderly people in care homes, senior doctors have complained that hospital staff are being left waiting for their jabs despite being in the priority groups.

'Basket of suppliers'

France has seen similar complaints, prompting the government to announce that health workers aged over 50 could get the shot from Mondaysooner than originally planned.

Part of the problem is that the EU placed a relatively low order of 300 million doses for its 27 member states, and the contract was only signed in November, later than other countries.

Fellow BioNTech founder Ozlem Tureci, who is also Sahin's wife, told Spiegel that the EU had assumed there would be "a basket of different suppliers" to choose from, given the global race to develop a pandemic-ending jab.

"Such an approach makes sense. But then at some point it became clear that many would be unable to deliver quickly."

Sahin said BioNTech aimed to get a new manufacturing facility in the German city of Marburg up and running in February, "far earlier than planned", that should then be able to churn out an additional 250 million doses in the first half of 2021.

Tureci said they had also struck deals with five pharmaceutical manufacturers in Europe to increase production, and negotiations with other specialised firms are ongoing.

"By the end of January we should have clarity on what and how much more we can produce," Sahin said.

BioNTech and Pfizer were initially aiming to deliver 1.3 billion doses worldwide this year, enough to immunise 650 million people.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Efforts to expand natural gas service to more Connecticut residents in 2020 were slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, but are still ongoing, according to officials with the states three largest utilities that provide the fuel.

The effort to expand natural gas service was launched in 2014 at a time when natural gas prices were at historic lows. Those prices have continued to remain low through much of last year.

The demand for natural gas has never been greater, said Dave Allain, director of natural gas sales and marketing at Eversource Energy. We've got 450-customer backlog. But its not something we cant manage.

Some of the reason for the backlog, though, is the result of the impact the pandemic has had on Eversources natural gas conversion efforts.

The conversion program was shut down for several months starting March. It has since resumed, but on a limited basis, according to Allain.

It has been sporadic, he said.

How long it will take for Eversource to eliminate its backlog of conversion work depends upon what social distancing restrictions are needed during 2021, Allain said.

It is our intent to begin serving them within the first six months of 2021, he said, referring to the customer backlog.

Ed Crowder, a spokesman for Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, said the two companies have been doing conversions throughout the pandemic, but using appropriate safety measures. The two utilities, which are owned by Orange-based Avangrid, use virtual site visits in advance of the actual conversion work in homes.

Its work that we would otherwise do on-site, identifying the furnace and marking the meter location, Crowder said.

When personnel and contractors must enter a customers property, they follow a protocol that includes a screening for COVID-19-related concerns, maintaining distance, and using personal protective equipment as necessary, he said.

There are also some general, companywide protocols weve all been following  limiting one person per vehicle, use of face coverings, personal hygiene, enhanced cleaning, Crowder said.

When the impact that COVID-19 has had on Eversources natural gas conversion efforts is taken into account, Allain said he considers 2020 to have been a really good year. The company did about 1,700 residential conversions in 2020, a 19 percent decline from the number it did in 2019.

We have not actively marketed conversions since March, he said. Im hopeful we can begin actively marketing again in April.

An example of Eversources natural gas service expansion is this years completion of a $30 million expansion project in Fairfield County between New Canaan and Norwalk. The project took three years to complete and, according to Allain, homeowners located along new extensions of mains often take months or even years to convert their service.

You need at least three years to gain momentum, he said.

Since the natural gas expansion plan for the Connecticut utilities was approved in 2014, Eversource has added 27,000 customers and 135 miles of new mains, according to Allain.

Crowder said SCG and CNG had installed 16.26 miles of new gas main, surpassing the annual goal by 2.76 miles. In 2019, the companies converted 5,415 new gas meters and installed 21.4 miles of new main.

SCG has 196,000 customers in 24 Connecticut communities, including 11 in the New Haven area and six in Fairfield County. CNG has about 177,000 customers in 26 communities in the Hartford and New Britain areas as well as in Greenwich.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
COLLINS, Kathleen, 31st December 2020 Peacefully in the Foyle Hospice. Late of Killaloo. Dearly Beloved wife of the late Cecil. Devoted Mother of Jonathan, Matthew and Catherine. Mother-in-Law of Ciara. Loving Granny of Eleora and Zachery. R.I.P. Due to the current restrictions a private family funeral will take place in St Columbas Church Long Tower on Saturday 2nd January 2021, followed by Burial in Ballyoan Cemetery. Family Flowers only. Donations if desired made payable to the Foyle Hospice, 61 Culmore Road, Londonderry BT48 8JE. All Enquires to Adair and Neely Funeral Directors 02871311321 Will be deeply missed by her loving family and Friends.

BRESLIN, Bernadette, 31st December 2020, formerly of Westland Avenue and High Street, beloved daughter of the late Rose and James, loving sister of the late Annie, Mary, Seamus, William and Kathleen and a much loved aunt and great-aunt. Sadly, funeral restricted to family only please, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Requiem Mass can be viewed lived via the link below. Queen of the Most Holy Rosary pray for her.

McLAUGHLIN, 29th. December 2020, suddenly at his home, GARY (Buggy, late of Clon Elagh), beloved son of Rose and the late Neil (Uncle), loving brother of Mark, Fiona, Denise, Roisin and the late Kevleen. A dear and loving uncle to all his nieces and nephews. Dearly loved and will be sadly missed by the entire family circle. Sadly, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the wake and funeral are strictly private for immediate family and close friends and relatives only. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on his soul. St. Pio pray for him.

SPENCE (nee Boyd), Kathleen, December 31, 2020 Peacefully at Altnagelvin Hospital (in the tender loving care of her family in her 82nd year) formerly of 33, Parkmore Drive, Strathfoyle, dearly beloved wife of the late Billy, devoted mum of Margaret, loving mother-in-law of William adored granny of Ryan, Bradd and the late Tara, dearest sister of Frank, William, and the late Etta. Funeral service at D & R Hay & Sons Funeral Home, 24A, Church Road, Altnagelvin, Londonderry BT47 3QQ on Saturday 2nd January at 12.00noon funeral is restricted to immediate family and friends, followed by burial in Ballyoan Cemetery. Family flowers only donations in lieu if desired cheques made payable to W.H.& S.C.T. Altnagelvin Hospital Ward 42, c/o Mrs Ruth Hay, Funeral Director above address. Dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her entire family circle. At the rivers crystal brink, Christ shall join each broken link.

DONNELLY (nee Lynn) Bellaghy 30th December 2020 Mary R.I.P. Suddenly at her home 8 Hunters Pk, BT45 8JE. Beloved wife of the late Aloysius (Aly) and much loved sister of Josie Watterson, Patsy McNabb, Vina Kirkpatrick and the late Patrick Joseph. Reposing in J A Gormley's funeral home, 1 main St, Maghera from Friday 1st Jan from 1pm to removal to St Mary's Church , Bellaghy arriving approx 4pm to repose overnight. Requiem Mass at 11am Sat 2nd Jan. Interment afterwards in adjoining cemetery. Funeral strictly private (immediate family, 25 persons) due to government restrictions. Requiem Mass can be view at: https://bellaghyparish.com/webcam/ Sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on her soul. Deeply regretted by sorrowing sisters, brothers in law, cousins, nephews, nieces and wider family circle.

DEERY, Brian (Co Derry), Beloved son of the late Patrick and Pauline. Passed away at home on Christmas Day May he rest in peace. Funeral on Thursday 7th January 2021 at 11.30am in OKanes Funeral Home. Sadly, due to government restrictions, the funeral is private to family and close friends, but the service will be webcast from the funeral home. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if wished, to the Northlands Centre C/o OKanes Funeral Directors 116-118 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2GX (HYPERLINK "Tel:028" Tel:028 90243129) or online at HYPERLINK "http://www.okanesfunerals.co.uk" www.okanesfunerals.co.uk.

BEST (nee Simpson) - December 31st 2020 (peacefully) at Brooklands Nursing Home, Louise Maude, beloved Wife of the late Jack, formerly of Crew Drive and latterly of Mullagh Court, Maghera, much loved Mother of Ian, Richard, Mark and Joanne, a dear Mother-in-Law of Pauline, Beverley and Michael, devoted Grandmother of Kayt, Matthew, Sarah, Adam, Kyle, Jacob and Lucy. House and funeral strictly private, due to government guidelines. Maude's funeral cortege will leave D. Watters Funeral Home on Saturday, January 2nd at 10:15am (approx.) for a private Service and Burial in Lurgan Cemetery. Friends and Family are welcome to stand outside the Funeral Home or along the route via the Desertmartin Road, to pay their respects whilst maintaining social distancing. Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu, if desired, to The Salvation Army, payable to D. Watters (Donations A/c), 55 Main Street, Tobermore Magherafelt BT45 5PP. Will be sadly missed by her sorrowing Family and Family Circle.
(Newser)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanked the public for their trust and support "in the difficult times" and wished them happiness and good health in his first New Years Day card sent to his people. Kim usually gives a televised speech on Jan. 1, but he is widely expected to skip it this year since he will address the countrys first ruling party congress in five years sometime in early January, reports the AP. "I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true," Kim said in his letter, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "I offer thanks to the people for having invariably trusted and supported our party even in the difficult times," he said. "I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people, good health."

story continues below

North Korea is one of the worlds most cloistered countries, and its virtually impossible to independently confirm whether all its 25 million people received Kims letter. KCNA said the letter was handwritten by Kim. The last time a North Korean leader sent such a letter to ordinary citizens was on Jan. 1, 1995; that one was written by Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry. Kim, who succeeded his father upon his death in late 2011, is facing the toughest challenges of his nine-year rule due to the pandemic, several natural disasters last summer, and persistent US-led sanctions amid a diplomatic impasse over his nuclear program. Kim will likely use the Workers Party congress as a venue to muster a stronger unity and lay out new development goals for the next few years.

(Read more Kim Jong Un stories.)
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The US surpassed 20 million total recorded Covid-19 cases on Friday, hours after the country ushered in 2021 and left behind its deadliest month of the pandemic.

The nation also has set a Covid-19 hospitalization record for four straight days. The high counts are a grim reminder that even with 2020 behind us, the pandemic continues to ravage parts of the country. And some leaders warn the worst is still ahead.

'We are still going to have our toughest and darkest days,' Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told CNN on Thursday.

More than 125,000 coronavirus patients were in US hospitals Friday, Covid Tracking Project data shows.

Los Angeles County, as well as the state of California, have battled brutal surges of infections, hospitalizations and deaths in the past weeks, driven in part by Thanksgiving gatherings, health officials said. Surging hospitalizations in the county are pushing hospitals to the 'brink of catastrophe,' said Dr. Christina Ghaly, its health services director.

Design and construction experts from the Army Corps of Engineers are being deployed to fix oxygen delivery systems at several older hospitals in the Los Angeles area, according to California's Office of Emergency Management.

Teams will begin work as soon as Saturday at six overtaxed hospitals identified as having infrastructure problems that are preventing them from providing a high pressure supply of oxygen to Covid-19 patients.

'The State of California is continuously working to support our hospitals and protect the lives of Californians impacted by COVID-19. By working to upgrade challenged oxygen delivery systems at these older hospitals, we can improve the ability to deliver life sustaining medical care to those who need it,' said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

In Atlanta, a convention center will again become an overflow field hospital starting Friday -- service it has given twice previously during the pandemic -- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's office said.

The number of Covid-19 patients in Georgia hospitals on a given day has more than doubled since mid-November, the tracking project's data shows. The convention center's beds will 'help ensure that our hospitals continue to have the capacity they need for Covid and non-Covid patients,' Kemp has said.

As of early Friday afternoon, the country had recorded a total of more than 20,080,000 Covid-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins data. Going by official tallies, it took 292 days for the US to count its first 10 million cases, and just 54 more days to double that figure.

However, the actual pace of infections probably was different. Researchers have long said the number of infections likely is many millions higher, having been undercounted in part because of testing limitations.

December was the deadliest month of the pandemic for the US, accounting for more than 77,500 of the country's 346,000 Covid-19 deaths, Johns Hopkins University data shows.

And experts have warned daily numbers could worsen nationwide in the coming weeks, with swells stemming from gatherings and travels over the holidays.

You asked, we answered: Your Covid-19 questions

Despite repeated calls from local and state leaders for people to celebrate with only members of their household, millions of Americans opted to spend time away from home.

No evidence UK variant is common in US, genomics company says

Testing so far does not indicate a more easily transmitted variant of the coronavirus is common across the US, genomics company Helix told CNN.

Only four out of 31 samples have turned up positive for the pattern of mutations first identified in the United Kingdom, Helix officials said.

The mutation pattern, known as B.1.1.7 or VUI-202012/01, was first seen in England and has been found in at least 30 countries, as well as in samples taken from people in California, Colorado and Florida.

'We cannot say with confidence when the B.1.1.7 strain emerged in the US,' Dr. James Lu, co-founder and president of Helix, said. 'But it's not common, which indicates it has not been circulating long.'

That said, the US is not really looking hard, Lu added. 'Currently, the US is doing less sequencing than many other countries -- a recent report from (genomics database) GISAID estimated that the US is sequencing 0.3% of positive cases versus the UK that's at about 7%,' Lu added.

Fauci: US won't follow UK's decision to delay 2nd vaccine doses

As the US wraps up its third week of vaccinations, Dr. Anthony Fauci made a major statement Friday about how they will proceed.

The US will continue giving two doses of the current coronavirus vaccines weeks apart, and will not follow the UK's decision to potentially delay second doses, Fauci told CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.

'I would not be in favor of that,' Fauci said when asked about the UK's new dosing plan. 'We're going to keep doing what we're doing.'

So far, the coronavirus vaccines approved in the US require two doses, taken three to four weeks apart.

On Wednesday, the British government announced that the UK would prioritize giving the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine 'to those in the most high-risk group' and allow the second dose to be given up to 12 weeks later.

The UK adopted that strategy to give as many people as possible the first dose as quickly as possible. Even the first shot, UK medical officers have argued, would afford some amount of protection.

Asked on Thursday by NBC's 'Today' show if the US should adopt the UK's plan, Fauci had answered, 'That's under consideration.'

But he told CNN Friday that this comment had been misinterpreted.

Pfizer and Moderna, the makers of the two vaccines given emergency use authorization in the US, studied the effectiveness of two doses a few weeks apart, not a few months apart, noted Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

'The fact is we want to stick with what the science tells us, and the data that we have for both (vaccines) indicate you give a prime, followed by a boost in 21 days with Pfizer and 28 days with Moderna. And right now, that's the way we're going with it, and that's the decision that is made,' he said Friday.

'We make decisions based on data. We don't have any data of giving a single dose and waiting for more than the normal period of time' to give the second dose, he added.

When Fauci told NBC that following the UK's example was 'under consideration,' he meant that some people -- not US health authorities -- were talking about it, he told CNN Friday.

'It was somewhat of a misinterpretation. I think some -- not everybody -- but people misinterpreted when I said it's under consideration [as] like we're going to change. We're not,' he said.

People who were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine on December 14 are due soon to take their second shots.

Vaccines will take months to make a big difference, experts say

Experts say it will be months before vaccines are widespread enough to turn the course of the pandemic.

So far, more than 12.4 million vaccine doses had been distributed nationwide and more than 2.7 million had been administered, according to the CDC data from Wednesday. The rollout has been slower than many officials expected, but if the US is able to catch up in 2021, widespread vaccination could be possible starting in early spring, Fauci has said.

'Let's say in April, it will be what I call 'open season,' namely, anybody who wants to get vaccinated can get vaccinated,' Fauci said Wednesday in an online conversation with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

'If we then diligently vaccinate people in April, May, June, July, then we will gradually and noticeably get a degree of protection approaching herd immunity.'

Here's how the effort to vaccinate the elderly is going in some states

If vaccinations pick up, by the time early fall rolls around, Fauci said, 'we will have enough good herd immunity to be able to really get back to some strong semblance of normality.'
BEIJING: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been using a super system of a network of organisations and state agencies, collectively known as the united front system - administered by the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese government. The primary objective of the front is to work towards and fulfil Party's goals.

Over the years, the united front system has transcended the boundaries of Chinese territory and is currently delivering the duties of intelligence cum foreign affairs organisation as well. The United Front system is primarily involved in ideological subversion and covert operations within and outside PRC. The UFWD strengthens its influence by raising-up leaders from ethnic minority groups, religious movements, educational institutions, diaspora, society and political groups. All such organisations and stakeholders collectively constitute the united front system  a Chinese intelligence and propaganda network operating across the world.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has come up with a report titled 'The Party Speaks for You', authored by its Analyst Alex Joske. The report funded by The Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights the activities carried out by the United Front of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the nexus of organisations created by it across the world.

Addressing the Central United Front Work Meeting in 2015, Xi Jinping called it a 'magic weapon for strengthening Party's ruling position'. The same connotation was used by Mao Zedong in 1939 to describe the united front system. The united front system has always been a core body of the CCP and was constituted only a year after the foundation of the CCP in 1921 as a chapter of the Soviet Comintern. In 1922, the Party started carrying out a united fronts work by proposing a united front of supporters of democracy. The Party credits its victory in the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) to the united front, as it created favourable conditions with the Kuomintang, which diverted the focus of the Kuomintang from CCP to Japan.

Xi Jinping has been an age-old soldier of the front

With Xi Jinping rising to power, the powers of UFWD has increased manifold and the united front has exponentially grown. The logic behind this fact is not rocket science. The united front work constitutes an important part of Xinpings life. He worked for the CCP in Fujian Province for 15 years which is a hotbed of United fronts intelligence work targeting Taiwan. As Municipal Party Secretary of the CCP, he authored a paper on united front's work on Chinese diaspora in 1995. It is believed that modification of the UFWD in a new avatar is Jinpings effort to manifest the ideas authored in the said paper. He came up with the idea of the Great United Front. For the realisation of this idea, he introduced three major reforms in the UFWD. Firstly, he codified the work of the front and introduced the first set of regulations. Secondly, he set up a Leading Small Group within the UFWD to supervise and expand its work. Thirdly, he added six new bureaus to the Central UFWD, taking the total number of bureaus to twelve! Prior to Jinping, his father Xi Zhongxun - a Politburo member, supervised united fronts work throughout his career. Besides, two of Jinpings siblings were also involved in the political warfare of the Chinese military.

Structure of the United Front Work Department (UFWD)

The Central UFWD currently operates these 12 bureaus: Minor Parties Work Bureau; Ethnic Affairs Work Bureau; Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan United Front Work; Non-public Economy Work Bureau; Non-affiliated and Minor Party Intellectuals Work; Tibet Work Bureau; New Social Strata Individuals Work Bureau; Xinjiang Work Bureau; Overseas Chinese Affairs General Bureau (regional affairs); Overseas Chinese Affairs General Bureau; Religious Work Bureau (religious schools); and Religious Work Bureau (specific religions). The last six bureaus were added by Jinping s regime after 2015.

UFWD has a federal structure like the Indian three-tier system and operational and administrative powers are decentralised as besides the Central UFWD, the provincial, district or city Party committees oversee their own UFWDs. Besides the party/government level, the UFWD has also constituted its units in society organisations, universities, media, and even corporate entities operating within China. Reputed Chinese universities like Jinan University, Huaqiao University, Central Institute of Socialism ete are subordinate to the UFWD. It also directly supervises more than 80 civil society groups and local units of the department oversee at least 3,000 organisations across the PRC. These organisations are doing well and a couple of them have also gained Special Consultative Status as NGOs by the United Nations.

The UFWD is led by five stakeholders: a Politburo Standing Committee member; a Central Secretariat or Politburo member; UFWD Head; State Council Leader; and the United Work Front Leading Small Group (constituted by Xi Jinping). The leadership supervises and oversees the working of PRC government's agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Tech, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Taiwan Affairs Office, Eight minor political parties, National Peoples Congress, etc. These state agencies in turn, target and work on to influence and subverge groups and foreign governments targeted by the united front including religious groups, ethnic minorities, elites in Hong Kong and Macau, Taiwanese citizens, overseas students, political figures, corporate entities, media, NGOs, think tanks, etc.

The department has 10 leaders and at least six of them hold higher. 12 bureaus of the UFWD currently employ more than 600 officials at the rank of bureau chiefs or above. The post of a bureau chief is roughly equivalent to the post of a Joint Secretary in any ministry in the Government of India.

An Umbrella Organisation of Chinese Intelligence

At least 26 ministries/departments/units joined the meeting of UFWD's most powerful unit Central United Front Work Leading Small Group in 2017. The agencies that joined the meeting included the Propaganda Department, the Organisation Department, Ministry of Education, Asset Supervision and Administration Commission, and Chinese intelligence agency Ministry of State Security. The attendance of intelligence as well as subversive agencies in the meeting once again reiterates the fact that UFWD is an umbrella intelligence organization and the top coordination body to carry out subversive operations.

Top United Front Work Department (UFWD) Leaders

Wang Yang - the fourth most powerful member in the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee of the CCP chairs the top forum of the UFWD  the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). It is generally believed that the CPPCC is a forum of the CCP. However, it only brings along top CCP leaders to this forum to facilitate discussions between CCP and UFWD. Wang also heads the Central United Front Work Leading Small Group  the top echelon of the UFWD.

Sun Chunlan is another important leader of the UFWD. He is a Politburo member as well as the vice premier of the country and currently holds culture,health, sports, religion, and education departments. Sun is the person responsible for supervising the UFWD on behalf of the CCP government. In fact, he is the main coordinating figure between the CCP and UFWD. He earlier chaired the UFWD and currently looks after the network of Confucius Institutes. He is the current chair of the council of Confucius Institute Headquarters. The fact that he looks after the culture, religion, and education portfolios, he becomes a more volatile figure and a greater potential threat to the countries where Confucius Institutes are operating.

You Quan currently heads the UFWD as its director. He is also one of the members of the Central Secretariat  a unit that manages administration of the Politburo.

Xiao Jie has also been seen at numerous top-level meetings of the UFWD highlighting that UFWD is an integral part of the Executive wing of the PRC government. Xiao currently serves as the Secretary General of the State Council, holding a designation equivalent to Cabinet Secretary in many countries.

Role of UFWD on Propaganda and Subversion

The UFWD plays an important and decisive role in propagating Chinese propaganda. CCPs extensive media network  China News Service is one of the important tools of united front's propaganda. Numerous overseas Chinese language media organisations are owned/controlled by the UFWD through the China News Service. The front also goes hyperlocal to disseminate its messages. Several WeChat accounts run by Chinese media outlets operating overseas are registered to a subsidiary of China News Service. The WeChat accounts operate in the EU, Russia, Japan, Brazi and several other countries. It is similar to social media groups constituted by political parties on casteist/communal lines to fetch votes in their favour during peak of election campaigns. The China News Service organises a biennial Forum on Global Chinese Language Media and draws hundreds of media personnel from across the world. It carries out classes on topics like how to tell the Belt and Road Initiative's story well on the sidelines of the event.

Intelligence Warfare

Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai advocated 'nestling intelligence within the united front and using united front to push forth intelligence'. The united front creates assets and networks in the foreign countries that help the Chinese intelligence agencies to operate in the target countries. In fact, the united front was behind the foundation of Chinas intelligence structure. It was one of the four agencies that came together in 1983 to constitute China's internal intelligence organisation - the Ministry of State Security (MSS). Many incidents have come in light in which the united front's members acted as handlers of spies. For example, Mao Guohua  a united front operative and MSS's bureau chief was the handler of a triple agent Katrina Leung, who gained the trust of Americas FBI in the 1980s and 11990s. The China International Culture Exchange is a major body that covertly carries out overseas intelligence operations on united front's behalf. Though CCP agencies like the International Liaison Department, the MSS, the PLA etc have their own interference operations, the united front system also provides them base and advantage to carry out respective operations.

Political Influence: The front attempts to promote the pro-China proxy leaders in the democratic and parliamentary systems of foreign nations. Several parliamentary election candidates/parliamentarians have been associated with the front in countries like Australia and the UK. Moreover, to exert political influence in countries, the united front hops on the ethnic Chinese community and seeks to dominate the political landscape through community leaders, community groups, corporate entities, and media. Within PRC, the united front leads and supervises the working of eight minor/satellite parties. It also plays the role of increasing support base and gathering consent in Party's favour by bringing together groups, communities, and leaders under Party's umbrella. The united front also supervises the CPPCC.

Education: The united front targets the nationalist Chinese students studying overseas and tries to cultivate patriotism amongst the Chinese origin students. After the conclusion of the degree, the united front agency  All China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese keeps the students engaged in front's work back home. The united front describes education as an important battlefield for its work. The Ministry of Education and Party committees work as entities of the united front on campuses and seek to achieve the set targets. Within China, the united front has been tasked with introducing education reforms in the country to ensure that the younger generations start thinking on the lines of the Party. It has also helped to reform the pedagogy and teaching methods by introducing new technologies and seeking ideas from Western experts.

External Affairs: In 2015, Xi Jinping regime entitled the UFWD with additional powers, adding to the overbroad powers that it already had. He gave it authority over religious, ethnic, and Chinese diaspora affairs. It became a super body over the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and it became an organisation with greater powers than those of the Foreign Ministry. It is also the supervising authority over Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Interestingly, a majority of diplomats deputed to Chinese embassies are now outsourced from the united front. For example, Chinas ambassador to Colombo is not a career diplomat, but a united front official. The united front officials disguised as Chinese diplomats are tasked with holding meetings with local united front leaders and influencing public opinion.

The front also supports several think tanks and human rights organisations in the host countries. The members of the united front working abroad are also indulged in illegal technology transfers, surveillance, and espionage. Some of them have also been indulged in making databases on overseas scientists and scholars. Such members have frequently been coming under scrutiny of host nations for their involvement in the said activities. In multiple cases, members of the front have been convicted in the USA, Australia, and EU countries for illegal tech transfer and espionage.
The Indian army has ordered new fast patrol boats for the surveillance of water bodies in the mountains, including Pangong Tso, in eastern Ladakh where it has been locked in a border row with the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) for eight months, officials said on Friday.

The order - the first defence contract in the New Year - has been placed with a domestic shipyard as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign to boost self-reliance in the defence sector. The army will begin to accept deliveries of the boats this year.

#IndianArmy has inked a contract with M/s Goa Shipyard Limited for 12 Fast Patrol Boats for surveillance and patrolling of large water bodies, including those in #highaltitude areas. Delivery would commence from May 2021, the Indian army tweeted on Friday.

Also Read: India sends high-powered boats to match heavier Chinese vessels in Ladakh lake

Both the Indian army and the Chinese PLA patrol the Pangong Lake using boats.

Experts said the army needed the new boats to match the Chinese.

The Chinese have been using superior boats and there have been instances of the PLA operating the boats at high speeds, creating big waves and pushing the lighter Indian patrol boats onto their side (China controls two-thirds of the lake). The army needed more sophisticated and powerful boats, which have now been ordered, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd).

The Indian Navy had last year sent a dozen high-powered, bigger and top-of-the-line boats to Ladakh so that the Indian army could patrol Pangong Tso and match the heavier Type 928 B vessels of the Chinese Army lake fleet, as previously reported by Hindustan Times.

Heights on both banks of the lake have been at the centre of the border row between the two countries.

While India has consistently pushed for comprehensive disengagement at all flashpoints and restoration of status quo ante of early April during the ongoing military talks, the Chinese side wants the Indian army to first pull back troops deployed on strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong Tso.

The two armies have held eight rounds of military talks so far, with dates yet to be announced for the delayed ninth round of dialogue between corps commander-ranked officers.

The Indian Army swiftly moved and occupied a series of key heights to prevent the PLA from grabbing Indian territory on the southern bank in a stealthy midnight move on August 29.

The Indian Army now controls ridgeline positions on the southern bank of Pangong Tso that allow it to completely dominate the sector and keep an eye on Chinese military activity. The Indian Army has also taken control of key heights overlooking the PLAs deployments on the Finger 4 ridgeline on the northern bank of Pangong Tso where rival soldiers are deployed barely a few hundred metres from each other.
Dr. Omar Atiq, far left, an oncologist, forgave his patients' around $650,000 medical debt.- (Courtesy Omar Atiq)By KATIE KINDELAN, ABC News



(PINE BLUFF, Ark.) -- Around 200 people are starting 2021 off without any medical debt thanks to the kindness of an oncology doctor who erased $650,000 of his patients' debt.



Dr. Omar Atiq, a medical oncologist for nearly 40 years, closed his cancer clinic in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in March after nearly three decades in business.



He worked with a billing company for several months after closing to try to collect payments from his former patients, but soon made a decision to stop reaching out.



"Over time I realized that there are people who just are unable to pay," Atiq told Good Morning America. "So my wife and I, as a family, we thought about it and looked at forgiving all the debt."



"We saw that we could do it and then just went ahead and did it," he said.



The week of Christmas, around 200 of Atiq's former patients received a holiday greeting that read, "I hope this note finds you well. The Arkansas Cancer Clinic was proud to serve you as a patient. Although various health insurances pay most of the bills for majority of patients, even the deductibles and co-pays can be burdensome. Unfortunately, that is the way our health care system currently works. Arkansas Cancer Clinic is closing its practice after over 29 years of dedicated service to the community. The clinic has decided to forego all balances owed to the clinic by its patients. Happy Holidays.



The patients who received the notice had medical debts totaling from hundreds to thousands of dollars from their cancer treatments, according to Atiq.



"Since I started practicing, Ive always been rather uncomfortable with sick patients not only having to worry about their own health and quality of life and their longevity and their families and their jobs but also money," he said. "Thats always tugged at me."



"You add to it the absolute devastation that the [coronavirus] pandemic has wrought, and you think thank God that were fairly comfortable and this was something we could at least do to help the community," said Atiq, who made the decision along with his wife, Mehreen.



"I saw patients over the years who just didnt have anything or who went bankrupt trying to pay for their treatment," he said. "In many ways it seems like a totally unfair situation."



Bea Cheesman, president of RMC of America, the billing company that worked with Atiq to forgive his patients' debts, called his decision a "very kind gesture."



"Dr. Atiq is a very caring individual and hes always been extremely easy to work with as a client," Cheesman told GMA. "I think personally that its just a wonderful thing that he and his family did in forgiving this debt because the people with oncology bills do have more challenges than the bulk of the population."



Atiq, now a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, and his wife are the parents of four children, all of whom are either doctors or studying to become doctors.



He said he is not alone as a doctor in wishing patients did not have to worry about paying for treatment, saying, "One of the things that always bothers everyone I believe is to see sick patients having to worry about things other than theyre getting healthy or getting better."



Atiq said his clinic, the Arkansas Cancer Institute, made it a practice to never turn people away because of a lack of insurance or lack of funds.



His wish for his now debt-free patients is that they enter 2021 with their lives a "little bit easier."



"I just hope that it made it a little bit easier for them. Thats it," he said. "I just hope that it gave them a little sigh of relief and made it easier for them so they could face other challenges they may be facing in their lives."

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Read the full article in the January 2021 digital edition. . .

Recently, hand care has experienced an unprecedented boom in consumer demand due to a heightened focus on sanitization and moisturization in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pressurized market, regulations surrounding the manufacture and distribution of sanitizing products have been temporarily relaxed by governments1, 2 across the world. Disruptions in supply have led to several non-cosmetic companies, and indeed consumers themselves,3 trying their hand at sanitizer manufacturing.

Unfortunately, this amplifies risks to the consumer due to the heightened potential for dosage miscalculations or unwanted impurities (such as benzene and gasoline)4 from non-cosmetic grades of ethanol. Due to the pressure on ethanol manufacturing, methanol contamination has also become alarmingly widespread and resulted in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sending warnings to consumers and companies over thousands of hand sanitizers, and recalls during the height of the pandemic.5, 6

To cope with the crisis, the personal care industry has concentrated on getting more products to market quickly. However, through this, the formulation challenges and manufacturing complexities of cosmetic development have been felt across the world. As we move into the new normal, the focus of formulation work must be shifted back in line with market regulations to create high quality, safe products in the longer term.

In relation, the present article explores key aspects of formulating safe and effective hand care products for todays consumer needs. It considers core aspects of skin barrier functioning and various means to address disruptions therein. It also offers solutions to reduce irritation, restore balance and provide protection to prevent further damage.

Importance of Hand Care

As manufacturing processes changed in response to the crisis, so too have consumer behaviors40% of consumers now wash their hands between 6 and 10 times a day.7 Regular use of alcohol-based gels or surfactants is usually well-tolerated, however, repeated exposure can lead to chronic cumulative irritant contact dermatitis due to the removal of skin surface lipids, denaturing of epidermal keratin, damage to skin proteins and, in rarer cases, alterations in the cell membrane of keratinocytes. Additionally, wearing protective gloves stimulates excessive sweating and increases humidity, inflating the inflammatory response toward irritants such as these.8, 9

The skin barrier acts as the immune systems first line of defense.10 Fatty acids in sebum form an acid mantle that inhibits the growth of pathogenic species.11 The lipid bilayer directly inhibits some microbes, such as S. aureus, and supports other beneficial microbiota.12 Structural cells such as keratinocytes, fibroblasts and adipocytes form a mechanical barrier against pathogens and play a key role in expressing inflammatory cytokines. Immune cells in the epidermis and dermis, such as Langerhans cells and dermal macrophages, directly tackle infection. And, the skins surface plays host to an extensive microbiome that modulates growth of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses, molds and yeasts.

It has long been known that disruptions to this complex barrier can increase the risk of infections for example, in burn patients or those with a thinning or broken skin barrier, such as the elderly or those with eczema. Through studies of health workers, it has been shown that intensive hand-washing can lead to an increased incidence of occupational skin diseases,13 mainly because only 22% of health workers are applying restorative skin cream after washing to help protect the skin barrier.14 The medical importance of regular hand-washing cannot be understated, so to alleviate disruption to the skin, formulations need to focus on repairing, protecting and enhancing the skin barrier whilst allowing for effective cleanliness.

Addressing a Disrupted Skin Barrier

One of the key goals to consider when formulating hand care is to mitigate the effects of dryness, which occurs when skin lipids are continuously removed from the skin surface. This is often approached in three ways: reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) through boosting or supplementing the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF); replenishing intercellular lipids; and optimizing the cellular arrangement in the stratum corneum to allow efficient diffusion of water through the skin.

Reducing TEWL: The NMF contains a mixture of water-soluble humectants that draw atmospheric water into the skin, the most famous of which is hyaluronic acid. This acts as a powerful hydrating agent and can provide rapid and intense hydration, with careful formulation allowing for both immediate and long-term hydration through layering of the molecular weights or using optimized cross-polymers. The skins natural production of hyaluronic acid can also be boosted using active ingredients. Examples may include specialized extracts of prickly pear15 or Australian plums,16 and sugar derivatives such as xylitylglucoside, anhydroxylitol and xylitol,17 which influence gene expression related to hyaluronic acid production.

Whilst hyaluronic acid is the most widely recognized component of the NMF, the bulk (~40%) is composed of amino acids.18 These can be added to hand care formulations through blends that optimize the ratio of different amino acids, amino acid derivatives such as betaine, or through natural extracts such as certain algae19 that contain naturally high levels of amino acids. Similarly, the introduction of humectants such as glycerin, urea or panthenol (provitamin B5) can be used to supplement the NMF by reducing TEWL, although these can introduce formulation difficulties, as will be discussed later.

Replenishing intercellular lipids: Emollients such as shea butter and olive oil are regularly included in hand creams to form an occlusive barrier that helps to both prevent water loss and replenish the lipids lost through hand-washing. To optimize lipid replacement, sebum mimetics such as jojoba oil or squalane can be added, as well as specifically designed blends20 rich in linoleic, oleic and palmitic acid to replicate the composition of lipids in healthy skin. This concept can also be used within hand washes. For example, a specialized blend of lipophilic plant components has been shown to improve the hydration of skin by 100% when used at 0.50% in a hand wash, as it has been developed to mimic both the composition and structure of the skin, with long-lasting effects on skin hydration and smoothness.21

While free fatty acids comprise roughly 30% of the intercellular lipids, traditionally overlooked by hand care are the 40% from ceramides.22 As hand care increasingly draws inspiration from luxury facial care, the number of hand products containing ceramides is growing. The skins natural level of ceramide III, also known as ceramide NP, has been shown to be particularly diminished by surfactant-induced dermatitis.23 It is possible to apply ceramide III topically through well-formulated hand care products; however, this can introduce formulation difficulties as ceramide III is only soluble in oils at elevated temperatures (90C/194F). There are variants designed to overcome this, for example, by introducing a double bond to reduce processing temperatures to 75C/167F, or by forming pellets with cetearyl alcohol for easier processing.

Optimizing cellular arrangement in the stratum corneum: In hand creams, lotions and masks, the choice of emulsifier can also supplement the skin barrier, with liquid crystal technology enabling greater compatibility with the skins lamellar bilayer lipids due to their similar chemical structure. Similarly, a texturizing agent based on C10-18 triglycerides enhances affinity with the skins (triglyceride-containing) hydrolipidic film, whilst giving the formulation greater creaminess and longer playtime.24

While the emulsifier can help to mimic the skins lamellar structure, the skin structure itself can also be improved through active ingredients. For example, an exopolysaccharide from the deep sea extremophile Alteromonas, as a fermented extract, has been shown to protect Langerhans cells, reduce the expression of skin stress marker ICAM-1 and stimulate keratinocyte proliferation, leading to an improved skin barrier and activation of the skins restructuring processes.25

Reducing Irritation

Soothing hand masks: Although dryness is the primary concern for consumers, when the skin barrier is compromised, this leads to itching and irritation, which will aggravate the damage even further if consumers scratch or abrade the skin. Currently, the British Association of Dermatologists and National Eczema Society both recommend using soap and water for hand-washingeven for those with eczema or other skin concerns, overriding the pre-COVID-19 advice to use mild soap substitutes.26, 27 To relieve the irritation this causes to sensitive skin, intensely soothing formulations such as overnight hand masks are soaring in popularity.

Conventionally, creams targeting soothing claims utilize allantoin, lanolin or urea; however, these can create heavy, tacky textures, especially in combination with glycerin. Responding to concerns over lanolin irritation from pesticide residue in sheeps wool,28 the industry has shifted toward purer grades and vegan alternatives, and toward optimizing emulsifier combinations to reduce greasy textures. One solution is to use a combination of lecithin, hydrogenated lecithin and sodium acrylates copolymer to create a non-tacky texture even when using 20% glycerin and 5% urea.29

Newer soothing ingredients are available, and those with data supporting fast results are particularly suitable for the instantaneous effect necessary for hand masks. One specific extract of Helichrysum italicum has been shown to stimulate the release of b-endorphins and decrease inflammation mediators, with in vivo testing showing a decrease in stinging sensation within 1 min, and a decrease of 79% versus the control in 5 min.30 Similarly, an extract of Tasmanian pepperberry has been shown to dim the inflammatory cascade within 5 min; it contains high levels of rutin, an anti-inflammatory mediator known to strengthen capillaries.31

Another recent introduction with powerful soothing activity is based on a patented concentrate of peptides from the microalgae Chlamydomonas acidophila. This ingredient inhibits the inflammatory response of TNF-a, prostaglandin E2 and PGE2 release in response to mechanical stress, such as from surfactants, and has been shown to help boost hydration and strengthen the skin barrier. Interestingly, this has also been shown to help regulate the skins reaction to nickel (a prominent allergen-mimicker), with potential use in hand care to alleviate the cosmetic effects of sensitization reactions from wearing nickel-containing jewelry.32

As a more traditional alternative, another ingredient currently trending in skin care is Centella asiatica, also known as cica, gotu kola or tigers grass. Rich in triterpenes such as madecassoside and asiaticoside, extracts from this plant have been shown to help soothe reactive skin, and improve skin roughness and moisturization.33 Used for centuries in Indian ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, consumer-led trends indicate rising interest in these practices and the use of Centella asiatica in hand care is showing promising potential.

. . .Read more in the January 2021 digital edition. . .

References

Duckett, A. (accessed 2020, Aug 25). UK relaxes rules to speed up sanitizer production. Available at: https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/uk-relaxes-rules-to-speed-up-sanitiser-production/ Mishra, M. (2020, Mar 20). U.S. FDA to relax hand sanitizer regulation as coronavirus hits supply. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-hand-sanitizers/fda-to-relax-hand-sanitizer-rules-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN217287 Pratt, E. (2020, Jul 6). Why you might want to think twice before making your own hand sanitizer. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/coronavirus-hand-sanitizer-recipes-risks Hahn, S.M. (2020, Jun 1). Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA takes action to protect public health; Increase supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takes-action-protect-public-health-increase-supply-alcohol-based Kahn, J. (2020, Jul 2). Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA takes action to warn, protect consumers from dangerous alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing methanol. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takes-action-warn-protect-consumers-dangerous-alcohol-based-hand Kahn, J. (2020, Jul 27). Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA reiterates warning about dangerous alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing methanol, takes additional action to address concerning products. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-reiterates-warning-about-dangerous-alcohol-based-hand-sanitizers Tandon Copp, L. (2020, Apr 29). 40% of Consumers now wash their hands 6-10 times a day to avoid COVID-19.Available at: https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/40_of_consumers_now_wash_their_hands_6-10_times_a_day_to_avoid_Covid-19/164583# Beiu, C., et al. (2020). 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By Rong-Gong Lin II. Los Angeles Times

The death of a 12th Foster Farms poultry worker from COVID-19 in Californias Central Valley is raising new concerns about safety at food processing facilities.

The workers family said the employee, who was of Punjabi descent and in his 50s, had been called back into the Foster Farms poultry processing plant in Fresno, got sick with COVID-19 and spent the last three weeks in an intensive care unit before dying over the weekend, according to Deep Singh, executive director of the Jakara Movement, a Central Valley youth and family nonprofit that works with the Punjabi Sikh community.

The family said they believe the worker was infected at the plant because the family had avoided going out into the community other than for work or other essential reasons, Singh said.

Singh faulted Foster Farms for a callous lack of concern and protections that prioritize worker safety and their families. At least 193 people at the Fresno plant have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks, about 20% of the plants workers, according to the company.

Family members of workers have criticized Foster Farms for providing poor English-only communication to workers, even though many in the workforce have limited English proficiency.

Community leaders also told the Los Angeles Times that the company has been asking employees to work overtime to keep production lines running amid absences.

Foster Farms has previously said that it is committed to the health and welfare of its employees and that it has implemented safety measures such as requiring the use of masks, installing partitions at workstations, staggering workers breaks, expanding break areas, installing portable HEPA air filters in common areas and testing employees weekly at all major processing facilities.

This is the third COVID-19 death of a worker at the Fresno plant; nine workers at the Livingston plant in Merced County have also died of COVID-19.

We are saddened by the death ... and, out of respect for the family and loved ones, can provide no further details, said a statement from Foster Farms.

The company said the rate of positive coronavirus test results among workers at the plant has been declining since mid-December. Less than 1% of the tests are coming back positive, it said.

-- Los Angeles Times via Tribune News Service
Amid tensions surrounding the presidential election results, the Capitol Police plan to bolster security when Congress convenes in a joint session next week to count the Electoral College votes and certify Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election.

We have been told there will be increased security on January 6th for any potential demonstrations, said Ashley Phelps, a spokesperson for House Administration Committee ranking member Rodney Davis, R-Ill.

Eva Malecki, a Capitol Police spokesperson, said the department has comprehensive security plans in place and we continuously monitor and assess new and emerging threats, with the overall goal of keeping those within the Capitol Complex safe and secure.

Electors of each state cast their votes on Dec. 14, which culminated in Bidens 306-232 win over President Donald Trump. Despite Bidens win, Trump and his supporters are ardently promulgating unfounded claims that there was widespread voter fraud in key states that Biden won.

This has led supporters of the outgoing president to organize several protests on the day of the joint session, Jan. 6, calling for Congress to overturn the results of the election. Far-right groups like the Proud Boys and white supremacists are planning to attend, according to The Washington Post.

Adding fuel to the fire are commitments from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., and other Republican House member to object to the vote count. An objection must be made in writing and needs to be signed by at least one member of each chamber, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Hawley is the only senator so far who has made clear his intention to object, an action in opposition to the wishes of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Other senators have indicated an interest in objecting, but how that plays out remains to be seen.

I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws, Hawley said in a statement on Dec. 30.

When the planned objection is raised, the joint session will be suspended and each chamber will meet separately to debate the objection and vote on whether to count the electoral votes in question, according to the Congressional Research Service.

___

(c)2020 CQ Roll Call

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The Pakistani army shelled forward posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district twice on Friday, officials said.

Firing and mortar shelling from across the LoC was reported in the Nowshera sector of the district around 3:30 pm and at 5:30 pm, they said.

Indian troops are retaliating to the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the officials said.

"At about 1530 hours today, the Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along the LoC in the Nowshera sector in district Rajouri," a defence spokesman said.

Indian army retaliates befittingly, he said.

Pakistan again shelled the Nowshera sector at 1730 hours resulting in exchanges, the officials said.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 5,100 instances of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in 2020, the highest in the past 18 years with an average of 14 cases daily, according to official sources.

In these ceasefire violations, 36 people, including 24 security personnel, were killed and over 130 injured, as per data.

Security officials said that shelling and firing by Pakistani troops was "very heavy" in 2020, virtually making the 2003 India-Pakistan border truce "redundant".

"Pakistani troops repeatedly targeted forwards posts and villages along the LoC and the International Border to create a fear psychosis among the people and destabilise peace along the borders," a senior police officer said.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
A senior staff nurse at National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) is first to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech jab for Covid-19 in Singapore

Singapore kick-started its national Covid-19 vaccination programme on 30 Dec 2020, with a senior staff nurse who screens suspected COVID-19 cases at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) with Pfizer-BioNTech jab. By the end of the day, 40 NCID staff members had received their injections, including Professor Leo Yee Sin, the centres executive director.

The remaining NCID staff will be progressively vaccinated, with the National Healthcare Group (NHG) management and staff starting in January.

The double dose vaccine jabs are to be given 21 days apart. All participants are requested to read and sign the vaccine information sheet and vaccine screening form. After receiving the vaccine, staff get a vaccination card and are observed for 30 minutes on site to ensure that they have tolerated the vaccine well. Public healthcare institutions and private hospitals are also waiting for their turn to be vaccinated. Singapore residents aged 70 and older will receive their jabs from February next year, followed by other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible.

"Today we began COVID-19 vaccinations, with 30+ healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. It marks a new chapter in our fight against the pandemic. In the coming weeks, the vaccine will be rolled out to more healthcare institutions. We will begin vaccinating the elderly from February. Thereafter we will do other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are eligible for vaccination." said, Prime minister Lee Hsein Loong.

As of 31 December 2020, Singapore MOH has preliminarily confirmed 5 new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 infection. The cases are in the community.
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Today, I have signed into law S. 3989, the "United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020" (the "Act"), which would amend the powers of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, a commission with the responsibility to provide for the observance and commemoration, in 2026, of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This moment will mark a historic achievement for our country and deserves commemoration. The Act provides that the Commission will include officials who are members of the House and Senate appointed by congressional leaders, private citizens appointed by congressional leaders, and nonvoting ex officio members from the executive branch. I wholeheartedly welcome the participation of Members of Congress and private citizens in the activities of the Commission. In accord with President Reagan's signing statement in 1983 and President Obama's signing statement in 2016 for similar commemorative legislation, I understand, and my Administration has so advised the Congress, that because the Commission includes Members of Congress and congressional appointees, the Commission may provide advice and recommendations, and may participate in ceremonial activities, but may not participate in matters involving the execution of the laws, in light of the separation of powers and the Appointments and Ineligibility Clauses of the Constitution.THE WHITE HOUSE,
A U.S. Air Force strategic B-52 bomber flies over the Azraq desert, some 100 kilometers east of the Jordanian capital Amman, Jordan, May 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh)

Media reports noted that the deployment reflects growing concerns in Washington that Iran might retaliate against the United States as the first anniversary of the U.S. assassination of Iranian top military commander Qassem Soleimani approaches.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military said on Wednesday that it had sent two strategic bombers to the Middle East as a show of force to deter attacks against U.S. interests in the region.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that the deployment, which was executed by two B-52H strategic bombers, aimed to underscore the "U.S. military's commitment to regional security and demonstrate a unique ability to rapidly deploy overwhelming combat power on short notice."

"The two-ship deployment also delivers a clear deterrent message to anyone who intends to do harm to Americans or American interests," the statement added.

Commander of U.S. Central Command Kenneth McKenzie said in the statement that "the United States continues to deploy combat-ready capabilities into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to deter any potential adversary, and make clear that we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at Americans or our interests."

According to the statement, this mission is the third bomber deployment into CENTCOM's area of operation in the last 45 days.

Media reports noted that the deployment reflects growing concerns in Washington that Iran might retaliate against the United States as the first anniversary of the U.S. assassination of Iranian top military commander Qassem Soleimani approaches.

The year-long tensions between the United States and Iran were reignited by a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in the Green Zone of Iraq's capital Baghdad on Dec. 20.

U.S. President Donald Trump blamed the attack on Iran. He tweeted on Dec. 23 that "some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over."

Tehran denied Trump's allegation. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, "Trump will bear full responsibility for any adventurism on his way out."
In considering the role and size of government at all levels, Ive thought for some time that the country could use a healthy dose of reality therapy. Now, Im afraid my wish is coming true.Even as the collapse in state revenues finally seems to have reversed, the full brunt of the Great Recession is washing over most states and localities like a tsunami, carrying away programs and people on a scale that was unimaginable a short time ago.As the harsh reality of our situation intensifies, I hope it is educational for voters. I want them to think about the woman with the bumper stickers wrapped around her head at a Tea Party demonstration a while back who carried a poster reading, Keep Governments Hands Off My Medicare! Or the folks polled late last year who thought, on average, that 27 percent of the federal budget went to foreign aid. (In fact, its less than 1 percent, which places the U.S. in last place among developed nations in such spending as a portion of their economies.) I could go on, because the level of misinformation, exaggeration and outright deceit -- amplified in the media and blogosphere fog -- is so widespread, its depressing.As administration and congressional leaders began their endless discussions on the role of government early this summer, a scan of recent polling about what people really wanted from government was revealing. Basically they were saying this: Do not change Medicare, Social Security or even Medicaid (only 29 percent of self-described conservatives favored cuts). The margin was closer on cutting defense, with 44 percent favoring and 54 percent against, though 63 percent of college graduates supported reductions. By almost a two-to-one margin, respondents favored taxing higher income earners, but opposed increases for the middle class, which they think is paying an increasing amount at the federal level. In fact, taxation levels are about where they were a half century ago.As this years state budgets have worked their way through legislatures, reality is setting in. Education from pre-school to grad school is being eviscerated. Nearly two-thirds of the school districts in the country have or will be laying off some 250,000 teachers and staff. State funding of university systems already had fallen to 60 percent of their revenues before this latest round of cuts. Some of the nations flagship campuses now rely on state governments for about 20 percent of their revenues. Meanwhile, tuitions are skyrocketing by as much as 20 percent a year; in Florida there have been three consecutive 15 percent increases because state law prohibits exceeding that number. The increases in California are similar.In all, there have been 535,000 layoffs of public-sector workers between August 2008 and last May. Before this is over, that number may soar to 800,000 -- about 80 percent of them from local government. The pink slips are not only for teachers, but also public safety employees, social workers and others. Nothing or no one is immune. Cuts are hurting state parks, mental health programs, child-care subsidies for welfare-to-work mothers, day-care centers for the elderly and even the judiciary.No one thinks much about courts and judges, yet the vast majority of civil and criminal cases in the country, 40 million of them annually, run through state court systems. Since they are largely invisible to the public, its easy to starve them. New Yorks judges have not had a salary increase in 12 years. Judges in Massachusetts, reacting to the latest cuts in the judicial budget, are urging the governor not to nominate any more judges because they cant pay them. Instead, they plan to close 11 courthouses and lay off staff.Its a perverse paradox that just as state revenues are reviving, years of budget cuts are catching up. One of the reasons is fading stimulus money, particularly for Medicaid, where $103 billion disappeared as of June 30; the same has happened to $48 billion for education. Even before the stimulus, federal funds accounted for almost 30 percent of state revenues, the largest portion of the pie.Now, we have the anti-stimulus. Looming cuts in federal grant programs to states and localities will hit critical areas like infrastructure and transportation, but also economic development, medical training and research, and even Medicaid -- the largest federal grant to the states, which was supposed to expand significantly in coming years under the new national health-care law.Medicaid is definitely on the chopping block, according to Sen. John D. Rockefeller of West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Subcommitte on Health Care. Seniors vote. But if you are poor and disabled, you might not vote, and if you are a child, you do not vote -- thats a lot of Medicaids population. They dont have money to do lobbying.So I guess we may shrink Medicaid before we enlarge it.As an old friend of mine, who used to represent his countrys treasury department at the British embassy in Washington, D.C., and knows the U.S. very well, loved to exclaim, Hey, you guys are Americans! You can have it all.Yes, we can, was the presidents slogan during his campaign. But the reality, both for public leaders and an often misinformed citizenry, is that we cannot.
In a rather remarkable incident, Pakistans law enforcement officers detained a man on New Years eve from Peshawar for dressing up as a wolf, apparently to scare off people only to pose alongside him for a picture. The social media users have even posted the image of the police officers standing next to the man wearing the costume who is also handcuffed. The incident not only led the Twitter users to mock the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan but also mocked the nation as Naya Pakistan. Hundreds of netizens were left in splits about how hilarious the image looks or the incident. Many other advocated that there was nothing wrong about the wolf having some fun.

Police in the Pakistani city of Peshawar arrest a young man on New Years eve - for wearing a costume mask to scare people pic.twitter.com/sU9f1NDcAf  omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 1, 2021

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'Free the wolf boy'

The peculiar incident ended up making netizens happy. While one of them suggested starting a trend Free the wolf boy, another hailed the man dressed in the costume for wearing a mask. In the image, one of the police officers is also snapped without wearing any facemask and thus, it also triggered netizens to mock the Pakistan police officers even more than just making the absurd arrest in 2020. Many others, in order to strike a joke, said that how do the police officers know its not a real wolf and some even lauded the police for making them happy.

naya pakistan  murTaza (@_PatriotiC_007) January 1, 2021

How do they know its actually a mask...

And not the real deal https://t.co/ICmCC6jdXl  That wicked thing you do. (@ZeHarpreet) January 1, 2021

Let him go...its his way of enjoying the New Year eve. https://t.co/F8JZyE8UG8  Fakhruddin Usmani (@usmanifakhruddi) January 1, 2021

Pakistan police arrest 2020. https://t.co/Bryc2toZ5T  Qadri Inzamam (@Qadri_Inzamam) January 1, 2021

Picture of the Day!  Samina Qasim. ( Mask On) (@qas58) January 1, 2021

And why this photography then? Isn't it scary too?  Abdul Quddoos Nazir (@AbQuddoosNazir) January 1, 2021

This is Wodehouse level comedy  Sridhar Shelat (@SridharShelat) January 1, 2021

Masks are scary or the bellies of policemen! You decide...  Ikram (@Ikram76496278) January 1, 2021

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The Yobe State government says it has been able to achieve about 95 per cent performance in the 2020 budget, despite set back by COVID-19.

The state said despite the pandemic, the government under Governor Mai-Mala Bunis leadership, has been able to embark and execute about 140 critical projects and provided services in the state.

The state Commissioner of Information, Abdullah Bego, disclosed this at an end-of-year press briefing attended by PREMIUM TIMES in Damaturu.

Mr Bego said critical amongst the success stories of the Governor Buni administration are the execution of projects that did not only impact on the state but create thousands of job opportunities for the people especially the youth.

He said despite the setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the state to scale down its original spending plans for the outgoing year, Yobe state government still emerged with A grade achievement.

The Overall Budget performance including supplementary at N91,924,111,104 with N87,255,839,453.27, standing at (94.92%), he said.

The Personnel cost was N26,379,487,994 with N26,137,952,006.14 releases which place our performance 99.08% as at 24th DEC 2020.

Our overhead cost budget was N25,605,014,762 with N24,599,344,411.12 released, which places the performance at 96.07%.

The 2020 capital expenditure was placed at N39,939,608,348 with N36,518,543,036.01 releases, which had 91.43% performance level.

2020 was a roller-coaster of a year, a year of the CoronaVirus pandemic and global economic recession, the information commissioner said.

Its a chequered year, one in which Yobe State has made some major progress but was held back by equally major challenges.

There is no question, however, that the Yobe State Government under His Excellency Gov. Mai Mala Buni has implemented its socio-economic agenda for the people robustly well.

Our budget performance for the year stands at 94.92 per cent.

Breakdown

Reeling out some key achievements of Governor Bunis administration in the last year, Mr Bego the state had been able resuscitation and or establish Yobe Investment Company, Potiskum Modern Market, Damaturu modern market, Gashua Modern Market, Nguru Modern Market, and construction of Potiskum Trailer Park.

The massive investment is capable of (creating) over 50,000 Jobs annually through Companies and factories including reviving of Yobe Aluminium Company, Revival of Woven Sacks Company and Reviving and upgrading of microfinance Bank.

Governor Buni has ensured the Establishment of Cement and Meat Processing FactoriesConcrete Pole Industry, Yobe fertilizer blending company (and held a) Fishing Festival to boost commerce and trade in the state.

In the area of road infrastructure, the Information Commissioner said the state government was able to embark upon the construction of a total of 80km of the township and rural linking roads and concrete drainages across the 17 local governments in the state.

To boost education, the Commissioner said Mr Buni had approved and embarked on hundreds of projects ranging on the renovation of schools, provision of furniture, scholarship for students and staffers and the building of 14 mega and model schools across the state.

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Above all, the Yobe state government has finalised plans to recruit 3000 teachers for all schools in the state in the coming year, he said.

He said after carrying out capacity building on humanitarian coordination for senior staff of the state emergency management agency, the state government had been able to provide palliatives to the citizens during the pandemic related lockdowns.

The state government has been able to distribute food Stuff To 20,000 House Holds in 17 LGAs.

In the area of healthcare, Mr Bego said the Yobe State government had upgraded Machina and Yusufari Health Centres to General Hospitals embarked on the upgrading of Health Care Centres in all wards of the LGAs

We have been able to refurbish, rehabilitate, expanded and constructed 39 New Doctors QuartersGovernor Buni had also Constructed Maternal and New-Born Child Health Care Complex at The Teaching Hospital Damaturu

We provided free treatment for accident and bomb blast victims. The governor had approved 100% Increase in the monthly allowance of Nursing Students.

We have constructed a 200-bed capacity student hostel storey building at Dr Shehu Sule College of Nursing and midwifery. We purchased Project Vehicles, Purchase of 39 Customized tricycle ambulances

The Governor had approved purchase and distribution of HIV Testing Kits, Rehabilitation of Midwife Quarters at PHC Gaidam and Introduced the Contributory Healthcare Scheme; and establishment of a Molecular Lab for COVID-19 tests; while a second lab ias underway.

The government had acquired Ventilators for COVID-19 Isolation Centres.

In the area of potable water provision the governor had recently commissioned Mini water Treatment Plant; while water supply and sanitation facilities including 10 borehole and well fields at Sumsumma, and Damaturu.

In the area of public information service, the government spokesperson said the state broadcasters, YTV and YBC are currently undergoing renovation.

We have established (an) Online and Community Radio Department at the Ministry of Information, even as we purchased and installed transmission cables at YTV Transmission Station.

We are also happy to say that 39 YTV and YBC casual staff have been converted to permanent and pensionable status.
All public and private sector banks in India will remain closed for 16 days in January 2021, comprising four Sundays as well as the second and fourth Saturdays. Meanwhile, January 1 is a bank holiday only in select cities and not a national bank holiday.

Although the year is starting with a long weekend as New Year's Day falling on Friday, followed by Saturday and Sunday, banks will remain open in most of the cities. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently released the Bank Holidays list for the year 2021.

On New Year's eve, the banks will remain closed in the states of Aizawl, Chennai, Imphal, Gangtok, and Shillong. Besides these, banks will remain operational across all other major cities on January 1.

Also Read: Bank holidays in January 2021: Check the complete list of bank holidays in January

Furthermore, January 2 will also be a holiday in Aizawl. Banks will remain closed in Kolkata on occasion of Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary on January 12.

As the festival of Makar Sankranti falls on January 14 this year, banks will be shut in Gangtok, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Meanwhile, in Chennai, banks will be closed from January 15-17 on account of several holidays. Banks will remain shut in Hyderabad on January 15 on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day, Magh Bihu and Tusu Puja.

As January 20 marks Guru Govind Singh Ji's birthday, banks will be closed in Chandigarh. Imphal will observe a bank holiday on January 25 due to Imoinu Iratpa. Banks will also be shut across the country on Republic Day, January 26, which is the only national holiday falling in January.

Although the bank branches will remain closed on the concerned holidays, mobile and internet banking will remain operational as normal.

Also Read: Bank holidays in December 2020: Check complete list

According to the Bank Holidays 2021 list published by the RBI, banks will remain closed on the below mentioned days.

Following is the list of national bank holidays in January 2021: -

1 January 2021- New Year's Day

2 January 2021 -New Year's Celebration

3 January 2021- Sunday

9 January 2021- Second Saturday

10 January 2021- Weekly off (Sunday)

12 January 2021 - Birthday of Swami Vivekananda

14 January 2021 - Makar Sankranti/Pongal/Maghe Sankranti

15 January 2021 - Thiruvalluvar Day/Magh Bihu and Tusu Puja

16 January 2021 - Uzhavar Thirunal

17 January 2021- Sunday

20 January 2021 - Guru Govind Singh Ji Birthday

23 January 2021- Fourth Saturday, Birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

24 January 2021- Sunday

25 January 2021-Imoinu Iratpa

26 January 2021- Republic Day

31 January 2021- Sunday

Note: Since some of the above mentioned holidays are regional, customers are advised to check with their respective banks first before visiting the concerned branch.
The woman unmasked as 'SoHo Karen' already had a rap sheet with two arrests in the last year alone, one for public intoxication and another for drunk driving, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Miya Taylor Ponsetto, 22, was identified by The New York Post on Thursday as the woman wanted by New York City police for tackling a 14-year-old black boy who she falsely accused of stealing her iPhone at a Manhattan hotel last weekend.

Ponsetto, who is said to have checked out of the Arlo Hotel three days prior to the alleged attack, appears to have been far from home, as the Post reported her last known address was in Sun Valley, California.

Photos circulating on social media suggest that Ponsetto is an aspiring model and former cheerleader at Simi Valley High School.

Now DailyMail.com has uncovered less flattering details about the young woman's more recent past through police reports and court records bearing her name.

The records show Ponsetto was arrested on February 28, 2020, for public intoxication in Beverly Hills. That case is still pending, with the next court date scheduled for January 28, 2021.

Three months later Ponsetto was arrested again near Calabasas, a ritzy celebrity enclave in Los Angeles which is home to the likes of Kim Kardashian, for drunk driving on May 28. She was booked on four misdemeanor counts: two for driving under the influence of alcohol, one for driving on a suspended license and one for unlawful use of a driver's license.

She pleaded no contest to the DUI charge in September and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 14.

Court records also showed that Ponsetto was named in a civil case involving an eviction for nonpayment in August 2019.

The woman dubbed SoHo Karen has been identified as 22-year-old Miya Ponsetto. Police reports and court records bearing her name show that she was arrested twice in the last year - once for public intoxication and another time for driving under the influence of alcohol

Ponsetto's rap sheet came to light after the NYPD released new surveillance footage of the woman tackling the teen to the ground in a New York City hotel.

The video, shared on social media Wednesday night by NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison, shows the woman suddenly run at Keyon Harrold Jr and grab him by the waist in the Arlo Hotel on Saturday.

Its release comes just hours after the 22-year-old woman gave a rambling interview to CNN where she denied racially profiling the boy and instead insisted she was the one who was assaulted in the dispute.

The boy's father, Grammy-winning African American jazz artist Keyon Harrold, had previously posted separate footage filmed on his smartphone on Instagram.

It showed the woman pushing and grabbing at the father and son, allegedly even scratching Keyon Sr's hands as she attempted to snatch his cellphone, wrongly believing it to be hers.

Moments after the scuffle ended, her phone was reportedly found in an Uber and returned to her by the driver.

The 'Karen' is yet to be publicly identified with the NYPD telling DailyMail.com Thursday morning her name will not be released unless an arrest is made.

On Tuesday, NYPD confirmed they had identified the woman and may charge her with assault, grand larceny or attempted robbery.

The boy's famous father, mother Kat Rodriguez and civil rights attorney Ben Crump are urging officials to bring charges against her over the incident.

The NYPD has released new surveillance footage of the woman dubbed 'SoHo Karen' tackling the 14-year-old son of a black musician to the ground in a New York City hotel while accusing him of stealing her phone

The video, shared on social media Wednesday night by NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison, shows the woman suddenly run at Keyon Harrold Jr. and grab him by the waist in the Arlo Hotel on Saturday

The new footage casts new light on Saturday's events in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan.

It shows four people - the woman identified as Ponsetto, Keyon, Keyon Jr. and another individual standing at the bottom of the stairs in the lobby.

Keyon Jr. starts to walk away in the direction of the hotel doors.

At this point, the woman runs and grabs the 14-year-old around the waist, latching onto him as the boy's father runs after them.

They pass through the automatic doors in the lobby as the boy tries to shake her off, turning around as she appears to tackle him to the ground.

A close-up of the woman's face is shown with 'wanted' emblazoned across it as the police urge anyone with information about the woman's whereabouts to contact the NYPD.

'On Saturday, December 26, the woman in this video falsely accused an innocent 14-year-old teenager of stealing her cellphone,' Harrison tweeted.

'She then proceeded to physically attack him and fled the location before police officers arrived on scene.'

The woman who sources have named as Ponsetto gave a 20-minute phone call with CNN - reportedly often rambling at times - claiming that she was assaulted during the altercation with Keyon Sr. and his son, though failed to provide further details, including who allegedly assaulted her.

The 22-year-old's allegation has not been corroborated by investigators or any witnesses to the December 26 incident.

The new footage casts new light on Saturday's events in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan. It shows four people - identified as the woman, Keyon, Keyon Jr. and another individual standing at the bottom of the stairs in the lobby

Keyon Jr. starts to walk away in the direction of the hotel doors. At this point, the woman runs and grabs the 14-year-old around the waist, latching on to him as the boy's father runs after them. They pass through the automatic doors in the lobby as the boy tries to shake her off

The woman appears to tackle the boy to the ground in the altercation. Its release comes just hours after the 22-year-old woman gave a rambling interview to CNN where she denied racially profiling the boy and claimed it was her who was assaulted in the dispute

After she eventually agreed to provide evidence to the network to support the claim, the woman, who lives out of state, reportedly stopped replying to CNN's messages and calls.

According to the woman - whose name was withheld by the network - the incident was spurred when she first demanded to see the hotel's surveillance footage to try to pinpoint who may have taken her phone.

After the request was denied, she reportedly then cornered someone else in the lobby to 'empty their pockets', before turning her attention to Keyon Jr.

'That's when everything got a little more serious,' she said.

It's currently unclear when the alleged assault was purported to take place. The woman also provided additional information of events preceding and unrelated to the incident, which CNN said it has so far been unable to verify.

Speaking out about her concerns over the possibility of facing charges, she said: 'Of course I worry. That's not who I am. I actually ... try very hard to make sure that I am always doing the right thing.'

The woman added she is willing to cooperate with any police investigation, but says she has not yet been contacted by investigators, nor has she reached out herself.

The woman's claims she was assaulted are so far unfounded. She reportedly stopped replying to CNN's messages after agreeing to provide evidence

Harrold Sr. and Keyon Jr.'s mother, Kat Rodriguez, held a rally in Manhattan for their son on Wednesday, alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump (right) and Rev. Al Sharpton (left)

Harrold and Keyon Jr.'s mother, Kat Rodriguez, staged a rally in Manhattan on Wednesday alongside their attorney Ben Crump and Reverend Al Sharpton.

'When I saw this story, I thought about how I was one of those kids whose father never took him anywhere for Christmas, never had brunch with my father,' Sharpton said.

'And for this black man to take his black son, put him in a hotel during a pandemic, and spend Christmas with him, raising him, and to be assaulted because of the color of their skin, I wanted to stand with this man and this woman who provided for their son, and they're being criminalized for it. The arrogance and audacity of this woman.'

Harrold added that had he not come down into the lobby with his son when he did, something 'could have gone very wrong.'

'The idea of trauma goes above any charge that we may have...I bring my son places where he shouldn't have to deal with injustices and shouldn't have to be profiled,' he said.

An emotional Rodriguez also spoke during the rally, taking her opportunity to let it be known she is unhappy with the way the hotel handled the situation, and also called on 'SoHo Karen' to be charged with assault.

'All that we are asking is for the police to do the right thing, for the DA to do the right thing, to charge this woman with assault of a minor,' she said.

'To the hotel, which I'm equally angry at, you are trained to use those tools. I called the hotel right after it happened, and I gave them a chance to make it right, and they didn't. You know when they made it right? When my tribe, my community spoke up.

'It breaks my heart that this is happening to our son. This incident could have been avoided in so many ways,' she said.

Crump, meanwhile, called the incident an example of 'racial injustice' - an all-too common narrative that 'needs to change'.

'Can you imagine what the narrative would have been if Keyon Harrold had not videoed the incident on his cellphone?' Crump asked the crowd.

Keyon Harrold Sr. then played a trumpet rendition of 'America the Beautiful' and 'We Shall Overcome,' drawing applause and a few tears, according to ABC7.

At one point in the video the woman is shown on the floor. It's unclear where this has anything to do with her claims of assault

Kat Rodriguez, center, mother of Keyon Harrold Jr. speaks as attorney Ben Crump, right, Rev. Al Sharpton, left, and Keyon Harrold Sr. listen during a news conference on Wednesday

SoHo hotel racial profiling: Rev. Al Sharpton calls on NYPD to publicly identify and charge a woman who falsely accused a Black teen of stealing her phone. Posted by PIX 11 on Wednesday, December 30, 2020

No decision has yet been made by either the Manhattan District Attorney's Office or the NYPD as to whether the woman will be charged.

Keyon Sr first shared footage of the incident on Instagram, writing that he and his son had left their room to get breakfast when they came into contact with the woman in the lobby. He said the woman had been staying at the hotel but had checked out three days earlier.

It's unclear what happened in the moments before he started filming, but in the video, the woman can be heard screaming at Keyon Jr., telling him to show her his phone.

The one-minute-long video shows the woman and the hotel manager in the lobby with Harrold recording on his cell phone.

'This is my phone,' Harrold's son, who is not seen in the footage, is heard telling the woman and the manager.

'You don't have to explain nothing to her,' Harrold tells his son.

The woman then points to the phone and tells the manager that the case is the same one that she has.

'That's mine,' she tells the manager. She then tells the manager: 'Get it back.'

Harrold responds to the woman, saying: 'Are you kidding me? You feel like there's only one iPhone made in the world?'

When the woman asks Harrold to see the phone, he replies: 'No, get a life.'

Harrold then tells the woman that she should use the Find My app, which helps locate missing Apple devices.

The woman then tells Harrold that the Find My app can only be accessed through the phone.

The video then shows the manager approach Harrold's son asking him to see the phone.

'No, you can't,' Harrold tells the manager.

'I'm the manager of the hotel,' the manager tells Harrold, who replies: 'I don't care!'

The incident happened in the lobby of the boutique Arlo Hotel last Saturday

Arlo Hotels apologized for the 'recent incident of baseless accusation, prejudice, assault against an innocent guest of Arlo hotel' on Instagram saying: 'No Arlo guest  or any person  should be subject to this kind of behavior. We want to apologize to Mr. Harrold and his son for this inexcuseable experience, and have reached out to them directly to express our sincere regret and to offer help in dealing with the traumatic event'

During the exchange, the woman continues to encourage the manager to retrieve what she believes is her iPhone.

Harrold tries to plead his case, saying it wasn't plausible that his son would have someone else's phone since he just got to the lobby from the elevator.

'Didn't you see me just come downstairs out of the f***ing elevator?' Harrold tells the manager.

The manager protests, saying: 'I'm trying to help.'

Harrold replies: 'My son has nothing to do with her.'

The woman once again repeats her demand to see the phone, saying: 'No, he's not leaving. Show me the proof.'

Harrold refuses and begins to walk away from the lobby toward what appear to be the elevators.

'You better get on,' Harrold tells the woman.

The woman, who appears to be highly distressed, walks toward Harrold and his son, saying: 'No, I'm not letting him walk away with my phone.'

While the video is not clear, the woman appears to lunge toward Harrold and his son.

In the next frame, she is seen on the ground as the manager helps her back to her feet.

'No, please get my phone back,' the woman begs the manager.

The video clip ends with the woman once again approaching Harrold in an attempt to get the phone.

In one frame, she is seen on the ground as the manager helps her back to her feet

Keyon Harrold Sr. played the trumpet during the news conference, which was held as officials weigh charging the woman

Harrold told The New York Times that the woman tackled his son and tried to look into his pockets before being physically separated from him.

The Trumpeter said he suffered slight injuries in the incident though his son was not harmed.

Keyon Jr. spoke alongside his father to ABC on Tuesday, telling the network he's still 'shell shocked' over what happened.

'I don't know what would have happened if my dad wasn't there. These past few days, still kind of shell-shocked, but I'm hanging in there.

'For me I was confused because I had never seen that lady ever and I didn't know what to do in the moment. That's why I was happy to have my dad here to help me,' he said.

Earlier this week, New York City Mayor De Blasio on Twitter called the incident 'racism. Plain and simple.'

'It would be horrific at any age, but it's especially offensive that it happened to a child,' he wrote. 'To Keyon Harrold Jr. and his family: I am so sorry this happened to you.'

Amid the fallout, Arlo Hotels has also apologized for its role in the incident, saying its workers could have done better to 'de-escalate the dispute.'

'We're deeply disheartened about the recent incident of baseless accusation, prejudice and assault against an innocent guest of Arlo hotel,' a company statement said.

'In investigating the incident further, we've learned that the manager on duty promptly called the police regarding the woman's conduct and that hotel security intervened to prevent further violence .... No Arlo guest - or any person - should be subject to this kind of behavior.'

Famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump is leading the charge of outrage against the woman's actions, and also called out the hotel for 'empowering' her accusations by asking Harrold's son to prove his innocence.

'As this year of racial awareness is drawing to a close, it's deeply troubling that incidents like this one, in which a Black child is viewed as and treated like a criminal, continue to happen,' Crump said in a statement.

'We strongly urge Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. to bring assault and battery charges against this woman to send the message that hateful, racially motivated behavior is unacceptable,' Crump added. 'This is what it will take to drive change. We also call for a civil rights investigation into the Arlo Hotel for its implicit bias in its treatment of Keyon.'

While authorities ensure they have identified the woman in the video, online, outraged social media users are attempting to track her down themselves.

One social media influencer who was pictured at the hotel three days before the incident has posted a denial to Instagram that she is the 'Karen' after being bombarded with abuse.
As of Friday afternoon, 20,007,149 Americans have been infected with coronavirus - making up a quarter of the global total

77,124 Americans died of COVID-19 in December - nearly a third more than died in April, the previous deadliest month on record

Thursday marked the fourth-straight day of record US hospitalizations with 125,379, per COVID Tracking

Deaths dropped slightly to 3,419 on Thursday after two consecutive record-setting days with over 3,700 each

The US finished 2020 with about 3.7 million vaccines administered, 18 percent of the end-of-year target

Florida became the third state to confirm a case of a mutant COVID-19 strain on Thursday

Thousands of Americans waited hours in lines to get the vaccine on Thursday as health departments struggled to distribute the shots

More than 20 million Americans have been infected with coronavirus as of Friday afternoon.

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US infections now make up nearly a quarter of the global total.

December was the deadliest month of the pandemic yet in the US, with coronavirus killing more than 77,000 Americans in the span of 31 days - outstripping the previous record fatalities from April by nearly a third.

The US rang in 2021 with a grim new record: coronavirus hospitalizations hit an all-time high for the fourth day in a row on New Years Eve with nearly 125,400 people in inpatient treatment.

Another 227,315 new infections were confirmed on Thursday, bring the tally to 20,007,149, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Deaths dropped slightly to a still-harrowing 3,419 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins, after two consecutive record-setting days with over 3,700 each on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thursday's figure marked the 10th day this month that deaths have exceeded 3,000, with 346,408 recorded to date.

New Year's Eve rounded out December as the deadliest month of the pandemic on record for the US, with more than 77,000 fatalities.

While the nation pinned its hope for finally bringing the pandemic to its knees on coronavirus vaccines, widespread issues with the rollout saw 2020 come to a close with only about 3.17 million people vaccinated, according to Bloomberg News- 16 percent of the official 20 million target Operation Warp Speed set for the end of the year.

Confusion over who can get the vaccine abounds across the country, with Americans told to call around to find out when they can get their first doses or facing miles-long lines to get the shots.

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Adding to anxieties over the current surge is the emergence of a mutant strain of COVID-19 that has now been confirmed in three states: Colorado, California and Florida. The strain was first detected in the United Kingdom and is thought to be 70 percent more transmissible than the original.

The US is seeing more than four times as many cases as the UK, and Americans now account for nearly a quarter of total COVID-19 cases in the world

Hospitalizations reached a new peak of 125,379 on New Year's Eve, with the number of total COVID-19 cases in the US closing in on 20 million. Hospitalizations have been rising at an alarming rate for the past two months. Thursday marked the 30th consecutive day that hospitalizations have topped 100,000

Florida became the third state to confirm a case of the strain on Thursday evening after it was detected in a man his 20s who lives in Martin County and has no history of travel.

California, which reported its first case of the strain on Wednesday, confirmed three more people have been infected with it in the San Diego area on Thursday night.

Earlier this week, the first case was confirmed in Colorado and officials say they are also investigating a second suspected case in the state.

The fact that the confirmed cases in Colorado and Florida both involved individuals with no recent travel history means that the variant must already be circulating on US soil.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has been sounding the alarm that it's only a matter of time before other states detect the strain.

The US set a new record for coronavirus hospitalizations for the fourth day in a row on New Years Eve with nearly 125,400. Pictured: Chaplain Sister Mary Jo Piccione visits a COVID-19 patient at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in California

'We predicted it would be, when you have so much of it in the UK, which then spread to other countries in Europe and Canada, it was inevitable that it would be here,' Fauci told Today on Thursday.

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'You'll be hearing reports from other states and more cases in the state that is already reported. Unfortunately, that's just the reality of the way these viruses spread'.

But he added: 'The good news is that it does not appear to be more virulent, namely, making people more sick and leading to more death.'

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Fauci's prediction followed a new forecast from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which projects a total of 383,000 to 424,000 COVID-19 deaths will be reported by the week ending January 23, 2021.

On the high end of the model, that could mean that more than 82,000 people could die within the next month.

There are fears the number of infections - followed by hospitalizations and deaths - will only continue to rise in the coming weeks as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed that it screened 1,163,696 people at airport checkpoints on Wednesday, December 30.

It marked the fifth consecutive day that the number of passengers screened exceeded one million and the ninth day this month that the threshold was passed.

Although new daily cases have fallen in California after the past several days, it remains a top hot spot, recording it highest daily death toll on Wednesday and its second highest number of deaths on Thursday with 428 new deaths

The TSA screened 1,163,696 people at airport checkpoints on Wednesday, the fifth consecutive day with over one million

Offering a bit of hope, Operation Warp Speed chief Dr Moncef Slaoui on Wednesday announced that a one-shot coronavirus vaccine could be in use by February if Johnson & Johnson's jab is approved.

Slaoui said Phase 3 trial recruitment for the vaccine has been completed and Johnson & Johnson is currently working with the Operation Warp Speed team to accelerate the availability of the vaccine doses.

'I think it can be quite a game-changer,' Slaoui told reporters. 'We're hopeful that this vaccine, which is a one-shot vaccine will have equivalent efficacy to those of Moderna and Pfizer.'

Single-dose shots would mean faster rollout, and that people would likely be protected from coronavirus in a matter of weeks after the injection - rather than the about one-month period it takes for Moderna or Pfizer's shots to reach their protective peak.

In the weeks since Pfizer and Moderna's jabs were approved several states have struggled to implement effective plans to get them out to patients.

The US has only administered about 16 percent of the 20 million doses it promised to give to Americans by the end of 2020, despite having distributed more than 12 million doses to states and territories.

The bottleneck is caused by officials on state and federal level who have failed to create plans to get those shots into the arms of Americans according to a former FDA official who told DailyMail.com that the failure is akin to dropping the baton on the last leg of the vaccine race.

Adding to the disasters of the U.S. rollout of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, a pharmacist allegedly removed 500 doses of coronavirus vaccines from refrigeration, knowingly allowing them to spoil.

Some of the doses were administered before the the hospital realized they'd gone off. The pharmacist was arrested on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 42 people in Boone County, West Virginia, were mistakenly given Regeneron's antibody cocktail - the same one that President Trump was treated with while he had COVID-19 - National Guard officials there said Thursday.

The nation is watching Colorado, where the first case of COVID-19 due to a new more contagious strain in the U.S. was reported this week. Cases have been declining but ticked back up this week with 3,238 new infections Thursday

Florida is once again seeing COVID-19 numbers akin to its summer peak of the pandemic with nearly 17,000 new infections recorded Thursday. It became the third state in the US to report the new mutant strain Thursday with at least four cases

In Florida websites for vaccine appointments have crashed and facilities have filled up so fast that they pose a risk for the potential spread of COVID-19. Seniors pictured in line with lawn chairs waiting for the vaccine at Lakes Regional Library on Wednesday in Fort Myers

While Americans continue to wait to be vaccinated, the UK on Wednesday authorized a vaccine by AstraZeneca that will almost certainly accelerate vaccine distribution there because it is cheaper, far easier to ship, handle and store than the Pfizer and Moderna alternatives.

Yet US regulators have no intention of approving the more efficient shot until April - two months after AstraZeneca's US trial will have enough data to prove to the FDA that it works. Other trials have already shown that AstraZeneca's $4 vaccine is safe and about 70 percent effective - well above the efficacy the FDA said it will require to approve a vaccine.

But in the US, federal government has punted distribution plans almost entirely to states, where health departments are already stretched thin by surging COVID-19 cases.

The result is a helter-skelter patchwork of last minute plans that look vastly different from state to state, bumping drug addicts and prisoners to the front of the line in some places, while in others, like Florida, elderly Americans are camping out in lawn chairs overnight in a bid to get vaccinated. Others say essential workers and the aged are being told to 'call around' to see if they can get a vaccine.

Florida becomes THIRD state to get Super-COVID and California finds three more cases

Florida has become the third state in the US to confirm a case of the mutant strain of COVID-19 as California officials find three more infections.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed the diagnosis on Thursday night. Officials said the man is in his 20s, lives in Martin County and has no history of travel.

On Thursday night, California officials also confirmed three more people have been infected with the virus variant. The state now has four cases of the strain, which was first detected in the United Kingdom and is thought to be 70% more transmissible than the original.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed the state's first case of the mutant 'super-COVID-19' strain on Thursday night

A 30-year-old man tested positive on Wednesday, and three more men - two in their 40s, and one in his 50s - also have been confirmed to have the strain.

Officials said that two of the men had not traveled outside the country and none of the men had any known interaction with each other.

Earlier this week, the first case was confirmed in Colorado and officials say they are also investigating a second suspected case in the state.

The fact that the confirmed cases in Colorado and Florida both involved individuals with no recent travel history means that the variant must already be circulating on US soil.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has been sounding the alarm that it's only a matter of time before other states detect the strain.

The emergence of the strain in the US comes as many states weather harrowing surges in cases, hospitalizations and deaths while the vaccine rollout falls further and further behind schedule.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came under fire earlier this week after his state chose to ignore CDC recommendations and give the vaccine to elderly people ahead of frontline workers.

Florida is ranked among the nation's top coronavirus hotspots, with more than 1.32 million cases and 21,673 deaths reported to date.

The state broke its record for daily new cases on Thursday with 17,192, after posting near-record increases in the three consecutive days prior.

As of Thursday the state's test positivity rate stands at 11.57 percent, down from 26.29 percent on Tuesday.

Concerns have grown in recent days that the state's vaccine rollout plan could lead to even more infections, as long lines of high-risk elderly residents form outside vaccination sites.

Florida's first case of the mutant strain was reported just north of Miami in Martin County, which is home to about 146,300 residents.

Florida's first case of the mutant strain was reported north of Miami in Martin County (highlighted), which is home to about 146,300 residents. It comes as daily case numbers in the state near its summer peak

The first US case of the mutant 'super-COVID' strain was confirmed on Tuesday when Colorado officials said identified it in a male member of the National Guard who is in his 20s and works in a care home.

A second suspected case was also being investigated in Colorado on Wednesday, when California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the first case in his state.

'Just an hour or so ago we were informed that this new variant, this new strain that we have identified obviously from the UK and some other parts of the globe, identified in Colorado yesterday has been identified here in the state of California, in southern California,' Newsom said during a virtual conversation with Fauci.

The strain is not thought to be more deadly but is said to be significantly more contagious, marking a blow to the Golden State as its already buckling under the weight of the pandemic.

One Californian is now dying every three minutes from the virus with the state smashing its record for daily COVID-19 deaths Tuesday.

Governor Gavin Newsom (left) announced California's first case of the strain on Wednesday during a virtual conversation with Dr Anthony Fauci (right)

What is the 'mutant COVID strain' and why are experts concerned? Coronaviruses mutate regularly, acquiring about one new mutation in their genome every two weeks. Most mutations do not significantly change the way the virus acts. This super strain, named B.1.1.7, was first identified in the UK in November. It has since been found in France, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Australia and now the United States. The new COVID-19 variant has a mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein at position 501, where amino acid asparagine (N) has been replaced with tyrosine (Y). It is more infectious than previous strains and potentially more harmful to children. It is not, however, believed to be any more lethal. Public Health England researchers compared 1,769 people infected with the new variant, with 1,769 who had one of the earlier strains of the virus. Forty-two people in the group were admitted to hospital, of whom 16 had the new variant and 26 the wild type. Twelve of the variant cases and 10 of the 'older' virus cases died within four weeks of testing. Neither the hospitalization nor the mortality differences were statistically significant.

Newsom did not say where exactly the case was detected other than in Southern California.

He also gave no details on the identity of the individual or whether they have recently traveled. DailyMail.com has contacted Newsom's office for more information.

Newsom asked Fauci about the new strain and what it could mean for the state and the US.

'I know there has been a lot of conversations about the issue of variants, about the issue of transmissibility,' the governor said.

'I am curious more broadly on the issue of diagnostics on the testing side, immunity... have we received enough information to really understand the impacts in other categories?

'Not just on the issue of severity of the disease and the transmissibility of this disease.'

Fauci told Newsom he was 'not surprised' that there was a case detected in California and said he expects other states to soon report cases of the strain.

'I am not surprised that you have a case and likely more cases in California,' the nation's top immunologist said.

'We likely will be seeing reports from other states - Colorado was the first place to do that and I think we will start seeing it as if you have that much of a prominence of this in the UK with all the travel not just directly to the United States but through other countries intermittently like when you go from the UK to France, France to the Unites States etc. then Canada has cases.

'And so I don't think the Californians should feel this is something odd. This is something that is expected.'

Fauci said there is 'a lot we know' already about the new strain because UK experts have been studying it but there is also a lot that will become clear as the 'days and weeks go by'.

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'It looks pretty clear from the UK group that in fact the transmissibility of this mutant is more efficient than the transmissibility of the standard virus that we have been dealing with up to now,' he explained.
Hana Cross has been spotted looking smitten with a new mystery man in St Barts.

The model, who is the ex girlfriend of Brooklyn Beckham, put on a cosy display with her new beau earlier this week as they prepared to ring in the New Year together on the Caribbean island.

Hana, 23, showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy white bikini top and glam maxi skirt as she leaned in for a kiss from her new man in the evening sunshine.

Smitten: Hana Cross has been spotted looking smitten with a new mystery man in St Barts. The ex girlfriend of Brooklyn Beckham, put on a cosy display with her new beau earlier this week

Hana looked happy and carefree as her handsome beau wrapped his arms around her outside a crowded bar.

The lovebirds stared into each other's eyes before walking hand in hand out of the venue.

Hana was looking gorgeous in her halter-neck bikini top teamed with her white skirt and sandals. She added a chic sheer cover-up around her shoulders to complete the look.

The model was last seen seen putting on an cosy display with French fashion company ba&sh's founder Barbara Boccara's son Ethan, 26, in September.

Romance: Hana, 23, showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy white bikini top and glam maxi skirt as she enjoyed a romantic evening with her beau

Insiders revealed to MailOnline at the time: 'She spent her summer with him. They went to Saint Tropez, Ibiza and she invited him to Capri and they went to the UNICEF LUISAVIAROMA Gala together. She is planning to move with him to New York.'

Meanwhile Brooklyn and Hana called it quits in 2019 after eight months of dating in the wake of a string of explosive public rows. Back in September 2019, reports surfaced Victoria and David were relieved when the couple split.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'Brooklyn and Hana have called off their romance for good. David and Victoria very glad and relieved and are backing him 100 per cent.'

Brooklyn has since got engaged to US model and actress Nicola Peltz.

Ex? Hana was last seen seen putting on an cosy display with French fashion company ba&sh's founder Barbara Boccara's son Ethan, 26, in September

Way back when: Brooklyn and Hana called it quits in 2019 after eight months of dating in the wake of a string of explosive public rows (pictured in February 2019)

According to The Sun, Hana is said to have started recording her debut album with savage lyrics believed to be about her ex and their failed romance.

The website reports that in the track, Hana sings: 'I wish that someone told me you had a habit for dishonesty . . . though you break my heart, I want to stay.'

A source added to the publication: 'She is still raw from her split with Brooklyn and it pains her to see him so happy. Her record has a few heartbreak songs and she isn't afraid of expressing how she feels.'

They added that it is best that Brooklyn 'steers clear' of the record when it comes out. MailOnline contacted both Brooklyn's and Hana's representatives for comment at the time.
Dwindling supplies and continued Philippine buying lifted Vietnamese rice export prices to a fresh nine-year high this week, while rates in Thailand dipped from a multi-month peak as high prices cooled demand.

Vietnam's 5 percent broken rice prices edged up to $500-$505 per metric ton on Thursday  the highest since December 2011  from $500 a week ago, on thin domestic supplies.

Buyers from the Philippines are still purchasing, but with small volumes, a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said, adding that "trading activity has been slow this week due to the holidays."

Vietnam's rice exports in 2020 were forecast to have fallen 3.5 percent to 6.15 million metric tons, according to preliminary data from the government.

Rice export revenue this year climbed 9.3% to $3.07 billion.

Thailand's benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices were quoted at $510-$516 per metric ton on Thursday, slightly lower than $516-$520 per metric ton quoted last week.

Traders said demand for Thai rice has been relatively flat due to high prices.

"The supply level has been quite low so that drove up the price and the strong baht does not help the situation as demand is already weak," a Bangkok-based trader said.

In top rice exporter India, the 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted at $381-$387 per metric ton this week, unchanged from last week, as firm demand from Asian and African countries persisted.

"Demand is good from all corners," said Nitin Gupta, vice president for the India rice business at Olam.

Bangladesh's food minister said the country is slashing its rice import duty to 25 percent from 62.5 percent and allowing private traders to import rice up to a certain level, aiming to bolster reserves and dent record prices.

The government is also finalizing a purchase of 150,000 metric tons of rice from India's NAFED, the New Delhi-based state agency, officials told Reuters.
(Newser)  Authorities arrested a suburban Milwaukee pharmacist Thursday suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by removing them from refrigeration for two nights. The arrest marks another setback in what has been a slower, messier start to vaccinate Americans than public health officials had expected. Police in Grafton, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, said the Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment, adulterating a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property, all felonies. The pharmacist has been fired and police said in a news release that he was in jail. Police did not identify the pharmacist, saying he has not yet been formally charged. His motive remains unclear. More on what allegedly occurred, per the AP:

story continues below

Police said that detectives believe he knew the spoiled doses would be useless and people who received them would mistakenly think they'd been vaccinated when they hadn't.

Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr told reporters during a teleconference Thursday afternoon that the pharmacist deliberately removed 57 vials that held hundreds of doses of the Moderna vaccine from refrigeration at a Grafton medical center overnight on Dec. 24 into Dec. 25, returned them, then left them out again on the night of Dec. 25 into Saturday. The vials contained enough doses to inoculate 570 people.

A pharmacy technician discovered the vials outside the refrigerator on Saturday morning. Bahr said the pharmacist initially said that he had removed the vials to access other items in the refrigerator and had inadvertently failed to put them back.

The Moderna vaccine is viable for 12 hours outside refrigeration, so workers used the vaccine to inoculate 57 people before discarding the rest. Police said the discarded doses were worth between $8,000 and $11,000.

Bahr said health system officials grew more suspicious of the pharmacist as they reviewed the incident. After multiple interviews, the pharmacist acknowledged Wednesday that he removed the vaccine intentionally over the two nights, Bahr said.

That means that the doses people received Saturday are all but useless, he said. Moderna has told Aurora that there's no safety concerns, but the hospital system is closely monitoring the people who received the spoiled doses, he said.

(Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)
The streets of Scotlands capital are normally packed at Hogmanay, as people from across the country and around the world flock to see in the New Year in raucous style.

As with so much else, the coronavirus outbreak has put paid to the celebrations, putting Scots in a gloomy mood made worse by Britains parting of the ways with Europe.

The shops selling tartan and whisky on Edinburghs historic cobbled Royal Mile are shuttered and silent, plunged into darkness as snow falls.

But there is hope among supporters of Scottish independence that 2021 will bring some cheer.

As Britain leaves Europes single market and customs union, one local resident, Zoe Stewart, said she has never felt so out of touch with the rest of the country.

I think its really sad that were leaving. I dont want to leave the EU, Stewart, who was one of the 62 percent of Scots who voted against Brexit, told AFP.

I think we should go for it, independence, she said, raising a fist and smiling. Just to be independent. Just to have our own choices and not follow England all the time.

The pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) of Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is keen to seize the political initiative and capitalise on frustrations after January 1.

The SNP makes no secret of its desire to hold a new referendum on independence after losing a previous one in 2014.

The party is widely tipped to win Scottish parliamentary elections next May, and victory would increase the pressure on the UK government in London to agree to a second vote.

 Die happy 

According to a poll conducted by Savanta ComRes for The Scotsman newspaper in mid-December, 58 percent of Scots now support a break with the UK  an all-time high.

It is very difficult to detect a trend. It fluctuates. The first part of 2020 was roughly 50/50, said Nicola McEwen, professor of territorial politics at the University of Edinburgh.

The second half of the year shows a majority of up to 59 percent backing independence, mainly on the backdrop of Covid, she added.

Sturgeon began organising regular daily media briefings on the coronavirus in March and has since given 150, winning praise for her approach.

The Guardian newspaper described her as a model of factual reliability, sound advice and caution.

She has benefited politically from her management of the health crisis, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been perceived as more erratic.

Under a portrait of Sturgeon, Mike Blackshaw is already running an online campaign for a hypothetical referendum from his Yes Cafe, a hub for local pro-independence activists.

The badges and T-shirts are ready to go, combining the blue-and-white Saltire flag of Scotland and the stars of the EU.

I think 2021 is going to be a busy year for the independence movement, says the veteran campaigner with a long white beard.

Along with singing Auld Lang Syne, one of the main traditions at Hogmanay is first footing, with the first visitor to cross the threshold after midnight bringing good luck for the new year.

This year, though, Blackshaw has only one wish: for an independence referendum in September.

Win it and I can die happy, he says.

SOURCE: AFP
THE Candlelight Movement yesterday condemned the Prime Ministers reprehensible, vile and callous statement on vigils held for murdered Andrea Bharatt and linking it with the current Covid-19 spread.

The organisation, which coordinated the vigils, said in a statement yesterday signed by its PRO Kandace Bharath that the gatherings were not to blame and urged the PM to desist from politicising Bharatts killing.
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As its trade war with China escalated, the Trump administration had all but eliminated a public health partnership with Beijing that had begun after the debacle of SARS and was intended to help prevent potential pandemics. By pulling out, current and former agency officials say, Washington cut itself off from potential intelligence about the virus and lost a chance to work with China against it.
During the Third Great Awakening of 1857 to 1859, 10,000 people in New York City alone gathered together dailyeven left workto pray. The same thing was taking place all over the country, in small towns as well as in great cities.

By 1820 it seemed that the Second Awakening was waning; yet within a few years it had sprung to life under the ministry of Charles Finney. His enormous success inspired a large number of professional evangelists to come to the fore from the ranks of every major denomination. By 1840 the concept of large campaigns led by preachers who were not pastors of specific churches was generally accepted. From 1840 until the 1870s numerous preachers entered the ranks of traveling evangelists.

Despite all this, the religious life of America was in decline from 1840 to 1857. Many causes were responsible. Agitation over the issue of slavery in both the North and South had reached fever pitch, and hatreds boiled. Great numbers were disillusioned over spiritual things because of the extremes of the Millerites, a radical group that had widely proclaimed that Christ would return to earth between 21 March 1843 and 21 March 1844. When this did not happen, William Miller, the leader, reset the date at 22 October 1844, and again those who had trusted his prediction were disappointed and infuriated. So widespread was the clamor that even the general churches who had nothing to do with the Millerite delusion were mocked. In October 1857 a financial panic occurred, with banks failing, railroads going into bankruptcy, and financial chaos arising everywhere. A civil war seemed unvoidable to many because of the slavery question. America tottered on the brink of disaster.

Canadian Harvests

Meanwhile, in Canada an awakening was starting. From June through October 1857, Dr. Walter Palmer and his wife Phoebe conducted camp meetings in Ontario and Quebec with crowds of 5,000 and more. They then went to Hamilton, Ontario, where they had to wait for a train ...
Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rescue 39 Indian sailors who are stranded in Chinese waters for months together.

A concerted effort should be brought into motion for rescuing Indian sailors who have been stranded off the Chinese coast aboard the cargo ships, namely MV Anastasia and MV Jag Anand, for months together without sign of any relief, Chowdhury, who also heads the Congress party in West Bengal, wrote in the letter.

The government on Wednesday said that the Indian sailors will be brought back soon as diplomatic talks are on with the neighbouring country.

Diplomatic talks are going on for this successfully. Our seafarers will come to India soon, ports, shipping and waterways minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in reply to a query about sailors being stuck in China for the last seven months during the Cabinet briefing, earlier this week.

The Indians are part of the crew of the two ships, carrying Australian coal, that hasnt been allowed to offload their cargo.

There are 23 Indian crew members on the bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand, in anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province since June 13. Another 16 Indian crew members are on MV Anastasia, in anchorage near Caofeidian port since September 20.

Also Read: Kolkata: Around 200 booked for violating Covid-19 safety protocols on New Years Eve

It is also feared that in addition to the two ships, more than a thousand Indian seafarers are also stranded in many other ships. They are simply the victims of trade rivalry between China and Australia, Chowdhury wrote in the letter, adding that the stranded sailors were being deprived of even basic medical facilities.

China on December 25 had said that there was no link between stranded Indian ship crew on its Chinese ports and the strained relations with India and Australia.

I do suggest the government that they should press into service all diplomatic instruments and also highlight the issue to flag the global attention of Chinese atrocities on Indian sailors with an aim of securing their deliverance from the Chinese captivity as immediately as it may, Chowdhury wrote.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is making headlines following errors in their petition against the 2020 elections.



The NDC filed a petition at the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the 2020 elections announced by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.



According to the NDC, the results of the 2020 election was flawed and fictitious thus petitioning the Supreme Court on Tuesday.



But few hours after filing the petition saw a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) a nephew to President Akufo-Addo, Gabby Otchere-Darko punching holes in the petition, laughing at the NDC for making errors in the petition.



When you petition the court to challenge the results of an election claiming errors in the results declared and your own petition has errors then it means errors are but must be substantial enough to have a material effect! , Gabby Otchere-Darko tweeted.



Meanwhile, the NDC has responded, asking Ghanaians to concentrate on the content in the petition rather than the errors made since it will not change anything.





Source: kyfilla.com









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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- It was a time like no other. The year 2020 will be forever remembered for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic -- with the global crisis hitting New York City in March, bringing with it sorrow and tragedy of unparalleled proportions. Yet, Staten Islanders showed -- and continue to demonstrate -- amazing resilience through it all.

The Advance/SILive.com was able to publish some incredible images of hope throughout the year.

As we combed through the photos -- some taken by our photographers, others submitted to us -- we found so much to be grateful for over the past 12 months. Moments such as 11 newborn babies pictured together prior to the pandemic, a 60-year-old coronavirus patient being released from the hospital, and, of course, small acts of kindness.

So as we begin anew in 2021, please scroll through some of our brightest images from 2020. And to see more photos from the unprecedented year, click here.

Eleven babies of firefighters from Engine 157 in Port Richmond were born in 2019, all weeks apart. They are pictured above at the firehouse on Jan. 24.

In the photo above, members of the Monzi family wave to their grandmother in Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Egbertville. The Monzi family went there almost every day to yell, We love you, Grandma Fay, from outside the facility. Sadly, Grandma Fay passed away from the coronavirus. The staff would wave from inside Eger. The bond was so meaningful that the family offered a special thanks to Frank, a nurse at Eger, for his loving care of Fay.

He had to wait more than 80 years for it, but proud World War II veteran Isidore (Teddy) Bertone -- just weeks shy of his 95th birthday -- got the gift of his lifetime in 2020. He was officially sworn in as a citizen of the United States. The brief formal ceremony took place in the backyard of his daughters home in Richmond. Bertone is pictured above during the ceremony.

Two heroes were reunited, as Nurse Regina Elliot was surprised by her son, U.S. Army Corporal Daniel Elliot, at Staten Island University Hospital in Sea View. The nurse was brought to tears as she was able to hold her son in her arms once again. They are pictured together here.

Silvestre Flores, 60, is seen leaving Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, after a 93-day stay. As Flores was wheeled out of the hospital, he was met by thunderous applause. Health-care workers who had been such a big part of his journey followed him out and said their good-byes as a band played.

Drew Denmark, 12, of Princes Bay, suffers from a rare disease called Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) that only 1,400 people have been diagnosed with worldwide. He also has autism. He is pictured here, wearing a Phelan Lucky sweatshirt, when he was given the opportunity to ride in an FDNY fire truck on Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Awareness Day in New York. To mark the day, SQUAD 8 in Travis -- where Drews cousin, firefighter Brian Mitchell works -- hosted a fun-filled event for family and friends.

Seven-year-old Joshua Kochman busts some litter in his New Dorp neighborhood. He was so motivated to do his small part, even at such a young age, and hopes he will inspire other people to do the same, his great aunt told the Advance/SILive.com.

Christian Meyer, 16, played the bagpipes to honor fallen Staten Island heroes at St. Peters Cemetery, West Brighton, throughout the year. He is pictured here in August.

To do their part as the health crisis hit Staten Island, 11-year-old Julianna DiLeo and her sister, Ashley, 9, joined forces to sew N95 mask covers out of cotton fabric and donate them to hospital workers in need. They are pictured sewing together here in their Oakwood home.

Macys partnered with Meals on Wheels of Staten Island to surprise and delight Port Richmond residents with a special Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade-style meal delivery, complete with colorful balloons, confetti and a festive parade truck. Pictured here are some of the volunteers delivering meals to the seniors during the special event.
The chutney of red ants, which once made it to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsays menu, may soon be adopted by the Ayush Ministry as a possible remedy to fight coronavirus.

The Orissa high court on Thursday told the directors general of Ayush ministry and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to decide within three months on a proposal to use red ant chutney to treat Covid-19, Times of India reported.

Tribal belts in several states, including Odisha and Chhattisgarh, consume red ant chutney or use it in soup to get rid of flu, cough, common cold, breathing difficulties, fatigue and other diseases. The chutney is primarily a mixture of red ants and green chillies.

The high court issued the directive on a PIL that sought its intervention against alleged inaction on a proposal for research on the efficacy of red ant chutney in the treatment of Covid. The petition was filed by a Baripada-based engineer, Nayadhar Padhial.

The use of chutney to fight virus was first proposed by Baripada-based engineer and researcher Nayadhar Padhial in June. He later filed a petition in court regarding the same. The high court issued the directive on the PIL that sought its intervention against alleged inaction on Padhials proposal

Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this court disposes of the writ petition and directs the director general of the ministry of Ayush and the director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to take a decision on the representation filed by the petitioner and pass appropriate order within three months, the bench said.

According to Padhial, the chutney contains formic acid, protein, calcium, Vitamin B12, Zinc and iron that boost the immune system. Tribals in Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya consume red ant and get cured from various diseases. This could be the reason for less prevalence of Covid-19 in tribal areas. A thorough research to prepare formulations from could prove beneficial, he was quoted as saying.
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The Southeast Texas Food Bank is using a $9 million windfall to address the growing and immediate needs caused by this years economic upheaval  and then prepare itself for the time after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal will be using this to sustain us for the short-term and situate us for a strong future, executive director Dan Maher said Thursday.

Maher this week announced the $9 million gift  largest in the Food Banks history  from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who is currently in the midst of a multibillion-dollar distribution campaign to help charities across the nation.

We see something of this scale and magnitude as an investment that we have to be good stewards of in the long haul, Maher said. We dont want to consume it immediately, but we can certainly enhance our programming like improving the benefits we can give in our food distribution.

Maher acknowledged that the Food Bank has seen an uptick in requests for food regionally during the pandemic and the associated economic slowdown.

Related: Jasper County food pantries face shortages

Maher is leaving next month to helm a food bank in his home state of Virginia. Decisions on how to use the Scott money to the board and the next generation of leadership.

But the long-range plan would likely include capital investment, infrastructure improvements and even a small endowment that could ensure a reliable revenue stream, he said.

We hope it will also inspire others to try to match that spirit of generosity, Maher said.

Related: Food bank exec to leave for job in Virginia

The Southeast Texas Food Bank regularly works with 90 other nonprofit agencies and 40 school partners to distribute food across eight counties in Southeast Texas. It provided more than 8.3 million meals in 2019, and operated a handful of support programs for children, seniors and under-served populations.

During the pandemic, it also has helped support food pantries and related organizations in rural areas, even while contending with the virus at a more direct and personal level.

In September, multiple staff members tested positive for the virus and operations briefly stopped while they quarantined and leadership regrouped.

Since then, the food bank has adjusted its policies and recently received a $25,000 from the One Star Foundation for protective equipment and sanitary supplies.

Related: Southeast Texas Food Bank focused on Monday restart

Scott, also a novelist and the ex-wife of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, has dedicated more than $4.15 billion to 384 nonprofits and missions across the country, including the East Texas Food Bank, South Texas Food Bank and three other hunger-related programs in the state.

In blog posts associated with discussion of her philanthropy, Scott noted that the organizations were chosen because she wished to emphasize giving support to organizations with strong leadership teams and results, with special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital.

Shes also given millions to historically Black colleges and universities.

Scott is believed to be the third-richest woman in the world, with an estimated net worth of $55.1 billion after her most recent donations, according to Forbes.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
People wearing face shields and face masks to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus queue to vote at a polling station in Rakhine state, Nov. 8, 2020.

Rakhines ethnic army and politicians blamed Myanmars ruling party and electoral authorities Thursday for the failure to hold elections in the war-torn state, as analysts warned that holding a vote will be critical to keeping a fragile ceasefire going into 2021.

After a violent 2020 in Myanmars westernmost state, Rakhine residents were largely left out of voting in Nov. 8 general elections, with only a quarter of the states registered voters able to go to polls after authorities scrapped the election, citing security concerns.

Aung San Suu Kyi and her ruling National League for Democracy won a second five-year mandate in the elections, which were followed by nascent efforts to end a two-year-long war in Rakhine state between government forces and the Arakan Army (AA) that has killed more than 300 civilians and displaced 226,000 others.

Days after the Nov. 8 elections, the military unveiled a permanent Peace Talks Committee to negotiate with rebel armies, and voiced support for the AAs call on Nov. 12 to hold elections by years end in Rakhine state districts where voting was controversially cancelled last month over security concerns.

The two sides had agreed to an unofficial cease-fire that expires Thursday, a pact aimed at allowing the holding of elections in districts of Rakhine state that did not hold a vote. Voting was cancelled entirely in nine Rakhine townships, and in more than 100 wards of other townships, leaving 1.2 million out of 1.6 million registered voters in the state unable to cast ballots.

As the Dec. 31 deadline to hold the vote lapsed, Khine Thukha, spokesman for the AA, which is fighting for autonomy for ethnic Rakhines, laid the blame for the impasse on the ruling NLD and the Union Election Commission, which overseas voting and postponed the elections in Rakhine and other conflict zones.

We have appealed to the government to hold elections in canceled townships of Rakhine state. The Myanmar military also welcomed this proposition, he told RFAs Myanmar Service.

It is now obvious the reason we couldnt hold elections in these canceled townships. It is on the NLD and UEC. The answer is clear, he said.

Asked about the election issue, military spokesman Major Gen Zaw Min Tun declined to comment.

RFA also repeatedly contacted the UEC by email and telephone but received no reply as of Thursday.

On Wednesday Zaw Min Tun said the military has been working with AA troops to avoid armed combat and maintain the ceasefire, and denied that the army has been reinforcing troops in Rakhine, as villagers in the conflict zone had claimed.

We believe that this temporary cease-fire and peace will lead to the IDPs returning to their homes from IDP camps and eventually progress in the peace process, he said, referring to internally displaced persons.

Political analyst Maung Maung Soe urged the UEC to address the Rakhine election question, calling it an important factor for securing peace in the state.

If the UEC still has plans to hold the elections, it is time to make an announcement, he told RFA. The UECs inaction raise questions whether they are truly independent.

Pe Than, an official of the Arakan National Party (ANP), said Rakhine had become quiet since the Nov. 8 election ad there was no excuse not to hold a vote.

The situation has become quite stable in Rakhine state these days, and the military has clearly endorsed the holding of elections, the told RFA.

We have seen the ruling government officials have been giving excuses that the region is not stable enough to hold the elections. So we can assume it is the ruling government that doesnt support plans for the elections.

President office spokesman Zaw Htay did not respond to RFAs request for comment Thursday.

Thurein Htut, secretary of the Rakhine State Election Commission, said local voting authorities are ready to hold the election as soon as they get a green light from the UEC.



If we get the order to go ahead, we will hold the election. If we dont, we cant.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Senate Democrats and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont pushed, without success, for a Senate vote on $2,000 stimulus checks Friday as the clock winds down on the 116th Congress.

Efforts by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Sanders to secure a vote on increasing the direct payment amounts that Americans under a certain income level receive were blocked by Senate Republicans, who have largely argued that increasing stimulus checks to $2,000 would not be the kind of 'targeted relief' necessary to respond to the economic distress caused by the pandemic, despite the fact that President Donald Trump has called for that amount.

Schumer took to the Senate floor, saying, 'The Senate can start off this new year by adding to that sense of hope by sending $2,000 checks to struggling American families.' He then pushed for a vote on $2,000 checks, but was blocked when a GOP senator objected.

The House of Representatives on Monday passed a measure to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 after the President championed the effort, sending the bill to the Senate where its future has been less certain. Time for action is running out. The 117th Congress will convene on Sunday.

The legislation's approval in the House came after Trump signed a sweeping coronavirus relief bill into law Sunday evening. That measure, which was negotiated on a bipartisan basis, provides for $600 in direct payments, but after a deal was brokered and passed out of Congress, Trump railed against the amount as too low and called for $2,000 checks instead, which House Democrats seized upon to push for an increase.

'I'll ask consent for the final time that the Senate set a time for a vote on the House bill to provide $2,000 checks. I've done it every day this week. This is it -- the last chance for the 116th Congress to pass $2,000 checks and to say to regular Americans that help is on the way. Let's have a vote,' Schumer said.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune interjected, however. 'This proposal is a shot-gun approach,' the South Dakota Republican said, adding, 'If you really want to help people who need this the most at a time when we are running a $26 trillion debt borrowing every penny that we're making available to do this, we ought to sit down and figure out the most efficient, effective, targeted way possible. This absolutely does not do that.' Thune then moved to block the request. 'I object,' he said. In the Senate, it only requires one senator to object to block a request to take action by unanimous consent.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday reiterated his criticism of the House-passed bill increasing stimulus checks to $2,000 as 'simply not the right approach' and repeated his argument that much of it is 'socialism for rich people.'

Later in the day on Friday, Sanders also requested the Senate hold a vote on the House bill increasing stimulus checks to $2,000, but it was again blocked by Republicans. Sanders this time tried to convince Republicans not to object by also calling for a vote on McConnell's alternative bill, which would combine increased direct payments with a repeal of the online liability protections known as Section 230 and the establishment of a commission to study voter fraud, for which there has been no evidence.

The move was blocked, however, by another objection. 'I know Senator Toomey is delayed coming to the floor, on his behalf I will object,' said GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, referring to his Republican colleague from Pennsylvania.

'Bring the bill to the floor,' Sanders said at one point, his voice getting louder as he called for a vote on the checks.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, a Republican who has been pushing for $2,000 stimulus checks, came out to 'enthusiastically support' Sanders' measures on the floor.

Hawley reminded senators that Trump backs $2,000 checks, expressing frustration it hasn't come up for a vote. 'The President of the United States said that's the level he supported ... this is the number he has asked for .. and yet we can't even seem to get a vote on it.'

Both Hawley and Sanders shared stories in floor remarks about Americans desperate for help, arguing that a $2,000 check could be critical.

'A mother in Virginia wrote: $2,000 means I can afford to feed my three kids. Now maybe we should give her a long lecture on macroeconomics and how well the stock market is doing,' Sanders said.

Hawley spoke of a woman in his home state who 'is donating plasma in order to get some money to pay for groceries.'

'These are working people. ... and all that they ask for, as I have said many times on this floor before, is a chance to get back up on their feet and be able to provide for their families, and I can't for the life of me understand why we cannot get so much as a vote on these bills,' Hawley said.
PDP president and former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Friday wrote a letter to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha seeking an impartial and swift probe into the killing of three youths in Lawaypora encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar city and also demanded that their bodies be returned to the families.

Three youths from south Kashmir were killed on Tuesday inside a house by the security forces in a joint operation, while police and army claimed they were militants, relatives claim they were students.

In her letter to L-G, Mehbooba Mufti said that justice can be only served when impartial and swift investigation is done in the case.

Three boys, the youngest being all of 17 years old, were killed, in what the family has alleged to be staged gunfight. The encounter has come close on the heels of an enquiry report that held an army captain guilty and responsible for the fake encounter at Amshipora (in) Shopian. Again, the three victims now established as innocent through an investigation, were killed and dubbed as militants, Mufti said in her letter.

The letter further said. You and I may not agree in most political matters that concern J&K but I am certain we agree that such incidents bring disrepute to the armed forces and are a grave violation of human rights.

Former J&K chief minister said that while the J&K administration is apprehensive about returning the bodies to the families, this callous decision will only exacerbate their sense of loss and pain. One hopes that you will rethink this decision and allow them to get closure. A mother who grieves the sudden and tragic death of her beloved son shouldnt be deprived of the last chance to see his face, reads the letter.

The security forces on Wednesday had said that three local militants were killed in an encounter at Lawaypora on the outskirts of the Srinagar city.

Also Read: Row intensifies over Srinagar encounter

Families of the slain, however, rebutted the claim and said the youth killed in the encounter were civilians. The families also held a protest outside the police control room in Srinagar.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, General Officer Commanding (GoC) Kilo Force, H S Sahi had said that the militants were planning to attack the security forces on the national highway and different agencies were getting inputs about the same.

We had been getting inputs about the militants movement on the national highway. The operation was launched last evening after getting inputs that militants were inside a house close to the national highway. They were asked to surrender, however they responded with firing and the operation was suspended for the night and when operation was resumed again in the morning, they were again given an offer to surrender, however, they again started firing and hurled grenades which gave an indication they had no intention to surrender.

Three youth killed in the encounter are identified as Zubair Ahmad from Turkawangam, Shopian, Ajaz Maqbool and Athar Mushtaq from Putrigam, Pulwama .Their families claimed that they were students who had left their homes yesterday before they were picked up and killed in a staged encounter.
Gold Coast police have questioned and released three men over the alleged rape and sexual assault of two 15-year-old girls at Surfers Paradise overnight.

Acting Chief Superintendent Geoff Sheldon on Friday morning said the investigation began after a 15-year-old girl went to the concierge at a holiday resort in Surfers Paradise in a "distressed state".

Police say the girls met the men on Surfers Paradise beach.

"Police were called and in investigations in relation to that, it turns out three girls, all [aged] 15, were on the beach and they met three young fellows," he said.

"They went back to the room of these young fellows and it turns out they've been sexually assaulted and a complaint's been made."
Gov. Kate Brown issued a warning Thursday to businesses planning to defy state COVID-19 rules, saying they could undercut the states progress against the virus and face state penalties.

Some public officials and businesses around the state have been urging businesses to operate in violation of state public health rules starting on New Years Day. Those rules, which include a ban on indoor dining in 24 counties in the extreme risk category, are aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Oregonians have made incredible sacrifices throughout this pandemic and, now, many communities across Oregon are reducing the spread of COVID-19 and moving into risk levels that allow restaurants and businesses to reopen to at least some indoor service, Brown said in a statement Thursday. If businesses reopen too early and instead create new spikes in COVID-19 cases, the actions of a few business owners could set entire communities back and keep them in the extreme risk category for even longer.

The governor called the actions of public officials such as Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam, who have called for businesses to violate state health mandates, irresponsible and said those officials should instead be working to stop the spread of COVID-19 so that we can reopen businesses, schools, and more quickly return to normal life.

In an op-ed in The Oregonian/OregonLive, Pulliam acknowledged the health impacts of COVID-19, said he agreed with a phased reopening of the state and said the efforts of health care workers are nothing short of heroic. But Pulliam said the Brown administrations health regulations are too stringent and questioned why public health officials deemed it more dangerous to visit a gym than a Walmart.

OPB has reported the movement to defy Oregons COVID-19 mandates involves at least one of the leaders of an armed occupation of the Malheur wildlife refuge in 2016 and is tied to Ammon Bundy, the Nevada man who led the takeover of the bird sanctuary. The group called for more people to join a Dec. 21 demonstration outside the Oregon Legislatures special session, OPB reported.

The governor said Thursday that she directed Oregon Occupational Safety and Health and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to deploy all available resources to ensure businesses are in compliance, with a continued focus on education. For businesses that refuse to comply, OSHA and OLCC staff are empowered to take administrative action including issuing citations, fines, and Red Warning Notices if necessary, Brown said. Red Warning Notices require a business to close until issues are resolved.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; 503-294-4034; @hborrud
Just days ahead of the crucial seventh round of talks with the government, agitating farmers hardened their stand saying that of if no concrete decision is taken by January 4 (the next round of talks) then they will intensify their agitation and hold a massive tractor march two days later on January 6.

The farmers leaders also said that if talks with the government do not progress in the right direction, those protesting at the Haryana-Rajasthan border will also move towards Delhi. The tractor march was postponed earlier as some headway was made in the previous round of ...
Mumbai, Jan 1 : On the first day of the new year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday lavished praises on Mumbai Police, saying nobody can question their efficiency and he would not allow anyone to tarnish their reputation.

Visiting the Mumbai Police Commissionerate to felicitate corona warriors and return peoples' stolen goods recovered by the police, Thackeray lauded the manner in which the police led from the front in the war against the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure the safety of the common masses.

"The Mumbai Police's history goes back to 150 years and there is no end to their list of achievements. With such a long and glorious tradition, no matter how much some people try, but they will not be able to tar their image... If anybody even attempts, we shall not allow it," Thackeray said in an obvious but indirect jibe at a Bollywood actress.

"Those who tried to malign the Mumbai Police had to shut their mouths as the police's accomplishments are massive," Thackeray said, in the presence of Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and other senior officers.

As in the past, the CM acknowledged and commended the hard work and sacrifices of the police force during the pandemic despite the fact that thousands of personnel were afflicted and many getting 'martyred' in the line of duty to the people.

"During the lockdown, we had requested all to work from home. Imagine what could have happened if the police also had done so.... It was only due to the police and other frontline health and safety workers that the Covid situation in the state could be controlled," said Thackeray.

He cautioned that even now the Covid threats persist and "the pandemic is not yet over", but some persons criticise the government for keeping some places closed.

To such critics, Thackeray said they should understand their responsibilities when the police, doctors, nurses and other were busy performing their duties against all odds in these difficult times.

He expressed the hope that in the New Year 2021, the police and other Corona warriors may experience less stress, though "the crisis not ended yet, given the new strain of the virus that has arisen in the Western world recently".

On behalf of the people of the state, Thackeray wished a happy and tension free New Year to the entire state and city police force.
The Centres policies over the last six years have restored the faith among people that they can own a home and rely on the laws to support them if builders fail to deliver their houses on time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday while laying the foundation stone of Light House Project.

The project involves the construction of around 1,000 houses each with allied infrastructure facilities within a year using new-age alternate global technologies, materials, and processes in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).

Also Read: UP govt to transfer Rs 12K each to labourers selected for religious travel

Modi likened the project to an incubation centre. He said the government is committed to delivering on its promise of housing for all by 2022, affordable housing for the poor, and rented accommodation for migrant workers. Modi added the project will strengthen cooperative federalism.

People were losing hope of owning a house even after putting in everything that they had saved. Houses remained on paper People had also lost faith whether the law of the land will help them if they got into a dispute with the builder, he said.

Modi said the government has addressed these concerns and made it easy for a middle-class, hard-working family to own a house. He was referring to the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA) introduced in 2016 to protect the interest of homebuyers and ensure builders do not default on delivery of houses.

RERA has helped the people believe in realty projects again and that the projects will be completed. Today, 60,000 real-estate projects are registered under RERA. Thousands of cases have also been solved.

Modi appreciated the efforts of the states in providing housing for the poor and lashed out at the previous governments for not prioritising the sector. Housing plans were not the priority of the central government in the past. They did not care about the details of the quality of construction. There was a chalta hai [it is okay], chalne do [let it be] approach Why should not the country get new technology? The houses we build should be sturdy.

Modi referred to the dislocation and discrimination migrant workers faced during the Covid-19 lockdown and the poor living facilities they are forced to live in. He said the people who toil hard for the countrys development need to live with dignity. This is our responsibility. It is the intention of the government that, along with our businesses and investors, we will focus on creating affordable rental housing.

Modi also announced the winners of the Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators with Uttar Pradesh topping the lost followed by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tripura.
The mayor of Thames Coromandel says the parents of under-age drinkers should help to pay for the damage caused by last night's riot in Whangamata.

Twenty-two people were arrested in the Coromandel holiday hotspot for offences including disorder, assaults and unlawfully being on property.

Police say a number of people were injured from bottles thrown into the crowd which had swelled to about 1000 people.

Mayor Sandra Goudie says a safe zone had to be set up to care for the wounded and seriously intoxicated.

"They just ran riot. A lot of them were drunk and a safe zone was set up to care of the wounded, the sick and the seriously inebriated ... like they were ill enough that it threatened their lives."

Some were as young as 14, says Sandra.

She says not only did they place themselves at risk, but thousands of dollars worth of losses had been incurred by a local iconic cafe, Blackies, through the theft of goods and vandalism.

"Not only did they do horrendous damage when they were massed up on top of the building, they were throwing bottles into the crowd.

"The police had to go in and rescue the people in the crowd being injured, and take them to the safe zone while defending themselves, while at the same getting these larrikins off the roof of the building."

Eastern Waikato Area Commander Inspector Dean Anderson says a number of people were injured from alcohol bottles being thrown into the crowds,

He says it was disappointing when New Year's Eve was celebrated well by the majority of people in the area, with positive interactions with police.

"Unfortunately, as has been experienced in previous years, there were hot spots of disorder requiring police resource and attention.

"Whangamata, particularly the Williamson Park area, required considerable police resource as large groups of youths and family members congregated to see in the New Year."

Bay of Plenty police also helped with the response.

Sandra says the crowd's behaviour was totally unacceptable, and left her wondering who might foot the bill.

"Hopefully Blackies has some insurance and if not, then the parents of the under-age ones should be paying at the very least."

Those charged and who now faced fines should also be required to pay for the damage.

- RNZ
Growing up in Western Sydney, James Elazzi and his family watched Lebanese pageants on TV. They were sort of otherworldly, the playwright recalls, and I realised recently that there was a Miss Lebanon Australia pageant. I was quite interested in how they do it here, so I spent a lot of time researching and analysing.

Elazzi noticed while growing up that there was a huge emphasis on the body in his community, particularly with the women in his life. I've always been interested in our perceptions of what we look like and our bodies, he says. I wanted to explore the notion of a really confident Lebanese-Australian girl that's not afraid of what she looks like  it's everybody else that's always telling her this is why you don't have this, because of the way you are.

The amalgamation of these interests and vicarious lived experiences is Elazzis new play, Queen Fatima, which will premiere as part of the Sydney Festival. The comedy follows 31-year-old Fatima, a plus-size Lebanese-Australian woman whos feeling the heat from her bakery-owning family to get married and have kids. Her lawyer boyfriend is hiding their relationship from his own family, afraid of their judgment. Determined to prove her worth and carve her own path, Fatima enters the Queen Lebanon Australia pageant.

Kristelle Zibara makes her stage debut as Queen Fatima at the Sydney Festival 2021. Credit:Shane Rozario

With Queen Fatima, Elazzi challenges stereotypes of Lebanese-Australians  there's still the idea of violence within Lebanese culture  there are stories I want to sway away from, he says  while also shining a light on societys obsession with looks. The characters youll meet on stage are colourful and eccentric, from Fatimas family to her slippery boyfriend, Karim, and Moonia, the outrageous executive producer of Queen Lebanon Australia. One fascinating character is Gada, Fatimas best friend, who is in her seventies.
New Delhi:

A dark future for the country on the economic and social side was predicted by the Congress on Friday and alleged that it was on the verge of seeing strife under the BJP-led NDA government.

The Congress also demanded a White Paper on the government's employment strategy.

Launching a frontal attack on the NDA government on its third anniversary, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath said the hallmark of this government in the last three years has been of "bravado, rhetoric and hyperbole".

"The future of this country is dark from the economic point of view and from the social point of view. The country had never been so undivided. The country is on the verge of seeing strife in the future", he told reporters here.

Read more: PM Modi inaugurates India's longest 9.15-km Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Assam, says it will now be named 'Bhupen Hazarika Setu'

Nath, the former Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said the last highlight of Modi government is "media management, propaganda, platitudes and acronyms" and asked people to bring a change in the politics.

Noting that the voter of the country is very intelligent, he said, "India needs a massive political change. This change in politics is not only going to reflect in the politics of today but the politics of tomorrow."

Alleging the government has failed to create jobs, he said, "We demand the government issue a White Paper on its employment strategy."

He said people do not want to hear speeches, but want to know the government's employment strategy based on hard facts of last three years.

Nath said the IT sector is facing joblessness and feared this is not only going to cause economic issues, but huge social issues.

He claimed that only 1.35 lakh jobs were created in 2015 and by 2028, the country needs 34 crore jobs.

"How will jobs be created, by slogans?", he asked, adding that the prime minister promised 2 crore jobs "but what is the outcome?".

He said the employment is at a 15 year low and alleged that BJP is spending Rs 2000 crore on "Modi Fest".

"But in the last three years, aspirations have been crushed and the nation betrayed. BJP government's 'Modi Fest', is it a celebration of people? Are farmers and youth celebrating? Is the Industry celebrating?", he asked.

Read more: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi denied permission to visit riot-hit Saharanpur

Painting a pessimistic picture of the country on several fronts, he said that tall claim of 7.2 per cent GDP growth does not translate into jobs or wealth creation and asked what it translated into.

Nath said we are seeing disposable incomes in rural India going down, which generate demand in rural areas and that is the reason for the misery of the people.

The Congress leader alleged that huge loans of crony businessmen are being written off but the debt ridden farmer is getting no help from this government.

He claimed that farmers have not benefited from the 'Fasal Bima Yojana' and rules are so complicate that only insurance companies benefited.

"Insurance companies collected premium of 17,185 crore, but gave back 6,808 crore to farmers and made net profit of 10,376 crore", he alleged.

"We are seeing schemes being announced, where is the execution. Unfortunately the country is becoming victim to this hyperbole and sloganeering", he said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  The World Health Organization's decision to approve Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use could spell an expedited review so it can be rolled out earlier in the Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Friday.

"It is a welcome addition to the regulatory approvals therefore that should be a lot easier for our own FDA [Food and Drug Administration] to already review all the documents and assess the risk-benefit ratio of the said candidate vaccine," he said in a media briefing.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo added, "The WHO Emergency Use Listing is very significant. Our experts are currently evaluating the documents submitted by Pfizer as outlined in our guidelines. I will issue a decision on the application as soon as all the regulatory requirements and procedures are completed."

The WHO conducted its own assessment of the safety and efficacy of the United States-manufactured vaccine. This means local FDA can use this as a seal of approval. However, the Philippines has yet to seal a deal to secure vaccine doses from Pfizer.

Pfizer submitted to the FDA its application for emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines on Dec. 23. The application review is expected to take 21 days, but it can be shortened following the WHO listing and emergency use approval in other countries.

The Pfizer vaccine is already being administered to residents in the U.S. It was the first vaccine to receive an EUA from the American FDA, with a 95% efficacy rate after two separate shots administered a few weeks apart.
As this is an English speaking Forum, it would be good to see this twitter report in English.

However, the U.K. is made up of Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland.

In Scotland at the moment the whole country is in Tier 4 so a lock-down, no travel except for essential travel, so we are going nowhere. I would add that Scotland has discouraged all tourists from coming to visit from last Spring to Winter which is a very sensible thing to do and T.A. D.Es based in Scotland have also explained to tourists initially they should not visit and then they could not visit. . No Scottish D.E has every encouraged tourists during this pandemic.

Amazing that Turkey has been allowing Tourists in for all around the world. Places like America who had the worst virus cases in the world, have been welcomed to Turkey with no testing, until very recently, America is just for one example, Russian is another and also amazing that some members on T.A have been encouraging tourists to come to Turkey in the middle of a pandemic where Turks are dying every day..

I would never dream of coming to Turkey at the moment. Holidays are the last thing on my mind.

Edited: 01 January 2021, 18:07
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Nail Polish

Cast: Arjun Rampal, Manav Kaul, Anand Tiwari, Rajit Kapur

Director: Bugs Bhargava Krishna

It isn't possible to miss the direct reference to Psycho (1960) in the latest ZEE5 film Nail Polish. In fact, the closing shot is a nod to it. Despite getting inspired by one or more thrillers preceding it, Nail Polish has its own elements that drive home the narrative and make it a decent watch for crime film lovers.

Sidharth Jaisingh (Arjun Rampal) does the devil's advocacy when he is tasked with defending an unassuming Veer Singh (Manav Kaul), suspected of sexually assaulting and killing migrant children. But the grim tone of this drama is set long before the set-up when it is conveyed through the title roll that Nail Polish is inspired by true events and involves missing children. This evokes empathy and interest in equal measures.

Now, the state wants its track record clean and hires counsel Amit Kumar (Anand Tiwari) to make sure Veer is indicted of the crime. The rest of the story involves Sidharth and Amit fighting out the case to a logical conclusion.

But this is only a part of it. The Psycho angle comes in when Veer is beaten up by prisoners during his incarceration. He is shown to have suffered severe trauma after the incident, which gives rise to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Veer becomes Charu Raina, a 30-something woman. Honestly, you'll have to wait for this hook to come in as it is reserved for the later half of the movie.

Sincere performances by Arjun, Anand and Rajit Kapur, who plays Judge Bhushan, set up the courtroom scenes well initially getting us prepped for the big twist. Both Arjun and Anand give us distinct personalities from a similar profession and we enjoy their give-and-take thoroughly.

The later half is reserved for Manav to shine. While he is subdued as Veer and even showers us with hints of his guilt or innocence, it is hard to see the truth behind his piercing eyes. This gets us invested in the story even more. As for his other personality Charu, he is convincing and catches our attention at each moment. Rest of the film relies on good editing and honest storytelling.

In the final courtroom scene, Arjun, Anand and Rajit are tested with long takes and they do not disappoint. They seem as perplexed by the situation they are caught in as us and that heightens the drama quotient.

Nail Polish can be enjoyed for various reasons, but most of all for its gentle salute to the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock.

Rating: 3/5
By Chas Freeman

This article has been adapted from a lecture delivered to the Committee for the Republic.

December 31, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - "Taiwan is an established American foreign policy success story that appears to be nearing the end of its shelf life. Management of the Taiwan question has long been the key to peace or war  possibly nuclear war  between the United States and China. Now, the door may be closing to peace.

The essence of the Taiwan question is what political relationship should and can the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have with each other? This question is a legacy of the Chinese civil war, the Cold War, the strategically dictated rapprochement between Washington and Beijing, the U.S. habit of substituting military deterrence for diplomacy, and the American attraction to strategy-free, values-based foreign policy. Given the stakes for Americans, the question of how best to balance relations with Taiwan and the China mainland demands informed judgments and adroit statecraft.

But the issues history is widely forgotten or misunderstood, and the dilemmas it presents get almost no attention. Americans seem to have achieved herd immunity to both situational awareness and strategic reasoning. The United States risks sleepwalking into a war with China it does not want and cannot now win. Such a war would likely end U.S. primacy in East Asia. It certainly would poison prospects for great power cooperation on planetwide problems.

Taiwan is an island a bit larger than Maryland but with four times the inhabitants. When it was seized by Japan in 1895, it was a province of Qing China. Chiang Kai-sheks Republic of China recovered it from Japan in 1945. When Chiang lost the civil war in the rest of the country in 1949, he fled to Taiwan and moved the capital of his Chinese government from Nanjing to Taipei.

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When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the United States intervened militarily to prevent either Chiang or his communist rivals on the mainland from attacking each other across the Taiwan Strait. The idea was to confine conflict to the Korean Peninsula. Our intervention frustrated an imminent communist invasion of the island but did not end the Chinese civil war, which sputtered on both militarily and politically. Beijing still views Taiwan through the lens of this unended civil war.

For two decades, the United States backed Chiang Kai-shek, championed regime change on the mainland, and insisted that Taipei, not Beijing, was both the legal capital of China and entitled to represent China internationally. That this misrepresentation of reality survived as long as it did is testimony both to U.S. prestige in the Cold War and to the skill of Americas diplomats. In 1971, the world rebelled against its absurdity, overcoming American opposition to seat Beijing in place of Taipei as Chinas representative in the UN Security Council and other international organizations. In 1972, President Nixon sought to recruit Beijing as Americas partner in the containment of the Soviet Union.

In 1979, in furtherance of this objective, the United States followed its allies in transferring diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. To make this switch, we met Beijings terms that we withdraw American forces and installations from Taiwan and terminate our defense treaty with the island. But, with the mainlands reluctant acquiescence, we retained all our other relationships with Taiwan on a low-profile, unofficial basis. Beijing simultaneously set aside its loudly proclaimed determination to liberate Taiwan by force and began a sustained effort to end the division of China by peaceful means.

The long-term results of this subtle set of Sino-American diplomatic bargains were truly remarkable, although, as always, success bred new problems. Beijings alignment with Washington helped to bring down the Soviet empire and system. China opened itself to America and the world. After a while, it became the greatest engine of growth in the global economy. Concerns about Chinas poverty and weakness were succeeded by worries about it outcompeting us at our own capitalist game. Meanwhile, the relaxation of Sino-American tensions enabled Taiwan to evolve politically and economically, becoming the freest and most prosperous Chinese society in Chinas long history and the only democracy ever to take root on Chinese soil.

This singular success was built on a collection of diplomatic fictions. The lawyers in this audience will be familiar with the concept of a legal fiction. This is a means of preventing controversies or resolving them by stipulating that something known to be factually incorrect is for at least some purposes unassailably true. An example is the adoption of a child. The law overcomes biology by making the persons adopting the child its parents for legal purposes while declaring its birth mother and father to be unrelated strangers. Just so, diplomatic fictions can set aside problems by establishing something that is not factual as an unchallengeable stipulation or truth. This sort of finesse is not limited to the courts or diplomacy. It is also useful in charged social interactions.

Thus, when Teddy White, the Time correspondent in wartime Chongqing, finally got the invitation to lunch he had been seeking from Zhou Enlai, he found that Zhou had prepared a banquet featuring a suckling pig. As an Orthodox Jew, he felt he had to tell his host that his religion would not permit him to eat pork. Zhou famously responded by saying, this is not a pig. It is a duck. You can eat duck, cant you? Once it was established that there was no piglet on the table, White was able both to acknowledge his hosts hospitality and enjoy the repast without undue remorse.

But I digress.

Americas Cold War support for Chiang Kai-shek as the legitimate ruler of all of China, including outer Mongolia, was a diplomatic fiction of great utility to the United States when we sought to isolate its actual rulers, the communist victors in its civil war, and to buttress Chiangs control of his Taiwan bastion against them. But patriots on the mainland saw U.S. policy as a humiliating extension of past foreign frustration of the Chinese peoples aspirations for national unity. From their point of view, part of China had been forcibly carved off by the U.S. 7th Fleet, incorporated into an American sphere of influence, and garrisoned by U.S. troops. Even worse, in the 1950s, American officials, like John Foster Dulles, openly toyed with the idea of permanently separating Taiwan from the mainland. Chiang Kai-shek blocked this and sent a letter to Zhou Enlai taking credit for doing so.

Eventually, the diplomatic fiction that Taipei was the capital of China succumbed to the implacable realism of the international community. We needed a new framework to prevent the re-ignition of the Chinese civil war. China was de facto divided between Taipei and Beijing, but both were adamant that there was, should, and could be only one China, of which Taiwan was a part. In the early 1970s, this consensus was translated by American statecraft into a stipulation that there was only one China. When he visited Beijing in 1972, President Nixon solemnly declared in writing that the United States did not challenge the cross-Strait consensus on this.

Beijing accepted Nixons declaration as a renunciation of any ongoing American intent to divide China by creating one China, one Taiwan, one China, two governments, two Chinas, an independent Taiwan or [by advocating] that the status of Taiwan remains to be determined. Almost seven years later, in late 1978, a reiterated U.S. commitment to one China  this time accompanied by recognition that Chinas capital was in Beijing rather than Taipei  facilitated Chinese agreement to both US-China normalization and the continuation of American substantive relationships with Taiwan on an unofficial basis.

The perceived American retreat from attempting to partition China made it possible for the Chinese Communist Party to turn its attention from opposing American interference in Chinas internal affairs to exploring how it might negotiate an accommodation with its civil war opponent, Chiang Kai-sheks Kuomintang (or Chinese Nationalist Party). The one China stipulation of a single Chinese sovereignty on both sides of the Strait took the urgency out of the Taiwan issue. It enabled Beijing to act as though a reunified China was inevitable and Taipei to pretend that it either agreed with that or might eventually be persuaded to do so. As anticipated, Beijing deferred action while Taipei played for time.

The fact that the United States officially ruled out actions to split China lessened Beijings apprehensions that it might have to go to war to prevent such a split. This, in turn, reduced the need for U.S. deterrence of a mainland attack on Taiwan. Despite a blip or two, tensions in the Taiwan Strait subsided. The diplomatic fiction of one China eventually enabled the two sides to avoid arguments about sovereignty while they facilitated cross-Strait trade, travel, and other connectivity.

In 2005, building on the precedent of talks before Chiangs flight to Taiwan, the chairmen of both the Communist and Nationalist Parties met in Beijing. They agreed on both the one China principle and a remarkable range of practical connections between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. By 2009, where Communist and Nationalist fighters had been engaged in aerial dogfights 50 years before, the airlines of the two sides were conducting 370 scheduled flights a week between cities in Taiwan and the China mainland. In 2015, Taiwans then president, Ma Ying-jeou, met in Singapore with his mainland counterpart, Xi Jinping. Sadly, that meeting appears to have marked peak detente between the two sides

Over the nearly 50 years since the Nixon administration first embraced the notion of one-China, it served as the essential underpinning of Sino-American peace and the absence of armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait. But it was constantly chipped away at by opponents of Sino-American normalization, advocates of Taiwanese self-determination, American single-issue activists, bureaucratic advocates of less contrived and untidy arrangements, anti-communists, and  more recently  advocates of great power rivalry and confrontation with China. There is little left of the original construct. Its hard to see how this foundational subterfuge can now sustain the many useful bargains built on it.

There are at least three reasons for the withering of the crucial one-China stipulation. Each is understandable but rests on increasingly dubious presuppositions.

First, most Taiwanese have now decided they do not want to associate themselves politically with the communist regime across the Strait and would prefer either sustained autonomy or outright independence. The mainland has presented them with no vision of a joint future they might find attractive. Whatever appeal association with the rest of China might once have had has progressively evaporated as the mainland has become an ever-more abusive police state. Like the protesters in Hong Kong, partisans of independence in Taiwan imagine that foreign sympathy and alignment with their cause will guarantee intervention to help them realize it, despite passionate opposition from the mainland. This is quite a gamble, to say the least.

Second, most Americans find aspirations for self-determination compelling and are unaware or dismissive of the risks entailed in an attempt by Taiwan to achieve it. As our own war for independence shows, peoples seldom achieve separation from a larger polity without having to fight for it. And very often their attempts fail. Ask American Southerners, the Basques, the Chechens, Biafras Igbos, the Kurds, the Palestinians, or the Tibetans about this.

The desire of Taiwans inhabitants for self-determination should be and is no surprise. In 1895, China nonchalantly turned them over to the Japanese Empire. For 50 years, the Japanese both abused and partially assimilated them. When Chiang Kai-shek and his two-million-man entourage of draftees and carpetbaggers took refuge in Taiwan, they severely oppressed its residents, while subjecting them to a process of re-Sinification that was not significantly gentler than what the Uyghurs in Xinjiang are currently experiencing. Taiwans indigenous Chinese were enlisted as frontline participants in Americas containment of China and the Soviet Union before being diplomatically disavowed by the United States.

The people of Taiwan built the rule of law and the democracy they now enjoy pretty much on their own, though with quiet, unacknowledged American support. They know what control by outsiders feels like and they have no desire to feel it again. On the other hand, they have had many decades to pursue a strategy toward the mainland that might preserve their autonomy without American military backing. They have not done so. Instead of facing the ineluctable realities of their dilemma, they have counted on a Hollywood-style rescue from it by the naval equivalent of the U.S. Cavalry.

Taiwan separatists know they can neither persuade the mainland to grant them independence nor win a war of secession with it. So, they have convinced themselves that the United States can be relied upon to intervene to defend their defiance of One China or help them formalize its de facto partition. This belief enables them both to keep defense spending low and to shift the risks of provoking a bloody rendezvous with Chinese nationalism onto the United States. But China is a great power, and, in Taiwan, Beijing would be fighting in what the world  including Washington  has formally acknowledged is Chinese territory, not a third country like Korea or Vietnam. Americans might well think twice about going to war with a nuclear-armed China to detach territory from it.

Third, the mainlands ability to coerce Taiwan was long limited by its own military incapacities, a convincing American deterrent capability, and Taiwans readiness to mount effective resistance to invasion and occupation. But, beginning in 1995, escalating assertions of an identity separate from China by Taiwans leaders and sympathetic endorsement of such aspirations by American politicians kicked off a major program of modernization by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aimed at being able to conquer the island over American military opposition.

The PLA, according to some U.S. military and intelligence experts, could now destroy Taiwan at will and take it in as little as three days. Retaking the island  if that were possible  would take many tens of thousands of U.S. casualties. It would also require air and missile strikes on the Chinese homeland that would justify counterstrikes on ours. If U.S. recovery of Taiwan were successful, the mainland would just bide its time, rebuild its strength, and try again. As was true of Hanoi, Beijing is a determinedly nationalist opponent that enjoys the balance of fervor in its struggle to end the American-backed division of its country.

To normalize relations with Beijing, successive U.S. presidents gave specific commitments in three carefully negotiated joint communiques. These documents  issued in 1972, 1979, and 1982  are the foundation of Sino-American relations. In them, the U.S. government promised that it would no longer maintain official relations with Taipei, that it would have no troops and military installations on the island, and that it would sell only carefully selected defensive weapons to Taiwan on a restrained basis. In the third communique, the United States agreed to limit the quality and reduce the quantity of its arms sales to Taiwan.

Over the succeeding decades, Washington has progressively eroded or set aside every one of these strictures. Members of the U.S. Cabinet now meet with Taiwan officials and travel to Taiwan. There they are supported by a newly constructed $250 million quasi-embassy guarded by U.S. marines. The United States has returned to Cold War-style championing of Taipeis diplomatic relations with third countries, punishing those that switch relations to Beijing. There are reports that there are once again American military personnel in Taiwan teaching its armed forces how to conduct operations against the mainland. Taiwan has reemerged as a major purchaser of U.S. weaponry. On November 12, 2020 (nine days after the U.S. presidential election made his boss a lame duck), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo completed the trashing of the one-China stipulation by declaring (inaccurately) that Taiwan has not been part of China.

In 1979, as the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) noted, the United States terminated governmental relations with the governing authorities on Taiwan. The TRA was enacted to enable Americans to sustain our ties with the people of Taiwan without governmental relations. But it is hard to argue that, in most respects, such relations have not now been restored.

U.S. policy, enshrined in the TRA, has been to assure that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means. But by deviating from the understandings that have been central to that objective, the United States has helped to ensure that virtually no one on the China mainland believes a purely peaceful resolution is still feasible.

The TRA declares that the United States should provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character. But there is now no such filter applied to arms sales to the island.

The TRA, which is a domestic law, not a treaty, calls on the United States to maintain the capacity to deter the resort to force or other forms of coercion to jeopardize the security  of the people on Taiwan. But the United States no longer has the sure-fire ability to defend Taiwan against a use of force by the mainland and the military balance in the area is increasingly disadvantageous. The credibility of U.S. military deterrence has declined even as Washington has withdrawn the reassurances that once persuaded Beijing that it would not need to use force. China, Taiwan, and the United States are locked in a dance of reciprocal displays of military capability and will. The logic of the situation implies willingness to escalate from shows of force to skirmishes and thence to battle. Its been a long time since the danger of war over Taiwan has been as great as it is now.

The irony is that the arrangements Washington and Beijing put in place in 1979 to preserve the peace, including the unilateral U.S. enactment of the TRA, worked far better than even their authors hoped they might. After the switch in diplomatic relations, tensions with the mainland diminished and Taiwans security improved. The island was able to do away with martial law and to democratize. Taiwan became one of the most prosperous societies on the planet. Its per capita GDP is lower than ours but its median wealth of $70,191 is now greater than our $65,904. The one-China framework that produced these admirable results wasnt broke, but successive administrations in Taipei and Washington nonetheless fixed it. It is now out of order.

By progressively going back on its word, Washington has established a reputation in China for faithlessness that precludes anyone there trusting further American commitments. Pro forma protests that the United States stands by the three joint communiques fool no one but amnesiac Americans. The resulting distrust precludes new Sino-American understandings about how to manage differences over Taiwan. But without such understandings, the escalating contradictions between Chinese nationalism and Taiwanese identity politics are taking us toward conflict

All three parties  Beijing, Taipei, and Washington  are nearing the point at which we can no longer avoid very unwelcome choices.

Beijing now sees no credible prospect that the issue of Taiwans relationship with the mainland can be resolved by peaceful means without at least some element of military coercion. The military balance in the Taiwan Strait increasingly favors the PLA and deters U.S. intervention. Even so, the Chinese leadership faces a hard choice between using force and abandoning the century-old dream of a united China free of foreign spheres of influence. In making its decision, Beijing must weigh the risks of a costly war with the United States that could draw in Japan and escalate to the nuclear level against the domestic political consequences of accepting humiliation on the core issue of Chinese nationalism.

As long as the people of Taiwan continue to believe that they have a blank check from the United States that they can fill out in American blood, they will free feel to temporize. Removing ambiguity from the U.S. commitment would just encourage them to push the envelope even more than they already have. Meanwhile, whatever they do, the military balance in the area will continue to shift against them. So, Taipei must decide whether to seek a negotiated accommodation with the Chinese across the Strait or risk a war with them that  even with American backing  would destroy the islands democracy and prosperity without gaining independence for it.

By opting for exclusive reliance on military deterrence, unaccompanied by diplomacy to encourage cross-Strait detente, rapprochement, and accommodation, the United States has delegated the choice between peace and war to Beijing and Taipei. It has never been clear whether Washington has been bluffing or serious about going to war with China over Taiwan. Confronted with a choice between a potentially ruinous face-off with China and standing aside as a democratic antagonist of our now officially designated Chinese adversary goes down, what would the United States do?

To declare that we would go to war would encourage risk-taking by Taipei. To say that we would not go to war would encourage adventurism by Beijing. So, there is no advantage to dispelling the current ambiguity. But surely, we must base our management of the Taiwan issue on a considered judgment about what we are and are not prepared to do to reduce the danger of war over it, even if we keep that judgment to ourselves.

A shifting balance of power, stiff-necked nationalism in Beijing, delusions of immunity from harm in Taipei, and a strange mixture of bravado and inattention in Washington provide all the ingredients for a tragedy. I see no easy answers for any of the participants to halt their march toward catastrophe.
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An employee fills a bottle with hand sanitizer at Port Morris Distiller in New York City on April 21, 2020. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

HHS Overturns Plan to Impose $14,000 Fee on Distilleries That Made Hand Sanitizer

Health officials this week overturned fees that were being imposed on distilleries that made hand sanitizer early last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two different fees, including a $14,000 one, were included in the COVID 19 relief package that was signed into law in March. That package made distilleries that produced hand sanitizer over-the-counter drug monograph facilities and forced them to pay fees.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Distilleries made hand sanitizer because there was a nationwide shortage of the product last year.

The fees were due on Feb. 12. The Food and Drug Administration alerted distilleries this week that the fees needed to be paid. In a public notice, the administration noted it was authorized to collect fees by the CARES Act.

However, a Health and Human Services spokesperson said Thursday that the fees are being reversed.

Small businesses who stepped up to fight COVID-19 should be applauded by their government, not taxed for doing so, Brian Harrison, chief of staff for the agency, said in a statement.

Im pleased to announce we have directed FDA to cease enforcement of these arbitrary, surprise user fees. Happy New Year, distilleries, and cheers to you for helping keep us safe!

HHS lawyers found that the fees were issued in a manner that has the force and effect of a legislative rule, which only the HHS secretary has the authority to issue.

The Distilled Spirits Council had reacted to the fees with surprise, issuing a press released urging the Food and Drug Administration to waive them for hundreds of distillers who helped by making hand sanitizer amid the pandemic.

This incredibly frustrating news comes as a complete shock to the more than 800 distilleries across the country that came to the aid of their local communities and first responders. This unexpected fee serves to punish already struggling distilleries who jumped in at a time of need to do the right thing, said Distilled Spirits Council President and CEO Chris Swonger in a statement.

Everyone was totally blindsided by FDAs announcement, added Phil McDaniel, CEO of St. Augustine Distillery.

In a statement after the rollback of the fees, Swonger said the move is such a relief to hundreds of distillers.

We want to thank HHS leadership for quickly intervening and protecting distillers from these unwarranted fees, he said. Distillers were proud to help make hand sanitizer for their communities and first responders during their time of need.
For years, street artist Shek Vega has wanted to paint something on the wall of the E-Z Wash laundromat at Southcross Boulevard and Zarzamora Street.

I drive that route almost every day, if not two times a day, said Vega, who grew up just a few blocks away and still lives in the neighborhood. Ive always seen that wall, either really white or with graffiti on it, and I always wanted to create something in that space.

He finally did it.

Vega was the lead artist on We Love Our Southside, a mural celebrating the area that was completed just before Christmas. The project is the latest creation by the San Antonio Street Art Initiative, which Vega founded and serves as board president.

The mural was initiated by Community First Health Plans to help mark the nonprofit healthcare providers 25th anniversary.

On ExpressNews.com: SA artist Leticia Huertas giant flowers will soon bloom across the city

Its not a traditional kind of sponsorship, but it is something that is really going to show that we are invested in that local community, said Theresa Scepanski, president and CEO of Community First. Another piece of it, which I know a lot of people dont necessarily think about, is art does play an important role in healing.  Its just a sort of calming, soothing sort of portrait.

Vega worked with fellow South Side artists Eva Sanchez, Joe De La Cruz and Nik Soup on the mural. The imagery, which includes a man pushing a paleta cart and a woman making tortillas, was suggested by community members.

Live From the Southside magazine helped gather 40 or so business owners and community leaders, Vega said. We had this huge Zoom meeting where everybody told us what represents the South Side and what makes it feel like home. They gave us a long list of all these beautiful things that the South Side has to offer.

Vega used that list to create the design, then recruited artists to work with him to bring it to life.

The piece is the first of what Vega and his fellow artists with the Street Art Initiative hope will be may murals on the South Side.

The 2-year-old organization made its first big splash creating dozens of murals along and near the St. Marys Strip, a project theyve dubbed the largest outdoor gallery in Texas. But it has always planned to spread out across the city.

The St. Marys Strip is a creative neighborhood, the musics there, and it actually livened up the neighborhood during the daytime, Vega said. And so we were really focused on that and very proud of that project, but I myself and two-thirds of our board are from the South Side and its always been a goal to bring art into our neighborhoods. And so when Community First contacted us, it seemed like the perfect partnership to finally open those gates of the South Side and create some beautiful visual art there.

On ExpressNews.com: Take a tour of public art in downtown San Antonio

The piece is already popping up on social media, said Burgundy Woods, another Street Art Initiative board member from the South Side. She works in fashion and has been tagged by friends in that field who have driven to the laundromat specifically to take pictures in front of the mural.

Some of them were raised in the area then moved to other parts of town, she added.

Thats been kind of magical for me to see people rekindle their love of where they grew up, she said.
If you want a first-party Fire TV experience, there are a lot of ways to go about getting one. But as far as dedicated TV sets that come with Fire OS preinstalled, Amazon has preferred to work with partners through its Fire TV Edition program rather than release its own TVs.

That changed this week when the company released two sets under its AmazonBasics brand in India. Theyre 55-inch and 50-inch models that come in at about $480 and $410, respectively. Feature-wise, theyre about what you would expect from TVs in the price bracket. Both come with 4K LED displays that support HDR 10 and HLG, as well as Dolby Vision. They also come with an Alexa voice remote and Fire OS 7  though seemingly not the new version of the companys Fire TV interface.

According to AFTVnews, Amazon plans to release three additional models in the future, including two smaller and more affordable 1080p and 720p models. Despite the AmazonBasics brand name, these likely have similar components and OEMs to other Fire TV models released worldwide. Whether or not Amazon will stick its name on TVs sold in the US remains to be seen.
IRVING, Texas, Dec. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As 2020 comes to a close, Vistra is reflecting on how, in this year that has tested the nation on dual fronts, the company followed its core principles to respond. Vistra and its employees adapted and shifted strategies throughout the pandemic to support customers and communities and maintain the essential power to keep this nation running. And Vistra reaffirmed and extended efforts to support the advancement of diverse communities, minority-, women-, and veteran-owned small businesses, and equity in education.

"This year has handed us many lessons, chief among them being that corporations must expand their purpose beyond just shareholders to a more diverse set of stakeholders, and they must stand up and be part of the solution," said Curt Morgan, chief executive officer of Vistra. "At Vistra, this means investing in our employees, putting customers first, and making a genuine effort to better the communities where we live, work, and serve. No one could have predicted the adversity 2020 would bring, but I'm proud of the way this company responded. Our teams delivered with strength and expertise and dug deep to find new ways to support our customers, communities, and each other."

A look at the numbers reveals the broad extent of Vistra's community and customer support in 2020:

Committed $2 million in direct COVID-19 relief

in direct COVID-19 relief Donated money to more than 100 agency partners

Assisted neighbors in over 50 cities

Supported 12,400 customers with bill payment assistance through $3.1 million in donations

in donations Waived late fees, extended payment dates, and arranged payment plans for customers

Bridged the digital divide with 2,000 computer donations to underserved youth through its partnership with Comp-U-Dopt

Provided nearly 180,000 masks and face coverings to employees and their family members, area hospitals, and schools

Provided critical access to meals through more than $500,000 in contributions to food banks and food pantries across the country

Additionally, Vistra pledged $10 million over the next five years to organizations working for social justice and equity. Vistra's 2020 donations included:

$500,000 to support the work of the National Urban League in eight cities

to support the work of the National Urban League in eight cities $450,000 to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities

to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities $250,000 to college scholarship funds supporting Black and Hispanic students

to college scholarship funds supporting Black and Hispanic students More than $100,000 to advance Black and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

Within the workplace, Vistra also doubled-down on its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The company launched multiple initiatives, including hosting nearly 30 listening sessions on race, creating a diversity, equity, and inclusion advisory council, enhancing its employee resource groups, training hiring managers, eliminating degree requirements for certain positions, initiating career advancement pathways for employees without degrees, and expanding diverse external recruiting efforts through new relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Vistra similarly maintained its strong commitment to supplier diversity, spending nearly 13% of its procurement dollars with small business enterprises and continuing to prioritize relationships with diverse businesses.

"I have never been more proud to work with a group of people. Despite 2020's challenges, our team members continued to provide an essential product, electricity, and helped our customers and communities while, at the same time, we collectively looked inside of our own walls to take care of our people and become a better and stronger workplace," Morgan added.

Vistra appreciates the dedication of its team members, many of whom continued to report to their physical work locations to perform our essential services, while others managed a new and challenging work-from-home environment, including balancing the education of their children. COVID-19 and the company's drive for social equity and justice also added countless special projects for many of our employees in addition to their standard workload. In recognition of these extraordinary efforts, Vistra rewarded all employees with a meaningful one-time bonus and an additional paid day off in December. This investment in Vistra employees, a thank you, is in addition to the company's annual incentive bonus paid out every spring.

About Vistra

Vistra (NYSE: VST) is a leading, Fortune 275 integrated retail electricity and power generation company based in Irving, Texas, providing essential resources for customers, commerce, and communities. Vistra combines an innovative, customer-centric approach to retail with safe, reliable, diverse, and efficient power generation. The company brings its products and services to market in 20 states and the District of Columbia, including six of the seven competitive wholesale markets in the U.S. and markets in Canada and Japan, as well. Serving nearly 5 million residential, commercial, and industrial retail customers with electricity and natural gas, Vistra is the largest competitive residential electricity provider in the country and offers over 50 renewable energy plans. The company is also the largest competitive power generator in the U.S. with a capacity of approximately 39,000 megawatts powered by a diverse portfolio, including natural gas, nuclear, solar, and battery energy storage facilities. In addition, the company is a large purchaser of wind power. The company is currently constructing a 400-MW/1,600-MWh battery energy storage system in Moss Landing, California, which will be the largest of its kind in the world when it comes online. Vistra is guided by four core principles: we do business the right way, we work as a team, we compete to win, and we care about our stakeholders, including our customers, our communities where we work and live, our employees, and our investors. Learn more about our environmental, social, and governance efforts and read the company's sustainability report at https://www.vistracorp.com/sustainability/.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information presented herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which Vistra Corp. ("Vistra") operates and beliefs of and assumptions made by Vistra's management, involve risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance, that could significantly affect the financial results of Vistra. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that are presented herein, or in response to questions or otherwise, that address activities, events or developments that may occur in the future, including such matters as activities related to our financial or operational projections, the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, projected synergy, value lever and net debt targets, capital allocation, capital expenditures, liquidity, projected Adjusted EBITDA to free cash flow conversion rate, dividend policy, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, future acquisitions or dispositions, development or operation of power generation assets, market and industry developments and the growth of our businesses and operations (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases, or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature, including, but not limited to: "intends," "plans," "will likely," "unlikely," "believe," "confident", "expect," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "will," "shall," "should," "could," "may," "might," "predict," "project," "forecast," "target," "potential," "goal," "objective," "guidance" and "outlook"), are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although Vistra believes that in making any such forward-looking statement, Vistra's expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such forward-looking statement involves uncertainties and risks that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in or implied by any such forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions (including changes in interest rates) or changes in political conditions or federal or state laws and regulations; (ii) the ability of Vistra to execute upon the contemplated strategic, capital allocation, and performance initiatives and to successfully integrate acquired businesses; (iii) actions by credit ratings agencies; (iv) the severity, magnitude and duration of pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting effects on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows; and (v) those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Vistra from time to time, including the uncertainties and risks discussed in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in Vistra's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019 and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only at the date on which it is made, and except as may be required by law, Vistra will not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all of them; nor can Vistra assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

SOURCE Vistra Corp.
Geneva, Jan 1 : The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency use validation for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, opening the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine.

While many countries rely on their own regulatory systems for vaccine approvals, some countries with weak system depend on WHO's nod to a great extent for rolling out their national vaccination programmes.

The WHO's emergency validation also enables Unicef and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need, the UN health agency said on Thursday.

Several countries including the US and the UK have already approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

This is the first time WHO has granted emergency validation to a Covid-19 vaccine since the outbreak began a year ago.

"This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to Covid-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere," Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, said in a statement.

The WHO noted that the vaccine requires storage using an ultra-cold chain -- it needs to be stored at minus 60 degree C to minus 90 degree C.

This requirement makes the vaccine more challenging to deploy in settings where ultra-cold chain equipment may not be available or reliably accessible.

For that reason, WHO is working to support countries in assessing their delivery plans and preparing for use where possible.

"WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards. We encourage even more developers to come forward for review and assessment." Regulatory experts convened by WHO from around the world and WHO's own teams reviewed the data on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality as part of a risk-versus-benefit analysis.

The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address Covid-19 offset potential risks.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A 33-year-old police officer from Wayne County was arrested Wednesday and accused of rape, according to New York State Police.

Zackery T. Powell, of Newark, was charged with first-degree rape, third-degree rape, first-degree criminal sex act third-degree criminal sex act, police said.

The arrest stems from a November 2017 incident in the village of Newark, which happened before Powell was hired as the village of Wolcotts officer in charge, according to police.

Powell was released under a Wayne County pre-trial supervision program, police said.

He was paid $21,010 by the village of Wolcott and $8,981 by the village of Clyde, according to See Through NY, a database of public employees salaries in New York State.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
Srinagar:

Peaceful protests to be launched by separatists in Kashmir on Friday against the "inhuman act" of an Army officer tying a man to a jeep as a human shield against stone-pelters and then honouring him.

Three major separatist groups -- hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF led by Yasin Malik -- issued a joint statement here on Thurday calling for the protests.

Major Leetul Gogoi had tied a man to his jeep as a humanshield against a large mob of stone-pelters who had surrounded a polling booth in Budgam district during bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on April 9.

Read more: Army Chief Bipin Rawat meets Arun Jaitley, briefs on Kashmir situation

Gogoi has said that he had to rescue some paramilitary personnel and polling staff and by his act, many lives were saved as, otherwise, he would have been forced to order firing.

Earlier this week, Gogoi got a commendation card from the Army chief for his action.

"Awarding erring officer for this inhuman and unjustified act vindicates our claim that forces are involved in war crimes and are patronized and encouraged by Indian leadership", the joint statement of the separatists said.

They said that awarding the Major tantamounts to "justifying the human rights violations" and sending a clear message to the people that "they can go to any extent without any apprehension of accountability".

Read more: Kashmir: Search operation ends in Pulwama as militants manage to flee encounter site due to stone-pelting

The separatist groups also appealed to human rights organisations, the International Court of Justice and Amnesty International to take cognizance of the incident and "fulfill their responsibilities in saving precious lives" in the state.

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Pregnant influencer Emily Mitchell has died aged 36 after she 'suddenly became unresponsive' three days before Christmas, while expecting her fifth child.

The blogger, who lived in Rhode Island, boasted 107,000 followers on her The Hidden Way Instagram page where she doucemented her faith and family life with her four children.

In November she announced that she was expecting her fifth child, and it's believed she was 16 weeks pregnant when she died.

Her cause of death has not been publicly revealed but a GoFundMe page, set up in order to raise money for Emily's husband Joseph and their four children, read: 'Em was having her morning coffee and toast when she suddenly became unresponsive.

'The doctors are still working on answers for her family.'

Pregnant influencer Emily Mitchell (pictured with husband Joseph) has died aged 36 after she 'suddenly became unresponsive' three days before Christmas

The mother-of-four, who lived in Rhode Island, boasted 107,000 followers on her The Hidden Way Instagram page to document her faith and family life

Emily and her unborn baby, which the couple had planned to name Joey, died on December 22.

A message on the fundraising page, which has so far raised more than $140,000 of its $100,000 goal, read: 'Our hearts are broken and her joyful presence will be greatly missed by so many.

'Em made a big impact in so many people's lives, and this loss is incomprehensible for anyone who knew her. Our friend was a dedicated mom and wife, she had a heart for the Lord, and loved her children so dearly.

'Emily left behind her loving husband Joe, and four beautiful children, Finn, Isla, Edie and Lulu.'

Emily and her unborn baby, which the couple had planned to name Joey, both died on December 22

A GoFundMe page has since been set up in order to raise money for Emily's husband Joseph and their four children

It continued: 'We are heartbroken by her passing and as a community we wish to express our love for her family through this fundraiser. These funds will go towards her children's education next year, as well as the many costs Joe and the kids will face as they adjust to life without Emily.

'We appreciate everyone's concerns about her sudden passing, and want to thank you all for the love you've expressed in the form of messages, calls and letters. Your words didn't go unnoticed and her family is very grateful for your support during this devastating time.

'Em was having her morning coffee and toast when she suddenly became unresponsive. Despite the prompt attention of her children, husband, father and other medical personnel, all valiant efforts to resuscitate were unsuccessful.

'She went home to be with the Lord. The doctors are still working on answers for her family. We will update everyone with answers when we get them.'

A message on the fundraising page, which has so far raised more than $140,000 of its $100,000 goal, read: 'Our hearts are broken and her joyful presence will be greatly missed by so many'

An online obituary described Emily as 'a devoted wife and incredible mother to her four children'.

It added: 'Beautiful inside and out, Emily had an infectious smile and a kind, compassionate spirit.'

The social media star took to Instagram in November to share that she and her husband were expecting their fifth child together.





Her post read: 'YOU GUYS. NUMBER FIVE. Who guessed the secret?!!! You've probably noticed I've been a little MIA..welp this be the reason lol. Number FIVE comin in hot and we are here for it 11 weeks 2 days and counting [sic].'

Earlier this month, Emily had shared with her followers that she would be undergoing her fifth caesarean.

An online obituary described Emily as 'a devoted wife and incredible mother to her four children'

And, earlier this month, Emily shared with followers she would be undergoing her fifth caesarean.

She wrote: 'This will be my FIFTH C-Section. However your baby gets here, just know YOUR EXPERIENCE is valid and worthy.

'YOU are no less a mother if you needed emergency medical intervention, had a planned c-section, or an epidural.

'You aren't a "better" mother if you had a home birth or an unmedicated vaginal birth.

'And if you grew your brood through adoption or surrogacy or family blending? Those are YOUR babies and YOU SIT PROUDLY at the table of motherhood.'
NEW YORK - Five female anchors will no longer work at a New York news channel as part of the settlement of an age and gender discrimination lawsuit alleging they were passed over in favour of younger talent, according to statements from the women, their lawyers and the channel.

NEW YORK - Five female anchors will no longer work at a New York news channel as part of the settlement of an age and gender discrimination lawsuit alleging they were passed over in favour of younger talent, according to statements from the women, their lawyers and the channel.

The women who sued in Manhattan federal court in June 2019 include Roma Torre, a Montclair, New Jersey, resident in her early 60s who was NY1's first on-air hire when it began its programs in 1992.

This undated photo provided by Wigdor Law in December 2020 shows five anchorwomen from the NY1 news channel in New York. In the back row from left are Jeanine Ramirez, Vivian Lee and Kristen Shaughnessy. In the front row are Roma Torre, left, and Amanda Farinacci. In their lawsuit, the women, all over age 40, alleged that they were marginalized and cast aside to make room for younger women and men after Charter Communications, a Stamford, Connecticut-based company, took over the local news channel in 2016. (Jacob Edinger/Wigdor Law/@UnseenWomenOnTV via AP)

The settlement of the lawsuit was announced by the women, their lawyers and by NY1. Its terms were not disclosed.

It came a month after a judge allowed some age and gender discrimination claims to proceed but rejected some hostile work environment and retaliation claims.

In their lawsuit, the women, all over age 40, alleged that they were marginalized and cast aside to make room for younger women and men after Charter Communications, a Stamford, Connecticut-based company, took over the local news channel in 2016.

The lawsuit had sought unspecified damages and a return to the positions the women occupied before Charter took control.

According to the lawsuit, the women found their on-air time dramatically reduced, anchoring opportunities decreased, prime reporting opportunities taken away and promotional efforts mostly eliminated.

We are pleased to announce we have reached a confidential resolution of the lawsuit filed by Roma Torre, Kristen Shaughnessy, Jeanine Ramirez, Vivian Lee and Amanda Farinacci and as a result, have mutually agreed to part ways," NY1 said in its statement.

"We want to thank them for their years of dedicated service in reporting the news for New Yorkers and we wish them well in their future endeavours, it added.

In a statement, the women said they were pleased to reach the settlement after engaging in a lengthy dialogue with NY1."

We believe it is in everyones interest  ours, NY1s and our viewers  that this litigation be resolved and we have mutually agreed to part ways, the statement said. We want to thank everyone who has supported us through these times  please know that the support from each and every person has made a real difference.

Their attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and David Gottlieb, thanked their clients' viewers who tuned in to watch them fairly and accurately report the news for so many years.
Nine Ukrainians who were in Syrian refugee camps return home  Office of President

Nine Ukrainian citizens returned to Kyiv on December 31 after they were in camps for civilians in northeastern Syria.

"Two adults and seven small children have returned home," the press service of the Office of the President said on Friday morning.

Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Bakanov, Defense Minister Andriy Taran and other government officials met them at the Boryspil international airport.

Thus, on Thursday, the evacuation stage of a complex operation to return Ukrainian citizens who were in Syrian refugee camps was actually completed. Their relatives in Ukraine applied to the authorities with a request for evacuation.

"In June 2019, a special working group was created, which included representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine. The task of this group was to organize the evacuation of our compatriots and their children. The counterintelligence of the SBU was involved in the development of the return plan," the press service said.

The Office of the President said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Syria and Iraq created significant restrictions and interrupted air traffic, so this significantly delayed the completion of the special operation. It became possible to resume the evacuation procedure only after the epidemiological situation in these countries stabilized.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Roman Mashovets said that the freed women and children stayed in the camps in Syria in terrible conditions.

The Office of the President assured that the work on the release of other Ukrainians in the Syrian camps will continue.

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also reported that the returned Ukrainians will be assisted in adapting to ordinary life, including with the involvement of the capabilities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.

More Ukrainian citizens, including Crimean Tatars, are staying in refugee camps in Syria. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Office of the President of Ukraine, other public bodies, shall make every effort to ensure their return to their homeland. The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people shall be also actively involved," the ministry said.
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Only hours before the clock ticked over into 2021, the Prime Minister of Australia announced a single word would be changed in the national anthem; from we are young and free, to we are one and free. A gesture, he says, that takes nothing away, but adds so much" to our nation's story, for all Australians.

At sunrise on January 1, 2021, my first Facetime chat was to my 9-year-old niece who was fortunate to be bringing in the new year in the embrace of her kinship circle, as the unpredictable COVID-19 situation unfolds in Sydney. She is a proud little Wiradjuri and Wailwan warrior, the 2020 winner of the Larissa Behrendt Literacy Award at her school, and a young Koori kid who has the blood of a fierce black matriarchal lineage pumping through her veins.

Young Indigenous Australians need more than a one-word change to the national anthem. Credit:Cole Bennetts

I told her of the Prime Minister's announcement overnight, the change of one word in the national anthem as an attempt to recognise our ancient First Nations' storylines, her instinctive response was, It doesnt matter, I dont sing it and I still wont stand!

This is a kid who, like many others adapting to every COVID-19 challenge, shows up on the frontline of protests to resist every Australia Day proudly hitting the pavement wearing her red, black and yellow and yelling at the top of her lungs #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe and #BlackLivesMatter. On January 26, 2020, her little brother asked, sissy, what are we marching for? Her words: We are marching for our land back!
Daniel M. Tellep, an aerospace engineer who initiated a merger between Lockheed and Martin Marietta to form the worlds largest military contractor, then became its first chief executive, died on Nov. 26 at his home in Saratoga, Calif. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Susan Tellep.

Mr. Tellep was at Lockheeds helm as the Cold War was ending. Lockheed, based in Calabasas, was struggling and looking at potentially diminished demand with the relaxation of global tensions, as was Martin Marietta, led at the time by Norman R. Augustine. The merger, in 1995, created a defense industry behemoth. In 2019, Lockheed Martin net sales were $59.8 billion.

The merger of equals that he orchestrated between Lockheed and Martin led to innovations and capabilities that continue to protect our nation, our allies, and our highest ideals, Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martins executive chairwoman, said in a statement after Mr. Telleps death.

As a chief executive at Lockheed and then at Lockheed Martin, Mr. Tellep oversaw development of military communications satellites, photographic intelligence satellites, the Hubble Space Telescope and more.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- In his 25 years working in the Kent County Prosecutors Office, Chris Becker says he never even looked at a riot charge.

That changed in the aftermath of the May 30 riot in downtown Grand Rapids.

Becker, now the countys top prosecutor, describes the chaos and destruction of that late spring night as unprecedented.

Seven months later, those charged in the incident are moving through the criminal justice system, those businesses damaged are now dealing with coronavirus restrictions and police reforms are being discussed.

The riot happened in the aftermath of a peaceful protest in Grand Rapids following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer placed his knee on Floyds neck while he was handcuffed.

As the daylight faded May 30, a large group began to surround the Grand Rapids Police Department headquarters at Fulton and Louis streets. Police were outnumbered.

At some point, people began breaking windows, setting fires to Dumpsters and parked police cars, looting some stores and wreaking other havoc. It wasnt until the early morning hours of May 31, with reinforcements from off-duty officers and other police agencies, that police once again took control.

But the damage was extensive.

Rioters caused an estimated $2.1 million in damage and costs by breaking hundreds of downtown windows as well as looting some stores.

In the months to follow, Becker and assistant prosecutors in his office have authorized riot charges against 22 people, including one juvenile.

Almost all of those charged are from the greater Grand Rapids area. Of the adults, the youngest is 18 and the oldest 38. The juvenile is a 16-year-old girl.

For the most part, a lot of them dont have a significant prior record, Becker said.

Many seemed to get caught up in a mob mentality and were emboldened by the actions of others, he said.

All of the cases are still in the court system, which is dealing with ongoing delays related to coronavirus restrictions. Trials essentially have halted.

RELATED: Peaceful protest devolves into riot, looting and fires

Video from media outlets showed people using various objects -- often poles from broken-off stop signs and other traffic signs -- to smash window after window. At Kilwins, near the corner of Monroe Center and Pearl Street NW, looters stepped through large broken windows to steal chocolate and candies.

At Sweet Yos frozen yogurt, a surveillance camera showed people inside the store, ripping yogurt machines from the wall and tipping a cash register onto the floor.

The store was one of many victimized by not just damage, but theft. In all, local economic leaders estimated about 100 businesses had at least some damage.

It was weeks before many boarded-up store fronts were repaired with new glass.

City officials put an initial rough estimate on the riot costs at about $2.4 million, later revised to $2.07 million. About half of the costs were for police overtime and police equipment.

Grand Rapids police Sgt. John Wittkowski, a spokesman for the department, said he believes the riot likely stemmed from a several factors -- social and racial unrest, pent-up frustration from COVID-19 restrictions, and distrust in police.

We were unprepared, Wittkowski said about the chaos.

Still, he said the vast majority of people that came down that day were law-abiding citizens.

When you see something like that happen, its really contrary to everything that is here in Grand Rapids, he said.

The morning after the riot, hundreds of volunteers joined business owners in cleaning up. Business owners said the outpouring of support showed the good in the community.

Thats the Grand Rapids we know, said Grand Rapids Chamber President Rick Baker.

I think the business community really appreciated that. They appreciated knowing they were not in it alone, Baker said.

Baker said the riot and destruction happened just as many restaurants were preparing to reopen for in-person dining during the pandemic. The damage presented an additional challenge.

Hes grateful police and prosecutors aggressively pursued vandals and charges.

Im glad our legal system is holding them accountable, he said. They need to understand there are repercussions to these actions.

The days after the riot brought additional protests, rallies and marches, but no further damage.

In the aftermath of the local riot, a national debate concerning police reforms and more protests nationally over police brutality, Grand Rapids police created a three-year strategic plan intended, in part, to build community trust and decrease crime.

As far as the investigation into the riot itself, Grand Rapids police say it seems to be winding down. There have been no new community tips on suspects in recent days and some investigations on potential suspects have been closed because of lack of evidence.

With that said, if an investigator gets new, actionable information they have the ability to re-open a case, Wittkowski said.

Of those charged with rioting, at least two have entered a plea. A 22-year-old woman pleaded guilty in early December and is expected to be sentenced in February under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act.

If she successfully completes a period of probation, the womans conviction will not be recorded and any evidence of the case is sealed to the public. The case will not show up on criminal record searches made by employers.

The 16-year-old also entered a plea earlier this month and is awaiting a February review hearing.

Those charged are facing one count of riot, but also one count or more of malicious destruction of property or malicious destruction of a building. A handful also face breaking and entering charges.

The charge of riot carries a potential 10-year maximum penalty. For those convicted, the sentences may vary depending on prior records for each individual.

Becker said that, immediately after the riot, he didnt know how many people ultimately would be charged. In many cases, police used surveillance videos and evidence from social media pages to identify suspects.

He said more than 20 seems like a reasonable number charged so far, although he admits that many more likely participated that May evening.

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Although Disney+ is still not officially available in South Africa, there is a workaround for accessing the video streaming service in South Africa.

The country and the rest of the African continent are not currently included on Disneys launch calendar, which means the service will likely only arrive in 2022 or later.

With the second season of the services The Mandalorian now in full swing, many local Star Wars fans will be turning to torrent sites to pirate new episodes of Din Djarin and Baby Yodas adventures.

Fortunately, VPN experts Wizcase have compiled a step-by-step guide for subscribing to Disney+ in unsupported countries.

The key to getting Disney+ to work is to fool the service into thinking you are accessing it from the US or another supported region, which can easily be achieved by using a reputed Virtual Private Network (VPN).

However, the biggest hurdle is that you have to use a US-based payment method to subscribe to the service as well.

Below are the steps you need to follow to get Disney+ to work on either an Android or iOS device in South Africa.

Choose your VPN

The first critical tool you will need is a VPN with support for US servers.

While there are a plethora of free VPNs available, many of these dont work properly and often have dodgy privacy policies which allow them to make revenue by selling your data to third parties.

It is therefore recommended that you choose one of the top-rated paid-for VPNs, which include services like:

ExpressVPN  From $6.67 (R105) per month

 From $6.67 (R105) per month NordVPN  From $3.71 (R58) per month

 From $3.71 (R58) per month SurfShark  From $2.21 (R35) per month

 From $2.21 (R35) per month CyberGhost  From $2.25 (R35) per month

 From $2.25 (R35) per month IPVanish  From $3.25 (R51) per month

In addition, its advisable to purchase your VPN subscription directly from the providers website, as certain services wont offer refunds if bought through another platform  like the App Store.

Once you are connected to your chosen US server, you can follow the steps indicated below to get Disney+ in South Africa.

Android devices

1. Buy a US Google gift card

Next, head to Amazon.com and purchase a US Google gift card to be used as your payment method.

Although a Disney+ subscription is priced at only $6.99 (R110), the minimum card value available is $25 (R392).

Alternatively, you could risk using grey market key site G2A.com to buy a $10 gift card, although this offers no guarantee of working.

The code for this gift card can be sent to your chosen email address upon checkout.

2. Create another Google account

In order to use the gift card, you will be required to create a new Google account. You can do this by going to your devices settings, opening Google Settings and choosing Add another account.

3. Redeem the gift card

Redeem the gift card by opening up the Google Play Store while logged into your new account. For this, you will have to enter a US phone number and postcode.

While you could technically use any US number you find on the web, it may be more responsible to use a purchased virtual US phone number.

4. Download Disney+ and start watching

The final step is to download and install the Disney+ app, and create your account. The app will allow you to choose Google Play credit as a payment method.

Ensure that you are connected to the VPN throughout this entire process.

iOS devices

The workaround for Apple devices is slightly more elaborate, but also requires the user to be connected to a US server via a VPN and to log out of an Apple account if it has South Africa or an unsupported region as its location.

From there, the following steps need to be followed:

1. Create a US Apple ID on the Apple website

Go to the Apple website and navigate to the Account Creation page. Create a new Apple

2. Buy a US App Store gift card on Amazon.com

Purchase a US App Store gift card from Amazon and have its code sent to your email address.

3. Log into the new Apple ID account

After agreeing to the Terms and Conditions, you will need to leave the payment option clear and fill in any US address and phone number in the Billing Address window.

4. Redeem Gift Card

Once youre signed into your new ID, navigate to your account settings and select Redeem Gift Card to enter the card code emailed to you and load your credit.

5. Log into your new Apple ID on your chosen device

Log into your newly created account on the iPad or iPhone from which you want to stream Disney+.

6. Download and launch Disney+

Download and install the Disney+ app from the App Store, open the app and select the Start Free Trial option to create your account.

Once your trial week expires, Apple will start to automatically use your credit to pay for the Disney+ subscription.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  A time for new beginnings and a time to be hopeful. This is how President Rodrigo Duterte dubbed the start of 2021 in his New Year message released Friday.

Duterte said Filipinos endured the past year that has been filled with difficulties and adversities "sustained by our distinct resilience as a people."

The year ended with the country logging over 474,000 cases of COVID-19, which has left more than 9,200 dead. Millions of Filipinos also remain unemployed amid the pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic may have cost us so many lives and material resources, but we also learned so much from it. We realized the value of human life and our relationships with each other," the message read.

Still, the President asked Filipinos to be mindful of all the blessings received this year, with their "grateful hearts" hopefully guiding them towards always doing good and making a difference in the world.

"I am confident that all of us will see brighter days ahead because we believe in the indomitable spirit of the Filipino," Duterte added.

A day earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Vice President Leni Robredo also had separate messages for New Year, with Robredo calling on Filipinos to view 2021 with renewed hope and to work together in helping those who carry a heavier burden.
Karak, Jan 1 : Police arrested 31 people including district leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) here on Thursday for vandalising and demolishing the shrine of a Hindu saint in Teri area of the district.

Police officials said that JUI-F senior leader Rehmat Salam Khattak was also among the arrested persons. He was arrested from his residence in Chokara area of Takht-i-Nusrati tehsil. He served as provincial general secretary of PML-N before joining JUI-F, the Dawn reported.

Officials said that they raided the houses of people, who were involved in the attack on the shrine. However, several of them, who took part in damaging the shrine, went underground to avoid arrest, they added.

Teri police registered an FIR against the people involved in the attack for defiling place of worship, hurting religious sentiments, robbery, hurt, arson, mischief and assault. The FIR also included Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act.

The FIR stated that Maulana Mohammad Sharif during a protest informed the gathering about the shrine and said that they would neither allow a Hindu shrine on the soil of Teri nor the visits by Hindus.

It said that during his speech, he asked the participants numbering 1,000 to 1,500 to destroy the shrine.

"Whoever dies while demolishing the shrine would be a martyr," the FIR quoted the cleric telling the crowd.

It said that about 400 people led by Maulana Sharif attacked the shrine and set it on fire.

It said that the attackers also opened fire on police. It added that the mob also took away artefacts from the shrine.

Provincial police chief Dr Sanaullah Abbasi also visited the Hindu shrine. He said that investigations were underway and FIR was lodged in the case. He said that 31 accused were arrested for attacking the shrine while 350 persons were nominated in the FIR and raids were being conducted for their arrest.

Ishaq Khattak, a local elder, told Dawn that situation remained calm in Teri and mostly locals stayed away from the site of occurrence. He said that Teri Bazaar also remained closed.

Meanwhile, the district chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf condemned the incident and said that chief minister and IGP should take practical steps for the arrest of the people involved in the attack on Hindu shrine.

Addressing a press conference, PTI district general secretary Kamran and senior vice president Ashiq Muneer said that it was an act of few individuals and should not be attributed to the entire Khattak tribe.

They said that stringent action should be taken against the people involved in the attack.

They said that police committed criminal negligence during the attack and district administration failed to take timely steps to prevent the incident.

They demanded of the chief minister to suspend deputy commissioner, district police officer and DSP of tehsil Banda Daud Shah and other responsible administrative officers for their failure to preempt the attack.

In Peshawar, Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan condemned the incident and described it as an attempt to pave way for resurgence of violence in Pakhtun region.

In a statement, he said that provincial government should bring to justice those people, who led the mob to attack the shrine. He said that it was prime duty of the government to provide security to all citizens including non-Muslims and their places of worship.

The ANP leader also condemned setting on fire houses in Waziristan and said that such incidents would increase violence in the Pakhtun belt. He said that Pakhtuns were peace-loving people, who always played role for promoting interfaith harmony.

In Kohat, minority leaders condemned vandalising of Hindu shrine in Karak and said that India would use the incident against Pakistan. Former district councillor Mubashir Naz in a statement said that the stigma attached to such a big incident could not be removed.

Advocate Rohit Kumar said that the incident hurt the feelings of the Hindus living in Sindh.
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In the winter of 1946, Skymaster 56498 soared over the midwest plains of the United States as it neared the end of a 6,000-mile journey, carrying a very precious cargo.

On board were dozens of British prisoners of war being repatriated from the battlefields of World War Two after the allied victory over Imperial Japan.

And now it is saving British servicemen again - as former members of the armed forces find camaraderie and new skills as they work to restore the aircraft to its former glory.

At the forefront of technological innovation at the time, the Skymaster's 4,000-mile range regularly took it from US airforce bases in the Pacific Theatre to the Californian coast, and occasionally on to Delaware, where troops could be brought back home to the UK by ship.

Today, the very same Douglas C-54 type aircraft finds itself on British soil; somewhat more rusted in its 75th year, and facing a 1 million restoration project to see it take to the skies once again.

It is one of only a handful that still exists and had a lucky escape when Allan Vogel, an aircraft broker, spotted it lying in a scrapyard at North Weald Airfield in Essex.

'I was over at the airbase looking at another airplane when I saw this Skymaster standing next to another Skymaster, which had just been totally cut up in to pieces,' recalls Allan.

The Skymasters had been brought across the Atlantic for a Steven Spielberg war epic based on the Berlin Airlift - which several Skymasters were involved in - but when the film didn't come to fruition the planes were left to rust in what would have been their final years.

She will fly again: The 1945 Douglas C-54 Skymaster that was saved from a scrapyard is undergoing a 1 million refurbishment by veterans and volunteers to return it to its former glory. Pictured: Volunteers with the plane at North Weald Airfield in Essex

The planes had enjoyed a service life three times as long as many modern jets, with 56498 taking part in supply drops in Iwo Jima, carrying in US troops to the Korean war, and providing relief during the Vietnam War. Pictured: The Skymaster crossing the Atlantic in 2002 for a Steven Spielberg film project

In the 1970s, the Skymaster and her squadron took part in relief efforts during the Vietnam War, flying out of Guam and Atsugi and Iwakuni airbases in Japan to deliver supplies and much needed blood for the wounded of the conflict. Pictured: The aircraft at NAS Iwakuni in Japan during the Vietnam campaign on 13 June 1971

Pictured: Allan Vogel, the former South African police detective who saved the plan from a scrapyard, said he had become passionate about bringing military veterans and engineering students together to complete the restoration project

The planes had enjoyed a service life three times as long as many modern jets, with 56498 taking part in supply drops in Iwo Jima, carrying in US troops to the Korean war, and providing relief during the Vietnam War.

'I was just flabbergasted these two huge old airplanes were just standing there and one of them was just getting the chop.

Allan, a former South African police detective with a passion for aviation, approached the owner and asked '"do you mind me looking for a buyer for this airplane instead of chopping it up?", and he said "well yes go for it".'

After initial calls to friends didn't provide a backer, in December 2017 Allan created the Save The Skymaster charity and his project to raise money for the restoration was born.

Today, an army of retired military veterans and apprentices just starting out in their careers are working together to change the plane's engines, restore its fuselage, and prepare it for its first flight in 18 years.

But the monumental task, which has even attracted the attention of an aviation college as a potential partner, comes at a whopping 1 million cost, and the pandemic has put the group severely off track.

'We only just launched as a charity, and Covid has not been kind to us from a funding point of view,' says Allan.

'Our target this year was 500,000, and we were pretty much on target according to the Charity Commission grants that we applied for. This would have got our engines done and most of the necessary repairs.

Instead weve probably raised 15-16,000 from grants, and in donations very little, only a few thousand. Each airshow we would go to we would do 2-3,000 easily.'

Skymaster 56498 served in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two, and later returned to service in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts to bring in aid and supplies and return wounded soldiers. Pictured: The aircraft around 1964 in Vietman, taken by Jon Voss

An army of military veterans and apprentices just starting out in their careers are working together to change the plane's engines, restore its fuselage, and prepare it for its first flight in 18 years. Pictured: 56498 seen in 1964

The Skymasters had been brought across the Atlantic for a Steven Spielberg war epic based on the Berlin Airlift, but when the film didn't come to fruition the planes were left to rust in what would have been their final years. Pictured: The planes at North Weald in 2003 for a film about the Berlin Airlift believed to have been called 'The Candy Bomber

Leading the engineering side of the project is Sam Evans (pictured), an ex-RAF serviceman who worked on Harrier and Phantom jets in the RAF for 17 years before becoming a contractor for several years

But Allan reports that the men and women volunteering are still 'so enthusiastic', with some working in their own Covid bubbles under tight regulations to push the project forwards.

'Weve got chaps who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s, veterans, who are working on the plane as we speak. They stick together, theyre local. They go home, they go to the airplane, they go home, that's pretty much it! But they love it.'

Of the dozen veteran volunteers the most senior is Sam Evans, an engineer and aircraft mechanic who cut his teeth working on Harriers and Phantoms in the RAF for 17 years.

He has taken on a similar challenge before, managing and maintaining his very own Vulcan strategic bomber as it toured the country before being retired. He called the experience 'absolutely fantastic'.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster specifications Years of service: 1942 to 1975 (retired from military use) - still used by Buffalo Airways, Canada and some performance airshows Number built: 1,170 Crew: Four Capacity: 50 troops / 32,500 lb (14,700 kg) cargo Length: 93 ft 10 in (28.60 m) Wingspan: 117 ft 6 in (35.81 m) Height: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) Engines: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasps Maximum range: 4,000 miles (6,400 km) Maximum speed: 275 mph (443 km/h Advertisement

Sam worked at some of Britain's most prestigious airbases in St Athen, Brize Norton, and for five years at RAF Gutersloh in West Germany, but was made redundant just at the point when the Cold War ended.

It was less than unfortunate timing for Sam, who was in a wheelchair from a motorbike accident when they told him he would be leaving the force. But six months later he went back to work on RAF aircrafts as a civilian contractor.

Contracted work in the aviation industry has proven to be extremely turbulent though according to Sam, and at the start of the pandemic in March he again saw his work cut by the RAF.

'9/11 was a disaster for aviation, but coronavirus has been far, far worse, Ive actually had to take a permanent job with Bombardier for the stability of a permanent employer. I've already lived through one massive recession so I wasn't going to do it again,' he said.

Sam got involved with Save The Skymaster after being introduced to Allan Vogel through a mutual friend; originally with the intention of just helping to get it air worthy, the project has given Sam an outlet to meet other RAF engineers and veterans who have experienced the similar struggle to adapt to civilian life after years in a tight-knit group in the armed forces.

'It's about being part of a team, that's what you get used working in the forces, working towards a common goal.

'That's what you miss when you first come out all of a sudden, you've had these mates around you all of the time -its the same guys day in day out for years at a time - and then all of a sudden you're cast out.

'I had the motorbike accident and then I didnt see anyone else from the air force from the day I had the accident until the day I left, no one came to see me. So that was quite extreme, and thats what happens to these guys, they come out of the military and suddenly your whole life is changed. Youve been living in service accommodation because you move so regularly, that you dont have your own house, and so you lose all of that, your whole world comes to an end and it does take quite a bit to adapt to it.

'Weve got guys who are still serving involved in the project as well, so this sets them up for civilian life when they leave.'

The opportunity to volunteer on the aircraft can also give much needed emotional relief to those still serving in the armed forces, and project founder Allan is actively encouraging servicemen suffering from PTSD and other conditions to get involved in the project.

Garry Verducci, 53, serves as the charity's membership secretary as well as getting his hands dirty fixing fuel tanks on the weekend, and says the plane gives him a 'getaway' from an incredibly stressful day job.

Garry has worked in counter-terrorism with the Ministry of Defence for the past 17 years, and has found his work to be distressing at times. His love of aviation is 'for me, escapism from that role'.

'In the job, (security) creates quite a bit of stress, and the things we're doing can make it quite a stressful environment.

Work in progress: The project's 18-month timescale has been knocked back by the pandemic, with volunteers entering Covid bubbles to work on fuel tanks, electronics and the fuselage. Funding to repair all four of its piston engines still needs to be found

The opportunity to volunteer on the aircraft can also give much needed emotional relief to those still serving in the armed forces, and Allan is actively encouraging servicemen suffering from PTSD and other conditions to get involved in the project

Sam Evans got involved with Save The Skymaster after being introduced to Allan Vogel through a mutual friend; originally with the intention of just helping to get it air worthy, the project has given Sam (left) an outlet to meet other RAF engineers and veterans who have experienced the similar struggle to adapt to civilian life after years in a tight-knit group in the armed forces

'Ive always been interested in aviation and I just came across Skymaster by chance on the internet, I was invited along, and for this year its been absolutely brilliant for me because its not really about the aircraft - the thing you initially join for - but I found with this group everyone is about getting the aircraft off the ground. Apart from being quite enthusiastic, were learning lots of skills.

Garry's past attempts to find a rewarding hobby have found him struggling to strike a balance between his passion for duty and service and finding fulfilment.

For 12 years I was also involved in search and rescue (as a volunteer), but that was also stressful because youre pulling bodies out of rivers and god knows what

'Im sure you can imagine there is a certain amount of post-traumatic stress from the job and also from the search and rescue. That got too much after a while because of some of the things you see and do, so afterwards I thought I needed to do something for myself and thats where I came across the Skymaster and it just ticked all the boxes.

'Im not from an engineering background so Im learning lots of new stuff which is escapism really. But the actual group itself, its just a happy place. I know it sounds weird, but you go along and you have fun!

'You go to work on an airplane, and you end up making friends and just having that relief.'

He added that the plane had delivered a 'hope-inspired' message during three major conflicts, and its return to former glory was what 'is driving us to get other people involved'.

David Shaw, CEO of the Veterans Foundation, praised Save The Skymaster's work to encourage veterans to get involved in the project, and also meet to talk about their shared struggles during a pandemic which has significantly affected traditional forms of support.

Mr Shaw added that pandemic had help reinvigorate the sectors purpose and motivation to help people who need more support than they might normally because of the lockdown.

Skymaster are motivating people, theyre working in teams. I think the support that they [veterans] get and the motivation and enthusiasm is really beneficial, and their purpose is wonderful as well.

Its very true particularly for people who are unemployed or made redundant to give them a real focus, and rather than twiddling their thumbs at home and wondering what to do next theyre in this tremendous project. Its that camaraderie'

The project has also attracted younger engineers, including graduates Owen Mansfield (left) and Joe Malkin (far right) who are using the project to learn valuable skills by working with older aircraft

Garry Verducci, 53, serves as the charity's membership secretary as well as getting his hands dirty fixing fuel tanks on the weekend, and says the plane gives him a 'getaway' from an incredibly stressful day job

Most of the fuselage repairs are under way, but a major investment is needed for repair each of the four piston engines at a cost of 65,000 each. The project is expected to cost 1million in total

The Skymaster project, now a registered charity, has also attracted the attention of budding engineers, with founder Allan and veterans like Sam keen to pass on their skills to the next generation of aircraft designers and innovators.

When I spoke to Sam about developing younger talent he said: 'We want to pass our skills on so we don't get a group of people who don't go in to look at it and go "oh no this is too much", we want to get people thinking "Yes, we can make this happen".'

Owen Mansfield, 21, is one student who has taken up the opportunity to work on the aircraft as he starts out on his career in engineering.

'We started off just cleaning bits and pieces, but in the last year weve been working on the engines, myself and other volunteers have been taking bits off the engines and cleaning them and refurbishing them and check they all work. There is not a lot of tea-making going on,' he said.

Owen found his passion in engineering from his dad who has worked on older aircraft for over 30 years. When the Skymaster flew over to the UK in 2002, he was working for the company that looked after them, so when the restoration project was started in 2017 Owen knew he wanted to help out.

He had already taken on a three-year apprenticeship scheme at aerospace firm Marshall's in Cambridge in 2017, but unlike many work experience projects the Skymaster has given him the chance to get more hands on and gain a better insight.

'I would like to be a fully qualified aircraft engineer, so working on the Skymaster definitely helps. Not only does it show you are willing to learn all different aspects, it gives you the experience that not everyone may have, it gives you that edge.'

And given his age, is he at all worried about the impact of the pandemic on the industry's long term future?

'I still want to carry it on, and I'm still determined to do what I love so no I'm not going to give it up too easily,' he says defiantly.

Allan Vogel appears determined to inspire more young people to take up engineering, as there is also a potential partnership with Stanstead Airport College on the horizon.

The Skymaster R5D-3, with serial number 56498, was first delivered to the US Navy on 20th May 1945, and was assigned to her first unit VR-11, a Naval Air Transport Squadron based in Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean

Douglas DC-4 Skymasters were even involved in picking up Yemenite Jews from the British Protectorate of Aden to bring them to safety in the newly formed state of Israel in November 1949. Pictured: A DC-4 at the Near East Air Transport (in Alaska Airlines trim)

Pictured: A school visit by an Orthodox Jewish community in March 2019. C-54 Skymasters were used to lift out over 40,000 persecuted Jews to Israel from the Yemen & Saudi Arabia in 1948 in a secret operation by the USAAF called Operation Magic Carpet

Skymasters became famous for the role they played in delivering food and supplies in the Berlin Airlift when the city was cut off from the west of Europe by Soviet forces. 56498 was not involved in the delivery, as it was left stationed in the Pacific. Pictured: Skymasters and Skytrains at Templehof Airport in 1948-49

Having worked with 'famous faces' such as RyanAir and TUI, Jennifer Hogan, the college's head of engineering, said: 'We have lots of students with a very keen interest in some of the older aircraft, so it just gives them a different option rather than working for some of the big passenger airlines.

'We have every hope and ambition that we will have really healthy applications for next academic year

'Weve seen similar things happen in 9/11 and other big hits to the industry and it has always bounced back. There is a lot of airplanes out there and they have to fly again, and we certainly have the students who are ready and keen to take those places and work in the industry as soon as it picks up again.'

While Allan's 18-month timescale to have the plane taxiing up and down the runway with passengers may have been knocked off course, Sam, Garry, Owen and the other volunteers continue to plough on relentlessly.

Most of the fuselage repairs are under way, but a major investment is needed to repair each of the four piston engines at a cost of 65,000 each.

I cant see this getting back to normality any time soon, so really we just need to ride out this storm. I think there is going to be a lot of fallout from it,' says Allan.

'I think we will be a good outlet for people who might have suffered as a result, getting people retrained and refocused. Thats where the Skymaster comes in, it can actually lift people up again and give them hope and an opportunity in life again.

The long-term objective is to operate the Skymaster on the UK and European airshow circuit as a performance aircraft and also for enthusiasts to come and visit.

'It will be a flying museum, its configured with some stretchers in like it was during WW2 with the hospital stations in it.

'The way were going about this restoration is very different to one man and his aeroplane, for his own benefit. This is more about people, and lifting people up.

You can support Save The Skymaster's project to restore the Skymaster 56498 in a variety of ways.

To give 10, text SKYMASTER 10 to 70085 for a regular donation and SKYMASTER 10 to 70450 for a once off donation.

You can also become a member and be kept up to date with Skymaster's restoration progress by visiting their website at https://www.savetheskymaster.org/membership/.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, prepares to receive his first dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Dec. 22, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/Getty Images)

Fauci Says Vaccine Rollout Disappointingly Slow Because States and Counties Lack Resources

Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that vaccine rollout has been disappointingly slow and called for more resources for states and counties to speed up the process.

Trump administration officials had said they projected 20 million people would get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year. According to the CDC, more than 12.4 million doses of Pfizer and Modernas two-dose vaccines have been distributed in the United States as of Dec. 30, but just 2.8 million doses have been administered.

Fauci said in an interview Thursday on NBCs TODAY program that, we wouldve liked to have seen it run smoothly and have 20 million doses into people today, by the end of the [year] 2020, which was the projection. Obviously, it didnt happen and thats disappointing.

Hopefully, as you get into the first couple of weeks in January, the gaining of momentum will get us to the point where we want to be, he said, and called for more resources to boost local efforts to administer the vaccine.

Fauci was asked if, in light of funding constraints at the state and county level, the federal government should take over vaccine administration efforts.

Rather than stepping in and taking over, it would maybe be better to give more resources and work with them, in tandem with them, he said. In other words, not saying, were taking over, were going to do your job, but saying were really going to help you do your job particularly by giving you many more resources.'

Faucis remarks come after President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged states to ramp up vaccine administration.

The Federal Government has distributed the vaccines to the states. Now it is up to the states to administer. Get moving! Trump said in a tweet.

In counties across the United States, the funding crisis has limited the hiring of needed vaccine staff, delayed the creation of vaccination centers, and undermined efforts to raise public awareness, officials told Reuters.

The federal government spent more than $10 billion to speed COVID-19 vaccine development but has so far disbursed little funding for distribution.

A new $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package provides $8.75 billion to states to assist in vaccinations, in line with what state and local officials had requested, but months after distribution work should have begun.

Seattle public health officials have so little COVID-19 funding on hand they worry they will have to shut down some virus testing sites as they mount a campaign to dose their 2.3 million residents with vaccines.

King County, which represents greater Seattle, has $14 million of COVID-19 funding for 2021, roughly enough to fund its operations for a single month, and a fraction of the $87 million emergency COVID-19 aid it received in 2020, said Ingrid Ulrey, the public health policy director for King County.

Weve been on pins and needles the whole last three or four months, watching whats happening at the federal level, waiting, watching, she said. When newly approved federal funds finally trickle down to her level, she expects them to be less than this year, insufficient, and too late.

Its shockingly low, she added. We have a huge new, unprecedented, daunting task of vaccine delivery. King County is at risk of being unable to hire the up to 40 additional staff needed to begin the next wave of public vaccinations.

Nearly 10 million of the 12.4 million doses the government has distributed to states sit unused.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott said Tuesday that a significant portion of COVID-19 vaccines might still be sitting on hospital shelves rather than being administered to vulnerable Texans, adding that the decision to get inoculated is always voluntary.

Abbott made the remarks in a tweet, in which he also said that stockpiles of the vaccine are being replenished regularly, noting, we get plenty more each week.

It comes after the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said there may be unnecessary delays in giving all shots and in reporting administered doses to the states immunization registry.

DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, in a letter urged all entities that have been allotted vaccine to administer their entire allotment with all deliberate speed.

We also know that every day a vaccine sits on the shelf is another day that prolongs the pandemic that is hindering our states economy and way of life, Hellerstedt wrote in the letter, in which he also urged health providers to give the vaccine to all available and willing recipients, regardless of their priority designation, once all readily available and willing recipients in the top priority groups have been served.

Reuters contributed to this report.
F lights from the UK to Norway will resume from Saturday after the Scandanavian country lifted its travel ban on British arrivals.

The Norwegian government halted travel from Britain on December 21 in a bid to stop the spread of a new highly infectious Covid strain.

However, on Friday morning the countrys health ministry said planes would be permitted to land from 4pm on Saturday.

In addition, all people arriving in the Nordic country from abroad will need to be tested for Covid-19, either directly upon arrival or within 24 hours.

"If this strain reaches Norway, it will probably spark a full lockdown," Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Thursday.

The countrys 14-day cumulative number of virus cases per 100,000 inhabitants was down to 113.6 as of Wednesday.

This is the fourth lowest figure in Europe behind Iceland, Greece and Finland, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

More than 40 countries had banned arrivals from the UK by December 20, including Germany, France and Italy.

While some of these have now been lifted, a number of nations have announced extensions to the measures.

UK to Europe flight bans: What do we know so far?

Pakistans travel ban was due to expire at midnight on Decemeber 29, but will now remain in force until January 4.

A day after the decision was announced health officials in the south of the country said they had detected the countrys first three cases of the virus variant.

Meanwhile German authorities said the mutant strain had been detected in samples from two patients who were infected in northern Germany in November.

The health ministry in Lower Saxony state said the samples were tested more thoroughly after news of the new variant emerged in the UK.

They were taken in November from an elderly man with other medical conditions, who later died, and from his wife.

The ministry said the mans daughter had been in England in mid-November and was likely to have been infected there.

ONS: Half of new coronavirus cases in England could be mutant strain

News this month of the variant, which scientists suspect is up to 70 per cent infectious, triggered tighter tiered restrictions across England as well as new hurdles to travel.

Germany, like several other European countries, detected a case of the new variant last week, in a woman who flew in from London on December 20.

Meanwhile India has found six people who returned from Britain in recent weeks infected with the new variant.

What is the new Covid variant?

The latest US case of the Covid-19 variant was reported in Florida on New Years Eve.

The states health department said the new virus mutation was detected in a man in his 20s and that officials were investigating the infection.

The health department did not give further details, such as releasing the mans medical condition or how the strain was detected, though it noted he had no recent travel history.

California on Wednesday announced the nations second confirmed case of the new virus strain.

The announcement came 24 hours after word of the first reported US variant infection, which emerged in Colorado.
The U.S. economy runs on immigration. Immigrants support crucial industries, pay huge amounts in taxes, take care of children and the elderly, sustain American innovation and - perhaps most importantly - make the country a more attractive destination for multinational investment.

Over the past few years, President Donald Trump, the COVID-19 pandemic and the end of the big Mexican migration wave have combined to reduce immigration substantially. With the economy still depressed, the pandemic still lingering and the U.S. image tarnished in the eyes of much of the world, President-elect Joe Biden will face an uphill battle to restore population inflows to a healthy level. But there are still a few important actions he can take.

The high-profile humanitarian issues of asylum seekers, refugees and ICE detention centers will no doubt suck up much of the oxygen in the immigration debate - as the focus on Bidens selection of immigration specialist Alejandro Mayorkas to head the Department of Homeland Security demonstrates. But while those are important issues, Biden cant afford to forget about other kinds of immigration - especially the influx of foreign researchers and students.

In June, Trump issued an executive order halting new visas for scholars from overseas. This action, widely decried by scientists, was extremely foolish at a time when the U.S. was racing to develop new vaccines and treatments for a novel pandemic disease. But its also a very bad economic strategy for the long term.

If China is the workshop of the world, the U.S. is its research park. The concentration of high-value industries in America depends crucially on the presence of top research universities, which in turn depend crucially on attracting the best and brightest scholars from all over the globe. Just as Silicon Valley needs engineers to move in from other cities and just as Houston cant train all its energy industry workers locally, the U.S. - with less than 5 percent of the worlds population - needs to pull in researchers from abroad in order to maintain its pole position as the center of science.

So Biden should immediately rescind the order banning foreign researchers from coming in. His administration should also act vigorously to clear away all of the regulatory and administrative barriers that the Trump administration has erected over the years that make it more difficult for foreign researchers to live and work in the U.S. Those barriers include making it harder to get green cards, and preventing spouses of visa holders from working.

Trump has made vigorous and concerted efforts to deter foreign students from studying in the U.S. Much of this has taken the form of rhetoric, subtle administrative changes, or planned restrictions that havent yet been implemented but cause a chilling effect. These small actions and threats have added up over time, causing a drop in international enrollment.

Biden can and should reverse all of those changes. In addition to making it easier for foreign students to get and keep visas, and to work longer after graduation, Biden can use vigorous and vocal rhetoric to make it clear that the U.S. welcomes foreign students. This will not only help preserve the U.S. dominance in science and technology, but will also help the economies of college towns, which depend on the overseas money that international undergrad students pump into local businesses.

Beyond researchers and students, Biden can do the U.S. a lot of good by making green card processing easier and quicker for all immigrants. While science is of paramount importance, immigrants in general make large contributions to tax revenue.

The reason immigrants are such a fiscal boon is that most of them are skilled individuals -even those who dont come with a college education. Moving to another country to work is itself an indicator of grit, risk-taking and entrepreneurialism. Recent papers by economists Ed Lazear and others have shown that even though its officially based around family reunification, the U.S. immigration system tends to select for the economically successful and upwardly mobile.

Making it easier to get green cards and visas might earn Biden some backlash from those who believe that immigrants primarily compete with native-born Americans for jobs. The truth - that immigration done through legal channels tends to create more jobs than it takes away - will have a hard time penetrating through the misconceptions built up through decades of anti-immigrant rhetoric.

But even if its politically difficult. Biden needs to make foreign researchers and students a priority. The U.S. needs those workers, and neither the pandemic nor the Trump era has changed that fact.
More than three years after the devastating Eagle Creek fire, the trail where the blaze began is now back open to hikers.

The U.S. Forest Service announced Friday that the Eagle Creek Trail has officially reopened, along with several other hiking trails in the Columbia River Gorge that closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Wahclella Trail, Gorge 400 Trail, and portions of the Larch Mountain Trail between Multnomah Falls and the Wahkeena Trail are all now reopened as well. Other trails closed by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire remain closed, including several around Eagle Creek and neighboring John B. Yeon State Park.

Hikers are encouraged to exercise caution as they return to the Eagle Creek Trail and other areas damaged by the wildfire, the forest service said. Already prone to landslides during the rainy season, the many canyons and cliffside areas can be especially dangerous after strong rains or windstorms.

Drivers will also want to check for road closures. The exit to Eagle Creek off Interstate 84 has closed intermittently due to landslides over the last year, closing most recently on Dec. 30.

Reopening the Eagle Creek Trail is a big achievement for officials in the Columbia Gorge, following several years of collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, with work done by the Pacific Crest Trail Association, Trailkeepers of Oregon, Washington Trails Association and Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

Punch Bowl Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, photographed here on March 22, 2016.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The 25-mile trail is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia Gorge, home to several scenic waterfalls found only a few miles from the trailhead. Hikers will now get their first look at how the natural area fared following the fire.

Volunteers and employees spent thousands of hours clearing and rebuilding trails, cutting downed trees, replacing bridges, rebuilding structures and mitigating invasive species to make the area safe for hikers to return, the forest service said.

On behalf of our interagency team I would like to express our gratitude to the public for your patience and support and to all the volunteers whose unwavering commitment, dedication and resources, facilitated our ability to open these trails today, forest supervisor Lynn Burditt said in a news release Friday.

The Eagle Creek Fire was started on Sept. 2, 2017 by a firecracker on the Eagle Creek Trail. The fire burned more than 48,000 acres in the Columbia River Gorge, torching forests around popular hiking areas on the Oregon side of the river. Hundreds of people were evacuated, and 176 hikers required rescue as the blaze quickly spread.

Hikers can check the current status of U.S. Forest Service trails at fs.usda.gov/recmain/crgnsa/recreation and Oregon state park trails at stateparks.oregon.gov.

--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB
Deputies arrested a man at a LaPlace RV park Thursday morning after fired at them through the door of his vehicle, the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office said.

Stephen Compton, 42, of Centreville, Mississippi, eventually surrendered, and deputies booked him with domestic abuse battery involving strangulation and eight counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer.

The deputies arrived at R and S RV Park in the 1100 block of East Airline Highway at about 3:45 a.m. after Compton's girlfriend called 911 to report that he had assaulted her. Deputies didn't fire back at Compton, and no one was injured from his shots, authorities said.

Compton was released from jail on on $45,500 bond.
HOLYOKE  Mayor Alex B. Morse has appointed outgoing Planning and Economic Development Director Marcos Marrero to the Holyoke Gas & Electric board of commissioners.

Marrero replaces Commissioner Robert Griffin, whose term expired June 30.

In November, Marrero announced he would resign his post in the Planning Department effective Jan. 22. Outgoing state Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, was named Marreros replacement shortly after that.

Vegas fourth and final term ends in the coming days. Patricia Duffy, Vegas legislative aide, easily won the 5th Hamden District House seat during the September Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the November general election.

Marrero will serve a six-year term on HG&Es three-member commission, which sets rates and policies for the municipally owned utility.

In addition to his experience with the city, Marcos brings with him to the Commission a breadth of applicable experience and expertise, read a statement issued by Morse.

Marrero helmed the Planning Department for nine years, guiding Holyoke from a manufacturing center toward a more diverse and sustainable economy. Marrero was Morses first significant hire when he became mayor in 2012.

My upcoming departure from the administration has not minimized my interest to remain an active member of our community, Marrero stated. I have always enjoyed my work with the leadership at the HG&E, who I immensely respect and have been driven to emulate in their professionalism, preparedness and effectiveness.

He added, It will be a great honor to bring my life experience to the table as a Commissioner at a time of rapid technological change in the energy and telecommunications realms, where HG&E holds assets and provides vital services to our community.

Before coming to Holyoke, Marrero worked on energy policy for the governors office in his native Puerto Rico. The island has some of the highest energy costs in the U.S., according to the statement.

This included energy incentive and grid interconnection policies, creating a green loan program and promoting diversification of the Islands energy portfolio, the statement noted.

Marrero continued his efforts on energy issues with the New York Energy Policy Office, which worked on City strategies to reduce energy costs to consumers, increase energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.

A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and Princeton University, Marrero taught Environmental Policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and partnered with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission on projects to bolster energy efficiency and renewable energy for Hampden and Hampshire counties.

While Marrero said his time as director of planning was a joy and an experience of a lifetime, he looked forward to a much-needed break and an opportunity to spend more time with his wife, Wanda, and their two children.

I cannot do these things well while occupying my position with the City during this critical time for Holyoke, Marrero said in November.

Besides Marreros planned exit, the final day for Morses chief of staff, Mike Bloomberg, was Thursday. Personnel Director Hector Carrasquillo recently informed the City Council of his pending departure.

After nearly a quarter-century on the job, Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo will retire July 31. Morse appointed Febo chief in July 2018, replacing James Neiswanger. Febo and Neiswanger promoted a community policing model.

On Wednesday, the mayor named Capt. David Pratt, a 27-year department veteran, as Febos permanent replacement. The mayor holds sole authority in hiring the police chief. Morse called for a seamless transition.
French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain on December 31 welcomed Indias eighth tenure at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for two years starting from January 1, 2021. In a statement shattered on Twitter, Lenain not only said that France welcomes India but also vouched for India to get a permanent seat in the agency. French Ambassador to India also expressed eagerness to work alongside India to counter the challenges including terrorism.

France welcomes India as it joins #UNSC for the next 2 years. We are eager to work side by side to uphold international law, fight terrorism and defend #multilateralism. To this end, we also need a UNSC reform that gives India a permanent seat! pic.twitter.com/v1j6rGAkqb  Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia) January 1, 2021

UNSC is composed of 15 members with five permanent states or P-5 that are China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Meanwhile, the remaining 10 are non-permanent members that are elected for a two-year term by the UN General Assembly. Just recently, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava shared the glimpses from the past when India took part in the conferences.

As India returns to the @UN Security Council for its 8th tenure (2021-2022) on 1 January 2021, here are glimpses of the previous seven innings of #IndiainUNSC pic.twitter.com/REDYRNoRUX  Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) December 30, 2020

Read - India Will Promote Fundamental Values, Reinforce Multilateralism At UNSC: Amb Tirumurti

Read - As India Returns To UNSC For 8th Tenure, MEA Shares 'glimpses From Past 7 Innings'

India at UNSC

Indias first tenure at UNSC dated back to 1950-51 when India presided over the adoptions of Resolutions, calling for the cessation of hostilities during Korean War and assistance for Korea, as the president of the UNSC. It was followed by a tenure in 1967-68 when India co-sponsored Resolution 238 and extended the mandate of United Nations Mission Cyprus which was also the first-ever UNSC resolution drafted by India. The nation was again part of the conference in 1972-73 when it urged for the admission of Bangladesh to the UN. However, that resolution failed because a permanent member used the veto. Then in 1977-78, India became an eminent voice for Africa and spoke against Apartheid.

In 1978, then External Affairs Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke in the UNSC backing Namibias independence. Followed by 1984-85, India was yet again a leading voice for resolution of Middle East conflicts including Palestine and Lebanon. In Indias 1991-92 tenure, then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao participated in the first-ever summit-level meeting of the UN Security Council and spoke on the agency's role in the maintenance of global peace as well as security.

India was also part of the UN in 2011-12 when it became a significant voice for the developing nations, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism, Africa. Further, MEA also noted that the first statement on Syria was also during Indias presidency at the UNSC. Now after a gap of some years, the nation is set to return to the council for 2021-22. MEA spokesperson shared the milestones India achieved in the UNSC in a short video shared on Twitter.

Read - PM Modi Calls Vietnam A 'strategic & Vital Partner', Looks Forward To Membership In UNSC

Read - India & UK Hold Bilateral Consultations On UNSC Issues; Focus On Strengthening Ties
Real estate developers are actively restructuring their products towards mid- and low-end segments to be more suitable to the real demands of the market.

Less affordable housing is currently leading to price hikes, photo Le Toan

According to Nguyen The Nhien, deputy general director of Hung Thinh Land, the group has had to scale down its business due to the pandemic, and is carrying out more market research into its investment strategy. We are changing in the three key fields of developing more affordable products, offering reasonable price, and phasing out processes of payment to clients, Nhien said.

According to the Ministry of Construction (MoC), the structure of real estate products in the Vietnamese market now is not sustainable with less proportion of affordable products, while this is now occupying the highest demand from buyers.

In 2020, 65 per cent of launched products in Ho Chi Minh City consisted of high-end and luxury grade products. In Hanoi, around 70 per cent belongs to the mid-end and upper segments.

Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association, told VIR that the products supply is unbalanced. The demand of affordable units (those under $1,000 per square metre) is now very high; however, the supply is now at around 22 per cent of the total market, Chau said.

He added that the mid-end unit ranging from VND25-40 million ($1,000-1,700 per square metre) is occupying around 45 per cent and the high-end segment over $1,700 is occupying less than 40 per cent. The remainder only belongs to low-end and affordable housing.

We have many times suggested that developers restructure their project portfolios moving towards affordable products, low-cost housing, and social housing, Chau said.

Such affordable housing is a key segment for the market, which has the highest liquidation because it can meet the major demand from buyers. The developers however are less interested in the segment due to high costs alongside lower returns of benefit on offer.

It is hard for us to offer affordable products because we are bogged down in bureaucratic procedures, said a representative from one developer in the country.

The lack of affordable housing has led to price hikes and fewer opportunities for mid-income earners to own accommodation.

Many developers have now expanded their portfolios to the outskirts and satellite towns of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where land funds are more readily available.

In Hanoi, with a range of bridges planned to be set up across the Red River, areas such as Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and Hung Yen are becoming primed for many affordable projects. In Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Long An, Binh Duong, and Lam Dong are also becoming magnets for many developers.

According to Kiet Vo, associate director at CBRE Vietnam, satellite cities and provinces are chosen by many developers where the land and demand is available.

Projects are moving to these locations where developers can have project sites easier and the demand for mid-end to affordable housing is high, Kiet said.

Meanwhile Nguyen Xuan Thanh, public policy lecturer at Fulbright Vietnam, cited that in the next five years, apart from the land available, an improved infrastructure system will kick off industrial and tourism properties, as well as speed up industrialisation for areas neighbouring the major cities.

This is a big push for developing real estate market in satellite cities and provinces, Thanh said.

The MoC is now completing a resolution to encourage lower cost housing development, which will then go on to the government for approval.

The limited supply of affordable housing is driving up prices in the whole market, especially as new supply continues to be restricted by the review process and demand keeps rising, said Nguyen Van Dinh, vice chairman of the Vietnam National Real Estate Association. VIR

Bich Ngoc

10 memorable events of HCM City real estate market With the economy been hit hard by Covid-19, the HCM City real estate sector has been facing difficulties. However, there are still bright spots.
On the Centre's directive, and will conduct a dry run for COVID-19 vaccination on Saturday.

The Centre had said a dry run will be conducted by all state and union territories on January 2 to test the linkages between planning and implementation, and to identify the challenges.

The government will conduct the drive in Patiala on January 2 and 3, state Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said in a statement here.

He said as per the Centre's guidelines, has selected Patiala district where the dry run will be conducted at Government Medical College; Sadhbhavna Hospital; and the Community Health Centre in Shatrana.

The UNDP and WHO will be supporting the drive, he said.

In Haryana, the dry run will be held in Panchkula, state's Director General (Health Services) Dr Suraj Bhan Kamboj told PTI.

The drive will be held at three sites, officials said. For each of the three sites, the medical officer in-charge will identify 25 beneficiaries (healthcare workers), the Centre had said.

The states and UTs have been asked to ensure that the data of beneficiaries is uploaded on Co-WIN, an online platform for monitoring the delivery of the vaccine.

Earlier, a two-day dry run for the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccine in two districts of Punjab concluded on Tuesday.

The districts of Ludhiana and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) had been selected for the dry run, aimed at testing the laid out mechanisms for the vaccination roll-out in the health system.

Before Saturday's nationwide exercise, the earlier dry run drill had been planned by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Gujarat.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Doctor Anywhere and PTI at the signing ceremony

The healthcare ecosystem of Doctor Anywhere will support PTI to enhance healthcare experience for its customers at a favourable quotation. Vice versa, PTI will become a crucial and promising partner to bring Doctor Anywhere's brand to a large number of Vietnamese, hence contributing to the 100,000-user milestone of Doctor Anywhere in 2021.

Nguyen Kim Lan, vice director of PTI highly appreciated the cooperation with Doctor Anywhere: The comprehensive collaboration with Doctor Anywhere Vietnam is a testament to PTIs unceasing efforts in bringing a variety of products and distribution channels, trying our best to meet customers needs by complimentary extra-added value. We believe that Doctor Anywheres background in healthcare insurance will contribute to both parties lucrative business in the near future.

The cooperation assures both sides credibility, positive image, and practical advantages within the field, especially in the COVID-19 period. With the power of technology and innovation, healthcare services can be better distributed in the country, easing the current resource constraints on hospitals and doctors, making quality healthcare services more accessible and affordable for all people as well as simplify all medical procedures for Vietnamese patients.

CEO of Doctor Anywhere Vietnam Le Ngoc Hai shared: Doctor Anywheres mission is to build a tech-enabled omni-channel healthcare ecosystem with a strong network of primary and secondary care medical professionals to provide a seamless and integrated quality of care throughout users healthcare journey. We have been striving to reach this target since day one. After a year of development, Doctor Anywhere now has more than 50,000 users with an average of 3,000 made per month."

"Therefore, the signing with PTI is an important step forward. With this landmark agreement with PTI Doctor Anywhere will be able to strengthen our commitment to deliver convenient healthcare solutions tailored to the needs of the Vietnamese people, he added.

Doctor Anywhere, a regional tech-led healthcare company headquartered in Singapore, harnesses the power of technology and connectivity to combine a holistic range of health and wellness services into a single, integrated platform.

From consultations and claims management to appointment booking and wellness shopping, Doctor Anywhere is the one-stop place for all your healthcare needs.

Doctor Anywheres dynamic team currently operates in key markets across the Asia-Pacific, impacting the lives of millions on our platform, with continued expansion throughout the region in pursuit of healthier living.

Meanwhile, established in 1998, and for the past 20 years of growing and innovating, PTI has become one of Vietnams leading non-life insurance enterprises, with an extensive countrywide network of reach and coverage. PTI proudly brings over 100 insurance products of all purposes to both individual and organisational customers.

In today's fast-changing world, PTI determinedly follows its turning-point strategies in applying the latest technology on processing insurance operations, allowing customers to administer their rights and benefits, and has become one of the foremost companies bringing products and services to digital platforms. In 2019, PTI was honored with a B++ (Good) credit rating on its very first year from AMBest, demonstrating the financial capacity as well as the management ability of the company, meeting rigorous international standards.
Thank god the borders are closed. No longer do we need to deal with holidaymakers from other states, heading to the beach in a pair of swimming bathers, demanding a pot at the local pub, while their children beg for an icy pole.

In normal times, Australians behave as if state borders dont matter  but, when it comes to January, they always have. In the winter months we may be one country, girt by sea, but not once we start splashing around in the stuff that is doing the girting.

First up: the question of what to call our beach attire. According to the Macquarie Dictionarys Australian Word Map, its a swimsuit, swimming costume or cozzie in NSW; togs or trunks in Queensland; and the rather posh bathers in Adelaide and Perth.

Sydneysiders don swimsuits, cozzies and swimming costumes. Credit:Tanya Lake

None of these terms make much sense. The word costume seems to imply a superhero  more Wonder Woman than an old bloke in a saggy pair of sluggos. A suit sounds like something youd wear to the office. As for bathers, has anyone since 1920 slipped down to Bondi, not to swim but to bathe?
The government on Friday invited bids to develop a chat bot or voice assistance application like Amazons Alexa or Google Assistant to deliver e-governance services to the public.

The artificial intelligence-based conversational platform is expected to interact with the public in multiple languages, analyse sentiments and intent, collect and analyse data to give personalised experience to users.

The National E-Governance Division of Ministry of Electronics and IT has invited proposals to build the conversational platform that can be deployed on the UMANG platform, which hosts various apps that provide government services to citizens.

The platform should be able to provide assistance with general tasks, including but not limited to availing services of government and available on the UMANG platform such as registration, login, reset password, department service relation information, event, (and) new launch...etc, the request for proposal document said.

The chatbot should be able to turn speech into a textual input and turn text into speech.

Platforms should also have other deep learning capabilities, which can be used by platforms for discovery and recommendation of eligible schemes and services to the users of bots/applications. Users should be recommended best-fit schemes and services available in government domain based on his/her profile, the document said.

The term of the project will be four years from the date it goes live.

NeGD has fixed January 12 for pre-bid conference and January 25 for the last date of bid submission. Bids will open on January 27, evaluation will be done by February 5 and work order is scheduled for the second week of February, according to the document.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - An expert committee set up by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has recommended the emergency use approval for Serum Institute of India's Covishield vaccine. It would be the first COVID-19 vaccine available for emergency use in India if given final approval by DCGI.



The Serum Institute of India (SII) is making the vaccine, Covishield, developed by Oxford University and drug maker AstraZeneca.



Meanwhile, the panel has asked Bharat Biotech to produce more data for Covaxin, its Covid vaccine developed in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).



Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech had applied for emergency use of their coronavirus vaccines last month.



Indian government is planning to start giving vaccine shots from this month, once the vaccine is cleared for a final time by the DCGI. A dry run for vaccination is scheduled in all the states on Saturday.



More than 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have already been stocked by Serum Institute of India. The vaccines is expected to be transported from cold storage to all states as early as Saturday.



Earlier this week, AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine received emergency approval in the UK. The UK's rapid emergency regulatory approval is the first authorization for this vaccine. The UK became the first Western country to start mass vaccination against Covid-19 on December 8 after MHRA granted emergency authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.



The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use in the U.S., which started mass vaccination on December 14. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine also was approved for emergency use in the U.S. on December 18.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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As African countries kick off trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, President Paul Kagame has welcomed the latest development.

The African Union launched the start of the trading of the Continental Free Trade Area on January 1, marking a significant milestone towards the world's largest free-trade zone.

"Cheers to the launch of Trading #AfCFTA, to those who put it all together and the rest of us who have to join in to make it work and worthwhile!!" Kagame said on Twitter.

Cheers to the launch of Trading #AfCFTA,to Those who put it all together and the rest of us who have to join in to make it work and worthwhile!! #AU. Happy New Year All.

- Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) January 1, 2021

The launch is a culmination of years-long negotiations between African countries, which started in 2018 when a landmark agreement was signed in Kigali by leaders of 44 countries.

So far, 54 countries out of 55 have signed the agreement, 33 have ratified it, and over 40 have submitted their offers. This signals that Africa is ready to start trading as a single market.

The agreement envisions a continental market of 1.2 billion people, with a combined Gross Domestic Product of more than $3.4 trillion.

The agreement will also boost the level of intra-Africa trade.

The launch of the trading takes Africa a step closer to the vision of an integrated market on the African continent as it will boost the continent's manufacturing capability and increase exports.

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"This African Continental Free Trade Area should not just be a trade agreement, it should actually be an instrument for Africa's development," Wamkele Mene, the Secretary-General of AfCFTA Secretariat said during the launch.

By 2025, the continent has the opportunity to lift out of poverty 100 million Africans majority of whom are women, cross-border traders, if it implements the AfCFTA effectively, according to the African Development Bank.

Immense opportunity

Mene said the start of trading offers an immense opportunity for the continent to overcome smallness of national economies, and to overcome a lack of economies of scale.

"We have to take active steps to make sure that we place Africa on a path to accelerated industrial development so that by 2035 we are able to double intra-African trade," he noted.

It also means that trading across borders amongst African countries will be easier and cheaper. It also means increased opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs and businesses.

Investors, too, will be able to do business on a single set of trade and investment rules across the African continent, overcoming market fragmentation that has characterized the continent for decades.

The President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Benedict Oramah said 400 African banks are on board to provide trade finance support to African businesses.

That number is expected to increase to 500 banks soon with a combined $8bn trade finance capacity in the next 18 months.

jbizimungu@newtimesrwanda.com

Follow https://twitter.com/Julio_Bizimungu
Recently, a proposal turned almost tragic when a woman slipped and fell off a cliff almost immediately after saying "yes" to her boyfriend.

The incident occurred on top of the beautiful Falkart mountain in Carinthia, Austria. The 27-year-old man popped the question to his 32-year-old girlfriend atop the cliff. Moments after she said yes and agreed to marry him, the woman slipped and fell almost 650 ft from the cliff.

In an attempt to save her, the man too fell. However, he was lucky as he managed to cling on to the mountainside after falling 50 ft.

Their proposal did not end in a tragic way because the woman fell on a bed of snow which broke her fall. Thanks to the snow, she survived the near fatal fall. A passerby spotted her lying in the snow and alerted authorities who then rescued her. The man had to be rescued by a helicopter crew. He suffered a fracture in his vertebra.

This is not the first time we've come across reports of people falling off cliffs, either while clicking selfies or while proposing.

A 48-year-old woman was seriously injured after she fell off a cliff while clicking a selfie at famous hill station Saputara in Dang district of neighbouring Gujarat in September.

Proposing at a potentially dangerous location is not the craziest thing people have done for love.

In what would look like an out-of-the-movie scene, a young man from Kerala's Kannur razed down his neighbour's grocery shop using an earth mover in October. The young man was disgruntled with his neighbour as he stalled his wedding plans.

Tired of his complaints not being taken note of by the authorities, 30-year-old Albin Mathew decided to take the matters in his own hands. In a fit of fury, the young man did exactly what was shown in the recent Malayalam blockbuster Ayyappanum Koshiyum starring Prithviraj and Biju Menon. The movie shows the protagonist razing down a half-done yet occupied home of his rival in the dead of the night, something similar that Mathew did to his neighbour Soji.

However, not all proposals end up tragic. In a recent incident, a man named Conor OSullivan proposed to his girlfriend Paula Carbo Zea, a train driver at a Dublin station. A video that had been recorded by one of the passengers has won the internet's heart. Most people have been reacting with love-filled comments and good wishes for the couple. The incident took place at a railway station in Dublin. Other staff members of the railways were also present there and were seen recording videos and cheering for the couple.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden says hes seeking reelection in 2022, ending speculation that Oregons senior senator might retire and pave the way for a crowded lineup of potential replacements.

Wyden, 71, told Oregon Public Broadcasting that he believes he has more work to do in Washington D.C.

Of course Im running, the Democrat said. Theres so much to do for Oregonians, and Id very much like to have the honor of representing Oregonians again.

Wyden holds several key positions in Congress, including on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Should Democrats regain control of the Senate this month, Wyden is in line to chair the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

One of his priorities in the coming Congress, Wyden said, is wildfire preparation and prevention. He and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley have proposed creating a 21st Century civilian conservation corps  essentially a modern re-creation of a program that was part of President Franklin Roosevelts efforts to pull the United States out of the Great Depression.

Wyden said the racial justice protests of 2020 changed the way he thinks about his job. For example, he said, the Senate Finance Committee is looking at racial injustices in the health care system.

You look, for example, at the fact that so often in affluent white suburbs theres an incredible array of health care services. But in communities of color, very often, what were seeing is almost healthcare deserts, where they really lack for basic services, he said. ... These challenges are going to have to be priorities for every single senator, for every single committee, and they will be at the top of my list.

Hes hoping President-elect Joe Biden makes infrastructure a priority during his first 100 days in office.

I believe the big major piece of legislation right out of the gate needs to be infrastructure, roads, bridges, Wyden said. This is a chance to put folks to work. It creates jobs.

Wydens decision to seek reelection changes the political calculus for ambitious politicians planning ahead. Though the 2022 campaigns are more than a year from entering high gear, speculation is already mounting about which Democratic leaders might be considering seeking higher office.

Wydens announcement means there will be only one high profile statewide job up for grabs: The governorship. Gov. Kate Brown is term-limited out of office in 2022.

 AP
India has asked Pakistan to investigate the recent demolition of a temple at a village in the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the neighbouring country.

New Delhi conveyed to Islamabad its serious concern over repeated instances of atrocities against minority Hindus in Pakistan. A source said India had also asked Pakistan to share with its investigation report into the recent incident of demolition of a temple at Terri in Karak district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the neighbouring country.

As the video of the demolition of the temple by a mob led by a local cleric and supporters of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman faction) was circulated online, the Pakistan government drew flak not only from human rights activists within the country but also from India.

India conveyed to the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi that it would expect the authorities in the neighbouring country to conduct an investigation into the incident and ensure strict action against people responsible for vandalisation and demolition of the temple.

The local police have already arrested 30 people in connection with the incident, mostly radical Islamists, according to reports in the media. The complaint registered with the local police named nearly 350 people. The Supreme Court of Pakistan also took note of the incident and asked the local authorities to appear before it on January 5.

New Delhi, according to the sources, conveyed to Islamabad that it expected Pakistan, in the discharge of its responsibilities, to look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities including protection of their religious rights and cultural heritage.
Andrea Norem loves teaching English at New Milford High School.

Its a job she has been unable to perform since in-person learning resumed in the fall because she has an immune system her doctor says would not survive the COVID-19 virus.

She has been living off short-term disability checks since her sick time ran out on Oct. 13.

Norem has ideas how schools should spend their share of the new stimulus relief bill on its way to Connecticut.

I think providing accommodations for those who cant work is a good idea, definitely, said Norem.

According to Gov. Ned Lamont, Connecticut will get $8 billion of federal stimulus relief. Of that, $492.4 million will go to K-12 education and $225.1 million to public and private colleges and universities.

Peter Yazbak, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, said districts will get funding based on the formula used to distribute federal Title 1 funds.

Stimulus money can be used for school facilities repairs to improve indoor air quality.

2 1 of 2 Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less



It can also help address learning loss among students.

Don Williams, executive director of the Connecticut Education Association, the states largest teachers union, said one way to address learning loss is to stop making teachers instruct two groups of students at once: those in front of them and those learning remotely.

It provides a diminished presentation to both, said Williams.

His solution is to have the teachers who must work from home be the ones to teach students learning remotely.

Outgoing state education commissioner Miguel Cardona "said that is something that should happen, but there is not a mandate for that, said Williams.

It is unclear how many teachers unable to work in schools are being allowed to teach from home. Some, say the CEA, have been forced to retire or resign.

Many teachers (are) in between and struggling like Andrea, said Nancy Andrews, a CEA spokeswoman.

Norem has taught 35 years but only 17 in public schools. Approaching 60, she said she is too young to retire. Her husband recently had surgery and is out of work. She cares for her 93-year-old mother and has two children living at home.

Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that causes weight loss and an inability to digest food properly, Norem tires easily.

Its hard, she said. Sometimes, we have to determine what to pay, how much and when. Christmas was hard. I dont mean to complain and I dont want to make it sound like I am angry at the district. Its just (teachers) are important. It doesnt seem people get that.

If she were healthy, Norem said shed be in school. If offered the vaccine and her doctor approves, she said she will take it.

I love what I do, she said. I just cant be exposed to COVID.

Williams said some stimulus money should be spent on random COVID-19 testing in schools and agrees with investing some to improve school air quality, which he said was a health concern even before the pandemic.

As for higher education, the University of Connecticut has a list ready on how to spend its share of the stimulus package, estimated at $32.2 million.

Some $10.7 million will be spent on student financial aid. The rest will go to defray expenses associated with the novel coronavirus, including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred and technology costs associated with distance education.

This relief package will enable UConn to respond to the growing demand for emergency assistance, as many students are facing serious and unexpected financial hardship that may endanger their ability to remain enrolled at the university, said Nathan Fuerst, UConns Vice President for Enrollment Planning and Management.

The aid will also help UConn close a projected deficit of $8 million in this fiscal year and mitigate a projected deficit in the next fiscal year, which begins in July 2021, he said.

The Connecticut College and University system, which oversees 17 other public institutions in the state, has not indicated how it will divvy up its stimulus money.
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Kim Jong Un thanked North Koreans for supporting his leadership in "difficult times" in a rare hand-written New Year letter released Friday ahead of a crucial ruling party congress that will set the country's economic goals.

The personal message came after the isolated North put on a performance featuring fireworks, singing and dancing in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square to usher in the new year, despite the coronavirus pandemic, which the North insists has yet to reach its shores.

Kim usually delivers a televised speech on January 1 that is scrutinised by Korea-watchers for signs of where the reclusive state is headed in the new year.

But he skipped the occasion last year, replacing it with an address he had delivered at a party meeting the previous year.

It is widely expected that he will again drop the televised speech this year ahead of the country's first congress in five years.

State media have said the event will be held in early January but have yet to specify the exact dates.

"I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people, good health," Kim said in the letter carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

"In the new year, too, I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true.

"I offer thanks to the people for having invariably trusted and supported our Party even in the difficult times," he added, apparently referring to economic hardship brought by international sanctions and strict anti-coronavirus measures.

South Korean media said it was the first time since 1995 that a North Korean leader has sent a New Year card to the country's citizens, the last one coming from Kim's father Kim Jong Il.

Kim also visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun mausoleum on the outskirts of Pyongyang at midnight, according to KCNA, to pay his respects to his grandfather and father -- North Korean founder Kim Il Sung and his successor Kim Jong Il.

Story continues

The congress, which is expected to set out a new economic and political plan, will be the first such meeting in five years, and only the eighth in North Korea's history.

The 2016 congress was the first in North Korea in 36 years.

The congress is expected to take place ahead of the January 20 inauguration of Joe Biden as US president.

Relations with the United States have been deadlocked since talks between President Donald Trump and Kim stalled early last year.

Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and the Trump administration ground to a halt after the collapse of the Hanoi summit in early 2019 over sanctions relief.

The incoming US president has characterised Kim as a "thug", while Pyongyang has called Biden a "rabid dog".

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Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has granted pardon to 12 prisoners in the state to mark the beginning of 2021.

This is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, on Friday, in Kaduna.

Mr Adekeye said the pardon was in exercise of the powers conferred on the governor by Section 212 of the Constitution, on the recommendation of the state Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

He said those pardoned included 10 convicts who were serving sentences of three years and above, with six months or less to the end of their term.

Mr Adekeye said that the two other convicts were pardoned on age ground.

The Special Adviser said the governor also commuted sentences of three other convicts to five years for good conducts.

The governor has also commuted the death sentence of one Joshua Yashim to life imprisonment,Mr Adekeye said, explaining that the convict was sentenced to death by hanging for culpable homicide on June 9, 2011.

He has been in prison since 2007 when the offence was committed and has spent 13 years there. He did not appeal due to lack of resources, he said.

(NAN)
Terra Vi Lodge Yosemite View Photo

Sonora, CA  After a six hour meeting, Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the Environmental Impact (EIR) Report for the Terra Vi Lodge Yosemite project with a limit on green house gas emissions. Most of the time was spent assessing possible EIR errors, and several hours of public comments, many against and some in support of the project.

The Terra Vi Lodge Yosemite project plans to construct 140 guest rooms, 25 cabins, a market, and a lodge near the intersection of Highway 120 and Sawmill Mountain Road. There will also be employee housing, outdoor amenities, walkways and parking. It will spread across 64-acres at the intersection of Highway 120 and Sawmill Mountain Road approximately half way between the community of Buck Meadows and the Yosemite National Park entrance.

Additional discussion by the supervisors related to the site development permit took another hour and also passed 5-0. The development permit addressed additional well monitoring due to neighbors concerns about their wells and drought. It was added that current monitoring wells on the property be used to monitor ground water levels similar to the production wells and that data be report to the state. Reduction of vegetation for fire clearance was discussed but no additional requirement was added. The supervisors discussed the helicopter landing pad and stated that no private helicopters would be allowed to use the landing site, with FAA and Caltrans able to fine any improper non emergency use of it.

Those in favor of the new lodging praised its economic and tax boost for the area while those opposed voiced concerns of a lack of water, wildfire safety and traffic. Karl Rodefer noted that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which requires an EIR process has taken three years, stating This is far from rushed he agreed with Supervisor John Grey that to let incoming supervisors decide would be kicking the can down the road and delay the project another six months noting, Were trying to do the best that we can, all be at with a limited timeframe. This board has been immersed in this project at least the last six months and our staff has been immersed in it for the three years. He concluded, I believe after looking at it, and I know the opponents; John Buckley at CSERC [Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center] and maybe the river trust, youre not going to agree with me. I believe our EIR does meet the adequacy standard. Sherry Brennan added she believed the demand for lodging from people wanting to visit public lands in Tuolumne will only increase in the future. Supervisor District 3 Anaiah Kirk noted the boards process wasnt perfect, but said, I dont think any way that we were to do this, I think it is still going to be litigated. Unfortunately the only people who win in these situations are attorneys.

As earlier reported here, the planning commission approved the plans and it was appealed to the board.

With this approval the project developers, Hanji Corporation an investment group out of Los Angeles, can move forward with any grading or building permits.

As reported here the hearing on whether to approve the Terra Vi Lodge at Yosemite ended abruptly on Tuesday evening. The project was in the news on May 2, 2019 when the public comment period opened as detailed here.

Two weeks ago the supervisors supported the luxury tent camping resort, Yosemite Undercanvas, planned for Highway 120 and Hardin Flat Road on Dec. 18 as reported here. Yosemite Undercanvas includes 99 rental tent units, a reception tent, mobile kitchen, laundry facilities and bathrooms spread over 80 acres. An appeal of the 5-1 approval by the planning commission was filed, sending it to the board of supervisors. Conditions were added to the project by the supervisors including not allowing the developer to use wood stoves for heating the luxury tents, they must use propane, pedestrian pathways to the YARTS bus turnouts, and using roughly $272,000 in traffic impact mitigation fees collected from the developer for improvements to Hardin Flat Road.

Thursday was the final meeting for outgoing supervisors John Gray, Sherri Brennan and Karl Rodefer. Incoming supervisors Kathleen Haff, David Goldemberg and Jaron Brandon will take the oath of office next week.
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Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, had undergone surgery for a blood clot before he suffered a heart attack and died Tuesday, it has been revealed

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, had undergone surgery for a blood clot before he suffered a heart attack and died Tuesday, it has been revealed.

The Louisiana Republican House Representative-elect tragically passed away due to COVID-19 complications while undergoing treatment for the virus at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport, weeks after he spoke at GOP campaign events to maskless crowds.

His death sent shockwaves through the government and the nation given his age and that he had no underlying health conditions, as he became the first federally-elected official to die from the infection.

New details have emerged about the treatment he was undergoing in hospital in his final moments.

Letlow had developed a COVID-related blood clot and underwent two procedures to treat it, the Monroe News-Star reported.

The second follow-up procedure appeared to go to plan on Tuesday but Letlow then suffered a heart attack later that day and died.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor G.E. Ghali told the paper his death was 'devastating to our entire team'.

'He had no underlying conditions. It was just COVID,' he added.

This comes as Letlow's wife and two children prepare to mourn the 41-year-old at his funeral which is planned for 2p.m. Saturday afternoon at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe.

Letlow, who had spoken in favor of ending lockdowns, was due to be sworn into office Sunday by his predecessor US Representative Ralph Abraham.

Because he could not attend the in-person event in Washington, arrangements were being made for it to take place at his hospital bedside, before Letlow's shock death Tuesday.

His death was first confirmed in a post to his official Facebook page.

The married father-of-two died just 11 days after revealing he'd tested positive for the virus on December 18.

At the time, he said he was at home, 'resting, following all CDC guidelines, quarantine protocols, and the recommendations of my doctors'. He was being treated with Remdesivir and steroids - part of the same treatment President Trump was given.

But the following day, he revealed he was undergoing treatment at St Francis Hospital in Monroe.

Letlow, pictured wearing a mask in this photograph is pictures with his wife and two kids last month

In the weeks and months before his death, Letlow held multiple campaign events, including meet-and-greets where sometimes both he and attendees did not wear masks and in some cases were not adhering to social distancing. Pictured in a social media post November 3

An image from a Nov. 9 campaign event in Washington Parish shows a maskless Letlow addressing the crowd, who many also appeared to have forgone PPE

A packed campaign event shows supports - some wearing masks - applauding Letlow as he enters a crowded room (picture taken September 12)

The Congressman-elect sometimes wore a mask when campaigning, sometimes he didn't

Three days after being admitted, his office said he had been transferred to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center.

Chancellor of the hospital, G.E Ghali , later confirmed he died after going into cardiac arrest after undergoing an operation related to the virus.

It's not currently known when or where Letlow may have contracted the virus.

In the weeks and months before his death, Letlow held multiple campaign events, including meet-and-greets where sometimes both he and attendees did not wear masks and in some cases were not adhering to social distancing.

He posted numerous photos to his Facebook page of himself and dozens of others at campaign and community events without masks and without social distancing.

Letlow and his family pictured on December 5 casting their votes at a local elementary school

In one image, posted November 3, Letlow is seen speaking to the media surrounded by supporters holding placards. None of the 17 people depicted - including Lutlow - are wearing a face covering.

Just six days later, at an outdoor campaign event in Washington Parish, Letlow uploaded images to Twitter of him posing for photos with attendees. Once again neither he nor they were wearing facemasks at the time the images were taken.

Other pictures from the event show Letlow speaking in front of the maskless crowd as they sit down for a meal. The vast majority either don't have, or aren't wearing, a facemask.

Similarly, at an earlier indoor event on September 12, a maskless Letlow is seen walking inside to be greeted by a group of cheering supporters. A large number of those in attendance, the majority elderly, do appear to be wearing masks.

Then again on October 30, Letlow met with supporters for an event outside of a Big Box Bargains store. While he and the guests pictured were not wearing masks, they did appear to be standing at a social distance.

On other occasions while campaigning, however, Letlow was seen to be wearing a mask, particularly for indoor events.

Pictures posted to his campaign's since-deleted Facebook page indicate that he'd typically wear a mask for indoor events, but often not for those staged outside.

In October, during a Congressional seat debate, Letlow also voiced support for states across the US easing lockdown restrictions and reopening their economies - despite the ongoing pandemic.

'So while we've been cautious and I think both the state and federal level have taken numerous precautions for COVID-19,' he said during the candidate forum. 'We're now at a place if we do not open our economy we're in real danger.'

Letlow also credited President Trump early on in the pandemic for showing 'tremendous leadership and a remarkable ability to get things done quickly during this national emergency.

'America is defeating COVID-19,' he wrote in an April 7 tweet, 'and our nation will come out stronger because of it.'

Letlow, from the small town of Start in Richland Parish, was elected in a December runoff election for Louisiana's sprawling 5th District U.S. House seat representing central and northeastern regions of the state, including the cities of Monroe and Alexandria.

He secured the seat with a landslide 62 percent of the vote and would have been Rep. Ralph Abraham's successor who didn't seek reelection after honoring a pledge to serve a limit of three terms.

He is the first member or member-elect of Congress to die from the coronavirus. It's unclear whether any of his family has tested positive for the virus.

Letlow and his wife Julia with their two young children in a recent photo they used for their Thanksgiving card

Friends of Letlow have spoken out in shock over his death, remembering him as a champion of rural America who was 'destined for great things'.

'He was very uncommon when you compare him to modern-day politicians, especially the younger politicians. He was very rural rooted and he loved being from a rural community,' Scott Franklin, Letlow's best friend and campaign chairman, told Insider. 'He fully understood the struggle that rural America is going through.

'Luke was going to be the rural champion,' he continued.

Mike Smith, a longtime friend of Letlow, told WAFB that he was born to be a House Representative.

'What I found most interesting about Luke was the fact he really cared about people,' Smith told the network.

'He was more interested in knowing where they worked and where the family was from and, you know what they did to sustain themselves and how they were maybe in a related and some instances. He was more interested in the people part of politics than the petty part of politics.'

Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to call a special election to fill the now-vacant congressional seat.

The new election will likely be combined with an existing special election in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District. That seat is being vacated by Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond, who is joining Joe Biden's cabinet.

Letlow is pictured with President Trump, who also contracted COVID-19 earlier this year. In April, Letlow tweeted that Trump was 'defeating COVID'

Letlow'swife Julia has not yet issued a public statement on her husband's passing. A press conference will be arranged in the new future, a representative said

When he announced his positive test for COVID-19, Letlow joined a list of Louisiana officials who have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began, including U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Attorney General Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson and U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond.

On December 21, while hospitalized in Monroe, Letlow urged those who had recovered from the virus to donate plasma to help 'save lives'.

'Your plasma is ESPECIALLY needed by those who are suffering,' he wrote in a tweet. 'I cannot stress this enough. Please consider saving lives by going out and donating at your local blood bank.'

In a statement announcing his death Tuesday, his campaign manager Andrew Bautsch wrote: 'Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, 41, passed away this evening at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport due to complications from COVID-19.

'Letlow was admitted into a Monroe Hospital on December 19 after testing positive for the coronavirus and was transferred to Ochsner-LSU Health on Tuesday, December 22, and placed in intensive care.

'Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, Phd., and two young children.

Gov. John Bel Edwards offered condolence via Twitter and in a lengthier statement

'The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time.

'A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.'

Gov. Edwards offered condolences via Twitter Tuesday night, writing: 'It is with heavy hearts that @FirstLadyOfLA and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlow's family on his passing after a battle with COVID-19. #lagov.'

'COVID-19 has taken Congressman-elect Letlow from us far too soon,' Edwards said in a lengthier statement. 'I am heartbroken that he will not be able to serve our people as a U.S. representative, but I am even more devastated for his loving family.

'I hope all of the people of Louisiana will join Donna and me in praying for Congressman-elect Letlow's family, especially his wife Julia and their two children, his many friends and the people of the 5th Congressional District. Louisiana has lost more than 7,300 people to COVID-19 since March, and each one of them leaves a tremendous hole in our state.'

Gov. Edwards said that flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of Letlow's funeral.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also lamented Letlow's passing during her weekly press conference Wednesday.

'[W]e extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old. Coronavirus blood clot complications,' Pelosi said.

'This could have happened to anyone and it has to nearly 350,000 Americans,' she added.

Letlow had tweeted several times since receiving his diagnosis on December 18th

Letlow appeared to have been preparing for Congress all of his life ever since he was president of the College Republicans at Louisiana Tech University. He is pictured here at the Republican National Convention in 2000

Letlow secured the seat with 62 percent of the vote and would have been Rep. Ralph Abraham's successor, left, who didn't seek reelection after honoring a pledge to serve a limit of three terms. The pair are pictured together in August 2020

Letlow spent his career in politics.

He arrived in Abraham's office in 2014 after a stint working for a Denver energy company in governmental relations but he seemed as though he had been preparing for Congress all of his life ever since he was president of the College Republicans at Louisiana Tech University.

He interned for former Louisiana Republican 5th District Congressman John Cooksey of Monroe and was so keen to be involved after returning home he became Cooksey's driver in 2001 while still in college.

Letlow then managed to become involved with Bobby Jindal working on his failed 2003 governor's campaign.

When Jindal finally became Louisiana's Republican Governor from 2008 to 2016, Letlow was there once again, working as a senior staffer for the young governor during his first term.

Jindal tweeted his condolences on Tuesday night.

'Supriya and I are heartbroken to learn of @LukeLetlow's passing. Luke has been a good friend for so many years, and we are saddened he was taken from us at such a young age. We had talked in recent days about his excitement about the opportunity to serve the people of the 5th Congressional district, and his love and devotion for Julia and their kids.

'I first met Luke when he was still a college student, and spent countless hours with him in his truck driving the back roads of Louisiana. His passion for service has been a constant throughout his life. He truly enjoyed meeting people, learning about them, and helping them. We keep Luke, his family, and especially his young children in our prayers,' Jindal wrote.

Letlow is pictured at another campaign event alongside some prospective voters

Letlow then managed to become involved with Bobby Jindal working on his failed 2003 governor's campaign and then as a senior staff from 2008

Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, Phd., and two young children. The couple are shown above on their wedding day in 2013

Letlow is pictured in July after signing up to run for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Letlow was able to connect Jindal with Louisiana's rural voters.

He took him to Protestant churches, volunteer fire stations and convenience stores at country crossroads in northern and central Louisiana according to The News-Star.

'In his first campaign Bobby had trouble connecting with rural voters; we changed that in 2007,' said Letlow.

'Those were exciting times,' he said. 'Bobby was young and brilliant and energetic. It was an electric atmosphere.'

Just two years into Jindal's first term as governor Letlow left the team abruptly after sensing that Jindal's focus was shifting to national politics and a possible presidential bid.

'There's not necessarily anything wrong with that, but it wasn't a path I wanted to take even though I thought he might win,' he said.
Bharat Dynamics rose 1.53% to Rs 344.30 after the company said that it is geared up to take up export orders for Akash Missile.

With the announcement from the Union Cabinet regarding clearance of Akash Weapon System for export, Bharat Dynamics (BDL), the manufacturer of Akash Missile, is geared up to take up export order.

Given the export potential and demand of Akash in the international market, BDL has been promoting the product at various forums including national and international exhibitions The missile being offered for exports will be of a different version. BDL is already supplying Torpedoes to a foreign country, it added.

The Akash Weapon System, designed and developed by DRDO with 96% indigenous content, is being manufactured by BDL at its Hyderabad Unit with a large number of supply chain partners which include DPSUs, MSMEs and private industry.

BDL manufactured Akash Missiles are already in the inventory of the Indian Army as well as Indian Air Force and the successful test firing results reaffirm the Company's commitment to achieve the highest quality standards about product and support to its customers.

Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd), CMD, BDL, stated: "The company has received export leads for the Akash Weapon System. Now, with the export clearance accorded by the Government of India, BDL is set to expand its customer base in the international market. The company is confident of meeting the export demand in addition to meeting requirements of the Indian Armed Forces, as BDL has adequate established production facilities."

Bharat Dynamics manufactures defense equipment. The company offers ammunitions, counter measures dispensing, infra red interference indicators, and missile systems. It serves military and aerospace industries in India. As of 30 September 2020, the Government of India held 74.93% stake in the company.

The company's standalone net profit tanked 75.3% to Rs 26.25 crore on 62.6% slump in net sales to Rs 240.03 crore in Q2 September 2020 over Q2 September 2019.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

What was the point of Brexit when the island of Britain has been so desperate to keep its

borders open with the very same Europe it wanted to leave? Why are Fox and Sky commentators still bagging the COVID vaccine when Rupert Murdoch was first in line to get his? And why did it take a lockdown to learn that washing your hands, owning pets and not kissing strangers is good for your health? Of course, the single biggest mystery of the moment is why on earth the sharemarket is at record levels when the global economy was shuttered for much of the year? And it's not just stocks soaring but art and house prices while simultaneously banks, economists and businesses are giving dire warnings of the collapse of entire sectors from tourism to property developers. So how can we be in a boom and a bust at the same time?

Many experts have explained it as the result of the trillions of dollars in cheap money thrown at the crisis by governments around the world and that money is now looking for any investment opportunity. Or is it simply so crazy that, as Wall Street analyst Charlie McElligott explained last week, "the market right now is clearly foaming at the mouth". It could also be because the rich got richer this year which begs the question, how did the world's billionaires increase their wealth by 25 per cent in a year when everyone else went backwards? If we were all in this together  well, we know the answer to that one. Certainly, our own billionaires did well including Solly Lew, Bruce Gordon, Gerry Harvey  but why did Twiggy Forrest move to Croatia in September?

And on the subject of greed  why do ordinary people still give their money to some dodgy person such as Melissa Caddick who offer 30 per cent returns when the bank is offering less than 1 per cent? Has everyone forgotten Bernie Madoff and his pyramid schemes of the last GFC? There are plenty of other questions about how much the world has really changed despite the avalanche of stories this year telling us so. My prediction is that most predictions will be wrong. For example, after September 11 it was predicted that no one would live on high floors in Manhattan but today the skyline is full of record-high glass skyscrapers. The main impact on airline travel was enhanced security and having to remove shoes but that did not deter record passenger numbers in recent years. All year we were told the work-from-home revolution would now be permanent, but why

did so many employers rush to bring everyone back as soon as things calmed down? Or are

they just bad managers who dont trust staff working from home as malingers?

(While publicly business leaders claim they are looking at a 60-40 office home model in the

future some privately admit it might be more like 80-20. No Mondays and Fridays off to

make up for long weekends either). Loading Once this nightmare is over will we enter a new Roaring Twenties phase as the Bright Young Things hug, dance, sing and party like its 1921 or at least 2019? Will they forsake the tracksuits for high heels and frocks thus proving the fashion doomsayers wrong? No question it will all end in a 1929-style stockmarket crash. And what of those people being unfaithful or doing illicit things during the pandemic. Will QR codes lead to an outbreak of fidelity and honesty or will there inevitably be a privacy backlash?
A proposal for new modern jails all over Maharashtra was tabled in front of the chief minister and deputy chief minister of the state three days ago, said Anil Deshmukh, minister of home affairs, Maharashtra. The proposal is for 7-8 new facilities including one in Pimpri-Chinchwad and one in Mumbai.

The minister was speaking in the context of the long-standing issue of overcrowding in jails in the state during his visit to Yerawada Central Jail on Friday to greet the inmates on the occasion of the new year.

Like foreign countries, multi-storeyed jails, where undertrail prisoners can be housed, were proposed three days ago to the chief minister and deputy chief minister, said Deshmukh.

Also Read: Maharashtra: Covid-19 cases decline by 82% from September to December

The current population in Maharashtra jails is 30,649 as on December 31, 2020. However, that is still 8,000 in excess of the capacity of the jails in the state, which are 47 in number.

In Yerawada, a temporary facility was set up at Babasaheb Ambedkar Research And Training Institute students hostels located around a kilometre from the central prison. However, when the pandemic comes to an end or when the school decides to reopen, the facility will have to be vacated. The temporary prison is housing 212 persons as on December 31, 2020.

The officials of the jail have managed to keep the spread of the contagion under control even though the jails are housing about 8,000 above their capacity, said Deshmukh.

The Yerawada central jail currently houses over 5,400 inmates, including women.
PMC Bank: ED attaches Rs 72-cr assets of man whose wife transferred funds to Sena leader's spouse

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 01: The ED on Friday said it has attached assets worth Rs 72 crore of a Maharashtra-based man whose wife's alleged transaction with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's spouse is under its scanner in the over Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case.

The central probe agency alleged that the man, Pravin Raut, had "siphoned off" Rs 95 crore worth of funds from the scam-hit bank in the garb of loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife, Madhuri Raut, who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Varsha Raut, wife of Sanjay Raut, as an "interest-free loan."

The ED recently summoned Varsha Raut for questioning with regard to this transaction and a few other deals leading to a political blame game between Maharashtra and the Centre with various constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) led state government alleging that the Centre was using federal probe agencies to harass them.

Varsha Raut skipped the agency's notice thrice and is now expected to join probe before the ED in Mumbai on January 5. Sanjay Raut, while holding a press conference in Mumbai early this week, had denied any wrongdoing on the part of his wife and said they were in correspondence with the ED in connection with the case for about one-and-a-half months. Raut, 59, is a Rajya Sabha MP and also a spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, which is in power in Maharashtra and is a former ally of the BJP. He said details regarding the Rs 55 lakh loan transaction have already been submitted to the ED during the correspondence.

The ED said it has provisionally attached Rs 72 crore worth of assets of Pravin Raut under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as it explained in a statement the alleged financial links between him his wife and that of Sanjay Raut's spouse. "Probe revealed that Rs 95 crore has been siphoned off through HDIL by one of the accused Pravin Raut in active conspiracy and connivance with various persons. "The source of the funds were illegal availed loans/advances by HDIL from PMC Bank. There was no document or agreement in support of these payments made to Pravin Raut," the ED alleged in a statement.

It said "as per the ledger of HDIL, the funds were given to Pravin Raut for acquiring land in Palghar area." The probe found, it said, that Pravin Raut "paid an amount of Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Pravin Raut from the proceeds of crime. Out of the said money, Madhuri Raut transferred Rs 55 lakh (Rs 50L on December 23, 2010 and Rs 5L on March 15, 2011) as interest-free loan to Varsha Raut who is the wife of Sanjay Raut".

"The amount was further utilised for purchase of flat in Dadar East, Mumbai," the ED claimed. The probe found that Varsha Sanjay Raut and Madhuri Pravin Raut "are partners in Avani Construction and Varsha Raut has received Rs 12 lakh from this entity (as overdrawn capital converted to loan) on a contribution of mere Rs 5,625." "The loan amount of Rs 12 lakh still remains outstanding," it said.

The ED had filed a criminal case of money laundering to probe the alleged loan fraud in the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank in October last year against Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), its promoters Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, his son Sarang Wadhawan, its former chairman Waryam Singh and ex-managing director Joy Thomas.

It took cognisance of a Mumbai Police economic offences wing FIR against them that charged them for causing "wrongful loss, prima facie to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank, and corresponding gains to themselves". The ED has attached assets of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Wadhawan family trust and others worth Rs 293 crore and had seized jewellery worth Rs 63 crore. A chargesheet had also been filed by it in this case.
Mumbai:

On the eve of NDA governments third anniversary, the Congress party will hold a day-long protest in Mumbai on Friday against inefficiency of the Centre.

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam told reporters on Thursday that the BJP has completely failed to fulfil its poll promises.

Soldiers are dying on the border due to constant attacks by the enemy. Terror activities and intolerance are rising. Youths, farmers, women, small industries and salaried people have nowhere to go today, he said.

Congress will hold a day-long protest at Azad Maidan on Friday against the inefficient government, deteriorating law and order situation and the financial hardships being faced by the people, he added.

Nirupam said that senior Congress leader and former union minister RPN Singh, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan, MPs, MLAs and corporators will take part in the protest.

Also read: PM Modi to inaugurate longest Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Assam today on third anniversary of NDA govt

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has called for joint patrols to address the issue of illegal in the northern waters of the country while India insisted on the early release of its fishermen arrested for allegedly poaching in the island nation's territorial waters, as the two countries held a meeting of the joint working group on fisheries.

During a virtual meeting of the Sri Lanka-India Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries held last month for the fourth time, the two sides discussed the issues related to fishermen.

During the meeting, the Sri Lankan delegation underlined the need to address the matter of illegal in its waters by Indian fishermen, which resulted in loss of livelihood and damage to equipment of local fishermen, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Fisheries said in a statement on Thursday.

mooted joint patrols to end poaching in the northern waters of the island while India insisted on the release of Indian fishermen recently arrested, it said.

The Indian side elaborated details in regard to the legal action taken against such practices and the initiatives to encourage South Indian fishermen to engage in deep sea fishing and alternative livelihood," it said.

The Sri Lankan delegation conveyed the need to further enhance the joint patrolling and operationalisation of the hotline between the Law enforcement authorities of the two countries to ensure effective results.

The Sri Lankan side alleged that South Indian fishermen were freely trespassing on Sri Lankan waters during the long drawn out war in the north and eastern provinces where Sri Lankan fishermen's movement had been restricted due to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) using them for their military purposes.

The Indian delegation called on the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the early release of recently arrested fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities, the statement said.

The Sri Lankan side assured to facilitate the release of arrested fishermen early, once the legal procedures are completed.

The relevant authorities have already granted necessary facilities, including consular access to the arrested Indian fishermen, it said. The Indian High Commission here on Thursday said the Indian fishermen, apprehended in for allegedly poaching in its territorial waters, have been provided consular assistance by the Consulate General of India in Jaffna.

The high commission said it was in touch with the Sri Lankan Government to facilitate the early release of the detained fishermen.

Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other's waters.

During his five-day visit to India in February, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi agreed to resolve the long-festering fishermen issue with a "humane approach".
REGINA - A Saskatchewan cabinet minister has apologized for making an "error in judgment" by travelling to California over the holidays, but he gets to keep his job.

Joe Hargrave was named Minister of Highways and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Water Security Agency at the announcement of Premier Scott Moe's new cabinet at Government House in Regina on November 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell

REGINA - A Saskatchewan cabinet minister has apologized for making an "error in judgment" by travelling to California over the holidays, but he gets to keep his job.

Highways Minister Joe Hargrave says in a statement that he plans to return to Canada when he's out of a 14-day quarantine recommended for newcomers in the state on Jan.5.

He previously said he was in Palm Springs for "necessary" personal business  finalizing a home sale and to move his belongings back to Saskatchewan.

In discussions with the premier, I realize that my decision to travel was an error in judgment at a time when so many people have had to make sacrifices during the pandemic," Hargrave said Thursday.

"I apologize."

His statement came shortly after the Opposition NDP said Hargrave should lose his cabinet seat for disregarding the province's advice to residents to stay home due to COVID-19.

"It seems pretty convenient that the financial matter happened in a warm part of the world during vacation season," NDP Leader Ryan Meili told a news conference.

He added that Southern California is dealing with a surge of COVID-19 infections, and questioned whether Hargrave's trip was truly essential, as real estate matters can be handled remotely and movers can be hired.

"To just decide to instead ignore the rules and abuse his power as a minister and decide to do what he felt like doing when everybody else is asked to be making sacrifices  it's just wrong," Meili said.

A spokesman for the Saskatchewan Party government has said Premier Scott Moe was informed of Hargrave's trip before he left on Dec. 22. Hargrave went on the trip with his wife.

Moe has since discussed the issue with Hargrave and he will stay on as minister, said the premier's office.

"The premier does not control what members of cabinet or caucus do in their personal time or what they deem as necessary travel, but expects they follow all public health guidelines and recommendations," Jim Billington, executive director of communications, wrote in an email.

"The premier agrees with the ministers assessment that his decision to travel was an error in judgment."

Hargrave has said he will self-isolate for another two weeks once back home in Canada.

Moe's office said no other members of his cabinet or caucus have travelled internationally during the holidays.

Ontario's finance minister resigned his cabinet position Thursday, hours after he returned from a Caribbean vacation.

Rod Phillips also called his decision to travel abroad during the pandemic an "error in judgment."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2020
Highlights COVID-19 forced many people to stay at home for New Years eve but that didnt hamper their celebrations.

Zomato struggled to deliver orders as the order per minute count cross 3200 on Thursday evening.

As per the data shared by the company, users ordered Biryanis and Pizzas in large numbers.

COVID-19 forced many people to stay at home for New Year's eve but that didn't hamper their celebrations. Most people turned to food delivery apps Zomato and Swiggy to sort their house party menu but the surge in orders got a little out of hand for the companies. Zomato struggled to deliver orders as the order per minute count cross 3200 on Thursday evening.

"Our order velocity right now is the highest we have seen in our life so far (approximately 2500 orders per minute (opm)). Surpassed India vs Pakistan day wala opm. And it's only 6pm! I hope our tech lives through this," Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal revealed in a tweet.

A few minutes later he updated the count saying that the order per minute has reached 3500. He said, " OPM 3,500. There are 1 lakh live orders right now. 1 lakh food deliveries in transit right now - between the kitchens, and the bikes." He said Zomato has never seen something like this before.

As per the data shared by the company, users ordered Biryanis and Pizzas in large numbers. Goyal even urged the users to place their orders early. "Curfews across various cities, intended to keep people inside their homes and safe will further boost food delivery demand tonight. I strongly urge our customers to order early if possible, and not wait until the last minute," Goyal said. I turned to Zomato to order food but was refused by a couple of restaurants due to the surge in demand. Zomato had increased the minimum order amount in most of the restaurants and placed a label under the restaurants saying "Due to surge in demands, the minimum order has been increased to"

State governments including Delhi, Odisha, Maharashtra, and others had imposed night curfew between 10 pm. on Thursday to 5 am. on Friday to restrict movements and minimize New Year's eve parties. Because of the restrictions imposed, people found it convenient to stay at home and order food using the delivery apps but the apps surely had a field day.

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal who couldn't stop tweeting about the crazy rise in order per minute thanked the company's delivery partners and restaurant partners for delivering the orders. We worked with ~100,000 delivery partners to deliver all these orders yesterday. Thank you so much guys. You all are rockstars. I wish you and your families a very happy new year! And to our restaurant partners thank you. The last few months have been amazing. We have all worked as a team, and adapted our operations to the changing environment where food delivery became the primary revenue driver for the restaurant industry," he tweeted.
My grandmother, a Charleston native, always made collards for the new year and forced me to down the vinegar-covered leaves too. "So you'll get rich," she would say.

I've never been a fan, but why ruin a Southern tradition and disappoint her? I dutifully swallowed the greens and crossed my fingers for good fortune.

Though I haven't personally hit the lottery, collards have brought wealth to statewide greens growers during a year marked by both unexpected gains and losses in the agriculture industry.

While many local farmers have lost their ties with restaurants and wholesalers, roadside, U-pick and farmers market sales have skyrocketed as grocery store aisle perusing has been swapped with outdoor produce shopping.

"People stuck at home have been more interested in nutrition and health and have had more time this year," said Clemson University's Charleston and Beaufort County horticulture agent, Zach Snipes. "People are not going out to eat as much, which has put the focus on local farms."

While produce home deliveries and farm shares have been trending, so have roadside market and farmers market visits. There's been a 20 percent uptick in applications from permanent roadside farm stands for certification, according to the S.C. Department of Agriculture.

Certification brings with it a free metal sign and online directory listing, as well as other agency support. But not every collard seller is inclined to go the formal route.

For instance, Sam Branton, an 88-year-old McClellanville farmer, sells collards, sweet potatoes and a variety of vegetables out of the back of his truck at the corner of U.S. Highway 17 and S.C. Highway 45. According to Branton, the holiday season was already booming in early November.

While rains earlier this year affected some of the crops grown on a 15-acre patch he owns, the plot yielded enough collards to sell by the truckload from his spot across from the Circle K.

Branton's collards were in high demand, along with his sweet potatoes for candied yams and pies. They still are, with Christmas and New Year's approaching.

"I've been doing this since 1952," said Branton. "Now, I'm retired and just sell on the side to help me out. Overall, it's been real good this season."

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Joseph Fields, a Johns Island farmer who sells his produce at farmers markets around town, said there have been better than average sales during the pandemic.

"I guess everyone is trying to eat local, support local," he offered.

His cabbage, collards and kale have been winter best-sellers, along with typical spring favorites like green beans and tomatoes that have still been surprisingly popular at December markets. Charleston's mild weather allows for them to be harvested into the fall in the winter.

Of the 11 certified roadside farm stands in Charleston County, SCDA branding coordinator Ansley Turnblad says all have reported a busy year after a slow start in spring.

Snipes mentioned rains and worms as problematic to the crop this year, but overall it was a middle-of-the-road growing season.

Pete Ambrose of Ambrose Family Farms on Wadmalaw Island said he is about six weeks behind on his crops. Demand this year is significantly higher than his supply. At the Stono Market and Tomato Shed Cafe in mid-December, he had just a few collards left, despite a large advertisement out front.

They wouldn't last all the way to New Year's.

"We grow a lot of collards in South Carolina, and our biggest market here is Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's," Snipes said. "The prices are good and the demand is good, unlike other times of the year. Not everyone at once wants to buy collards randomly in April."

Still, in response to this year's booming farm shares, Snipes says many local farmers have invested in vehicles for personalized deliveries, new digital payment offerings and more crops.

"I hope consumers continue to support those endeavors, because farmers have put a huge investment into them and there's a lot of risk involved, with next year's outlook still uncertain," Snipes says.

While Branton of McClellanville isn't expecting to exactly strike gold with his small-scale collard yield, he does celebrate the extra cash this time of year, some of which will go toward presents for his grandkids.
Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill.
Mumbai, Jan 1 : Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar on Friday tweeted a video of the first sunrise of 2021 for fans and followers on social media.

In the video, the actor chants the Gayatri Mantra as he captures the rising sun.

"Here's the first sunrise of 2021, in case you missed it. Praying for everyone's success and happiness, wishing for a great year ahead! Happy New Year everyone," tweeted Akshay Kumar.

Heres the first sunrise of 2021, in case you missed it :) Praying for everyones success and happiness, wishing for a great year ahead! Happy New Year everyone pic.twitter.com/j4my0Q7Kcx  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 1, 2021

On the work front, Akshay has just wrapped up shooting the Delhi and Agra schedule of his upcoming film Atrangi Re. Directed by Aanand L Rai, the film which narrates a cross-cultural love story also stars Sara Ali Khan, Dhanush and Nimrat Kaur.

Akshay has also finished shooting for his upcoming spy thriller Bell Bottom, and is working on the period drama, Prithviraj.

The actor's next release is Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi. He plays a cop battling terrorism in the film co-starring Katrina Kaif.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Since the coronavirus pandemic first gripped Louisiana in March, almost 14,000 cases have been recorded in St. Tammany Parish. The parish's numbers recently have surged anew: More than 1,120 positive cases in the past seven days and a positive test rate of 13.8%, significantly higher than the state average of 10.7%, Louisiana Department of Health data shows.

In that number are a handful of public officials. As the parish rang out 2020, the mayor and police chief of Mandeville and the mayors of Slidell and Abita Springs were in quarantine after testing positive for the contagion.

Most of my symptoms have subsided, but I still have a cough and some fatigue, Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker said Wednesday.

Sticker said he felt ill in mid-December but thought it was just regular sick. He stayed home. A first test came back negative, but when his symptoms persisted, he returned for a second test a few days later.

It was positive, and Sticker said his wife also tested positive. The couple quarantined in their home through the holidays.

Sticker said at its worst he felt like he had a mild flu.

+11 The coronavirus has devastated the New Orleans economy, but what about neighboring parishes? The coronavirus pandemic has strangled the economy, thrown thousands out of work and blown a hole in the New Orleans city budget.

His boss, Mayor Clay Madden, posted a Facebook message Wednesday that he also had tested positive.

We havent been in close proximity, Sticker said. I dont think we gave it to each other.

Madden said he has not had many symptoms but had notified all city employees with whom he had close contact. He said he planned to work from home until cleared to return to City Hall.

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Cromer, meanwhile, said in a text messge Saturday that he tested positive on Dec. 29. He said he has been at home and will remain there through next week.

Cromer said he has had some mild nausea and a headache, but no fever. He said he thought he had a sinus infection but when he was visiting a doctor was tested for COVID-19.

In Abita Springs, the town government said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that Mayor Dan Curtis had tested positive. It said Town Hall would be closed to visitors and that employees would work remotely Wednesday. Town Hall was already to be closed Thursday and Friday for the New Years holiday.

The post said no other Abita Springs employees had tested positive but that they would quarantine until Monday and that Town Hall offices would have a thorough cleaning before reopening.

St. Tammany has the sixth-most positive cases in the state. Earlier in December, officials at hospitals in the parish said they had seen an steady uptick of COVID-19 cases, with daily numbers often surpassing those of the spring and summer surges.

The virus has killed more than 320 people in St. Tammany. Statewide, the death toll exceeds 7,100.

Sticker said he plans to return to the office when it reopens Monday after the holidays.

I count myself fortunate, he said, adding that it could have been much worse.

New Delhi:

The Bengaluru police on Thursday arrested three Pakistanis nationals including two women on the charges of entering and staying in India with fake identity. The police has also arrested an Indian for allegedly helping them.

All the three Pakistanis were living in Bengaluru's Kumarswamy layout under false names and had even got documents like the Aadhaar card, police said.

The arrests of the Pakistan nationals came on a day when Indian woman Uzma Ahmed who was stranded in Pakistan arrived to India after Islamabad high court gave her the permisssion.

We have arrested these four persons under various sections of passport (act), conspiracy and creation of false document and misrepresentation, city police commissioner Praveen Sood told reporters.

Also Read: Pakistan court orders release of 350 Indian fishermen

Interrogation is going on not only by the state police but also by the central agency to verify all the information given by them, he said.

The police giving more information said they had come in contact while working in Qatar. They first went to Muscat

Police said the four had come into contact while working in Qatar. They first went to Muscat and then via Kathmandu entered Patna before reaching Bengaluru.

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi, Jan 1 : Flight services between India and UK will resume from January 8, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday.

Last month, these services were suspended to stop the spread of a mutant Covid-19 starin which was recently discovered in the UK.

In a tweet, the minister said: "It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021." "Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly." Several countries, including India, had suspended flight services to the UK in the wake of the new mutant Covid-19 strain.

The suspension commenced with effect from 11.59 p.m. on December 22.

Initial decision was to suspend flights till December 31. However, in the wake of increasing cases of the new strain, it was decided to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till January 7.

Prior to the suspension, over 60 flights per week were being operated between UK and India.

Airlines like Vistara, Air India, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways were operating flights between the two countries.
2020 has been a killer year in every way, including murder. America has experienced the largest single one-year increase in homicides since the country started keeping such records in the 20th century, according to crime data and criminologists.

The grim body count isn't quite over yet, but the data collected so far is stark - a 20.9% increase in killings nationwide, in the first nine months of the year, according to the FBI, and even bloodier increases in many major cities, due largely to gun violence.

Homicides recorded by 57 U.S. police agencies found a 36.7% increase for a similar time frame, according to figures compiled by Jeff Asher, an analyst and consultant who studies crime data.

"Like everything else in 2020, the crime data was a disaster. There was a huge spike in murder, and it's hard to say just how bad it is, but it's fairly clear we are going to see the largest single-year rise," said Asher. "It's terrible and it's tragic, but we're also at a point where we're accepting 3,000 deaths a day" from the coronavirus, he said.

Experts agree the pandemic has played a huge role in the rise in killings, but it has also probably contributed to a significant decrease in nonviolent crimes, which the FBI data shows fell by more than 8% in the first nine months of the year, possibly because there were fewer people on the street, fewer stores open for business and fewer crimes of opportunity available.

When it comes to homicide, arguably the most important measuring stick for crime, the sudden increase has been shocking.

In the nation's capital, there have been nearly 200 homicides to date, about a 20% increase that is in line with the national FBI figures. In New York City, killings rose almost 40%, and shootings nearly doubled from the previous year. Historically, crime is still far below the levels of the early 1990s, when New York saw more than 2,000 killings in a single year, compared with the 437 it recorded up until shortly before Christmas 2020.

But it's not just big cities that are seeing rising homicides. According to the FBI data, small cities with fewer than 10,000 residents saw more than a 30% increase in killings in the first nine months of this year - a data point Asher called "insane."

Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, said the data shows the first half of 2020 was more or less in line with past years, but there was a major change around the middle of the year.

"The increase tends to occur in nearly every city at the very end of May and the first days of June," said Rosenfeld. "The size and abruptness of the increase are unprecedented."

That was the time frame in which the country was convulsed by protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Rosenfeld and other experts said that the apparent collapse of public confidence in police departments appears to have led to more violent crime, similar to what happened in 2015 after protests over police killings in Ferguson, Mo., Chicago and New York, but more sudden, and more severe.

"During a period of widespread intense protest against police violence, it's fair to suppose that police legitimacy deteriorates, especially in those communities that have always had a fraught relationship with police," he said. "That simply widens the space for so-called street justice to take hold, and my own view is that is a part of what we are seeing."

Most crime and police experts also say the pandemic led to the increase in murder in ways large and small. In many departments, police ranks were thinned significantly by the combined effect of officers being out sick and being assigned to manage unrest on the streets. And given the concerns about spreading the coronavirus, officers were going to fewer places and interacting with fewer people, allowing more opportunities for people to settle disputes themselves.

In some communities, residents have also questioned whether police officers are responding to criticism by pulling back.

The pandemic may have fueled crime in other ways, such as social work programs to engage with gunshot victims to prevent retaliatory violence. During a pandemic, those social workers aren't going into hospitals to counsel victims, Rosenfeld noted.

Jim Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said that the long-term trend of falling crime rates, which began in the mid-1990s, has shown signs of faltering in the past few years.

Those trends, combined with the pandemic and anti-police protests, have created a "perfect storm for policing," said Pasco. "Officers leave by attrition and by retirement and reduced funding. At the same time there's a heightened demand for overtime to fill the gaps, and there's no money, so there are less officers on the street at a time when there needs to be more," he said.

Pasco also faulted criminal justice measures such as bail reform as contributing to the problem, leading to more offenders being on the street.

Asher, the data analyst, is skeptical of that explanation, because the rise is happening in so many places simultaneously, including jurisdictions that have not adopted bail reform measures.

"The data suggests this is a national thing that is happening everywhere, with national causes," said Asher. He said law enforcement is hobbled in trying to fix the problem by antiquated data collection methods in many jurisdictions. He noted that the main resource for national crime data, the FBI, will not report final figures for 2020 until September 2021.

It is hard to say with certainty what all the causes are for the rise in murders, but that task is only made harder by delays in information.

"The lack of data is a major issue here. I'm a random guy on Twitter who keeps a spreadsheet - that should not be how people see national murder trends," he said. "We have nowhere near the data we need in real time to solve this."
Gov. Kay Ivey is urging Alabamians to stay weather aware ahead of the severe weather threat overnight.

Two rounds of storms are expected after midnight to Friday morning. The first arrives just after midnight with heavy rain and frequent lightning. The second round arrives after 5 a.m., starting in Northwest Alabama.

Ivey tweeted Thursday afternoon, asking the public to Stay home tonight if at all possible and Be smart out there, folks!

In North Alabama, a line will move from west to east, where some storms could be strong and potentially severe. The main threats are heavy rain, lightning and strong straight-line winds upwards of 45-50 mph.

The tornado threat is very low but something WAAY 31 will continue to monitor. Find our latest forecast here, check out our Early Warning Radar Network here and stay up-to-date with the WAAY weather app here.
Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and several senior delegates of the Navajo Nation Council received COVID-19 vaccines at Gallup Indian Medical Center on Thursday.

Erica Harker, an Indian Health Service pharmacy consultant and member of the Zuni Pueblo, administered the vaccine to Nez.

The tribal leaders received their shots during a video livestream, which they said they did to show Navajo residents that they are confident that the vaccine is safe and effective.

This is for the elders and for the Navajo people out there who may be on the fence about taking the vaccine, Nez said. We will overcome this virus.

The reservation is nearly finished giving vaccines to health care workers. Nez said the Navajo Area IHS will now vaccinate people who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

The Navajo Nation reported 287 new virus cases on Thursday, and 23 deaths. It was the highest single-day death toll for the reservation since the pandemic began, although the Navajo Department of Health said the large numbers may be the result of delayed reporting because of the Christmas holiday. A total of 23,090 people have tested positive for COVID-19, and 806 people have died from the disease.

For the past several weeks, the Navajo Nation has reported one of the country's highest virus infection rates per capita. In the week leading up to Christmas, the reservation recorded nearly 100 average daily cases per 100,000 people.

Dr. Loretta Christensen, chief medical officer for the Navajo Area IHS, said reservation residents should contact their local IHS clinics to schedule a vaccination appointment.

This is the first weapon against COVID that we have, Christensen said after receiving the vaccine. Watch your distance, wash your hands, and please wear your masks. And if you don't have to go out, please stay home and stay safe.

The Navajo Nation is beginning the new year with more weekend lockdowns and continued restrictions. Health officials for the tribe authorized lockdowns for today through Jan. 4 and for Jan. 8 through Jan. 11. The lockdowns will start at 8 p.m. today and end at 5 a.m. Monday.

The Navajo Department of Health ordered the continuance Dec. 24 due to escalating incidents and community spread of COVID-19. The order is scheduled to end on Jan. 11 unless extended or modified by health officials.

Other Native communities in New Mexico have also been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Several pueblos have instituted strict lockdowns to control the spread of the virus.

The Farmington Daily Times contributed to this report.

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The will soon decide on the dates to convene an session to elect a new party President for the remaining term, party sources said on Friday.

Senior leaders are likely to meet next week to discuss issues related to the All India Committee session.

The Congress President's post is lying vacant since July 2019 after Rahul Gandhi formally resigned from the post, owning moral responsibility for the party's drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections.

Sonia Gandhi is acting as the interim party chief since August 2019 after the Congress Working Committee decided to appoint her to the top post till a new incumbent took over. But since then, the Congress has been unable to find a candidate for the post.

In between, rebellion in the Congress reared its head as 23 leaders wrote to her in August 2019 to demand sweeping reforms in the party, including organisational elections from the grass-roots to the CWC levels.

Congress leaders later held a meeting on December 19 with Sonia Gandhi, wherein many demanded that Rahul Gandhi should again take over as party President.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal said after the meeting: "No one has a problem with Rahul Gandhi -- and this is not just for today. Everybody has said that we need Rahul Gandhi's leadership. We must not fall into a trap laid by those trying to distract from the party's agenda."

Now, the camp followers of Rahul Gandhi are pushing for his return whereas the dissenters say that he himself has said that he will not disturb the election process.

Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala had said: "The Congress workers and leaders will choose a person best suited for party chief's post. It is my belief. As many as 99.9 per cent of Congress leaders and workers feel that Rahul Gandhi is the right person to lead the party and take on the Modi government."

Whether the dissenters veer round to this viewpoint is yet to be seen.

--IANS

miz/tsb
Chile's health authorities said on Tuesday they had detected a case of the new coronavirus strain initially found in Britain, the first such confirmed infection in Latin America.

Experts believe this Covid-19 variant to be considerably more contagious than the original strain first detected in China.

The case was found in a Chilean woman who returned to the country on December 21 from Madrid, having also traveled to Britain and Dubai.

She started displaying coronavirus symptoms upon her arrival in Chile's capital Santiago, health ministry undersecretary Paula Daza said.

She has since traveled 800-kilometers southwards by airplane to the city of Temuco.

Health authorities responded to the news by announcing that from December 31, everyone arriving in Chile would have to spend 10 days in quarantine.

That quarantine extends to two weeks for those who visited Britain in the two weeks prior to arriving in Chile.

The South American country had only reopened its borders in November for the first time in eight months.

The quarantine can be lifted after a week if a person tests negative for the virus, said Daza.

The new strain of the virus that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described as "up to 70 percent more transmissible than the original version of the disease" has been found in several countries around the world.

France, Germany and Spain are amongst the European countries to detect it while Japan, South Korea, India and Australia also have cases.

Chile had suspended flights coming from Britain on December 20, a move made by more than 50 countries.

Coronavirus cases were already on the increase once again in Chile, which has recorded almost 16,500 deaths and over 600,000 cases.

Britain is one of the worst affected countries in the world by the coronavirus with more than 71,500 deaths and close to 2.4 million cases.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : With the UK giving the green light to the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and drug maker AstraZeneca, India is also expected to follow suit soon as a meeting of the decision-making body began on Friday, giving new hope of beginning the end of the pandemic as the New Year ushers in.

The authorisation in the UK recommended two doses administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks.

This regimen was shown in clinical trials to be safe and effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19, with no severe cases and no hospitalisations more than 14 days after the second dose, according to AstraZeneca.

Now known as Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, it was formerly called AZD1222.

AZD1222 was co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein.

After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body.

As announced on November 23, the primary efficacy endpoint based on a pooled analysis showed that the vaccine was 70.4 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 occurring more than 14 days after receiving two doses of the vaccine.

A secondary efficacy endpoint of prevention of severe disease demonstrated no cases of severe infections or hospitalisations in the vaccine group.

In addition to the programme led by Oxford University, AstraZeneca is conducting a large trial in the US and globally.

Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, is manufacturing a version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine "Covishield" in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Pune-based company on November 28 to review vaccine development.

The company this week said that it has a stockpile 40-50 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine.

India is likely to receive majority of these 50 million doses.

"We have 40-50 million doses of Covishield stockpiled. Once we get regulatory approvals in a few days, it will be down to the government to decide how much they can take and how fast. We will be producing around 300 million doses by July 2021," Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla recently said in a press conference.

The company applied for emergency authorisation of the vaccine in India in December.

It is expected that this vaccine will play a major role in India's plan to vaccinate its population against Covid-19 due to several factors including low-cost, ease of storage and transport.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A bus massacre in Syria that killed nearly 40 soldiers has sparked fears of a resurgence of ISIS.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Thursday for an attack that killed nearly 40 soldiers in Syria the day before when jihadists ambushed a bus in eastern Syria.

War monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday IS had attacked regime soldiers as they travelled home for holidays in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, killing 37.

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on December 30, 2020, shows the scene of an attack targeting a bus transporting regime soldiers as they travelled home for holidays in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor

It said eight officers were among those killed while 12 other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

A statement by IS's propaganda arm Amaq said its fighters had 'ambushed a bus transporting apostate Nusayri army elements,' using a derogatory term for the Alawite sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

The vehicle was targeted 'with heavy weapons' and 'multiple explosive devices, which led to destroying the bus and killing nearly 40 elements and wounding others', added the statement, according to SITE Intelligence, which monitors jihadist activities worldwide.

'It was one of the deadliest attacks since the fall of the IS (self-proclaimed) caliphate' last year, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP on Wednesday.

IS overran large parts of Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a cross-border 'caliphate' in 2014, before multiple offensives in the two countries led to its territorial defeat.

The scene of an attack targeting a bus transporting regime soldiers as they travelled home for holidays. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday

The group was overcome in Syria in March last year, but sleeper cells continue to launch attacks namely in the vast desert that stretches from the central province of Homs to Deir Ezzor and the border with Iraq.

The official news agency SANA reported on Wednesday that a 'terrorist attack' on a bus killed '25 citizens' and wounded 13.

The Observatory said two other buses which were part of the convoy managed to escape.

The war in Syria has killed more than 387,000 people since it started in 2011, the Observatory says.

The dead include more than 130,500 pro-government fighters, among them foreigners, as well as 117,000 civilians.
The one-year term of the Panjab University (PU) syndicate came to an end on Tuesday.

The members of the syndicate, which is the highest executive of PU, are elected from among the members of the PU senate every year. This year, however, senate elections were not held despite its term ending in October; the vice-chancellor (V-C) had cited the pandemic as the reason.

It was a PU tradition that its executive body would meet once a month; the last meeting of the syndicate was held in July.

Earlier this month, the Punjab and Haryana high court had refused to pass any directions on a plea by seven former Panjab University (PU) senators who were demanding continuation of the terms of the present varsity bodies, including the syndicate, till the senate elections were not held.

The HC had taken note of the submissions by the varsity counsel, who had told the court that there was no need to issue any interim directions, referring to Regulations of Panjab University Calendar that said whenever there is an urgency, the vice-chancellor (V-C) may take such action as he deems necessary, and report the matter at the next meeting of the syndicate for approval.

According to the PU Calendar, the executive government of the university will be vested in the syndicate, which has powers to consider and make recommendations to the senate as it deems fit in the matters that include the appointment of officers of Class A, affiliation and disaffiliation of colleges, recommendations of the board of finance relating to the annual budget, supplementary grants, and others.

Terming it as an unprecedented situation, syndicate member Rabindra Nath Sharma said, It is a blot on the democratic structure of the Panjab University which the authorities are hell-bent on destroying.
Even as authorities are set to undertake vaccination against coronavirus in the coming weeks, unscrupulous elements have been calling up Uttar Pradesh residents to seek their personal details on the pretext of registrations for the vaccine. Many cases of such frauds have since come to the notice of authorities.

Calls from cyber criminals to seek important personal details like Aadhaar number, bank account and insurance policy details have been received by a large number of people in Gorakhpur, Deoria, Basti, Mau, Ghazipur, and Pratapgarh.

Alerted to the possibility of duping of gullible people by these cyber frauds, the health and police officials have now appealed to the public not to fall into the trap and not to share any details.

"The Health Department is not making any calls to register people or vaccination. The vaccination of frontline warriors will possibly begin in the third week of January 2021," a senior health officer said.

"There is no need to furnish any details to anyone in the name of registration for the vaccine as people could become victims of cybercrime. Many cases of fraud in the name of registration for Covid-19 vaccination have come to our notice."

Additional Director General of Police Dawa Sherpa said: "Cases of online fraud in the name of registration for vaccination have come to light. So, I appeal to the people to not fall for such frauds. I make it clear that no company or government official has talked about vaccine distribution or vaccination drive. The public will be informed as and when the vaccination process starts."
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As President Donald Trump returned to Washington D.C. amid his ongoing battle with Congress, his friends and family members gathered maskless at his Mar-a-Lago estate for his annual New Year's Eve gala.

Trump and First Lady Melania were forced to forgo the festivities on Thursday to resolve the highly-anticipated COVID relief bill in Washington, but still hosted hundreds of guests at the Palm Beach resort.

Other members of the Trump clan were seen dressed to the nines as they gathered at the opulent ballroom to ring in the new year.

Earlier in the evening, the president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr, who turned 43 today, and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle shared a video message wishing everyone a happy new year from the venue.

'We just wanted to wish you guys an incredible new year. Obviously 2020 has been a little bit nuts and rather crazy, I don't think anyone's going to be upset about moving on from this one,' Don Jr, said.

Trump's younger son, Eric, 36, also shared a picture posing alongside wife Lara at the party. Lara donned a glittery green evening gown while he wore a black tuxedo and white bow tie.

The Trumps: The president's children gathered at his Mar-a-Lago estate for his annual New Year's Eve gala on Thursday

Donald Trump Jr, who turned 43 today, and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle shared a video message on Facebook wishing his supporters a happy new year from Mar-a-Lago

Eric Trump, 36, shared a photo alongside wife Lara as they celebrated the end of 2020 at the Palm Beach resort

Lara Trump, who shares a son and daughter with Eric, put the kids to bed before heading off to the celebration

Among the slew of guests was Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who recently proposed to his girlfriend Ginger Luckey.

Videos from the event show dozens of maskless guests sitting around tables, drinking wine and enjoying the entertainment.

Tickets to the event were going for $1,000 each, one person attending the gala told DailyMail.com. A person has to be a member of Mar-a-Lago or a guest of a member in order to attend.

It's unclear how many people attended this year's New Year's Eve gathering, but at least 500 people had reserved tickets by Wednesday, CNN reported. Hundreds of people typically attend. The main ballroom can hold 700 people and there are smaller ballrooms available to add to the crowd size.

The New Year's Eve gala is an annual tradition that pre-dates Trump's time in the White House. Last year, Trump walked the red carpet with his wife Melania and their son Barron.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner also attended with their children. Donald Trump Jr. was accompanied by one of his sons and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. Eric Trump and Lara Trump were also there as were Tiffany Trump and her boyfriend Michael Boulos.

Prominent Trump friends like Rudy Giuliani have also made an appearance.

As the president returned to White House Thursday, he released a New Year's video message claiming that 'everyone is calling' to thank him for the vaccine.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump held hands as they walked from Marine One toward the White House with the president splitting off from his wife to go to the Oval Office.

Trump also touted his accomplishments with Operation Warp Speed in a bizarre video he shared on Twitter Thursday afternoon.

Rep Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who recently proposed to girlfriend Ginger Luckey (not pictured) at the resort, was among the guests on Thursday night

Gaetz, who was pictured with two guests, was seen dressed to the nines ahead of the new year, but neglected to wear a mask

The New Year's Eve gala held at the president's second home (pictured) is an annual tradition that pre-dates Trump's time in the White House

2019: President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are pictured at last year's New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago

'Over and over again, we were told it would be impossible to deliver a vaccine by the end of the year,' Trump said in the five-minute clip.

'All of the experts said, "Absolutely unthinkable. Trump is exaggerating. It can't happen." And we did it,' the president said. 'Years from now, they'll be talking about it. They'll be talking about this great, great thing that we did with the vaccines.'

'The world will benefit. We'll benefit. And everybody's calling to thank me,' Trump added.

'To defeat the China virus we launched the largest mobilization since World War II. We transformed our factories to build tens of thousands of ventilators and millions and millions of masks virtually overnight,' Trump said.

'Nobody thought it could be done. We ignored the experts who demanded open borders and we shut down travel from China and Europe to protect our citizens and we built the wall,' Trump said before claiming that his administration's pioneering of new therapies and treatments 'saved millions of American lives'.

Trump said his administration has 'to be remembered for what's been done'.

The video was released the same day Trump returned to the White House. Officials at the White House did not give a reason for the return but it coincides with Trump's fight with Congress over his veto of a major defense bill, his demand for increased COVID stimulus checks, and the January 6th electoral college certification, which Republicans plan to object. It also comes amid increased tensions with Iran.

While Trump is back in Washington, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to spend a quiet night at his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, although he is scheduled to appear on the ABC special 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021' on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave the likely death blow to Trump's bid to boost the COVID relief checks to $2,000 from the $600 - an 11th hour demand the president made after sitting on the sidelines while the deal was negotiated with his administration and passed by Congress.



President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk from Marine One toward the White House after returning to Washington D.C. from Florida a day earlier than planned

The Trumps exit Air Force One on New Year's Eve, where they will celebrate the New Year holiday at the White House rather than at a gala at Mar-a-Lago

President Donald Trump walks to the Oval Office after arriving back in Washington D.C.

Trump also touted his accomplishments with Operation Warp Speed in a bizarre video he shared on Twitter Thursday afternoon. 'Over and over again, we were told it would be impossible to deliver a vaccine by the end of the year,' Trump said in the five-minute clip (pictured)

In the opening minutes of the Senate's New Year's Eve session, McConnell again objected after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tried to get a vote on the matter for the third day in a row.

McConnell has made it clear there is 'no realistic path' forward on increased stimulus checks this year, as he said on Tuesday. He offered his own bill that included the $2,000 provision, but also killed off Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, while also creating an election commission - two Trump demands.

That bill was a poison pill for Democrats.

McConnell then moved on to the other business at hand - overriding President Trump's veto of the annual defense bill, which funds the Pentagon and gives troops a pay raise.

Senator Bernie Sanders and a small group of progressive Senate Democrats had wanted to delay the vote to overrule Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act to push McConnell on the $2,000 check issue, but they were overruled by members of their own party who voted Wednesday night to start that process.

Schumer and also Vice President-elect Kamala Harris voted in favor of the motion to proceed. The Senate voted 80-12 to begin debate on the issue, with another procedural vote due on Friday.

The House already overrode Trump's veto of the must-pass defense legislation. The Senate is expected to do the same, making the defense bill law and giving Trump his first veto override.

Tensions have increased with Iran as the one-year anniversary of the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani approaches - above his portrait hangs along the highway leading to Beirut

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell crushed yet another Democratic effort to get a vote on a stand alone bill to increase COVID-19 stimulus checks to $2,000

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One as they depart from Florida early on Thursday to return to Washington, D.C.

The first couple will skip out on the annual New Year's Eve Party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club after guests paid $1,000 and were promised the president would be in attendance

Trump supporters lined the road as the president's motorcade made its way from Mar-a-Lago to Palm Beach Airport

The president had long promised to veto the defense bill, first over the inclusion of a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate figures.

More recently, Trump threatened to veto it if Congress didn't retool Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which the president argued gives 'big tech' companies like Facebook and Twitter too much legal protection. The section gives the companies protection from lawsuits over content published on their platform.

The president was also said to have concerns over whether Iran will retaliate in the coming days on the one year anniversary of the US drone strike that killed the country's top general, Qasem Soleimani.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused Washington on Thursday of trying to manufacture a reason to attack his country. He vowed Tehran would defend itself even though it does not seek war.

Two US B-52 bombers flew over the Middle East on Wednesday in what U.S. officials said was a message of deterrence to Iran ahead of the first anniversary of a US drone strike that killed Soleimani on January 3, 2020.

Meanwhile, January 6 has been a crucial date on Trump's radar while he's been in Florida as that is the date Congress will certify the electoral college results. Biden won with 306 votes to Trump's 232.

The president is trying to overturn the election results so he can stay in the White House for a second term.

Trump spent the majority of Wednesday on Twitter blasting various Republicans for not doing more to stop his alleged voter fraud, claiming Georgia Gov Brian Kemp is being controlled by Stacey Abrams. He's also falsely claimed that he has enough votes to flip Georgia.

Melania Trump waves to supporters lining the route in Palm Beach as the first couple drives from Mar-a-Lago to the Palm Beach Airport to return to Washington D.C.

Trump has spent the majority of Wednesday on Twitter blasting various Republicans for not doing more to stop his alleged voter fraud, claiming Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is being controlled by Stacey Abrams

Trump has also falsely claimed that he's had enough votes to flip Georgia

'@BrianKempGA, his puppet Lt. Governor @GeoffDuncanGA, and Secretary of State, are disasters for Georgia. Wont let professionals get anywhere near Fulton County for signature verifications, or anything else,' Trump claimed. 'They are virtually controlled by @staceyabrams & the Democrats. Fools!'

His early return comes as Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri became the first member of the upper chamber to voice his support for contesting the electoral college vote on Wednesday. Hawley, a Republican, said that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws.

At the very least, Congress should investigate, he said in a statement.

'For these reasons, I will follow the same Democrat members of Congress have in years past and object during the certification process on January 6 to raise these critical issues,' Hawley explained. Hawley did not provide any evidence for his claims.

Next Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence will preside over a meeting of Congress when the results of the Electoral College vote are read and tallied.

It's generally a formality, but as Hawley pointed out, Democrats did object to certain states' vote counts, including during the 2016 and 2004 races.

Pence refused to sign on to the plan that would upend Congress certifying the election for Biden. In order for challenges to be debated, both a House member and a senator have to sign on to an objection.

House Democrats raised concerns after the 2016 race over state tallies in Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Mississippi and the Carolinas, however no Democratic senator joined the effort. Biden, at the time serving as vice president, gaveled down the protests because they weren't joined by a senator.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri got into a Twitter spat with Walmart, the world's largest retailer, on Wednesday

Vice President Mike Pence refused to sign on to a plan that would have him choose to read the votes cast by President Donald Trump's 'electors' in states that President-elect Joe Biden won when he presides over a Congressional session to finalize the election on January 6

President Donald Trump has been pressuring Republican senators to object to states' Electoral College vote counts, as a senator and a House member have to sign on for there to be a debate and a vote. Depending on how many states Republicans object to, it could hold up certifying the election for Joe Biden for hours

President Donald Trump is encouraging his supporters to come to Washington, D.C. the day that Congress certifies the Electoral College results. With Hawley saying he'll join in an effort to object to states' votes, the process could take hours

Once Hawley and House Republicans object to a state's vote count on January 6th, lawmakers will go back to their respective chambers and discuss the merits of the objection for two hours.

Only a majority vote is needed to overrule the objections.

With the Democrats controlling the House and several Republicans in the Senate publicly saying that the election is over - and Biden is the winner - Hawley's objection will trigger a delay, but not flip the results to Trump.

McConnell asked senators not to engage because they'd be forced to go on the record and by voting in favor of Biden's win, could be in danger of being taken down by pro-Trump forces within the Republican Party.

On December 15, the day after the Electoral College met, McConnell publicly congratulated Biden as president-elect.
Two Dublin hospitals have revealed details of Irelands newest New Year babies.

The Coombe Women & Infant's University Hospital New Year Baby award goes to a baby girl, named Kady, who arrived at a healthy 8lbs 7oz at 24 minutes past midnight.

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Mum Vanessa and Dad Garry McLaughlin, from Meath welcomed their second baby into the world, after baby Ava was born in the Coombe 19 months ago.

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However, Kady was pipped to the post by Brodie McWilliams Brown who was born at the National Maternity Hospital at just four seconds after midnight.

His mother Jennifer McWilliams, from Sallynoggin in Dublin, says she had no idea her baby would be among the first of 2021.

"I had no clue until I had been induced that he would be one of the first, she said. "We didn't actually think that he was going to be the first."

There were also births at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise at four minutes past midnight.

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association, founded by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2021. The Association also looks forward to ongoing work with the President and First Lady. In 2021, the Association will begin a collaboration with the 12th President and First Lady over the course of its history. Since 1961, the Association has invested $110,500,000 to maintain the museum-quality standard of the White House.

NEW Association Logo

The Association's new logo is in the image of the iconic South Facade of the White House as it appeared in 1961, the year the Association was founded.

Quarterly Lecture Series: "White House History with Susan Page"

New lectures include topics:

Personal Reflections on President Lyndon B. Johnson

Designing Camelot: A Discussion with the Authors

A Discussion with the Authors September 11 , Twenty Years Removed: A Look Back at the Nation and the White House

, Twenty Years Removed: A Look Back at the Nation and the White House Sixty Years Later: The Founding and Contributions of the Association

The 1600 Sessions

Hosted by Association President Stewart McLaurin, new podcast episodes will include:

Authors of Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration

The first decades of the Association and its contributions to the White House

New Publications

The Association will release a special 60th Anniversary edition of its White House History Quarterly and several NEW books related to the Anniversary, including:

The signature book for 2021, Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration

Observation of Mrs. Kennedy's Birthday

Since 2015, the Association has hosted a luncheon to mark Mrs. Kennedy's July 28th birthday. The Association will also soon announce details of a special tribute to Mrs. Kennedy at the historic Decatur House.

2021 Presidential Sites Summit

The White House Historical Association will host the Presidential Sites Summit at the historic Adolphus Hotel August 31-September 2.

First Ladies Symposium

The 2021 Annual Symposium will focus on First Ladies.

Educational Markers in Lafayette Square

The Association has worked with the National Park Service to construct an exhibit on Lafayette Square to teach about the construction of the White House by free and enslaved laborers living in the park community; uses of Lafayette Park since its creation; and political and social demonstrations in the space.

NEW Student Art Competition

New Episodes of White House History Live

NEW Features Added to the WHExperience App

SOURCE The White House Historical Association
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An official in charge of the Birnin Gwari satellite custodial centre in Kaduna State, Saidu Sajo, was on Thursday kidnapped by gunmen, PREMIUM TIMES can confirm.

Mr Sajo was reportedly travelling to Kaduna when he was abducted along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road on Thursday afternoon.

The spokesman for the Kaduna State command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Amodu Wadai, an assistant superintendent of correction, confirmed the development to our reporter on the phone late Thursday night.

He, however, could not give details of the development but promised to give updates as the events unfold.

 we have now confirmed the officers abduction. Mr. Saidu Sajo is the officer in charge of Birnin Gwari satellite custodial centre. He was kidnapped today (Thursday). It happened between Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road between 12noon and 2p.m.

Meanwhile, we will update you on the development, the spokesperson said.

Mr Sajo was reportedly travelling to Kaduna to meet his family ahead of the new year when he was abducted.

As of the time of filing this report, it is unclear whether the abductors had contacted the family or not.

Similar case

In February, 2020, at Angwan Alkali, Mararaban Rido area, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis, gunmen reportedly invaded the home of an unnamed prison warder at about 1 a.m. and killed him.

A neighbour, who was said to have raised the alarm on sighting the armed men who were trying to break into the warders compound, was also reportedly murdered alongside his 13-year-old daughter kidnapped.

Kaduna has been one of Nigerias hotbeds of kidnapping in the recent time with cases of abduction, banditry, killing and violent communal clashes frequently reported.

On Monday, December 28, 2020, the Kaduna State Government reported the death of a notorious bandit, Nasiru Katchalla, who was said to have been killed by rivals in a fight for supremacy over territory.

The late Katchalla was said to have been responsible for a string of kidnappings, killings and banditry in the state, and particularly, along Kaduna-Abuja road.

The states commissioner for internal security and homeland affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday.
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BEIJING, Dec. 31  The provocative actions of the US military vessels sent erroneous signals to the Taiwan Independence forces and severely jeopardized peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, said Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday.

Senior Colonel Wus remarks came after two US guided missile destroyers USS McCain and USS Wilbur sailed through the Taiwan Strait on December 31. The PLA sent naval and air forces to conduct whole-process tracking and monitoring on the US destroyers, said Wu.

It is the second time that the US warships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait in December following the same kind act on December 18, in an attempt to flex muscles and stir up troubles, Wu pointed out.

The US naval vessels provocative actions are sending erroneous signals to the Taiwan independence forces, seriously damaging the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and China firmly opposes it, stated the spokesperson.

He stressed in the end that the PLA keeps high alert all the time and is ready to respond to any threats and provocations and will resolutely safeguard Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The US destroyer, USS Mustin sailed through the Taiwan Strait on the night of October 18, and the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sent naval and aerial forces to conduct whole-process tracking and monitoring on the US destroyer, said Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command on December 19.

Zhang criticized the provocative behaviors by the US side, saying that in the recent period, the US sent now and then its warships to sail through the Taiwan Strait and deliberately sensationalized and raised the heat of the Taiwan Issue, desiring to stir up trouble in the Taiwan Strait and sending blatant messages to the Taiwan Independence forces, which gravely endangers regional peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
In a statement from the caucus Friday, state Reps. Elizabeth Lisa Hernandez and Fred Crespo said that because of the states troubled finances, the need for recovery from COVID-19 and a desire for increased representation in the approaching redrawing of legislative districts, the majority of Latinx members determined that Speaker Madigan is in the best position to move these priorities forward in the coming term.
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Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months.

Prosecutors cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of time needed before enough people are vaccinated and health risks are sufficiently diminished, The Star Tribune reports.

The trial has been scheduled for March 8 for the four now-fired police officers charged in the death of Floyd on May 25 while he was forcibly detained on a south Minneapolis street corner.

Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months

The defendants are pictured above (clockwise from top left): Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Keung, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane

In its motion, the prosecution argued that putting off the trial until June 7 'appropriately balances the need to protect public health with the need to ensure that this case is resolved expeditiously.'

Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane are scheduled to be tried together.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, and the others are charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.

Chauvin's attorney, Eric Nelsonsaid, said he doesn't intend to object to the prosecution seeking a delay in the trial.

Kueng's attorney, Thomas Plunkett, said the prosecution's motion pointing to COVID-19 is puzzling.

'The timing of their motion seems curious to me,' Plunkett said. 'The pandemic has been around for a while.'

prospective jurors in Floyd 's murder trial were sent a 16-page questionnaire (pictured) asking how many times they watched the video of his death

Thao's lawyer, Robert Paule, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It comes after it was revealed prospective jurors in Floyd's murder trial were sent a 16-page questionnaire asking how many times they watched the video of his death.

They were asked if they took part in Black Lives Matter protests in the questionnaire filed to Minnesota District Court on Tuesday December 24.

One question said: 'Did you, or someone close to you, participate in any of the demonstrations or marches against police brutality that took place in Minneapolis after George Floyd's death?

'If you participated, did you carry a sign? What did it say?'

Prospective jurors were also asked if they had suffered an injury or property damage during the protests following Floyd's death.

The final question of the first section - in bold - said: 'No matter what you have heard or seen about this case, and no matter what opinions you might have formed, can you put all of that aside and decide this case only on the evidence you receive in court, follow the law, and decide the case in a fair and impartial manner?'

Derek Chauvin is pictured center in court on September 11 in a court drawing

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, and the others are charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. He is seen kneeling on Floyd's neck

The questionnaire goes on to question in detail what prospective jurors' primary source of news is and what social media they engage with.

Jury questionnaires are generally used to help prosecutors and defense attorneys understand more about the people who may serve on the panel.

Jurors may be questioned in court in more detail after filling out the questionnaire in a process known as voir dire.

One of the questions said: 'Have you, or someone close to you, ever helped support or advocated in favor of or against police reform?'

Another said: 'How favorable or unfavorable are you about Black Lives Matter?'

And the following question said: 'How favorable or unfavorable are you about Blue Lives Matter?'

Also last month, Judge Peter Cahill reaffirmed that he would allow video coverage due to immense global interest in the case as well as protecting the defendants' Sixth Amendment rights and the public and media's First Amendment rights.

Cahill also cited the size of the courtrooms and 'unique and unprecedented situation' brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic as an other reason.
Washinton DC: The Congress has voted to override President Donald Trump's veto of a defence policy bill, a first time this has happened since he took office nearly four years ago, ensuring that the measure becomes law despite Trump's rejection.

In an extraordinary New Year's Day session, local time, the Republican-controlled Senate easily turned aside the veto, dismissing Trump's objections to the $US740 billion ($958 billion) bill and handing him a stinging rebuke just weeks before he leaves the White House.

Trump lashed out on Twitter, saying the Senate missed an opportunity to eliminate protections for social media platforms that he said give "unlimited power to Big Tech companies. Pathetic!!!''

Trump also slammed politicians for rejecting his call to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000: "They want to give people ravaged by the China Virus $600, rather than the $2000 which they so desperately need. Not fair, or smart!''
In November 2020 South Korea launched its second KSS-3 submarine. The first one, the 3,300-ton Dosan Ahn Changho, began sea trials over a year ago and was supposed to enter service in 2020. While the sea trials were successful, some problems were encountered that require fixing before the Changho can enter service and that will probably take place in early 2021. It was announced that Changho broke the record for the time an AIP (air independent propulsion) equipped sub spent underwater. The duration of this feat was not released but since the current record is 18 days, the Changho had to stay under at least that long. It was implied that the South Korean sub remained submerged for over three weeks.

South Korea is building nine KSS-3 subs in batches of three. The second and third batches will each contain upgrades over the previous batch. All KSS 3 are high seas boats with endurance of 50 days, a 18,000 kilometers range and top speed of 37 kilometers an hour underwater and 22 kilometers on the surface. These boats are built to regularly operate throughout the Pacific. The KSS 3 boats are highly automated making it possible to get by with a crew of fifty. All are armed with eight 533mm torpedo tubes, four of them capable of launching Harpoon anti-ship missiles. KSS-3 Batch 1 has six VLS tubes for South Korean developed Hyunmoo-3C land-attack cruise missiles (1,500-kilometer range, 450 kg warhead) or Hyunmoo-3C ballistic missiles (800-kilometer range, half ton warhead). Batch 2 and 3 will have ten VLS tubes.

All nine KSS 3s are to be in service by 2029, at which point South Korea will have a fleet of 27 modern diesel-electric submarines. All KSS 3 boats have AIP and batch 2 and 3 will used the new lithium battery technology that Japan demonstrated in March 2020 when the latest of their Soryu class subs entered service. The Japanese navy put its first lithium-ion battery-equipped submarine into service. This sub is one of that two of the 12 boat Soryu class. This battery tech will be standard on the next class of Japanese subs.

If all these large diesel-electric subs sound like a smaller, non-nuclear, version of the American Virginia class SSNs (nuclear-powered attack sub), they are. The Australians pioneered this approach with their six Collins class boats that began entering service in 1996. The 3,100-ton Collins class subs had 70 days endurance and were meant to operate over vast distances in the Pacific Ocean. Japan followed with their 2,900-ton Soryus in 2007.

The large South Korean and Japanese submarines forces exist to deal with the immediate threat from North Korea and the potential threat from Russia and China.

North Korea has 70 subs, but only twenty are large subs and these are all elderly Romeo class boats. The Russian Romeo class was the successor to the Whiskey class boats, which were, in turn, based on the German Type XXI which first showed up in 1943. This was the first modern submarine in that it was designed to spend most of its time underwater. with just the snorkel device and periscope above water, to bring in air for the diesel engine and crew. The Type XXI was a 1,600-ton (on the surface) sub, compared to the 1,500-ton Romeos. Russia built over 500 Romeos, while China built over 80. The rest of the North Korean subs are much smaller, of more recent construction and are used mainly for delivering commandos or spies or ambushing larger ships along the coast. Only a few of the North Korean Romeos are operational and these are the only subs that can operate away from the coastal waters. North Korea is building at least one diesel-electric sub that can launch a locally developed ballistic missile.

China currently has about fifty modern diesel-electric subs in service. All are based on the Russia Kilo and the latest ones improve quite a bit on the Kilo. China also has twelve nuclear attack subs, which are not as effective as Russian or American designs. Russia has seven nuclear attack subs in its Pacific Fleet, along with two Kilos. All the Russian and Chinese nuclear subs available in the Pacific are outnumbered by the American nuclear attack subs assigned to the Western Pacific.

South Korea has nine 1,200-ton KSS-1 boats and nine 1,800-ton KSS-2s. All are German designs with most built in South Korea. The KSS-2 is based on the German Type 214 and has AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) that enables it to remain under water for more than a week at a time. The KSS-1s were built, mostly in South Korea, during the 1990s and are based on the Type 209.

In June 2019 South Korea completed refurbishment of its nine German Type 209 subs. The refurb takes about two years and involves installing new electronics as well as a towed array sonar. The refurb makes these boats capable of serving into the 2030s.

The growing South Korean submarine force had by 2015 become a major part of the fleet. In recognition of this, in early 2015 South Korea created a new Submarine Command whose main purpose is to develop better anti-submarine capabilities against North Korea or even China. Another reason for the Submarine Command was to make it easier to curb the procurement corruption that has developed in the navy. Several senior navy officers and officials had been prosecuted for this sort of misbehavior. Since the submarine service is rather elite and much more sensitive to getting the most for their money, the Submarine Command, run by submarine officers, is expected to be more resistant to corruption. That is important because South Korea is putting a lot more money into submarines.
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New Year 2021: As many as 35 drunk drivers caught in Mumbai, number 'lowest'

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mumbai, Jan 01: Police took action against 35 drunk drivers in Mumbai during the New Year celebrations, with an official saying that the number of offenders this time could be the lowest found during such period in the last few years.

Last year, 677 drunk drivers had been caught in the metropolis during the New Year celebrations and licenses of all of them had been suspended for six months by the court, the police official said. "This year, only 35 drunk drivers were caught in the city.

China reports first case of new COVID-19 variant: CDC

This could be the lowest number of such offenders found in the last few years during the New Year celebrations," he said. The police attributed this low number of drunk driving cases this time to subdued celebrations as most people preferred to stay indoors and return home early in view of the coronavirus-triggered night curfew.

"There was no crowd on the city streets due to night curfew. Rising awareness about the ill-effects of drunken driving and previous action by the police also proved as deterrents," he said. The Mumbai traffic police were posted at various locations across the city on the New Year eve to ensure smooth movement of vehicles.

Coronavirus cases: Tripura to strengthen laboratory infrastructure over concern on new COVID strain

"Due to the pandemic, the traffic police had decided not to use breath analysers, due to which blood tests of motorists and two-wheeler riders was conducted to know if they were drunk," he said, adding alcohol was found in the blood samples of 35 drivers.

"Accordingly, action was taken against them," he said. Mumbai is under curfew from 11 pm to 6 am till January 5. Most of the popular destinations, including the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaum Chowpatty, Worli Sea Face, Bandra Band Stand, Juhu Chowpatty, beaches at Marve and Manor beaches, which are favourite places of the New Year revellers in normal times, wore a deserted look on Thursday midnight.

Mumbai Police were on high alert and as many as 35,000 personnel were on duty on the New Year eve.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News
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Perhaps one is doomed to be eclipsed when playing Princess Margaret, but Vanessa Kirby more than held her own in the first two seasons of The Crown. The perfect foil for Claire Foy's prissy and dutiful young queen, Kirby's Margaret fulminated on the sidelines, craving the spotlight she managed to attract all too often with her rock 'n' roll lifestyle and her appalling taste in men.

She has been replaced in recent seasons by Helena Bonham-Carter as Margaret moves through a painful middle age, but The Crown's success has raised all boats, and eye-catching turns in Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Hobbs & Shaw have led Kirby to this star turn in a decidedly heavyweight drama. In Pieces of a Woman, she seizes her moment with a heartbreaking portrayal of a woman enduring unimaginable grief.

The English language debut of Hungarian director Kornel Mundruczo (Johanna, White God), Pieces of a Woman stars Kirby and Shia LaBeouf as a Boston couple anxiously preparing for the birth of their first child. Sean Carson (LaBeouf) is a rather chippy builder currently working on a vast bridge across the Charles River, which he seems to feel he should be designing. Martha Carson (Kirby) is more laid back, on the surface at least, and has no such status anxiety: she's the daughter of Elizabeth Weiss (Ellen Burstyn), a tough and wealthy Jewish widow who makes no secret of the fact she thinks Martha has married down.

Elizabeth is not even thrilled about Martha's pregnancy, which she fears will attach her more completely to Sean. But she needn't have worried, because during the home birth Martha insisted on, things go horribly wrong. When the couple's midwife cries off at the last minute, her flustered replacement Eve (Molly Parker) seems unsure of herself, and seconds after the baby is born, it dies.

This may not have been Eve's fault at all, but this is America, and Martha's mother is out for blood. Elizabeth was born in wartime Hungary and narrowly survived the Holocaust: in her world, you can only move on from tragedy if someone else is made to pay. Martha seems resistant to her mother's Old Testament ghetto logic, but Sean, a hothead, is all on for vengeance, and a remorseless lawyer (Sarah Snook) is engaged.

She will bring no happiness to anyone and, meanwhile, her legal action against the unfortunate Eve is about the only thing Sean and Elizabeth can agree on. They loathe each other and trade insults like gunfire. When Elizabeth passive-aggressively buys them a family saloon, Sean complains the vehicle is "grey, like her soul". Elizabeth is more direct: "I've never liked you," she bluntly informs him.

While they bicker, Martha is left to deal with the unbearable weight of her grief. And though Sean, a recovering alcoholic, reacts to his trauma by hitting the sauce, Martha retreats inwards and becomes obsessed (for obvious reasons) with tending and seeding apple pips.

Kornel Mundruczo's film is full of such symbolism, not all of it as heavy handed: a bleary, dream-like visual style draws you into the couple's extended nightmare, and the acting of Kirby and Burstyn in particular keeps you there. LaBeouf's resting state may be outrage: he's all too convincing as the surly and thin-skinned Sean, particularly during a ghastly bedroom moment. If there were awards for the most excruciating sex scene, LaBeouf's heavy-handed overtures here would surely be in contention, but as you watch between your fingers, you realise that this is a couple entering its death throes.

The problem is that Pieces of a Woman tends towards one note, that note being full on hysteria. If this makes it a hard watch, I suppose it ought to be given the subject, but wall-to-wall histrionics are not especially revealing from the viewer's point of view and in the end, you feel like you're observing a rather callous and clinical scientific study of grief.

But Kirby makes her character's despair seem chillingly real.

In countless films, Las Vegas has been presented as a glamorous fantasy world, an adult Disneyland where pleasure obliterates one's worries. But the regulars at The Roaring 20s occupy a very different Vegas. In Bill and Turner Ross's odd but engaging film, the rundown bar is about to close down and its shambling clients emerge from the woodwork to begin a day-long wake.

What follows is a fascinating insight into a bleary American subculture, but there's a catch - it's all faked. Because Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets was actually filmed in New Orleans and one of the boozers is an actor. All the other drinkers, though, are real people, their stories and traumas their own, and their disjointed soliloquies give this strange hybrid docudrama compelling veracity.

The film captures the warmth and camaraderie of the barfly universe, but also the doomed circle of mutual enablement that will sink all these drinkers, one after the other. One talkative regular prides himself on having only become an alcoholic after he'd become a failure. "I ruined my life sober," he announces with a smile, "and then I came to you." PW

Situated just a few bitterly contested miles from Jerusalem, the ancient city of Ramallah has become the de facto capital of the occupied West Bank.

The epicentre of Palestinian culture and commerce, Ramallah is also on the front line of a bitter and seemingly open-ended conflict, surrounded by ever-encroaching illegal Israeli settlements that threaten its very existence. And yet, the city survives and even appears to thrive, helped by its mayor, Musa Hadid.

In David Osit's perceptive documentary, we watch Hadid go about his work, running committees, solving problems and toiling tirelessly to raise his city's profile. Greeted warmly in the street wherever he goes, Hadid seems popular and Osit's documentary bucks cliched portrayals of the West Bank as a dusty wasteland: when we first meet Musa he's sipping coffee in a French-looking cafe.

The scale of Mayor Hadid's task is put in context when he deals with trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and Donald Trump's breathtakingly cynical decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. But the Mayor's quiet positivity seems unquenchable. PW

3 stars (IFI@home, 89mins)

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (Curzon Home, IFI@home, 98mins), 4 stars

In countless films, Las Vegas has been presented as a glamorous fantasy world, an adult Disneyland where pleasure obliterates ones worries. But the regulars at The Roaring 20s occupy a very different Vegas. In Bill and Turner Rosss odd but engaging film, the rundown bar is about to close down and its shambling clients emerge from the woodwork to begin a day-long wake.

What follows is a fascinating insight into a bleary American subculture, but theres a catch  its all faked. Because Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets was actually filmed in New Orleans and one of the boozers is an actor. All the other drinkers, though, are real people, their stories and traumas their own, and their disjointed soliloquies give this strange hybrid docudrama compelling veracity.

The film captures the warmth and camaraderie of the barfly universe, but also the doomed circle of mutual enablement that will sink all these drinkers, one after the other. One talkative regular prides himself on having only become an alcoholic after hed become a failure. I ruined my life sober, he announces with a smile, and then I came to you. PW

Mayor (IFI@home, 89mins), 4 stars

Situated just a few bitterly contested miles from Jerusalem, the ancient city of Ramallah has become the de facto capital of the occupied West Bank.

The epicentre of Palestinian culture and commerce, Ramallah is also on the front line of a bitter and seemingly open-ended conflict, surrounded by ever-encroaching illegal Israeli settlements that threaten its very existence. And yet, the city survives and even appears to thrive, helped by its mayor, Musa Hadid.

In David Osits perceptive documentary, we watch Hadid go about his work, running committees, solving problems and toiling tirelessly to raise his citys profile. Greeted warmly in the street wherever he goes, Hadid seems popular and Osits documentary bucks cliched portrayals of the West Bank as a dusty wasteland: when we first meet Musa hes sipping coffee in a French-looking cafe.

The scale of Mayor Hadids task is put in context when he deals with trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and Donald Trumps breathtakingly cynical decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital. But the Mayors quiet positivity seems unquenchable. PW




TMC Birbhum president Anubrata Mondal to be under strict EC surveillance from 5 pm till Fri 7 am: Official

High drama in Kolkata: TMC workers pelt stones at CBI office over arrest of Bengal ministers

Suvendu Adhikaris brother hints he is joining BJP

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Jan 01: Following his removal as the chairman of the board of administrators of Contai Municipality in Purba Medinipur district, Trinamool Congress leader Soumendu Adhikari on Thursday hinted that he would join the BJP following the footsteps of his political heavyweight brother Suvendu.

"Lotus will bloom in every household. Wait a bit," said Mr Soumendu Adhikari who also filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court challenging his removal from his post in the civic body.

Lotus is the election symbol of the BJP. Mr Soumendu had not participated in the recent political programmes of the TMC in the district and a section of the party leaders alleged that he was supporting Suvendu Adhikari's mass contact programmes in the district for the last two months.

CBI issues look out circular against TMC leader in cross border cow smuggling case

"Remember, we worship Maa Durga with 108 lotuses," Mr Soumendu told reporters at Contai.

Suvendu Adhikari, a former cabinet minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, joined the BJP along with nine MLAs, five of them from the TMC, and a party MP during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in Medinipur on December 19.

At a public rally on Tuesday, Suvendu Adhikari said that lotus will bloom in his family.

His father Sisir Adhikari and another brother Dibyendu are TMC MPs. They did not give any indication of leaving the TMC.

However, Dibyendu Adhikari on Wednesday termed the decision to remove Soumendu from the post of chairman of the board of administrator of Contai Municipality as "unfortunate, unexpected and unfair."

Soumendu Adhikari was the chairman of Contai Municipality till the term of the board expired in 2019.

He was then appointed as its administrator since elections were postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Claiming that he has been illegally removed by the West Bengal Municipal Affairs Department from his post in the civic body on December 30, Soumendu moved the Calcutta High Court on Thursday.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

Assembly election is due in West Bengal in April-May 2021.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 11:17 [IST]
Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone on Friday (January 1) via video conferencing for 1,144 houses for people from the EWS category to be built at Rajkot under the Centre's 'light house project' (LHP), the Gujarat government said on Thursday.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will be present at Rajkot as the chief guest of the programme, a government release said here. Houses for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) are being built under the LHP project to provide shelter to the urban poor using green construction technology, it said.

Under the LHP project, the central government will be building over 1,000 houses each in six cities - Indore, Chennai, Ranchi, Agartala, Lucknow and Rajkot.

During the function, the central government will also confer awards to Gujarat under various categories for its performance in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to provide houses to the poor, the release said.

Earlier in the day, Modi laid the foundation stone for the upcoming All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) campus in Rajkot via video link.

Back-to-back programmes of the prime minister in Rajkot related to various projects come ahead of elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat, including Rajkot, which are likely to be held in February.

Apart from municipal corporations, several other local bodies like municipalities and district panhcayats will also have elections during the same time.
Julia Roberts is most known for starring in movies, however, she has a spiritual side as well. Interestingly, she was drawn to a religion by a simple photo. Heres a look at her spiritual beliefs and how they are reflected in one of her most famous films.

Julia Roberts | Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

How Julia Roberts life is somewhat similar to one of her characters lives

Though shed been in roles prior, Roberts became a star through her role in Pretty Woman. Her chemistry with Richard Gere was strong and she got nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. Today, the film remains one of the most well-remembered romantic films of the 1990s. Afterward, she became more associated with romantic comedies than any other contemporary actress with the possible exception of Meg Ryan. Later in her career, she starred in a romance movie based on a true story called Eat Pray Love.

Eat Pray Love is based on a memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. It describes her taking a trip to Italy to appreciate the food, taking a subsequent trip to India and appreciating Eastern spirituality, and later falling in love while spending time in Indonesia. Although the film is not based on Roberts experience, it shares some similarities with her life. Roberts is from the West, but she practices an Eastern religion: Hinduism.

A trailer for Eat Pray Love

RELATED: What Are Paul McCartneys Views on Religion & Mysticism?

Julia Roberts discussed a little moment that had a huge impact on her life

According to OneIndia, her interest in Hinduism came from seeing a picture of a guru called Neem Karoli Baba and I was so drawn to this picture of this person and I did not know who he was or what he was about but felt a very strong interest. Neem Karoli Baba was a teacher known for introducing outsiders to Hinduism.

Although he had a profound influence on her life, Roberts never met Neem Karoli Baba. He passed long before I saw his picture but you know just very intriguing, and that is the way things come in to our lives, Roberts said. They are not these big gate crashing moments, it is just the little likehoonwhat is this about.

Julia Roberts | Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

RELATED: What Does Harry Styles Think About God & Religion?

The life shed like to live when she reicarnates

One of the things that separates Hinduism from some of the Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam is Hinduism teaches that reincarnation is real. According to The Times of India, Roberts revealed how she would like to be reincarnated. Ive been so spoiled with my friends and family in this life, she said. Next time (since Hinduism believes in rebirth) I want to be just something quiet and supporting after the stresses of my celebrity lifestyle. Many people see celebrity lifestyles as aspirational so its interesting Roberts feels there are downsides to her life.

Roberts had an unorthodox path to Hinduism. However, she doesnt think life is necessarily about huge dramatic moments. In addition, shes got some interesting  albeit very modest  plans for her reincarnation.
Mr Ekele, the CMD of the hospital, said the facility did all its best to save the government official.

Late Femi Odekunle was gasping for air due to shortages in oxygen supply at the isolation centre inside the Abuja University Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada where he died on Tuesday evening from COVID-19 complication, his family and close associates told PREMIUM TIMES.

The hospital's Chief Medical Director (CMD), Bissallah Ekele, admitted there was a shortage of oxygen in the facility, a situation he blamed on the recent surge in coronavirus infections officially declared the second wave.

He, however, said Mr Odekunle, a professor of criminology and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), died because of the "severity of his infection."

His death came 12 days after he contracted COVID-19, a highly infectious disease adjudged by medical experts as potentially deadly for people with respiratory and other underlying health conditions.

"When I spoke with his wife twice between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, I could hear in the background loud heavy rumblings of the man struggling to breathe with great difficulties and excruciating pains even though he wore oxygen masks," former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, a close associate of the deceased said in a statement Tuesday, Tribune Newspaper reported.

"As a matter of fact, Femi's friends rose stoutly to his support over the last 48 hours but it was just too late. Top Government functionaries amongst them led by Hon Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola along with President's Spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, SGF Boss Mustapha and two sitting Governors tore through bureaucracies and red tapes and pulled stunts but the damages to Femi's health appeared to have gone too far for remedy."

Meanwhile, family sources told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Odekunle's situation became severe especially because he was not getting the much-needed oxygen, making it extremely difficult for him to breath in his last hours.

They said they had to go outside the facility in search of oxygen.

Responding in a phone interview on Thursday morning, Mr Ekele, the CMD of the hospital, said the facility did its best to save the government official.

He explained how the surge in infections resulted in shortages in the supply of oxygen at the facility.

"The isolation centre at Gwagwalada is a level 3 centre so that means most of the patients we have are referrals from other facilities. We manage the most severe cases other facilities cannot handle. At least 9 out of 10 cases we have are severe. Since COVID-19 is a disease of the respiratory tract, most of our patients need oxygen for breathing.

"But with the challenge is that with the second wave of infections, we are having shortages in supply of oxygen because the demand is high. The machine we have produces about 10 cylinders of oxygen daily, which is not enough.

"Fortunately, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 came to the rescue by contracting a private company to supply us with an additional 40 cylinders every day.

"With that, we no longer have challenges with oxygen. Anybody that dies now from the disease was as a result of the severity of the disease," the medical director noted.

Even though Mr Ekele said the additional 40 cylinders of oxygen started arriving at the hospital on Monday barely 24 hours before Mr Odekunle died, he insisted that it was not a lack of oxygen that caused his death.

"No it was the severity of his case", he said. "It is quite unfortunate that the professor died. We did all that is humanly possible. Both the family and the federal government showed tremendous support, but he died."

Contacted again to ask if he was aware the family of the deceased were going about looking for oxygen as a result of a shortage in the facility, he did not take calls or return text messages.

Gasping for Air

Mr Odekunle, 77 was said to be gasping for air before he died, one of the most painful challenges sufferers of coronavirus face if they are not placed on oxygen and or ventilators, a computerised device that pumps air in and out of the lungs which has long been a crucial component of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

There have been acute shortages of oxygen and ventilators in Nigeria, making it difficult to properly treat people severely suffering from the disease.

As of April, Nigeria had less than 500 ICUs and ventilators for its entire 200 million populations.

The situation becomes precarious now with the recent surge in new infections officially declared the second wave.

The spike in new cases is feeding through into fatalities as hospitals and isolation centres are increasingly becoming overwhelmed.

The total Deaths tally from the COVID-19 disease in Nigeria climbed to 1, 278 after 11 more people succumbed to the contagion in the last 24 hours, the country's infectious disease outfit, NCDC, announced late Wednesday.

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In the past 12 days, there have been 66 recorded deaths from the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, the same day Mr Odekunle's death was announced, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) lamented about shortages of oxygen and bed spaces at isolation centres, due to increasing cases hindering the treatment of Coronavirus patients.

"Treatment centres are filling up, and we are struggling to keep up. We are struggling to find oxygen to manage cases", NCDC director, Chikwe Ihekweazu told reporters during the PTF briefing.

"Every night, we are faced with phone calls of patients desperate for care. So, unfortunately, January will be a tough month for all of us. It will be tough, but we still have an opportunity to do what we need to do."

Mr Ekele, the CMD said the biggest challenges the Gwagwalada facility asides lack of oxygen is facing is a lack of bed space and overworking of staff.

"We have only 30 beds in this facility and it's full to the brim. There is more pressure on the front line workers. This only confirms that the second wave is real.

"I will advise Nigerians to take safety measures seriously, avoid crowded places and use your face masks.

"Prevention is better than cure."
A male passenger at New York's JFK International Airport fled without his shoes and passport after officers found a loaded 9mm handgun in his carry-on.

However, as he neglected to take his ID and boarding pass with him, it was not difficult for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to identify him.

Read More

According to his boarding pass, the Brooklyn man was headed to Atlanta. Officials were able to catch his friends and interview them before they boarded the flight.

Fleeing the checkpoint does this man no good, John Bambury, the TSAs Federal Security Director for the airport, warned in a press release. It was foolish of him to run. We know who he is and he now faces a stiff financial federal civil penalty.

Read More

According to the TSA, the first time a passenger is caught with a loaded gun at a security checkpoint, they can face a fine of $4,100 (3,368).

However, fines can triple depending on the circumstances and the suspect's level of cooperation. The agency noted that that concealed carry permit holders are not exempt from penalties, either.

It is legal to transport guns in checked bags if they are unloaded and in a locked case. However, there are federal civil penalties for improperly placing a gun in a carry-on bag.

In 2019, 4,432 guns were found in carry-on bags, or about 12.1 per day, and 87% were loaded. Incidents are up 5% from 2018.

That trend has continued in 2020 with TSA Administrator David Pekoske voicing concern that there had been a significant increase in loaded guns at checkpoints.

He added: Even more concerning is that 80% of the firearms coming into the checkpoint are loaded, and its just an accident waiting to happen."

Officers found 15.3 guns for every million people screened in July, compared with 5.1 per million people in July of last year, the Transportation Security Administration said this week.

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Online Editors
No organization promotes precise language, or diligently tracks the evolution of language within the culture, more so than the venerable Oxford English Dictionary.

One measure of the general awfulness of the year just past is that, when the OED went about choosing its word of the year, it could not settle on just one. Although Oxford Languages found that use of the word pandemic increased worldwide by 57,000% in 2020, it alone could not encapsulate the events of 2020. So the organization cited pandemic among a group of words and phrases of the year. They include bushfires, COVID-19, WFH (work from home), lockdown, circuit-breaker, support bubbles, keyworkers, furlough, Black Lives Matter and moonshot.

Although multiple words are necessary to describe 2020, only one resolution is needed on this first morning of the new year. That is, to learn the lessons offered by the multiple traumas of 2020.

Science matters. One of the great tragedies of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is that the Trump administration squandered months, ignoring scientific advice and hard experience in China and elsewhere, that it could have used to mount an aggressive response and diminish the impact. Instead, President Donald Trump later acknowledged that he did nothing and played down the crisis to avoid a panic. As the year ended, we saw new lockdowns, restrictions, virus variants and more throughout the world.

That is not to say that science exists in a vacuum and that it should supersede all other considerations. After all, the question often is not simply whether something is possible, but whether it always is wise to do what is possible. Issues of economics, morality, social justice and ethics often attend scientific discoveries, from gene-editing to weapons development to nuclear energy to climate change. But any meaningful debate must begin with an acceptance of scientific fact, which still hasnt happened as the pandemic rages.

Collaboration works. Even though the Trump administration decided that the United States would not formally participate in the international moonshot to develop a COVID-19 vaccine in record time, U.S. universities and companies that are the heart of the global pharmaceutical enterprise did so. Multiple collaborations within that larger framework produced the two vaccines now being administered and several more that will be available this year.

Address underlying causes. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been uniquely severe, it is one in a series of pandemics over the last two decades  Ebola, Zika fever, H1NI, SARS1, swine flu and others  that have emerged from contact with animals in the wild. That, in turn, results from ever-shrinking habitats and increasing contact between humans and formerly isolated animals. Global leaders who want to diminish the risk of pandemics must address that.

Education grossly inequitable. The pandemic laid bare major inequities across the society, none more so than in the realm of education.

As schools shut down in the spring in response to the pandemic, some seamlessly shifted to online learning. But millions of students could not do so because they lacked their own computers or even online access. That only widened existing massive gaps in educational attainment and demonstrated the need for sweeping reforms, including everything from universal broadband access to local tax reforms.

Essential work. Millions of American workers bore significant risk to keep the country running during the worst days of the pandemic, and not just medical professionals and their support staffs. From grocery store workers to delivery people, they have been praised for staying at their posts amid the crisis. But they should be rewarded with better pay and guaranteed health benefits, now that they have demonstrated that they are part of the foundation of the social and economic infrastructure.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
New year, new pay: Starting January 1 (tomorrow!), 20 states will raise their minimum wage.

Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

(You can also get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)

1. Coronavirus

A year ago today, the first cases of a mystery virus that would come to be known as Covid-19 were reported in Wuhan, China. Since then, 1.8 million people across the world have lost their lives in the ensuing pandemic. The US set another Covid-19 daily death record yesterday, and by some estimates, another 80,000 people could die in the next three weeks as the consequences of holiday travel and gathering set in. Other countries like Germany are also reporting record deaths, and Japan is considering a state of emergency to counter rising case numbers. In the US, vaccine rollout is lagging behind some other countries, leading to frustration and confusion in places like Florida, where unclear policies have led to a scramble for limited doses.

2. White House transition

GOP Sen. Josh Hawley says he will formally object to the results of the 2020 presidential election when Congress meets early next week to count the Electoral College votes. He is the first senator to announce plans to object to the results, along with Republican Rep. Mo Brooks. Their combined efforts will force the House and Senate to formally debate the matter, providing a platform for President Trump's baseless conspiracy theories claiming the election was stolen from him. To be clear, the debate and the vote afterward won't change the outcome of the election. But it will delay the results and create an ugly scene for Republicans who'd have to decide how long to tacitly entertain Trump's false election fraud allegations.

3. Stimulus

After rejecting a measure that would increase coronavirus stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attacked the House-passed bill and said it has "no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate." As part of the political maneuvering, Sen. Bernie Sanders vowed to delay a vote to override Trump's veto of the military funding bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act until the issue of bigger stimulus payments is addressed. It's looking more and more likely that this session of Congress will end without any movement on increased payments at all. Meanwhile, $600 stimulus checks are already on their way to some Americans. Oh, and the Census Bureau is going to miss today's deadline to produce its final population count for 2020. The agency said it will deliver the final results soon.

4. Brexit

Speaking of deadlines, British lawmakers eked out a vote to back the United Kingdom's post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union right before the very final deadline of the Brexit transition period. The deal preserves Britain's tariff- and quota-free access to EU consumers and allows the UK to narrowly avoid the economic disaster that would have come if it had tumbled out of the transition period without a deal. The UK may enjoy a short economic boost from the newfound security, but leaving the EU will still prove to be damaging, economists say. While the new deal covers trade in goods, it doesn't as thoroughly cover other industries critical to the UK's economy, like finance.

5. Yemen

At least 22 people were killed when a series of explosions hit Yemen's Aden airport. The attack happened as members of a new power-sharing government arrived from Saudi Arabia. It is unclear if the explosions were caused by missiles, but Saudi Arabia has blamed the attack on Iran-backed Houthi rebels. A spokesman for the Saudi-backed coalition in Yemen said the coalition intercepted and downed an explosives-laden Houthi drone that was targeting the presidential palace in the city of Aden. Yemen has been plagued by a years-long civil war, and the newly arrived government members are part of a new Cabinet formed to end a power struggle between a Yemeni separatist group and its current Saudi-backed government.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

The fascinating history behind the Times Square ball drop

Did you know? The design for the ball was based on a "time ball," a nautical device that helped sailors synchronize their on-board instruments.

Watch Boston Dynamics robots dance to 'Do You Love Me'

No no no, we can't think of the robots as cute and charming! That's part of their master plan!

Apple and TikTok remove app used to arrange parties during Covid-19

Don't have (real-life) parties!!!

Mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn leads Anderson Cooper in meditation

Let Anderson lead you peacefully into the new year.

2020 was the year of scary bugs, and 2021 will be even worse

Say it with me again, for the last time: NO MORE SCARY BUGS 2020!

TODAY'S NUMBER

$10 million

That's how much Ticketmaster will have to pay in fines after the company admitted to illegally accessing its competitor's computers.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"We know a life has been cut short tonight and that trust between communities of color and law enforcement is fragile. Rebuilding that trust will depend on complete transparency."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, addressing a fatal police shooting Wednesday night. The city's police chief says body camera footage will be released today. The shooting scene is about a mile from where George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police in late May. His death, which was captured on video, sparked national demonstrations calling for racial justice and police accountability.

TODAY'S WEATHER

Check your local forecast here>>>

AND FINALLY

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

You know the song. But do you really know what it means? Have a safe and happy New Year's holiday, everyone! (Click here to view.)
After two years delay induced by protracted family litigations and later challenges of Covid-19, Governor Nyesom Wike has approved a state burial for Rivers state billionaire and philanthropist, High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs.

Sir Ibim Dokubo, in a disclosure Friday on behalf of Chiefs of the Oluwari Briggs House in his home Abonnema, Asari Toru Local Government Area (LGA) said OB Lulu Briggs who died 27 December 2018 at 88 would be laid to rest 13th March 2021.

Dokubo said, "We register deep sadness and regret that more than two years after the death of our leader, he is yet to be buried due largely to family crisis.

"For more than 15 months we could not take custody of the mortal remains of High Chief O.B Lulu Briggs because of the series of court cases that denied the family from taking custody of the body".

"Later, the overwhelming view was that we needed to wait for relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions because High Chief Lulu Briggs had positively touched many lives. He was a public servant, labour leader, a politician, businessman and philanthropist.

"It will therefore be a disservice to his memory to deny his legion of friends and associates the opportunity to honour him at his funeral. His obsequies should be designed to enable various personalities who interacted with him in his life time to participate actively."

Son of the deceased, Dumo Lulu-Briggs was glad his father would be laid to rest at last, commending Governor of Wike for approving a State burial for the famed.

Vanguard News Nigeria
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Fabric Selection Inc. is based in the Greater Los Angeles area but sells it's products nationwide. Regardless of what the current fashion trends are, one thing that will never go out of style or demand is high-quality fabrics and materials.

A December 8 article on Fashionista reports on a pandemic-inspired shift in the fashion world focusing on loungewear. With many people working from home since March, the healthcare crisis seems to have accelerated the comfortable attire trend, although the article does note that fashion forecasts predicted the shift as early as late 2018. The article concludes that, with or without the coronavirus, loungewear will continue to be an ongoing trend in the fashion world. Los Angeles-based fabric wholesaler Fabric Selection Inc. says that regardless of what the current fashion trends are, one thing that will never go out of style or demand is high-quality fabrics and materials.

Fabric Selection says that, as per its name, fabric selection and material quality are key to keeping customers happy. The firm says that, even with the best clothing designs and pieces, consumers will not purchase a piece of clothing that feels as if it would fall apart the minute its put through a washing cycle. When customers are happy with the style and design of an item and feel as if their hard-earned money was invested wisely in high-quality clothing, they are more likely to return for future purchases.

The Los Angeles manufacturer says that in the world of fabric and fashion, it takes an expert to know where to source the top products and materials such as ultra-comfortable wholesale cotton fabric, especially in the most popular prints, patterns, and colors for the current season. Fabric Selection says that its outstanding staffers have the know-how to provide their customers with the best service and top-tier products.

With an extensive online catalog, Fabric Selection says that it offers a wide variety of fabrics and materials to designers and manufacturers nationwide. The firm notes that it sells both wholesale and retail fabric by the yard to fit every customers needs, whether theyre an established brand with a large collection or a budding DIY designer. Fabric Selection says that its collection includes the full range of materials such as knits and woven material, with a wide array of copyrighted prints  which means that customers never have to worry about unpleasant surprises when it comes to fabric designs.

For more information about Los Angeles-based online fabric wholesaler Fabric Selection Inc. and its products or services, call (213) 516-7053 or visit the firms website at https://www.fabricselection.com/.


The Pentagon has decided to send home the USS Nimitz, the only Navy aircraft carrier operating in the Middle East, a move that will reduce American firepower in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran.

The Nimitz was operating just off the coast of Somalia and was in the midst of a 10-month deployment when the Defense Department announced that it would be returning to homeport.

The move comes just two days after the US flew strategic bombers over Iran as a show of force and a week after President Trump warned its government that it would be held responsible for attacks targeting Americans in Iraq.

US concerns have been tied to the approach of the January 3 anniversary of the American airstrike that killed Iran's top commander, General Qassem Soleimani.

The Pentagon has decided to return home the USS Nimitz, the Naval aircraft carrier that has been operating just off the coast of Somalia during a 10-month deployment. The Nimitz is seen above in the Strait of Hormuz on September 18, 2020

A U.S. Air Force B-52H "Stratofortress" from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., is refueled by a KC-135 "Stratotanker" on Wednesday near the Persian Gulf. The show of force was meant to deter Iran from attacking American or allied targets in the Middle East

US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon escort is aerial refueled during Wednesday's mission. The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf for the second time this month

An Iranian woman holds a picture depicting General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of his assassination by the United States last year in Iraq. US military planners are on alert for possible Iranian retaliation as the anniversary approaches

Soleimani (pictured above in September 2016) was killed in a US military operation near Baghdad airport in Iraq on January 3, 2020

'Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch' Trump tweeted from aboard Air Force One on December 23.

'Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq... Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,' he wrote.

The decision to send the Nimitz home, announced Thursday by the acting secretary of defense, Christopher Miller, came one day after Air Force B-52 bombers flew nonstop from the United States to the Persian Gulf in a show of force that military officials said was intended to caution Iran against carrying out attacks against US forces or interests.

Sending the aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, home to the US West Coast would seem at odds with the idea that a show of force is needed to deter Iran.

This might reflect a split within the defense establishment on whether Iran poses a heightened threat to strike in the waning days of the Trump administration.

In announcing the decision to send the Nimitz home, Miller made no mention of Iran.

Earlier this week, an American military officer close to the situation told reporters that the US had detected signs that Iran had made preparations for possible attacks on US or allied targets in Iraq or elsewhere in the Mideast.

The move to bring home the USS Nimitz comes just two days after the US flew strategic bombers over Iran as a show of force and a week after President Trump warned its government that it would be held responsible for attacks targeting Americans in Iraq

Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,' he wrote

This was the reason for dispatching two B-52 bombers from the US to briefly overfly the Gulf on Wednesday, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal assessments.

The US has picked up signs that Iran may be considering or planning 'more complex' and broader attacks against American targets or interests in the Middle East, the senior U.S. military officer said.

The officer added that the latest intelligence represented the most concerning signs since the days immediately following the Soleimani killing.

The officer cited indications that advanced weaponry has been flowing from Iran into Iraq recently and that Shiite militia leaders in Iraq may have met with officers of Iran's Quds force, previously commanded by Soleimani.

The officer was not authorized to publicly discuss internal assessments based on sensitive intelligence and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump recently cited 'chatter' that Iran might strike.

Days after a December 20 rocket attack on the US Embassy compound in Baghdad by Iranian-supported Shiite militia groups, Trump tweeted that Iran was on notice.

Iran initially retaliated with a ballistic missile strike on a military base in neighboring Iraq that caused dozens of brain concussion injuries but no deaths among US troops.

But US officials are concerned that Iran might be planning further retaliation.

Because of the potential for escalation that could lead to a wider war, the US has sought to deter Iran from additional attacks.

Strategic calculations on both sides are further complicated by the political transition in Washington to a Biden administration that may seek new paths to dealing with Iran.

President-elect Joe Biden has said, for example, that he hopes to return the US to a 2015 agreement with world powers in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

The US has maintained a near-continuous aircraft carrier presence in the Persian Gulf region since the USS Abraham Lincoln was sent in May 2019 amid concerns that Iran was considering attacking US interests in the region.

The US also sent additional land-based attack planes and reestablished a troop presence in Saudi Arabia.

The Nimitz deployed from the US in April and was due to return before the end of the year.

Iran's president, Hassan Rouhani, has vowed revenge for the killing of Soleimani and has said that President Donald Trump's life will end 'in a few days' when he will 'go to the dustbin of history.' Above, Rouhani pictured on December 26

In early December, its planned return was postponed, in part out of concerns about potential Iranian threats, and more recently it was ordered to provide support off the coast of Somalia for the movement of American forces out of the country.

Iran on Friday warned that Soleimani's killers are 'not safe on earth' hours after President Hassan Rouhani hailed the end of Trump-ism and said that the 'life of this criminal will end soon'.

The Iranian president made the comments on Wednesday as the country this week honors the military commander who was assassinated a year ago by arch-enemy America and is revered as a heroic warrior across the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani added that the end of Trump's presidency would bring about better conditions for regional and global stability.

Rouhani was quoted as saying: 'One of the effects of this stupid and disgraceful act was that Trumpism ended and in a few days, the life of this criminal will end.'

He continued: '[Trump] will go to the dustbin of history, and we are very happy about this and we believe that the period after Trump will be a better condition for regional and global stability.'

Speaking at an event in Tehran to pay tribute to Soleimani, Iran's judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi warned that his the general's killers will 'not be safe on Earth'.

Raisi added that all those who had a role in Gen Soleimani's killing will not be able to 'escape law and justice', even if they were a US president.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused Trump of attempting to fabricate a pretext to attack Iran, and said Tehran would defend itself forcefully.

Separately, a military adviser to Iran's supreme leader warned Trump 'not to turn the New Year into mourning for Americans.'

Zarif said in a tweet: 'Instead of fighting Covid in US, @realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to OUR region.

'Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war.'

Iran is preparing to hold events marking the anniversary of Soleimani's killing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused Trump of attempting to fabricate a pretext to attack Iran, and said Tehran would defend itself forcefully

Zarif said in a tweet: 'Instead of fighting Covid in US, @realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to OUR region'

'Iran doesn't seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests,' Zarif wrote.

Hossein Dehghan, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Twitter: 'I saw on the news that the Americans are on alert for fear of the revenge (over Soleimani's killing) and have flown two B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf.'

'All their military bases in the region are covered by our missiles. I advise the White House evictee (Trump) not to turn the New Year into mourning for Americans,' said Dehghan, a former defense minister.
Dublin, Dec. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Power Generation Construction Projects in Europe" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



For Europe as a whole, the project pipeline for wind power projects has the highest value, at US$251.5 billion, ahead of nuclear power projects, with US$246.8 billion. These dominate the pipeline, with wind power accounting for 39% of the pipeline by value, ahead of nuclear with a 34% share. The large shares in renewable and nuclear energy reflects the regional drive to lower greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.



This report provides a detailed analysis of power generation construction projects in Europe, based on projects tracked.



Scope of the report:



The report provides analysis based on the publisher's construction projects showing total project values and analysis by stage and funding.

The top 50 regional projects are listed giving country, stage, value of projects. Ranked listings of the key operators for the sector are also provided showing the leading contractors, consulting engineers and project owners. Country profiles are provided for the top 10 countries.

Key report benefits:



Gain insight into the development of the power generations construction sector.

Assess all major projects by value, start date, scope and stage of development globally, for the regions and top 10 countries to support business development activities.

Plan campaigns by country based on specific project opportunities and align resources to the most attractive markets.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Overview



2. Project Analytics by Country

2.1 The UK

2.2 Poland

2.3 France

2.4 Turkey

2.5 Russia

2.6 Romania

2.7 Finland

2.8 Bulgaria

2.9 Ireland

2.10 Estonia



3. Construction



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ns1ls



About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
After a string of disappointing romances on reality TV, it looks like former Bachelor star Brittany Hockley has finally found herself a keeper.

The radiographer, 32, debuted her new boyfriend on Thursday, sharing a photo to Instagram of the pair kissing as they celebrated New Year's Eve together.

While she concealed her beau's face, she reassured fans she was 'really happy'.

Mystery man: Former Bachelor star Brittany Hockley debuted her new boyfriend on Thursday, sharing this photo to Instagram of the pair kissing as they celebrated New Year's Eve together. While she concealed her beau's face, she reassured fans she was 'really happy'

The photo showed the Life Uncut podcast host in a bikini and shirt as she kissed her muscular boyfriend, who was wearing just a pair of boardshorts.

She captioned the picture: 'Really happy... Have a great NY everyone x.'

Brittany also posted another photo of herself wearing the same bikini, alongside an optimistic New Year's message.

Message: Brittany also shared this photo of herself in the same bikini she wore in her relationship announcement post, alongside an optimistic New Year's message. 'See you next year, lovers,' she wrote. 'I wish you all nothing but the best. Thanks for your love this year'

'See you next year, lovers,' she wrote. 'I wish you all nothing but the best. Thanks for your love this year.'

Brittany hasn't exactly been lucky in love in the past.

Before starring in The Bachelor in 2018, she went through a bad break-up with a man she thought she was going to marry, but who was actually living a double life.

Betrayed: Before starring in The Bachelor in 2018, Brittany went through a bad break-up with a man she thought she was going to marry, but who was actually living a double life

The Port Macquarie native discovered after getting engaged that her partner actually had another fiancee living in a different state.

When she appeared on Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins' season of The Bachelor, Brittany made it to the finale - but things didn't end well.

The former rugby player ended up dumping her and fellow finalist Sophie Tieman because he wasn't in love with either of them.

Ouch: When she appeared on Nick Cummins' (right) season of The Bachelor, Brittany made it to the finale - but things didn't end well. The former rugby player ended up dumping her and fellow finalist Sophie Tieman because he wasn't in love with either of them

The brunette went on to star in Bachelor in Paradise's third season, which was filmed in Fiji in late 2019 and aired last year.

But her second foray into reality TV also ended in tears.

She coupled up with former Bachelorette star Timm Hanly, who dumped her weeks after returning to Australia so he could reunite with his ex-girlfriend.
As India gears up to launch worlds largest immunisation drive, the government is conducting a dry run on Saturday to assess its ability and readiness to administer shots to hundreds of millions of people, including many in remote corners of the country.

The government has already successfully conducted a two-day pilot Covid-19 vaccination drive in eight districts in four states on December 28-29, but Saturdays dry run is more ambitious in scope, covering all state capitals, with some states also testing the process efficiency in districts located in difficult terrain or which are poorly connected.

In the national Capital, the mock drives will be conducted at three locations  the Daryaganj primary health centre, the government-run Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, and the private Venkateshwara hospital.

Twenty-five beneficiaries  all health care workers  will be present at each site and the vaccination team will demonstrate how they will be registered, how vaccines will be given, and how they will be monitored for adverse events, if any.

Read more| UK reactivates emergency hospitals as coronavirus cases surge

All the sites will have a three-room setup  one waiting room, one vaccination room, and an observation room. A team of four people  one person to check the documents, one to check the registration of the beneficiaries, one to monitor the person, and one to control the crowd  will be present.

The teams will have a vaccine carrier (cold box) that will be used to transport vaccines at the temperature they are meant to be stored from the cold chain points to the vaccination sites.

Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan also conducted a review meeting on the dry run with the Delhi authorities. The objective of this dry run is to prepare everyone for the huge immunisation drive. There should be good communication between the medical teams and the district administration for smoothly conducting vaccination. This will also let us know whether the registered beneficiaries are getting messages to reach the booth and whether they are getting an e-certificate afterwards. This will also clear up the divisions of lists of beneficieries and any doubts regarding the CoWIN platform, he said.

Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to schedule the dry run in major cities other than their Capital. The objective of the dry run for Covid-19 vaccine introduction is to assess operational feasibility in the use of Co-WIN application in field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide way forward prior to actual implementation. This is also expected to give confidence to programme managers at various levels, the Union health ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Read more| 2020 is gone, Covid-19 hasnt: A warning bell in Delhi CMs New Year message

Co-WIN refers to the Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network, which will help both health authorities as well as the public play their respective roles in the immunisation drive.

Saturdays dry run will involve 25 health workers eligible to receive the vaccine who will be the test beneficiaries. The states will prepare the vaccination sites, upload details of the beneficiaries on Co-WIN, and basically do everything they will do during the actual vaccination. As detailed in Thursdays statement, the dry run will also give states an opportunity to check sites for space, electricity and connectivity, logistics etc.

It will also help them figure out aspects of vaccine supply, storage and logistics including cold chain management. States have already been training vaccine administrators and preparing details of the beneficiaries.

Around 150,000 vaccinators have been trained so far, covering over 700 districts. States are also augmenting the helpline 104 (which shall be used in addition to 1075) for any vaccine or software related query.

The focus of the dry run will be on management of any possible adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). In addition, states will also emphasise adherence and management of infection control practices at the session site, to prevent disease transmission.

The mock drill will also include concurrent monitoring and review at the block and district levels, and preparation of feedback.

A detailed plan with specific dos and donts has been shared with States. The dry run is to look at any gaps that may be seen on ground while executing the plan. It is meant to mobilize all aspects except for the vaccine, said a senior health ministry official who asked not to be identified.

The first round of the dry run was conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Punjab in two districts each.

No major issues were observed in the operational aspects during this dry run. All States expressed confidence in the operational guidelines and IT platform for large scale programme implementation, the ministrys statement said.
TRUCKERS who try to dodge new customs checks when travelling from Britain will be pursued by Revenue and face possible sanctions like fines and prison time.

The warning comes on the first day of the new post-Brexit customs regime when very low traffic volumes into Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort were put down to the time of the year.

Delays are expected at Irish ports as volumes increases in the coming days and weeks.

Read More

The Revenue advised today that preparation by hauliers and logistics companies will minimise any such delays while also warning of sanctions if drivers don't attend customs facilities if asked to.

The head of Revenue's operations at Dublin Port, Tom Talbot said the clear message to drivers who are asked to call to customs facilities is that they must do so.

He said: "Do not be tempted to skip the customs facilities, the customs requirement, and go through the port.

"Revenue are there. We will know who has left the port without calling to customs when required and we will follow it up.

"Where necessary in due course it will be followed up with sanctions.

"So please heed that message. If you get a call to customs do exactly that. Call to customs."

He said the sanctions - which are set out in legislation - can include fines and prison time business and where theres a genuine error well follow that up.

He said there were very low volumes of traffic so far today with just 20 vehicles on the first ferry that arrived in Dublin this morning.

Some checks were done but drivers were able to leave the port in a matter of minutes.

According to Department of Agriculture official Hazel Sheridan a number of horses being transported were checked to make sure they were in good health and welfare conditions were being complied with.

But Mr Talbot also said there were very low volumes of trucks so far today with just three sent to a parking area for 170.

He said how they were processed showed that new systems are working.

"We're actually very lucky in the sense that we have these three days, at low volumes, whereby, everything is working well and it's just the volume that turns up come Monday or Tuesday," he added.

Mr Talbot said there will be delays in the coming weeks and "thats the nature of Britain being outside of the European Union".

He had a number of key messages to minimise those delays along with advising drivers called to customs posts to do so.

He said drivers should check their customs channel about 30 minutes out before docking in the port adding that this is "vital" so they know where to go once they disembark.

"By doing so, we will be able to move the traffic through the port and out to the exit as quickly as possible.

"Drivers that get a green routing  they can exit the port immediately," he said.

Mr Talbot also said all those carrying goods to and from and through Britain must have made a customs declaration.

He said that there are "no concerns" based on today's experience at Dublin Port but added: "We're well aware that this is an unusual day in terms of volume.

"But our systems are working.

"We're ready for the increase in volume next week, and hopefully we'll just build on that really positive start from today.

Stena Line reported that six freight loads bound for Ireland were turned away at Holyhead as they didn't have the correct references.

The ferry company urged hauliers to have valid Pre-Boarding Notification ready for check-in.

Mr Talbot said he welcomed the turning back of such trucks though he said he did not have details of particular cases.

He said Revenue and Government Department had "flagged that this day was coming.

"We have worked with people to prepare for it and weve made very, very clear that where trucks arrive at the port and whether thats Holyhead or Dublin  if the correct paperwork has not been done in advance those trucks will be turned around and turned back."

Read More

Online Editors
New Jersey law enforcement officials are opposing a plan to release hundreds of people from jail who are awaiting trial, dimming the chances that the states top court will fast-track a mass release as the pandemic continues to delay new juries.

Anyone who can safely await trial at home has already been released, the state attorney generals office and the county prosecutors association argued in court documents filed Wednesday. Letting more out would be both dangerous and illegal, they said.

The records also provided the most comprehensive look yet at the status of the virus in county jails.

People with the sort of criminal histories necessary to earn pretrial detention are not likely to begin obeying conditions of release because of a public health emergency, the association wrote.

Put another way, every detainee at issue here has had their day in court, and simply disagrees with how a judge decided, the attorney generals office added.

Their briefs were in response to a proposal from the public defenders office and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

The two groups wrote the state Supreme Court in December, arguing that the continued delay of jury trials was unfair to people who had not been convicted of a crime, but who were nonetheless stuck behind bars while the virus spread.

An ACLU lawyer declined comment on the prosecutors stance. A representative for the public defender did not respond to a request for comment.

The courts chief justice previously scheduled arguments on the plan to begin Jan. 19.

Earlier this year, all sides reached an agreement to release hundreds of people convicted of low-level crimes, but that plan did not affect those waiting for a jury to decide their future.

There were almost 5,560 people awaiting trial behind bars as of last week, according to the records, and state law generally requires trials to begin within six months.

If New Jerseys Supreme Court adopted the release plan, an estimated 650 people who had already waited more than six months and who had not been accused of the most serious crimes would be eligible to go home. Around another 400 would also receive new hearings to consider release, defense lawyers said.

Prosecutors responded that jails already held far fewer people than they used to because of recent reforms, and they pointed out that court business has still continued virtually.

We seek detention where theres a risk, where theres a danger to the public, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal told NJ Advance Media March 26. People who are in right now, after criminal justice reform, are truly the ones who need to be in for public safety reasons.

Prosecutors also said fears about the virus behind bars were overblown.

County jails held almost 9,870 people as of Dec. 23, according to the records.

Wardens said only about 160 were positive around that same time, according to the association. State officials have also promised to vaccinate inmates soon.

That doesnt mean the threat is nonexistent.

There are people here who shouldnt be sitting here this long, not while their life is in jeopardy, Tarrick Tucker, who is incarcerated in Essex County, told NJ Advance Media.

Tucker was locked up at the beginning of October on weapons and drug charges, according to county records, so he would not be immediately eligible to be released under the proposal. But releases could decrease the number of people around him.

Rooms were overcrowded and positive cases were cropping up in multiple units, he said.

I didnt catch the coronavirus until I got in jail, he said. People are really scared.

The state attorney generals brief can be read here:

The county prosecutors associations brief can be read here:

NJ Advance Media staff writer Joe Atmonavage contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 19:56:16|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said the presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 14 will be credible and warned against those planning to antagonize the process.

Museveni said Thursday in his New Year message he had received intelligence that some people were planning to rig the elections and that some election officials had been bribed.

He said there are some opposition political actors planning to use violence to alter the election outcome.

"I would like to appeal to everybody, please, be patriotic for once. Do not seek to distort the wishes of the people of Uganda. Elections are a periodic medicine and that is why elections shouldn't be interfered with by anybody," said Museveni.

"Therefore, I want to warn all those involved in this, do not miscalculate. Please stop because I know and I will act. I have been elected by my political party and the people of Uganda repeatedly. I can't allow their affairs to be messed up by criminals and traitors," he added.

Museveni said an elite force had been deployed in the capital Kampala ahead of the polls.

Eleven candidates are taking part in the presidential election including incumbent Museveni who has been in power for over 30 years. Enditem
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Airbag Inside Sweden AB, which describes itself as an innovative airbag & design company based in Gothenburg, Sweden, is currently working on a pair of airbag pants (hat tip to New Atlas ), given that the most injuries sustained in case of a bike crash are to the legs. Theyre called the Airbag Jeans and, for the time being, only a prototype exists.You can see it in action in the video at the bottom of the page. Thats Moses Shahrivar, the founder of the company, throwing himself on the floor to demonstrate the airbags efficiency in preventing leg injury. Shahrivar developed his first pair of MC jeans in partnership with Harley-Davidson back in 2005, so at the very least, you know he has some experience to throw behind this project.Speaking of which, the Airbag Jeans are likely to become a reality once a certain number of emails are registered to the website. Thats when a KickStarter campaign will launch, offering customers an early chance to get a pair and the company some much-needed capital to take the product into mass production.The Airbag Jeans will be sold under the MoCycle brand, which already offers bomber jackets made of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene fibers, which are said to be stronger than Steel. As per the media outlet, the airbags in the pants will use a tether-deploy system  or at least the prototype does. The designers are working with researchers from the Uppsala University to develop a sensor-enabled system.For the time being, these are the only details available on the Airbag Jeans, so well just have to wait for even the slightest info on pricing and real-life tests . But we do have this: the prototype actually looks good, fashionable almost.
Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 crore doses for 2021

India records less than 300 COVID-19 deaths for 7th straight day as new cases push tally upwards

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 01: Union health ministry on Friday said that 20,036 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours in the country taking the total number of coronavirus cases to 1,02,86,710. The total number of COVID-19 active cases has reached 2,54,254 while recoveries have reached 98,83,461. As many as 23,181 coronavirus patients were recovered and discharged from the hospitals in the last 24 hours.

The health ministry also said that a total of 256 fatalities took India's coronavirus death toll to 1,48,994.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 17,31,11,694 samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 31. Of these, 10,62,420 samples were tested yesterday.

Key meet on approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca, Bharat Biotech COVID vaccines today

Meanwhile, the COVID vaccination dry run will be conducted by all the State and UT governments on January 2. The government has asked all States and UTs to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine rollout.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

According to the health ministry, the activity is proposed to be conducted in all State Capitals in at least three session sites. Whereas, some States will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support.
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New Delhi, Jan 1 : Farmers' organisations under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), after a meeting at Singhu border, on Friday said that if the talks with the government on January 4 fail then they will intensify the protest and hold a tractor rally on January 6 on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway. The farmers' union will also hold a joint press conference on Saturday.

The statement from the SKM said, "If the 6th round talks with the government are not fruitful then the Shahjahanpur border blockage will be moved towards Delhi and 'Desh Jagruti Abhiyan' will be organised from January 6 to 20 across the country." The SKM had also appealed to the common people to celebrate the New Year with the farmers at the protest site. "The appeal made by the SKM got good response at various borders of the national Capital," the statement said.

A lot of people including farmers across the country also took a pledge to participate in the protest and support the movement.

"Delhi For Farmers" also organised protest in different parts of Delhi from 8 a.m. to late in the evening and farmers from Barnala reached Tikri border on Friday by driving their tractor in reverse gear.

Ex-servicepersons also extended solidarity to the farmers at the Ghazipur border as they celebrated the New Year with them and organised a massive cleanliness drive. Apart from this, Buddhist monks reached in large numbers in support of protesting farmers at the Gazipur border.

Farmers in other parts of the country also organised indefinite dharnas/sit-ins.

The SKM also appreciated the resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly in support of the farmers' movement.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
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In September, the Leinster Leader reported how work had begun on converting a former Lidl warehouse in Newbridge into a manufacturing hub by US multinational Keurig Dr Pepper.

The US company behind brands such as Dr Pepper and 7up announced earlier this year that it is hiring for 50 positions immediately at the facility off Great Connell Road. The firm, which has 25,000 employees worldwide, wants to expand and diversify its supply chain by opening the manufacturing facility.

Keurig Dr Pepper is the parent company of over 100 brands that also includes Snapple, Canada Dry and Sunkist.

The vacant building will be converted for beverage manufacturing use.

The main contractor is experienced firm, John Paul Construction Ltd. The gross floor area of the premises is increasing from 31,986 sq m to 34,191 sq m.The existing car park will also be extended to 209 car parking spaces and 40 bicycle spaces .Other additions will be an external chiller, condensing units and a wastewater treatment plant.

The estimated total construction cost of the development is 2m.
A since-fired Wisconsin hospital worker was arrested for removing more than 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from refrigeration, causing them to spoil, police said Thursday.

A statement from police in Grafton, near Milwaukee, said the suspect was charged after tampering with and causing the destruction of 57 vials containing approximately 570 doses of the novel coronavirus vaccine.

The name of the person charged has not been released.

Advocate Aurora Health initially reported that 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine were tossed after an employee inadvertently removed them from the fridge at the Grafton center and left them out overnight. The employee, however, admitted to doing it deliberately, officials said.

Dr. Jeff Bahr, Aurora Health Care Medical Group president, said Thursday that the FBI and Wisconsin state police had joined the ongoing law enforcement investigation. He added that the individuals motive remained unclear.

The worker was fired Wednesday.

The vaccine must be stored in a freezer between minus 13 degrees and 5 degrees Fahrenheit, then thawed in a refrigerator for 21/2 hours or at room temperature for an hour.

We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic, Aurora Health said in a statement. We are more than disappointed that this individuals actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine. This was a violation of our core values, and the individual is no longer employed by us.

Aurora Health said it has contacted appropriate authorities for further investigation, but Grafton police have not publicized any potential charges.

Bahr said there was no evidence the individual tampered with any other vials of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines at the facility. He credited the system in place at the hospital for preventing further losses.

Its become clear this is a situation involving a bad actor and not a bad process, Bahr said during a news conference.

Bahr said that 57 people received vaccines from the doses that were removed from the facilitys refrigerators, before the rest of the vaccine was tossed. The doctor said those who received those doses have been informed that their inoculations may have been less effective.

Wisconsin has reported more than 477,000 positive COVID-19 cases so far and almost 5,000 deaths.

As case numbers dropped in New York, in late August, Ruths building allowed family members to visit  outside, at opposite sides of a long table.

Her building started to open the dining room partially in September. A few times a week, Ruth goes downstairs and eats a meal by herself at a table, six feet away from her closest friend. It is near enough that they can talk a little, even with hearing aids. Intermittently the dining room will close again because someone in the building tests positive. But on days when Ruth dines downstairs, Judy said, she can notice the difference in her mothers voice. Shes much more alive, Judy said.

In November, a day before her 97th birthday, Ruth fell in her apartment and hit her head, telephoning Judy from the floor when she could not get up. Mother and daughter were finally able to spend time together, four hours in the hospital emergency room.

By the time Ruth fell again a few weeks later, she had learned a lesson: This time I wasnt going to tell anyone, because I didnt want to go back to the hospital, she said. You shouldve seen how I managed to get up. I moved around on my behind, otherwise known as my tush. And I had black and blue marks all over my elbows, and I managed to get up without calling anybody. Im a stubborn mule.

After the second fall, a physical therapist advised her to use a walker even in the apartment.

Just before her birthday, Ruth mentioned the prospect of living to 100  a change from our past conversations, when she had said only that she did not want to get there. That same day she brought it up again with her daughter. For the first time ever she said, Maybe Ill live to be 100, and if I do, we can have a party, Judy Willig said.

At last, on Dec. 7, the building opened for a few visitors  with an appointment and a negative test for the virus. Judy grabbed the first appointment, in order to get in before someone in the building tested positive and the doors shut again.

She was given one hour. She had a long list of chores, starting with Ruths closet.

Mostly we hugged, Ruth said, which we havent been able to do forever.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 13:55:54|Editor: huaxia

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NUR-SULTAN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hailed the achievements of his country over the past year and vowed to continue reforms in 2021 in his New Year address.

Tokayev said the year of 2020 will be remembered as a time of hard trials and dramatic events. The country successfully saved its economy from a deep decline and preserved the creative potential in production, agriculture and business.

The president said Kazakhs have withstood the pressure of new challenges, showed steadfastness and solidarity.

"In the most challenging conditions we solved not only daily tasks, but also ensured the development of the country. Therefore, our people can rightly be proud of their achievements in this difficult year," Tokayev said.

The year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the country's independence, Tokayev added. "We are entering the 4th decade in the history of our sovereign country. This is indeed a very important milestone. In the future, we will further strengthen the power of Kazakhstan. Reforms in all areas will be continued with dignity."

Greeting the new year, the president also pledged to improve the quality of life of Kazakh people by continuously implementing effective policies. Enditem
"Some people got an email or a call at 10 or 11 oclock last night. That is simply not good enough. "We have the G2G app here in WA. We would hope that our system is better prepared to deal with these outbreaks as they occur and that everyone could get the message as quickly as possible. "We know for example that yesterday WA Police sent out an email asking people from Victoria here in WA to reply to that email with their accommodation details, their full name and date of birth and when they intended to head back to Victoria." Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said there should be systems in place to allow for seamless mass contact and testing. "It makes us frustrated at the lack of preparedness, particularly if we do see outbreaks where we're going to need to be testing not just 16,000 people but hundreds of thousands of people like they are in Sydney," he said.

"It should be made as easy and streamlined as possible and we can't help but think this is just another example of the health department finding it hard to implement really good programs." Loading "They have not involved private pathology enough in the testing arrangements." Advice from the Acting Chief Health Officer Paul Armstrong to the acting premier, released on Thursday afternoon, reveals he did not recommend Victorian arrivals between December 21 and 31 get a test. "With regards to Victorian travellers who remain in WA after having arrived on or after 21 December 2020, it is recommended that they self-quarantine in suitable premises for a period of 14 days after arrival in WA, undertake a COVID-19 PCR test on day 11, and be released from self-quarantine after 14 days if a negative test result is confirmed," he wrote.

A state government spokesman said the Liberal Party was fear-mongering and spreading blatant misinformation which was a slap in the face to health workers and police. The Liberals failure to grasp basic facts shows once again how inexperienced they are and that they are not ready to govern this state," he said. Zak Kirkup and the WA Liberals have today shown their true colours. They have broken their clear commitment to back the Chief Health Officers advice. The health advice on recent Victorian arrivals was crystal clear, in that there was a requirement to self-quarantine and be tested on day 11." Acting Premier Roger Cook said on Thursday the government was still expecting long lines at COVID-19 testing clinics but not the same influx as when WA shut its border to New South Wales.

Mr Cook said the government had learned its lesson from the experience and was spreading out the testing by having people only get checked on day 11 after their arrival. "Even with a surge of health staff and additional operating hours, it is likely we will see queues at our clinics," he said. "If you have recently been in contact with someone from Victoria in WA, you do not need to be tested, but the general rule continues to apply, if you develop any symptoms, get a test." Victorian arrivals left in the dark on border change Melbourne-based activist Sally Rugg was on holidays in her home state of WA and went into isolation as soon as she heard the news of the border closure on Thursday.
In the tedious and strained equation between the queer community and the mainstream film industry, 2020 began with a glimmer of hope. In January, PVR Cinemas  the largest exhibitor in the country  put up a few screenings of LGBTQIA+ short films in an arrangement with the Kashish Film Festival. Weeks later, Neena Guptas The Last Colour, starring trans actor and model, Rudrani Chettri, made it to the Best Picture long-list at the Oscars. At the same time, large film production houses were scouting for and buying books written by queer authors hoping to turn them into OTT series and feature films.

And before we knew it, one of Bollywoods most bankable stars, Ayushmann Khurana, was hitting the screens, aiming to carry the Rainbow flag into conservative homes that saw love only in a heterosexual form, with the romantic-comedy, Shubh Mangal Zyaada Savdhan (SMZY). While the film left the queer community divided on the authenticity of the narrative, it was still viewed as an important yet baby step of a 'not-so-innocent' adult called Bollywood.

By March, as it were, Covid-19 had taken over everyones lives, pushing large sections of the marginalized LGBTQIA+ community into a deep corner, a fact that most of the press invisibilized. This, of course, was to be expected given that the media at large is quite oblivious of lived queer realities and the distinction between gender and sexuality.

"If they dont know us and our rainbow of diversity, what would they know about our hurt, pain, triumphs and love," said a queer anthropologist studying minority representation in the mainstream. In effect, "it is unlikely that the Fourth Estate is aware or sensitized about homophobia, transphobia, representation, and authenticity in what is written, shown on TV or delivered to society by the film industry," he said, pointing towards a grim reality.

No wonder then, most of the press lauded Akshay Kumar for taking up the role of a transgender in the film Laxmii, released on Disney Plus Hotstar, describing his effort as brave and courageous. No question was raised on the depiction of the transgender which was nothing but a horrible 90s throwback where the queer individual is present only for comic relief! The media went on to praise Milind Soman and his look (not that the trans-community has one) when he signed up to act as a transgender (too) for Zee5s Paurashpur.

The natural instinct of the press, as we can see, is to rarely put scripts on queer stories under the scanner, question the depiction of the queer community or find out the role queer folks have played in the making of these films and soaps in front or behind the lens. The lack of insight and sensitivity is such that even the recent 'historic' cease and desist notice sent by the Trans Equality Society to MX player against the airing of Pati, Patni Aur Panga, has made little news even though the claims are serious, alleging that the content is 'transphobic, misogynistic, defamatory and malicious'.

"The media at large does not understand queer lives," points out Onir, a National Award-Winning filmmaker and an openly gay man. As a result, "they tend to play into mainstream popular narratives", not knowing how it impacts the LGBTQIA+ community, he underlines.

The film Shakuntala Devi, released on Amazon Prime earlier in the year, failed to come off as 'real' and 'full' to many a queer eye since it hopped, skipped and jumped over the topic of homosexuality. For the uninitiated, Shakuntala Devi had alleged her husband was homosexual. She even wrote a book titled The World Of Homosexuals  considered by some as the first academic study back in 1976. A significant number of gay people who read the book found it to be compassionate and a guide of sorts, even though her intent was considered unclear.

Even before watching the film, mythologist, author and out speaker, Devdutt Pattanaik took to Twitter and predicted the film will pussyfoot around the topic of sexuality. "Something tells me the filmmakers will skirt around homosexuality and the desires of a woman, after all, 'maths and parenting' are 'safer spaces'," he tweeted. This was a mild quip but there was more to come from several voices including Onir saying the queer factor was made invisible.

Many who adore Vidya Balan and liked the film, argued that it was the right of the filmmaker to pick which narrative they wished. True! But how can one justify the consistent erasing of queer lives and presence in films, and in this instance, something very much a part of Shakuntala Devis life as it dealt with marriage and her views on sexuality?

There are, of course, many problems with what goes out as popular cinema and what it includes and excludes from our lives and how it appropriates our stories. Filmmaker and author, Tanuja Chandra, speaking at the Rainbow Lit Fests (RLF) Digital & One earlier this December, said, "A film that includes the flaws and frailties of human beings, our prejudices and misconceptions, is what a real film is." If it is about LGBT+ and other marginalised groups, the film should make your audience fall in love with a character that they have thus far resented, she added.

In a way, you need to break away from being "politically correct" suggests film director, Sudha Kongara whose recently released Thangam is trending on Netflix as part of a series called Paava Kadhaigal. Engaging with the painful realities of ostracization of a transgender by society and their family, Kongara gets you to fall in love and emote with Saathar, the central character. As a result, you cant help but dislike the villagers while admiring the strength and generosity of Saathar  characteristics that are patently 'owned' and 'reserved' for cis-gender heterosexuals.

The root of many problems is the patriarchal mindset that dominates mainstream Bollywood and pop culture ensuring that just about every film revolves around a male hero and a few formulas for 'success'.

Film director and scriptwriter, Alankrita Shrivastava, argues mainstream cinema "often reflects the biases nurtured and perpetuated in society", and is "not challenging it". If you scratch the surface a bit, youd find that there is "less diversity and representation behind the camera", which doesnt auger well for authenticity in storytelling. Her recent film, Dolly Kitty Ke Chamakte Sitaare released on Netflix, was warmly welcomed for the depiction of female sexual desire as well as a young son, Pappu, struggling with their gender identity.

In the making of the popular Made In Heaven, there were three women scriptwriters including Shrivastava bringing a "strong" female gaze to that series. "It is a critique of patriarchy and there is no deification of the heterosexual cisgender male hero who sits on top of the privilege pile," allowing, as one sees, space for all kinds of 'real' characters including a gay man at the centre of the script.

While Made In Heaven was edited by a gay man, Apurva Asrani, who also wrote the much acclaimed Aligarh, Tanuja Chandras Monsoon Date (amongst the films shown at PVR Cinemas this January) had film scriptwriter and trans-woman, Gazal Dhaliwal penning the story. Similarly, several queer people directed a number of heterosexual individuals in what are very LGBTQIA+ sensitive films. Onir directed My Brother Nikhil with Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri in lead, Sridhar Rangayan directed Mona Ambegaonkar in Evening Shadows and most recently, Faraz Ansari directed Sheer Qorma, starring Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhaskar, and Divya Dutta.

According to Ansari, partnerships and collaborations are important and representation need not always be in front of the camera. There is more to the idea of opportunity, he argues while speaking at RLFs Digital & One: "We had a trans-woman playing a cis-het person in Sheer Qorma!" While Ansaris queer eye brought authenticity and pathos to the love story of his short film, Dhaliwal speaking as part of the same panel felt SMZY missed that bit of authenticity due to the absence of a queer person in the making of the film, even though the effort was earnest.

In the making of Thangam, Konagara had a bunch of friends from the trans community on the sets and at times even at the editing table. "Nadiya Banu, the trans activist, would look over my shoulder and give me feedback even while we were editing," she revealed. The story itself is based on co-author, Shan Karuppusamys real-life experience.

Many would argue that the ideal situation for the community or an authentic film is when the main actors are gay themselves. According to the Independent UK, between 2000 and 2019, 25 actors have been Oscar-nominated for playing LGBT+ roles. "Of those 25 actors, not a single one was openly queer", finds the report. If we were to assume that 2-3 of these actors are queer (based on the premise that at least 10 percent of any given population is from the community), it is apparent that the cis-het dominance is huge. And that may not change even if there is queer talent 'worth investing in' after actors such as Rupert Everett who came out as gay in 2009, saw his prospects dwindle.

"From music to film, often it is straight people who are reaping the rewards of queerness becoming more mainstream," reveals a December 2019 report in BBCs Culture section. In effect, this is appropriation, a claim that any from the queer world could make against an Akshay Kumar who did more for himself than for the community.

Ansari admits that since he does not compromise on his identity, he is often overlooked or side-lined, and that applies to many others from the queer world. Sadly, as Dhaliwal puts it, "we are that stage where we need more stories" and hence we may need to give in to some painful realities, yet we should not give up on our want for true depictions. According to her, even if the role of a queer artist is small or secondary, the aim should be to get into the "mind-space of the viewer".

The question though is whether there are enough of us out there. The answer is 'no'. Dhaliwal pointed out that the obsession with a cis-gender male hero "creates a fear in queer artists to come out and be comfortable in playing those (queer) roles". Even "straight actors fear playing such roles" leading to a slim space for real-life LGBT+ stories.

In short, it is a play of the market and market economics. "Every film is more a product than a film in the real meaning," claims Onir and the industry has a limited sense of social responsibility. Also, "we dont have queer people in decision-making positions in studios," he says and therefore they aren't' calling the shots. So while "we should have at least one queer-centric mainstream film out of a 100, we hardly have two or three out of a thousand!"

What this approach of the industry leads to, is the challenge of funding those who dont follow the mainstream formulas. While Rangayan had to turn to the community and allies through a crowd-funding platform to cover costs for Evening Shadows, Chandra and Dhaliwal signed up Konkona Sen for Monsoon Date which helped them bring in the big bucks. The presence of Sonam Kapoor Ahuja for Ek Ladki Ko Dekha "helped me with budgets and reach".

But sometimes this isnt the option available for a film and the kind of casting it requires, which is why Ansari believes that it is important to look outside of the sub-continent for funds and support. If he were to reach a road-block here, he would happily produce a film internationally and let it trickle into the India market through festivals and OTT platforms.

For many queer film-makers searching for funds, the answer has been friends, family and good-will entities such as Lotus Visual Productions in London. Led and conceived by Neeraj, one of his concerns has been the fact that "funding coming from India, may come with strings attached in form of clauses around morality or subverting unpopular messages". This would be counter-productive when "queer stories, biographies and history deserve to be cherished for future generations as a source of knowledge, support, encouragement and for visibility," he says.

Yet, the fact is that the mainstream cannot be dismissed, nor can the need for authenticity and representation. And the two, as it were, hardly tango.

The saviour, as it appears, has been OTT platforms. They not only cut across geographies, ideas, cultures and politics but they give space to stories that dont fit into the formulas of Bollywood. Not just that, they allow "a character to be built over several episodes" points out Dhaliwal who was the lead writer for the very youthful series  Mismatched. "People grew to adore the queer character who was initially holding a side role but was at the centre when the first season ended," she explains.

This is exactly how the role of the gay man in Made In Heaven, Karan, evolved. "You are not one aspect of your identity," Shrivastava says explaining that there is so much to each person be it choices, love "economic status, family, class, caste and religion".

While OTT appears the way to go for authenticity and varied stories, supporting real cinema is critical too. National Award-Winning Film critic, Namrata Joshi had told an LGBT+ gathering that "patronizing your own productions and stories" is not just about solidarity, it is about creating a market and a space that is determined by the community. "It is disappointing that many of the community come to a festival, watch a film but rarely support or show solidarity when the film enters cinema halls," observes Onir. In a way, this reflects a certain subservience to the mainstream, points out the anthropologist, adding that it is a sign of weakness within and not strength.

Ultimately, for good cinema to happen and survive, it comes down to "greater diversity behind the camera as that is what can lead to a tectonic shift in the representation of LGBT+ characters," says Shrivastava. And with that, "what a director stands for, their politics and idea of life will have a bearing on how stories will be told," contends Chandra.

Ansari believes, just as many other queer film-maker or artists do, it is hard to give up as it isnt an option. As a community, we pretty much have to chip away at the monolith of mainstream cinema and patriarchy. Yet we need films that are not necessarily only queer-centric where queer individuals literally play a role in the larger universe or kaleidoscope, for example, something like a Modern Family, a Kapoor & Sons, a Made In Heaven, and the like.

It took eons for women to grab a seat behind the lens, bringing their gaze to cinema and stories. It will be a long journey for LGBT+ to get there too, not because of a Laxmii or a Pati Patni Aur Panga, or the absence of visible queer talent but due to access to a system that nurtures their realities. If there is hope, thought, it lies in the hands of so many who have cracked the space, bringing themselves and their sensitivities to our stories. As Shrivastava puts it "It's not just that a filmmaker belonging to the LGBTQI community can only bring greater sensitivity to LGBTQI characters. I think he/she/they can bring greater authenticity to a heterosexual love story too."

The writer is the author of Straight To Normal  My Life As A Gay Man and Festival Director of the Rainbow Lit Fest  Queer & Inclusive
The new year saw the Nifty50 scaling a new peak as it closed above the psychologically important 14,000-mark on January 1, led by select auto, FMCG, IT and pharma stocks.

The index formed a small bullish candle that resemblef a Doji pattern on the daily charts, as the closing was near its opening levels. For the week, the index gained 2 percent and formed a bullish candle on the weekly scale.

Despite the gains, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief StrategistTechnical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in, advised traders to remain neutral on the long side. Intraday traders can consider shorting below 13,990 for a modest target of around 13,880, he said.

Volatility fell sharply on the first day of January series, which also supported the bullish market setup. India VIX fell by 7.30 percent from 21.09 to 19.56.

The Nifty50 opened higher at 13,996.10 and remained consolidative with a positive bias. The index touched an intraday record high of 14,049.85 before signing off the session at 14,018.50, up 36.70 points.

"The bulls continued their relentless journey in the northern direction as the Nifty50 managed to conquer a new milestone with the first-ever close above 14,000 levels. However, the trading range for the day remained extremely narrower with a 58-point range, whereas a decent bullish candle on the weekly charts has a range of 238 points, which is a cause for concern," Mohammad said.

Moreover, momentum indicators failed to move in line with the price chart of the Nifty, paving the way for lower tops hinting at a possible negative divergences to unfold in the near future, he said.

If the Nifty trades below 13,990 in the next trading session, then some intraday selling pressure can be witnessed with an initial target of 13,860. A close below 13,850, however, may turn the tide in the favour of bears for a shorter term by ushering in a multi-day corrective downswing, he said.

If the index holds above the 14,000-mark, then the rally shall get extended towards 14,200, Mohammad said.

The options data was scattered at different strikes due to the beginning of the new series. Maximum Put open interest was seen at 13,000 followed by 13,500 strike, while maximum Call open interest was at 14,000 followed by 14,500 strike.

The data indicated that the Nifty50 could see a wider trading range of 13,500-14,500 and an immediate range of 13,800-14,200.

The Bank Nifty opened positive at 31,297.30 but failed to surpass the previous day's high of 31,400 and traded flat to negative. It moved in a narrow range ina choppy session and settled the day with losses of 38.20 points at 31,225.80.

The index formed a small bearish candle along with an Inside Bar on the daily scale and a bullish candle on the weekly chart.

"The Bank Nifty has to continue to hold above 31,000 to witness an upmove towards 31,500 and 31,750, while on the downside, support is seen at 30,800 and 30,500 levels," Chandan Taparia, Vice President | Analyst-Derivatives at Motilal Oswal Financial Services said.

Positive setup was seen in Cholamandalam Investment, Bharat Electronics, Adani Ports, LIC Housing Finance, L&T Finance Holdings, Ashok Leyland, Lupin, M&M Financial, ITC, SRF, Tata Consumer, SBI and Siemens, while weakness was seen in Hindalco, Exide Industries and Kotak Mahindra Bank, he added.
The Howard government believed in the promise of hundreds of thousands of jobs from the emerging LNG industry in the face of official advice warning that the cheapest way to cut greenhouse emissions could be compromised by a special deal for the sector.

Cabinet documents from 2000 released by the National Archives on Friday reveal how the Howard government accepted the argument that it could promote LNG as a "greenhouse beneficial transition fuel" while trying to protect other industries which could increase Australian emissions.

A Woodside Petroleum platform on the North West Shelf. Cabinet papers from 2000 show the Howard government's battle to balance support for the industry and its greenhouse gas reduction policy. Credit:Woodside Petroleum

At the time, the environment department under then minister Robert Hill was considering the design of an emissions trading scheme as a way to reduce the nation's greenhouse footprint.

While concerns over greenhouse emissions were growing, the industry department under then minister Nick Minchin was seeking to boost the LNG industry which at the time was restricted to WA's North-West Shelf.
Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 11:15:02|Editor: huaxia

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People walk in and out from a liquor store in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Dec. 31, 2020. British Columbia issued a public health order to ban all restaurants, bars and stores from selling liquor on New Year's Eve in an attempt to discourage people from partying and potentially spreading COVID-19. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)
This is kind of like an anti-NYE and it was spooky watching empty streets in Times Square NYC.

Still, this blog isn't for complaining about things we could never change . . . It's far more fun to complain about stuff we could totally change but don't.

But I digress . . .

This was an okay year for the discourse even if a bunch of news outlets went bust and generally people stopped trusting the news altogether.

Still our mission to make this a useful corner of the Internets persists for as long as humanly possible.

Accordingly, we share these local news items to keep our blog community informed as the clock strikes down.

All Better Now?!?!

A Better 2021? We can only hope that "next year all our troubles will be out of sight." Given our present circumstances, I am doubtful.

We All Fall Down

Fauci predicts normal life won't return in U.S. before fall 2021 Fauci's remarks come as the Trump administration appears poised to miss its year-end target to vaccinate 20 million Americans. Roughly 12.4 million doses of vaccine have been delivered to the states, and about 2.7 million people have received the first of two shots, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kansas City Change Up

4 changes the pandemic brought in 2020 that will continue into the New Year and beyond KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Most can agree 2020 has been a year like no other we've experienced before. The pandemic has forced many changes in our lives, but four of them will likely follow us into 2021 and for years to come.

Local Sounds Locked Down

Top Songs 2020 Voting is now closed. Listen to 90.9 The Bridge on New Year's Eve as we play the top 90 songs of the year as chosen by our listeners, and check back on Jan. 1 to see the full playlist. Time until results:

Inferno Investigation Cont'd

ATF investigators gain access to building, race against winter storm to determine cause of KC apartment fire that hospitalized 2 KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Fire investigators from a national ATF team were able to gain entry Thursday morning to the Troost Avenue apartment building that burned up in a massive fire Monday night, as they work against the clock to figure out what caused the blaze that injured two people.

Guarding The Grid

Utility crews prepare as freezing rain and snow spell potential problems for the metro KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Thick ice with wind and heavy snow could spell trouble with the potential for major power outages across the metro. Efforts are underway to keep lights on and restore power if we lose it during this storm.

Weather Hot Mess Ahead

Winter Storm Watch For New Year's Day Winter Storm Watch on Friday A mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow are in the forecast Snow accumulations could be more than 3" in a few spots KANSAS CITY'S MOST ACCURATE FORECAST Tonight: Clear and cold with dry weather continuing. Low: 16 Thursday (New Year's Eve): Mostly sunny with increasing clouds later in the day.

We hope to have more later, but for now . . .

Happy New Year!!!
Andrew Baume, his wife and children had planned to join their extended family in the popular holiday town of Narooma for a post-Christmas celebration. But amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases, they opted to stay at home, playing board games and enjoying each other's company.

Mr Baume was in Avalon attending to a pest inspection at his holiday home on December 17 when news broke that the cluster was growing. While the family had intended to stay a few nights at their holiday property, they drove straight back home to Paddington.

Andrew Baume and his wife Robyn (centre) and family friend Elizabeth Hunter (left) play board games in Sydney rather than holiday along the South Coast, as per their original plans. Credit:Sam Mooy

A few days later, Mr Baume received an email from their South Coast accommodation asking anyone from the northern beaches to cancel their booking. While the family hadn't spent any time in the area beyond their holiday home, they decided to err on the side of caution and postpone the holiday.

"It gave me a sense of the mood of the area - if they were willing to forgo a booking to make sure they didn't have something occur down there," Mr Baume said. "If we took the virus down to Narooma it would be pretty devastating. We're all pretty sure we don't have anything, but it's better off to put it [the holiday] off."
The dramatic moment two Australian pro surfing siblings ran into rough surf to rescue a woman being dragged out into sea has been caught on camera.

Australian surf star siblings Tyler, 27, and Mikey Wright, 24, made a joint rescue of a fellow beachgoer who was swept out into the rocky reefs at Ke Iki Beach in Hawaii on New Year's Eve.

In a dramatic video posted online, Mikey can be heard saying 'they need to be saved' as he ran onto the beach and dived head first into the rough waters.

Mickey Wright (pictured, centre) rescued a woman who was dragged out into the rough surf on New Years Eve

Tyler and Mickey Wright (pictured) bravely dragged the ailing woman back onto the shore

Tyler (pictured left) and Mikey Wright (pictured right) made a joint rescue of a fellow beachgoer who was swept out into the rocky reefs at Ke Iki Beach

The surfing champion finally reached the woman in the relentless surf as it continued to submerge and knock her around with strong waves.

The pair were then dumped by a few waves before making it back safely to the shore to the relief of onlookers.

The surf pair were highly commended for their successful rescue online, notably by surfing legend Mick Fanning.

'Wow that could of ended really bad!! Well done', Mr Fanning said.

'Seriously, that's insane. Well done to the both of you!', one user wrote.

The two Australian surfing pros made the dramatic beach resuce in Hawaii on New Years Eve

'That could have ended badly. It's good you were both there', another said.

Mikey competed in the Pipeline Masters last month and Tyler recently made history when she won first place at the Roxy Pro at Pipeline last month.
Truth or fact in science is an evidence-based statement, not just a subjective feeling or an impression, and therefore people at risk, be it from a pandemic, epidemic or even a threat from a foreign enemy need to hear what they are up against.

by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne in Montreal

Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.  Spencer Johnson

At the end of each year, we look back and try to make sense of what it brought us. There is no such need this year, as we all know what we went through. The difference this year was that all of us in the world went through the same thing, and hopefully realized the same fundamental truths about ourselves. I list below my take.

01. Tell the truth to those who rely on you to look after them

The Washington Post reported that when the first indications of a potentially infectious brand of pneumonia was detected in Wuhan, health officials covered up the scientific discovery: The punishment meted out to Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, and others who shared information about local transmission had a chilling effect on doctors. Ai Fen, a physician who shared the SARS-like lab results with Li, was head of emergency care at Wuhan Central Hospital. Based on the cases she saw in late December; she concluded the disease was probably human-to-human contagious and alerted the hospital authority. But the hospitals Supervision Department admonished her for spreading rumors and causing trouble  and causing social panic. A Report published in August 2020 in The New York Times by Edward Wong, Julian E. Barnes and Zolan Kanno-Youngs concluded that .officials in the city of Wuhan and in Hubei Province, where the outbreak began late last year, tried to hide information from Chinas central leadership.

This is a disturbing fact that percolates from the pandemic of 1918 where it is recorded that the then President of the United States never included the word pandemic in his messages and public statements but focused solely on the war that was going on at that time. Thousands were dying at the time from what was seen to be an uncontrollably transmissible influenza.

Truth or fact in science is an evidence-based statement, not just a subjective feeling or an impression, and therefore people at risk, be it from a pandemic, epidemic or even a threat from a foreign enemy need to hear what they are up against. As President Theodore Roosevelt said: Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.

Geoffrey P. Dobson of the Heart, Trauma and Sepsis Research Laboratory, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia in an article titled Science and the War on Truth and Coronavirus says: Since February 2020 I have never heard the word science mentioned so many times in my 30 years as a scientist, or have I witnessed its credibility being blindly attacked for political gain. We live in a dangerous world and we are outnumbered; 20 million viruses can fit on the head of pin. We need to embrace these new realities, listen to the experts, and not be swayed by the uninformed or naysayers.

Essential truth embraces the reality of the moment which an effective leadership is required to divulge to the people under the social contract theory upon which the leader is elected by the people. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines the social contract theory as a theory that is nearly as old as philosophy itself, which establishes the principle that that persons moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. This means that truth is an integral element of the social contract theory where leadership promises transparency to the people with a view to ensuring their safety and security as well as giving them the necessary impetus to protect themselves.

02. Show Leadership

Truth and effective leadership are ineluctably interwoven. David M. Rubenstein, in his book How to Lead begins by saying:  I have always been fascinated with leadership  specifically what individual leaders can accomplish by the power of their intellect, level of their unique skill, force of their personality, or effectiveness of their ability to persuade. Of course, it goes without saying that, in order to show these qualities and conduct a leader must have intellect. Intellect and intelligence are different: even mutually exclusive where the former is based on acquired knowledge through memory whereas the latter is nothing but consciousness or awareness. It is incontrovertible that the primary duty and function of a leader  be it national or global  is to improve the lives of people.

In the current context of the pandemic, the seminal consideration of true and effective leadership should be adherence to global cooperation. One could expand this principle to every aspect of national or international crisis that befalls humankind. The absence of global cooperation and leadership and the promotion of nationalistic policies is what Nobel Laureate Geoffrey Sachs calls pure politics top to bottom which has nothing to do with anything meritorious other than the idea of temporary advantage in some geopolitical contests and contexts. Global cooperation during the current crisis has been conspicuously absent. In the words of Yuval Noah Harari what we are seeing around the world now is not an inevitable natural disaster. It is a human failure. Irresponsible governments neglected their health care systems, failed to react on time, and are at present still failing to cooperate effectively on a global level. We have the power to stop this, but so far we lack the necessary wisdom.

It is evident that nations have acted in their own individual interests in a global crisis. To alleviate this problem, it might be a good idea for todays leaders to have two main teams in their governments: one dealing with the current situation; and the other dealing with future scenarios.

03. Be United in Humanity

In no other year in recent times than the current one when the world has come together where people have united to help those in distress: from health care workers who put their lives on the line to treat COVID-19 patients, to social workers who distributed essential items to the destitute and the desperate. In addition to these categories there are others. Refugees International records that As the pandemic spreads, the coronavirus will disproportionately impact the worlds most vulnerable, among them refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people (IDPs). The scale and speed of the pandemic underscore how deeply interconnected the worlds populations have become. A virus does not respect borders. Nor does it discriminate. A truly effective response, not to mention a morally correct one, also must not discriminate.

The Holy Prophet Mohamed is quoted as having said: The faithful, in their love for one another and in their having mercy for one another and in their kindness toward one another, are like one body; when a member of it ails, all (the parts of) the body call one another (to share the pain) through sleeplessness and fever. Abd al-Rahman Azzam his article Social Responsibility in Islam says: The difference between Islam and most other religions is that it did not content itself with merely establishing acts of worship and abandon the needs of society to a Caesar or any form of temporal governing body. Rather, Islam established ways of conduct, relationships, and rights and obligations for the individual vis-a-vis members of his family and the nation and for the nation vis-a-vis other nations.

In Luke 10:29-37 a lawyer asks Jesus and who is my neighbour in response to Jesus teaching: love thy neighbour as thyself. Jesus then teaches the Parable of the Good Samaritan with the ultimate truth that one who has mercy on another is ones neighbour.

Hinduism posits that each person has a moral compass to guide one's life by cultivating family and social values to fulfil the social responsibilities towards the weak and the needy.

These philosophical views could give us an insight into what our rights and duties are in this hour of crisis. My own take is that we owe a duty to our community, strangers though they might be, to see the world as they see it, understand their vulnerabilities and concerns, and do something about it.

04. Be Antifragile

Finally, we must also realise the fragility and randomness of our own health and life and teach ourselves a collective humility. Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the bestselling author of The Black Swan, in his book Antifragile introduces the reader to the interesting and well-reasoned concept called Antifragile. He states that any system which depends on predictability and presumption is fragile and that some things benefit from shocks and they thrive and grow when exposed to volatility, randomness, disorder and stressors. According to Taleb black swans (which as we all know are a rarity) are large-scale unpredictable and irregular events which can either devastate those that are fragile and dependent on a certain rigid stability or energize risk takers and flexible persons into action. This is the time to innovate and create, as we have done so admirably with the rapid production of vaccines. We must do more as we step into the future, through scenario planning and be ready for even greater health and natural disasters which have been predicted by the experts.

This is a time when we must also be careful of exploitation. Naomi Klein in her book The Shock Doctrine, The Rise of Disaster Capitalism bases her thesis on the premise that people who are devastated by a disaster look towards rebuilding what they lost whereas free market forces look for exactly the opposite  to start with a clean slate by exploiting the disaster to their advantage. COVID-19 is a multi-dimensional plague facing us. This must not happen as we tread with trepidation into 2021.
Florida on Thursday became the third state to identify a case of the coronavirus variant first detected in the United Kingdom, a reminder that the pandemic remains a formidable foe as infections in the United States cross 20 million.

The latest instance of the variant was found in a man in his 20s with no recent travel history, health officials said. The more transmissible version of the virus has also been reported in California and Colorado, and experts expect it to be identified in additional states.

The virus, spreading largely unchecked in much of the country, forced most people to have quieter New Years Eve celebrations. No one was likely to kiss a stranger at the annual ball drop in Manhattans Times Square, attended by only a few hundred frontline workers.

A fired Wisconsin pharmacist was arrested Thursday for allegedly deliberately spoiling more than 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine, which is available in limited supply and being rationed for high-risk people.

At a vaccination clinic in West Virginia, more than 40 people were accidentally given an antibody treatment for the virus, instead of Moderna's vaccine. The West Virginia National Guard, which is assisting with inoculations, said those people were at no risk of harm.

The number of vaccinations across the United States crossed 3 million Thursday, only about one-seventh of the doses that federal officials had promised to deliver to Americans' arms by the end of the year. Although authorities insist that lags in reporting mean the official tally is an undercount, the immunization campaign has nevertheless been marred by logistical delays as the nation experiences the most powerful surge of the pandemic so far.

The vaccines' complicated rollout has relied on coordination between the federal government and beleaguered state and local health-care systems, with communication gaffes and underfunded health departments contributing to the slowdown. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed, on Wednesday said federal officials will "continue to make adjustments" to increase vaccinations.

Former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb called on the government to increase the pace of vaccination, especially for people in nursing homes. Those long-term care facilities are logging more than 60,000 infections per week, he said, and recording a 20-percent fatality rate.

"I think we need a sense of urgency about this, and the new variant, I think, adds to that risk," Gottlieb said Thursday on CNBC. "Because if we don't get control of this epidemic wave more quickly, and the vaccine is a tool to do that, it creates more opportunity for this new variant to start spreading more widely."

Gottlieb's comments came the same day as U.S. coronavirus-related hospitalizations set a record of more than 125,300  the fourth straight day that that measure reached a new high. States reported 225,775 new cases of the virus, and deaths topped 3,000 for the third day in a row, according to The Washington Post's tracking.

 READ MORE: First U.S. case of new coronavirus variant detected in Colorado National Guard member

The situation remains particularly dire in California's Los Angeles County, where the Los Angeles Times reports that morgues are overflowing, funeral homes are turning away families and hospitals are reaching their breaking points. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti predicted Thursday that the city's "toughest and darkest days" lie ahead, as the surrounding county reports an average of more than 12,800 cases and 129 coronavirus-related deaths per day.

"Our health-care workers are stretched to the limit," Garcetti, a Democrat, told CNN. " ... We learned a lot, prepared a lot, have equipment, have a lot of the spaces now available, but we don't have the people. And that is what's devastating us."

Hospitals are also under strain elsewhere in the country, including in Arizona, where the state's health director said over 90 percent of ICU beds were occupied and more than half of those were housing COVID-19 patients.

As you take precautions against COVID-19, consider whether you or someone you love might need one of those beds for a heart attack, stroke, serious injury or infection, the director, Cara Christ, said in a video posted Thursday. Wearing a mask, keeping your distance, washing your hands and taking other simple steps helps make sure there are beds for any medical emergency that Arizonans may face.
LG Chem researchers hold an electric vehicle battery module at the company's plant in North Chungcheong Province in this undated file photo. Courtesy of LG Chem





By Kim Yoo-chul







With President-elect Joe Biden vowing to take on climate change-related issues, stock market analysts named LG Chem, Hanwha Solution, Samsung SDI, SKC and EcoPro BM as their "top picks" for 2021.







A set of Biden's promises include plans to explore green energy, infrastructure projects and detailed suggestions to address environmental racism. Plus, a large portion of his signature "Build Back Better" economic agenda is also closely related to climate-related policies.







The United States will re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement under Biden and he will prioritize undoing dozens of environmental regulatory rollbacks put into place by incumbent President Donald Trump via executive orders, according to reports and political analysts.







"I would say the hardest part of Biden's green growth policies will be figuring how to implement such an agenda through actual legislation. However, he will likely get some backing from the Republicans as governments around the world will move forward with plans to cut the amount of carbon emissions presented earlier by each government. This will help green stocks rise further," Chung Yeon-seung, an analyst at NH Securities, said Friday.







Based on these observations, Chung expects each government is set to announce the specifics of their own green growth policies. NH named LG Chem, Hanwha Solutions, Samsung SDI, Hyundai Motor, SKC and EcoPro BM as its "top-picks."







SK Securities analyst Seo Choong-woo said Korea has asserted its position on climate-related policy issues. Earlier, President Moon Jae-in and his Cheong Wa Dae economic team said the country will go carbon-free by 2050 and vowed to invest heavily in energy IT, renewable energy and hydrogen economy.







"I think the government and business community are moving to action as various policy packages which could fix some of the flaws of renewable energy are set to be announced in 2021. That will help relevant listed companies see increased medium- to long-term valuation," Seo said, adding EcoPro BM would be the largest beneficiary. "It also does make sense for Hanwha Solutions to launch a massive new share-selling campaign because Hanwha could use the money raised from the new share issuance to expand its group-wide portfolio into solar and hydrogen businesses."







Plus, as Biden has also promised to pursue a 100 percent "clean electricity" standard by 2035 and called for getting the United States to net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, the country's top battery suppliers  LG Chem, Samsung SDI and SK Innovation  are set to rise further.







How much progress Biden could see still remains largely up to the Republicans. However, most stock market analysts expect the U.S. to be more accommodative for green energy over the next few years. Battery suppliers are the companies that help in the green energy fight without actually producing energy.










No one knew much about COVID-19 other than it was contagious and deadly. Little by little we learned washing your hands frequently and using hand sanitizer could help keep it bay, face masks could help prevent you picking it or transmitting it, staying at least six feet apart would also make it more difficult to contract from someone else.
NEW YORK, Dec. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Red Lion Hotels Corporation ("RLH" or the "Company") (NYSE American: RLH) in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Sonesta International Hotels Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive $3.50 in cash for each share of RLH common stock that they own.

If you own RLH shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

https://www.weisslawllp.com/rlh/

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

WeissLaw LLP

1500 Broadway, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10036

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

WeissLaw is investigating whether (i) RLH's board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the $3.50 per-share merger consideration adequately compensates RLH's shareholders; and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed.

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

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Two of the three youths killed in an encounter with security forces in the Parimpora area of the city were "radically inclined" and working as overground workers of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terror outfit, police said on Friday and added that the case was being investigated. In a statement here, a spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir Police said the claim of the family of one of the trio  Aijaz Maqbool Ganai  that he had gone to the university to fill up a form was verified through modern techniques and was found to be untrue.

The families of the slain youths have claimed that they had no connection with militancy. They staged a protest outside the police control room here and claimed that those killed included a Class 11 student, a university student and a carpenter. A shutdown was observed in many parts of Srinagar on Friday against the killings of the youths in the encounter on Wednesday, officials said.

The police spokesman said the encounter started following inputs from the Army and was a joint operation of the Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the police. "After the cordon was laid, terrorists lobbed grenade from inside and fired upon the search party. Although as per SoP, terrorists were repeatedly appealed by the troops to surrender in the evening and again in the morning. However, instead of surrendering, they fired upon troops and eventually got neutralised in a fire-fight, the spokesman said. He said the claim of Ganai's parents that he went to the university was verified and cross-checked through modern techniques, including records of the telecom department.

"Contrary to the claims, the verified digital evidence revealed and corroborated that Ganai and Ather Mushtaq had gone to Hyderpora and from there to the place of occurrence only, he said. The police spokesman said another youth  Zubair Lone  had gone first to Pulwama, then Anantnag, where from he went to Shopian and then again to Pulwama and finally came to Parimpora here. He said a background check has also revealed that Ganai and Mustaq were both overground workers (OGWs) and provided logistic support to militants.

"Antecedents and verifications too show that both were radically inclined and had aided terrorists of LeT  now so-called The Resistance Front (TRF)  outfit, the spokesman said. The police said one of OGWs presently under police custody has also corroborated Ganai's association with LeT militant Faisal Mustaq Baba who was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Meej area of Pampore in June last year.

Mushtaq was a relative and OGW of Hizbul Mujahideen top commander Rayees Kachroo who was killed in 2017, the spokesman said. The police, however, said it is investigating the case. "Nevertheless, police is investigating into the case from all possible angles, the spokesman added.

Mainstream political parties, including the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, have called for an impartial investigation into the incident. During the shutdown on Friday, shops and business establishments in several parts of Srinagar, especially in the old city, were shut. The shutdown was also observed in Maisuma and its adjoining areas near the Lal Chowk city centre.

However, public transport was plying normally in these areas, officials said. The shutdown was observed after reports surfaced on social media that separatist groups had called for a strike across the valley on Friday to protest the killings.

.
London, Jan 2 : Another 53,285 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 2,542,065, according to official figures released on Friday.

Another 613 have died within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain to 74,125, the data showed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The latest figures were revealed as British government advisers urged making the wearing of face masks mandatory in workplaces, schools and crowded outdoor spaces to help control the new Covid-19 variant, which is said to be 70 per cent more transmissible.

According to figures from the British Office of National Statistics, the new virus strain could make up 63 per cent of cases in England and 77 per cent in London.

Social distancing and hygiene measures will need a "step change in rigour" to compensate for the "significantly increased transmission risk" associated with the variant, according to a report by the behavioural science group that reports to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

London and many other parts of England have already been under the highest Tier Four restrictions, which require residents in the areas to stay at home, with limited exemptions.

In Tier Four areas, people are also urged to work from home when they can, and should not enter or leave those areas. People should also not mix with anyone outside their own household, apart from support bubbles.

The SAGE has urged all regions of England to be placed in Tier Four restrictions.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the US are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
THE National Lottery has confirmed the winning ticket in last New Year's Eve Millionaire Raffle was sold in Limerick.

The holder of the ticket, number 6605, has become become Irelands newest millionaire after scooping the whopping 1million top prize.

According to the National Lottery The winning ticket was bought online ahead of last night's draw.

"We are calling on all our players who purchased a Millionaire Raffle ticket for last nights New Years Eve draw, either in-store or online to check their tickets carefully to see if they are Irelands newest millionaire or indeed to see if they have won one of the other 6,008 cash prizes," said a spokesperson.

Congratulations to the first Lottery Millionaire of 2021.



The 1 Million top prize winning Millionaire Raffle ticket is: 006605#ItCouldBeYou pic.twitter.com/EU81qSZQwy  The Irish National Lottery (@NationalLottery) January 1, 2021

"If you are one of the big winners of the New Years Eve draw, sign the back of the winning ticket and get in touch with the National Lottery claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for the prize to be paid," he added.

Apart from the Limerick winner, three further lucky Millionaire Raffle ticketholders in Cavan, Kilkenny and Louth are also celebrating the first day of 2021 having landed three other top tier prizes of 100,000 in the raffle.

It's the second year in a row that the top prize in the New Year's Eve Millionaire's Raffle was sold in Limerick.
She vanished from social media a week ago after being called out for using a Russian Instagram influencer's photo.

But on Thursday, The Bachelor star Bella Varelis returned to Instagram following a 'social media detox'.

'Gave myself a small social media detox the last couple days and geez it gives you a lot of time to think,' the 26-year-old wrote.

She's back! The Bachelor's Bella Varelis (pictured) returned to Instagram following a 'social media detox' on Thursday

'I've never had a year that has been more of an emotional roller coaster than this year and scrolling through my camera roll today really put me through the motions,' Bella continued.

'I'm so proud of the human I am becoming, a woman who is unapologetically herself and who will stand her ground when it comes to knowing what she's worth.'

She went on to say she's 'grateful for the love and support you all have given me and I just wish there was a way to give it back to every single one of you.'

Post: 'Gave myself a small social media detox the last couple days and geez it gives you a lot of time to think. I've never had a year that has been more of an emotional roller coaster than this year,' she wrote

It comes after Bella made headlines for the wrong reasons on Christmas when she was called out for using a Russian Instagram influencer's photo.

The 26-year-old reposted Moscow-based Ekaterina Mezenova's romantic photo to her own Instagram Stories, without crediting her.

While many believed it was a relationship announcement from the Bachelor runner-up, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck discovered on Thursday the image in fact belonged to Ekaterina and not Bella.

Called out: It comes after Bella made headlines for the wrong reasons on Christmas when she was called out for using a Russian Instagram influencer's photo

Celeb Spellcheck shared a screen shot that showed Bella, who has a background in digital marketing, liking the social media star's romantic image.

Followers of the Instagram account were quick to comment on the post, including one who wrote: 'Wait omg she stole someone's pic? Dead,' while another said: 'The second hand embarrassment I'm feeling rn.'

However, a fan defended Bella and wrote that she probably 'liked the pic' without knowing who it belonged to.

Bella told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that she posts 'romantic 'inspo' photos on Instagram 'all the time'.

Romantic: While many believed it was a relationship announcement from the Bachelor runner-up, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck discovered on Thursday the image in fact belonged to Moscow-based influencer Ekaterina Mezenova

'This is just another cute photo I came across that I thought was a beautiful pic to use to finish off the question box I had been doing on my story,' she said.

'I don't even know how this became a thing. I didn't try to act like it was me at all, people just overdramatise, as per usual.

She explained: 'I'll usually write a cute quote over them but for this one I just thought it was cute and christmassy, that's all! It doesn't even look like me.'
As 2020 comes to a close, temperatures drop and snow piles up on the ground. Colorado drivers are not strangers to driving through ice, snow and slick conditions, but the task can be simplified when behind the wheel of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Vehicles equipped with four-wheel drive configurations have the capabilities necessary to be in control while driving through the wintry conditions that are common in western Colorado for months of the year. Coloradans who are interested in shopping for used 4x4 models in and around Mesa County can begin their search for a quality used 4x4 vehicle at Carvilles Auto Mart in Grand Junction.

Carvilles Auto Mart offers hundreds of quality pre-owned vehicles for shoppers to choose from. Many of the models in the vehicles inventory provide four-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations that are often considered essential for Colorado winters. Those interested in viewing the four-wheel and all-wheel drive inventory at Carvilles Auto Mart can head to its website to scroll through up-to-date inventory before scheduling an appointment to visit and test drive at the dealership. While shopping online, individuals can click on each vehicle to view its specs and features, including but not limited to mileage, drivetrain, seating capacity, engine, fuel economy and technology highlights.

Those interested in enjoying the enhanced control and performance capabilities that come with four-wheel drive configurations are invited to visit https://www.carvillesautomart.com/ and scroll through the dealerships inventory. Those interested in viewing the dealerships offerings in person should call 970-241-5370 to schedule a sales appointment and test drive. Carvilles Auto Mart is located at 2507 Highway 6 and 50.


Dr Sarjivan Kakkar took charge as the civil surgeon of Ludhiana on Friday.

He replaced Dr Rajesh Bagga, who attained superannuation on December 31. Dr Kakkar said ensuring the Covid vaccination process is carried out smoothly will be his top priority.

Dr Kakkar, who is an eye surgeon, was earlier posted as civil surgeon in Barnala. He is not new to the city and was also posted at Ludhiana civil hospital and later served as senior medical officer (SMO) at civil hospital, Jagraon.

He said that the mock drill of the vaccination process has already been carried out successfully.

Residents of Ludhiana have shown caution and managed to plug the second wave of Covid. However, I will urge them to continue wearing masks, maintain social distancing and wash hands, he added.

The civil surgeon said upgrading the infrastructure of civil hospital and other health centres is also a priority.

Earlier, four ventilators that were allocated to civil hospitals were being operated by Christian Medical College and Hospital, as there was not enough staff to monitor them. However, things improved later, and the civil hospital received 18 new ventilators.

We are not well equipped to treat chronic patients and our focus will be to offer services to the poor and needy, Dr Kakkar said .
President Donald Trump on Thursday extended pandemic-related bans on issuing green cards and work visas to large groups of applicants outside the United States through March 31.

Federal judges limited the impact but the bans, however short-lived, significantly tightened legal immigration, a goal that had eluded Trump before the coronavirus struck. They had been set to expire Thursday.

An extension is consistent with Trumps hardline stance on immigration and passes on the decision over when and whether to lift the bans to President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office Jan. 20. Bidens immigration platform doesnt specifically address the issue.

In April, Trump imposed a ban on green cards issued abroad that largely targets family members of people already in the United States. After a surprisingly chilly reception from immigration hawks, the administration went much further in June by adding H-1B visas, which are widely used by American and Indian technology company workers and their families; H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers; J-1 visas for cultural exchanges; and L-1 visas for managers and other key employees of multinational corporations.

Trump said the measures would protect American jobs in a pandemic-wracked economy, while business groups said they would hamper a recovery.

By contrast, the administrations edict to immediately expel asylum-seekers and others who cross the border illegally from Mexico was justified on grounds of containing the coronavirus, though reporting by The Associated Press and others found that government scientists saw no evidence for it. A temporary ban on non-essential travel across the Mexican and Canadian borders was also done for public health.

In October, US District Judge Jeffrey White of San Francisco, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled that the work-visa ban could not be enforced against groups that sued and their members, who represent much of the U.S. economy: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, technology industry group TechNet and Intrax Inc., which manages cultural exchange programs.

In December, US District Judge Edward Chen of Oakland, California, an appointee of President Barack Obama, prevented the green-card ban from taking effect against families of 181 US citizens and legal residents who sued.
New Delhi: If someone is a Hindu he will be patriotic and that will be his basic character and nature, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Friday while citing Mahatama Gandhi's remarks that his patriotism originates from his dharma.

Bhagwat was speaking at an event to release the book titled 'Making of a Hindu Patriot: Background of Gandhiji's Hind Swaraj', authored by JK Bajaj and MD Srinivas.

Releasing the book, Bhagwat said there is no need for speculation that Sangh "is trying to appropriate Gandhiji, that is not the case, no one can appropriate great personalities like him."

Describing the book as an authentic scholarly research document on Gandhi, Bhagwat said Gandhi had suggested that for him his dharma and patriotism are not different as love for his motherland originates from his spirituality.

"Gandhiji had said that his patriotism originates from his dharma," Bhagwat said asserting that dharma does not merely mean religion, it is wider than religion.

"If someone is Hindu he has to be patriotic, that will be his or her basic character and nature. At times you may have to awaken his or her patriotism but he (Hindu) can never be anti-India. But we have to be conscious of the fact that if one loves his country it doesn't mean land only, it means its people, rivers, culture, traditions and everything," he said.

He underlined that Hinduism believes in the existence of unity. "Difference does not mean separatism and Gandhiji has suggested that Hinduism is the religion of all religions," he said.

Talking about Gandhi's concept of 'swaraj', Bhagwat said by it he means not only changing rulers or becoming self-governing, for Gandhi the struggle for 'swaraj' was the reconstruction of society based on civilisational values.

Meanwhile, in the book, the authors have quoted Gandhi as having written to Leo Tolstoy that, " my patriotism is patent enough, my love for India is ever growing but it is derived from my religion and is therefore in no sense exclusive."

Giving an overview of the book, Bajaj said it tracked Gandhi's life from Porbandar to his visit to England and then to South Africa.

Bajaj said there was a time between 1893-94 when Gandhi was pressured by his Muslim employer and his Christian employees to explore converting to their respective religions but he refused.

By 1905, he became a devout Hindu and also gave lectures on Hinduism, Bajaj said. He cited instances that while practising law in South Africa, Gandhi quoted Bhagwad Gita and Mahabhrata in his petitions before the courts. PTI JTR

JTR AAR AAR

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Princeton, Indiana - The Justice Department Thursday announced a settlement agreement with the North Gibson School Corporation in Princeton, Indiana, to address and prevent the discriminatory secluding and restraining of students with disabilities.

The agreement follows an investigation conducted under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into a complaint that the school district inappropriately secluded and restrained students with emotional and behavioral disabilities in the districts self-contained classrooms. The departments investigation confirmed that students as young as five years old were secluded and restrained improperly and repeatedly, resulting in days, and sometimes weeks, of lost instructional time. The department also investigated allegations that the school district regularly and inappropriately sent these students home early from school, placed them on abbreviated school days, and assigned them to homebound instruction.

Students with disabilities, like all students, belong in classrooms where they can learn  not locked away or otherwise segregated from their peers. When school districts improperly seclude or restrain students with disabilities, they inflict grievous harm on some of Americas most vulnerable children, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. Students with emotional and behavioral disabilities need additional supports in the classroom, not practices that keep them out or subject them to isolation and trauma. We look forward to working with the North Gibson School Corporation as it implements this settlement agreement to provide students with disabilities equal access to education  a right guaranteed to them by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We are better as a community when our schools serve all of our students, said Acting U.S. Attorney John Childress for the Southern District of Indiana. Our schools should be places where all children have the best chance to learn and grow and this agreement is a significant step toward achieving that goal.

The school district cooperated fully throughout the investigation, voluntarily suspended its use of seclusion rooms before the investigation was completed and agreed to take the steps outlined in todays settlement agreement.

Under the settlement agreement, the school district will take proactive steps to ensure that its practices do not discriminate against students with disabilities. The district will, among other things: change its policies to prohibit use of seclusion rooms; report all instances of restraint and review whether they were justified; take steps to avoid placing students with emotional and behavioral disabilities on an abbreviated school day or homebound instruction and document those steps; create and implement a procedure for handling complaints of disability discrimination; provide appropriate training and resources to help schools implement the agreement; and appoint an Intervention Coordinator to ensure the districts compliance with the agreement and Title II of the ADA.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is hopeful of finding a buyer for the majority stake in its South Korean subsidiary SsangYong Motor Company (SYMC) soon, and is aiming to sign the term sheet next weeks.

Talking reporters on Friday, M&M MD Pawan Goenka said that the company is actively scouting for an investor to take majority stake in SsangYong to keep it going.

The new investor would have the majority stake and M&M will have 30 per cent or less if the deal goes through.

He furuther said that if the deal does not go through, SsangYong will go intro court receivership.

Goenka noted that there are two more months to conclude a deal with an investor for SsangYong.

Last month, SsangYong has filed for rehabilitation procedure with the Seoul Bankruptcy Court.

Goenka also said that Mahindra plan to build a strong SUV portfolio based on electric vehicles.

"We have newest and modern portfolio of gasoline engines and we are confident that we have an advantage as it came in last two-three years," he said.

On the latest announcement of cancelling the proposed joint venture with Ford, the company said that the joint venture did not make much sense because of the kind of investments that were needed for it.

Earlier in the day, in a regulatory filing, the company said that that M&M and Ford Motor Company have "mutually, amicably determined" they will not complete a previously announced automotive joint venture between their companies.

The action follows the passing of the expiration date of a definitive agreement the organisations entered into in October 2019.

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Division, M&M noted that SUV segment is in high focus, and the company plans to launch two cars on all new platforms this year.

-- Syndicated from IANS
LONDON (AP)  Britains long and sometimes acrimonious divorce from the European Union ended Thursday with an economic split that leaves the EU smaller and the U.K. freer but more isolated in a turbulent world.

Britain left the European blocs vast single market for people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time, midnight in Brussels, completing the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II. A different U.K.-EU trade deal will bring new restrictions and red tape, but for British Brexit supporters, it means reclaiming national independence from the EU and its web of rules.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose support for Brexit helped push the country out of the EU, called it an amazing moment for this country.

We have our freedom in our hands, and it is up to us to make the most of it, he said in a New Years video message.

The break comes 11 months after a political Brexit that left the two sides in the limbo of a transition period  like a separated couple still living together, wrangling and wondering whether they can remain friends. Now the U.K. has finally moved out.

It was a day some had longed for and others dreaded since Britain voted in a 2016 referendum to leave the EU, but it turned out to be something of an anticlimax. U.K. lockdown measures to curb the coronavirus curtailed mass gatherings to celebrate or mourn the moment, though a handful of Brexit supporters defied the restrictions to raise a toast outside Parliament as the Big Ben bell sounded 11 times on the hour.

A free trade agreement sealed on Christmas Eve after months of tense negotiations ensures that Britain and the 27-nation EU can continue to buy and sell goods without tariffs or quotas. That should help protect the 660 billion pounds ($894 billion) in annual trade between the two sides, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that rely on it.

But companies face sheaves of new costs and paperwork, including customs declarations and border checks. Traders are struggling to digest the new rules imposed by the 1,200-page trade deal.

The English Channel port of Dover and the Eurotunnel passenger and freight route braced for delays as the new measures were introduced, though the pandemic and a holiday weekend meant cross-Channel traffic was light, with only a trickle of trucks arriving at French border posts in Calais as 2020 ended. The vital supply route was snarled for days after France closed its border to U.K. truckers for 48 hours last week in response to a fast-spreading variant of the virus identified in England.

The British government insisted that the border systems and infrastructure we need are in place, and we are ready for the U.K.s new start.

But freight companies were holding their breath. Youngs Transportation in the U.K. suspended services to the EU until Jan. 11 to let things settle.

We figure it gives the country a week or so to get used to all of these new systems in and out, and we can have a look and hopefully resolve any issues in advance of actually sending our trucks, said the companys director, Rob Hollyman.

The services sector, which makes up 80% of Britains economy, does not even know what the rules will be for business with the EU in 2021. Many of the details have yet to be hammered out. Months and years of further discussion and argument over everything from fair competition to fish quotas lie ahead as Britain and the EU settle into their new relationship as friends, neighbors and rivals.

Hundreds of millions of individuals in Britain and the bloc also face changes to their daily lives. Britons and EU citizens have lost the automatic right to live and work in the others territory. From now on, they will have to follow immigration rules and obtain work visas. Tourists face new headaches including from travel insurance and pet paperwork.

For some in Britain, including the prime minister, its a moment of pride and a chance for the U.K. to set new diplomatic and economic priorities. Johnson said the U.K. was now free to do trade deals around the world, and free to turbocharge our ambition to be a science superpower.

Conservative lawmaker Bill Cash, who has campaigned for Brexit for decades, said it was a victory for democracy and sovereignty.

Thats not a view widely shared across the Channel. In the French presidents traditional New Years address, Emmanuel Macron expressed regret.

The United Kingdom remains our neighbor but also our friend and ally, he said. This choice of leaving Europe, this Brexit, was the child of European malaise and lots of lies and false promises.

The divorce could also have major constitutional repercussions for the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland, which shares a border with EU member Ireland, remains more closely tied to the blocs economy under the divorce terms, a status that could pull it away from the rest of the U.K.

In Scotland, which voted strongly in 2016 to remain, Brexit has bolstered support for separation from the U.K. The countrys pro-independence First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.

Many in Britain felt apprehension about a leap into the unknown that is taking place during a pandemic that has upended life around the world.

I feel very sad that were leaving, said Jen Pearcy-Edwards, a filmmaker in London. I think that COVID has overshadowed everything that is going on. But I think the other thing that has happened is that people feel a bigger sense of community, and I think that makes it even sadder that were breaking up our community a bit, by leaving our neighbours in Europe.

Im hopeful that we find other ways to rebuild ties, she said.

Associated Press writers Renee Graham in London and John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, contributed to this report.
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Vignesh Shivan has wished followers Happy New Year on Instagram by posting two photos with girlfriend Nayanthara. The 'lady superstar' is seen posing with Vignesh is a sequined blue dress, totally in the mood for New Year celebrations.

The two of them are seen affectionately looking at each other in the first photo. It looks like the couple rang in the New Year at a popular restaurant.

Sharing the pictures, Vignesh said, "From Me & Mine to You & Yours. Happy New year dear fellow survivors. Now that we have crossed a very memorable and unforgettable phase of life ! Lets strive and drive ahead towards an eventful & memorable 2021! Wishing only the best of moments , success , happiness , good health , peace , satisfaction & love in abundance! Good luck to all of us for a wonderful 2021!"

The couple does not shy away from some PDA on social media. While Nayanthara doesn't have a verified account, Vignesh keeps fans updated on their daily life.

Nayanthara and Vignesh recently returned to Chennai. The actress was in Hyderabad for the shooting of Annaatthe, while Vignesh was directing his film Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kaadhal in the city.

The couple returned after the shoot of Annaatthe was halted as 4 crew members tested positive for Covid-19. The production house released a press note that the rest of the unit, including superstar Rajinikanth, has tested negative for coronavirus.
A Laois County councillor fumed at county hall this month over a long running issue in Stradbally which Government road safety agencies have so far refused to sanction safety measures for, and a footpath to the towns cemetery.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy labeled delays in finding a solution for pedestrians and other road users on the N80 at Oakvale an 'embarrassing thundering disgrace'.

Speaking at the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District meeting in December, he said he had raised the issue up to seven years ago when he first got elected.

Six or seven years later we still have no footpath on the most dangerous road after Maidenhead. Three or four people have been killed on the turn over the past 15 years, he said.

The Fianna Fail man said it was the only cemetery close to a town or a village that does not have a pedestrian link to the urban area.

He said he and his colleague Cllr Tom Mulhall have been lobbying to have work done.

We have been banging the drum on this for a number of years. There have been several promises. Everybody agrees that it is extremely dangerous. I find it extremely strange that nothing is happening, he said.

Cllr McEvoy said old people cannot get to the cemetery because it is such a dangerous bend.

It is grossly unfair that this is going into another year. We need to crack the whip and do something about it. It is an embarrassment to me as a councillor - older people are saying to me are you ever going to get a footpath to the cemetery, he said.

He added that residents living along the road are taking their lives in their hands. He said some responsibility rests with county hall.

The reality is, Laois County Council gave planning for those houses. It is so dangerous, he said.

He did not believe the cost would be huge and a fraction of the millions spent further along the N80.

Mr Adrian Barrett, Senior Engineer in the councils roads department replied in writing.

The site/junction had been discussed with Transport Infrastructure Irelands Safety Engineer. Road design has included this site for the TII Safety Improvement programme for 2021. Any works at this location will be subject to approval of proposed solution / design and funding from TII, it said.

Cllr Ben Breann supported and voiced his frustration with the lack of progress.

It would not cost that much. 500,000 would do a massive job. I can't understand why we put down motion after motions and we keep getting the same answer - funding, he said.

Cllr Aidan Mullins supported his colleague.

There is an acceptance by the council that the work is essential otherwise they wouldnt have included it in the safety improvement plan. The only problem here is funding. There should be no more excuses or prevarication, he said.

Cllr Aidan Mullins also supported. Cllr Aisling Moran called for a time limit to be applied fot TII.
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WALLINGFORD  After Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona described himself as American as apple pie and rice and beans, a local woman has begun selling T-shirts printed with the slogan.

Ashley Linden told the television station WFSB that sales of the shirts are doing well.

Im kind of a little bit been blown away. Im really excited about it, Ive got a little family crew thats going to be helping me make them, Linden told the outlet.

Cardonas phrase came during a Dec. 23 speech after President-Elect Joe Biden officially gave Cardona the nod to be his Secretary of Education.

In it, Cardona recalled his grandparents decision to leave Puerto Rico and come to the U.S., and his birth at the Yale Acres public housing project in Meriden, where his parents instilled in him a respect for hard work, community service and education.

I was blessed to attend the public schools of my hometown of Meriden, Connecticut where I was able to expand my horizons and become the first in my family to graduate college and become a teacher a principal, an assistant superintendent in the same community that gave me so much, he said. That that is the power of America. And I, being bilingual and bicultural, am as American as apple pie and rice and beans.

The quote almost immediately lit up on social media, shared by staffers for Gov. Ned Lamonts office and the official Twitter account of UConns Neag School of Education.

News that Biden was considering Cardona, the states first latino commissioner of the Department of Education, leaked prior to the official announcement, when the Washington Post reported Cardona was one of two candidates on Bidens short list for the cabinet position. The other was Leslie T. Fenwick, dean emeritus of the Howard University School of Education, the Post reported.
Two sailors who were rescued after 5 months in sea reach US base in Okinawa

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urges PM Modi to rescue stranded Indian sailors in Chinese waters

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 01: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rescue 39 Indian sailors who are stranded in Chinese waters for months together.

In a letter, the Congress leader said, "A concerted effort should be brought into motion for rescuing Indian sailors who have been stranded off the Chinese coast aboard the cargo ships, namely MV Anastasia and MV Jag Anand, for months together without sign of any relief."

India records less than 300 COVID-19 deaths for 7th straight day as new cases push tally upwards

On Wednesday, the government said that the Indian sailors will be brought back soon as diplomatic talks are on with the neighbouring country.

"Diplomatic talks are going on for this successfully. Our seafarers will come to India soon," ports, shipping and waterways minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in reply to a query about sailors being stuck in China for the last seven months during the Cabinet briefing, earlier this week.

The Indians are part of the crew of the two ships, carrying Australian coal, that hasn't been allowed to offload their cargo.

India-China working on mechanism to hold crucial military level talks

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

There are 23 Indian crew members on the bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand, in anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province since June 13. Another 16 Indian crew members are on MV Anastasia, in anchorage near Caofeidian port since September 20.

On December 25, China had said that there was no 'link' between stranded Indian ship crew on its Chinese ports and the strained relations with India and Australia.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 11:33 [IST]
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Authorities arrested a suburban Milwaukee pharmacist Thursday suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by removing it from refrigeration for two nights.

The Grafton Police Department said the former Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property. The department said in a news release that he was in jail. Police did not identify the pharmacist, saying he has not yet been formally charged.

Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr told reporters during a teleconference Thursday afternoon that the pharmacist deliberately removed 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine from refrigeration overnight on Dec. 24 into Dec. 25, returned them, then left them out again on the night of Dec. 25 into Saturday. A pharmacy technician discovered the vials outside the refrigerator on Saturday morning. Workers used the vaccine to inoculate 57 people. Bahr said their doses were ineffective.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

MADISON, Wis.: A pharmacist at a suburban Milwaukee medical center deliberately removed hundreds of coronavirus vaccine doses from refrigeration and left them out overnight twice, not just once as officials initially believed, the health system's chief medical officer said Thursday.

Employees at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton inoculated nearly 60 people with the ruined vaccine, not knowing the doses had been left out too long, rendering their shots less effective or ineffective, Jeff Bahr, chief medical officer for Aurora Advocate Health, told reporters during a teleconference. The recipients shouldn't be in any danger, he said, but the system is monitoring their conditions.

The pharmacist intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration, Bahr said, but he declined to comment on the individual's motive, saying the person has been fired and police are investigating. He did not identify the pharmacist and stressed that the facility's security protocols are sound.

This was a situation involving a bad actor, as opposed to a bad process, he said.

Police in Grafton, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Milwaukee, said in a statement that the department, FBI and Food and Drug Administration are actively investigating. No arrests have been announced. No one returned messages left at the Grafton department or FDA. Leonard Peace, a spokesman for the FBI's Milwaukee office, said he could neither confirm nor deny the bureau was involved in an investigation.

Bahr said during his teleconference that a pharmacy tech at the Grafton facility discovered 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine outside their refrigerator early on Saturday morning. The vials contained enough doses to inoculate about 570 people, he said.

The vials were returned to the refrigerator and the tech reported the discovery. The pharmacist who removed them initially said he or she took them out to access other items in the refrigerator and inadvertently failed to replace them, Bahr said.

The Moderna vaccine is viable for 12 hours after being removed from refrigeration. In light of that, Bahr said medical personnel used doses from the thawed vials to inoculate 57 people on Saturday and discarded the rest.

He said officials in the health system suspended the pharmacist after growing more suspicious over the next few days. After multiple interviews, the pharmacist admitted Wednesday to deliberately removing the vials from the refrigerator overnight Dec. 24 to Dec. 25 before returning them and then removing them a second time, Bahr said.

That meant that the vaccine had been outside the refrigerator for longer than 12 hours and the doses administered to the 57 people on Saturday were rendered less effective or totally ineffective, Bahr said. Moderna officials have told Aurora that the spoiled vaccine shouldn't pose any safety concerns, Bahr said.

The Grafton facility hadn't received any Moderna vaccine before Dec. 24, which means the pharmacist wouldn't have had an opportunity to tamper with any other vials, he added.

We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individuals actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine, the health care system said in a statement.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin has been rising in recent days after dipping in early December. The state Department of Health Services reported 3,810 newly confirmed cases on Thursday, marking the third straight day of rising daily infections. The state has now seen 481,102 cases.

COVID-19 was a factor in 41 more deaths, pushing the state's overall death toll to 4,859. The survival rate remained unchanged at 99%.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 05:44:06|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez on Thursday ruled out imposing a curfew to curb crowds and gatherings amid an increase in the novel coronavirus disease, but said officials were looking at alternative measures.

"We are contemplating the possibility of the security forces breaking up crowds, but we are not going to implement a curfew," Fernandez told a local radio station.

"We are going to let New Year's Eve pass and starting next week we are going to look at this with a magnifying glass to see how we can resolve it," the president said.

In December, "social gatherings and marches of different kinds and for different reasons were held, all things that could have helped the virus to circulate," noted Fernandez.

The South American country registered its first case of COVID-19 on March 3, and confirmed 1,613,928 cases and 43,163 deaths from the disease as of Wednesday night. Enditem
Job seekers can increase their earning power with an online database launched by the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland that matches the skills a worker uses in a low-paying job with those in a more lucrative position.

The Occupational Mobility Explorer resulted from a research report released in June that studied the 33 largest labor markets in the United States. The study found that the skills involved in 49% of lower-wage jobs pair up with similar yet higher-paying jobs in the same labor market, according to Keith Wardrip, community development research manager at the Philly Fed and an author of the report. By using the tool, for example, bill collectors in Philadelphia would discover that they have many of the skills needed for a post as a credit counselor, a job that pays about 45% more, Fed officials said.

Fed researchers defined lower-wage jobs as paying below median wages, roughly below a range of $37,000 to $40,000. In Philadelphia, the mark is about $40,000, Wardrip said. Some of the jobs that fall within the lower-wage group include retail sales and food service cashiers, position hard hit by the pandemic.

Researchers found 4,100 top transitions, or pairings of occupations that shared similar skills in the same labor market, but with one of the jobs paying at least 10% more. The higher-paying position should also not require a college degree to qualify as a top transition job. The online tool includes information on transitions for 257 occupations in Philadelphia: 130 lower-wage and 127 higher-paying occupations.

You know, roughly two-thirds of American adults dont have a college degree, Wardrip said. And we wanted to shine a light ... on the fact that the labor market doesnt include just two types of jobs: lower-wage jobs and jobs for college-educated people.

We wanted to figure out through our most recent research and through the tool ... how can we help workers transition into the better-paying jobs.

According to 2018 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, about 20% of adults have a bachelors degree and 8.5% more hold a masters.

Fed officials called this middle ground of jobs opportunity occupations. We found that just under 22% of all employment meets our definition of opportunity employment, Wardrip said.

Though imagined as an aid for workers, the tool also might show employers that many lower-wage workers might have transferable skills in ways that may not be apparent, Fed officials said.

Wardrip cautioned that his tool paired similar jobs, not identical ones. So some level of reskilling or upskilling will be required, he said.

Users can find the free online tool at https://www.philadelphiafed.org/surveys-and-data/community-development-data/occupational-mobility-explorer.

To find a job with a similar set of skills, and a promise of at least a 10% pay increase, users navigate to a build your path screen. There they input their original occupation and metro area from a drop-down menu. The software responds with alternative jobs, scored mathematically by their degree of match.

The fed researchers were quick to point out that their analysis was theoretical, not based on workers from one job to another.

Fed officials said the economic turmoil stirred by the pandemic gave their research an added urgency.

The researchers focused on occupations that would likely be around over the next 10 years. The recommended transitions are all to destination occupations projected to grow or decline only slightly over the next decade.
Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett, who has been fighting to remain a healthy contributor, finds himself on the injury report again.

Barnett missed last Sundays loss to the Dallas Cowboys with a calf injury, which likely is lingering because Barnett has not participated in the teams last two practices.

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Barnett, a first-round pick in 2017 who has 5.5 sacks this season and 34 total tackles, has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career. Given that the Eagles have nothing at stake in Sunday nights game, the risk of doing more damage to his calf is not worth it.

Theres another reason the Eagles should safeguard Barnett: Other teams might be interested. The Eagles picked up Barnetts fifth-year option, and he will count $10 million toward the salary cap. Over the Cap estimates the Eagles to be $71.5 million over next years cap. Even if the Eagles rolled over the remaining $22.6 million next season, they would still be $48.9 million over the threshold.

The cap situation, coupled with Josh Sweats emergence as a legitimate pass rusher, has placed the Eagles in a position to listen to offers for Barnett. They also could extend him and make his cap number more manageable in 2021.

The Eagles, who have valued defensive ends, have selected one in the draft in each of the past eight years. They may want to see what reserves Genard Avery and Joe Ostman are capable of doing with extended playing time Sunday.

Get Eagles text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text directly with beat writers Chris Franklin and Mike Kaye. Plus, exclusive news and analysis. Sign up now for a free trial.

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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned it would be dangerous to rush a coronavirus vaccination rollout even if it could lead to restrictions and border closures easing sooner.

Amid confusion around Victoria's border closure to NSW that led to hours-long traffic queues, the Prime Minister said there was little reason to convene national cabinet because the premiers would not change their minds over a consistent hotspot definition.

"Their views on borders will be the same if they met this afternoon as they were a month ago," he said on Friday.

National cabinet is not scheduled to meet until February 5. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said that was "a long time away".
The fatal shooting of George Nkencho by armed gardai was the sixth such tragedy over the past 22 years despite thousands of incidents in which gardai have believed their lives to be under imminent threat while on duty.

Prior to the shooting of Mr Nkencho this week, the most recent fatal shooting by gardai was on May 20, 2018, when gardai shot dead 40-year-old Mark Hennessy in his car.

Hennessy had abducted and killed 24-year-old student Jastine Valdez as she walked home along a road in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, the previous day.

An inquest into his death earlier this year was told he used a knife to inflict injuries on himself moments before a senior garda shot him at the Cherrywood Business Park in Dublin, where he was seen by uniformed gardai with a knife, as the officer tried to kick open the drivers window, believing Ms Valdez was in the car.

Gsoc found that the officer had acted in accordance with the law.

The most recent incident before then was almost a decade earlier, in May 2009, when Gareth Molloy (28) from Sheriff Street, Dublin, was shot dead by an undercover garda who was a member of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU).

The garda confronted Molloy during the attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit van that was delivering money to an ATM in a Centra shop in Lucan, Co Dublin.

Molloy had fired a shot from a shotgun and was threatening to kill the security man when he was confronted and shot dead.

Four years earlier, in May 2005, Colm Griffin (33) and Eric Hopkins (24) were shot dead as gardai launched a sting operation to thwart a 50,000 heist at Lusk post office in north county

Dublin.

Following a week-long and often fraught inquest into the deaths, the jury found the pair were repeatedly warned to disarm by members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) before being shot.

Prior to that, John Carthy (27) was shot dead by gardai from the Emergency Response Unit on April 20, 2000, following a two-day stand-off at a house in Abbeylara, Co Longford.

His inquest was told how gardai had been summoned to the house by concerned family members after Carthy, who had a history of mental illness, had fired a gun several times during a dispute in which he was upset about an upcoming move from his old family home.

The controversial shooting provoked a public outcry over the tactics used by the ERU.

The subsequent Barr Tribunal investigating the siege heard evidence from the Garda Commissioner that the shooting was unavoidable due to the threat that Carthy posed with the gun.

While it did find failings in how gardai responded, it concluded there was insufficient evidence that the shooting was unlawful.

Previously, Real IRA member Ronan MacLochlainn was shot by a member of the NSU during the armed robbery of a Securicor van in Ashford, Co Wicklow, in May 1998.

A subsequent commission of inquiry led by Mary Rose Gearty, SC, found MacLochlainn was given several opportunities to surrender but he did not do so and instead hijacked the car of a civilian while pointing his gun three times at an approaching garda.

The commissions report into the shooting 20 years later concluded, in June 2018, that the shooting was necessary and reasonable despite finding that an inquiry by gardai into the fatality was minimal and substandard and there was an unthinkable emphasis on the robbery almost to the exclusion of the shooting.

Irish Independent
A soul-less party. A clueless, self-serving rank and file. A rotten mess. The Indian National Congress (INC) of 2020 is anything but a political instrument of the masses for the masses that it once was. At best, its a group of clueless leaders with little or no connect with the people of India, with little or no connect with their own historic past. And virtually no formal position on anything.

For instance, does the Congress fully support all the farmers demands? Or does the party have a nuanced stance on them? If so, what are those points of agreements and disagreements? The apex body of the party hasnt deliberated on any issue India confronts  beyond the realm of political expediency. The Congress Working Committee rarely meets, and when it does, it struggles to get over it quickly to debunk the crisis the partys leadership faces.

The CWC does not discuss the partys hollow apparatus. The AICC sessions are a rarity. And holding consultations with civil society a thing of the past. In short, the grand old party has become obsolete and a pale shadow of its historic past. Across India, its spaces are consumed by regional and sub-regional forces, with no impact on the national character or say in the current autocratic policy-making processes.

With the BJPs continued ascendance as a dominant party in India today, bent upon making us a Hindu state, a fractured opposition and its continued fragmentation into regional and sub-regional parties that do not even remotely challenge the BJPs dominance, question remains: what happens of the INC? Will the grand old party survive the despondency that plagues it, the threat of extinction?

As 2020, a year of turmoil, ends, and Indias democratic ideals slip a few ranks further to normalise bigotry, sectarianism, autocracy and crony capitalism, revisiting the historic Congress session at Nagpur exactly a hundred years ago --from December 26 to 31, 1920 -- holds lessons for not just the INC, but also for the beleaguered liberal social democrats. Times have changed, and so have the contexts, but the building blocks and the ideals of the era are worth a revisit.

Circa 1920: Craddock Town, now Congress Nagar, was the venue of the session, attended by over 400 leaders from across the continent. Late Jamnalal Bajaj was the chairman of the Reception Committee and late C Vijayaraghavachariar the President of this 35th ordinary session.

Indian nationalist leader Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak has passed away. The Congress has lost in him a rallying point. But the national freedom struggle is about to witness the emergence of a simple man who would have his imprint etched forever on the national conscience with his new panacea. This was, as many Congress observers put it, the beginning of the Gandhi era.

A booklet of Congress resolutions from 1920 to 1923 was printed at the Allahabad Law Journal Press and published by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, who was at the time the INC general secretary. The archival document makes for an interesting reading because it tells us of the issues and events that the Congress was seized of, and the discussions and debate around them. A stark contrast to the present-day beleaguered Congress is that the INC of those days was quite open and frank about its dialogues and met frequently to resolve the contentious issues concerning freedom, leadership, programmes and funds.

In simple language, the 1920 congregation freezes the framework and a roadmap to achieve its objective. And reaches out to the masses, the working classes and the peasantry, of this huge land. It opens up to embrace masses to play a role in its decision-making, a character it shed down the line, after a few decades of independence and completely post-liberalisation.

What does it stand for? Complete freedom for self-determination. How will it achieve that goal? Through the insistence for truth and non-violence (Satyagraha and Ahimsa). Why? Because political, economic, and social freedom are the ultimate human values. Who will achieve this goal? The people of India, from the platform of the INC.

Two months before the session, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), comprising of stalwarts, discuss with deep engagement the draft resolutions to come up before the general assembly. The words carry the weight of the expectations and resolve. They are not meant to be words, but action.

Several important resolutions  including the setting up of the Tilak Swaraj Fund to raise finances to run the affairs  were passed, but the first three mark a watershed moment in the freedom struggle.

The first defined the object of the Congress: attainment of Swarajya by all legitimate and peaceful means, also formed the Article I of the Congress Constitution, ratified through another resolution. The second pertained to Non-Cooperation, a programme the Congress was giving to its rank and file  the resolution elaborates upon what it meant by non-cooperation and includes of an exhaustive list of things individuals could resort to or choose from. The third firmed up the INCs organization structure  from block, tehsil, district, provincial, to national level  to bring the masses into the freedom struggle by convincing them of the means to achieve it.

This was, according to some veteran Congressmen in Nagpur, the start of the institutionalization of the Indian National Congress. Today, the Gandhians and the Congress, have forgotten Bapus politics, as if he preached only two edicts  truth and non-violence. The political Gandhi has been conveniently buried even by the staunch Gandhians, because it suits them and us to keep him confined to a symbolic Charkha.

Before the Gandhi era, the Congress appeal was limited as it is today; it became a mass movement because of the seemingly difficult yet clear objective for which it stood, the means to achieve it, howsoever difficult it sounded then, as now, and the difficult part of taking it to the masses in times when travelling long-distances was a luxury and modern communication system yet to dawn.

Between 1920 and 1937, the Congress grows manifestly in the masses  in its history, in no other times has it grown in memberships as in those 17 years, as a paper by Professor Neeraj Hatekar of the Mumbai School of Economic and Public Policy (MSE&PP) tells us. And it was a period when no elections were held, nobody contested for any position with desperation that you see in todays power-drunk and power-hungry young leaders, who would go any length to achieve power, but wont be able to tell us, what are they to do with that power, the money, and the authority.

A number of new laws tightening the grip of the Raj on the people of India; a pandemic (Spanish Flu) that had consumed millions in the sub-continent alone; a fractured society; mass protests all over; a disrupted world order, and tightening and expansion of Imperialism  the scene of the 1920s was no different from the subjective conditions prevailing in the 2020 India; there are stark parallels.

With a fractured opposition and a soaring new idea that is at odds with the constitutional tenets, the grand old partys vitality as a political instrument from here on hinges on the same questions that confronted the Congress in 1920: What is its national purpose? What is its programme? And for whom and why does it exist? On its foundation day, todays Congress unfurls the flag but has no stomach to enter into deliberations over the crisis of democracy our land faces.

The despondency however bothers the stakeholders that form what the late social scientist Rajani Kothari called a Congress system  a model of the relationship between politics and society through mediation in the stratification and cleavage system, a dynamically conceived field theory of social interactions. That model, now a crumbling edifice, marked the legitimization of a two-fold process, as Kothari wrote: Consensus building on the one hand, and the structure of competition, dissent, antagonisms on the other hand. In other words, legitimizing of both, a system of authority and opposition to it.

In the post-independent India, when the Congress was in power for a long stretch, its central role in governance took prominence over the party system that was to essentially manage the control of power and patronage, mobilise new social groups into the political mainstream through participation in government power and public policies. Now that it is no more a central political instrument of the authority, the Congress must return to giving prominence to its organizational apparatus. It is a pre-requisite to its political revival. But its the system that ought to be reinvigorated to play a strong and meaningful national opposition and an alternative to the BJP and its parent organization, the RSS.

It is here that the 1920 session has critical lessons: because the INC  and so also the scattered and fractured social democrats and the intelligentsia of all hues  must address the questions pertaining to its hollow apparatus, a complete lack of a new national imperative, and a means to achieve those.

An uncontested and unchallenged ruling regime is escaping away with virtually every decision that creates fissures in the society and causes social and economic pain  from demonetization to flawed GST to the new farm laws that have stirred the peasantry into protests all over. If lack of a dialogue and consensus marks the functionality of the Modi government, a complete collapse of deliberations within and outside plagues the INCs functionality at local, regional, state and national levels.

India stands at a juncture where a one-man regime  aided by a succulent cabinet, a pliant media, a clever executive, and a friendly judiciary  is using democracy to thrust undemocratic ideals upon the Republic, suffocating the probing voices, while the political opposition is clueless, obsolete.

Vast sections of masses are supportive of the regime, for varied reasons including the authoritarian streaks that the BJP government demonstrates quite unabashedly. But vast sections are also antithetical to the BJPs idea of India  mobilizing them on one platform is hard and looks impossible without the existence of a national anchor.

A pandemic is raging through, the economy is in tatters, the federal polity is crumbling, sectarianism is on the upswing, and our society is fast eroding into a mobocracy fighting over untruths. The blame must largely be upon us, the people. While we may have our differences of castes, creed, religion, or ideology, we forgot that we are bound by the edicts of our Constitution; some of us have gone too far to obliterate that and embrace the archaic decree of a bigoted religious order.

Is the Congress ready to be the common denominator to rope in the masses of all hues? For that, is it ready for a course correction on some of its own policy programmes? Today, it is not. It has no national goal. Its organization is empty or filled with rootless wonders. And it has no national programme to rally its own cadres, let alone the masses. On Twitter and other social media platforms it is active and thats where its activities and engagements end.

Whats the road ahead, then? Of the two of three paths available for the liberals and moderates, the two are not impossible, but given the urgency of the matter, may not dovetail the luxury of time. A completely new alternative to the Congress and the beleaguered Left parties or building of an umbrella of regional political outfits under a common programme to create a national force seem plausible but impractical. The regional and sub-regional parties, given their limited appeal and lack of a national character, are equally unreliable because they are driven by the compulsions of power.

The third way is for the masses to seize control of the grand old party by forcing open its doors, because its original character is that of the instrument meant for the masses of all castes and creed, now devoid of them. This option too is plausible but not easy to operationalise.

It would need the coming together of the political animals, the intelligentsia and all those who care for the idea of India. It means battling out the current breed of leaders to recapture the Congress to engage in the political processes beyond the goals of politicking and electioneering.

India needs revisiting and revival of the old Congress system that would include a new alternative even to the Sarvodaya, founded by Gandhis heirs to carry forward his constructive programme. The civil society is as fractured and shallow as are the Congress, its splinters and other regional parties.

The Nava-Sarvodaya could however be formed with a completely new and expansive agenda to serve the last man standing, but without the fuss of the rotten symbolism that has come to define the Gandhian institutions, under the umbrella of the Sarva Sewa Sangh, once the moral edifice of the Congress. The twin institutions must be built to reconstruct the spaces for the liberal social democracy, while factoring in the substantive and relative changes to the Indian society.

The Congress wont and cant on its own reinvent itself. The current leadership across states has no credo or calling to go back to the masses to seek a national renaissance of sorts. Modi is the least of the problem. The problem is the intelligentsia, social democrats, and centrists have all collectively deserted their national imperative to build a national political platform that would keep India on the path of Constitutionalism and confront the brazenness with which the current regime operates.

2020 has been the year of turmoil. 2021 can be the beginning of a churning and reconstruction.




Singapore and neighbouring Malaysia have scrapped plans for a high-speed rail line after failing to agree on changes, officials said Friday, finally abandoning a costly and long-troubled project.







The 350-kilometre (217-mile) rail network was expected to cut travel time between Singapore and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to 90 minutes from the four or more hours by car today.







Singapore and Malaysia signed a deal to build the bullet train line in 2016, but its fate was thrown into doubt after the election of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad two years later.







Mahathir said he wanted to scrap the project as part of an effort to review major infrastructure projects approved by his scandal-tainted predecessor in a bid to cut the country's debt.







Construction was then suspended for two years at Malaysia's request, with plans to commence service in 2031.







The project was terminated after a final deadline on December 31, and after both governments failed to reach an agreement over changes proposed by Malaysia.







"In light of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Malaysian economy, the Government of Malaysia had proposed several changes to the HSR Project," said a joint statement by current Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.







"Both Governments had conducted several discussions with regard to these changes and had not been able to reach an agreement."







Malaysia must compensate Singapore for costs already incurred by the city-state in accordance with the agreement, Singapore's Ministry of Transport said in a press release, without mentioning a figure.







Malaysia may have to pay as much as 500 million ringgit ($125.7 million) in compensation if the project is scrapped, former Prime Minister Mahathir previously said.







He had estimated the railway would cost Malaysia around 110 billion ringgit ($27 billion) in 2018.







The neighbours have had fractious relations since Malaysia evicted Singapore from the Malaysian Federation in 1965, ending a brief and stormy union of the former British colonies. (AFP)




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Senior YSR Congress Party member of Andhra Pradesh legislative council Challa Ramakrishna Reddy died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Friday, his family members said. He was 72

He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Reddy had been admitted to the hospital on December 13 and had been on ventilator for the last three weeks. He tested positive for Covid-19 during the winter session of the state legislative council held in the first week of December.

Over the past week, his condition deteriorated further and he breathed his last this morning, his family members said, adding that the last rites would be performed at his native place Uppalapadu village of Owk block in Kurnool district.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Ramakrishna Reddy. Recalling his active role in Kurnool politics, the chief minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.

Reddy began his political career in Congress party. He won the assembly elections for the first time in 1983 from Panyam constituency in Kurnool. Though he lost the assembly elections in 1989 and Lok Sabha elections in 1991, he bounced back with two back-to-back wins in 1999 and 2004 from Koilkuntla constituency.

In 2009, he contested from Banaganapalle constituency and lost to Praja Rajyam Party candidate. In 2014, he joined the TDP but lost the election again. He was later appointed as the State Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman. Before the 2019 assembly elections, he joined the YSRCP.

Reddy, who has been elected as an MLC only recently, is the second YSRCP leader to succumb to Covid-19. In September, parliamentarian from Tirupati Balli Durga Prasad Rao also died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in Chennai.
A second international arrival has been charged by police after attempting to escape hotel quarantine in Perth less than a week after a woman sparked a city-wide search after walking out of the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Dyllan Jake Shipp, 25, landed at Perth Airport from Dubai on Boxing Day after receiving an exemption to return home to Australia after working overseas.

The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a directive under the State Emergency Act is a $50,000 fine or 12 months' jail. Credit:Justin Rake

Upon arrival at the airport, Shipp was told to quarantine for 14 days at a government-managed hotel but just before midnight on New Year's Eve, the 25-year-old walked out of his room.

Police claim Shipp refused to return to his room despite multiple attempts by security guards, making his way to the hotel's lobby instead, where he was intercepted by police before he could leave the building.
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SACRAMENTO  The effort to recall Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, often seen as a long shot in a deep-blue state, has received a jolt of seriousness in the form of big-dollar donors.

In the past two weeks, a committee supporting the recall, Rescue California-Recall Gavin Newsom, has received $500,000 from a little-known Orange County consulting firm and a contribution of nearly $100,000 from a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and his wife.

Supporters say the cash boost speaks to growing momentum behind the campaign to oust Newsom before the end of his first term, signaling this effort could be more significant than past fizzled attempts.

The frustration has been building for some time, said Anne Dunsmore, campaign manager for Rescue California. Were doing really well.

Organizers said they have collected more than 900,000 signatures on recall petitions. They must submit about 1.5 million valid signatures of registered voters by March 17 to force a recall election, though theyll probably need closer to 2 million total signatures to make up for ones that are invalid.

Conservative media outlets, including Fox News, have increasingly drawn attention to the recall effort in recent weeks.

Dan Newman, a consultant for Newsoms 2022 re-election campaign, said that even with the cash infusion, the recall is unlikely to gain traction because most people want to focus on fighting the coronavirus.

I question if voters will want to waste $100 million of their own money on a special election, mere months before a regular one, instead of focusing our funds and attention on vaccinating and reopening, Newman said.

He said much of the recall money comes from a secretive dark-money group that hasnt revealed its donors, plus pro-Trump, extreme Republicans.

The emergence of large donors isnt quite comparable to the roughly $2 million that GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of San Diego County spent to help recall then-Gov. Gray Davis in 2003, but it is indicative of the growing power of the effort.

So far, two political committees behind the recall effort, Rescue California and California Patriot Coalition, have raised more than $1.3 million combined. More than 1,000 people have contributed, though most of the money has come in five- and six-figure checks.

Here are five of the largest sources bankrolling the effort:

Prov 3:9 LLC

 Amount: $500,000

 What we know: Corporate filings indicate the company is a consulting firm in Irvine formed in 2018. Its manager, Thomas Liu, did not respond to requests from The Chronicle for comment. He told Politico, We have our beliefs in terms of the direction the state needs to go, and we felt that this effort was worthy of our contribution.

The firms name appears to be a reference to the biblical verse Proverbs 3:9: Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.

No further details about the firm were publicly available. I dont know much about them other than they contacted us and wanted to help, the recall campaigns Dunsmore said.

Doug Leone and Patricia Perkins-Leone

 Amount: $99,800

 What we know: The couple live in Los Altos Hills, and Doug Leone is a partner at Sequoia Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in tech startups. His net worth is estimated at over $5 billion, according to Forbes. Patricia Perkins-Leone is a homemaker, finance reports state.

The couple have contributed about $3 million to state and federal candidates over the past 20 years, according to the Federal Election Commission and state records. Their contributions have primarily gone to Republican candidates and conservative groups across the country, including President Trumps re-election campaign and Republicans in the Georgia runoff elections for U.S. Senate. The couple did not respond to requests for comment.

Susan and Howard Groff

 Amount: $75,000

 What we know: The couple are retirees from Northridge (Los Angeles County), according to finance reports. They appear to be the same Susan and Howard Groff who own Northwest Excavating, a Southern California company that digs utility lines and rents out large construction equipment.

They have given heavily to Republican candidates for state and federal office. The Groffs have contributed more than $12 million to federal and state campaigns, including ballot initiatives, finance records show. They did not respond to requests for comment.

California Revival PAC

 Amount: $60,000

 What we know: The committee was formed this year by GOP operatives, including Tom Del Beccaro of Walnut Creek, former chairman of the California Republican Party and a conservative commentator. Revival Californias website says the groups mission is to recall Newsom and support common sense, pro-growth policies and candidates. Del Beccaro is also chair of Rescue California.

According to finance records, the committee received a $30,000 contribution from International Petroleum Products and Additives Co. and $25,000 from businessman William Timken Jr.

John Cox

 Amount: $50,000

 What we know: Cox, whom Newsom defeated handily in the 2018 governors race, is considering running again and has formed an exploratory committee. Cox is a tax attorney, financial adviser and real estate investor in the San Diego area.

This state right now is in crisis, Cox said in September. The response out of Sacramento (to the pandemic) has been inconsistent.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
Bachelor in Paradise star Abbie Chatfield has been 'shadow banned' on Instagram after she decided to do a racy striptease for her fans.

The 25-year-old, who has been confirmed as a contestant on the upcoming season of I'm A Celebrity Australia, revealed she'd been banned on Friday.

'I'm shadow banned. How do I get unshadowbanned? F**ked,' she asked her fans.

Banned: Former Bachelor in Paradise star Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has been 'shadow-banned' on Instagram

A shadowban on Instagram hides your posts from any users who don't follow you.

It occurs if a user uses broken hashtags, shares content that may be inappropriate or if their account is often reported.

It comes after Abbie shared a racy striptease for her fans, posting it to Instagram Stories.

Racy: It comes after Abbie shared a racy striptease for her fans, posting it to Instagram Stories

In the footage, the 25-year-old donned a revealing Speedo brand swimsuit as she danced.

Abbie showed off her figure, including her ample cleavage, as she wiggled in front of the camera.

She then turned her back to the lens, shaking her pert derriere as she twerked for her fans.

Fun! In the footage, the 25-year-old donned a revealing Speedo brand swimsuit as she danced in her room

The blonde beauty, who added a pair of swimming googles to the look, worked all her best angles in the clip.

The reality star captioned the series of videos: 'Off to pick up at the valley pool' and 'a striptease but make it Speedo'.

The racy dance comes after Channel Ten all but confirmed Abbie is joining the new season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency use validation for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. This open the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine.



While many countries rely on their own regulatory systems for vaccine approvals, some countries with weak system depend on WHO's nod to a great extent for rolling out their national vaccination programmes.

Several countries including the US and the UK have already approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. This is the first time WHO has granted emergency validation to a Covid-19 vaccine since the outbreak began a year ago.





The WHO noted that the vaccine requires storage using an ultra-cold chain -- it needs to be stored at minus 60 degree C to minus 90 degree C.



This requirement makes the vaccine more challenging to deploy in settings where ultra-cold chain equipment may not be available or reliably accessible.



For that reason, WHO is working to support countries in assessing their delivery plans and preparing for use where possible.



"WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards. We encourage even more developers to come forward for review and assessment."



Regulatory experts convened by WHO from around the world and WHO's own teams reviewed the data on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality as part of a risk-versus-benefit analysis.



The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address Covid-19 offset potential risks.



Source: IANS "This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to Covid-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere," Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, said in a statement.The WHO noted that the vaccine requires storage using an ultra-cold chain -- it needs to be stored at minus 60 degree C to minus 90 degree C.This requirement makes the vaccine more challenging to deploy in settings where ultra-cold chain equipment may not be available or reliably accessible.For that reason, WHO is working to support countries in assessing their delivery plans and preparing for use where possible."WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards. We encourage even more developers to come forward for review and assessment."Regulatory experts convened by WHO from around the world and WHO's own teams reviewed the data on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality as part of a risk-versus-benefit analysis.The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address Covid-19 offset potential risks.Source: IANS

The WHO's emergency validation also enables Unicef and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need, the UN health agency said on Thursday.
Africa has a unique opportunity to dismantle its inherited colonial economic structure with a massive scale industrial development under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to the AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene, the continent has continued to provide other regions of the world with primary commodities for producing finished goods which they then sell to the continent at much higher prices. This has also resulted in the low level of trade among African countries.

The AfCFTA is finally kicking off this January and the successful implementation will see the continent hitting major milestones in regard to trade and quality.

Africa has for long been the dumping ground of second hand items ranging from equipment to clothes and toys as well as electronic waste all in the name of affordability. This has entrenched the culture of poor quality standard goods which the Continental Free Trade Area agreement will address.

Trading under the AfCFTA starts formally on the continent in January 2021 marking the first step towards Africa becoming the world's largest trade and economic zone.

Mene says that a massive industrial development would create regional value chains that would free the continent from the colonial system in place for up to 60 years that makes the continent vulnerable.

Due to its inability to produce those goods, Africa suffers whenever global trade supplies are disrupted such as in the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Mene notes that all of the materials needed to fight Covid-19 have to be imported as well as the germ-killing products, the medications and the ventilators among others.

As it is, the continent will also have to rely on vaccines developed elsewhere which will affect the time when Africans get the vaccine as well as the cost.

But he said to industrialize was a difficult process requiring disciplined, dedicated implementation of its industrial development strategy.

According to Mene, Africa has start somewhere to industrialize the continent placing it on a trajectory for value added production, massive scale manufacturing and job creation so that young Africans do not have to go to Europe in search of better lives.

Mene has praised the commitment and political will to the trade bloc in the five years since negotiations leading to its creation began.

The AfCFTA will be a market of 1.2 billion people with a combined gross domestic product of US$2.5 trillion and constitute a significant milestone towards the realization of the African Union's Agenda 2063 for the socio-economic transformation of the continent as well as the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

The agreement entered into force on 30 May 2019 after the treaty was ratified by 22 countries -- the minimum number required under the treaty -- out of the 54 that agreed to be members of the bloc. To date, 34 countries have ratified the agreement.

Eritrea is the only country which has yet to make any commitment to the continental body.

Trading was originally scheduled to start on 1 July this year but it was postponed for six months to January 1 next year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The AfCFTA is expected to deepen continental integration and is seen as the great edifice that holds Africa's collective dreams and aspirations for an integrated and prosperous continent.

Trading under the AfCFTA is expected to be one of the ways to boost intra-African trade by promoting industrialization and competitiveness while contributing to job creation. The agreement is also anticipated to unleash regional value chains that will facilitate Africa's meaningful integration into the global economy.

Africa has had an impressive economic growth over the past decade, including hosting six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world.

The African Development Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina notes that the pandemic has set the continent back now, with a decade of growth lost. He, however, is optimistic that Africa will bounce back.

Adesina adds that the same fundamentals that drove growth are still there emphasising that at the core of this must be the growth of the private sector and the deployment of supportive environments for their operations.

With the AfCFTA, Adesina says that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have powered the economic growth of several countries globally and their numbers have exploded from less than 200 in the 1980s to 5,000 today.

The SEZs have collectively, they have contributed exports worth US$3.5 trillion, roughly 20 per cent of global trade in goods.

In Africa, special economic zones are operating in 38 countries, accounting for annual trade turnover of US$680 million. In comparison, Adesina says, SEZs have not been as successful in Africa compared to Asia and other parts of the world for several reasons among them limited infrastructure where Africa's infrastructure financing gap is estimated to be US$64-108 billion annually.

Second is the weaker institutional environment and coordination challenges and third, is the limited access to financing to develop well-integrated value chains.

He says the AfCFTA is changing this and with the changing times, opportunities are also changing for the private sector and for the Africa Economic Zones Organization.

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While Special Economic Zones have been primarily focused on exports, they now need to sharply focus on the regional markets in Africa.

He notes that the special economic zones should allow Africa to now develop its manufacturing capacity, competitive regional value chains, for exports into the African Continental Free Trade Area, and to expand their integration into global value chains.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) notes that intra-Africa trade has been historically low.

In 2017, Intra-African exports were 16.6 per cent of total exports compared with 68 per cent in Europe and 59 per cent in Asia. This points to the untapped potential in Africa.

The WEF cautions that it will be a challenge to make way for easy and quick facilitation of people and goods in Africa because there is so much fragmentation, with economies at widely varying stages of development, experts speaking at the session noted.

"While the reality is there will most likely be winners and losers, the role of the African Union will be to ensure shared prosperity on the continent, creating supportive policies, eliminating monopolies, and stamping out uncompetitive behaviour," adds WEF.

AfCFTA is an opportunity for countries and companies to help each other grow, as they have done in other regions. But trade liberalization has the potential to damage the poorest within those countries, which is why it is so important to have supportive policies.
A statue of a formerly enslaved man on his knees in front of President Abraham Lincoln in a Boston public park was dismantled this week after 141 years when it was erected.



The removal of the Emancipation Group statue in Park Square comes months after the Boston Art Commission voted to remove the statue which has stood in Park Square since 1879 by the end of year, according to the Boston Herald.



The decision came in June following the nationwide protests that took place following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer.



"We're pleased to have taken it down this morning," a spokeswoman for Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement to CNN.



"As expressed by so many during the public process this year, we fully agree that the statue should be relocated to a new publicly accessible location where its history and context can be better explained," the spokeswoman said.



"The decision for removal acknowledges the statue's role in perpetuating harmful prejudices and obscuring the role of Black Americans in shaping the nation's fight for freedom."

Tory Bullock, who helped push the petition for the statue's removal, said told Boston Herald: At the top of my petition, I described being a kid and I would always ask myself, If hes free, why is he still on his knees? After this, no kid will ever have to ask that again.



"I'm proud, I'm Black and I'm young," Bullock told the outlet. "This image has been doing a lot of disservice to African Americans in Boston and now it stops."



According to CNN, the statue is a replica of one erected in Washington D.C. It's based on a picture of Archer Alexander, who was born into slavery.



The spokeswoman for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh also said the "statue will not be destroyed, but will rather be relocated to a location where "its history and context can be better explained."



"The decision for removal acknowledges the statue's role in perpetuating harmful prejudices and obscuring the role of Black Americans in shaping the nation's fight for freedom".













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Its a list that Hazletons mayor didnt want his city to make.

The city and its neighboring communities became a national hot spot for COVID-19 infections during the early months of the pandemic, with Mayor Jeff Cusat reporting in late April that nearly 4% of the population had been infected.

Case counts continued to rise sharply until the city and neighboring communities enacted a curfew and imposed restrictions on public gatherings and travel, he recalled.

The mayor confirmed the first positive case in Hazleton on March 21, well before state officials began releasing case counts by ZIP code.

By April 10, more than 1,000 cases were reported at testing sites in Hazleton.

Circumstances appeared so dire that Luzerne County Manager Dave Pedri wrote to Gov. Tom Wolf asking to mobilize the National Guard to help enforce social distancing protocols and stay at home orders in Hazleton.

A New York Times report released at the time had Marion, Ohio, leading the nation with the highest percentage of cases in areas of 50,000 or more, with 3.37% of its 65,256 residents infected.

With 919 positive cases reported by the state at the time, about 3.72% of Hazletons residents were testing positive.

For per capita, I think we were tops in the country, Cusat said on Dec. 17 while looking back on the pandemic.

By then, the city had already taken its first steps to slow the spread of the virus, as Cusat declared a disaster emergency on March 30.

Dual residency, a large number of multi-family housing units, working conditions at the regions warehouse distributions centers and people who share rides to work contributed to the initial waive, he said.

Four days later, he issued an amended declaration of disaster emergency that was effective for five days. It prohibited people from walking or driving on city-owned streets between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., barred groups of four or more unrelated people from gathering in public, prohibited vehicles with four or more non-immediate family members from parking or stopping within the city, required non-related individuals who were in public to stay at least six feet from each other and required all businesses that the governor deemed non-essential to close immediately.

City council extended the declaration through April 30 and the mayor issued a second declaration that went into effect on May 1. The second measure prohibited people from being on city-owned streets or in public places between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and included most other restrictions that were part of the original declaration.

The high concentration of cases brought the national media to Hazleton, with some outlets questioning working conditions at an industrial park outside of Hazleton.

Cusat also worked with the local medical community to educate the public about safety precautions, which he credits for dropping the number of new cases to single digits for several months.

Once we did the shutdown, we went from being one of the highest per capita counts to almost no cases, he recalled. We really did well and came together as a community when I asked everyone.

Case counts have been on the rise in recent weeks in Hazleton and other parts of the county.

Cusat said he spoke with officials at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton, who reported in mid-December that its facility in Hazleton was near capacity with about 35 people hospitalized with the virus.
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Every year on New Years Day, the Pope invites us to reflect on the importance of peace. Is the world listening?

Fr. Enobong Paulinus Udoidiong - Rome, Italy.

The message of peace is always the clarion call of the Church, to the world, on the first day of the New Year. This Year 2021, Pope Francis wants us to cultivate a culture of care as a path to peace.

COVID-19: Testimonies of solidarity

Even with all the suffering wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, the world in 2020, witnessed heroic examples of solidarity. Sometimes at the risk of stigmatisation, personal safety and health or even the danger of bringing the disease to their families, health care personnel continued to work tirelessly and cared for our sick. Take Nigeria, for instance, communities and individuals donated food and other essential items to those who suddenly had no income due to the lockdown. There have been testimonies of incredible solidarity everywhere. It just shows what can be done when we care for one another.

Yet as Pope Francis says in his message for the New Year 2021, Sad to say, alongside all these testimonies of love and solidarity, we have also seen a surge in various forms of nationalism, racism and xenophobia, and wars and conflicts that bring only death and destruction in their wake, the Holy Father said.

The endless killings in Nigeria

In my own country, Nigeria, we continued to read about and see disturbing images of killings and the kidnapping of innocent people by the Boko Haram terrorist group and other criminal elements. Sometimes news about the loss of lives has been as relentless as it is depressing. Boko Haram argue that western education is evil, so no one should have anything to do with schools or education. They propagate a distorted system belief that has resulted in so much suffering and misery. Sadly, most of those killed and the villages ransacked by insurgents have been predominantly of poor innocent villagers trying to eke a living off the land. It boggles the mind to think of what the militants gain in killing fellow humans. There is, of course, the notoriety and perhaps the ill-gotten money from the ransoms paid. Then what? The last time I checked, the armoured weaponised vehicles they use; the sophisticated weapons; the telephones and internet used to communicate and announce the brutal attacks are almost all products of technology from the West and the fruit of western education. The same education that they disdain.

Knowledge is a gift from God and is meant to be of service to humanity, not for destruction. The unnecessary killings of people that we see is really a crime against humanity and a sin against God, who is the author of life. We cannot claim to be killing for God. God who ordains life and peace cannot also approve violence and the destruction of lives.

In African traditional culture, life is always sacred

Then there are the inter-communal deadly clashes, most of them politically masterminded violence sponsored by some elites and unscrupulous politicians. Almost all traditional African cultures hold that human life is sacred, irrespective of who is involved. We cannot be enemies to ourselves and think the outside world will be a better arbiter when we fight each other. Any fight among siblings is an advantage to the outsider. Often, we say, united we stand, divided we fall. This saying must surely elicit in us empathy for our brothers and sisters, our differences notwithstanding. We cannot all have one point of view, but we can always find a reason to stay united. For us, Christians, in Africa, the reason is Jesus Christ. His love unites us. His love should make us not take-up arms against another Christian, but seek to resolve conflicts by peaceful means.

Towards a culture of care and peace

For Pope Francis, we can start by creating a Culture of Care as a Path to Peace -a culture of care as a way to combat the culture of indifference, waste and confrontation so prevalent in our time.

In this new year 2021, we should individually and collectively make up our minds about contributing to peace in our homes, community and country. As Christians, our faith teaches us that we can accomplish great things if we put on love or if our actions are motivated by love. Catholic Social Teaching also instructs that, it is from the inner wellspring of love that the values of truth, freedom, and justice are born and grow.

Peace begins with me

As we seek peace and progress, we cannot also lose sight of the fact that each of us believers is a crucial player in attaining peace in our society. We begin by fighting our own greed and selfishness while promoting respect for the human persons dignity. Then we do all that we can to build a peaceful society based on the common good. We cannot sacrifice merit and competence, on the infamous altar of favouritism or always looking out only for kith and kin. Our vision as Christians must be bigger and all-embracing. Similarly, the suitability of those appointed to positions of authority should be ready to serve and to serve selflessly.

Peace I leave you, my peace I give you

Africa has everything it takes to become a dynamic, industrious, and prosperous continent. Human and natural resources are what God has given us. We just need to harness all these in love and fairness for all, making peace the very core of our societies. If we embrace peace, development will surely follow. It was Pope Saint Paul VI who stated that, development is the new name for peace in his 1967 encyclical Populorum Progressio. Paul VIs vision of economic development is one where people of the world feel that they are connected to a single destiny. The peace we seek is not that which the world gives. Every day on the world market, weapons of mass destruction are being developed and sold to African countries. Countries are instigating violence. People are raising banners of war and violence, when they should be sheathing their swords, thus raising the prospects for peace. Our Lord Jesus continues to admonish us his disciples, saying, It should not be so among you (Mt. 20: 26). The standard of the world should not model our conduct. The bar should be higher and must be that which Christ has given. Christ says, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, not as the world gives do I give (Jn. 14:27).

Give peace a chance

Peace should be our motivation in this New Year. Rising from the pain of the coronavirus pandemic, droughts, floods, locust invasions and other calamities that have befallen the continent, we should all champion the course of peace: In our families, communities and nation. Let us give peace a chance. Peace be with you!

(Fr. Enobong Paulinus Udoidiong is a doctoral student of Canon Law at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. He is also a contributor and collaborator of Vatican Radios English Africa Service. Fr. Enobong is incardinated in the Diocese of Uyo, Nigeria.)
ASHLAND, Ore.  Asante welcomed the first southern Oregon baby of the new year in the early hours of Friday morning, the medical provider announced.

30-year-old Laurie Davis and her husband, 33-year-old Tyler Davis, said hello to their daughter Iris Anne Davis at 4:14 a.m. on Friday. She weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces at birth and measured 20 inches long.

Iris is the Talent couple's first child, and Asante said that they have been married for a little over one year. Laurie grew up in the Sams Valley area, and Tyler is a Talent native.

"Laurie chose a water birth at Asante Ashland Community Hospital and was attended by Laura Letts, a certified nurse midwife with Asante Physician Partners in Ashland," Asante said in a statement.

There were three other New Year's babies born at Asante hospitals  a boy at 8:11 a.m. and a girl at 9:54 a.m. at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, and a boy at 8:07 a.m. at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

"Our congratulations to all the new parents and our wishes for a happy and healthy year ahead," Asante said.
(Natural News) The independent media seems perplexed over the fact that former Attorney General Bill Barr failed to do pretty much anything worthwhile while employed within the Trump administration. The expectation, apparently, was that Barr would clean up the swamp and create an American utopia free of the deep state at some point during his tenure. Why would Barr do this, though, when hes been a swamp creature himself since at least 1992?

Conservatives must be suffering from some kind of amnesia because it is common knowledge that Barr worked back in the early 90s as attorney general under George H.W. Bush, one of the most corrupt swamp creatures in our nations history. Like Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Barr has been a staple in establishment politics for decades, having spearheaded some of the earliest known instances of warrantless surveillance against innocent Americans, as one prominent example.

The Justice Department under Attorney General William Barr launched a vast surveillance program that gathered records of innocent Americans international phone calls without first conducting a review of whether it was legal, reports explain. It happened in 1992, the last time Barr served as attorney general.

Long before George W. Bush, papa Bushs son, took occupation of the White House and subjected us all to the Patriot Act, Barr was illegally surveilling Americans without a warrant. This would explain why Barr, during his more recent tenure, declared that the Obama administration had not committed any crimes when they illegally surveilled the incoming Trump administration.

Barr and his buddies in deep state government, we now know, played a direct role in Barack Hussein Obamas illegal spying activities, hence why Barr decided to cover for the illicit operation. Barr also insists that the CIA did nothing wrong by fomenting and spreading the phony Trump  Russia collusion scandal that helped to run out the clock, so to speak, on Trumps efforts to get anything done during his first term.

And, of course the FBI is now a disgrace after four more years of persecuting innocents and letting criminals go free, further notes Joe Hoft, writing for The Gateway Pundit. Barr and FBI Director Chris Wray plotted with Deep State members in overthrowing the government this election as can be seen by their selective blindness and lack of efforts to address the coup they are part of.

Ending the War on Drugs would largely end deep state tyranny

Under the guise of fighting the War on Drugs  one of the catch-all excuses used by the deep state to openly violate Americans constitutional rights, by the way  Barr and Bush Sr.s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) illegally monitored and collected records on virtually every phone call that was made from the United States to 116 different foreign countries. Congress had no oversight, a USA Today investigation found, and this blueprint is what was used after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to expand illegal spying and surveillance under the Patriot Act.

The Justice Departments inspector general said both the DEA and the Justice Department failed to conduct a comprehensive legal analysis of its authority to gather those records, an investigation found.

After working under Papa Bush, Barr then went on to work as General Counsel at telecommunications company GTE, which eventually became Verizon while Barr was still employed there. During his time at Verizon, Barr spearheaded the creation of the very surveillance programs that would later be used not just by Bush Jr. to spy on Americans, but also by Obama to spy on Trump.

Why Trump hired Barr in the first place remains an anomaly, especially since his history of treason is open knowledge. While claiming to be fighting the swamp, Trump has repeatedly hired on the worst of the worst from the swamp, which means that Trump is also a failure, at least in this regard.

Why did Trump repeatedly fill his cabinet with swamp creatures while claiming to be draining it?

Another individual who has been complicit in illegal spying is Chief Justice John Roberts, who oversees the secret court where the FBI filed its phony FISA warrants signed by James Comey, fueling the Russian collusion conspiracy theory that resulted in President Donald Trump being impeached.

Justice Roberts signed off on all of these phony warrants, demonstrating where his true loyalties lie. This means that Barr and Roberts are two peas in a pod who worked in tandem during Trumps time in office to undermine all efforts to hold Obama et al. responsible for committing treason  which makes Barr and Roberts complicit in treason as well.

Giving Trump a free pass for all of this by claiming that he was tricked or fooled by people he thought he could trust simply does not pass muster anymore. If Trump is really an outsider like many conservatives continue to claim he is, then he could have, and really should have, rooted out Barr, and before him Jeff Sessions, much more quickly  or better yet, never hired them in the first place.

If you enjoyed reading this story, you will find more like it at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com

WarRoom.org
Maria Pavez, 22, was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend Carlos Mendez, 36, in Chile, last month

Pavez was last seen leaving her home December 17 and was found dead in the Mexican man's apartment December 23

Mendez, who also went by the name Igor Gonzalez, was already wanted in Mexico for 2009 killing of his former girlfriend, 17-year-old Itzel Barraza

Pavez's family learned via a Facebook messenger the real identity of the killer and presented the evidence to Chilean investigators

A killer on the run for murdering his 17-year-old former girlfriend in Mexico in 2009 is now wanted in Chile for allegedly murdering his latest ex.

Maria Pavez, 22, was last seen December 17 when she left her home in the Santiago commune of La Florida to meet her old flame who called himself Igor Gonzalez. His real identity was later revealed to be 36-year-old Carlos Mendez - wanted killer on the run from police and Interpol.

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The couple had reportedly dated for two years before breaking it off in October.

Six days after Pavez, an obstetrics student at the Diego Portales University, Chile, went to meet her ex, she was found dead. Her body was discovered with a six-inch stab wound, in the bedroom of Mendez's abandoned Chile apartment.

As the victim's family mourned their daughter, they were contacted on social media by family of his first victim, who revealed the real identity of Pavez's ex and suspected killer; Mendez.

Mendez fled Mexico after hacking his former girlfriend, 17-year-old Itzel Barraza, to death with an ice pick on April 9, 2019 in the central state of Aguascalientes.

Chilean authorities are searching for Carlos Mendez, who allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend Maria Pavez after the got together December 17. The 36-year-old, who also went by the name of Igor Gonzalez, is wanted in Mexico for killing 17-year-old, Itzel Barraza in 2009

Maria Pavez, a college student in Chile, was last seen December 17 after she left her home to meet her ex-boyfriend, a Mexican national known as Igor Gonzalez, whose real name is Carlos Mendez. Pavez's remains were found at the 36-year-old's home before he went on-the-run. He is wanted in Mexico for the 2009 murder of his former girlfriend, 17-year-old Itzel Barraza

Itzel Barraza was killed April 9, 2009 in Mexico by Carlos Mendez, her ex-boyfriend, before he fled to Chile, where he is now wanted for the murder of Maria Pavez

'As soon as I saw the first photos, I immediately said it's him,' Barraza family told Mexican newspaper El Imparcial. 'We were tying the dots in terms of appearance, height, gaze, eyes, type of nose, type of mouth, mole on the chin. When I contacted to the family of this girl in Chile and I showed photos they said it is the same."

Pavez's family swiftly passed on that information to the police.

Authorities said Mendez illegally entered Chile seven years ago.

Brenda Pavez told DailyMail.com her half-sister met Mendez several years ago at an anime event in the Santiago commune of Penalolen. The former couple dated two years before ending their relationship in October.

'Nothing was ever suspected since we did not know him,' Pavez said. 'Only Maria's mother saw him once and no one else knew him. He did not let himself be seen.'

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Friends of Maria Pavez who knew Mendez describe his as 'antisocial, a fan of anime, computers and Japanese manga.'

The suspect, who is overweight, has a mole under his lip and has a tattoo of a black cross on his left forearm. He also suffers from cataract in one eye, which he tries to conceal from the public by allowing his hair to fall right over the eye.

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Carlos Mendez also went by the name of Igor Gonzalez. He is wanted in Mexico for killing 17-year-old, Itzel Barraza in 2009

Maria Pavez contacted her mother on December 17 and received a deposit to purchase a new cellphone because her other phone had technical difficulties. But calls in the following day went unanswered, which led the family to filing a missing person's report before the 22-year-old college student was found dead in her ex-boyfriend's apartment

Just days after it was revealed that Mendez, or 'El Meji', short for 'The Mexican,' was a person of interest to the authorities, an alleged friend went on Instagram and vowed to offer him a place to stay if he came asking because he care less about what had happened to Pavez.

'I'm a friend of Meji ... I don't care. If [he] were to ask me for refuge, because they are chasing him, I would say I take care of you,' the man said. 'It is not what is happening, but I would do it anyway.'

Brenda Pavez was shocked by the man's willingness to aid her sister's alleged killer.

'I think there's people with some kind of mental problem, who lack empathy and compassion,' she said.

Pavez said the family believes someone aided Mendez's escape from Chile the same way he was assisted in fleeing Mexico in 2009.

'We have absolute certainty that someone helps the murderer escape just as they helped him escape when he murdered Itzel in Mexico, but we do not know who helps him,' she said.

Pavez's mother Lorena Zamora told Chilean news outlet BioBio Chile that she had spoken to her daughter approximately at 11pm local time December 17 and deposited money into her account after she complained of technical difficulties with her cellphone.

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She reportedly purchased a new one but calls went unanswered following their last conversation.

Berraza's parents reached out to Maria Pavez and her family Sunday.

'We shared information and now I can confirm it is the same person, the same person who killed their daughter,' Brenda Pavez said.
The Centre on Friday announced that the temporary ban on flights to India from the United Kingdom will be lifted from January 8, and operations will be allowed in a restricted manner for the next two weeks.

The government had suspended flights to the UK on December 23, and extended the ban for another week to stop the spread of a new highly contagious variant of Covid-19 that was rapidly infecting people in the UK.

Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted that from Jan 8 to 23, 15 flights per week will be allowed between the countries. The flights will be allowed to take off from and land in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only, he wrote on Twitter.

In India, so far 29 people have been detected with this new variant of the virus, which the UK government had said is 70 per cent more transmissible than the more common variant.

Of the 29 cases, 10 cases have been detected by labs in Delhi, 10 by a Bengaluru lab, one in West Bengal, three in Hyderabad and five by the National Institute of Virology, Pune. All those infected have been sent into institutional quarantine.

Around the globe, the new strain has been found in at least 13 countries, including France, Germany, Canada, Singapore, the Netherlands, South Korea, Japan, Belgium, Spain, and several others jurisdictions.

It is expected that everyone arriving in India from the UK from January 8 will be mandatorily made to undergo RT-PCR testing. Individual states will likely issue their own standard operating procedures.

In addition to this, some states like Maharashtra had earlier mandated institutional quarantine for all passengers arriving from the UK between the time the flight ban was announced and was implemented.
The state Department of Agriculture invites Pennsylvanians to craft their own butter sculpture creations and enter them into the Butter Up! Contest for a chance to win a gift cards from members of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association.

The large butter sculpture that has become a popular feature of the annual Farm Show wont happen this year as the entire agricultural show goes virtual.

The contest will be open for submissions from Jan. 9, through 8 p.m. Jan. 16.

Individuals can use up to 5 pounds of butter; are allowed to use chicken wire, sculpting wire, and a base to support the design; and cannot use food dye or coloring of any kind to enhance the butter. Sculptures must be unique, individual work of the entrants.

While not a requirement, the department suggests individuals use Pennsylvania butter to support the states dairy industry. Pennsylvania butter can be identified by looking for the PA Preferred logo or plant code 42, or by purchasing directly from a local farmers market that sources from a Pennsylvania dairy.

Entrants will be judged in five age group categories including elementary school (ages 5-10), middle school (ages 11-13), high school (ages 14-18), adult (ages 19-64), and senior (ages 65+).

The winners and runners up will be judged by fans of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Facebook page by total reactions (likes, loves, wows, cares, etc.).

For more details, visit farm show.pa.gov.

Members of PFMA have donated $50 and $25 gift cards for the winners and runners up in all five categories, participating merchants include GIANT, C&S Wholesalers, Wegmans, Square One Markets and Giant Eagle.

The full schedule of virtual Pennsylvania Farm Show events will run from Jan. 11-15, with previews and light programming on Jan. 9 and 10.

The Farm Show is also on Instagram, where from Jan. 9 to 16 it will host 20 takeovers that take viewers behind the scenes on Pennsylvania farms.
The money trail of the honey trap gang that was busted at Bhunter in Kullu on December 3 shows it had been active for the past 15 years and targeted affluent people in the district to acquire property.

Kullu superintendent of police Gaurav Singh said the members of the gang were already booked in five cases and faced charges of extortion, assault on public servant, house trespass, voluntarily causing hurt, provoking breach of peace, criminal intimidation and wrongful restraint. These cases were registered between 2014 and 2020.

So far, seven members of the gang, including two women, have been arrested.

The women would lure the targets to their houses and get intimate with them before other members would reach posing as their relatives or villagers. They would create a ruckus and threaten the victim with a rape case and then demand money, Singh said.

The gang members would often bring the victim to their house on the pretext of selling land, obstruct the way and then enter into a quarrel before threatening to lodge a rape complaint.

LAID TRAP ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Singh said that a 37-year-old woman was the kingpin, the other woman was aged 27. They would forge a friendship with the target on social media and trap them, claiming they were in trouble.

The police found that the gang had trapped one such person who then demanded money from his wife to pay the accused. His wife reported the matter to the police and a case was registered at Bhunter police station that led to the arrest of six members of the gang.

Another case of extortion of 1.23 lakh was registered against the accused. The main accused woman, who had taken anticipatory bail from the Himachal Pradesh high court in another case, was also arrested.

HUGE TRANSACTIONS BUT NO SOURCE OF INCOME

The police impounded two cars bought with the extorted money that were registered in the name of the two women.

Singh said that the accused accumulated huge wealth in 15 years despite no known source of income. The woman kingpin had done transactions of more than 25 lakh from her account. She has more than 14 lakh balance in her account, the SP said.

Transactions amounting to 11 lakh were done from the joint account of the main accused and a co-accused.

The other woman did transactions of 6 lakh and has a balance of 1.6 lakh in her account, he said.
Brother of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Soumendu Adhikari joined on Friday.

Former Chairperson of Contai Municipality, Soumendu Adhikari joined in presence of his brother at ' Yogdaan Mela' at Contai Dormitory ground in East Midnapore.

Addressing the gathering, Suvendu said, "We will win this battle and form the next government in Bengal. We will move forward with Prime minister Narendra Modi's ideals and accomplish people's dream of the 'Sonar Bangla'."

Former Transport Minister in the TMC government, joined the BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a rally in Midnapore in West Bengal on December 19.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Covid-19 pandemic has made royal engagements with huge crowds of wellwishers impossible, but The Firm has found way to adapt, with even the Queen, 94, embracing technology to meet people via video link.

An analysis of the five most senior royals' engagements for 2020 shows that Her Majesty carried out almost half of her appointments for the year listed on the Court Circular by telephone or video link.

Of Prince Charles' 227 engagements and royal tours, he carried out 70 appointments virtually, while Prince William had almost half of his 181 engagements virtually, while his wife Kate Middleton did 50 of her 133 total public appearances virtually.

Out of a total 703 engagements carried out by the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, 275 were carried out virtually.

MailOnline's research shows that Sophie, Countess of Wessex carried out 78 engagements in 2020, with 45 of these being conducted on the phone or via video link.

Meanwhile, it was found that Princess Anne had carried out a huge 207 engagements making 95 virtual appearances with the many charities and organisations of which she is patron.

The Queen held her first virtual diplomatic audience from Windsor Castle in December, where foreign ambassadors in bent into low bows and deep curtseys from Buckingham Palace via video call

The Queen (pictured), 94, has paid tribute to the 'wonderful' efforts of Commonwealth volunteers during a virtual video call this week

She managed to carry out one of the most ambitious royal tuours of the year, visiting Sierra Leone in January to focus on her work against sex crimes in conflict zones.

Overall, Prince Charles seemed to be the most visible senior royal throughout 2020, with the highest total overall engagements - tallied at around 227.

His wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, made a total of 47 public appearances throughout the year.

Overall the Queen more than halved her number of public appearances after carrying out an estimated 295 engagements in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

For the Duchess of Cambridge, the list below reflects the engagements that were shown on the royal website at the time of publication.

List of official engagements for Her Majesty The Queen throughout 2020 Date Name of Engagement Attended 05/01/20

Presented The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Academic Excellence at Springwood High School, King's Lynn

In Person 12/01/20 Presented The Queen's Gold Medal for Academic Excellence at King Edward VII Academy, King's Lynn In Person 26/01/20 Invested Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order to Kevin Clarke, Andrew Barrett and Nichola Colman In Person 02/02/20 Presented a Bible to Clara Moreland for proficiency in Religious Instruction, as well as prizes for children's attendance, at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, West Newton In Person 02/02/20 Visited Royal Air Force Marham, King's Lynn In Person 05/02/20 Opened the new Wolferton Pumping Station, King's Lynn In Person 07/02/20 Invested Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order to Sir Michael Oswald In Person 12/02/20 Held Council as well as audiences with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg In Person 13/02/20 Received Abderrahmane Benguerrah as Ambassador from the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria In Person 13/02/20 Received Andrei Kelin as Ambassador from the Russian Federation In Person 13/02/20 Received Master Gunner at St. James's Park Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory In Person 18/02/20 Received Fatimata Dia as Ambassador from Senegal In Person 18/02/20 Received Lieutenant General Paul Mihova as High Commissioner for the Republic of Zambia In Person 18/02/20 Received Lord Peel (Lord Chamberlain) who presented an Address from the House of Lords In Person 25/02/20 Visited the Headquarters of MI5 at Thames House, Millbank In Person 26/02/20 Received Admiral Anthony Radakin upon his appointment as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff In Person 26/02/20 Received Bridget Brind upon her appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan In Person 26/02/20 Received Nicholas Woolley upon his appointment as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia In Person 26/02/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson In Person 27/02/20 Received General Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda as Ambassador from the Republic of Angola In Person 27/02/20 Received Gilda Velasquez-Paz as Ambassador from the Republic of El Salvador In Person 27/02/20 Received Major General Robert Bruce upon relinquishing his appointment as Colonel of the Regiment and Major General Nicholas Borton upon assuming the appointment In Person 03/03/20 Held Investiture at Buckingham Palace In Person 04/03/20 Received Barbara Elena Montalvo Alvarez as Ambassador from the Republic of Cuba In Person 04/03/20 Met with the President of the Republic of Malta In Person 04/03/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson In Person 05/03/20 Received Major General Robert Thomson as Commander British Forces Cyprus and Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas In Person 05/03/20 Awarded The Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry In Person 05/03/20 Received Amanda Milling who delivered up her Wand of Office upon relinquishing her appointment as Treasurer of the Household In Person 05/03/20 Received Stuart Andrew upon his appointment as Treasurer of the Household when Her Majesty handed to him his Wand of Office In Person 05/03/20 Received Jeremy Quin when he delivered up his Wand of Office upon relinquishing his appointment as Comptroller of the Household In Person 05/03/20 Received Michael Freer upon his appointment as Comptroller of the Household when Her Majesty handed to him his Wand of Office In Person 05/03/20 Received Stuart Andrew who delivered up his Wand of Office upon relinquishing his appointment as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household In Person 05/03/20 Received Marcus Jones upon his appointment as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household when Her Majesty handed to him his Wand of Office In Person 05/03/20 Received Vice-Chamberlain of the Household who and presented an Address from the House of Commons In Person 09/03/20 Attended Commonwealth Day Observance Service in Westminster Abbey In Person 10/03/20 Received Saroja Sirisena as High Commissioner for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in London In Person 10/03/20 Held an audience with Chancellor Rishi Sunak In Person 11/03/20 Received Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Murphy upon relinquishing his appointment as Commanding Officer 3rd Battalion and Lieutenant Colonel Mark Powell upon assuming the appointment In Person 11/03/20 Received Professor Mark Compton (Lord Prior) In Person 11/03/20 Held Council and pricked the List of High Sheriffs for the Counties of England (other than Cornwall and those in the Duchy of Lancaster) and Wales In Person 11/03/20 Held individual audiences with Michael Gove, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson In Person 17/03/20 Received the Bishop of Hereford (the Right Reverend Richard Jackson) who did homage upon his appointment In Person 18/03/20 Received Commodore Stephen Moorhouse (outgoing Commanding Officer, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH) and Captain Angus Essenhigh (incoming Commanding Officer) In Person 18/03/20 Received Louise Tait upon relinquishing her appointment as Scottish Communications Secretary In Person 18/03/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 25/03/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 31/03/20 Invested Insignia of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order to Lady Elizabeth Shakerley In Person 01/04/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 03/04/20 Held Council Video Link 08/04/20 Spoke to Archbishop of Canterbury Phone 17/04/20 Awarded the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) to Ferris Ash In Person 22/04/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 28/04/20 Call with Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern Phone 29/04/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 05/05/20 Call with Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia Scott Morrison Phone 06/05/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 12/05/20 Held audience with Professor Kathleen McCourt for International Nurses Day Phone 13/05/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 18/05/20 Call with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau Phone 20/05/20 Held Council Phone 20/05/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 27/05/20 Meeting with Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Carter Video Link 27/05/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 02/06/20 Call with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis Phone 03/06/20 Call with First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster Phone 03/06/20 Call with Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill Phone 03/06/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 04/06/20 Spoke to Chief Executive Officer of Carers Trust and four carers In Person 05/06/20 Call to the British High Commissioner to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Christian Turner in connection with the Commonwealth Points of Light Award Phone 10/06/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 13/06/20 Military Ceremony in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle In Person 17/06/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 18/06/20 Call to The President of the French Republic Phone 23/06/20 Held Council Video Link 24/06/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 30/06/20 Call to The President of the United States of America Phone 01/07/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 02/07/20 Call to First Minister of the Scottish Government Nicola Sturgeon Phone 08/07/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 10/07/20 Meeting with Chief of the Defence Staff and representatives serving in Her Majesty's Armed Services Video Link 15/07/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 17/07/20 Invested Insignia of a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order to Captain Sir Thomas Moore In Person 21/07/20 Held Council Video Link 21/07/20 Received the oath of allegiance from the newly-appointed Archbishop of York Video Link 22/07/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 24/07/20 Meeting with Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Head of the Diplomatic Service Sir Simon McDonald Video Link 24/07/20 Met portrait artist Miriam Escofet who, with Sir Simon McDonald, unveiled a commissioned portrait of The Queen on behalf of Her Majesty In Person 27/07/20 Held a meeting with Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster Phone 02/09/20 Held Council Phone 09/09/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 14/09/20 Call with Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Martin Fair Phone 16/09/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 23/09/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 07/10/20 Spoke to International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness to mark World Sight Day Video Link 07/10/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 14/10/20 Held Council Video Link 14/10/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 15/10/20 Visited Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down, Salisbury, and officially opened the new Energetics Analysis Centre In Person 21/10/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 28/10/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 04/11/20 Commemorated the Centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey In Person 04/11/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 08/11/20 Attended Ceremony at the Cenotaph on the occasion of Remembrance Day In Person 11/11/20 Held Council Video Link 11/11/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 18/11/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 25/11/20 Spoke to the United Kingdom Commonwealth Envoy and three recipients of the Commonwealth Points of Light Award Video Link 25/11/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 27/11/20 Invested Insignia of a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order to Sir Edward Young In Person 27/11/20 Invested Insignia of a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order to Lieutenant Colonel Nana Twumasi-Ankrah In Person 02/12/20 Held an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 04/12/20 Received Sophie Katsarava as Ambassador from Georgia In Person 04/12/20 Received Gil da Costa as Ambassador from the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste In Person 04/12/20 Received Ferenc Kumin as Ambassador from Hungary In Person TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS: 115. VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENTS: 56

The Prince of Wales spoke of the 'debt of gratitude' the nation owes the Windrush generation in a video call in June 2020

THE PRINCE OF WALES' ENGAGEMENTS THROUGHOUT 2020 Date Name of Engagement Attended 11/01/2020 Trip to Oman In Person

15/01/2020 Reception for Mountain Rescue teams In Person 16/01/2020 Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Sir Michael Marshall In Person 19/01/2020 Recital and Dinner for Opera Australia In Person 19/01/2020 Call with The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Phone 20/01/2020 Reception for Members of the Scottish Parliament. In Person 20/01/2020 The Prince's Foundation meeting In Person 20/01/2020 Meeting for the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism In Person 20/01/2020 North Highland Initiative meeting In Person 20/01/2020 Crown Estate Scotland meeting In Person 20/01/2020 The Prince's Foundation Dinner In Person 21/01/2020 The Prince's Foundation meeting In Person 21/01/2020 Scottish Tartans Authority meeting In Person 21/01/2020 Meeting with Colonel Nicholas Millen upon relinquishing his appointment as Regimental Colonel In Person 21/01/2020 Meeting with Major General Timothy Hyams upon assuming the appointment In Person 21/01/2020 Received Ambassador from the Republic of Indonesia to the Court of St. James's In Person 21/01/2020 The Prince's Foundation Dinner In Person 22/01/2020 Attended World Econic Forum in Davos In Person 23/01/2020 Met with Holocaust survivors at the Israel Museum , Jerusalem In Person 23/01/2020 Visit to Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum In Person 23/01/2020 World Holocaust Forum at Yad Vashem In Person 23/01/2020 Reception given by Her Majesty's Ambassador to the State of Israel In Person 24/01/2020 Mosque of Omar, Manger Square, Bethlehem In Person 24/01/2020 Church Service to celebrate the role of Christians in the Middle East In Person 24/01/2020 Visit to Nativity Grotto and birthplace of Christ, Bethlehem In Person 24/01/2020 Reception at Casa Nova Pilgrim Guest House, Bethlehem In Person 24/01/2020 Visit to The President of the Palestinian Authority In Person 24/01/2020 Visit to an olive grove at Al Karmel Convent In Person 24/01/2020 Church of Mary Magdalene, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem In Person 28/01/2020 National Centre for Propulsion and Power Launch in Cambridge In Person 4/02/2020 T.K Maxx visit in Tooting In Person 4/02/2020 British Asian Trust meeting In Person 4/02/2020 Reception, Banqueting House In Person 5/02/2020 Received Dame Amelia Fawcett, Chairman, Board of Trustees, and Mr. Richard Deverell, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens In Person 5/02/2020 Received Members of the Yazidi Choir In Person 6/02/2020 Reception for Plantlife International In Person 6/02/2020 Business in the Community meeting In Person 6/02/2020 Meeting for the Professional Teaching Institute. In Person 6/02/2020 Received Mr. Ben van Beurden (Chief Executive Office, Royal Dutch Shell plc.), Mrs. Sinead Lynch (Chairman, Shell UK Limited) and Mrs. Susan Shannon (Vice President Government Relations) In Person 7/02/2020 Curlew and Other Priority Species Recovery Summit In Person 10/02/2020 Visit to Gloucestershire In Person 11/02/2020 Visit to Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall, Stanford on Soar In Person 11/02/2020 Visit to Leicester Market In Person 11/02/2020 Launched British Asian Trust's Midlands Chapter In Person 11/02/2020 Cambridge Satchel Company Factory, Fosse Way In Person 12/02/2020 Business in the Community meeting In Person 12/02/2020 Duchy of Lancaster meeting In Person 12/02/2020 Crown Estate meeting In Person 13/02/2020 Visit to Tower of London In Person 13/02/2020 Reception at Tower of London In Person 13/02/2020 Visit to Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall In Person 13/02/2020 The Prince's Group meeting In Person 13/02/2020 Received Mr. Peter Hill (Chief Executive Officer, 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference In Person 13.02/2020 "Invest-in-Futures" Reception at Kensington Palace. In Person 17/02/2020 Meeting with Major General David Rutherford-Jones upon relinquishing his appointment as Regimental Colonel In Person 17/02/2020 Meeting with Major General Timothy Hyams upon assuming the appointment In Person 17/02/2020 Visit to Emma Willis Limited, Bearland House, Longsmith Street, Gloucester In Person 18/02/2020 Visit of Royal Shakespeare Company costume workshop in Startford-Upn-Avon In Person 18/02/2020 Visit of National Automotive Innovation Centre, Lord Bhattacharyya Way, Coventry In Person 18/02/2020 Visit to Nicholas Chamberlaine Almshouses, All Saints Square, Bedworth In Person 18/02/2020 Veterans Contact Point, Armed Forces Centre in Nuneaton In Person 21/02/2020 Visit to CAF Manufacturing Facility, Newport In Person 21/02/2020 Visit to Aston Martin, St. Athan, Barry In Person 21/02/2020 Visit to British Airways Maintenance Cardiff Limited, Barry In Person 21/02/2020 Visit to Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale In Person 21/02/2020 Visit to flood-affected area of Pontypridd In Person 24/02/2020 Received Ms. Clare Pillman (Chief Executive, Natural Resources Wales) In Person 25/02/2020 Meeting with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council. In Person 3/03/2020 Visit to Royal College of Music In Person 3/03/2020 Received the Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury). In Person 3/03/2020 Received Major General Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa (National Security Adviser and Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, the Kingdom of Bahrain) In Person 4/03/2020 London Transport Museum visit In Person 4/03/2020 Royal Collection Trust trustees meeting In Person 4/03/2020 British Red Cross Society Dinner In Person 4/03/2020 Mr. Pavan Sukhdev (President, WWF-International). In Person 5/03/2020 Visit to Jesus College, University of Oxford In Person 5/03/2020 Visit to Kellogg College, University of Oxford In Person 5/03/2020 Investiture on behalf of the Queen In Person 6/03/2020 Visit to Celtic Sheepskin and Company Limited, Newquay In Person 6/03/2020 Reception to mark the Thirtieth Anniversary of Surfers Against Sewage In Person 6/03/2020 Pfficially opened Nansledan School In Person 9/03/2020 Commonwealth Day Church Service at Westminster Abbey In Person 9/03/2020 Reception given by the Commonwealth Secretary-General In Person 10/03/2020 WaterAid Summit In Person 10/03/2020 Meeting with Commonwealth High Commissioners In Person 10/03/2020 International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism meeting In Person 10/03/2020 University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership In Person 10/03/2020 The Prince's Trust Dinner In Person 11/03/2020 Received Mr. Anthony Pratt (Founding and Cornerstone Patron, The Prince's Trust Australia In Person 11/03/2020 The Prince's Trust Awards at the London Palladium In Person 12/03/2020 Investiture on behalf of the Queen In Person 12/03/2020 The Prince's Trust meeting In Person 12/03/2020 Received Mr. Mark Carney (Governor of the Bank of England). In Person 12/03/2020 Dinner in aid of the Australian Bushfire Appeal In Person 25/03/2020 Meeting with Professor Klaus Schwab (Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum Phone 25/03/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. David Miliband (President and Chief Executive Officer of International Rescue Committee UK) Phone 27/03/2020 Meeting with Mr. David Bernstein (Chairman) and Mr. Michael Adamson (Chief Executive) of the British Red Cross Society Phone 2/04/2020 Meeting with Mr. Narendra Modi MP (Prime Minister of the Republic of India) Phone 3/04/2020 National Health Service Nightingale Hospital launch Video 6/04/2020 Meeting with Mr. Timothy Parker, Chairman, and Mrs. Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty Phone 7/04/2020 Sustainable Markets Meeting Video 8/04/2020 Meeting with the Commissioners of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce's Food, Farming and Countryside Commission Phone 9/04/2020 Meeting with Mrs. Ruth Sutherland, Chief Executive of Samaritans Phone 14/04/2020 Meeting with Mrs. Teresa Tideman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Mrs. Rosanne Gray, Chief Executive of In Kind Direct Phone 14/04/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau MP (Prime Minister of Canada) Phone 15/04/2020 Meeting with Dame Vivian Hunt, Chairman, and Mr. Russell Hobby, Chief Executive of Teach First Phone 17/04/2020 Meeting with the Trustees of His Royal Highness's Benevolent Fund Phone 17/04/2020 Meeting with the Lord Kakkar, Chairman, and Mr. Richard Murray, Chief Executive of The King's Fund Phone 29/04/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP (First Minister of the Scottish Government) Phone 30/04/2020 Sustainable Markets Council Meeting Phone 1/05/2020 Meeting with the Hon. Allen Chastanet MP (Prime Minister of Saint Lucia) Phone 1/05/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Mark Drakeford AM (First Minister of Wales) Phone 5/05/2020 Message of support to the Royal Mail. Video 5/05/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Brandon Lewis MP (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) Phone 6/05/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Arlene Foster MLA (First Minister of Northern Ireland) Phone 6/05/2020 Meeting with Mrs. Michelle O'Neill MLA (deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland) Phone 8/05/2020 Seventy Fifth Anniversary of VE Day In Person 11/05/2020 Meeting with Mr. Simon Coveney (the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for Ireland) Phone 19/05/2020 Meeting with Dame Martina Milburn, Group Chief Executive, and Mr. Shabir Randeree, Council Member of The Prince's Trust Phone 22/05/2020 Meeting with The President of the Republic of Rwanda Phone 25/05/2020 Meeting with Mr. Antonio Guterres (Secretary-General of the United Nations) Phone 26/05/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Mia Mottley MP (Prime Minister of Barbados) Phone 20/05/2020 Meeting of the Advisory Council of British Asian Trust Video 3/06/2020 Launch of the Great Reset Video 4/06/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 4/06/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. David Miliband, President and Chief Executive Officer of International Rescue Committee in the UK Phone 5/06/2020 Meeting with Sir Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive of British Council Phone 8/06/2020 Meeting with The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Phone 9/06/2020 Royal College of Nursing Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme Phone 9/06/2020 Meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General (the Baroness Scotland of Asthal) Phone 10/06/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern MP (Prime Minister of New Zealand) Phone 10/06/2020 Meeting with Major General Christopher Ghika (General Officer Commanding London District and Major General Commanding the Household Division) Phone 10/06/2020 Meeting via video link with the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau MP (Prime Minister of Canada) and Commonwealth Ambassadors to the United Nations Phone 12/06/2020 Meeting of The Prince's Council Phone 12/06/2020 Meeting with The President of the Republic of Colombia Phone 16/06/2020 Gloucestershire Royal Hospital visit In Person 16/06/2020 Royal Drawing School meeting Phone 16/06/2020 Meeting with The President of the Republic of Chile Phone 18/06/2020 Eightieth Anniversary of the formation of the French Resistance In Person 1/07/2020 Visit to Cotswold Farm Park In Person 1/07/2020 Visit to Shipton Mill Limited, Long Newnton In Person 2/07/2020 Visit to Transport For London In Person 3/07/2020 The Prince's Trust meeting In Person 2/07/2020 Royal Drawing School meeting In Person 6/07/2020 Accounting for Sustainability Chief Financial Officer Leadership Network Roundtable Meeting Video 6/07/2020 Visit to Swindon Fire Station In Person 6/07/2020 Visit to Swindon Borough Council In Person 7/07/2020 Received Mr. Kenneth McCullum upon assuming his appointment as Director General, British Security Service. In Person 9/07/2020 Visit to Asda Distribution Centre In Person 9/07/2020 Visit to Turnbull and Asser, Sabre Close, Quedgeley In Person 13/07/2020 Visit to Edwards Coaches, Abercynon, Wales In Person 13/07/2020 Visit to Prince Charles Hospital, Mid Glamorgan In Person 14/07/2020 Meeting of the Trustees of the Royal Collection Trust Phone 16/07/2020 Commissioning Ceremony at Royal Air Force College In Person 17/07/2020 Visit of Llandovery Hospital In Person 17/07/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Video 20/07/2020 Visit to Tintagel Bridge In Person 21/07/2020 Visit to Treverbyn Community Hall Stenalees, meeting children from Treverbyn Academy In Person 21/07/2020 Visit to St. Austell Healthcare, Cornwall In Person 21/07/2020 Prince's Trust meeting Video 21/07/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 22/07/2020 Visit to Middlemoor Fire Station In Person 23/07/2020 Received Sir Andrew Parker upon relinquishing his appointment as Director General, British Security Service. In Person 23/07/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Video 28/07/2020 University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership In Person 31/07/2020 Visit of Caithness General Hospital In Person 4/08/2020 Received recipients of the North Highland Initiative Covid Fund and representatives of local Caithness businesses and charities In Person 12/08/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 14/08/2020 Visit to Emergency Services teams in Stonehaven In Person 15/08/2020 Seventy Fifth Anniversary of VJ Day In Person 9/09/2020 The Prince's Foundation dinner In Person 10/09/2020 Received an update on the Foundation's future textiles programme, at Dumfries House In Person 10/09/2020 The Prince's Foundation meeting In Person 10/09/2020 The Prince's Foundation dinner In Person 11/09/2020 The Prince's Foundation meeting In Person 11/09/2020 The Prince's Foundation dinner In Person 18/09/2002 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 24/09/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 25/09/2020 Received Ms. Grace Noble (Founder, Aberdeenshire Highland Beef In Person 25/09/2020 Received Mr. James Buchan (Business Manager, Scottish Seafood Association In Person 1/10/2020 Received Mr. and Mrs. David Stephen (Owners, Barra Castle) In Person 1/10/2020 Meeting with The President of Ireland In Person 1/10/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 2/10/2020 Received Mr. and Mrs. Ross Mitchell (Owners, Castleton Fruit Farm) In Person 4/10/2020 Trip to Kuwait In Person 7/10/2020 Received Mr. Ian Urquhart (President, Johnstons of Elgin) and Ms. Jenny Urquhart (Chairman, Johnstons of Elgin). In Person 10/10/2020 Received Fijian representatives from the Regiment to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of Fijian Independence In Person 10/10/2020 received Lieutenant Colonel Graham Sefton (Commanding Officer) In Person 12/10/2020 Visit to The Royal Dragoon Guards at Alma Barracks In Person 12/10/2020 Visit to Royal Air Force Menwith Hill, Harrogate In Person 13/10/2020 Atlantic Salmon Trust meeting In Person 21/10/2020 Meeting with the Mayor of Bristol (Mr. Martin Rees) and community leaders In Person 22/10/2020 The Prince's Trust and The Prince's Trust International meeting In Person 22/10/2020 Received His Excellency Mr. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq) In Person 22/10/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Phone 26/10/2020 Received representatives of the Elephant Family In Person 29/10/2020 Received the Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak MP (Chancellor of the Exchequer). In Person 29/10/2020 Received the Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma MP (Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy In Person 2/11/2020 Received Dame Veronica Courtice upon relinquishing her appointment as Director of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Professor Richard Prager upon assuming the appointment. In Person 3/11/2020 Received General Sir Nicholas Carter (Chief of the Defence Staff). 200 In Person 3/11/2020 British Asian Trust Meeting In Person 3/11/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 4/11/2020 The Prince's Trust meeting Video 4/11/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 6/11/2020 The Royal Shakespeare Company meeting Video 8/11/2020 Remembrance Day In Person 10/11/2020 Social Impact Bonds Meeting Video 11/11/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 11/11/2020 Centenary of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior In Person 12/11/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 13/11/2020 Visit to Royal Air Force Fairford In Person 13/11/2020 Meeting with Dr. Angela Merkel (Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Phone 15/11/2020

Received by The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mrs. Elke Budenbender in Berlin In Person 15/11/2020 Visit to Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Victims of War and Tyranny In Person 15/11/2020 Central Remembrance Ceremony on the National Day of Mourning In Person 16/11/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 18/11/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 20/11/2020 Meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video 24/11/2020 Meeting with The President of Ireland Phone 2/12/2020 Visit to National Gallery In Person 2/12/2020 Royal Collection Trust Meeting of the Trustees Phone 2/12/2020 Received Mr. Mark Chester upon relinquishing his appointment as Executive Director of Royal Drawing School In Person 2/12/2020 Received Mr. David Ross (Chairman of the Trustees of Royal Opera House) In Person 2/12/2020 The Prince's Trust International meeting Video 3/12/2020 Soho Theatre and 100 Club visit in Central London In Person 3/12/2020 Meeting with Mr. Imran Khan (Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan) Phone 3/12/2020 Meeting for Waitrose Duchy Organic Video TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS: 227 VIRTUAL: 70

The Duke of Cambridge, pictured at the London Palladium on December 11, carried out half of his engagements virtually this year

DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE 'S ENGAGEMENTS THROUGHOUT 2020 Date Name of Engagement Attended 7/01/2020 Received Sir Timothy Clark (President, Emirates Airline). In Person 8/01/2020 British Academy of Film and Television Arts meeting In Person 9/01/2020 Received Mr. Malcolm White (Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots) and Mr. Paul Tacon (Clerk) In Person 15/01/2020 Visit to Bradford City Hall In Person 15/01/2020 Visit to MyLahore British Asian Kitchen, Bradford In Person 15/01/2020 Meeting with representatives from Near Neighbours and Better Start Bradford In Person 16/01/2020 Received Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) In Person 20/01/2020 Visited by the Republic of Ghana In Person 20/01/2020 Visited by the President of the Republic of Rwanda In Person 20/01/2020 Reception at Buckingham Palace In Person 21/01/2020 United for Wildlife Taskforce Meeting In Person 21/01/2020 Visited by The President of the Republic of Kenya In Person 21/01/2020 Visited by The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt In Person 21/01/2020 Visited by The President of the Republic of Uganda In Person 21/01/2020 Visit to Think Tank, Birmingham Science Museum In Person 22/01/2020 Received Mr. Godric Smith (Chairman, Heads Up Campaign). In Person 27/01/2020 Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony In Person 29/01.2020 Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reception In Person 31/01/2020 Received the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark (formerly Prime Minister of New Zealand and formerly Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme). In Person 2/02/2020 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards In Person 4/02/2020 Visit to Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Mumbles Pier, Wales In Person 4/02/2020 Visit to Tata Steel, Tata Steel Strip Products UK, Port Talbot In Person 4/02/2020 Visit to Joe's Ice Cream Parlour, Wales In Person 4/02/2020 Visit to Bulldogs Boxing In Person 5/02/2020 Launch of the Heads Up Weekend at Heist Bank In Person 12/02/2020 Received Mr. Joseph Hart (Professional Footballer, Burnley Football Club) In Person 12/02/2020 Metropolitan and City Police Orphans Fund Reception In Person 13/02/2020 Received Mr. Alastair Martin (Secretary of the Duchy of Cornwall) In Person 22/02/2020 France vs Wales Six Nations Rugby match In Person 25/02/2020 Dear Evan Hansen performance in London In Person 26/02/2020 Tarmac's National Skills and Safety Park in Nether Langwith In Person 26/02/2020 Visit to Beacon Project in Mansfield In Person 3/03/2020 Received by The President of Ireland and Mrs. Sabina Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in Ireland In Person 3/03/2020 Laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance In Person 3/03/2020 Visited Mr. Leo Varadkar (Taoiseach) In Person 3/03/2020 Reception given by Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ireland In Person 4/03/2020 Visit to Jigsaw Dublin City In Person 4/03/2020 Visit to Extern, Savannah House In Person 4/03/2020 Visit to Teagasc Grange In Person 4/03/2020 Visit to Howth Cliffs In Person 4/03/2020 Reception at the Museum of Literature Ireland In Person 5/03/2020 Galway European Capital of Culture Reception In Person 5/03/2020 Visit to Tig Coili In Person 5/03/2020 Visit to Salthill Knocknacarra Gaelic Athletic Association Club In Person 9/03/2020 Commonwealth Day In Person 10/03/2020 Reception for winners of the Step Into Health Awards In Person 10/03/2020 Received Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) In Person 11/03/2020 Meeting for the Earthshot Prize In Person 11/03/2020 Received Ms. Olivia Garfield (Chief Executive Officer, Severn Trent). In Person 19/03/2020 London Ambulance National Health Service 111 In Person 25/03/2020 Meeting with Mr. Mick Clarke (Chief Executive of The Passage) Phone 31/03/2020 Meeting with Dame Caroline Palmer (Chief Executive of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust) Phone 1/04/2020 Chat with staff of Queen's Hospital Burton Phone 1/04/2020 Char with staff of University Hospital Monklands, Airdrie Phone 8/04/2020 Call with teachers and pupils from Casterton Primary Academy, Burnley Video 9/04/2020 Moorlands Community Charity, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire Video 9/04/2020 Meeting with Dal Dy Dir, who have received funding from the National Emergencies Trust coronavirus appeal. Video 16/04/2020 National Health Service Nightingale Hospital Birmingham Video 22/04/2020 Meeting with staff from Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Video 22/04/2020 Call with staff at Kingston Hospital Video 22/04/2020 Roundtable Meeting to discuss emergency responder mental health and wellbeing with Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Video 22/04/2020 Meeting with The Crown Prince of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Phone 24/04/2020 Meeting with Mr. Richard Curtis (Co-Founder, Comic Relief) and Mr. Stephen Fry (Actor and Writer) Video 27/04/2020 Meeting with Ms. Victoria Hornby (Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Innovations) Phone 30/04/2020 Meeting with the Duchy of Cornwall Finance Committee Phone 30/04/2020 Mental health Meeting with the Football Association, and the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Video 1/05/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury) Phone 7/05/2020 Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust staff call Video 12/05/2020 Chat with people supported by Centrepoint charity Video 12/05/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) and Dame Louise Casey (Chairman, HM Government's Covid-19 Rough Sleeping Response Taskforce) Phone 13/05/2020 Chat with volunteers from Shout initiative Video 14/05/2020 Chat with members of the Muslim community in Christchurch, New Zealand 30 Video 14/05/2020 Talks with representatives from the social care sector across England Video 19/05/2020 Chat with to representatives and beneficiaries from Finding Your Feet, Paisley Video 19/05/2020 Chat with representatives from Possibilities For Each and Every Kid, Glasgow Video 20/05/2020 Talk with representatives from Lifelines Scotland and emergency responders Video 20/05/2020 Chat with staff and residents from Shire Hall Care Home, Cardiff Video 21/05/2020 Meeting about marine conservation with people in Wester Ross, Northwest Highlands Video 21/05/2020 Meeting with Mr. William Gates (Co-Chairman and Trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) Video 22/05/2020 Chat with shielded individuals in Northamptonshire Phone 22/05/2020 Meeting with Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) Phone 3/06/2020 Chat with Conscious Youth charity volunteers, West Yorkshire Phone 3/06/2020 Meeting with Mr. Mark Bullingham (Chief Executive, the Football Association Phone 3/06/2020 Meeting with Mr. Richard Master (Chief Executive, Premier League) Phone 3/06/2020 Meeting with Mr. Richard Parry (Chairman, English Football League) Phone 3/06/2020 Chat with Machynlleth Community Corona Response Team in Wales. Phone 4/06/2020 Chat with clients and staff at Clouds House Video 4/06/2020 Chat with beneficiaries, staff and volunteers of the Passage Video 4/06/2020 Meeting with the Duchy of Cornwall Finance Committee Phone 9/06/2020 Meeting with Arsenal Football Club Video 9/06/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Oliver Dowden MP (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) Phone 9/06/2020 Meeting with the Lord Hague of Richmond (Chairman of the United for Wildlife Transport and Finance Taskforces) Video 10/06/2020 Chat with pupils from Waterloo Primary Academy, Blackpool Video 10/06/2020 Meeting with the Duchy of Cornwall Rural Committee Phone 10/06/2020 Meeting with Sir Keith Mills (Chairman) and Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) Phone 11/06/2020 Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Oliver Dowden MP (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), athletes and representatives from Sport England and UK Sport Video 15/06/2020 Meeting with Mr. Charles Mayhew (Chief Executive Officer of Tusk Trust) Phone 16/06/2020 Visit to East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Ambulance Station, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital In Person 16/06/2020 Meeting with Mr. Godric Smith (Chairman, Heads Up Campaign) Video 17/06/2020 The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Trustees' Meeting Video 17/06/2020 The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Meeting Video 19/06/2020 Visit to Smiths the Bakers in Norfolk In Person 23/06/2020 Meetings on COVID-19 vaccine trial with representatives from AstraZeneca, the University of Oxford, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations Video 23/06/2020 Chat with soldiers from Irish Guard 1st Battalion Video 23/06/2020 Chat with staff from Surrey Memorial Hospital, British Colombia, Canada Video 24/06/2020 Visit to the Oxford Vaccine Group, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine In Person 25/06/2020 Meeting with leaders of conservation projects across Africa Video 30/06/2020 Meeting with London's Air Ambulance Charity Video 1/07/2020 Meeting about conservation in Namibia Video 1/07/2020 Earthshot Prize Meeting Video 3/07/2020 Visit to Rose and Crown church in Norfolk In Person 3/07/2020 Spoke to students from Bond Primary School, Mitcham Video 5/07/2020 Visit to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Norfolk In Person 8/07/2020 Meeting with Mr. Godric Smith (Chairman, Heads Up Campaign) Video 15.07/2020 United for Wildlife taskforce meeting Video 16/07/2020 Visit to the Light Project's Garden House, Peterborough In Person 1/08/2020 Screening of the Heads Up FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium Video 3/08/2020 The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meeting Phone 5/08/2020 Visit to Barry Island Promenade In Person 5/08/2020 Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff In Person 08/09/2020 Emergency Responders Senior Leaders Board Meeting In Person 08/09/2020 Received Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) In Person 9/09/2020 Visit to Police College Northern Ireland Garnerville for Emergency Services Day In Person 9/09/2020 Visit to Community Rescue Service at Cave Hill Country Park In Person 10/09/2020 Earthshot Prize Meeting In Person 11/09/2020 Meeting with Mr. Mark Bullingham (Chief Executive Officer of Football Association) In Person 11/09/2020 Meeting with Mr. Daniel Alves (Professional Footballer) Phone 14/09/2020 Meeting with Ms. Christiana Figueres (formerly Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Phone 15/09/2020 Visit to London Bridge's Jobcentre Plus In Person 15/09/2020 Visit to East London Mosque in Whitechapel In Person 15/09/2020 Visit to Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery In Person 16/09/2020 Meeting with Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Environmental Activist and Indigenous Peoples Leader) Video 16/09/2020 Meeting with Ms. Indra Nooyi (formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo) Video 16/09/2020 Meeting with Sir Keith Mills (Chairman) and Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and the Duchess od Cambridge Phone 16/09/2020 Early Years meeting Video 16/09/2020 Meeting with Sir Benedict Ainslie (Captain, Team GB for the America's Cup) Phone 23/09/2020 Meeting with Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (economist and international development expert) Video 24/09/2020 Meeting with Mr. Yao Ming (President, Chinese Basketball Association and WildAid Ambassador) Video 24/09/2020 Meeting with Sir David Attenborough (Naturalist and Broadcaster). In Person 25/09/2020 Chat with Residents of Kangaroo Island, Australia Video 25/09/2020 Meeting with Ms. Naoko Yamazaki (former Japanese Astronaut) Video 7/10/2020 Meeting with SOS Children's Village in Pakistan Video 7/10/2020 Chat with pupils from Islamabad Model College for Girls, Pakistan Video 7/10/2020 Visited by The President of Ukraine and Mrs. Zelenska In Person 14/10/2020 Received the Lord Hague of Richmond upon his appointment as Chairman of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge In Person 15/10/2020 Visit to Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down, Salisbury with the Queen In Person 15/10/2020 Presented the Firmin Sword of Peace to Colonel Michael Duff In Person 15/10/2020 Opened the new Energetics Analysis Centre with the Queen In person 19/10/2020 Meeting with business owners in Liverpool In Person 20/10/2020 Viewed images from the "Hold Still" photographic project outside Waterloo Railway Station In Person 20/10/2020 Visit to St. Bartholomew's Hospita In Person 21/10/2020 Laid the foundation stone for the Oak Centre for Children and Young People at the Royal Marsden, Sutton In Person 31/10/2020 received Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge In Person 5/11/2020 Talk with embers of the British Armed Forces deployed overseas Video 5/11/2020 Meeting with Commodore James Perks (Commodore Faslane Flotilla) Video 5/11/2020 Meeting for the Earthshot Prize Video 10/11/2020 Meetings for the Earthshot Prize Video 10/11/2020 Meeting with Mr. Mark Bullingham (Chief Executive Office of Football Association) Phone 17/11/2020 Talk with fathers who have been supported by Future Men Video 19/11/2020 Talk with Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Video 19/11/2020 The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meeting Phone 19/11/2020 Meeting with Mr. Charles Mayhew (Chief Executive Officer of Tusk Trust) Video 20/11/2020 Meeting with Dr. Andrew Clements (Director) British Trust for Ornithology Video 20/11/2020 Received Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge In Person 23/11/2020 Meeting with Professor Louise Richardson (Vice Chancellor, University of Oxford), Professor Andrew Pollard (Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity) and Professor Sarah Gilbert (Professor of Vaccinology, Jenner Institute and Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine). Video 24/11/2020 Meeting with the Duchy of Cornwall Finance Committee Phone 24/11/2020 Meeting with The Queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Phone 26/11/2020 Fauna and Flora International Board Meeting Video 26/11/2020 The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Meeting Phone 1/12/2020 Meeting with families affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack Video 2/12/2020 Meeting with the Lord Hague of Richmond (Chairman) and Mr. Jason Knauf (Chief Executive of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Video 3/12/2020 Received Royal Navy submariners who are part of the Ceremonial Guard at Windsor Castle In Person 7/12/2020 Meeting workers at a Scottish Ambulance Service hub in Edinburgh In Person 7/12/2020 Visit to Holy Trinity First School in Berwick-upon-Tweed In Person 7/12/2020 Visit to Batley Community Centre in West Yorkshire. In Person 7/12/2020 `Visit to FareShare in Manchester In Person 8/12/2020 Visit to Cardiff Castle In Person 8/12/2020 Visit to Cleeve Court Residential Care in Bath In Person 8/12/2020 Meet with staff at Royal Berkshire Hospital In Person 8/12/2020 Thanking keyworkers at Windsor Castle In Person 11/12/2020 Special Pantomime Performance in London In Person TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS: 181 . VIRTUAL: 92



Almost half of the Duchess of Cambridge's engagements in 2020 were carried on via video and phone calls rather than in person. Pictured during a visit to Batley Community Centre during a tour of the UK that took her and the Duke of Cambridge to West Yorkshire

DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE 'S ENGAGEMENTS THROUGHOUT 2020 Date Name of Engagement Attended 10/01/20 Received Jason Knauf Chief Executive the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge In Person 15/01/20 15/01/20isited Bradford City Hall and MyLahore British Asian Kitchen In Person 15/01/20 Joined representatives from Near Neighbours and Better Start Bradford at the Khidmat Centre In Person 24/01/20 Held an Early Years Meeting In Person 02/02/20 Attended the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards at the Royal Albert Hall In Person 26/02/20 Visited London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park In Person 26/02/20 Held an Early Years Meeting In Person 05/03/20 Attended a Galway European Capital of Culture Reception at Tribeton, Galway, and visited Salthill Knocknacarra Gaelic Athletic Association Club In Person 09/03/20 Held a Gala Dinner at Buckingham Palace to mark the Twenty Fifth Anniversary of Place2Be In Person 10/03/20 Held Early Years Meeting In Person 19/03/20 Visited the London Ambulance National Health Service 111 Service, Surrey In Person 01/04/20 Spoke to staff at University Hospital Monklands, Lanarkshire and Queen's Hospital Burton, Staffordshire Phone 08/04/20 Held a conference call with teachers and pupils from Casterton Primary Academy, Burnley, Lancashire Phone 08/04/20 Held a mental health meeting Video 29/04/20 Participated in a Roundtable Discussion with charities and organisations supporting pregnant women and new mothers Video 01/05/20 Held a meeting with Jason Knauf Chief Executive the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Phone 06/05/20 Talked to residents and staff at a Royal British Legion Care Home, East Sussex, and held a conference call with representatives from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Video 11/05/20 Held conference calls with nurses from around the Commonwealth in advance of International Nurses Day on May 12 Video 13/05/20 Spoke to volunteers from Shout Video 20/05/20 Talked to staff and residents from Shire Hall Care Home, Cardiff Video 10/06/20 Spoke to pupils from Waterloo Primary Academy, Blackpool, Lancashire Video 17/06/20 Held a meeting with Chief Executive of Family Action David Holmes and other members of the organisation Video 17/07/20 Joined meeting in her role as patron of East Anglia Children's Hospices along with Duchess of Cornwall Video 18/06/20 Visited Fakenham Garden Centre, King's Lynn In Person 03/07/20 Spoke to students from Bond Primary School, Surrey Video 05/07/20 Visited The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn In Person 15/07/20 Held a meeting with Director of National Portrait Gallery Nicholas Cullinan Video 04/08/20 Launched a baby banks initiative between Baby Basics, Little Village and AberNecessities and other British brands In Person 05/08/20 Visited Barry Island Promenade and Shire Hall Care Home, Cardiff In Person 11/09/20 Received Jason Knauf Chief Executive the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge In Person 15/09/20 Visited London Bridge Jobcentre Plus, East London Mosque and Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery In Person 16/09/20 Held a Meeting with Chairman Sir Keith Mills Chairman and Chief Executive Jason Knauf of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Phone 16/09/20 Held an Early Years Meeting In Person 16/09/20 Held a Meeting with Captain of Team GB for the America's Cup Sir Benedict Ainslie Phone 22/09/20 Held a Meeting with organisations relating to parent peer support networks In Person 22/09/20 Met participants from Home-Start UK, the National Childbirth Trust and Mush peer to peer support networks at Battersea Park In Person 22/09/20 Received broadcaster Zeinab Badawi In Person 22/09/20 Held a meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Rock Entertainment Alice Webb and later Chief Executive Peter Fonagy Phone 25/09/20 Spoke to residents of Kangaroo Island, Australia, about the effects of the 2019 wildfires Video 02/10/20 Held an Early Years Meeting In Person 08/10/20 Visited Student Minds at the University of Derby In Person 07/10/20 Held a Meeting with SOS Children's Village in Pakistan before speaking to pupils from Islamabad Model College for Girls Video Link 07/10/20 Called upon by President of Ukraine at Buckingham Palace In Person 7/10/20 Attended a meeting with Executive Director of Development at the Natural History Museum In Person 13/10/20 Received Poet and Artist Lemn Sissay In Person 14/10/20 Received the Lord Hague of Richmond upon his appointment as Chairman In Person 14/10/20 Held a Meeting with Vice-Chairman Simon Patterson and Trustee Claire Wills of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Video 14/10/20 Visited the Tommy's National Miscarriage Research Centre at the Institute of Reproductive Developmental Biology, Imperial College London on the occasion of Baby Loss Awareness Week In Person 16/10/20 Held an Early Years Meeting at Kensington Palace In Person 20/10/20 Viewed images from the 'Hold Still' photographic project outside Waterloo Railway Station and visited St. Bartholomew's Hospital In Person 21/10/20 Held an Early Years Meeting at Kensington Palace In Person 04/11/20 Held an Early Years Meeting In Person 06/11/20 Held a meeting with Jason Knauf Chief Executive the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Video 09/11/20 Held a meeting with families supported by the Royal British Legion Video 11/11/20 Held an Early Years Meeting Video 13/11/20 Held a meeting with Jason Knauf Chief Executive the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Video 18/11/20 Held an Early Years Meeting Video 25/11/20 Received Jason Knauf Chief Executive the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge In Person 27/11/20 Attended online forum to launch the Foundation's landmark study on the Early Years Video 7/12/2020 Meeting workers at a Scottish Ambulance Service hub in Edinburgh In Person 7/12/2020 Visit to Holy Trinity First School in Berwick-upon-Tweed In Person 7/12/2020 Visit to Batley Community Centre in West Yorkshire In Person 7/12/2020 Visit to FareShare in Manchester In Person 8/12/2020 Visit to Cardiff Castle In Person 8/12/2020 Visit to Cleeve Court Residential Care in Bath In Person 8/12/2020 Meet with staff at Royal Berkshire Hospital In Person 8/12/2020 Thanking keyworkers at Windsor Castle In Person 11/12/2020 Special Pantomime Performance in London In Person TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS: 68 VIRTUAL: 20

DUCHESS OF CORNWALL'S ENGAGEMENTS THROUGHOUT 2020 Date Engagement Attended 15th January Reception for Mountain Rescue Teams In Person 20th January Visit to Prospect Hospice, Dumfries In person 21st January Royal Trinity Hospice reception In Person 22nd January Day of engagements in West Midlands In Person 5th February Trauma Informed Growth and Empowered Recovery Service In Person 6th February Visit to HM Prison Downview and Maggie's Centre In Person 11th February Visit to Leicester General Hospital In Person 12th February Reception for SafeLives In Person 13th February Visit to Tower of London In Person 18th February Reception for Women in Science In Person 5th March Visit to Bousfield Primary School In Person 6th March Women of the World Festival keynote speech In Person 9th March Reception given by the Commonwealth Secretary-General In Person 11th March Cheltenham Festival In person 6th April Launch of Volunteer Responders "check in and chat" service By phone 8th May Two minutes silence for VE Day anniversary In person 12th June BBC Radio 2's 500 Words Final By phone 16th June Visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital In person 18th June Events marking 80th Anniversary of the formation of the French Resistanc In person 1st July Meeting with President of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, In person 6th July Visit to Swindon In person 7th July Guest editor on BBC Radio 5 Live's the Emma Barnett Show, In person 9th July Visit to Bristol In person 13th July Elephant Family charity meeting By phone 14th July Oxenwood Outdoor Education Centre In person 20th July Cornwall Air Ambulance HQ visit In person 21st July Visit to Cornwall In person 22nd July Visit to Cornwall In person 28th July National Gallery Visit In Person 15th August Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum In Person 8th September Medical Detection Dogs In Person 10th September HMS ASTUTE at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde In person 25th September Meeting with the Very Reverend Professor Sir Iain Torrance By Phone 7th October Visit to Maggie's Barts In Person 12th October Medical Detection Dogs meeting By phone 12th October Visit to Wiltshire Council offices In Person 14th October Received Barnardo's Young Carers In Person 21st October Visit to PepperPot Centre In Person 22nd October 'Tank Tea' with Royal Lancers members and veterans Video link 26th October Visit to Westonbirt, the National Arboretum In Person 4th November Meeting to mark National Meals on Wheels Week. Video link 8th November Remembrance Day commemorations In person 14th November Visit to Germany In person 15th November Visit to Germany In person 18th November Meeting with Emmaus Brighton and Hove Video link 2nd December Visit to National Gallery In person 3rd December Visit to 100 Club and Soho Theatre In person TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS: 47. VIRTUAL: 7

The Countess of Wessex meeting students on a visit to a secondary school on the final day of her Sierra Leone tour in January 2020

SOPHIE WESSEX'S ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS THROUGHOUT 2020 Date Engagement Attended 7th January Training Session at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre In person 15th January Dinner for The Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust In person 23rd January Visit to Russel Technical Secondary School in Sierra Leone In person 23rd January Visited Aberdeen Women's Centre in Freetown In person 23rd January Visited Freetown Commonwealth Cemetery In person 14th February Visit to Initiative for Munich Girls 38 Jahnstrae In person 14th February Attended lunch with Consul-General for Munich In person 14th February Fifty Sixth Munich Security Conference In person 26th February Held Reception for Vision for the Commonwealth In person 27th February Opened London ballet studio at held reception In person 27th February Held meeting with St. John Ambulance In person 27th February Attended film premiere of 'Sulphur and White' at Curzon In person 3rd March Attended meetings in Republic of South Sudan In person 5th March Visited Juba Diocesan Model Secondary School In person 5th March Lunch with Ambassadors and key UN Partners In person 5th March Dinner with senior women politicians in South Sudan In person 10th March Visited the Heritage Centre in Churchend In person 10th March Visited the Company Shed and West Mersea Yacht Club In person 10th March Visited Wilkin and Sons Limited factory In person 17th March Held meeting for Defence Medical Welfare Service In person 26th March Meeting with Cherie Blair for Vision Foundation Via video 27th March Meeting with the Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Via phone 30th March Meeting with Women in Business Committee Via phone 2nd April Conference Meeting with International Civil Society Action Network Via video 2nd April Spoke with National Autistic Society for World Autism Awareness Week Via video 16th April Meeting for Women's Alliance for Security Leadership Via phone 20th April Women in Business Committee meeting Via video 21st April Held meeting for Thames Valley Air Ambulance Via video 30th April Held a meeting for Scar Free Foundation Via video 6th May Spoke to veterans supported by the Royal British Legion Via video 11th May Conference calls with nurses for International Nurses Day Via video 12th May Meeting with Dr. Denis Mukwege of Panzi Hospital Via phone 14th May Meeting with Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association Via phone 10th June Meeting Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association Via video 16th June Meeting with the Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Via video 16th June Opened series of Women's Network Forum Webinars Via video 17th June Visited Childline Call Centre in London In person 18th June Visited New Forest Fruit Company in Hampshire In person 19th June Meeting with the United Nations initiative Via video 1st July Attended a Meeting with the Reverend Dr. Nadim Nassar Via video 1st July Meeting with beneficiaries of the Vision Foundation Via video 2nd July Chaired meeting with Women's Network Forum Via video 7th July Held meeting with Caring for Life Via video 7th July Launched the Eye Health Awards Via video 8th July Meeting Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative Via video 8th July Visited the Half Moon, Church Road in Surrey In person 8th July Held a meeting with St. John Ambulance Via video 8th July National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children meeting Via video 20th July Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Steering Board Meeting Via video 3rd September Visited the White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire In person 16th September Sat for a live streamed portrait sculpture at London studio In person 17th September Meeting with 100 Women in Finance Via video 20th September Marine Conservation Society's Great British Beach Clean In person 24th September Visited Coverwood Farm and Food Hall at Squires Garden Centre In person 24th September Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association meeting Via video 1st October Visit to Vauxhall City Farm in London In person 4th October Ran part of the virtual 2020 London Marathon Via video 5th October Visited Stepping Stones School in Portsmouth In person 6th October Wilton Park the Elders' Conference Via video 6th October Chartered Management Institute President's Awards In person 7th October Spoke with experts to mark World Sight Day Via video 13th October Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist meeting Via video 13th October Annual General Meeting of the Shire Horse Society Via video 14th October The Queen's Award for Enterprise to Babbasa Via video 14th October Spoke with members of Stand Against Racism and Inequality Via video 14th October Meeting with staff of Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station Via video 14th October Meeting with Women's Network Forum Via video 26th October Delivered a speech to Women Peacebuilders Via video 28th October Virtual visit to Libya to speak with Women Peacebuilders Via video 28th October Virtually toured the United Nations Refugee Agency Via video 28th October Attended a Meeting with United Nations Support Mission in Libya Via video 2nd November Attended a Loss and Hope Service in Westminster Abbey In person 6th November Conference with Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations Via video 9th November Attended a Webinar for Women's Network Forum Via video 10th November Spoke to students and staff at the University of Surrey Via video 11th November Armistice Day Service of Remembrance In person 12th November Meeting with Anthony Mangnall MP Via video 12th November Spoke with business women in Surrey Via video

TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS: 78 VIRTUAL: 45

Charlie Mackesy, author and illustrator of best-seller The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, speaking on a video call to the Duchess of Cornwall to launch her online Reading Room
China's regulators on Thursday announced a policy to tighten regulation for loans to the real estate sector and home mortgage loans to guard against systemic risks and improve the stability of the financial system.

The People's Bank of China and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission will require domestic banks to limit the ratio between their outstanding property loans and total RMB loans.

The two regulators also set ceilings for the ratio of home mortgage loans.

The upper limits are set in five different grades based on factors such as asset sizes and functions of financial institutions.

The caps for large banks are the highest at 40 percent for property loans and 32.5 percent for home mortgage loans, involving lenders such as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the China Construction Bank.

Medium-sized banks, such as China Merchants Bank, will see their ceilings set at 27.5 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

The policy will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021, but will provide a "transition period" of up to four years for those that fail to meet the standards.
The coronavirus pandemic led to a delay in production of a number of shows and movies, whose release dates spilled over to 2021. Fan favourite shows like Stranger Things, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Lucifer, The Handmaid's Tale and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel have all been impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak. Hopefully things will look up in 2021. Here are the movies and shows that were are eagerly waiting for this year.

The White Tiger

The second trailer of The White Tiger has a unique intensity to it, which forces us to take notice of Adarsh Gouravs talent. But its not just the edgy cuts and fast-paced narrative set-up. Theres a definite undertone of being wronged and standing tall against adversaries kind of vibe, so typical of Aravind Adigas stories. Even the presence of stars like Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao couldnt snatch the focus away from a poor mans plight and his unusual ways of dealing with it. Seems like one hell of a film. - Rohit Vats

Laal Singh Chaddha

Aamir Khan brings to Hindi cinema one of the most anticipated remakes from Hollywood-- Forrest Gump-- in Laal Singh Chaddha. Not only is the original hailed as one of the most poignant stories of the modern times, Tom Hanks pulls off the character of a lifetime in it. Will Aamir be able to match up to him? Will he be able to do it better? Everything will be answered when Laal Singh Chaddha hits the screens in December 2021. - Devasheesh Pandey

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

One of the best things about 2021 is that Marvel will finally release the content that was delayed due to the pandemic. This includes a few high-profile series including TFATWS, Wanda-Vision and Loki which will finally do justice to MCU's underrated superheroes. Why I'm looking forward to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, specifically, is because of the real-life chemistry of Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan and how it will translate into their characters who are frenemies. It will also be interesting to see Sam Wilson taking over as the new Captain America and how Bucky Barnes will cope with Steve Rogers' loss. Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie are also very talented actors who put in a lot of effort into their characters. They have also had really low screen-time in the MCU movies, which the series ought to make up for.  Antara Kashyap

Black Widow

Avengers: Endgame did give a satisfying closure but it also left a void for fans craving for more. And thanks to 2020 it has been that way since. The only hope to fill that blank is Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. Being the film that will kick off the next phase of the MCU, there are a lot of surprises in store for sure. It will not only explore the assassin-spy's ambiguous past but will further introduce new supervillains and superheroes that will take the franchise forward. We have already seen Natasha Romanoff going undercover and smacking some hard heads, but with a whole movie dedicated to her, I'm expecting a cinematic experience (in theaters) that'll set a new benchmark for the sci-fi genre, something the Marvel movies are known for. Also, we might see some cameos, fingers crossed.  Vaishali Jain

Money Heist Season 5

After getting away with robbing the Royal Mint of Spain, Professor and his team with some new members  Palermo, Helsinki, Bogota and Julias next target is the Bank of Spain. The robbery planned by Professor with the help of Palmero to save Rio (old member of the team), who got caught when he tried to contact Tokyo (Rios lady love and also an old member of the team). A pregnant inspector Alicia, who was in charge of the case, gets turned in by her bosses to the media for torturing Rio while he was in prison. She then takes the matter in her hand and finally finds Professors operating and hide out place. The Part 3 ends with Alicia and Professors face-off. I am eagerly waiting for the next season after season 4 ended on such a dramatic cliffhanger.  Nilofar Shaikh

Death on the Nile

After impressing us with Murder on the Orient Express, Kenneth Branagh is back as Hercule Poirot in another Agatha Christie murder mystery, Death on the Nile. I am a sucker for period dramas, especially from the 20s and 30s, and absolutely love detective thrillers. But more than anything I am excited about the stellar star cast. We have Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, Game of Thrones Rose Leslie, Call Me by Your Name star Armie Hammer, and our very own Ali Fazal. Of course leading them all is Kenneth Branagh himself, as actor, director and producer. The film was supposed to release in 2020, but has now been pushed to September 2021.  Bohni Bandyopadhyay
Nearly 15 years on his girlfriend finds comfort as his killer is living a life of lies

Nearly 15 years on his girlfriend finds comfort as his killer is living a life of lies

Michael Griffey, 45, was brutally bludgeoned in garage of famil y's own home

The girlfriend of a murdered businessman who was left to decay in his garage after being brutally bashed on New Year's Eve has made a desperate plea for his killer to turn himself in to authorities.

Michael Griffey, 45, was brutally bludgeoned to death in the garage of his family's property in Pakenham, in Melbourne's south-east in 2005.

His body, covered in a tarp and a sheet, was only discovered by his wife Diane and daughter Cassandra four days after he died.

The murder of Michael Griffey (pictured) still remains unsolved nearly 15 years after his death

Michael Griffey's girlfriend at the time of his death, Gillian Goula, is making a desperate plea for the unknown killer to come forward

Fifteen years after his death, Mr Griffey's girlfriend at the time of his death Gillian Goula is making a desperate plea for the killer to come forward.

'It's up to the people who know about it to come forward. Do the right thing. That's what it boils down to,' Ms Goula told the Herald Sun.

The case has been labelled unsolvable but investigators believe people who were close to Mr Griffey have the answers as his mobile, wallet and two pages torn from a diary went missing after his death.

Michael's body had been covered in a tarp and a sheet, and was only discovered by his wife Diane and daughter Cassandra several days later

Diane (pictured outside court in 2006) had charges dropped on Mr Griffey's death

Diane Griffey and the couple's son Kenny were arrested in 2008 in connection to Michael's death, and his teenage daughter Cassandra confessed she was the one who killed her father back in 2007.

Neither of the arrests led to a conviction with all charges dropped and police did not buy Cassandra's story - who was also not charged with her father's death.

Kenny has also publicly denied having any involvement with his dad's death.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Diane, Kenny or Cassandra played any part in Mr Griffey's death.

Nearly a decade on, Ms Gould still hopes justice will be served for her partner of five years.

Ms Gould said although the unknown killer has got away with murder, they would have the burden of dealing with their demons for the rest of their lives.

The couple's son Kenny (pictured left and right leaving Melbourne's Magistrates court in 2006) was also arrested but was released without charge. He has publicly denied having any involvement with his dad's death

Michael's teen daughter Cassandra (pictured) would later confess that she was responsible for her dad's death - but police did not buy her story

'What helps me is that the person involved has to live with their lies, knowing what's happened,' Ms Gould said.

Victoria Police said the murder of Michael Griffey 'remains ongoing' and any new information would be reviewed.

'As with many incidents of this nature, over time circumstances may change and someone with information about Michael's death may now be in a position to come forward,' a statement said.

Anyone with information on the murder of Mr Griffey is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
(Newser)  Dick Thornburgh, who as Pennsylvania governor won plaudits for his cool handling of the 1979 Three Mile Island crisis and as US attorney general restored credibility to a Justice Department hurt by the Iran-Contra scandal, has died. He was 88. Thornburgh died Thursday at a retirement community outside Pittsburgh, his son David said. The cause is not yet known. He suffered a mild stroke in June 2014, the AP reports. Thornburgh built his reputation as a crime-busting prosecutor in Pittsburgh and as a moderate Republican governor. As the nation's top law enforcement official, he prosecuted the savings and loan scandal. He also shepherded the Americans with Disabilities Act, forging compromises with Congress; one of his sons had been severely brain damaged in an auto accident. After leaving public office, Thornburgh became a troubleshooter who helped CBS investigate its news practices, dissected illegalities at telecommunications company WorldCom, and tried to improve the United Nations' efficiency.

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President Ronald Reagan appointed Thornburgh attorney general in the waning months of his administration. Thornburgh succeeded Edwin Meese III, who was investigated for possible ethics violations, and his appointment in 1988 was hailed on Capitol Hill as an opportunity to restore the department's morale and image. He stayed on when George HW Bush became president. Thornburgh ran into trouble with the press and members of Congress put off by his imperious manner. Still, he won unprecedented increases from Congress in the Justice Department's budget to fight crime. As Pennsylvania governor, Thornburgh faced the worst nuclear accident in US history when an equipment failure at the Three Mile Island power plant turned into a partial meltdown, which released radioactive elements. Thornburgh agonized over whether to order an evacuation of the area around the plant. He eventually ordered pregnant women and young children to leave an area five miles around the plant, which caused thousands of others near Harrisburg to flee. His cool handling of the 10-day crisis was credited with averting panic.

(Read more obituary stories.)
From the top of the Mississippi River levee, the bright orange of hundreds of satsumas and navels stands out against the green leaves of the citrus trees that crisscross Joseph Ranatza Jr.'s property in neat rows.

Ranatza was raised in this orchard, an upbringing he passed on to his children, and he never tires of its sweet bounty.

Clipping a ripe satsuma from one of his trees on a chilly December afternoon, he smiled and said, "You can't come out here without eating."

Over time, Ranatza's citrus orchards in Plaquemines Parish have grown to 100 acres, more than triple the 30 acres passed down by his father. But his gains are a reflection of an industry that has contracted and consolidated over several challenging decades, a period that has seen Louisianas unofficial citrus capital plagued by an array of diseases, pests, freezes, hurricanes and land loss, each compounding on the other's impact.

Ironically, perhaps, the qualities that once made Plaquemines Parish so attractive for citrus farmers -- its southerly latitude and nearness to warm Gulf waters, which made it Louisianas most temperate growing area -- have increasingly made it more vulnerable to coastal erosion and hurricanes. Meanwhile, as global temperatures rise, a greater swath of south Louisiana is now in an area where citrus trees are at less risk from cold.

This year delivered yet another blow to Plaquemines orchards. Hurricane Zeta  the final storm to make landfall in Louisiana during a record-breaking hurricane season  caused growers in the area to lose 75-90% of their crop, knocking the heavy, ripe fruits off their branches and rendering them unsellable.

These days, Ranatza's farm, with plots of different sizes scattered along La. 23, is among the largest in the parish, as more and more families move away from the industry.

"As the farmers pass on, the next generation puts it up for sale," he said.

The farming of citrus in Plaquemines Parish began around the time New Orleans was founded, and its original center of gravity was further south, in the lower part of the parish, then more robust. In 1712, a Jesuit missionary is said to have planted the first local citrus tree, near Phoenix, about 35 miles south of the city.

Ben Becnel, Sr., 78, a fifth-generation farmer who manages 40 acres of citrus trees around Belle Chasse, recalled when most citrus production took place closer to Pointe a la Hache and Port Sulphur, where the industry first took hold in 1800.

"They had a little bit here, Becnel said of the upriver part of the parish. But they had orchards down there with 20, 30,000 trees in an orchard. They had trees as tall as this building. You had to get an extension ladder to go up there."

Citrus farming grew steadily as the metropolitan area blossomed. At its peak, in 1946, Louisiana's prized citrus industry produced 410,000 boxes of fruit, more than double the amount produced today.

Even in those years, Louisiana growers  like all farmers  faced challenges, mostly weather-related. There were periodic harsh freezes in the mid- to late-1900s, and 1965s Hurricane Betsy did catastrophic damage to orchards.

But citrus growers refused to quit, replanting with financial help from the government. The industry saw a steady increase throughout the 1990s until Hurricane Katrina in 2005 dealt another massive blow to Plaquemines' orchards. The road back since then has been tough.

"Citrus growers have had a hard time the last 10 to 12 years  really since Katrina," said Blaise Pezold, who manages the St. Bernard Parish-based Meraux Foundation's coastal and environmental program. "Especially in Plaquemines, the whole landscape of citrus has completely changed."

Katrina left only 20% of Plaquemines' trees undamaged. The storm also played a role in bringing the Asian citrus psyllid to Louisiana, an invasive insect that feeds on the fruits' stems and leaves and spreads an incurable plant disease.

Louisiana State University AgCenter agent Dr. Joe Willis said hurricanes can create "a double whammy" for that reason. There's the wind and water, of course, but "diseases and insects move that way, too."

"Sometimes you dont know until a year later, whenever the number of the insect or diseased tree population has risen enough to be noticed, you can backtrack and see that it probably came in during one of the hurricanes," he said.

Katrinas devastation slashed the acreage used for citrus in Plaquemines by more than half: Orchards shrunk from 1,075 acres to 490 in 2006, according to the Louisiana State University AgSummary. About 20% of the lost acreage had been replanted by 2018, but the number of growers has continued its steep decline. Where there were 600 growers in Plaquemines before Katrina, the 2018 report counted only 179.

The parish still accounts for more than two-thirds of Louisianas annual citrus crop valued at about $9.6 million, officials say.

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The trend toward consolidation has continued in the last couple of years, LSU AgCenter horticultural agent Anna Timmerman said; she believes the number of growers may have now dropped below 100. And the average citrus grower is in their mid-70s, so Timmerman thinks the number is likely to continue to plummet.

"At this point, Ive tracked down just about everybody thats commercial, and what's sad is when I send mailings out, a lot of them get returned or I'll get a note from their widow or their kid saying they passed or they've sold out," she said.

Along with storm damage and the threat of new pests, land subsidence  the slow sinking of the land  has also taken a toll on Plaquemines' citrus groves. As the land sinks, it allows saltier water to intrude on the trees root systems. That intrusion delivers a one-two punch: the salt poisons the trees, and too much water rots the roots beneath the surface.

Over time, trees toward the rear of farmers' properties begin to take on too much water, and that water creeps toward the front, where the ground is highest. Growers like Ranatza have dug ditches in an effort to draw the water away from his trees and drain the land.

"Once the saltwater gets into the groundwater you can't grow," she said. "Where the land declines to the marsh, thats slowly coming in."

In 1947, a year after the industry reached its pinnacle, locals held the inaugural Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival, which became a beloved annual celebration commemorating the start of harvest season and hosted inside Buras' historic Fort Jackson. One of the oldest festivals in the state, it served to strengthen the parish's bond to its natural bounty. Each year, the parish crowns an Orange King and an Orange Queen.

But this year, because of the pandemic, organizers had to cancel the December celebration for the first time since 1969.

Though attendance at the festival has been waning and the industry has been contracting, Plaquemines Parish native and Orange Festival President Kim Turlich-Vaughn can't see the region's support for its growers or the festival itself changing. It's too deeply ingrained in Plaquemines' identity, she said.

The festival offers residents "a sense of family," and gives people who have moved out of the parish a chance to reconnect with their roots, said Turlich-Vaughn, who has been involved with the festival since 1985.

"We have Orange Kings that have sons that are kings, Orange Queens whose daughters become Orange Queens," she said, then chuckled. "Once its in your blood, you just think orange all the time."

The future of Louisiana's citrus industry may rely on growing fruit in a more controlled environment to remove some of its dependence on any benevolence from Mother Nature.

Louisiana citrus research has been in limbo since the destruction, shortly after Katrina, of the old Plaquemines-based research station. More than a decade later, the LSU AgCenter has partnered with the Meraux Foundation to erect a , state-of-the-art, $150,000 research facility and pay researchers to study raising the sweet fruit in a pot and under a screen through a $320,000 endowment.

"Growing in the containers, its so much easier to manage your crop. You can control anything from the fragility of the soils, its easier to harvest; it just seems a lot more manageable," said Timmerman.

Similar solutions are being tested in Florida, where some citrus farms are growing trees under a protective screen to avoid contamination from pests or diseases. LSU AgCenter researchers will look into using similar tactics in Louisiana, aiming to craft a how-to guide to help anyone from a backyard hobbyist to commercial growers.

"It doesnt matter if they're an urban grower on a city lot; theyll be able to do it. It's just easy with a small space or if they want to do acres of this," said Timmerman. "In Florida, you'll see this, but it's on 40 acres, so its scalable."

Metal frames being built on the foundation's Docville Farm in Violet will be built to withstand 130 mph winds. And if the cover blows off, it's just a matter of stretching it back over the frame. Combined with growing in pots, the controlled environment attempts to reduce, if not remove, the threats that have damaged the industry.

If demand increases, Willis said, the cost of building such facilities should come down. But, for now, Ranatza said the method is too expensive for him to pursue.

But with more intense hurricanes on the horizon and the steady erosion of Louisiana's coast, Timmerman said, "We cant keep doing what everyones been used to doing, because it doesnt work any more."

"Things are a lot less predictable," she added. "Climate change is real. This is where things are going worldwide."
All that remains of Shareef-Ud-Din Bajads apple orchard are the snapped branches, buried deep in the winter snow.

In mid-November, officials from the local forest department in Kashmir surrounded the mountaintop mud-house in the village of Kanidajan where Mr Bajad (70) had lived his entire life. The officials threatened me and my family with jail if I didnt leave my house. They told me I had encroached upon forest land, said Mr Bajad, who lived there with his wife and six children.

Mr Bajad and his family are gujjars, a nomadic tribe whose members have herded their livestock between Kashmirs mountainous forests and its lowland plains for generations.

However, the survival of Kashmirs 1.4 million tribal people, who constitute 12pc of the regions total population, is in jeopardy. Since November, dozens have been forced to leave their homes in an Indian government-led eviction campaign, after a court ruled 64,000 mostly Muslim tribal people had been living in Jammu and Kashmirs forests illegally.

The family was forced to immediately leave their home despite below-freezing temperatures. When Mr Bajads son returned to their property two days later, he found the authorities had chopped down around 10,000 apple trees, the main source of income for Mr Bajads family and those in his village. They want to make sure that our livelihood is destroyed. Otherwise, instead of axing the trees, they could have fenced it and taken it to their possession, Mr Bajad said. Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has implemented a succession of anti-Muslim policies since Narendra Modi, its prime minister, was re-elected with a landslide victory in 2019.

In August 2019, the BJP removed Jammu and Kashmirs autonomous status, bringing Hindu Indias only Muslim-majority state under direct rule from New Delhi.

Activists say the evictions are the latest attempt by the BJP to erode civil liberties and curtail the income of its largely Muslim residents. After Jammu and Kashmir was brought under central rule, tribal people like the gujjar should have been afforded protection under Indias Forest Rights Act. The ongoing evictions in Jammu and Kashmir are, therefore, totally illegal according to Prashant Bhushan, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India.

With many of Kashmirs lawyers and civil society activists languishing in jails without charge, no legal challenge has been launched. A BJP party figure said it had not intentionally destroyed homes or seized land from Kashmiri tribal people.

If the government doesnt come to our rescue, I will burn myself to death, Mr Bajad said.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is seen in Washington during a hearing on Dec. 10, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Pool/Getty Images)

Senate Vote on $2,000 Stimulus Check Bill Blocked by Sen. Thune

The bill that would increase stimulus checks to $2,000 for most Americans was blocked from a vote on Friday by a top Republican senator.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) blocked a request from Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to have the body vote on the CASH Act, which the House of Representatives passed last month.

The newly signed COVID-19 relief package includes $600 checks but President Donald Trump and Democrats want to up that amount to $2,000.

Republicans largely oppose the measure, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who thrice this week blocked unanimous consent requests to pass the bill.

Thune, the No. 2 GOP senator, noted that the relief package passed with overwhelming bipartisan support but said the problem with the CASH Act is it is not targeted to help whose who are most in need.

As others here on the floor have noted, the bill would provide a payment to a family of five making up to $350,000. A family of five making $250,000 would receive a $5,000 benefit. Now, just to put that in perspective, Mr. President, thats more than was paid to a middle-class family of five under the CARES Act that we passed back in March, Thune said.

In addition, the bill would add an additional $463 billion, nearly half a trillion dollars, to the annual debt.

McConnell made a similar argument Thursday, deriding the proposal to increase payments as socialism for rich people.

Senate Minority Leader Schumer told Thune that, given the state of the economy, the increased payments are needed.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a self-described socialist who caucuses with Democrats, then said senators were in session on New Years Day because back home in my state and all over this country, millions and millions of families are struggling to put food on the table, they are struggling to pay their rent, they are struggling to come up with the money they need to go to the doctor.

McConnell has introduced a counterproposal that combines the $2,000 checks with other measures, but those measures dont have support from Democrats.
The traditional New Years Day Mummers Parade in Philadelphia has been canceled due to the coronavirus, but that hasnt stopped a crowd from showing up, anyway.

The crowd started arriving this morning, parading around Philadelphia, Action News 6 ABC is reporting.

Though the parade had been canceled by the city, reports indicate a Facebook page with two anonymous hosts declared the Mummers New Years Day protest against Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.

Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association President Sam Regalbuto told 6 ABC nothing was organized, and this is not an official event.

As a person who has been affected by COVID directly, we urge people to please stay home and be safe with their families, he told the 6 ABC.

But many still attended todays parade, marching in crazy costumes, many without face masks, NBC 10 is reporting.

Some Mummers called for their counterparts to abide by the citys parade cancelation, but that did not stop a handful of them from flouting the rules, and one of them held a sign that read, Tradition, not tyranny, reports indicate.

The mayors office said the city will not break up the unofficial event, but if public safety is threatened, police will intervene, according to reports.
The number of homicides in the city of Birmingham and throughout Jefferson County jumped in 2020, with the city seeing the highest number of killings in 25 years.

Birmingham ended the year with 122 homicides. Of those, 15 were deemed justifiable and one accidental and therefore are not deemed criminal. The department only has to submit criminal homicides  106  to the FBI for its year-end tally.

In a city with a population estimated at roughly 209,000, that was almost six murders per every 10,000 residents.

2020 was a very difficult year. We were not only hit by a global pandemic, financial woes and civil unrest following the death of George Floyd,' said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. Theres a fourth crisis that existed in our community in 2020 and thats gun violence.

In all of Jefferson County, there were 183 homicides.

Those slayings took place in 14 cities  Birmingham, Bessemer, Leeds, Warrior, Vestavia, Brighton, Fairfield, Hoover, Irondale, Trussville, Midfield, Hueytown and Adamsville, as well as unincorporated parts of the county.

The Jefferson County sheriffs office, which is tasked with investigating homicides in Fairfield and Brighton, worked 17 killings in the unincorporated area, down from 20 in 2019. The state investigated one, which happened on Interstate 59/20 in Jefferson County.

Bessemer investigated 18 homicides in 2020, up from 13 in 2019 and just eight in 2018.

The 122 homicides in Birmingham rose from 106 in 2019 and 12 of those were ruled justifiable. Countywide, there were 171 last year. AL.com does not include traffic fatalities that yielded criminal charges in its year-end analysis of homicides.

The highest number of Birmingham homicides in recent memory was 141 in 1991. The lowest ever recorded was 56 in 1966.

Gun violence is not limited only to homicidesbut still people lost their lives to gunfire this year. Some of those deaths were the result of some very high-risk behavior such as flashing money on social media, selling and buying drugs, fighting over drugs, gambling,' the mayor said. A majority of these killings happen when the person knew the assailant. These were not strangers.

Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said crime across the board dropped in the city in 2020. Total violent crime was down 20 percent, rapes down 45 percent, robberies down 37 percent and property crimes down 26 percent.

The one area where we have shown an increase is our murders,' Smith said. Crime doesnt simply fall at the doorstep of the police department only. This is a violation of our communities and we need the community involvement significantly to show some reduction in this area.

You know as a community member well ahead of time before this department does whats going on in your community,' the chief said. We cannot do this alone. We need your voice. We need your action, and we need your vigilance in your own community. This is how you can help us.

The first Birmingham homicide of 2020 happened five days into the new year when 32-year-old Stacey Flournoy was found shot on the front porch of a home on 39th Court.

The most recent homicide of 2020 happened Monday, Dec. 28, when 50-year-old Lashawn Parris was found slain inside her north Birmingham apartment. Authorities said they believe she was killed in a domestic incident, but no arrests have been announced.

The deadliest month in Birmingham this year was July when 13 people were murdered. The other monthly breakdowns are: April, 12; September, 11; November, 10; August and December, 9; January, March and October, 8; June, 7; May, 6 and February, 5.

According to statistics released by the department, 87 of the victims were Black males, nine were Black females, five were white females, one was a Hispanic male, and one other was undetermined. In the cases where the suspect is known, 63 involved a Black suspect and Black victim.

Domestic incidents accounted for 12 of the murders, and fights led to 18. The department lists the motive for eight of the killings as revenge, and drugs in two of the slayings. The motive is not known in the majority of cases.

Statistics show 27 murders happened inside of a home, 27 outside of a home and 22 in a vehicle. There were nine killings in parking lots, and two at convenience stores.

Of the 106 criminal murders, 59 of them remain unsolved. The mayor said fear of retaliation, a no-snitch culture and the desire for street justice leads to those killings remaining unsolved. Our hearts go out to the families, but the truth is our families deserve more than our hearts and prayers,' Woodfin said. They deserve justice.

Theres been a lot of debate in the community in 2020 about police use of more technology,' Woodfin said. The community cant have it both ways. We cant embrace the no-snitching culture, the street justice culture and at the same time jump up and down and be mad every time the city wants to invest in more technology. The technology is not only about prevention but it is equally important to solving crime because we are responsible for bring some form of justice to these victims and their families.

Birmingham and Jefferson County are not alone with the spike in murders. This year, 51 cities of various sizes across the U.S. saw an average 35 percent jump in murder from 2019 to 2020.

The homicide rate nationwide in 2020 now exceeds the rates of the late 80s and 90s, before the big drop, said Richard Rosenfeld, lead author of the report Pandemic, Social Unrest and Crime in US Cities. This round of crime increase is unprecedented.

Woodfin said he has spoken with mayors of other Alabama cities about the rise in murders when other crime categories have dropped. Montgomery, for example, had 42 homicides in 2019 and as of Thursday, stood at 68.

I think part of it is where we are as a country and a community, the prevalence of guns, the easy access to guns,' Woodfin said. The most unfortunate part is its the way people solve their conflict instead of fighting or going about their conflict in other ways.

Its just an unfortunate situation were in, not only as a community but its happening across the country,' Woodfin said. Locally, though, what we have to do is continue to partner with the existing organizations are already offering conflict resolution to our young people, continuing to invest in preventative and reentry initiatives to make sure people know there are other options outside of picking up a gun.

The other thing is, if Im honest, the reckless disregard for life is at an all-time high and that is not a policing issue,' the mayor said. We need family, we need churchwe need everyone to really think about the long haul here of over-investing in our young people and teaching them the value of life and giving hope to our young people. If we continue to do those things, we can cut into this trend, but this is an unfortunate trend not only in Birmingham but across America in urban cores.

Chief Smith said the police department has worked diligently throughout the year to reduce crime. Officers answered 638,455 calls to 911 and were dispatched on 493,246 of those. They also confiscated 2,541 guns, more than in the past several years combined.

Already, investigators and supervisors hold daily crime briefings, and 72-hour briefings for homicides.

In 2021, he said, there will be more strategy meetings and newer model of Comstat  which looks at specific crimes and specific areas.

Birmingham police are implementing a new pilot program that will pair social workers with beat officers who respond to repeat domestic violence situations and they will move the tactical officers into the investigative bureaus so that the citywide task force and the Crime Reduction Team receive immediate information on wanted individuals to provide faster follow up and apprehension.

Smith said they will push forward for more community engagement and will focus on increased training for detectives.

The chief said he expects technology to play an even more important role especially as the department moves forward with the Real Time Crime Center.

My goal as chief of police has always been to reduce crime in this city, promote cohesiveness within the community and the department and place the right people in the right seats in the department so that were addressing crime in a timely manner when it occurs and that were doing everything we can to address community needs and also reduce crime as a whole,' Smith said.

But I cant do this alone. The officers cant do this alone,' he said. We need your help. We need your voice and we need your actions. This isnt the time to sit with your hands in your lap.

Heres a year-by-year look at Birmingham homicides over the last 25 years:
The department released few other details about the shooting. At the scene, Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern told reporters that officials would not be speaking to the media, as detectives were still gathering information about the incident. Instead, officials released a written statement.
Four-and-a-half years after a British referendum on membership in the European Union (EU), Brexit is finally reality after Britain left the single market at the stroke of midnight CET (2300 GMT) on New Years Eve.

Never before had an EU member state filed for divorce.

The separation took years of messy negotiations before finally, at the last moment, a breakthrough trade deal worth 660 billion pounds (900 billion dollars) was struck on Christmas Eve.

Writing in the Telegraph newspaper on Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson described it as a big win for both sides of the Channel.

For us, it means the end of the rancorous bickering about Europe that has bedevilled our politics for so long, he said.

It means the end of that uneasy feeling that we were constantly being asked to sign up for the details of a project  a giant federal fusion of states  in which we didnt really believe and hadnt really bargained for.

But he added that the new deal does not mean Britons will be less European, echoing comments his father, Stanley, gave to a French radio station on New Years Eve.

On the contrary, we will remain the second-biggest contributor to NATO  with our armed services fortified in the recent spending review with the biggest-ever uplift since the Cold War, he added.

The pact averts tariffs and quotas on goods, sparing businesses on both sides seismic upheaval.

As of New Years Day, the two closely intertwined partners began a new era in their relations of much looser cooperation, governed mainly by the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Freedom of movement to live and work has ended, though short-term travel stays largely visa-free.

Goods will be more heavily controlled, both at British-EU frontiers and within Britain  at the Irish sea border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Businesses on both sides now have to jump through hoops to prove they qualify for tariff exemption. Moreover, key decisions are still to be made deciding the fate of many service sector companies.

However, the much-feared backlogs of goods at borders due to increased red tape was not immediately visible. Early January is a typically slow moment for freight.

Over in Folkestone, in the south-eastern county of Kent, Slavi Ivanov Shumeykov was the first driver through the Eurotunnel just after 11 pm on Thursday, the Press Association said.

John Keefe, the spokesperson for the tunnels operator, told dpa that Shumeykov was so thrilled to be the first driver through the tunnel.

He was returning to Belgium after making a delivery to the UK, he said.

Speaking about the traffic this morning, Keefe added it had been very light overnight and on Friday.

Our customers predicted all the stockpiling before Christmas in preparation for the end of the transition, traffic would be light for the first weeks of January, he told dpa.

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The new barcode scanning and numberplate recognition systems [installed for Brexit] showed that they dont add any time to the journey for a truck through the Channel tunnel.

A last-minute deal between Spain and Britain struck on Thursday also allows for continued free movement between Gibraltar and Spain.

As the first day of the new year progressed, the blocked roads and delays to international transport many had feared also failed to materialize in northern France.

A spokesperson for the department there told dpa that traffic was flowing smoothly across the channel. French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune said things were running as well as possible, in comments to French news agency AFP.

The first ferry carrying lorries reached Calais from Britain on Friday morning, and only three of the 36 were subject to additional checks.

Calais port chief Jean-Marc Puissesseau told dpa before the turn of the year that traffic should run almost as normal, if customs declarations were complete. Otherwise, additional checks would be carried out if companies failed to complete the paperwork, he said.

(dpa/NAN)
In 2021, it is likely that the thought process on  future after human life  would receive much attention , which would be the ultimate contribution of COVID 19.

by N.S.Venkataraman

It is reported that in a normal year, around 55 million people die in the world.

It is now reported that in the year 2020, around 1.8 million people have died in the world due to COVID 19 alone.

This means that compared to the normal year , around 3.3 % of people have died due to COVID 19 in 2020. Amongst the people who died due to COVID 19, a very significant percentage of the people were elderly citizens, many of whom could have been suffering from age related diseases or what is known as morbidity conditions. In other words, it is possible that amongst the people who lost their lives due to COVID in 2020 , more than 50% of them could have died even otherwise due to frail physical conditions.

These figures are indicated not to belittle the harm done to world health by COVID 19, but only to point out the way that it would influence the thought process of the people in 2021, with significant impact in the psychic conditions of men and women in all age groups all over the world.

In normal times , when some near and dear ones die, people would feel sad and depressed for some time and then resume their normal activities , though in most cases , the thoughts of the dear and near ones would stay in the mind during the rest of their lives. But, generally, it does not impact the lifestyle of the surviving people in most cases. But, the deaths due to COVID 19 are likely to provoke different kinds of thoughts amongst people in the year 2021.

During 2020 , everyone was afraid whether they could also be victims of COVID 19. When some unknown person dies due to COVID 19 at a distant place and the news is read in the media , people shivered whether they too could be near such a tragedy anytime soon.

In 2021, the next thought that would come is the realization gaining uppermost in the mind of people that death is inevitable and is a law of nature, that would make one wonder where one would go after death and where they came from into the world. The conscience of birth and death is likely to occur too frequently in the thought process of people after the year 2020, as people have experienced the death warnings almost every day due to COVID 19 crisis.

Whether one would admit it or not , in the year 2021, people would start searching for answers about the origin and end of life , more than ever before in the recent history of mankind. Inevitably, people would seek explanation from the religious scriptures and the so called philosophers and claimed spiritual teachers.

Does anyone really know and does any religion convincingly explain the concept of death and birth? Such lack of clarity would create a sense of discomfort and restlessness amongst the cross section of people.

It appears that most of the religions and spiritual teachers explain the events of birth and death ,with the explanation that nothing could be created without a creator and therefore , there should be God, overseeing birth, death and world activities. Consequently, people hear stories about miracles , life after death etc. without really knowing what it is all about.

All religions and spiritual teachers and philosophers simply say that one should not question this concept of God and the religion advises people to simply accept the concept and further conveniently say that the human mind is incapable of thinking beyond this. Thus, come the advocacies towards meditation, prayer, devotion etc. etc.

In 2021, it is likely that the thought process on  future after human life  would receive much attention , which would be the ultimate contribution of COVID 19.

It is more than likely that with the development of vaccines, researchers would come out with medical treatment to safeguard the health of the people. The fear of COVID 19 will go away slowly and steadily in 2021 due to the efforts of the medical researchers.

COVID 19 will gradually become a distant memory , but the fear of death that it created in every individual would take a long time to recede away and the introspection of future course after death would persist.

While everyone look forward to 2021 with hope of a better year , certainly a better time will emerge in 2021. With the onset of year 2021, a more matured mindset towards the concept of life and its purpose and uncertainties amongst individuals may also happen.
SALEM, Ore.  Hundreds of protesters rallied at the Capitol Friday afternoon to demand that COVID-19 restrictions be dropped.

The event was peaceful, though some protesters left the Capitol grounds and marched to Gov. Kate Brown's residence, which Salem Police said was an unlawful march.

"Today we are out here just in support of our state to open up," Janira Brannigan said. "We want to encourage folks to stand up for their freedom. We've complied for way too long, and it's time we start saving lives by opening up our state."

The rally was organized in part by Oregon Women for Trump. Participants maintained it is not a political issue.

Speakers included self-described preachers and a former state representative.

Later in the evening, Salem police made several arrests after the protesters encountered a group of separate protesters from another rally earlier in the day.

31-year-old Robert Davis of Springfield was arrested and is being charged with disorderly conduct in the second degree.

"Officers continue to deal with aggressive protestors downtown who have used chemical munitions against officers. Officers have NOT used any CS gas; however, numerous arrests related to criminal behavior have occurred," the police department said on Twitter.

Around 6 p.m., police tweeted that the scene was clear.

Brown issued her first Stay Home, Save Lives order on March 23.
New Delhi: A farmer from Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh died near the Ghazipur border on Friday (January 1) while protesting against the newly enacted farm laws by the Centre. The farmer, Galtan Singh (57), was a resident of Bhagwanpur Nagal village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh.

Galtan Singh was rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. Indirapuram DSP Anshu Jain told PTI that as per medical information, the farmer died of a heart attack. The body has been sent to his village.

Commenting on Galtan Singh's death, the state president of the BKU, Rajbir Singh, reportedly said that all those farmers who died during the protest against the farm laws must get the status of a martyr.

Galtan Singh's body was wrapped in a BKU flag, and BKU leader Rakesh Tikait paid homage to him. A tribute was also paid to all farmers who died during the protest on the eve of the New Year. The BKU also took out a candlelight march.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal told IANS, "The farmers have been protesting at the bordering areas of the National Capital since November 26, 2020 and the death toll of farmers has reached 43 since then."

Farmers` protest is going on at Singhu border, Tikri border and Ghazipur border amid severe cold conditions in Delhi and NCR. The next round of talks between the Centre and farmer unions is slated on January 4.
Pawn Stars' Corey Harrison has been accused of trashing a rented RV causing up to $30,000 worth of damage and refusing to pay for the repairs.

The reality TV star, dubbed 'Big Hoss', allegedly rented the huge 37-foot vehicle from owner William Villafana via the rental marketplace RVShare back in October.

Harrison, 37, told Villafana he was planning to use the RV as an office during a three-day trip to California, the outraged owner told DailyMail.com.

Villafana said Harrison instead kept the vehicle for six days and returned it completely wrecked, with both the body of the vehicle damaged and the inside trashed.

Photos show the mess inside the cabin with eggs smashed on the floor and other items strewn around.

Villafana has filed a complaint with the North Las Vegas Police Department as he said the Las Vegas pawn shop owner has refused to fork out for the damages.

'The guy is worth $2.6 million or something like that - just pay for your damage,' Villafana told DailyMail.com, adding 'I just want my RV fixed.'

Pawn Stars' Corey Harrison (pictured) has been accused of trashing a rented RV causing up to $30,000 worth of damage and refusing to pay for the repairs

The reality TV star, dubbed 'Big Hoss', allegedly rented the huge 37-foot vehicle from owner William Villafana via the rental marketplace RVShare back in October. Pictured the exterior damage

Photos show the mess inside the cabin with and eggs smashed on the floor

Villafana said he was contacted by RVShare that someone called Richard Harrison wanted to booked the RV for three days from October 20.

The booking said Harrison wanted to use it as an office and wanted it delivered to his home.

Villafana said he didn't realize the renter was the Pawn Stars personality until he dropped the vehicle off on October 20.

'When I delivered it I realized it was Corey,' he said.

Villafana said the reality star was 'nice' when he met him and he went into his home for them both to sign the rental agreement documents.

A photo of the form reveals that in the space where the renter can detail any pre-existing damage before they take the vehicle away, Harrison has written 'don't be a d**k'.

Villafana said he left him the keys expecting the RV to be returned to him as arranged three days later.

But, October 23 came and went without the vehicle's return and Villafana said he received a message from Harrison's assistant saying they wouldn't be back in time and were still in California.

Villafana said he then spoke with the assistant via text message again the following day and she told him his RV had been in an accident involving an ATV.

The owner said he 'didn't want to come down hard on them' and was concerned if they were okay.

Villafana said he was told him they would tow the RV back from California.

'The guy is worth $2.6 million or something like that - just pay for your damage,' Villafana told DailyMail.com, adding 'I just want my RV fixed.' Pictured some exterior damage

An estimate to repair the damage on the body of the RV put the cost at $8,000

Villafana said he went into Harrison's home for them both to sign the rental agreement documents. A photo of the form reveals that in the space where the renter can detail any pre-existing damage before they take the vehicle away, Harrison has written 'don't be a d**k'

He said he didn't hear anything further until late on October 25 when he heard via the rental platform that it had been left at the storage facility where he keeps it.

He said he went to see it first thing in the morning of October 26 and discovered it had been completely trashed.

Images of the exterior show the RV body ripped up.

'There's a big gash at the rear of the body, various scratches... the awning was missing... the slides that make the RV wider those are destroyed,' he said.

Inside the RV, the contents of the fridge are pictured tipped on the floor, with eggs smashed, vodka bottles littering the area and sand everywhere.

'It looks to me like they left it in a sandstorm as I've never seen so much sand,' said Villafana.

'It looks like they vandalized it.'

Wires appear to have been pulled out in places and dirty towels are also dumped on the ground.

The steps leading into the vehicle are also heavily marked.

The frustrated owner estimated there was between $20,000 and $30,000 worth of damage.

The frustrated owner estimated there was between $20,000 and $30,000 worth of damage

'It looks to me like they left it in a sandstorm as I've never seen so much sand,' said Villafana. 'It looks like they vandalized it'

He said he was forced to cancel 10 reservations with other people looking to hire the RV due to both the late return and the damage. Harrison is now allegedly refusing to pay for the repairs

He said he got an $8,000 estimate for the body repair and a new awning would cost $7,000 then there are other costs such as cleaning not to mention loss of business from other bookings.

He said he was forced to cancel 10 reservations with other people looking to hire the RV due to the damage.

Harrison is now refusing to pay for the repairs and it was not covered by the insurance on RVShare, according to Villafana.

He said this is because the company said coverage only went up to October 23 when the original booking ended and because 'Corey denies he damaged it.'

Two months on, Villafana said all he has received so far is $1,200 for the awning because Harrison admitted he damaged it.

But the owner said the awning was missing and a new one will cost $7,000.

Villafana told DailyMail.com the timing of the saga had been especially difficult for him and his family as they were relying on some income from renting out the RV after their business was 'destroyed by COVID'.

'Our other business was destroyed by COVID so we had this RV which we purchased to rent out,' he said.

'Due to COVID it's mot been rented out as much so basically it just pays for itself.'

He slammed Harrison saying he should 'man up' and pay, adding that he isn't looking for a payout just to have his vehicle back the way it was.

'I just want my RV repaired and then I'll go on my happy way,' he said.

Wires appear to have been pulled out in places and dirty towels are also dumped on the ground

Toilet roll thrown down the toilet and dirty towels scattered on the ground

Villafana told DailyMail.com the timing of the saga had been especially difficult for him and his family as they were relying on some income from renting out the RV after their business was 'destroyed by COVID'

A spokesperson for Harrison told TMZ that the vehicle wasn't driveable after the 'pop outs' broke.

'Corey rented the RV, the pop outs wouldn't go back in and it was not driveable. He had it towed back to Las Vegas and had insurance on it,' they said.

Harrison shot to fame in the popular History channel show Pawn Stars which documents him and his father Rick Harrison working in their Las Vegas pawn shop - World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.

The show is now in its 18th season and fans know Harrison as 'Big Hoss'.


By Benjamin Jumbe

President Museveni has called on all Ugandans to be patriotic and avoid any acts likely to interfere with the forth coming elections.

Delivering his end of year and New Year message, the President said there are some individuals planning to tamper with election results in connivance with some election officials.

Museveni who is also the NRM presidential flag bearer says no one will be allowed to interfere with the will of the people adding that anyone who attempts will be dealt with.

He says he will not allow the affairs of Ugandans to be messed up by such criminals involved.
The regents of the University of California have purchased the San Francisco Art Institutes $19.7 million debt, becoming its landlord and saving the financially faltering school from foreclosure.

The art institute was notified by Boston Private Bank & Trust Co. in July that it was foreclosing on a $19 million loan used to fund construction and operations of the Fort Mason campus because the institute had violated the loans terms of agreement.

The UC Board of Regents intervened in October and was designated as a trustee to art institute properties by Boston Private, according to documents obtained by Mission Local. Another document, signed by UC and art institute officials, states that the regents will serve as the schools landlord.

The lease will expire in October 2023, and the institute will have the option to buy back the property for up to six years, art institute spokeswoman Nina Sazevich said.

SFAI and UC have a more than a century old relationship, Sazevich said in an email Thursday. The two worked together on the recent financial challenges since they had a shared interest in protecting the campus from a predatory bank.

The UC regents and other officials were not available for comment.

According to school officials, the art institute never missed the monthly payment of $100,000 on the mortgage to Boston Private, but it did not have the funds to pay off the annual $3 million line of credit needed to renew the loan. The school had been given 90 days to either raise the money or pay off the loan balance in full.

Institute officials have not decided whether the famed Diego Rivera mural The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City in the schools gallery will be sold or endowed. Sazevich said board members will discuss the issue with the broader institute community.

The school has been scrambling to make ends meet in the wake of its 150th anniversary.

The institute decided in 2020 to focus more on fundraising and less on student tuition to bring money in after a steep decline in enrollment. The school was also in talks to merge with the University of San Francisco, but plans fizzled out once the coronavirus pandemic hit.

In March, it considered canceling the fall 2020 semester and laying off staff and faculty amid financial strains, but was able to continue offering degree programs after an infusion of government pandemic aid, a successful fundraiser and budget cuts.

Like many educational and arts organizations worldwide, SFAI has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sazevich said. The pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of its operations, and the school had to take painful steps to cut costs and preserve resources.

The art school had about 300 students enrolled at the beginning of the year, but most were forced to transfer after it announced plans to close for fall. It was founded in 1871 and is one of the nations oldest schools specializing in contemporary art.

Vanessa Arredondo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @v_anana
Do you want to add to your family and do something good for the world at the same time? Adopt a dog, cat or other animal from a local shelter or organization! Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many facilities in the Redmond area are still working to find forever homes for dozens of cats, dogs and other adorable critters coming through.

There are thousands of dogs, cats and other animals of all ages, sizes and breeds without a home in Washington  and many of them are located in your area. For those looking to adopt, a great place to begin the search for a lovable new family member is at Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, where Wham! the cat is waiting patiently, or another local facility. If you aren't sure if you have time to take care of a pet year round, many shelters also offer opportunities to foster pets until they are placed in appropriate homes.

Here at Patch, with a little help from our friends at Petfinder, we put together a list each week of all the pets recently put up for adoption in your area. Whether you're a dog or cat person, there are several great options available. Click on any listing for more information, or to start the adoption process.

Name: Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz (bonded w/ Humma)

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids and cats

Description: "NAME: Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz is part of our Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy transportAGE/GENDER: 7/18/2020 MaleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic..." Learn more

Name: Joey King

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids

Description: "** HAS SPECIAL NEEDS. PLEASE SEE HEALTH SECTION BELOW **NAME: Joey KingAGE/GENDER: 5/18/2020 FemaleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic Short..." Learn more

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Name: Humma Kavula (bonded w/ Vogon)

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "NAME: Humma Kavula is part of our Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy transportAGE/GENDER: 7/18/2020 MaleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic short..." Learn more

Name: Wham!

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "** HAS SPECIAL NEEDS. PLEASE SEE HEALTH SECTION BELOW **NAME: Wham!AGE/GENDER: 2 year old maleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic..." Learn more

Name: Mao

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Senior, Medium, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Cats

Description: "Mao is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Mao was originally brought to our feral..." Learn more

Name: Angie

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Senior, Medium, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids and cats

Description: "Angie is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. She is 15 years old, but she..." Learn more

Name: Claude

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Cats

Description: "Claude is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Claude was a feral kitten before being..." Learn more

Name: Chrissy

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Cats

Description: "Chrissy is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Chrissy was a feral kitten before being..." Learn more

Name: Harrison

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Description: "Harrison is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Harrison is a very sweet cat that..." Learn more

Name: Owen

Species: Dog

Location: Rebeccas Rainbow, 6513 132nd Ave NE #387, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Male, Chihuahua Rat Terrier Mix

Description: "Owen came to us Christmas week after his owner passed away so he has not been with us very long...." Learn more

Name: Sparrow (bonded w/ Forest)

Species: Cat

Location: Meow Cat Rescue, 10600 NE 68th, Suite F, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Female, Domestic Medium Hair

Description: "Sparrow and Forest are available for contactless adoption by appointment only from MEOW Cat Rescue. To apply to adopt them,..." Learn more

Name: Forest (bonded w/ Sparrow)

Species: Cat

Location: Meow Cat Rescue, 10600 NE 68th, Suite F, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Male, Siamese

Description: "Forest & Sparrow are available for contactless adoption by appointment only from MEOW Cat Rescue. To apply to adopt them,..." Learn more

Name: Antonio

Species: Dog

Location: Heaven 4 Paws, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Male, Kai Dog Corgi Mix

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "All our dogs local in Seattle we don't post them until they arriveAntonio came from Turkey as stray. He..." Learn more

Name: BABY RUTHIE - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Female, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RUTHIE! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with her siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RUBY - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Female, Shepherd Shepherd Mix

Description: "MEET RUBY! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with her siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY ROSS

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET ROSS! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RHETT - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RHETT! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RYDER - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RYDER! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RIGGS

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RIGGS! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY ROSE

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Female, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET ROSE! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with her siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RILEY - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RILEY! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: Daisy

Species: Guinea Pig

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Female, Guinea Pig

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am very sweet! I love treats, chew toys, and running..." Learn more

Name: Poppy

Species: Guinea Pig

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Guinea Pig

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am very sweet! I love treats, chew toys, and running..." Learn more

Name: Toboggan

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Senior, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am very sweet and love to be pet! I love..." Learn more

Name: James

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Domestic Medium Hair Domestic Short Hair Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I love my BFF Lily and need to go home with..." Learn more

Name: Lily

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Domestic Medium Hair Domestic Short Hair Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I love my BFF James and need to go home with..." Learn more

Name: Gilby

Species: Dog

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Chihuahua Mixed Breed Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I can be fearful and stressed in some situations. I will..." Learn more

Name: Dharma

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Siamese Domestic Short Hair Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am stressed in new situations, so I will need a..." Learn more

Name: Rocky

Species: Dog

Location: Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Medium, Male, Husky

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Meet Rocky! This cuddly teddy bear is ready to bring lots of love and goofy antics into your life! Rocky..." Learn more

Name: Magnolia

Species: Dog

Location: Washington German Shepherd Rescue, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Female, German Shepherd Dog

Good With: Dogs and cats

Description: "Maggie is an absolutely beautiful 2.5 year old, white female German Shepherd dog. Her fosters have been calling her Maggie,..." Learn more

Name: Scout

Species: Dog

Location: 4 Legged Friends, AMC 10006 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Labrador Retriever

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Meet ScoutScout is a big, goofy boy that loves to please people. He is a little reserved when you..." Learn more

Name: Curtis

Species: Dog

Location: Ladys Hope Dog Rescue, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Male, Border Collie Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "Calling all Border Collie experienced people! Curtis is a 3yo, 68lb, Border Collie / Lab mix who needs a special..." Learn more

Name: * Nilla - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Chihuahua Terrier Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile: Nilla is an adorable 2 year old chihuahua/terrier mix (best guess!) who was rescued..." Learn more

Name: Paris

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Female, German Shepherd Dog Labrador Retriever Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Paris is a German Shepherd Dog / lab mix (best guess!) that was rescued from a high kill..." Learn more

Name: Noah David

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Large, Male, Border Collie

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "Animal Profile: Noah David is a 14 week old border collie mix who will be joining us from Texas on..." Learn more

Name: * Willy - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Male, Chihuahua Terrier Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POPULAR BOYAnimal Profile: Willy is an estimated 2.5 year old male wired haired..." Learn more

Name: Risken

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Chihuahua Jack Russell Terrier Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Risken is an adorable chihuahua/JRT mix (best guess!). He was rescued from a high kill shelter in Modesto,..." Learn more

Name: Fancy

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Chihuahua

Good With: Dogs and cats

Description: "Animal Profile: Fancy is an adorable, petite chihuahua mix who was rescued from Southern CA. She was rescued along with..." Learn more

Name: Brody

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Shar-Pei Shepherd Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile:Brody is an estimated 10 month old male Shar Pei mix (best guess!)who joined us from Texas on..." Learn more

Name: Shug

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Medium, Female, Australian Cattle Dog / Blue Heeler Terrier Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Seattle Foster Update: Shug would prefer a home away from the hustle and bustle of the city with someone familiar..." Learn more

Name: Charlie the Cattle Dog

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Cattle Dog Labrador Retriever Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "Seattle Foster Update :Charlie is a sweet young dog who needs a home with strong leadership and breed experience..." Learn more

Name: Dasher

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Description: "Animal Profile:Dasher loves to run around and harass his litter mates and encourage them to play. He is very..." Learn more

Name: Kiera

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Female, Shepherd

Description: "Animal Profile: Kiera is Shepherd mix (best guess) that was rescued from a high kill shelter in San Bernadino CA...." Learn more

Name: * Isaiah Jordan - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Large, Male, Border Collie

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile: Isaiah Jordan is a 14 week old border collie mix who will be joining..." Learn more

Name: * Teddy - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Extra Large, Male, Bernese Mountain Dog

Good With: Dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile: Teddy is a 5 year old purebred Bernese Mountain Dog (DOB 12/20/2015) who was..." Learn more

Name: * Drew - HOLD

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Labrador Retriever Catahoula Leopard Dog Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile:Drew is an estimated 1 year old 60 lb male Lab Catahoula mix. We..." Learn more

Name: Nova

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Male, German Shepherd Dog

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Nova is German Shepherd Dog mix that was rescued from a high kill shelter in Moreno Valley CA...." Learn more

Name: Bahamas

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Terrier

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Bahamas is a sweet senior terrier/chihuahua mix (best guess!) who originally joined us from Hawaii. He is estimated..." Learn more

Name: Andi

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Senior, Small, Female, Dachshund

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Andi is a Dachshund mix that was rescued from a high kill shelter in Moreno Valley CA. She..." Learn more

Name: Schroeder

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Extra Large, Male, Saint Bernard

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Schroeder is a 2 year old 125 lb male purebred Saint Bernard. He is house trained and friendly..." Learn more

Name: Joy

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Extra Large, Female, Great Pyrenees

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Joy is a Great Pyrenees Mix that joined us from Texas on December 18th. She was rescued from..." Learn more

Name: Stella

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Female, Labrador Retriever Treeing Walker Coonhound Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Stella Mae is a beautiful little girl that was originally thought to be a GSP mix. DNA test..." Learn more

Name: Cameron

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Labrador Retriever Catahoula Leopard Dog Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "Animal Profile:Cameron is an estimated 1 year old 60 lb male Lab Catahoula mix. We took him in last..." Learn more

Name: * Bates - Pending *

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Maltese Poodle Mix

Description: "Bates has an adoption pending and is no longer accepting applications.Animal Profile: Bates is a 2 year old, 18lb..." Learn more

Name: Suzie

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Female, Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua Mix

Good With: Dogs and cats

Description: "*Only families that reside in the King or Snohomish county will be considered to make future training help accessible.Animal..." Learn more

This article originally appeared on the Redmond Patch
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 21:41:59|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran is cooperating with Cuba in producing a COVID-19 vaccine, official IRNA news agency quoted an Iranian Health Ministry official as saying on Friday.

Iran will purchase vaccines from a foreign country and participates in the World Health Organization's COVAX program for receiving its vaccine quota, said Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesman of the Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA).

Besides, the Pasteur Institute of Iran is going to produce COVID-19 vaccine in joint cooperation with a Cuban company, said Jahanpour.

He added that tests and trials of Tehran-Havana vaccine are underway in Cuba.

The human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine produced by Iranian researchers started with the injection on 56 volunteers in Iran on Dec. 29, 2020.

The next trial phase of the vaccine would be 28 days later "if everything goes well," Deputy of Iran's Health Minister Alireza Raisi said.

If the vaccine goes through all stages, it would be reliable, he said, adding that Iran can mass produce its own vaccine in the spring. Enditem
Farmer unions on Friday warned that they will start shutting all malls and petrol pumps in Haryana if the government fails to resolve their main demands for the repeal of three new farm reform laws and a legal guarantee for MSP in the next round of talks on January 4.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border protest site, representatives of farmer unions said that only five per cent of the issues raised by them have so far been discussed in meetings with the government, and outlined multiple protest actions over a month if their main demands are not met.

Farmer leader Yudhveer Singh said if the central government thinks the farmers' protest will go the Shaheen Bagh way, then it is mistaken. "They (government) cannot make us leave this place like they did in Shaheen Bagh," he said."

Hundreds of protesters had camped at Shaheen Bagh for several months against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and later, the site was cleared by the Delhi Police following the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March last year. At the press conference, farmer leaders made it clear that they will have to take firm steps if the government does not take a decision in their favour in the January 4 meeting.

The warning from farmers came even as agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government is hopeful of a "positive outcome" at its next meeting with farmers' unions. Speaking to news agency PTI, the minister said that the last meeting held on December 30, 2020, happened in a cordial atmosphere and there is a possibility of positive results in the interest of farmers and of the country's farm sector at the next meeting.

After the sixth round of formal negotiations on Wednesday, the government and farm unions reached some common ground to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

After the talks, agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4 at 2 PM.

However, Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav on Friday said that the government has not moved an inch on the two main issues - repeal of three agri laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). He claimed that the government has denied giving in-principle commitment to the issue of legal guarantee for MSP.

Spelling out their next course of action, Yadav said that while talks with the Union government will go on, farmer unions will intensify the protest simultaneously and take it to every corner of the country. "If the January 4 meeting with the government fails to end the deadlock, we will announce dates for shutting all malls, petrol pumps in Haryana," another farmer leader, Vikas, told reporters.

At a meeting of Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of around 40 farmer unions protesting at several Delhi border points, several decisions were taken. According to the unions, rallies, dharnas, sit-ins and press conferences will be ogranised across the country from January 6 to January 20 to counter alleged government propaganda that the protest was Punjab-centric.

Farmers will celebrate Women's Day on January 18 and the modalities will be discussed later, farmer leaders said, adding that programmes will be held on to mark birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on January 23.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month against these three new laws. The government has presented these laws as major agriculture reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations have left them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.
It took two general elections, three prime ministers, and just over 4 1/2 years, but as of today Britain finally has the Brexit it voted for in June 2016.

It's not a pretty sight.

The big picture: Britain has left Europe's single market and customs union, and is no longer governed by European law.

Yes, but: Northern Ireland is still part of the U.K., while trading as though it is part of Europe. That means anybody moving goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain needs to fill out a customs declaration first.

Northern Ireland is still part of the U.K., while trading as though it is part of Europe. That means anybody moving goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain needs to fill out a customs declaration first. An analogy: Imagine businesses in Alaska being able to trade freely with Canada and Mexico, but needing to fill out paperwork in order to import or export anything to the rest of the USA.

Imagine businesses in Alaska being able to trade freely with Canada and Mexico, but needing to fill out paperwork in order to import or export anything to the rest of the USA. Gibraltar, similarly, will join the Schengen Area. That means Europeans will be able to travel in and out freely, while visitors from the U.K. are forced to show their passports at a border control.

The trade deal with Europe puts zero tariffs on goods. Most of Britain's economy is in the services sector, however  which aren't covered at all in the deal. (The U.K.'s businesses have had just one week to prepare for the new trade regime, which was agreed to on Christmas Eve.)

Britain exports about $35 billion of financial services to the EU every year, and another $134 billion of other services, including legal, accounting, advertising, architecture, insurance, tech support, and much more.

As for the U.K.'s trade relations with the rest of the world, 62 trade agreements have been signed  although many big ones, including the U.S., China and India, are still up in limbo.

By the numbers: The U.K. Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that Brexit will leave the country about 4% poorer than it would have been as part of the EU.

That's just the economic cost. The cultural costs associated with the end of free movement of labor between Britain and the continent are less quantifiable, but arguably larger.

Both Europe and the U.K. may also be less secure, now that British police no longer have access to the Schengen Information System. Last year, they queried Europe's largest security database more than 1.6 million times per day.

The future of the U.K. is also now at risk.

Scotland wants to secede and become an independent European nation.

wants to secede and become an independent European nation. Northern Ireland might vote to leave the U.K. and join Ireland, reuniting the island.

The other side: "For the first time since 1973 we will be an independent coastal state with full control of our waters," said U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, announcing the deal.

The bottom line: For the past 40 years, Britain found peace and prosperity as one of the most important players in a community of more than 400 million people. As of today, it has become, once again, an island off the coast of Europe.
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India reported four fresh cases of the highly contagious mutant strain of the coronavirus on Friday, the Union Health Ministry said. The total tally of the persons infected with the strain, first found in the United Kingdom touched 29, the government said adding that three cases were confirmed in a Bengaluru laboratory, while one was detected in a Hyderabad laboratory.

As of now, at least 10 cases were detected in Delhi laboratory, 10 in Bengaluru lab, one in West Bengal, three in Hyderabad and five by the National Institute of Virology, Pune, the government officials said that 29 patients are in isolation at designated healthcare facilities.

The spread of the new UK variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore. India last year reported the presence of cases infected with the mutant strain too.

India is pining hopes on the covid-19 vaccination expected to be rolled out in next few days, a subject expert committee, tasked with vetting covid-19 vaccine proposals, has recommended emergency licensure for Serum Institute of India's Covishield, but subject to certain conditions.

Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness at session sites across the country for covid-19 vaccination trial run on Saturday.

The senior officials of the Ministry apprised the Minister on various improvements that have been made to make Saturdays Pan-India dry-run glitch free such as number of telephone operators has been increased to answer every possible query from the teams on ground conducting the dry-run; block level task forces have been constituted for physical inspection of the sites; all workers have been oriented for the purpose with the dissemination of FAQs on the process, among other issues.

The health minister said that the officials should ensure that the vaccination sites and official in-charge abide by the detailed checklist and SOP for vaccination that has been prepared by the Union Health Ministry and shared with the States/UTs to guide them in the dry run. The minister said that there is a need for perfect calibration between the administrative and medical officers to make the event a primer that would later enable the mass implementation of vaccination drive.

The health minister also updated the officers on the status of the two leading vaccine candidates whose data are being closely monitored by the Subject Expert Committee of Drug Controller General of India.

The total tally of covid-19 cases reached 1, 02, 90, 248 and the toll climbed to 1,50,180. Indias total Active Caseload was 2.54 lakh (2,54,254) on Friday consisting of 2.47% of Indias Total Positive Cases. The new cases recorded in the last 24 hours were 20,035. Kerala reported the highest daily new cases at5,215. It is followed by Maharashtra with 3,509 new cases, the health ministry said. Also, 256 case fatalities have been reported in the past 24 hours. Ten States/UTs account for 80.47%of new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (58). Kerala and West Bengal follow with 30 and 29 daily deaths, respectively.

The mortality rate presently stands at 1.45%. Five States viz Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi account for 63% of total deaths in the country, the health ministry said.





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Leader of opposition and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-president for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa on Thursday shunned the welcoming ceremony of former governor for the Reserve Bank of Malawi Dr. Dalitso Kabambe into the party.

The ceremony took place in Blantyre where DPP regional governor for the South Charles Mchacha led thousands of DPP members and supporters in welcoming Kabambe to the party.

Nankhumwa as vice president of the party in the region was supposed and expected to receive Kabambe on behalf of the party but he chose to shun the ceremony as he considers Kabambe a rival in the run up to the 2025 presidential race for the party.

According to Nyasa Times sources, Nankhumwa was attending a funeral of late Esau Billiat Mphukira in Dedza who was until his death provincial chairman for Peoples Party (PP) for the central region.

Among those that attended the funeral included the former First Gentleman and retired Chief Justice for Malawi and Swaziland Richard Banda and PP vice president and Cabinet minister Roy Kachale Banda - son to former president Joyce Banda the leader of the party.

Sources close to Nankhumwa confided in Nyasa Times that he (Nankhumwa) has already started a campaign to fight Kabambe.

There are reports that Nankhumwa pleaded with Mulakho wa Alhomwe chairperson Leston Mulli to frustrate the coming of Kabambe because he (Kabambe) would bring chaos to the party.

Both Nankhumwa and Mulli were not available to comment on the reports.

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The coming of Kabambe to DPP has received great welcome from many members and supporters of the party who see him as a potential leader of the party.

Kabambe has already impressed many Malawians with his eloquence through a television interview he had on Zodiak TVon Tuesday.

Giving his maiden speech to DPP supporters in Blantyre, Kabambe said he had decided to join politics to share his expertise with the party. He said he is now ready to participate in any activity the party will initiate.

"I am ready to contribute to the formulation of a strategy if the party decides so," said Kabambe who served as principal sectary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation before being appointed governor.

Kabambe holds a PhD and a Master's Degree in Development Economics from Imperial College London, University of London, United Kingdom which was obtained in 2008 and 2001 respectively.

He also holds a BSc Degree from the University of Malawi obtained in 1998.

Professionally, he has worked as an economist for the Malawi Government for 23 years beginning as an economist and principal economist in the Ministry of Agriculture where he served for seven years, and then as chief economist and deputy director of economic planning in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development for four years and thereafter as budget director in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development for another four years.
Ever since the lockdown was announced in March 2020, actor Sharad Malhotra has been worried about his parents who live in Kolkata. Given the pandemic and them being senior citizens, the actor didnt go home earlier but recently he made two quick trips and kept his visits hush-hush.

I had gone there on Bhai dooj in November and on my moms birthday in December. Theyve been quite worried about Ripci (Sharads wife) and me, and have been wanting to be with us. Weve not met them for months because of this pandemic, so theyve been missing us a lot. Especially my mom was quite worried because Im shooting every day and had contracted the virus too, the actor tells us.

Malhotra shares that her parents were supposed to visit them during Ganesh Chaturthi, and he was also planning to travel to Kolkata during Durga Puja with Ripci.

He continues, But we couldnt do anything in 2020. My mo would often get emotional during our calls. The pandemic has taught us a lot, especially the realisation to stay close to family. I plan to bring my parents to Mumbai the moment it gets safer for them to travel.

Talking about his travel experiences, the actor adds that it has been quite scary and different.

He elaborates, I had to be very careful because I was going home and my parents are aged. While some people are following rules, many are still taking things lightly. At the airport, I saw many people not maintaining social distancing. Its sad that even after so many lives have been lost, this pandemic couldnt drill in some sense into these people.

Malhotra urges everyone to be responsible and not take the situation for granted. Weve to step out, we cant stop working and need to rebuild our economy, but that doesnt mean wed be careless. The virus is there, and we still dont have the vaccine. So, we need to act sensibly, he ends.

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New Delhi: As an outcome of China's one-child policy, more and more Chinese men are looking for a bride, and Beijing's all-weather friend - Pakistan has a role to play.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC has increased engagement in all spheres of society including people to people contact, spurring many marriages, often purely for economic reasons.

It has emerged that agents in China and Pakistan have used the garb of CPEC to literally kidnap girls from lower socio-economic backgrounds, especially from minority communities such as Christians, and marry them off to Chinese men.

Many such marriages have taken place in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, and Faisalabad. For a prospect of a better life in China, many of the unsuspecting women take the bait, and much to their shock, life is not easy in the foreign land.

One of the biggest fallout of these marriages has been that the women who went away to China are unable to accept the Chinese way of life. A number of reports and complaints have been received from the women and their families about mistreatment by their husbands and in-laws.

An obvious reason for the existence of the current situation is a continuing gap in the demograph in China, combined with abject poverty in many places in Pakistan. Most of the Pakistani brides are from minority communities, and many times the Chinese side has been giving inflated information about their socio-economic status.

China's one-child polic was adopted decades ago and with a preference for a male child it led to a skewed gender ratio that continues even today. The number of marriageable Chinese men outnumber women in the country by more than 30 million, as per the most recent estimates of December 2020.

While increased Pakistan-China partnership has played a role in societal engagement, many times at the detriment of the lower strata of society.
Emperor Naruhito thanked medical staff involved in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in his New Year video address broadcast Friday, bringing attention to the burden front-line health care workers are bearing as infections surge in major population centers.

The emperor set a hopeful tone in his first video message since ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne in May, saying he and his wife, Empress Masako, are looking forward to meeting people again once the situation has improved.

The 60-year-old emperor, delivered the address while seated beside the empress, 57, expressing gratitude to those who have been working day and night to save many patients lives, as well as condolences to people who have lost family and friends to the virus in Japan and across the world.

Our daily lives have been greatly affected by this infectious disease, he said. We are especially concerned for those who are struggling in difficult situations they have found themselves in, such as having lost their jobs or homes, or who are feeling lonely.
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The UKVFTA, signed on December 29, is said to be an achievement of breakthrough strides in the UK-Vietnam economic and trade cooperation during the 47 years since their diplomatic relations were established and 10 years since the strategic partnership was founded.



Between 2011 and 2019, bilateral trade grew 12.1 percent annually on average. Major Vietnamese exports included mobile phones and components, apparel, footwear, aquatic products, timber and wood products, computers and components, cashew kernel, coffee, and peppercorn. Meanwhile, the country mainly imported machinery, equipment, pharmaceutical, steel, and chemicals from the UK.



Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Tran Ngoc Anh (right) and British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward sign the UKVFTA in London on December 29 (Photo: VNA)



The commodities traded between them are complementary to, instead of compete with, each other.



The UK is currently the third largest trading partner of Vietnam in Europe, with their trade exceeding 6.6 billion USD in 2019, up 9.5 percent. It also views Vietnam as a very important trading partner in Southeast Asia.



Thanks to GDP growth among the highest in the region and the world for the last three decades and, especially, the early containment of COVID-19 and sustained growth, Vietnam is increasingly attractive to British businesses and investors.



The signing of the UKVFTA at this point of time is greatly significant and practical to both sides, particularly when countries around the world are wishing for stronger trade and investment links to swiftly recover their pandemic-hit economies.



Notably, the deal will keep bilateral trading activities uninterrupted when the UK concludes the Brexit transition period on December 31, after which the UK will no longer a member of the EU market and the EU Customs Union or benefit from preferential treatments under the EU-Vietnam FTA that took effect on August 1, 2020.



The deal will help the two countries increase exports to each others market considerably as right from January 1, 2021, it will slash tariffs on over 70 percent of Vietnamese exports and 65 percent of British exports, many of which will be subject to zero-percent duties. After six years, more than 99 percent of their commodities will benefit from a zero-percent tariff.



The UKVFTA will ensure 3,000 British firms continued shipments to Vietnam and, as Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-UK Network Paul Smith said, encourage more British businesses to choose Vietnam as their destination.



This will create more opportunities for British businesses to expand operations in the Southeast Asian nation since although the UK was the worlds fifth largest exporter in 2019, its products still account for less than 3 percent of Vietnams total imports. Major beneficiaries will be pharmaceutical, machinery, equipment, chemical, automobile, banking, and insurance sectors.



For Vietnam, tariff elimination under the agreement will generate many benefits for its key export staples like smartphones, electronic devices, textile-garment, footwear, wood products, ceramics, and such farm produce as rice, coffee, rubber, and aquatic products.



Speaking after the UKVFTA signing ceremony on December 29, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Tran Ngoc An described this as a historic event, noting that the deal will elevate their strategic partnership in line with their aspirations and political resolve shown in the foreign ministers joint statement signed in September on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership.



Echoing the view, British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward considered the deal signing as a turning point and a milestone in bilateral relations.



He held that it will present a big chance for the UK because amid the worst global economic crisis since World War II, Vietnam is expected to obtain growth of over 2.9 percent and be the worlds fastest growing economy in 2020.



The UKVFTA will ensure that bilateral trade will keep accelerating when the UK is paying more attention to relations in the Indo-Pacific region, he added.



Besides, via this FTA, Vietnam will become a gateway for British enterprises to get access to a large regional market.



During a trip to Vietnam last November to sign the minutes on the conclusion of the UKVFTA talks, British Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss noted that the two countries share a common strategic commitment to global trade and the liberalisation of capital flows and investment. Therefore, the deal is an important step forward as the UK is preparing to apply for membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in early 2021.



According the Vietnamese Ambassador, the UKVFTA will help the UK move closer to the target of becoming a dialogue partner of ASEAN and a member of the CPTPP as Vietnam is an active member of ASEAN and a founding member of the CPTPP.



Via the CPTPP, not only the UKs relations with Vietnam will be strengthened but its ties with 11 dynamic economies in the Indo-Pacific region will also be expanded, thus bringing about more benefits to the British economy and people./.
City approves first reading of temporary medical marijuana ordinance

With state officials still putting together the oversight rules for medical marijuana establishments, local governments need temporary ordinances.
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The local energy sector remains essential during the State of Emergency but there is part of the sector that remains closed since it is yet to get a new owner and that's the refinery in Point -a-Pierre.
The most current logo for the University of Kentucky in Lexington. PHOTO:UKY.edu

Judge Allows UK Fees Lawsuit to Proceed

By The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Kentucky judge will allow a lawsuit seeking refunds for University of Kentucky students who had to vacate campus because of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue.The Lexington Herald-Leader reports a Franklin County judge on Wednesday ruled that claims for a refund of close to $20 million in mandatory student fees can move forward. He dismissed a portion of the lawsuit seeking a partial tuition refund.The university had sought to dismiss the case entirely.The lawsuit says the fees support facilities like labs and gyms that were closed to students after the university switched to online classes in March.
Tina Glasco, 56, of Paragould, Arkansas, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted murder in the first degree after she was said to have been recorded talking about poisoning her husband with eye drops

An Arkansas woman was recorded on tape talking about poisoning her husband to death by putting Visine eye drops in his drink for at least four days straight, police said.

Tina Glasco, 56, of Paragould, Arkansas, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted murder in the first degree.

Local investigators first learned of Glascos alleged attempt to poison her husband on Tuesday, KAIT-TV reported.

Officers collected an audio recording of Tina making statements about poisoning her husband with Visine eye drops with the purpose to cause serious physical injury and death, according to the police affidavit.

In the recording, Tina stated she had been putting a large amount of Visine drops in her husbands drinks for over four days.

Authorities have also charged Glasco with conduct constituting attempt.

Bond for Glasco was set at $100,000 by the Greene County Sheriffs Office. She is scheduled to appear in court on January 4.

Visine is a nonprescription medication used to treat redness in the eyes and other minor irritations.

Visine is a nonprescription medication used to treat redness in the eyes and other minor irritations. The active ingredient in Visine is tetrahydrozoline. In small doses, tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant, is considered safe when applied to the eye. But large doses taken orally could put one at risk of slow heartbeat, hypothermia, a coma, or even death

The active ingredient in Visine is tetrahydrozoline, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1954.

The chemical is part of a family of drugs called imidazoles. It can be found in other over-the-counter medications such as Murine Plus, Altazine, and Clarine.

In small doses, tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant, is considered safe when applied to the eye.

But large doses taken orally could put one at risk of slow heartbeat, hypothermia, a coma, or even death.

In December 2019, Joshua Lee Hunsucker, 36, of Gaston County, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with fatally poisoning his wife, Stacy Robinson Hunsucker, 32, using Visine eye drops.

A test on a sample of Stacy's blood found massively elevated levels of tetrahydrozoline.

The amount found was roughly 30 to 40 times higher than the therapeutic level, which investigators said would have had a 'dramatic effect on her heart, which would cause heart stoppage in a short amount of time.'

In December 2019, Joshua Lee Hunsucker (right), 36, of Gaston County, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with fatally poisoning his wife, Stacy Robinson Hunsucker (left), 32, using Visine eye drops

Authorities alleged that in September 2018, Hunsucker killed his wife, who was born with a heart defect, in order to collect $250,000 from two life insurance policies.

Hunsucker also allegedly began dating another woman prior to his wifes death, raising suspicions of family members.

Hunsucker is free on bail, though is under a state-mandated curfew. His case is currently in pre-trial stage.

He also faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his former mother-in-law.
The ED on Friday said it has attached assets worth Rs 72 crore of a Maharashtra-based man whose wifes alleged transaction with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rauts spouse is under its scanner in the over Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case.

The central probe agency alleged that the man, Pravin Raut, had siphoned off Rs 95 crore worth of funds from the scam-hit bank in the garb of loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife, Madhuri Raut, who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Varsha Raut, wife of Sanjay Raut, as an interest-free loan. The ED recently summoned Varsha Raut for questioning with regard to this transaction and a few other deals leading to a political blame game between Maharashtra and the Centre with various constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) led state government alleging that the Centre was using federal probe agencies to harass them.

Varsha Raut skipped the agencys notice thrice and is now expected to join probe before the ED in Mumbai on January 5.

Sanjay Raut, while holding a press conference in Mumbai early this week, had denied any wrongdoing on the part of his wife and said they were in correspondence with the ED in connection with the case for about one-and-a-half months.

Raut, 59, is a Rajya Sabha MP and also a spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, which is in power in Maharashtra and is a former ally of the BJP.

He said details regarding the Rs 55 lakh loan transaction have already been submitted to the ED during the correspondence.

The ED said it has provisionally attached Rs 72 crore worth of assets of Pravin Raut under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as it explained in a statement the alleged financial links between him his wife and that of Sanjay Rauts spouse.

Probe revealed that Rs 95 crore has been siphoned off through HDIL by one of the accused Pravin Raut in active conspiracy and connivance with various persons.

The source of the funds were illegal availed loans/advances by HDIL from PMC Bank. There was no document or agreement in support of these payments made to Pravin Raut, the ED alleged in a statement.

It said as per the ledger of HDIL, the funds were given to Pravin Raut for acquiring land in Palghar area. The probe found, it said, that Pravin Raut paid an amount of Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Pravin Raut from the proceeds of crime. Out of the said money, Madhuri Raut transferred Rs 55 lakh (Rs 50L on December 23, 2010 and Rs 5L on March 15, 2011) as interest-free loan to Varsha Raut who is the wife of Sanjay Raut.

The amount was further utilised for purchase of flat in Dadar East, Mumbai, the ED claimed.

The probe found that Varsha Sanjay Raut and Madhuri Pravin Raut are partners in Avani Construction and Varsha Raut has received Rs 12 lakh from this entity (as overdrawn capital converted to loan) on a contribution of mere Rs 5,625. The loan amount of Rs 12 lakh still remains outstanding, it said.

The ED had filed a criminal case of money laundering to probe the alleged loan fraud in the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank in October last year against Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), its promoters Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, his son Sarang Wadhawan, its former chairman Waryam Singh and ex-managing director Joy Thomas.

It took cognisance of a Mumbai Police economic offences wing FIR against them that charged them for causing wrongful loss, prima facie to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank, and corresponding gains to themselves.

The ED has attached assets of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Wadhawan family trust and others worth Rs 293 crore and had seized jewellery worth Rs 63 crore.

A chargesheet had also been filed by it in this case.
Mumbai, Jan 1 : Actress Kriti Sanon says she has never been a new year resolution person, but in 2021 there is one habit she would like to imbibe.

"Humans are often conditioned to suppress emotions. Showing Vulnerability, sadness, fear, anger, frustration, insecurity is considered a sign of weakness.. As kids we cry loudly, we scream, laugh on innocent things, speak without thinking.. We keep it Simple! But as we grow up, we learn to 'behave' and mask.. We feel something, we say something else.. And I feel that's kinda messed up..," Kriti wrote.

"Never been a new year resolution person... But this year, I choose to express in my own way.. Declutter and write down my thoughts.. my kinda meditation. What's that one habit you'd like to have in 2021? #Uncomplicate," she added.

Along with her post, Kriti posted an image of two diaries.

Last month, Kriti released an official statement revealing that she had tested negative for Covid-19, and thanked everyone for their good wishes. On December 9, Kriti had announced that she had tested positive for Covid-19, adding that she was "feeling fine".

Earlier, the actress had tested positive on returning from Chandigarh where she had been shooting with actor Rajkummar Rao for Abhishek Jain's upcoming comedy "Second Innings". The film also stars Paresh Rawal and Dimple Kapadia, and is scheduled to release next year.
Irelands health system will not continue to cope with the high levels of coronavirus cases, the Chief Medical Officer has warned.

Dr Tony Holohan gave the bleak assessment as he outlined his fears over the high numbers of patients in hospitals with the virus.

On Friday, 11 further deaths related to Covid-19 and an additional 1,754 cases were reported.

Our health system will not continue to cope with this level of impact. Dr Tony Holohan, CMO

But a backlog in the system means there are an additional 9,000 cases to be reported in the coming days.

As of 2pm on Friday, there were 504 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of whom 47 are in ICU, an increase of five on the previous day.

Dr Holohan said: The most concerning trend at present is the rapidly increasing number of people being admitted to hospital  we are now admitting between 5070 people a day to our hospital system.

Unfortunately, we expect this to get worse before it gets better. Our health system will not continue to cope with this level of impact.

We have also seen a significant increase in positive laboratory tests in recent days reflecting a true increase in the incidence of the disease as well as the delay in people coming forward for testing over the Christmas period.

We have very high levels of community transmission of #COVID19



We find, test and trace to isolate cases/restrict contacts as CONTAINMENT or acontrola actions.



With the disease now not in control, we focus our public health actions on MITIGATION . https://t.co/o0YrfPTPxM  Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) January 1, 2021

As our systems catch up with these effects it places significant pressure on our reporting system.

He added: We have always understood that numbers of positive tests or confirmed cases would be a less reliable indicator over the Christmas period.

This is typical of infectious disease reporting annually over the two weeks of Christmas and New Year.

What is clear are the measures that the Government has now mandated and the behaviours that we as individuals need to observe. Everyone needs to stay at home other than for essential work or care.

Professor Philip Nolan, chairman of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: A very large volume of positive tests in recent days means there is a delay in formal reporting.

In excess of 9,000 additional new cases will be reported over the coming days. The reporting delay does not affect case management or contact tracing or our overall monitoring and modelling of the pandemic.

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Earlier the head of the HSE warned that Covid-19 is now rampant in Irish communities.

Paul Reid said a whole set of worst-case scenarios have come together to create explosive impacts.

The virus is absolutely rampant now in the community, we know that for a fact, he said.

Everybody is extremely high risk now of contracting the virus. We really need our vulnerable groups to be on our highest guard, everybody. Theres no doubt our health service is on what we would call high alert.

He urged the public to stay at home and adhere to public health advice.

We really need everybody to take the real appropriate actions that were calling out to everybody to do, which in essence is retract. Retract back to our homes, reduce our contacts drastically and really protect ourselves in the coming days and weeks.

When we get to these levels it has a severe impact across a whole set of areas, not just our systems, the health service, and the volume that any system can cope with Paul Reid, HSE

Mr Reid said: The real picture over the last few days is most likely getting close to 3,000 cases per day.

Thats the extent of the virus that were dealing with. So, when we get to these levels it has a severe impact across a whole set of areas, not just our systems, the health service, and the volume that any system can cope with.

He added that 35,000 swabs had been taken on New Years Eve alone.

Asked whether the HSEs decision not to test close contacts for the virus was a sign the system had failed, Mr Reid said it was not and that they had to make the decision to prioritise for the most symptomatic people as the demand for testing soared.

People who are close contacts of positive cases are still being asked to restrict their movements for 14 days.

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Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Minister warned it may be necessary to extend Level 5 restrictions past the end of January.

Simon Coveney described the challenge ahead of trying to tackle the latest wave as a significant one.

We have taken the decision in a way thats consistent with Nphet to move to a full Level 5 set of restrictions until the end of January and it may be necessary to go even beyond that, he told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme.

Mr Coveney rejected claims that the reopening of hospitality and allowing home visits in December was a mistake and caused the surge in Covid-19 cases.

The Fine Gael minister said it was a misreading of the situation to suggest there was a divide between the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) and the Government.

The pace of the third wave of the spread of this virus has taken everybody by surprise, he told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland.

He said the relationship between Government and Nphet, and the decisions that have been made in the back of that relationship, by and large, have saved many lives and have kept the spread of the virus under control where possible.

Of course, there have been some mistakes made, but we are now in the teeth of a third wave and Nphet and Government are working together, but Government must make decisions, Mr Coveney said, adding Nphets advice is taken seriously by ministers.

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President Donald Trump again lashed out at South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune, floating that the state's GOP Gov. Kristi Noem should primary him.

'I hope to see the great Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem, run against RINO Sen. John Thune, in the upcoming 2022 Primary. She would do a fantastic job in the U.S. Senate, but if not Kristi, others are already lining up. South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!' Trump tweeted Friday afternoon.

The president was likely reacting to Thune's role on the Senate floor earlier in the day, when he blocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's final attempt to get a vote on a bill for $2,000 stimulus checks passed before the conclusion of this Congress.

Later Friday afternoon Trump sent out a tweet signaling his anger about a veto override that the Senate had voted on - and on Republicans' decision not to vote on $2,000 checks.

The president called the veto vote 'Pathetic!!!' and then added, 'Now they want to give people ravaged by the China Virus $600, rather than the $2,000 they desperately need. Not fair, or smart!'

President Donald Trump lashed out at Sen. John Thune on Friday, calling him a 'RINO' and encouraging South Dakota's GOP Gov. Kristi Noem to mount a primary challenge against him

Trump's tweet was likely in response to the role Thune played earlier Friday, when he objected to proceeding to a vote on a bill that would give Americans $2,000 stimulus checks for COVID-19 relief

Later Friday afternoon he called Senate Republicans' decision not to move forward with a vote 'Not fair, or smart!' in a tweet that also addressed that the Senate had overruled his veto for the very first time, allowing a giant military spending bill to pass

Thune, who's the Senate's top Republican after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, spoke Friday on the Senate floor and explained why he objected to the $2,000 relief checks

Trump has been encouraging South Dakota's Gov. Kristi Noem, an ally of the president, to try and take Thune's Senate seat. He's up for re-election in 2022

On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tried one final time to get a vote on the $2,000 checks bill - supported by both President Donald Trump and the progressive left. His moved was blocked by Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate

Trump had previously aimed his ire at Thune who had mocked the president's attempts to reverse the presidential election saying plans to reject Electoral College vote counts aren't 'going anywhere' and 'in the Senate it would go down like a shot dog.'

Noem said publicly she would not primary Thune. He's up for re-election in 2022.

On Friday, Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, took the place of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who had vocalized the Republicans' objection over the last few days.

'The problem with what is being put forward, the House-passed CASH Act, is that it is not targeted to help those who are most in need,' Thune said on the Senate floor.

On Thursday McConnell railed against the plan - supported by both Trump and the progressive left, including Sen. Bernie Sanders.

'Experts from across the political spectrum agree that our colleague from Vermont is dead wrong on this,' McConnell said, aiming the comments at Sen. Bernie Sanders. 'Socialism for rich people is a terrible way to help the American families that are actually struggling.'

McConnell repeated many of the same lines during Friday's rare New Year's Day Senate session.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he's against the $2,000 stimulus checks bill because he says it amounts to 'socialism for rich people'

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, has used props all week to promote the $2,000 checks bill. On Friday he brought large checks with him to the Senate floor to show huge tax rebates that were given to companies like Amazon

Sanders has given lively floor speeches on behalf of the bill in recent days and brought along props like blown up version of Trump tweets and giant checks made out to businesses like Amazon, which have received large tax rebates.

'I am delighted to hear the majority leader talking about socialism for the rich ... so let me talk about the socialism for the rich that the majority leader is enthusiastically supportive of,' Sanders said Thursday.

The Vermont independent who twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination pointed a finger at the Trump-backed tax bill that passed Congress in December 2017.

'Under that bill Charles Koch, one of the very richest people in America, he has a net worth of $113 billion, that bill gave Mr. Koch a $1.4 billion tax break,' Sanders said. 'Majority leader that sounds to me like socialism for the rich. Ahhh!'

The $2,000 stand alone bill passed in the House starts cutting that amount for Americans who make more than $75,000.

Sanders and a small group of progressive Senate Democrats had wanted to delay the vote to overrule Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act to push McConnell on the $2,000 issue, but they were overruled by members of their own party who voted Wednesday night to start that process.

Schumer and also Vice President-elect Kamala Harris voted in favor of the motion to proceed.

Now proponents of the $2,000 checks are looking ahead to the new Congress, which starts on January 3 at noon.

During a Thursday morning appearance on 'Fox & Friends,' Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and top ally of Trump's on Capitol Hill, said he supported the $2,000 checks measure and pushed McConnell to present a clean bill to the body after January 3.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the handful of Republicans who supports the $2,000 checks, said Thursday morning he wanted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to present a clean bill in the next Congress, which begins January 3

President Donald Trump, photographed leaving West Palm Beach, Florida Thursday, has pushed for the $2,000 check amount. He's backed it using Twitter, but didn't do much else to force Senate Republican hands

'Here's what I'd like - I'd like a stand-alone vote in the new Congress on the $2,000 check,' Graham said. 'We have seven Republicans who've already said they would vote for it. We need five more. I think if we had the vote, we would get there.'

The Senate used the remainder of the session to deliver Trump his first veto loss.

That vote took place Friday afternoon.

The president had long promised to veto the huge defense bill, first over the inclusion of a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate figures.

More recently, Trump threatened to veto the large piece of legislation if Congress didn't retool section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which the president argued gives 'big tech' companies like Facebook and Twitter too much legal protection.

McConnell had offered on Tuesday a bill that included the $2,000 provision, but also killed off section 230, while also creating an election commission - two Trump demands.

That bill was a poison pill for Democrats, though Schumer said Thursday he'd support voting on each of those proposals individually.

Trump was headed back to Washington, D.C., Thursday after spending Christmas at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

He tweeted '$2000 ASAP!' Wednesday morning.
The country has issued an emergency green light to two vaccines, developed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca. According to Britains new guidance, every effort should be made to complete a dosing regimen with the same shot first used. But when the same vaccine is not available, or if the first product received is unknown, it is reasonable to offer one dose of the locally available product the second time around.
Denver, COBad Love Strikes, the first in the Bad Love Gang book series by Kevin Schewe, won the 2020 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the Time Travel Fiction category. In Bad Love Strikes, the Bad Love Gang discovers The White Hole project, a "backup plan" time-travel machine created by President Franklin Roosevelt in case America lost the race to create the first atomic bomb.

In the exciting sequel Bad Love Tigers, the Bad Love Gang uses the White Hole project to travel back to 1945 to thwart Russian spies and protect the secrets of Area 51, before heading to China to volunteer with the AVG Flying Tigers under General Claire Chennault. Now, in Bad Love Beyond, the gang must travel not just through time, but through space as well to learn the reason behind Blue Nova One's mysterious visit to earth.

One of the most compelling aspects of the series is how the author carefully researched and portrays the real historical figures, such as President Roosevelt or a young and older President Gerald Ford, or accurately describes the effort to build the first nuclear weapon or the combat capabilities of a World War II fighter aircraft. A history buff since childhood, Kevin Schewe, a renowned MD and entrepreneur, then inserts a group of friends, like the chums from his youth, and sends them on important missions throughout time and space. Along the way various popular songs of the day pop up to highlight a mood or a moment in time to never forget.

Schewe, who has a background in physics, has always loved stories about time travel. "These stories just come to life in such an organic way," Schewe says. "They combine my childhood memories with my love of history and time travel."

Here is the Book Trailer and Audio Book Sample for Bad Love Strikes:





Expert Click Radio  Audio Book Sample From 'Bad Love Strikes' By Kevin Schewe

Be sure to watch the exciting book trailers for the first two books here: https://bit.ly/BadLoveStrikes-Trailer and https://bit.ly/BadLoveTigers_Trailer.

"The Bad Love Gang is back at it with an ample supply of action, adventure, espionage, intrigue and suspense. Bad Love Beyond is like flying through the Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, Jurassic Park and Captain Kirk's starship with a wonderful tour guide." David A. Holladay, M.D.

"Bad Love Beyond is the newest volume of the Bad Love series and once again the author mixes history with fantasy so successfully that the book both entertains and informs. Skillful writing, a zesty sense of humor, an appreciation for pop culture, and the ability to create memorably entertaining characters combine to make this an immensely impressive novel." Grady Harp, Top 50 Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer, 5-Stars

Whether you're a history buff, a time-travel buff, a sci-fi lover, or are just in need of a fun book to cheer you up, Bad Love Beyond is the adventure you've been waiting for. Grab your copy today!

Bad Love Gang Commercial





Kevin L. Schewe, MD, FACRO is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for over 33 years. He is an entrepreneur, having founded Elite Therapeutics and Bad Love Cosmetics Company, LLC. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of a small, publicly-traded, renewable, green energy and animal feed company called VIASPACE, Inc. Bad Love Beyond is the sequel to the bestselling Bad Love Tigers which was the sequel to his bestselling debut novel Bad Love Strikes. You can connect with Schewe through his website KevinSchewe.com or Instagram: @realkevinschewe.

Bad Love Beyond, ASIN: B08P5VSMNZ, Broken Crow Ridge Publishing, 2020, ebook: $2.99, 258 pages, available on Amazon and www.jancarolpublishing.com. Be sure to watch the exciting book trailers for the first two books here: https://bit.ly/BadLoveStrikes-Trailer and https://bit.ly/BadLoveTigers_Trailer

Media Contact: For a review copy of Bad Love Beyond, or previous books in the series, or to arrange an interview with Dr. Kevin Schewe, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.comor by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist
2019 National Teacher of the Year, Rodney Robinson, has apologized after he made what he called "a bad joke" on Twitter. In his December 30 tweet, Robinson, a Richmond, Virginia native, referenced the violent attack on Republican Senator Rand Paul by his next door neighbor in 2017, then suggested Senator Mitch McConnells neighbors should step up and do the same:

Who are Mitch McConnells neighbors? Im just saying Rand Pauls neighbor did what a Kentucky hero should do. Its your turn to step up.

Rodney Robinson

Photo credit: Virginia Department of Education CC BY-2.0 license

Senator Paul's wife, Kelley, responded to Robinson's initial tweet, calling Robinson "a hateful thug." Outraged, she informed Robinson her husband had suffered 6 broken ribs in the attack and underwent surgery to remove part of his lung.

Robinson quickly deleted the tweet and apologized, claiming he made "a bad joke" and does not "advocate violence against anyone." In a longer apology letter posted on Medium, Robinson reiterated his "bad joke" explanation and insisted he had no idea "Rand Paul was seriously injured in the altercation.

Mrs. Paul denounced both apologies as "woefully inadequate and disingenuous:"

He continues to describe the 2017 blindside attack on Rand as a fight and an altercation, which is completely false. Mr. Robinson initially responded to critics of his repugnant call for more violence on our senators by calling them conservative bots and implied that they were only criticizing him out of racist intent. It was only after overwhelming condemnation on Twitter that he deleted his tweets and made his page private. I maintain that this man has absolutely no business teaching young people. His tweet certainly doesnt have the tone of a joke. It is clearly hateful in intent and dangerous.

In the Medium apology, Robinson also writes, "I own this mistake and hopefully my record proves this an anomaly to what I represent."

Listening to Robinson's hate-filled TEDx talk to high schoolers in Richmond Virginia in May 2019, it's clear Wednesday's tweet was no anomaly. In fact, Robinson's speeches, tweets and blog posts are brimming with bigotry against whites, The Gateway Pundit noted a post-election tweet this past November in which Robinson wrote, "Parents of black and brown children really need to pay closer attention this week to their kids' classes. Remember 55% of white women voted for Trump and they are nearly 80% of the teaching profession."

In her article for TGP, Kristinn Taylor stated that Robinson's boss, Richmond School Superintendent Jason Kamras, had not responded to her question about the overtly racist tweet he posted in November. Ms. Taylor shouldn't hold her breath. Chances are Kamras, white, privileged and partial to Marxist pedagogy, with his own record of radical activism, signed off on Robinson's racist rhetoric directed at white female teachers.

Kamras, a far-left BLM supporter and self-proclaimed "political superintendent" even thanked Robinson for "his heartfelt apology" regarding the McConnell tweet, stating, "RPS does not condone violence of any kind...words matter--across the political spectrum." In his apology letter, Robinson echoed Kamras, writing "moving forward, I will be more careful with my words."

Robinson needn't worry. Hes not going anywhere. No longer in the classroom, he's part of Kamras' inner circle at RPS.

In August, 2020, a year after receiving his national award, Robinson, who previously taught at Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, was hired as a senior adviser for RPS. His current administrative position involves developing initiatives and establishing partnerships to recruit and support black male teachers. Robinson also has a key role in executing anti-racism policies for the school district.

At the time, Kamras heralded his protege as a fierce fighter for equity, a proponent of abolitionist teaching, and an all-around force to be reckoned with. We not only need his voice at the table, we need him leading the very important work of helping RPS become an anti-racist school division.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Congress has overridden President Donald Trump's veto of a defense policy bill, a first by lawmakers since he took office nearly four years ago.

In an extraordinary New Year's Day session, the Republican-controlled Senate easily turned aside the veto, dismissing Trump's objections to the $740 billion bill and handing him a stinging rebuke just weeks before his term ends.

Trump had lashed out at GOP lawmakers on Twitter, charging earlier this week that Weak and tired Republican leadership will allow the bad Defense Bill to pass.

Trump called the looming override vote a disgraceful act of cowardice and total submission by weak people to Big Tech. Negotiate a better Bill, or get better leaders, NOW!"

The 81-13 vote in the Senate followed an earlier 322-87 override vote in the House of the widely popular defense measure. The bill provides a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops and guides defense policy, cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, personnel policy and other military goals. Many programs, including military construction, can only go into effect if the bill is approved.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said before the vote that Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act every year for 59 years in a row, "and one way or another, we are going to complete the 60th annual NDAA and pass it into law before this Congress concludes on Sunday.''

The bill "looks after our brave men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform,'' McConnell said. But its also a tremendous opportunity: to direct our national security priorities to reflect the resolve of the American people and the evolving threats to their safety, at home and abroad. Its our chance to ensure we keep pace with competitors like Russia and China.''

The Senate override was delayed after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., objected to moving ahead until McConnell allowed a vote on a Trump-backed plan to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000. McConnel did not allow that vote; instead he used his parliamentary power to set a vote limiting debate on the defense measure, overcoming a filibuster threat by Sanders and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Without a bipartisan agreement, a vote on the bill could have been delayed until Saturday night. Lawmakers, however, agreed to an immediate roll call Friday once the filibuster threat was stopped.

Trump rejected the defense measure last week, saying it failed to limit social media companies he claimed were biased against him during his failed reelection campaign. Trump also opposed language that allows for the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed with Trumps veto and called the bill absolutely vital to our national security and our troops.

This is the most important bill we have, Inhofe said. It puts members of the military first.

Trump has succeeded throughout his four-year term in enforcing party discipline in Congress, with few Republicans willing to publicly oppose him. The bipartisan overrides on the defense bill showed the limits of Trumps influence in the final weeks of his term.

Earlier this week, 130 House Republicans voted against the Trump-backed COVID relief checks, with many arguing they were unnecessary and would increase the federal budget deficit.

The Democratic-controlled House approved the larger payments, but the plan is dead in the Senate, another sign of Trumps fading hold over Congress.

Besides his concerns about social media and military base names, Trump also said the defense bill restricted his ability to conduct foreign policy, particularly my efforts to bring our troops home. Trump was referring to provisions in the bill that impose conditions on his plan to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan and Germany. The measures require the Pentagon to submit reports certifying that the proposed withdrawals would not jeopardize U.S. national security.

Trump has vetoed eight other bills, but those were all sustained because supporters did not gain the two-thirds vote needed in each chamber for the bills to become law without Trumps signature.

Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Trump's Dec. 23 veto a parting gift" to Russian President Vladimir Putin "and a lump of coal for our troops. Donald Trump is showing more devotion to Confederate base names than to the men and women who defend our nation.
A 16-year-old was shot and killed Thursday night when he approached a vehicle stopped in a Houston-area road, authorities said.

The teen, identified by administrators of the school he attended as Mikell Potts, approached the small four-door car at about 8 p.m. on the 600 block of Kiley Drive, south of Cypress Station, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The car fled the scene at a high rate of speed after the shooting.
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Australian nutritionist Shannon Young (pictured) has shared the foods to eat after a big night out - and the ones to avoid

Party animals recovering from a wild night of New Year's celebrations should be munching on eggs and avocado to cure their hangover, a nutritionist has revealed.

Shannon Young, a nutritional adviser for Australian meal planning service THR1VE, told 9Honey eggs are one of the best things to eat after heavy drinking because they are rich in an amino acid that breaks down the toxins found in booze.

Avocados and bananas are other 'terrific' ways to accelerate recovery, Ms Young says, thanks to their high concentration of potassium which replenishes the hydration stripped by alcohol.

If a takeaway is all you can face, Ms Young recommends ordering sweet potato fries instead of classic hot chips - the complex carbohydrates prevent blood sugar from spiking throughout the day, helping you bounce back faster.

Scroll down for video

She said eggs are the perfect breakfast when you're wrestling with a hangover (stock image)

The foods to avoid Coffee: Just like alcohol, caffeine can dehydrate your body further Fried foods: While many of us crave greasy fried foods such as burgers and fried chicken after a day of boozy indulgence, it's best to avoid because it's likely to irritate, rather than soothe, an unsettled stomach Spicy foods can worsen dehydration and further aggravate an already unsettled gut Alcohol: Several studies have found 'hair of the dog' to be ineffective - and the practice may just delay a hangover or add more toxins to the body Advertisement

Eggs

Ms Young says eggs are the perfect breakfast when you're wrestling with a hangover.

That's because they are rich in cysteine, an amino acid that breaks down acetaldehyde, one of the primary toxins that leave you feeling wretched the morning after.

Acetaldehyde accumulates the more you drink, leaving you with nausea, headaches and lethargy when you wake up.

Sweet potato

Drinking alcohol causes blood sugar levels to skyrocket which causes an increase in appetite and a depletion of energy reserves in a matter of hours.

That's why it's vital to rustle up meals that stabilise blood sugar and restore balance to the metabolism.

Ms Young recommends eating unrefined carbohydrates like sweet potato, quinoa or multigrain bread which release energy slowly and steadily throughout the day.

This slow release reduces sugar cravings while increasing satiety, leaving you fuller for longer and less likely to reach for processed junk food.

Avocados and bananas are one of the best food you can eat to cure a hangover thanks to their high concentration of potassium (stock images)

Avocados and bananas

Alcohol depletes potassium, one of the most important minerals in the body which regulates fluid balance, controls nerve signals to the brain and muscle movement.

Potassium plays a key role in keeping the body hydrated - and rehydrating it after a night on the town.

Ms Young says the high concentration of potassium in both avocados and bananas make them an excellent way to pump water back into the body, fast.

Avocados are also packed with fibre, vitamin B6 and healthy fats which work together to replenish the body of the everything that alcohol has robbed.

For support for alcohol-related problems and addiction you can contact Turning Point Services, or one of the many other services available, speak to your GP, local health service or call a helpline.
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BMGWhile the COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest story overall of 2020, the summer was dominated by the Black Lives Matter protests and demonstrations in response to the police killings of Black Americans, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Artists in the rock world expressed their support for Black Lives Matter, with musicians including Blink-182's Travis Barker and Machine Gun Kelly participating in protests. Fall Out Boy announced a $100K donation to Black Lives Matter, while Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows penned an op-ed in support of the movement.

Rock artists also shared their support through their music. The Shinedown side project Smith & Myers' song "Not Mad Enough" was written in response to Floyd's death, while FEVER 333 frontman Jason Aalon Butler wrote the band's new EP, Wrong Generation, after spending 13 days protesting. Rise Against, an already political band, found their new song "Broken Dreams, Inc." eerily mirroring the ongoing protests.

As the protests continued, fans asked their favorite musicians to use their platforms to help encourage social change. Twenty One Pilots frontman Tyler Joseph landed in hot water when he made fun of that idea by posting a photo of himself wearing platform shoes. He later deleted the post and apologized.

In addition to this year's political demonstrations, 2020 included one of the most contentious presidential elections in U.S. history. Leading up to November, rock artists spoke out regarding voter participation and voting safely amid the global health crisis.

Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee, who had long been silent about her political views, spoke out in 2020 to encourage fans to vote with the new song "Use My Voice" and a voter registration campaign. The Postal Service briefly united to register voters, while Tenacious D hoped to increase voter participation with a viral "Time Warp" cover.

Additionally, artists including Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Billie Eilish and Dave Matthews launched campaigns and participated in virtual events in an effort to encourage voting.

By Josh Johnson

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 1, 2021 - 12:32 | World, All

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a letter to citizens on New Year's Day, state-run media reported Friday, in the run-up to the first congress of the ruling party in five years in early January.

Kim gave New Year's Day addresses for seven straight years through 2019, but is unlikely to do so this year for the second year in a row given that he is set to make a speech at the gathering of the Workers' Party of Korea.

"In the new year, too, I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true," Kim was quoted by the official Korean Central News Agency as saying in the letter.

"I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people, good health...I offer thanks to the people for having invariably trusted and supported our Party even in the difficult times," Kim said, according to KCNA.

The news agency also reported that Kim visited on Thursday midnight the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun mausoleum complex in Pyongyang, where the embalmed bodies of the two former leaders -- his grandfather and father -- lie in state.

Late last month, North Korea's ruling party formally decided to convene its congress in early January, possibly ahead of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, although the specific date has yet to be announced.

Before Democrat Biden takes office on Jan. 20, Kim, in his expected speech at the congress, may urge the United States to shift from its hostile stance toward Pyongyang as a condition to resume denuclearization talks, foreign affairs experts say.

The previous party congress was held for the first time in 36 years for four days from May 6, 2016.

On the occasion of the latest congress, North Korea might also stage its first military parade since the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling party in October 2020, they added.

After the last congress, Kim accelerated the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, including those that could reach the U.S. mainland. In November 2017, he declared the completion of a "state nuclear force."

Since June 2018, Kim has held meetings with Republican U.S. President Donald Trump three times, but bilateral denuclearization negotiations have stalled, making it more difficult for Pyongyang to persuade Washington to lift economic sanctions.

North Korea's economy, meanwhile, has become more stagnant as it has cut off traffic to and from its neighbors China and Russia since early last year to prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus, first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. North Korea claims no infections have been confirmed in the nation so far.

As trade with China, North Korea's closest and most influential ally, has plunged and powerful typhoons and flooding have devastated the agricultural sector, worries have been mounting that its citizens have not received adequate daily necessities.
SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Singapore and Malaysia said on Friday a deal to build a high-speed rail (HSR) link between the two neighbours will be terminated, after a suspension period to negotiate terms of the long-delayed project expired on Dec. 31. First announced in 2013, the project linking Kuala Lumpur to Singapore has been estimated by analysts to cost around $17 billion. It was suspended in 2018 shortly after former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad came to power with a pledge to tighten finances and review major deals made by his predecessor Najib ...
All clear after Samut Sakhon shrimp truck scare, says Phuket health chief

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) Chief Thanit Sermkaew has reported that no people who had close proximity to a shrimp delivery truck or its driver who had recently returned from Samut Sakhon have been found infected with COVID-19.

COVID-19Coronavirushealth

By The Phuket News

Friday 1 January 2021, 12:13PM

Phuket health chief Thanit Sermkaew says no people who had any close proximity with the driver or the truck were found to be infected with COVID-19. Photo: PR Phuket

Dr Thanit explained yesterday (Dec 31) that concerns were raised after it became known that a truck and its driver had recently delivered shrimp from Pa Khlok to Samut Sakhon, and then returned.

The PPHO was informed of the truck, sparking an investigation by the PPHO investigation team, the Thalang District Public Health Office, Thalang Hospital and the Pa Khlok Health Promoting Hospital with assistance from Pa Khlok Moo 3 Village Headman Bancha Salika, Civil Defence Volunteers (OrSor) and the Thalang District Office.

The concerns were two-fold, as one of the people involved with the truck had arrived in Phuket from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Dr Thanit explained.

On Dec 16, at about 11pm, two trucks arrived at a shrimp processing co-operative in Soi Bang Toei, in Moo 3 Pa Khlok. One truck was carrying the man from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, his wife and three children. The second truck was a refrigerated truck driven by a friend.

At about 6am the next day, the trucks were loaded and the two trucks left to deliver the shrimp to Samut Sakhon.

Then, on Dec 24, around 11pm, the driver originally from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, arrived to pick up shrimp from another shrimp processing co-op in Soi Bang Toei, Dr Thanit explained.

By about 7am the next day, the truck was loaded and the man again left to deliver shrimp to Samut Sakhon.

During his time parked at the shrimp co-ops, the driver did not leave his vehicle, Dr Thanit said.

The result of the investigation has led health investigators to the conclusion that no people had high-risk exposure to man, who himself has not yet tested positive for COVID-19.

The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office conducted a screening of all shrimp farm workers, three Thais, 22 foreign workers, and no suspects were found, Dr Thanit said.

Dr Thanit called for cooperation from the public to not allow people from risk areas to enter Phuket until at least Jan 5.

He also called for efforts to be made to build understanding and better self-defense against the hazards of contracting the virus among communities near shrimp farms.

Dr Thanit said the PPHO was continuing its work on monitoring any risk persons arriving from Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

The PPHO is also working with Phang Nga officials to follow up reports about a shrimp selection team of about 10 people traveling from Phang Nga to Phuket, he said.

Health officials are also coordinating with Krabi provincial officials to follow up on a shrimp catching team about 5 people arriving from Krabi, he added.
A 25-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing another man.

Emergency services were called to Myddleton Avenue, Fairfield, south west Sydney, at 5pm on New Year's Day.

Officers and paramedics found a man with multiple stab wounds.

Emergency services were called to Myddleton Avenue, Fairfield, south-west Sydney, at 5pm on New Year's Day

The man, 63, was taken to Liverpool Hospital. He is in a serious condition.

The 25-year-old man was taken to Fairfield police station, where he was charged with attempted murder.

Police allege the two men know each other.

The 25-year-old is expected to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
Actor Arjun Rampal has declared in a new social media post that he has never been on the wrong side of the law, without making any reference to the drugs probe currently being conducted on him.

Rampal started the new year with a lengthy post on what he learnt in 2020, a year that saw him being probed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as part of the agency's investigation into the alleged Bollywood drugs nexus, after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June.

"Wishing all of you a safe, blessed, healthy and prosperous 2021. 2020 taught us a lot. My learning is attached have a read. Happy new year," he captioned the note.

Reflecting on 2020, his note was addressed to family, work, fans, friends, his industry, media, country and God.

"So, as we head into 2021 it is concern that makes me pen down my thoughts of a year that filled millions of lives with fear, anxiety, disruption, scandals, hypocrisy, lies, truths, realisation, enlightenment, bravery, strength, courage, charity, confusion, clarity and character. Most of these emotions I have felt myself, as I silently observed each and every one of them overwhelm me with an emotion that each of the adjectives bring," he wrote.

As for family, he said that there is a tendency to take them for granted, "always thinking they are always there, till relationships just become relations". However, he thanked each one of them and expressed gratitude.

Professionally, 2020 was supposed to be a busy year for Arjun. "With 280 days of my calendar already booked, I was certain the days would fly. But no, the universe had other plans. Halt, stop, reflect, listen, appreciate, understand and learn were the emotions felt," he wrote. The "Nail Polish" actor said that he was filled with gratitude to work again amid the new normal owing to the pandemic.

He also thanked his fans in the era of social media. "2020 also exposed how dreadfully misleading, disruptive and dangerous it has been. To all my fans, I just want to thank you for being so dignified and solid through the times and through the news that surrounded me," he wrote hinting about the drugs probe.

"I would like to assure each and every one of you that I am well aware of my responsibility as a celebrity, a father and a citizen of a country I love dearly that I have never been on the wrong side of the law. You all have nothing to fear or speculate as I have done nothing wrong. I love you all and going forward we shall only spread love and peace together. There is no room for any negativity in our space," he added.

He also touched upon his bond with friends which changed in the past few months. "Old ones and new...many disappeared. A few remained. To all those who disappeared, I thank you. For those who stayed, I look forward to getting old with you."

Talking about the film industry, he said: "To all those who know me and believed in me I am eternally indebted and grateful. To all that I may have unintentionally hurt in any way through this time I am sorry. To all who may have done the same to me, I forgive."

As for the media, Arjun said that he learnt "how ugly it is to hunt".

Sharing his love for India, he said that the country will emerge stronger from the pandemic and tragedies.

Arjun also thanked God and said: "With you on my side. Who needs a Godfather".

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun (@rampal72)

Concluding his note, he wrote: "Farewell 2020, I will never see you again, but I will also never forget you."
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A governments expert panel has reportedly approved the vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, for emergency use in India to provide immunity against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). According to news agency Reuters, a subject expert committee, set up by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to vet Covid-19 vaccine proposals, recommended granting emergency use authorisation to AstraZenecas vaccine AZD1222, dubbed in India as Covishield.

AstraZeneca had signed an agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII) to produce 1 billion doses of its experimental vaccine for low- and middle-income countries. The Pune-based company has sought an emergency use authorisation for the Covid-19 vaccine which recently received approval from British regulators.

Britains Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Wednesday authorised the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine for deployment across the United Kingdom on the conditions that the vaccine should be administered in two doses, with the second dose given between 4 and 12 weeks after the first.

Heres all you need to know about the vaccine:

Efficacy: In two different dosing regimens, the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine showed the efficacy of 90 per cent and 62 per cent. In participants who received two full doses at least one month apart, vaccine efficacy was 62 per cent, and in participants who received a low dose followed by a full dose, efficacy was 90 per cent.

Safety: The Lancet publication, a leading medical journal, has confirmed that AZD1222 was well tolerated and there were no serious safety events confirmed related to the vaccine. The safety data published is from over 20,000 participants, so far, enrolled across four clinical trials in the UK and Brazil and South Africa.

Also Read | Govts expert panel approves AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use

Storage: The AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (2C to 8C) for at least six months.

Cost: Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive officer of SII, had told Hindustan Times that Covidshield will be priced in India at Rs 500-600.

Technology: AZD1222 is made of a weakened and modified version of adenovirus (a common cold virus) that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body.
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An unidentified commercial bus driver has been killed by some assailants in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the incident happened at about 11 a.m. on New Years day along Siluko Road, close to Oliha market in Benin City.

The yet to be identified driver plies the Benin-Sapele road route of the metropolis.

At the spot of the incident, where the lifeless body of the driver was still in the Nissan Vannete bus, a witness, who only identified himself as Osato, said he was returning from the church when the incident happened.

He told PREMIUM TIMES that the conductor of the bus disclosed that the unknown assailant diverted the bus at gunpoint.

He said, The conductor said shortly after the incident happened that the assailant entered the bus at Kings Square and diverted the driver to Siluko Road at gunpoint. The conductor left the scene after narrating what happened.

He said when the bus passed the former Ovator Cinema House at Siluko Road, the hoodlums used a battle axe on the driver before he was finally shot dead.

I was returning from New Years day church service when the incident happened. What attracted me to what was happening was that the bus had its full headlight on and some persons were dragging the steering with the driver. Suddenly I heard gunshots which scared most of us away.

Mr Osato said a moment after, some young boys came out and entered another vehicle and fled the scene.

When we went closer, we saw that the driver was already dead with bloodstains all over his body. The deceased was still seating on the drivers seat with his head completely damaged, he said.

Another onlooker, Charles Ubido, said he suspected that it was part of the silent ongoing cult-clash in Benin which has claimed the lives of several young persons.

This is another case of the silent cult war that is claiming the lives of these young people in Benin, he added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, simply said, I have not been briefed of the incident.
Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan held a review meeting with officials of the Delhi government on Friday ahead of the Centres dry run of the vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in all states and Union territories on Saturday, news agency ANI reported. After conducting a dry run of Covid-19 vaccination in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat on December 28 and 29, the Centre will now extend the drill to rest of the country so that once a vaccine is approved for emergency use, the shot is administered to the first group of eligible people without a glitch.

Target of this exercise is that minutest details are thoroughly researched. At least two vaccines have sent their applications to Drug Controller and experts for approval, their data are being studied pro-actively, Vardhan said during the video meeting, according to ANI.

The lists of health workers have been created and will be uploaded on Covid platform. Just like we prepare during elections, the same way we need to train each member of all medical teams responsibly, Vardhan said. After training over 2,000 master trainers at the national level, the training is underway at the state and district level, in over 700 districts. The procedure is similar to conducting elections where the team at a booth is also trained, he added.

All state capitals will conduct dry runs in at least three session sites on Saturday. Some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support. In vaccine dry run, the entire process of transporting the vaccines from storage to the site, administering them to candidates, feeding data on Co-WIN app is practised without any real vaccine.

The plan to extend the dry run to all states and Union territories comes amid the Drug Controller General of Indias (DCGIs) indication that India might start the New Year with a vaccine against Covid-19. We will have a Happy New Year with something in hand, thats all I can hint at, said VG Somani, DCGI, on Thursday.

In Gujarat dry run, 475 beneficiaries underwent the dummy procedure, the main aim of which is to identify if there is any loophole in the planned process. Crowd management at a booth, maintaining social distancing guidelines inside the booth are also being practised at the mock drills. In Punjab, Ludhiana and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar were selected for the dry run. Nalbari and Sonitpur were the two districts of Assam where the mock drill already took place. Krishna district from Andhra Pradesh was chosen for the two-day drill. Everywhere, the drill went on successfully.

The daily new coronavirus infections in India remained below 30,000 for the 19th consecutive day taking the Covid-19 caseload to 1,02,86,709, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98.83 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan posted the following on his Facebook page:

Yesterday, on December 31, 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, talking about Armenian servicemen being held in captivity in that country, declared that they arent prisoners of war. He also declared that they are detained and viewed them as terrorists.

As the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, I specifically that this and other statements are a gross violation of the post-war humanitarian process and the international requirements protecting human rights. The statement by the President of Azerbaijan also directly contradicts the requirement in point 8 of the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020 which concerns the exchange of prisoners of war/captives or persons who are in other way deprived of liberty.

The Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijani soldiers must be immediately released and returned to Armenia. This must be done immediately and without any precondition since they are prisoners of war according to their status.

During and after the war crimes, the Azerbaijani authorities have constantly violated the international requirements of human rights and humanitarian agreements by artificially delaying the return of prisoners of war/captives and not reporting the real number of prisoners of war/captives (during this whole process, the Azerbaijani authorities have continued torture and inhuman treatment, the targeted publication of videos showing torture and inhuman treatment, obstruction of exchange of the bodies of servicemen, etc.).

The studies and reports of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia confirmed that the aim of all this is to cause mental suffering to the families of the prisoners of war/captives, play with the Armenian publics emotions and generate tension in Armenia.

The monitoring clearly confirms that, in the case of the Azerbaijani authorities, it is necessary to always act with specific guarantees that will ensure unobstructed implementation of their humanitarian agreements and inviolability of the international requirements of human rights.

Thus, I call the attention of the international community and particularly international organizations with the mandate to protect human rights to the mentioned statement by the President of Azerbaijan in order to rule out any violation of the humanitarian process and ensure strict compliance of the process with the international requirements of human rights.
By Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked the new year with a letter to the country's citizens and a visit the tomb of his father and grandfather, state media reported, but gave no immediate sign he would give a speech as he has in past years.

In the letter, Kim offered thanks to the people for having trusted and supported the ruling Party even in the "difficult" times, state news agency KCNA reported on Friday.

The North Korean leader has previously apologised for failing to fulfil promises of economic improvement and for the hardships citizens have endured as a result of international sanctions and strict measures aimed at preventing a coronavirus outbreak.

Related: North Korea celebrates the New Year

"In the new year, too, I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true," Kim wrote, according to KCNA.

North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases of coronavirus, though officials in South Korea and the United States say that is unlikely.

Its economy has been strained by self-imposed border lockdowns and other strident measures to prevent an outbreak.

Crowds of partiers wearing face masks rang in the new year at a concert and fireworks show in the main square in the North Korean capital Pyongyang on Thursday night, state media showed.

As the clock struck midnight, Kim as well as other senior leaders visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of his father and grandfather - the previous rulers of North Korea - lie preserved under glass.

Kim was also accompanied by delegates to the Eighth Party Congress, a rare political gathering due to be held some time in early January, KCNA reported.

Together the leaders and the delegates "hardened their firm pledge to glorify the 8th Congress of the Party as the watershed in the development of the Party and the revolution," KCNA said.

Kim is expected to use the congress to announce a new five-year economic plan, make leadership changes, and make other political statements.

(Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Kim Coghill)
The Thane traffic police have registered 75 per cent less drink-and-drive cases on December 31, 2020 compared to the previous New Years Eve. The police booked 416 drivers for driving in an inebriated state on Thursday while 207 co-passengers were also booked. In 2019, the police had booked 1,673 drivers for drunken driving on New Years Eve.

Out of the total cases on Thursday, 107 were from Narpoli and 81 from Kongao. Police also called the parents of 18 youngsters and asked them to pick up their children and also gave them a warning.

The Thane traffic police attributed the drop to strict vigilance over the last 10 days.

Read more: 27 booked for drink driving in Navi Mumbai

In the past week, the traffic police cracked down 1,372 drink-and-drive cases of which 451 were co-passengers.

DCP Balasaheb Patil said, We had increased vigilance and started taking action against the traffic offenders more than a week ago so that people driving under the influence of alcohol would be alert about police action well in advance. In the cases of youngsters driving under influence of alcohol, their parents had been called. Most parents took the call positively and reprimanded their children. Most family members appreciated this initiative taken by us and we will continue this in the future also.

Different squads were posted at various spots in the city making it difficult for offenders to escape. Several check nakas were set up in the city at Ghodbunder, Majiwada, Kapurbavdi, Mulund, Mumbra, Shilphata since December 25.

Traffic police who were geared up with all safety equipment including a PPE kit were found checking passengers using breath analysers. The teams themselves had sanitisers and immunity boosters to keep themselves safe from Covid infection while conducting checks on the commuters. Patil said that the nozzle of breath analysers was changed in front of the drivers before every check, so no complaints were raised.
[January 01, 2021] FormFree Announces Rebrand, New Website Aligned with Mission to Expand Financial Inclusivity

ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FormFree today launched a new visual identity designed to reflect its mission of empowering consumers and lenders with a transparent view of borrower financial DNA. In tandem with the brand launch, FormFree unveiled a new website that speaks to both consumer and lender audiences about how its AccountChek and Passport solutions enable better financial decisions. FormFree's patented technology verifies and analyzes borrower financial DNA  direct-source asset, income, employment, identity and public records data  to provide a more accurate and holistic picture of a borrower's ability to pay (ATP) than traditional credit scoring alone. "FormFree is ushering in a new era for lending, turning the current lender-driven verification model on its head and empowering consumers with transparency into and control over their financial DNA," said Sarah Crossley, director of marketing at FormFree. "With our visual rebrand and new website, we are able to tell the story of how greater insight into consumer financial DNA opens the door to improved credit decisioning and a more financially inclusive U.S. economy." FormFree was founded in 2008 by former Wall Street executive Brent Chandler. The company's pioneering work in bringing direct-source data analytics to the U.S. mortgage market has earned it six appearances on the HousingWie Tech100 list of the housing economy's most innovative companies, among other accolades. FormFree's AccountChek and Passport solutions are used by thousands of lenders and millions of consumers each year.



To see FormFree's new brand in action, visit https://www.formfree.com. About FormFree:

FormFree is a market-leading fintech company whose revolutionary products AccountChek and Passport are building a more inclusive credit decisioning landscape by encouraging lenders to view borrower ability to pay (ATP) more holistically. To date, thousands of U.S. lenders and brokers have ordered millions of FormFree's patented verification reports representing over a trillion dollars in loan verifications. FormFree delights borrowers and lenders with a paperless experience, reduces origination timelines by up to 20 days and offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and investors using a secure ReIssueKey. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn. Twitter: @RealFormFree #mortgageindustry #fintech #branding #financialinclusion *LOGO link for Media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0926s2p-formfree-300dpi.jpg This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/formfree-announces-rebrand-new-website-aligned-with-mission-to-expand-financial-inclusivity-301199451.html SOURCE FormFree

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The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is starting the process of delisting securities of three Chinese telecom companies, after President Donald Trump last month barred US investments in Chinese firms Washington says are owned or controlled by the military.

Its a modest step, but at least an awakening to national security and human rights-related risk, said Roger Robinson, a former White House official who supports curbing Chinese access to US investors.

NYSE said that the issuers, China Telecom Corporation Limited , China Mobile Limited and China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited , were no longer suitable for listing as the order prohibits any transactions in securities designed to provide investment exposure to such securities, of any Communist Chinese military company, by any United States person.

The order sought to give teeth to a 1999 law that mandated that the Department of Defence compiled a list of Chinese military companies. The Pentagon, which only complied with the mandate this year, has so far designated 35 companies, including oil company CNOOC Ltd and Chinas top chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.

China has condemned that ban, and fund managers have said it could benefit non-US investors able to pick up the stocks.

NYSE said that it would suspend trading in the stocks on either Jan. 7 or Jan. 11. The issuers have a right to a review of the decision. Each of the telecoms companies named by the NYSE also has a listing in Hong Kong.

China Telecom is also under fire from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which said earlier in December that it had begun the process of revoking the companys authorization to operate in the United States.

The companies could not be reached for comment on a public holiday in China.

Ties between Washington and Beijing have grown increasingly antagonistic over the past year as the worlds top two economies sparred over Beijings handling of the coronavirus outbreak, imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong and rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Separately, President Donald Trump signed a law last month that would kick Chinese companies off US stock exchanges unless they adhere to American auditing standards. Market participants said this would intensify a rush by US listed Chinese firms to seek back up listings in Hong Kong.
MadridThe Ministry of Home Affairs has denied the open prison regime of Inaki Urdangarin, the brother-in-law of Spanish King Felipe VI, although it has made his release from prison more flexible and, in fact, will allow him to spend the remainder of his sentence in a social integration centre in Alcala de Henares (Madrid). Urdangarin will continue to leave prison daily to volunteer at the Don Orione Home, located in Pozuelo de Alarcon. In addition, he can spend one weekend a month at home and will not have to return to the women's prison in Brieva (Avila), where he was serving a 5 year and 10 month sentence for the Noos case since June 2018.
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Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said on Friday that Scotland would soon return to the European Union.

Sturgeon made this known on her Twitter page when she wrote, Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.

She stressed that Scotland had voted against Brexit in 2016 and the UKs withdrawal from the European Union took place against the will of the Scottish people.

Sturgeon also called for holding a second referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.

With the end of 2020, the transition period in the relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union came to an end, with the UK exiting the EU.

Post-brexit

This was followed by the signing of the agreement on the post-Brexit relationship between London and the bloc which has now come into force.

In 2014, Scotland had voted for remaining a part of the UK, which was a member of the European Union then.

One of the main arguments of those, who opposed the possible independence, was that the secession would result in an immediate exit from the European Union.

This, however, seems to have been overtaken by the recent events of Britains withdrawal from the European Union. (ANI/Sputnik/NAN)
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I read a lot. I mean, a lot  more than most people I know. Often, I read books related to personal finance, especially when I kind find money psychology books. But I have also found throughout the years that a lot of the good financial advice emerges from books on other topics. Some are tangentially related to money: work, life balance, productivity, etc. However, Ive also gotten financial insight from novels, memoirs, and even occasionally a poem. This morning I started reading the first book of the year, and I thought Id share what Ive learned so far (about eighty pages in).

And Then We Grew Up by Rachel Friedman

My first 2021 read of the year is And Then We Grew Up. The subtitle is On Creativity, Potential, and the Imperfect Art of Adulthood. Rachel Friedman authored this book.

The book is my favorite type: a combination memoir and advice book filled not only with personal anecdotes but also with related research. In this particular case, its a book about trying to figure out what it means to make a living at a creative life.

Who Is Rachel Friedman?

Rachel Friedman started out wanting to be a musician (a viola player). However, in her first year of college, she became overwhelmed with the anxiety of the path. She ultimately quit music college and spent some time traveling around the world. As she did, she indulged another creative passion: writing.

Then she became a writer. As she notes in the intro of the book:

I had taken on any and every freelance writing assignment, from churning out SEO clickbait for travel websites to reporting on heat-resistant makeup for a glossy womens food mag.

As a writer myself, working from the only city comparable in cost to where Rachel lived (she in Manhattan, myself in San Francisco), I can certainly relate. More importantly, I can relate to the deeper questions of what it means to be a creative person working in a field where earning money through your creativity doesnt always look like what you had hoped it would look like when you started out on that path.

Premise of the Book

And Then We Grew Up is Rachels story of her own journey. Moreover, she seeks out a handful of highly creative people that she went to summer art camp with as a teenager. She visits them to discuss the paths that their creative careers have taken now that theyre in their thirties. Through analyses of those conversations, she comes to new conclusions and insights about what it means to make a living as an artist.

Additionally, she incorporates a wealth of research and relevant quotes about the artistic life, work-life balance, productivity, definitions of success, and making money through creativity. She is well-read, which shines through, and she curates her resources perfectly in the context of a memoir/biography.

And Then We Grew Up: Money Lessons

What does this have to do with money, per se? Lots, actually, both directly and indirectly. Directly, she mentions the reality of finances in the creative world. Indirectly, her exploration of what satisfaction means as a creative person naturally takes into account issues of finances. After all, unless you happen to be born into extreme wealth with zero need to work at all, your creative life has to find balance with earning money.

Your Financial Position in Life Affects Your Creative Career

One of the key things that she touches on is the privilege of even pursuing a creative career at all. Sure, there are outliers in the world  people who come from little access and yet persist with their art and become capable of making a living at it. But for the most part, having privilege gives you more options for exploring art as a career path. A few examples of how:

Having privilege, even of just a middle class life, gives you access to art events, classes, and opportunities throughout your childhood. You know that you have the option of becoming an artist because you see it around you.

The people in your life  parents and teachers  might be more likely to support your early creative dreams if they themselves believe that making art as a living is a viable possibility in life. Privilege makes it more likely theyll see it that way.

Without privilege, you might not have easy access to a college education. Not that every creative person goes to college, of course. But those years of indulging in a creative education, particularly at a liberal arts school, go a long way towards supporting a career in the arts.

It takes a long time for most people to succeed financially in creative careers. If you have parents willing to help foot the bill for your daily life as you do so, then youll have a better chance at it.

Lack of privilege correlates with so many factors  health conditions, unplanned pregnancies, trauma, abuse  and all of those things do have the potential to limit an art career.

Its not necessarily that you need money to make art. Instead, its that to be able to believe in art as a career choice over a sustained period of time is a luxury that privilege facilitates.

Most People Dont Suddenly Get Rich Off Of Art

Friedman went to school with at least one actor who made it. However, she didnt choose him to interview for the book. She was interested in what regular people do  people who are definitely talented in the arts but who arent ever going to make millions from the work. How do they make it financially and creatively? Some of the key takeaways are:

You can find alternative ways of doing what you love every day for pay. For example, one musician decided early on that she would work as a music teacher. It gave her the work-life balance she wanted and a steady paycheck. Some people say this is selling out, but for her its the right path to working with music every day.

People may choose to do their art part-time and other work part-time or full-time. The obvious example, cited in the book, is the actor/waiter. They may be looking for their big break. However, they may also just do both for the rest of their lives. She cites many famous people who held day jobs long after they could afford not to do so. Notably, she emphasizes composer Philip Glass who was famous enough to be recognized when he showed up as a plumber to work one a dishwasher.

You can add creativity to any type of work. You dont have to work in your artistic field to create your art within your field in some way.

Living the fantasy that youre going to get rich takes away from the richness of the process. There are so many wonderful aspects of life. The artist has access to enjoying them simply through art.

Artistic success is often as much about luck as it is talent and hard work. Your job as an artist is to do the work. You cant decide how well it will do. If you believe in the work, then the work has to be enough. You can be ambitious in your goals but you have to also let go of the outcome.

Artistic Careers Arent Linear and Values Change

One of the biggest reminders for me is that artistic careers arent linear. We like the movie-edited version of famous creatives lives in which they start off with talent, undergo a variety of challenges, and then they make it. Friedman shares about a friend, Adam, who emphasizes the many starts and stops, peaks and valleys of his career. That resonated for me  the fantasy is that Ill make it and do only the writing work Im absolutely passionate about. The reality is that Ive had so many ebbs and flows, and that those will continue.

Also, our values change with time. We may come to value financial security over creative pursuit. Or we may have times when its just the opposite  when we are so passionate about a project or idea that well take a risk on it despite tending towards financial stability in the past. Life isnt linear, no matter how much our storytelling brains like us to think it should be.

I stopped reading today just before Chapter 4, which  upon skimming  I see is going to include stuff about the gig economy. Im excited to dig back in.

What is the first book that youre reading in the new year? What financial tip can you take away from it?

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The World Health Organization on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution.

Britain launched its inoculation drive with the US-German vaccine on December 8, with the United States, Canada and EU countries following suit.

Also Read: Covid-19: No data to back UKs new vaccination plan, says Pfizer

WHO said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first to receive its emergency validation since the novel coronavirus first broke out in China a year ago.

This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to Covid-19 vaccines, said Mariangela Simao, a top WHO official tasked with ensuring access to medicines.

But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere, she said in a statement.

WHO said its emergency use listing opens the way for regulators in different countries to approve the import and distribution of the vaccine.

Also Read: California nurse tests positive a week after receiving Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine

It said it also enables UNICEF, which plays a key logistical role in distributing anti-Covid vaccines, and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for countries that need it.

WHO convened its own experts and those from around the world to review the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines safety, efficacy and quality, weighing the benefits against the risks.

The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address Covid-19 offset potential risks, it said.
WASHINGTON  Its one of the most important events in a teenagers life  high school prom.

For Isabella Aiukli Cornell of Oklahoma City, her junior prom in 2018 was about more than just wearing a stylish gown in a high school gymnasium. It was an opportunity to call attention to what has been described as an epidemic of murder and abuse faced by Native American women.

We have a really high rate of women who go missing every year, and theres not a lot of media coverage about it, Cornell said. I wanted to make a statement about the ongoing crisis going on in our communities.

Government statistics are sobering. Native women are murdered at a rate 10 times higher than other ethnicities, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Figures of the National Institute of Justice suggest that 84% of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetimes.

For her prom in 2018, Cornell, a member of the Choctaw Nation, chose a custom-made dress made by Crow designer Della Bighair-Stump of Hardin, Montana. The purpose was to bring attention to the peril faced by Indigenous women.

The color red is symbolic of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womens movement, Cornell said. The bodice was made to incorporate a little bit of the (Choctaw) tribe by adding diamonds to the design.

Red is the official color of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womens movement to symbolize a bold statement, Indigenous womens issues will be seen and heard.

Aside from being a statement color, multiple tribes also believe that red is the only color that spirits can see. The project believes that the color not only will help to bring awareness to the cause but also help guide back the spirits of the murdered women and children so they can be laid to rest.

Cornells dress choice made national headlines.

Native dresses, like the ones designed by Della, are highlighting the unique way young Native people are incorporating their traditional heritage into contemporary spaces as a way to show off their ancestral pride, an article in Teen Vogue said.

I am just super honored and very happy that my dress will be getting a lot of coverage, Cornell said. A lot of times the only people talking about MMIW are Native people.

A year later, Cornell and her mother were contacted by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History about including the gown in a new exhibit called Girlhood.

The exhibit was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of womens suffrage by showcasing how women have changed history in five areas: politics, education, work, health and fashion.

Cornells dress sits in the center of the fashion section on display. From there, it will tour the country through the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service from 2023 through 2025.

While I am a little bit sad that I dont get to have it in my physical possession anymore, she said. Im more happy that a lot of other people will be able to learn something from it and for more awareness to be spread because thats the whole mission behind it.

The student of Fort Lewis College, a former Indian boarding school turned public college, never expected to find her prom dress in the center of a Smithsonian museum exhibit, but says that it gave her a chance to educate others on the struggles that Indigenous women face.

By having it in the museum, that means that a lot of other people will be able to see it and understand whats going on and thats really just the whole goal behind all of this.

Gaylord News is a Washington-based reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Cronkite News has partnered with OU to expand coverage of indigenous communities.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
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Ryan Reynolds stunned even some of his most loyal fans on Thursday morning, after casually revealing that his middle name is Rodney over Twitter.

Despite his full name being easily accessible with a quick Google search, many of the actor's 16.9 million followers expressed disbelief, with one even tweeting that the fact was completely unexpected even after following his career for 'nearly two decades.'

While promoting Mint Mobile, the 44-year-old Deadpool star compared 'paying $90 a month for wireless' to his middle name, which he joked existed and could be used, 'but it sucks so why would you?'

Surprising: Ryan Reynolds stunned even some of his most loyal fans, after casually revealing that his middle name is Rodney over Twitter on Thursday morning; seen on November 16, 2019 in New York City

He concluded: 'Instead, pay $90 for SIX MONTHS at https://mintmobile.com.'

In response, one of his skeptical fans wrote: 'PLEASE tell me your middle name is actually Rodney.'

'It is indeed, Rodney,' replied the father-of-three, who is married to actress Blake Lively confirmed, as others inquired about his parent's choice.

Jokes: Despite his full name being easily accessible with a quick Google search, many of the actor's 16.9 followers expressed disbelief, with one even tweeting that the fact was completely unexpected even after following his career for 'nearly two decades'

True: While promoting Mint Mobile, the 44-year-old Deadpool star compared 'paying $90 a month for wireless' to his middle name, which he joked existed and could be used, 'but it sucks so why would you?'

'Did you ever ask your parents why Rodney? I mean, it could be worse. It could have been your first name,' another asked.

Amid the onslaught of jests at his middle name's expense, one Twitter user wrote: 'Just when all the Rodneys in the world are breathing a sigh of relief that 2020 is finally almost behind them, along comes Ryan to give them one last swift kick in the balls.'

Others dubbed him having 'having three initials with the same letter' as 'unusual.'

Yikes: Amid the onslaught of jests at his middle name, one Twitter user wrote: 'Just when all the Rodneys in the world are breathing a sigh of relief that 2020 is finally almost behind them, along comes Ryan to give them one last swift kick in the balls'

'Did you ever ask your parents why Rodney? I mean, it could be worse. It could have been your first name,' another asked

'Definitely easier for a parent to yell for their child using their full name. Plus, they won't forget your name to begin with if their are many siblings. Genius. Love your work!' one fan mused.

In November, Reynolds's middle name did not come up as many pushed to have a street named after him in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada.

The efforts were short-lived, however, as he hilariously shot down the hosts and producer of The Kevin and Sonia Show With Tara Jean's efforts on social media.

'Definitely easier for a parent to yell for their child using their full name. Plus, they won't forget your name to begin with if their are many siblings. Genius. Love your work!' one fan mused

Using a charming dose of his infectious, self-deprecating humor, the Golden Globe nominee tweeted: 'Very kind but hard pass.'

'If traffic sucks everyone will say, 'Ryan Reynolds is a mess' or 'Ryan Reynolds is really backed up.'

He added, 'My brothers would enjoy this too much.'

Beloved: In November, his middle name did not come up as push to have a street named after in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada made headlines; pictured in December 2019

If Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart took action on the effort, the actor explained his three brothers -- Jeff, Patrick and Terry -- would be able to torture him with playful good humor.

Despite the rebuff, radio host Kevin Lim, who helped launch the petition, hasn't given up on the effort just yet.

'OMG @VancityReynolds responded to our petition to name a street after him in Vancouver!!!' Lim tweeted.

Moving forward? The radio show behind the petition asked fans and followers whether they should continue to the push for the petition despite Reynolds' polite rejection

'Should we keep it going? Even if it's just so his brothers can make fun of him?'

In making the case for petition, Lim and his cohorts on the radio show revealed Reynolds 'has not only has he captured our hearts on the big screen, his humanitarian efforts have made him a beloved local treasure who encapsulates the best of Vancouverites, and fully deserving of this recognition in his hometown.'

They even listed some of the charitable contributions Reynolds and his wife have made for his hometown in 2020 alone.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Dutch Government has decided to come to the aid of WINAIR by granting them a three million dollars load ($3M). WINAIR is the only airline that travels from St. Maarten to Saba and St. Eustatius from St. Maarten.

According to a news article published on Koninkrijk. nu its states that the Government of St. Maarten requested the assistance of the Dutch Government on behalf of WINAIR. The building owned by WINAIR located at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) serves as collateral for the loan for a period of 18 months which can be extended to six years.

The published article states that with the loan the Netherlands wants to guarantee air connection to the Windward Islands. Due to entry restrictions and the reduced demand due to the Coronavirus, the connection with the Dutch Caribbean municipalities are at risk of coming to a standstill should the airline file bankruptcy.

According to the article, WINAIR continues to lose money due to the lack of flights while its expenses continue.

Requirements

The main requirement for the loan is that WINAIR must maintain its air link between the Dutch Caribbean municipalities namely Saba and St. Eustatius, for the duration of the aid with at least two flights per day once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

In addition, WINAIR may not pay any bonuses to its directors or supervisory directors and may also not distribute dividends to its shareholders as long as the loan has not been repaid. With regards to the mortgage loan, a first mortgage right is also established on all WINAIR real estate. A market interest rate of 4.41% per year is payable.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-31 21:47:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday said China and Japan have made positive progress in the consultations involving the direct telephone line under the maritime and air liaison mechanism.

The building process is expected to start as soon as possible, according to Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, during a press conference.

Tan said the maritime and air liaison mechanism between the Chinese and Japanese defense departments has been operating well since its establishment in 2018 and has played a positive role in maintaining peace and stability in the East China Sea. 
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
West KY Star 'Most Clicked' Local Stories of 2020

By West Kentucky Star Staff

WESTERN KENTUCKY - Most people will probably tell you that 2020 is a year best forgotten, but it's still worth a final look back to see what happened that had western Kentucky talking, and clicking on the Star. These ten stories were among many that moved the needle of our readers' interest in the past year. A brief synopsis of each counts down to number 1, with links below to each original story.(October) - Police officers spent nine hours negotiating with a man who broke into a hotel room and threatened the occupant at knifepoint.(July) - Deputies arrested a Water Valley man and recovered several hidden cameras that were placed in homes in Graves and Weakley counties without permission of the homeowners.(May) - McCord was shot and killed at her Fountain Avenue home by a prison parolee who McCord had tried to help readjust to life after incarceration.(December) - Deputies said autopsy results showed that Kyle Milliken shot his wife and their two young sons before turning the gun on himself.(September) - A man who was stopped in a stolen vehicle pointed a semi-automatic weapon at a McCracken County deputy, who responded with lethal force.(June) - A Texas man rented a boat to dispose of a woman's body, who coroners said was the victim of homicide.(June) - The former director of Barbecue On the River had been missing since 2018, but was located in May by Paducah detectives in South Carolina.(August) - A Mounds, IL man died and four others also received gunshot wounds in a confrontation on Paducah's north side.(June) - A series of protests and council meetings took place about the Confederate statue located at the city's court square.(March) - The pandemic fundamentally changed life around the world and in every home. Within a single week in March, western Kentucky suddenly faced business and school closures, hoarding of Clorox wipes and toilet paper, and decisions on who was an "essential employee." Soon schools were virtual, Zoom meetings were the norm, churches and restaurants defied the governor, and masks became as much a political flashpoint as personal protection while waiting for vaccines to be created. For the rest of the year on the Star, COVID-related articles were a daily staple of headlines on the front page.On the Net:
L-R: David Banda, Mercy James, Madonna; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for J/P HROIt looks like Madonna and at least some of her brood will be ringing in 2021 in Africa.

As depicted in her Instagram Stories and feed, Madonna and her children are now in Malawi, the African nation from which she adopted son David and daughters Mercy, Stella and Estere. Madonna has hashtagged her videos and photos of the trip "#homecoming."

In some of the images and videos, we see either Stella or Estere -- it's tough to tell the twins apart -- sleeping against a plane window as their plane arrives in what Madonna calls the "Warm Heart of Africa." We also see the family driving through the roads in Malawi, and Mercy on a swing on the grounds of what could be their hotel. Based on the picture, the U.K.'s Daily Mail says it's Kumbali Country Lodge, near the capital of Lilongwe.

It's not clear if either David or Madonna's two eldest children, Lourdes and Rocco, are part of the trip.

Madonna has spearheaded numerous charitable projects in the country via her charity Raising Malawi, including establishing the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, and building 14 primary schools in rural areas.

The Daily Mail also notes that Americans are still allowed to fly to Malawi despite the pandemic, but they need to be tested 10 days prior to departure and may need to be tested again when they arrive.

Warm Heart Of Africa  pic.twitter.com/wDlXIJxhoA  Madonna (@Madonna) December 30, 2020

By Andrea Dresdale

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
A teaching union has called for all schools across the country to be closed for the start of the new term after the government U-turned on its decision to keep some primaries in London open despite rising Covid cases.

The government bowed to protests, legal pressure and scientific advice on New Year's Day after it initially omitted a number of the capital's boroughs from the forced closures.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the u-turn was needed but said it was 'perplexing' it had got to this stage.

She questioned why the same restrictions are not being rolled out across the rest of the country and said the way the devolved powers had dealt with the mutant virus in schools had led to less chaos.

Dr Bousted also slammed the government's 'recklessness' in looking out for teachers and children's health and branded it 'inexplicable'.

Gavin Williamson had this week released a list of London primary schools in coronavirus 'hotspots' that would stay shut for two weeks after the start of term next week.

The list did not include areas where Covid rates are high such as Haringey whose leaders said they would defy the government and support schools that decided to close.

All primary schools in London will now close for the start of the new term after the government U-turned on its decision to keep some open despite rising Covid cases

The government bowed to protests, legal pressure and scientific advice on New Year's Day after it initially omitted a number of boroughs from the forced closures

Many of the London boroughs which had been told to keep primary schools open are experiencing a surge in Covid cases

Under the Government's initial plan, schools in the City of London and Kingston were set to reopen but those in 22 other London boroughs would have remained closed.

The leaders of Camden, Islington, Greenwich, Haringey, Harrow, Hackney and Lewisham boroughs, and the City of London, said in a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson: 'We ask in the strongest terms that your recommendation is urgently reviewed and our primary schools are added to the list of those advised to move learning online.'

The action prompted an emergency Cabinet Office meeting today where they decided to abandon the original plans and order the remaining area to close their primary schools.

The move is expected to see similar arrangements to the spring lockdown when schools continued to accept children from key worker families but moved to online learning for the vast majority of pupils.

But a teaching union slammed the decision not to apply the same measures to schools across the country, due to the Covid 'tsunami' rocking the country.

Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan and party colleagues running the city's councils had been pushing for all schools in London to shut

Sadiq Khan responded to the news, saying: 'This is the right decision - and I want to thank education minister Nick Gibb for our constructive conversations over the past two days.'

Mr Khan previously branded it 'nonsensical' for some primary school pupils to be told to return next week and wrote to the Prime Minister about his anger that local leaders had not been consulted.

Mr Williamson said: 'Children's education and wellbeing remains a national priority. Moving further parts of London to remote education really is a last resort and a temporary solution.

'As infection rates rise across the country, and particularly in London, we must make this move to protect our country and the NHS. We will continue keep the list of local authorities under review, and reopen classrooms as soon as we possibly can.'

The Tier 4 areas initially excluded from the closures but now added are Camden, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Harrow, Islington, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth and Lewisham.

According to Covid rates compiled by the PA news agency, Greenwich had 2,176 new cases recorded in the seven days to December 26 compared to list-featuring Kensington and Chelsea's 768 new cases in the same period.

On December 15, Greenwich was forced to withdraw advice asking schools to switch to online learning amid rising coronavirus rates following threats of legal action by the Education Secretary.

Dr Bousted told the Today programme: 'It's no way to run an education system and it's no way for the government to behave.

'What's really perplexing about this last minute u-turn is not the u-turn, which was entirely necessary, but the fact that the decision was ever made that nine of the boroughs in the city of London would not be part of the closure of primary schools when infection rates were so high.

'And what's really perplexing is the government appears to be unable to read the figures for infections in those boroughs and was closing schools in some boroughs with lower infection rates than the boroughs it was saying it had to keep open.

'It is inexplicable.' She added: 'What the government should be doing is what the governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are .

'You don't get this chaos in the other countries of the UK. And does the government really believe that somehow Covid in England is different from the other countries of the UK?

'I find the government's recklessness in this regard both with education professionals' health but also with community health and the questions increasingly around children's health inexplicable.'

Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green said the last-minute nature of the London schools decision had caused 'huge stress' for pupils, families and staff, with only a matter of days to go before the new term was due to commence.

But health secretary Matt Hancock said: 'Over the past week we have seen infections and hospitalisations rise sharply across London and hospitals are coming under increased pressure.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government has to 'strike a balance' between education and infection rates

'While our priority is to keep as many children as possible in school, we have to strike a balance between education and infection rates and pressures on the NHS.

'The situation in London continues to worsen and so today we are taking action to protect the public and reduce the spread of this disease in the community.

'Everyone across London must take this situation incredibly seriously and act responsibly to minimise the spread of this deadly disease.'

The previous decision had left many baffled, with schools ordered to remain open just yards away from other schools forced to close.

Two schools in Islington, North London, had been given different advice about whether they could open or close despite being just 700 yards apart.

Councillor Richard Watts, leader of Islington Council, slammed the government for their last-minute decision.

He said: 'It's unacceptable that the Government has waited until Friday night on New Year's Day, with just a weekend before pupils were due to go back, to make a decision that should have been made weeks ago, as the public health situation became clear.

'The Government has taken the right decision only after previously threatening schools with legal action if they did not reopen in January, after Islington and other councils advised last month that this had to be done, following public health advice.

'The Government has left schools and parents with very little time to prepare and make arrangements.'

Schools are already converting sports halls and setting up marquees in playgrounds to prepare for the mass testing programme which will be manned by alumni volunteers.

All secondary schools have been asked to carry out tests for five million people from next week.

Pupils will take the tests themselves but former pupils will be on hand to help the operation.

The Tier 4 areas initially excluded from the closures but now added are Camden, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Harrow, Islington, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth and Lewisham

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT union general secretary, agreed, saying: 'Yet again, parents, pupils and staff are having to deal with the consequences of yet more last-minute chaotic announcements from the Government.

'The Government has bowed to political pressure and has once again shown its disregard for the scientific advice which increasingly suggests that the delayed reopening of schools across all areas of the country is essential in breaking the chain of coronavirus transmission.'

Scientific advisers had warned that more school closures are necessary to control rising infections.

The Government's Sage committee said it was 'highly unlikely' the pandemic could be managed effectively if schools were free to open next week.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: 'Just at the moment when we need some decisive leadership, the government is at sixes and sevens.

'The Government cannot expect to command public confidence with such a confusing and last-minute approach.'

A businessman whose daughter attends a primary school in a Covid hotspot had blasted the 'absurd' decision to keep it open before the latest U-turn.

Stephen Cook was left baffled by the decision as his London council told head teachers to defy ministers and remain closed over the coming weeks.

Mr Cook, 55, who runs a building firm told MailOnline: 'It's all very confusing and totally absurd. But then you could say that we live in very confusing and absurd times.

'None of it makes any sense because there are kids that come from the London Borough of Barnet to my daughter's school and she also has friends from there. Haringey's infection rate is higher than Barnet's so why are not all schools in the area closing?;

Mr Cook lives with his family on Coppetts Road, a busy thoroughfare which divides the London Borough of Haringey on one side and Barnet on the other.

He said: 'Kids who live in the borough of Barnet attend Coldfall and Haringey kids go to Coppetts Wood. And when they are out and about in local parks, they are constantly mixing and playing.

Stephen Cook and daughter Holly were left baffled by the initial decision as his London council told head teachers to defy ministers and stay closed

'We are in an incredibly difficult situation and I'm glad that I'm not in charge, but we need greater clarity because a lot of people don't understand what's going on.

'I live in a Covid hotspot but if I cross the road, I'm in the London Borough of Barnet so why is there not more consistency?'

According to the Government's latest figures, in the week leading up to December 25, Haringey registered 2,120 cases of coronavirus with infections running at 789.14 per 100,000.

For the same period, Barnet registered 2,751 with infections running at 694.13 per 100,000.

Haringey councillor Joseph Ejiofor wrote to head teachers outlining the fact the area's Covid case rate is higher than the London average and that officials weren't consulted before the decision was made.

The previous decision had left many baffled, with schools ordered to remain open just yards away from other schools forced to close

He wrote: 'We are part of the same integrated care system as two boroughs where primaries have been told to stay closed (Barnet and Enfield) and the North Middlesex, a hospital under significant pressure, serves the populations of both Haringey and Enfield.

'We believe that all primary schools in Haringey should therefore open only to the children of key workers and vulnerable children next week and we will support all our schools in this approach.'

Jenny Batt, Lib Dem councillor for Worcester Park in Sutton, south-west London, said local people were 'confused and worried' about what was going on and did not understand how officials were reaching their decisions.

Medics are pictured collecting a patient from an ambulance at the Royal London Hospital this morning, January 1

'They don't understand what the criteria is,' she told BBC London. 'I've got residents who live in Sutton whose children go to a Kingston school and are told that it is safe.

'And then they've got their neighbours' children who can't go to school because theirs isn't safe.'

Secondaries also face an anxious wait to find out whether they will be able to reopen fully on the new target date of January 18.

The Department for Education is racing to put a mass testing system in place, but has warned the curbs could need to be even wider than for primaries as older children are more likely to spread the disease. The situation is not expected to become clear until the next review date of January 13.
The mob known as The Family have become part of Irelands next Cartel after growing at an unprecedented rate since the toppling of the Kinahan crime empire.

The Ballyfermot based gang headed by convicted drug dealer Brian Grendon specialise in smack but are also selling cocaine, ketamine and MDMA.

They are closely associated with a major drug supplier operating as a legitimate businessman involved in the fitness industry and with 'Dee Dee' ODriscoll who the Criminal Assets Bureau described as the leader of a criminal organisation involved in the large scale distribution of heroin, cocaine and cannabis resin.

The Family are also known to associate closely with members of George The Penguin Mitchells Irish operation and like the crime Kingpin do not believe that feuding is good for business.

Read More

Despite shying away from murderous feuds like his contemporaries fighting for cocaine turf, Brian Grendon is known to be one of the most feared criminals in West Dublin.

A Sunday World investigation today reveals how The Family are now the main suppliers of heroin to Cork along with a growing turf stretching out across the city from Blanchardstown to Drimnagh.

Gardai believe that the New Cartel have their own drug supply routes and deal directly with Turkish criminals avoiding the Netherlands and Spain.

One of their main suppliers is suspected of being behind a massive haul of more than 670 kilos of heroin discovered on the German and Polish border last year.

The haul, which originated in Afghanistan, was said to be worth more than $50 million and had started its journey in Kyrgystan where it was disguised in a truck load of Turkish sweets.

The Family are understood to be shifting upwards of 50 kilos of heroin a month and supplying major gangs throughout Dublin and south to Cork but business has exploded of late since they made key alignments with other major gangs to form the New Cartel.

Brian Grendon is 42 years of age and is notoriously, private shunning the use of social media. He is a clean living and highly paranoid checking his vehicles and premises for bugging devices on a regular bases.

It is understood he trusts a handful of key lieutenants who have been close to him for years and who operate as his right hand men. His brother Philip is one of his closest confidents.

Gardai believe that in the past decade Brian Grendon he has become the most significant heroin dealer in Ireland after he concentrated on keeping at arms length from his supplies following a prison sentence.

He was convicted in 2002 after a court heard he was caught after taking a black plastic bag of heroin from another man believed to be working for Jeffrey Mitchell.

At the time The Family were buying from Mitchell who famously fell out with the violent Westies mob.

Grendon was jailed with one of his senior associates, Brian McDermott, who remains a significant member of his inner circle. In court the then Detective Sergeant Greg Sheehan said both gangs involved in the operation had used fatal shootings in the past on anyone who compromised their business.

After his release from prison he vowed that he would never spend another day behind bars and set himself up as a car dealer.

A company linked to him would later be raided by the Criminal Assets Bureau in a probe into the laundering of drug funds.

Intent on staying out of jail, Grendon set up a new modus operandi on his release when it came to selling The Family wares.

He set up a particular delivery and collection service using green areas in Ballyfermot.

There he had young associates number lampposts and would send one of his senior lieutenants to co-ordinated the collection of bags of smack by buyers who would be directed to different labelled posts for their supplies.

Over the past ten years members of his mob have been collated repeatedly travelling over and back to Turkey but avoiding flights to the Netherlands and Spain.

The Family are understood to have developed a large money laundering wing over the past decade too as their wealth grew and are now suspected of profiting to the tune of an enormous 20 million a year from smack alone.

But their activities have made them the top targets for both the CAB and the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in Ireland and they are expected to face an enormous crackdown on their activities in the coming months.

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A Northwest Portland synagogue fire that police said was set intentionally was probably not an act of antisemitism, the synagogues senior rabbi said Thursday.

Firefighters arrived at Congregation Beth Israel about 9:10 p.m., Wednesday, to find a fire against the synagogues side door, Portland police and Rabbi Michael Cahana said. After putting out the flames, firefighters ceded the scene to investigators, who concluded that the fire was likely set on purpose.

Cahanas staff told him the flames came from a mason jar left hanging on a door handle. Investigators took the jar as evidence, Cahana said. A photo taken after the incident shows a black scorch mark emanating from above the right door handle, as well as graffiti.

Somebody intentionally set a fire Dec. 30 that damaged a door at the Portland synagogue Congregation Beth Israel.

The door in question is a side-entrance to the main house of worship, Cahana said. The door has an overhang, he said, and people have sometimes camped out in the spot. Cahanas impression is that the suspects were just people who happened to be there and lit a fire, he said, not anti-Semites.

You always worry about those kinds of things, Cahana said. But the initial sense seems to be not that we were being targeted.

The Portland Police Bureau said in a statement they dont have evidence that the fire was set as an act of antisemitism, though it is nevertheless concerning that a fire might have been intentionally set near a place of worship.

Cahana stressed that the investigation is ongoing, and that he does not actually know the suspects intentions.

Portland police ask that anyone with information about the crime contact Detective Meredith Hopper, at 503-823-3408, or Portland Fire & Rescue Investigator Lieutenant Jason Andersen, at 503-823-3797.

-- Fedor Zarkhin
India said on Friday it is looking at several options to assist 39 Indian sailors stranded on two merchant vessels in Chinese waters for months, including a crew change at sea or at a Chinese port, so that the men could be brought home.

The Indian sailors are on MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia which are carrying Australian coal but have not been allowed to discharge their cargo. The situation is believed to be the outcome of the China-Australia trade row.

The matter has been taken up with the Chinese foreign ministry and local provincial authorities, who have been requested to allow the ships to dock or for their crews to be allowed to be changed, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

MV Jag Anand, a bulk cargo vessel with 23 Indian crew members, has been on anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province since June 13, while MV Anastasia is on anchorage near Caofeidian port since September 20 with 16 Indians on board.

The MV Anastasia is exploring the possibility of a crew change at sea at its current point of anchorage, and the Indian embassy in Beijing wrote to Chinese authorities on Thursday, proposing this alternative and seeking approval for it, Srivastava said.

The Chinese foreign ministry also said in late November that a crew change wouldnt be feasible at Jingtang port and that local authorities would examine requests from shipping companies for crew rotation at Tianjin port. Following this, shipping companies were asked to expeditiously file crew change applications, he said.

While the shipping companies are examining the logistics of sailing the ships away from their current points of anchorage, our embassy is liaising with relevant authorities in Tianjin for berthing approvals to facilitate the crew change, Srivastava said.

We have also requested the shipping companies to ensure that they file in their plans for crew change at the earliest for approvals by the local Chinese authorities, he added.

Indian officials have been following up the issue of the Indian sailors for the past few months. Indian ambassador Vikram Misri has personally taken up the issue with Chinas vice foreign minister, and the external affairs ministry has also followed up with the Chinese embassy in New Delhi.

Srivastava reiterated that there is growing stress on the crew members on account of the long delay. He said, Given this and our concern for the increasingly difficult conditions for our crew members, these two cases are being pursued vigorously.

He said several other ships from different countries were also awaiting their turn to unload their cargo at Chinese ports. Our embassy in Beijing continues to remain in close and continuous touch with Chinese authorities in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin. The ministry is also following up through the Chinese embassy in New Delhi for an early resolution, he said.

We have noted the statements of the Chinese side, expressing their willingness to extend their assistance in this matter. We expect this assistance will be provided in an urgent, practical and time-bound manner, given the grave humanitarian situation that is developing on board the ships, Srivastava added.

The Chinese embassy had recently blamed commercial companies responsible for handling the cargo on the two merchant vessels for the predicament of the Indian sailors, and said it was providing assistance to the crew members.

The Chinese side has also said crew change is not permitted at Jintang and Caofeidian ports because of Covid-19-related restrictions.
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Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Quarter Reverse

The United States Mint (Mint) will release the 2021 America the Beautiful Quarter honoring the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site on January 4, 2021. This is the final quarter in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program and the only America the Beautiful Quarter to be issued in 2021. Due to increased demand for circulating coins, these quarters will ship to the Federal Reserve Banks ahead of the previously planned February 1st release date.

The Mint launched the America the Beautiful Quarters Program in 2010 as authorized by Public Law 110456, the Americas Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (Act). The Act called for the Mint to issue 56 quarter-dollar coins with reverse designs depicting national parks and other national sites in each state or territory and the District of Columbia. The coins were issued in the order in which the featured site was first established as a national park or site.

Established in 1998, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama commemorates the heroic actions and achievements of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. The term Tuskegee Airmen pertains to both men and women of diverse nationalities. They were composed of nearly 1,000 pilots and more than 15,000 support staff (including navigators, bombardiers, and mechanics). The site preserves five historic structures used during primary flight training during World War II.

It is fitting that such a significant historic site will complete this successful coin program, said Mint Director David J. Ryder. The Mint is proud to honor the men and women who overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II.

The reverse (tails) design depicts a Tuskegee Airman pilot suiting up to join the fight during World War II with the Moton Field control tower in the background. The pilot looks upward with pride and confidence as two P-51 Mustangs pass overhead. The inscription THEY FOUGHT TWO WARS is arced across the top as a reference to the dual battles the Tuskegee Airmen foughtfascism abroad and racial discrimination at home. The design was created by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Designer Chris Costello and sculpted by United States Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill.

The coins obverse (heads) depicts the 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan, which has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original model. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and QUARTER DOLLAR.

About the United States Mint

Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nations sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:



Visit https://usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters for information about the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

Visit https://usmint.gov/about for information about the United States Mint.

Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information about shipping options.

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United States Mint  Connecting America through Coins
Love Island bosses have announced they are casting for series seven, sparking hopes it will return in 2021.

The show has not aired since February of 2020 after plans to air the programme twice a year were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

ITV are now on the hunt for a new crop of islanders and have invited singletons to apply for a place in the villa, with host Laura Whitmore sharing an ad for the application on her Instagram Stories.

It's back! Love Island bosses have announced they are casting for series seven, sparking hopes it will return in 2021 (host Laura Whitmore pictured on the show in January)

The ad reads: 'Calling all new islanders, fancy a long hot summer?'

The casting website has now sprung to life and reads: 'ITV2 are looking for vibrant singles from across the UK who are searching for love!

'Our Islanders spend time in a luxury villa in the hope of finding love, but to remain in paradise they must win the hearts of the public and their fellow Islanders, who ultimately decide their fate on Love Island.

'If you think youve got what it takes, then we want to hear from you!'

Applications: ITV are now on the hunt for a new crop of islanders and have invited singletons to apply for a place in the villa

The eligibility requirements for the show are broad with applicants having to be over 18 and not related to anyone working for ITV.

They must also hold a valid passport and be available for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks to film the show.

Applicants must then upload a short video of themselves explaining why they would make a good islander and send a headshot and full length photos of themselves.

Hopefuls will have their work cut out for them if they want to make it to the villa as it was previously revealed only six Islanders on the 2019 series actually applied to be on the show.

Despite 85,000 people applying for a spot, people only had a 0.007% chance of getting onto the show through the application process.

Delay: The show has not aired since February of 2020 after plans to air the programme twice a year were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic (Winter Love Island winners Paige Turley and Finn Tapp pictured in February with host Laura)

According to The Mirror, Amy Hart, Michael Griffiths, Ovie Soko and Joe Garratt, all applied via these channels.

Meanwhile, Curtis Pritchard and Tommy Fury both had agents who helped to get them on the show.

Love Island 2019 winners Amber Gill and Greg O'Shea did not apply for the show and were instead scouting by producers.

In written evidence for the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee report, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said: 'On series five of Love Island to date (15 July), there have been 36 contributors.

Oh dear: Love Island 2019 winners Amber and Greg DIDN'T apply to be on the show as it was revealed only six of the Islanders were chosen through the general application process

'24 were found and cast by the programme's casting team, six were put forward by professional agents, and six came through the general application.'

Dame Carolyn previously told MPs ITV receives approximately 98,000 applications for Love Island and has denied casting directors are given instructions about physical appearance when searching for contestants.

She said: 'Theres a very rigorous application and casting process.

'We get about 98,000 applications for Love Island, they then take that down to about 90 to 100 as soon as they get a call back - at that stage they go through medical questionnaires, psychological questionnaires, assessments, that then goes down to about 30 or 40 who get selected to appear on Love Island.

'Its a very rigorous process of screening that goes on before they actually get on to Love Island.'
Nathan Woods plead not guilty to charges of sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child on Tuesday at a Colorado court hearing

The 38-year-old convicted sex offender was arrested April 18 after spending four hours connected to an iPad at an AT&T store searching for child porn

The store employees were set to close for the day and were about to clear the iPad's browser history when they discovered the child pornography sites

Woods, who is fluent in German, told cops he got confused with some German terms that eventually turned up the explicit content

He had been out in parole following a 2013 conviction for sexual assault and second-degree robbery

Woods remains in custody and his trial is set to begin in May 24

Nathan Woods plead not guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child during a Colorado court hearing Tuesday

A convicted sex offender was caught viewing child porn for hours using an AT&T display model iPad while in store.

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Nathan Woods pleaded not guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child during a court hearing Tuesday.

The charges stem from the 38-year-old's arrest following an April 18 incident at a Boulder AT&T store at 1675 29th St, according to the Boulder Daily Camera.

Woods allegedly spent four hours perusing child porn on the tablet.

Store employees alerted the police after they reviewed the iPad's browser history before closing the store for the day and learned that Woods had visited child pornography sites.

Law enforcement agents checked the iPad's browser history and found specific German terms that eventually translated to naked images of minors. The tablet also turned up websites that contained children performing sex acts.

Employees at the AT&T store in Boulder, Colorado, were set to close for the day on April 18 when they went to clear the history of an iPad and discovered that a customer had spent four hours searching for child porn on the tablet

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Employees informed authorities that no other customer had used the iPad before Woods the day he visited the AT&T store.

The police found Woods in the vicinity at another store and were able to take him into custody.

Woods confessed to cops of searching for child pornography on the iPad but that he was surprised at the content he came across on the search engine.

'I wasn't expecting Google to put out stuff that was illegal,' he said.

He added that his fluency with the German language could have confused him with words that ultimately led him to the explicit images.

Woods did say that he had been looking for a video of women that he had been tipped about.

Nathan Woods was arrested in Boulder County in 2011 and plead guilty in 2013 to a sexual assault and second-degree burglary. Woods broke into the dorm bathrooms at the University of Colorado Boulder campus and stole women's clothing and assault a female acquaintance while she slept in her room

Woods was arrested in Boulder County in 2011 and pleaded guilty in 2013 to a sexual assault and second-degree burglary. Woods broke into the dorms at the University of Colorado Boulder campus and stole women's clothing and assaulted a female acquaintance while she slept in her room.

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Court documents indicate he received a six-year sentence, two years of work release and sex offender probation.

Woods is still in custody at the Boulder County Jail after he was prohibited from posting a $10,000 bail bond because he had violates the terms of his parole.

Woods is set to appear in court April 7 and his five-day trial is slated to begin May 24.
The coal ministry has issued a notification on its intention to acquire 712.072 hectares (ha) and all rights over the land for mining coal in Madanpur South coal block in Korba district of Chhattisgarh, whose government has been considering declaring the rich forest area an elephant reserve.

According to the notification published on December 24, 489.274 ha is protected forest land and 159.327 comprises revenue and other forest land.

The intention to acquire the land has been notified under provisions of the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act. The law says that if the central government is satisfied that coal is obtainable from a tract of land, it can give notice of its intention to acquire it.

But diversion of the forest land for non-forest use hasnt taken place yet because the Chhattisgarh government was considering declaring it an elephant reserve.

We have not started the process of diversion of forest land. I cannot say anything on whether or when it will be diverted. The issue of extending the elephant reserve is still under consideration, said Rakesh Chaturvedi, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) in Chhattisgarh

Since the elephant reserve hasnt been notified yet commenting on its boundaries will be premature. The government will take a call, said PVN Rao, PCCF (wildlife) in Chhattisgarh.

Environmental activists and legal researchers have raised several concerns with the intention to acquire large biodiversity rich forest land located in the Hasdeo Arand region-- one of the largest contiguous stretches of very dense forests in central India spanning 170,000 ha which has 22 coal blocks underneath.

The central government has issued a notification to acquire the same forest land for which a process for diversion is pending, especially because the state government is looking to declare the area as an elephant reserve and the local Gram Sabhas have refused to grant consent, said Kanchi Kohli, legal researcher at the Centre for Policy Research think tank.

This raises a serious legal question on the validity of the notification issued under the Coal Bearing Areas Act, 1957 which is seeking to acquire government forest land. But more importantly, it highlights the failure of cooperative federalism as both the state and central governments appear to have visualized a different future for the Hasdeo Arand region where the Madanpur South coal block is located, Kohli said.

Alok Shukla, convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, a non-government organisation, said the government should consult the local gram sabha (village council).

I think acquiring forest land like this completely goes against the provisions of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. Recently four coal blocks in the Hasdeo region were saved from being auctioned after state government said they have rich, dense forest cover. This block is also in Hasdeo Arand and the catchment of Hasdeo river is located here so why is it being acquired for mining? First there should be detailed consultation with people of the region and state government should oppose this move by the Centre, he said

Asked whether the Centre had considered the impact of mining in an elephant habitat and rich forest area, a senior coal ministry official said on condition of anonymity : The queries are premature. The notification talks merely of intention to acquire. The objective is precisely to find out the intricacies based on which a decision will be made.

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You are here: China

A launch ceremony of the fishing ban in key waters of Yangtze River was held in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province on Thursday.



According to the central government's plan, a complete 10-year fishing ban is imposed in key waters of the Yangtze, China's longest river starting Friday.
Bharat Biotech expects approval of Covaxin for emergency use from WHO in July- September

Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 crore doses for 2021

Red ants chutney as covid cure? Ayush Ministry to take a call

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 01: The chutney of red ants and their dried eggs which had celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay wowed could soon be adopted by the Ayush Ministry as a possible covid cure.

The Orissa high court on Thursday told the directors general of Ayush ministry and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to decide within three months on a proposal to use red ant chutney to treat Covid-19, Times of India reported.

"Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this court disposes of the writ petition and directs the director general of the ministry of Ayush and the director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to take a decision on the representation filed by the petitioner and pass appropriate order within three months," the bench said.

The use of chutney to fight virus was proposed by Baripada-based engineer and researcher Nayadhar Padhial in June.

A delicacy by the indigenous population in Odisha and Chhattisgarh is consumed to get rid of flu, cough, common cold, breathing difficulties, fatigue and other diseases. The chutney is primarily a mixture of red ants and green chillies.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

Padhial, an assistant engineer with the Works Department filed a petition in court regarding the same. Padhial said the chutney contains formic acid, protein, calcium, Vitamin B12, Zinc and iron that boost the immune system.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, told CNN on Friday that the United States would not follow Britains lead in front-loading first vaccine injections, potentially delaying the administration of second doses.

Britain announced a plan this week to delay second shots of its two authorized vaccines, developed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca, in an attempt to dole out to more people the partial protection conferred by a single dose.

I would not be in favor of that, Dr. Fauci told CNNs Elizabeth Cohen, regarding altering dosing schedules for the vaccines authorized for use in the United States, made by Pfizer and Moderna. Were going to keep doing what were doing.

His opinion was met with approval by some experts, including Dr. Eric Topol, a clinical trials expert at the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, who tweeted, Thats good because that its following what we know, the trial data with extraordinary 95 percent efficacy, avoiding extrapolation and the unknowns.
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February 22, 2021 10.00 am

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Resolute in their demands for the repeal of three new farm laws and a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops, protesting farmer unions on Friday said they will have to take firm steps if the government does not take a decision in their favour in the next meeting scheduled for January 4.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border protest site, farmer leaders warned of multiple actions if their main demands are not met.

They said that only five per cent of the issues raised by them have so far been discussed in meetings with the government.

"If the January 4 meeting with the government fails to end the deadlock, we will announce dates for shutting all malls, petrol pumps in Haryana," farmer leader Vikas told reporters.

Farmers protesting at Shahjahanpur on the Haryana-Rajasthan border will also move towards the capital, Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav said.

Another leader Yudhveer Singh said that a tractor march will be held on January 6 if no concrete decision is taken in the next round of talks.

After the sixth round of formal negotiations on Wednesday, the government and farm unions reached some common ground to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

After the talks between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands of farmers protesting on Delhi borders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4 at 2 PM.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the capital for more than a month against these three new laws.

The government has presented these laws as major agriculture reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations have left them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fluorescence microscopy is widely used in biochemistry and life sciences because it allows scientists to directly observe cells and certain compounds in and around them. Fluorescent molecules absorb light within a specific wavelength range and then re-emit it at the longer wavelength range. However, the major limitation of conventional fluorescence microscopy techniques is that the results are very difficult to evaluate quantitatively; fluorescence intensity is significantly affected by both experimental conditions and the concentration of the fluorescent substance. Now, a new study by scientists from Japan is set to revolutionize the field of fluorescence lifetime microscopy. Read on to understand how!

A way around the conventional problem is to focus on fluorescence lifetime instead of intensity. When a fluorescent substance is irradiated with a short burst of light, the resulting fluorescence does not disappear immediately but actually "decays" over time in a way that is specific to that substance. The "fluorescence lifetime microscopy" technique leverages this phenomenon--which is independent of experimental conditions--to accurately quantify fluorescent molecules and changes in their environment. However, fluorescence decay is extremely fast, and ordinary cameras cannot capture it. While a single-point photodetector can be used instead, it has to be scanned throughout the sample's area to be able to reconstruct a complete 2D picture from each measured point. This process involves movement of mechanical pieces, which greatly limits the speed of image capture.

Fortunately, in this recent study published in Science Advances, the aforementioned team of scientists developed a novel approach to acquire fluorescence lifetime images without necessitating mechanical scanning. Professor Takeshi Yasui, from Institute of Post-LED Photonics (pLED), Tokushima University, Japan, who led the study, explains, "Our method can be interpreted as simultaneously mapping 44,400 'light stopwatches' over a 2D space to measure fluorescence lifetimes--all in a single shot and without scanning." So, how was this achieved?

One of the main pillars of their method is the use of an optical frequency comb as the excitation light for the sample. An optical frequency comb is essentially a light signal composed of the sum of many discrete optical frequencies with a constant spacing in between them. The word "comb" in this context refers to how the signal looks when plotted against optical frequency: a dense cluster of equidistant "spikes" rising from the optical frequency axis and resembling a hair comb. Using special optical equipment, a pair of excitation frequency comb signals is decomposed into individual optical beat signals (dual-comb optical beats) with different intensity-modulation frequencies, each carrying a single modulation frequency, and irradiated on the target sample. The key here is that each light beam hits the sample on a spatially distinct location, creating a one-to-one correspondence between each point on the 2D surface of the sample (pixel) and each modulation frequency of the dual-comb optical beats.

Because of its fluorescence properties, the sample re-emits part of the captured radiation while still preserving the aforementioned frequency-position correspondence. The fluorescence emitted from the sample is then simply focused using a lens onto a high-speed single-point photodetector. Finally, the measured signal is mathematically transformed into the frequency domain, and the fluorescence lifetime at each "pixel" is easily calculated from the relative phase delay that exists between the excitation signal at that modulation frequency versus the one measured.

Thanks to its superior speed and high spatial resolution, the microscopy method developed in this study will make it easier to exploit the advantages of fluorescence lifetime measurements. "Because our technique does not require scanning, a simultaneous measurement over the entire sample is guaranteed in each shot," remarks Prof. Yasui, "This will be helpful in life sciences where dynamic observations of living cells are needed." In addition to providing deeper insight into biological processes, this new approach could be used for simultaneous imaging of multiple samples for antigen testing, which is already being used for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Perhaps most importantly, this study showcases how optical frequency combs, which were only being used as "frequency rulers," can find a place in microscopy techniques to push the envelope in life sciences. It holds promise for the development of novel therapeutic options to treat intractable diseases and enhance life expectancy, thereby benefitting the whole of humanity.

###

About Tokushima University, Japan

Established in 1949 by merging multiple education facilities into one, Tokushima University has grown to become one of Japan's most prestigious universities. Its current vision is the search for truth, the creation of knowledge, and the development of eminent sciences and cultures with a spirit of independence and autonomy, all for the peaceful development of humanity and the solution of social issues. Tokushima University counts with seven faculties, eight graduate schools, and an institute of liberal arts and sciences distributed across three main campuses, serving 5,900 undergraduate students and over 2,000 graduate students. The university also counts with over 200 international students from 29 countries. Tokushima University is open to the whole world and works hard to create a rich and peaceful society for the future.

Website: https:/ / www. tokushima-u. ac. jp/ english/

About Institute of Post-LED Photonics (pLED), Tokushima University, Japan

This institute was established in Tokushima University in March 2019 to open a new field of invisible next-generation light, i.e., deep ultraviolet, infrared, and terahertz. Research in pLED includes development and application of the practical light source in that wavelengths. pLED also develop innovative medical techniques by combining optical science with medical science. All researchers with different expertise carry out cutting-edge optical science, while sharing the same vision and direction. pLED will develop interdisciplinary research beyond one specialized field through close communication and interaction between researchers with various backgrounds.

Website: https:/ / www. pled. tokushima-u. ac. jp/ wp-content/ themes/ plp/ pdf/ pamph_english. pdf

About Professor Takeshi Yasui from Tokushima University

Prof. Takeshi Yasui graduated from Tokushima University, Japan, in 1992 and proceeded to get two doctoral degrees: one in Engineering from Tokushima University in 1997 and one in Medical Science from Nara Medical University in 2013. Since 2019, he has been Director of Institute of Post-LED Photonics (pLED), Tokushima University. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and is currently interested in research on optical frequency comb, terahertz instrumentation, and nonlinear optical microscopy.

https:/ / femto. me. tokushima-u. ac. jp/ eng/ index. html

Funding information

The study was supported by grants for the Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (MINOSHIMA Intelligent Optical Synthesizer Project, JPMJER1304), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (18H01901, 18K13768, 19H00871), Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (Subsidy for Regional University and Regional Industrial Creation), Nakatani Foundation for Advancement of Measuring Technologies in Biomedical Engineering, and Research Clusters program of Tokushima University (1802003).
Denver, Colorado, Dec. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company) announces new leadership in conjunction with the spin-off of its Nevada Mining Unit to shareholders as Fortitude Gold Corporation (Fortitude Gold).



Gold Resource Corporations Board of Directors announced leadership changes include:

 Gold Resource Corporation Chairman Mr. Bill Conrad has stepped down as Chairman and will continue to serve as an independent director on the Companys board.

 Current Gold Resource Corporation director Mr. Alex Morrison has been appointed to serve as Chairman.

 Outgoing Gold Resource Corporation CEO, President and director Mr. Jason Reid has stepped down from all Company positions to lead Fortitude Gold.

 Mr. Allen Palmiere has been appointed CEO and a director of Gold Resource Corporation.

 Ms. Lila A. Manassa Murphy and Mr. Joseph Driscoll have been appointed as independent directors to Gold Resource Corporations Board.

Gold Resource Corporation has completed the spin-off of the Companys Nevada Mining Unit into a separate, stand-alone public company, Fortitude Gold Corporation on December 31, 2020. Mr. Bill Conrad serves as Fortitude Golds Board Chairman, while Mr. Jason Reid serves as Fortitude Golds CEO, President and director.

Mr. Alex Morrison (new Gold Resource Corporation Board Chairman)

With the completion of the Nevada spin-off, we are excited to now focus our strategy in Mexico on redeploying more cashflow back into the ground for accelerated growth, stated Mr. Alex Morrison, newly appointed Chairman of Gold Resource Corporation. We thank Mr. Jason Reid for his years of service to the Company as he now leads Fortitude Gold forward for the benefit of all Company shareholders. We also thank Mr. Bill Conrad for his years of service as Chairman and look forward to continuing to work with him as a member of the Companys board.

Mr. Morrison continued, I would like to welcome Mr. Allen Palmiere as Gold Resource Corporations CEO and director. Mr. Palmiere brings a strong track record of mining industry experience and success over his thirty-five year career. Having previously served as CEO of several mining companies, we look forward to working with Mr. Palmiere to continue to build on Gold Resource Corporations success.

I would also like to welcome Ms. Lila A. Manassa Murphy and Mr. Joseph Driscoll to Gold Resource Corporations board of directors. Their collective expertise will assist in the development of the Companys objectives of best in class Governance and operational excellence, stated Mr. Morrison.

Mr. Allen Palmiere (new Gold Resource Corporation CEO, President & Board Member)

Mr. Palmiere, a CA-CPA by training, has more than 35 years of experience in the mining industry both from a financial and operational perspective. His international experience includes South Africa, Central America, Guyana and Brazil and 10 years of experience in China. Mr. Palmieres expertise includes operations, executive management and financing, both debt and equity. Additionally, Mr. Palmiere has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Palmieres former executive positions include CEO and Chairman of the Board, HudBay Minerals Inc., Executive Chairman, Barplats Investments Ltd., Vice President, CFO, Zemex Corporation, and President and CEO, Breakwater Resources Ltd. Mr. Palmiere has also served as a director of numerous public companies. Mr. Palmiere will be responsible for the development and execution of a new strategic plan and direction for the Company.

CEO Comment

I am very excited to join the Gold Resource Corporation team, stated Mr. Allen Palmiere. My immediate priorities will be to continue building on cost and operating efficiencies in preparation for future growth. I see tremendous potential in the Companys large, unexplored land position and am looking forward to leading the Company through this period of operational improvement and a new focus on exploration."

Ms. Lila A. Manassa Murphy (new independent Director)

Ms. Lila A. Manassa Murphy CFA joins the Company as an independent director. Ms. Murphy founded Intrinsic Value Partners, LLC in 2018, a provider of consulting services to asset management firms and family offices. She is an Independent Director and member of the Audit Committee of Dundee Corporation. Previously she was Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Federated Hermes, Inc., a Fortune 500, ESG focused investment firm. Previously, Ms. Murphy worked as an Analyst at David W. Tice & Associates Inc. with a dedicated focus on natural resources investing. Prior to that, she was an Equity Research Analyst at Lee Financial Corporation. She has more than 25 years of diverse investment management experience. She sits on the board and finance committee of Sustainable Development Strategies Group, a US based independent non-profit research institute advancing best practices for sustainable management of natural resources.

Mr. Joseph Driscoll (new independent Director)

Mr. Joseph Driscoll joins the Company as an independent director. Mr. Driscoll is a qualified Mining Engineer and alumnus of Montana Tech from which he holds a Bachelor of Science degree. Mr. Driscoll has held numerous operational roles over his thirty-three year mining career with Forte Dynamics, Environmental Resources Management, Amec Engineering and Consulting, Great Basin Gold Limited, Newmont, Barrick, Queenstake Resources, Stillwater Mining, Independence Mining, New Butte Mining and Pegasus Gold. Mr. Driscoll brings a wealth of operational experience with both underground and open-pit mining operations expertise.

About GRC:

Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico. The Companys focus is on unlocking the value of the mine and large property position. Operational efficiency and exploration will be the short to medium term priorities. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the Companys 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors involved.

About Fortitude Gold Corporation:

Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, strong returns on capital and high margins. The Company strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial future dividends. The Companys Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, with the Isabella Pearl gold mine in current production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the worlds premier mining friendly jurisdictions.

Cautionary Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. When used in this press release, the words plan, target, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding Gold Resource Corporations strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, the scope, duration, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mining operations, Company employees, and supply chains as well as the scope, duration and impact of government action aimed at mitigating the pandemic may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Companys 10-K filed with the SEC.

Contacts:

Corporate Development

Greg Patterson

303-320-7708
It has been a veritable merry-go-round of misery, death, and solitude recently. To stave off cabin fever, many people have started new hobbies, like baking bread, or scrapbooking, or learning a new language to better understand the weird sex noises their Ukrainian neighbors are making. But maybe you've grown tired of those fads, and you're looking for a fun new pastime to take your mind off all the doom and gloom. In that case, have you tried making your own coffin?

We've all been there. You're attending the closed-casket funeral of your cousin, who thought face masks were a hoax created by Bill Gates to inject Windows Office into your brain, and as his body is lowered into the earth, you think: "Boy, that casket sure looks like a dime a dozen." Then Coffin Club might be the right fit for you! Started in 2010 by former palliative care nurse Katie Willams of New Zealand, Coffin Clubs are a DIY arts and crafts collectives where members decorate their own caskets, blowing new life into the process of choosing your forever compost crate. As seen in this short:

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Taking a page from the Ghanese book of the dead, members gather once a week to beautify their own coffin in the extravagant style of their choosing. Like painting your coffin to resemble a chequered flag to indicate you've reached your final lap. Or plastering it with pictures of Elvis to let people know you've left the building. Or, if you're into that sort of thing, like Kate Tym, affix a life-size cutout of Kevin Bacon to the inside of the lid so that, quote, "he's lying on top of me" for all of eternity.
Yves here. Even though Richard Murphys look at 2021 is UK-oriented, a lot of his observations apply to the US. If anything, the breakdown in health care has the potential to be even more severe than what is underway at the NHS. See the new ProPublica story, Those of Us Who Dont Die Are Going to Quit. Its about the VA, but you have similar scenes underway at under-resourced hospitals in high Covid areas.

The US, unlike the UK, is facing an eviction wave that is set to increase homelessness. That has the potential to increase the incidence of other diseases, such as Hep A, typhus, tuberculosis, and cholera. More hunger will have long-term costs on the health and development of the young.

Theres no reason to think the US will see any improvements in policing, so expect to see more killings of people of color that the gens darmes cant splain away. Weve now had years of documented abuses, thanks to cellphone videos, yet even after a year of large-scale protests, both Presidential candidates defended the police. Biden even called for increased budgets. As Lambert would say, its been wonderfully clarifying. Will we see more protests? It depends on the triggers, but the lack of major elections this year means pols will feel insulated for now.

Expect more random acts of violence. Individuals who are desperate, dont have ways to get their grievances addressed and lack support networks can do harm to themselves and those around them.

And we already know, from the disgraceful failure of Congress and the Administration to commit itself to alleviating the suffering of Americans whove taken financial hits (and Bidens too obvious signals not to expect much better from him) that the beatings will continue until morale improves.

By Richard Murphy, a chartered accountant and a political economist. He has been described by the Guardian newspaper as an anti-poverty campaigner and tax expert. He is Professor of Practice in International Political Economy at City University, London and Director of Tax Research UK. He is a non-executive director of Cambridge Econometrics. He is a member of the Progressive Economy Forum. Originally published at Tax Research UK

I have reviewed the last year, both from the perspective of this blog and from that of the political economy. But what of 2021? Knowing that 2020 proved how foolhardy any form of production might be, what do I think 2021 might deliver?

The truth is, of course, that I do not know. What precisely will pan out cannot be known, but some over-arching narratives can be foretold, and that is what interests me. So let me get the obvious likelihoods out of the way and then consider the consequences.

First, there is Covid. It is here to stay for some time. Indeed, it is going to get a lot worse before anything gets better. And right now the government still seems intent on creating a disaster. A great many people are going to die unnecessarily as a result. The NHS will be stretched to its limits. Vaccines will only have a limited impact for some time. I strongly suspect that we will still have restrictions on behaviour in place when 2021 comes to a close. Whether that is because transmissibility still exists, or because anti-vaxers refuse to participate in immunisation programmes, or because of new variants, makes little difference; there will still be restrictions. Lets get used to it now and brace ourselves for the losses to come.

Brace ourselves too for NHS failure  through no fault of those involved but because of failure of leadership now and over the last decade.

And at the same time, those expecting economic recovery in 2021 should, I believe, think again. People living in jeopardy (and that is what 2021 is going to feel like) do not spend. Their animal spirits will be subdued, and the economy with them. Past evidence suggests that this will be the case for some time to come. In which case expect more job losses, more corporate failures, and more distress. What 2020 taught was that a summer relaxation of measures was a big mistake. I hope the same mistake will not be made again in 2021, and I know the price of that.

In that case, any idea that this will be the year when the government begins to plan for the post-Covid recovery are hopelessly misplaced. This will be a year of continuing substantial government deficits driven by low tax receipts, in particular, whilst demand on services will remain high, and will need to be met. Talk of austerity, tax increases and and such issue are all a long way from what will really be on he government agenda.

And Brexit will not go away. Talks on the many unresolved areas will drag on. The costs will become very apparent. Services will begin to appreciate how hard they are hit. Northern Ireland will realise that its supply chains now have to come from the south, and not from the rest of the UK. There will be recurring reports of jobs and investments lost as a result of Brexit related departures of business from the UK.

So, thats the background. What does this mean?

First, Covid, plus Brexit will mean very limited, if any economic recovery in the year. The OBR suggested that growth might be 5% or so assuming no Covid second wave. That now looks to be fanciful. Presuming we are in lockdown for several months from mid January onwards, as Covid deaths exceed 1,000 a day, the likelihood of any recovery is remote. Brexit simply adds to the likelihood.

Furlough will continue to April, but the gross unfairness of a scheme that provides considerable unemployment benefit if you happened to be in a particular type of employment at some point will become too unjust to maintain. Those who have lost their jobs, the self employed and others who fell through gaps, will demand change. I suspect Marcus Rashford will extend his demands to encompass this. Then reform will happen. The idea of some form of basic income may arrive in the UK sooner than anyone expected if tourism and hospitality have the year I expect.

Significant measures to support business will be required. Loans are now seen to be fraud ridden. So, apart from extended rates relief I also foresee compulsory rent reliefs, with landlords able to make partial recovery claims from the government.

With luck, strategically important businesses, large and small, will begin to get capital injections. But measures to prevent cronyism will be key. The stresses in the economy in 2021 are already potentially incendiary; it will not take much for anger to erupt. Failure to provide fairness will deliver it.

Second, the risk of cronyism will remain high. But the seeds of dissent will grow the longer it remains apparent. If it breaks out of the PPE sector I am not sure the anger will be contained.

Third, freeports will begin and be a feature of local government campaigns this May. Counter-arguments are essential, now. The freeports themselves will prove to be a damp squib.

Fourth, the change in relationships in Northern Ireland will be rapid. There is a real risk of stress as unionists realise just how badly they will think they have been treated by the UK. Ireland will continue careful diplomacy, backed by the EU.

Fifth, The SNP will win a landslide in Scotland in May. Johnson will still refuse a referendum. He will even refuse discussion on any real increase in devolved power, backed by Labour in Westminster. An intensely volatile situation will develop quite quickly. It may be a very tense summer. Scottish demands will not go away, and the SNP might have to grant what Westminster will seek to describe as an illegal referendum to keep the lid on stresses. A nation that has decided to be free, as Scotland almost certainly has, is not eventually stopped.

Sixth, the NHS will have a ghastly year. It will be overwhelmed by COVID. That is now almost unavoidable. Staff will suffer, considerably. It will be stressed beyond limits. The demand from the right that it must be broken up will becoming very strong. Labour will be left floundering, triangulating as ever. And the rise of new political sentiment around a revived commitment to public service is entirely possible. I cannot predict how that will happen. I think that a desire to support the NHS, care and education will underpin it when the essential nature of all three, and the lack of existing political support for them, becomes apparent.

Seventh, this concern will align with that on climate. COP 26 might happen, but what will be apparent is that it will be a cop out: the chance that business as normal will prevail in the face of the need for fundamental change will become very obvious. After the extended period of changed behaviour Covid will have already delivered many people will be open to new ways of thinking, and will appreciate that whatever there had been is no longer the answer to where we will be. It is just possible that this will be the year for the demand for real environmental change to become apparent. Increasing weather issues will fuel that. I expect flooding.

Eighth, the mainstream right wing media will do all it can to fight the NHS, teachers, care workers, the unemployed and those who want environmental change. The mantra that change will be unaffordable will echo around the country, and world. But the reality that money has been created for cronyism, the folly of Brexit and the gross mismanagement of PPE will make it clear that is not true. This will be the year for new economic narratives. These will not be called MMT. That is too hard to explain. Green and social QE will be what is demanded. That is, the money will not just be created now: its use will also be directed. The need to maintain economic discipline in a changed environment, and to tackle rising inequality will, in any case, demand this.

Ninth, although this will be the year of the delivery van, it will also be a year for new and local business as people consciously seek to support their communities.

And tenth? I think the threat of disruption in society will be so great that measures to tackle inequality will have to be taken by a government seeking to keep control when the risk of it losing it will be high.

In summary, this is going to be a year if very high political tension. The media will demand suppression. I very much doubt that will be possible when the reality of the next wave of Covid and all that follows from it is appreciated. Containment is the best this government can hope for, having failed to control the virus over the next few months. And that containment may not be possible. The idea that Covid was just a blip will disappear in 2021. The reality that Covid will change everything will arrive. And the politics of that are unknown, but presuming fascism can be prevented (and it is an ever present risk) then the foundations for real change may be laid.

2021 may go down in history.

And I could, of course, be completely wrong.
Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:49 pm

House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, on Wednesday voiced disappointment and frustration with Gov. Jay Inslees announcement that enhanced coronavirus-related restrictions would be extended a week.

The joint statement from the GOP leaders in the Legislature came after Inslee announced the extension to his Stay Safe, Stay Healthy proclamation, which prohibits all indoor social gatherings for people outside of their households, instills restrictions on indoor dining for bars and restaurants, instills service restrictions on many other businesses, and limits outdoor gatherings to five people from outside their households.

No changes aside from the expiration date were made, according to Inslees office. The restrictions are set to tentatively expire on Jan. 11.

Im disappointed in the governors decision, said Wilcox, a 2nd Legislative District lawmaker, in a statement. State government continues to focus on how it can shut employers down instead of how it can help them survive. These extended statewide restrictions will take us up to the beginning of the legislative session. That day cant come soon enough.

Wilcox added Republicans will have solutions ready at the helm, and said he hopes lawmakers from across the aisle can share our sense of urgency and understand immediate actions need to be taken.

Braun, who represents the 20th Legislative District, was critical in his examination of Inslees extension, saying Why wait another week? Why punish small businesses that have gone to great expense, at a time when they can least afford it, to comply with safety measures by crushing any hope they have of saving their livelihoods?

The governor should work with, rather than against, these businesses, many of which are family owned. He should trust them to do the right thing  none of them want their customers to get sick, Braun later said.

Since March, when COVID-19 first hit Washington state  and subsequently spread across the rest of the United States  House and Senate Republicans have voiced criticism of Inslees unilateral proclamations to curb the spread of the virus and have pushed for a special legislative session, both of which have received little acknowledgement from the states executive.

Washington state Republicans have also voiced criticism of the data Inslee has presented.

Ive said before that Washingtonians can work through hard challenges, but the goal posts keep getting moved further and further away, Braun said. Many people feel that the targets needed to reduce isolation are arbitrary and unachievable and that the governor will just let them languish indefinitely.

But the clash between the governor and Republicans leaders also comes at a critical point in the pandemic. As vaccines are being distributed to Washingtons health care workers and most vulnerable, hospitals statewide and intensive care units remain under stress as the pandemic enters its 10th month.

While cases have waned, likely due to a testing slowdown around the holiday season, hospitalizations remain at an all-time high over the last month and deaths remain steady.

On Tuesday, the state Department of Health reported 2,201 new COVID-19 cases and 174 new deaths. The number of confirmed cases of the virus now stands at 232,993, hospitalizations stand at 14,571 and cumulative deaths are at 3,420.

According to Inslees office, a plan is currently being developed to provide a pathway for businesses to reopen. Its expected sometime next week.

Our consistent mission has been keeping Washingtonians safe and ensuring health care system and hospital capacity, Inslee said in a statement. We understand the profound impact COVID is having on our health care system, families, and businesses, but I am heartened by the number of Washingtonians who continue to do the right thing.

If we continue distancing from others, wearing facial coverings and avoiding social gatherings, we will make it to the other side of this pandemic together, he continued.


remaining of

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India will allow resumption of flights to and from the United Kingdom from January 8 but with restrictions that include limiting flight operations to 15 weekly flights each per country till January 23, Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri said on Friday.

The government has put a cap of 30 weekly flights between the countries with 15 flights each allowed for carriers of the two countries.

It has been decided that flights between India and UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad only. DGCA will issue the details shortly, Puri said on Twitter.

The restrictions on flights between the two countries may be extended further till January 31, according to officials aware of the development. Passengers arriving in these flights from January 8 onward will be asked to take mandatory RT PCR tests on arrival and those found negative will be made to sign undertakings for mandatory home quarantine for a week. We are reviewing the status, our assumption is the restrictions on flights to UK may be extended further till the end of the month, a senior official said requesting anonymity.

On December 21, India had joined a growing list of countries on Monday to seal off access to people who have been to the UK, suspending all flights to and from the country between December 23 and December 31 then later extending the ban till January 7 in order to stop the arrival of a new strain of the coronavirus Sars-Cov-2 that is feared to spread faster.

Indias air bubble agreement with UK covered at least 70 flights per week, according to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The airlines flying these routes were Air India, British Airways, Vistara and Virgin Atlantic.

India has been operating international flights through bilateral transport bubbles with 24 countries including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) since calling off scheduled overseas flight operations when it announced the lockdown in March.

Speaking at a press conference last Tuesday Puri had said: I foresee a slight extension of the temporary suspension. I dont expect that extension to be a long or indefinite extension. In the next day or two, we will find out if any additional steps need to be taken, or when we can start easing the current temporary suspension.

He added that from November 25 the government had begun contact tracing of passengers who had arrived directly or indirectly from the UK.

So far, 29 cases of people in India have tested positive for the new and highly infectious strain of coronavirus including four cases that were detected on Friday.

Genomic sequencing repository Nextstrain showed the variant found in UK was also circulating in Denmark, and similar mutations  although in a different strain  were seen in some samples from South Africa. Civil Aviation minister in December had also said Centre may decide to impose similar restrictions on other countries if a high number of cases with the Sars-Cov-2 mutation are found.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th December, 2020) A recent statement from Lithuania's new foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, on the absence of the need to improve relations with Moscow is puzzling, the Russian embassy in Vilnius said on Friday.

On Wednesday, Landsbergis told reporters that there is no need to improve Russia-Lithuania relations, and those who call for cooperation with Moscow are too "naive." The top diplomat used the words "devil's temptations" to describe the opinion that favors better relations with Russia, specifying that even some Lithuanians have such a view.

"The statements of the recently-appointed Lithuanian minister where he said that there is no need to improve relations with Russia are puzzling. It is especially strange to hear this on Christmas and New Year's Eve, when people traditionally express their hopes for the best," the embassy said.

According to the diplomatic mission, Lithuanian officials could take into account the interests of their own citizens who favor good and neighborly relations between Vilnius and Moscow, as confirmed by Landsbergis himself.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd January, 2021) The US Senate has voted to override President Donald Trump's veto of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The bill was supported by over a two-thirds majority of the senators.

On December 23, Trump vetoed the NDAA.

On Monday, the US House of Representatives voted 322-87 to override Trump's veto of the $740 billion NDAA, thereby sending the measure to the Republican-majority Senate for consideration.

Trump vetoed the NDAA because it would not repeal Section 230 that protects tech companies from liability for restricting or censoring third-party content online; negate or slowdown withdrawals of US troops deployed overseas and rename military bases carrying Names of Confederate figures. The NDAA includes provisions for imposing sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project and against Turkey for acquiring the Russian S-400 air defense system.
A Brooklyn man has been arrested and charged with a hate crime for allegedly vandalizing four synagogues last week.

The New York Police Department says 39-year-old Emil Benjamin went on a graffiti spree at four Brooklyn-area synagogues: Kahal Darkei Noam, Young Israel Senior Services, Khal Toras Chaim D'Flatbush, and Bais Avigdor.

The suspect is accused of writing 'pedophiles' in red marker on a side door entrance to the Young Israel synagogue, a police spokesperson told DailyMail.com. Police say the other graffiti also included derogatory phrases, but did not reveal any specifics.

The New York Police Department says 39-year-old Emil Benjamin went on a graffiti spree at four Brooklyn-area synagogues: Kahal Darkei Noam, Young Israel Senior Services, Khal Toras Chaim D'Flatbush, and Bais Avigdor

Security footage released by police shows a hooded man walking up the front steps to one synagogue, removing a Sharpie marker from his jacket, and writing on the front facade

At Bais Avigdor, police say, Benjamin broke into the synagogue, marked it with graffiti, broke several cabinets, and stole $20.

According to a LexisNexis search, Benjamin has lived in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Midwood around the corner from the Young Israel synagogue.

Security footage released by police shows a hooded man walking up the front steps to one synagogue, removing a Sharpie marker from his jacket, and writing on the front facade.

The incidents, which are being investigated by NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force, occurred between midnight and 1:30am on December 23.

'I was disgusted to my core to learn of the anti-Semitic acts of vandalism that occurred in Brooklyn over the weekend,' Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement last week.

'Let us remember, hate, in any of its forms, will not be tolerated in New York and we will always stand united against the cowards who seek to sow division and attack people for who they are or what they believe.'
While the Centre has removed the January 5 deadline for announcing shortlisted bidders for the national carrier Air India, an internal order has restricted Air India employees access to their workplace.

The disinvestment of Air India may be further delayed since the Centre has decided to remove the January 5 deadline to announce the shortlisted bidders for the national carrier. This was announced in a corrigendum issued by the department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM). The transaction advisor will now directly intimate the shortlisted parties, said DIPAM. The new communication came a day after civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said the government would announce the shortlisted bidders on January 5.

Read more: Air India pilots upset over cut in pay rollback, wont work after duty time

Meanwhile, according to an internal order dated December 30, 2020, Air India not only restricted its serving employees access to their workplace by saying they may only come to the office during their duty hours, but also said only bona fide users could access documents. The order further stated retired employees would be allowed only till the ground floor of the airlines office premises. Visitors will be allowed after visitor passes are issued and are only permitted for officers at the director level. The order asked employees to meet personal and official guests in meeting or conference rooms on the ground floor.

The airline will thus have entry records for Air India employees as well as those for employees of its subsidiary companies who enter the premises during office hours.

In the internal order, signed by Air Indias chairman and managing director Rajiv Bansal, the special cell and disinvestment cell are mentioned and employees are directed to be alert since the disinvestment process is ongoing. All employees at the airlines house are required to maintain absolute data/ document privacy and absolute zero tolerance in data/ document leakage, said the order. Employees have been asked to ensure their identity cards are on display during duty hours. Security personnel shall allow entry to only those employees who display their Identity Cards, reads the order.

In the first stage of Air Indias disinvestment process, expressions of interest (EoI) were invited between December 14 and December 29, 2020. Potential buyers would have to take on Air Indias Rs 23,000-crore debt and would be shortlisted based on their eligibility as defined by the terms in the preliminary information memorandum (PIM).
The Overton Window is a concept that politicians are limited in what policy ideas they can support. They will generally only consider initiatives that are accepted by a critical mass of society as viable options. Such policies are said to lie inside the Overton Window. Although other policy ideas exist, politicians risk losing popular support (and elections) if they pursue them. These policies lie outside the Overton Window. To open the Overton Window means to let in ideas that were previously toxic to politicians. In other word, ideas that heretofore were verboten are now considered respectable for debate in the political world.

The Mackinac Center of Public Policy, the think tank where John Overton developed his window concept in the 1990s, says: "Sometimes politicians can move the Overton Window themselves by courageously endorsing a policy lying outside the window, but this is rare. More often, the window moves based on a much more complex and dynamic phenomenon, one that is not easily controlled from on high: the slow evolution of societal values and norms."

Donald Trump is the exception. He opened the Overton Window wide to let in a whole host of issues that the ruling class had long kept out of the public dialogue. These issues can be grouped under an umbrella called America First or Make America Great Again (MAGA). This is Donald Trump's major accomplishment.

On foreign affairs, putting America First was on the outside of the Overton Window before Trump came to town. Not one politician in either party dared to suggest such a thing. When you think about it, that, in and of itself, is surreal. Every other country on the face of the earth puts itself first. And so did America until after WWII. The elites who fostered subverting the U.S. national interest in matters of trade, immigration, military alliances, and kowtowing to international organizations did quite well for themselves while their policies beggared much of middle America. The rich got richer while the middle class either stagnated or fell behind. People had long sensed something was amiss but couldn't put words to it. It took Trump to articulate the problem and to offer counterpolicies which he called MAGA.

Trump also opened the Overton Window on domestic matters. By having the moxie to lift up the rock that's Washington, D.C., he exposed the denizens of the Deep State for what they are -- pompous bureaucrats who not only believe they're above the law but are entitled to run the country. Trump also knocked the legacy media off its pedestal. He showed the country how untrustworthy the media was and that it is more a propaganda arm of the leftist Democrat Party than anything else. He also showed conservatives that mocking political correctness is not a death wish.

For all of this, Trump drew the hatred of the establishment. Hate him they may, but regardless of who is president after January 20, the issues that Trump brought to the public's attention will not fade away. Even Biden, who is beholden to the Chinese government for so much, will now find it hard to accommodate the Red Dragon as he would like. That's because Trump has educated Americans about the true nature of that communist country and the threat it poses to our security.

Such is evidenced by Rick Grenell, who says: "Let's be honest; the America First policy is never going back in the bottle." And John Mearsheimer wrote in the National Interest that Biden (or Harris) must embrace nationalism to move the country forward. As for the grassroots, polls show 72 percent of Republicans see MAGA as the future of the party.

As a new year dawns on us, it can be seen that over the past four years, Donald Trump has opened the Overton Window on a number of critical issues, both domestic and foreign. Now it is up to others -- many others -- to pick up the ball and translate these issues into concrete policies. Hopefully enough conservative Republicans will step up to the plate and build on what President Trump has made possible. Skeptics don't believe they will, while optimists do. I'm tentatively in the latter group.

Image: Gage Skidmore
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France has announced a 6pm coronavirus curfew in 15 regions amid growing fears of a resurgence of coronavirus in the country.

The government is already facing criticsm for the slow pace its vaccination regime, with just a few hundred people vaccinating in the first days after the vaccine was approved.

The current nationwide 8pm will be enforced two hours earlier and imposed across 15 of France's 101 departments including the Alpes-Maritimes where the Mediterranean city of Nice is located.

It comes after 2,500 revellers packed into an underground New Year's Eve party in western France before attacking and injuring police who were sent to shut it down.

France has recorded 64,632 deaths with a total of 2,620,425 cases. Pictured: Eiffel Tower, Paris, on New Year's Eve

The other areas of the new 8pm until 6am curfew are concentrated in the east of the country and Paris has, for now, been spared the additional restriction.

'The virus is continuing to spread in France... but with a disparity between regions,' said government spokesman Gabriel Attal as he announced the move.

'If the situation were to deteriorate further in certain areas, we will take the necessary decisions,' he told TF1 broadcaster.

The measure had been urged by mayors increasingly concerned that their local health systems are being overburdened by an influx of new cases.

It comes as France has recorded a total of 64,632 deaths and 2,620,425 cases.

Mr Attal also confirmed that theatres, cinemas and concert halls would not be able to reopen from January 7, the most recent minimum date given for their closure.

Meanwhile he defended the pace of France's campaign to vaccinate against Covid-19, which TF1 noted has seen just 332 people vaccinated in the country so far compared with over 130,000 in Germany since it began last weekend.

Speaking about France targeting its campaign on care homes for the elderly which took more time, he said: 'We are not going to judge a vaccination campaign that will last six months in just a few days'.

It comes as 2,500 revellers in western France attacked police sent to shut them down, torching one of their vehicles and injuring officers with volleys of bottles and stones, officials said on Friday.

Ravers aboard hundreds of vehicles started converging on hangars in Lieuron, Brittany, on Thursday night as they partied into the New Year, the regional government said today in a statement.

Police and their vehicles were attacked when they tried to stop the ravers from installing their party gear and some officers suffered light injuries, the statement said.
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In a major step towards immunisation against Covid-19 in India, the Centre has reportedly granted SII's vaccine candidate, i.e the Oxford vaccine emergency use authorization. As India gears up to roll out the vaccine strategy, a dry vaccine drive across states has also been announced today, which will be starting from tomorrow, January 2.

In a major hope to battle the global pandemic, India has now granted approval to Covishield, Serum Institute of Indias vaccine candidate, as per sources. Gearing up for to begin the process of immunisation, a high-level meeting was also convened today today. Post which, it was announced that a dry vaccine drive that will be starting tomorrow, January 2. UK has already given its nod to the AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use.

Covishield vaccine is likely to cost Rs 440 per person. IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recently announced the launch of the Covid-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system to manage and keep track of the country-wide immunisation programme.

CoWIN is a digitalised platform that will be used to effectively roll out and scale up the mechanism for Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution System, nationally. Healthcare workers, Frontline workers, and People above 50-year can register on CoWIN. COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network aims to facilitate the vaccination process but is yet to be released. There will be a compulsory Registration and CoWIN will communicate the date, time & slot for vaccination and also monitor side-effects & unusual symptoms.

#BreakingNews | Serum Institute of India's vaccine candidate, Covishield approved for emergency use in India: Sources pic.twitter.com/otkBMFOiky  NewsX (@NewsX) January 1, 2021
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Alert level in Caribbean island of St Vincent and the Grenadines increased and potential threat of evacuation

Raised the alert level after a new volcanic dome formed as lava rises to the surface of the volcano

Team of three scientists flown in the support people who are constantly assessing changes in the volcano

Volcanoes in islands of Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have been rumbling in the past month

Officials issued an alert to the more than 100,000 people living on the islands late on Tuesday

Residents of St Vincent and the Grenadines have been warned they may have to evacuate their homes with 24 hours as a volcano begins to spew lava from a newly formed dome after lying dormant for decades.

Authorities have issued an orange alert for the area, affecting more than 100,000 people, as scientists assess the latest eruption.

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The orange alert means the volcano may erupt with less than 24 hours notice, and residents who live nearby have been told they may get an evacuation notice. The next highest alert level is red, which means an eruption is in progress.

An earlier report by Reuters that an evacuation order had been issued was incorrect.

On Tuesday officials warned of strong gas emissions, formation of a new volcanic dome and changes to its crater lake at the La Soufriere volcano.

Today the alert level was raised to an orange, with suggestions the volcano could erupt within a day and advising people from Fancy in the north of the island to Georgetown on the northeast coast they may have to evacuate.

A team of scientists from Trinidad and Tobago were flown in to the island today to provide support to those assessing the eruption.

The alert for St Vincent and the Grenadines has been raised to orange after the La Soufriere volcano began spewing magma and a volcanic dome formed (pictured)

Some homeowners in the Caribbean island St Vincent and the Grenadines have been told they may have to evacuate after a new volcanic dome (pictured) formed at the base of the existing dome in the crater at La Soufriere volcano

This map from the University of the West Indies Research Center shows the volcano and how at risk each area of the island is from the volcanic activity from day to day. The whole island has been raised to orange alert (a separate alert level to the hazard zones shown on the map) which means residents may be told to evacuate with less than 24 hours notice

A team of scientists from Trindad and Tobago, including a geologist an instrumentation engineer and engineering technician, were flown in to the island today to provide support to those assessing the eruption

A yellow warning was issued late Tuesday for La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent. La Soufriere, (pictured before the latest eruption) located near the northern tip of the main island of St. Vincent

Aerial shots revealed a small black lava dome with fresh magma had formed at the base of the existing dome in the crater at La Soufriere volcano, St. Vincent.

Fresh magma has made its way to the surface of the crater despite no reports of volcanic earthquakes typically associated with the region.

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWISRC) said an effusive eruption - in which magma reaches the surface and gently oozes out as opposed to burst through the rocks - is taking place.

According to the organisation, effusive eruptions generally occur when magma has a relatively low amount of gas inside. Sticky lavas form domes compared to runny lavas which can travel several kilometres from the vent. The lava from La Soufriere is not particularly runny.

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UWISRC also advised that members of the public should not to visit the volcano at this time.

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A three-person team from the organisation, Geologist Prof. Richard Robertson, Instrumentation Engineer Lloyd Lynch and Engineering Technician Ian Juman, arrived on the island this morning to provide scientific support.

When flying in on board the Regional Security System aircraft, the team attempted to get a view of the eruption for themselves before landing at the Argyle International Airport.

A second aerial reconnaissance took place at 4pm which revealed the newly formed dome continues to grow in size.

Aerial shots taken during a reconnaissance revealed there was a large black dome forming as a result of an effusion eruption

Fresh magma has made its way to the surface of the crater despite no reports of volcanic earthquakes typically associated with the region

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWISRC) said an effusive eruption - in which magma reaches the surface and gently oozes. Pictured: An aerial shot taken during an assessment which shows the site of an eruption (centre right) which took place in 1979

Several aerial reconnaissances have taken place to monitor the area and the latest, which took place at 4pm local time revealed the dome continues to grow

A few days ago The National Emergency Management Organisation for the island provided the public with a document online which detailed the symptoms which can be expected in each alert level.

Orange alerts are triggered when a high levels of seismicity or fumarolic activity, or both, with the possibility of eruptions happening with less than 24 hours notice.

In response, scientists are continuously manning the monitoring system and regularly inspecting the potential vent areas.

Other actions include continuous ground deformation and hydrothermal monitoring as well as daily assessment reports submitted to the civil authorities.

Meanwhile, local authorities will begin coordinating an evacuation and organise regular radio and television announcements to keep the public informed.

La Soufriere, located near the northern tip of the main island of St. Vincent, last erupted in 1979, and a previous eruption in 1902 killed some 1,600 people.

The West Indies science team flew in to the island onboard the Regional Security System aircraft, landing at the Argyle International Airport

Authorities prepare for a potential eruption

People have been busy organise informing the public

Scientists are continuously manning the monitoring system and regularly inspecting the potential vent areas

That occurred shortly before Martinique's Mt. Pelee erupted and destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, killing more than 30,000 people.

A yellow alert was also raised for the island of Martinique, an overseas French territory, on Tuesday due to seismic activity under the mountain.

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It was the first alert of its kind issued since the volcano last erupted in 1932, Fabrice Fontaine, with Martiniques Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, told The Associated Press.

While the eastern Caribbean is one long chain of active and extinct volcanoes, volcanologist Erik Klemetti, at Denison University in Ohio, said the activity at Mt. Pelee and La Soufriere are not related.

'It's not like one volcano starts erupting that others will,' he said. 'It falls into the category of coincidence.'

He said the activity is evidence that magma is lurking underground and percolating toward the surface, although he added that scientists still don't have a very good understanding of what controls how quickly that happens.

Martinique's Mt. Pelee too is now active once again. In early December, officials in the French Caribbean territory issued a yellow alert due to seismic activity under the mountain

The most active volcano in recent years in the eastern Caribbean has been Soufriere Hills in Montserrat, which has erupted continuously since 1995, destroying the capital of Plymouth and killing at least 19 people in 1997

'The answers are not entirely satisfying,' he said. 'It's science that's still being researched.'

Klemetti said the most active volcano in recent years in the eastern Caribbean has been Soufriere Hills in Montserrat, which has erupted continuously since 1995, destroying the capital of Plymouth and killing at least 19 people in 1997.

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Seventeen of the eastern Caribbeans 19 live volcanoes are located on 11 islands, with the remaining two are underwater near the island of Grenada, including one called Kick `Em Jenny that has been active in recent years.
45 passengers who returned from UK untraceable in Bihar

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Jan 01: As many as 45 of the 226 air passengers who returned to Bihar from the UK between November 21 and December 21 remain untraceable, an official has stated.

A number of 101 of the 181 passengers traced so far have tested negative for coronavirus, the official added. Efforts are underway to test the remaining UK returnees who have been traced so far.

"Samples of 101 passengers were collected and sent for RT-PCR test. Sample collection of rest of the traced passengers is under process. None of the samples has tested positive till now," said Khalid Arshad, administrative officer of the state health society, Bihar.

"It is not easy to trace all of them (passengers who came from UK). We have sent the name, contact number and address of passengers, according to the list provided by the MoCA, to our medical officers in-charge of community health centres (CHCs) to track them and collect their swab samples. Our officials are finding it difficult to trace them in some cases as all of them do not reside at the address provided to us," said Dr Vibha Kumari Singh, Patna's civil surgeon.

Bihar health department had asked its functionaries to trace and collect samples of all such passengers by December 30 and requested the RMRIMS to expedite their testing through RT-PCR method.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

The health department has already requested all UK returnees to isolate themselves and contact their nearest government health facility for the RT-PCR test.
TMC, BJP tussle to win over women voters in Bengal

India

pti-Deepika S

Kolkata, Jan 01: The TMC and the BJP are tussling to win over women voters, who comprise 49 per cent of poll- bound West Bengal''s draft electorate, by highlighting issues concerning them.

Both the BJP and the TMC are accusing each other of failing to ensure women''s safety and are showcasing the developmental schemes launched for them by the two parties'' respective governments at the Centre and the state.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly are due in April-May this year. Of the 7.18 crore voters in the state, 3.15 crore are women, a number neither party can ignore.

This renewed focus on women voters comes in the backdrop of statistics showing that women had swung the Bihar assembly election in the NDA''s favour.

While the women voters were firmly behind Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, many of their loyalties shifted towards the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, prompting the ruling party in the state to launch initiatives to woo them back.

TMC vs BJP: Why the contest is wide open in West Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appointed ''Bongo Janani'', the party''s apolitical front formed after the TMC''s drubbing in the 2019 elections, to reach out to women by highlighting the developmental schemes of her government and "rise in crimes against women" in BJP-ruled states.

"The TMC government, in the last 10 years of its rule in West Bengal, has implemented several globally-acclaimed schemes like Kanyashree which have benefited women and girls. We don''t need a certificate from the BJP on what we have done to ensure women''s safety," Women and Child Development Minister and Bongo Janani general secretary Sashi Panja said.

Apart from criticising the BJP for its "lackadaisical efforts" in tackling women issues, the Bongo Janani''s outreach campaign highlights the TMC government''s women-centric initiatives like the Swasthya Sathi health scheme and Rupashree direct cash transfer scheme to prevent child marriage.

Bongo Janani was formed to create an atmosphere for a social movement against heinous crimes against women like the Hathras rape-murder incident in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and reach out to women who do not want to directly associate with any political outfit, TMC sources said.

"The BJP should be the last outfit to speak about women''s safety in the country. The condition of women in states ruled by the saffron party speaks loud," senior TMC leader and MP Saugata Roy said.

Another senior TMC leader, who wished to remain anonymous, said a motive behind forming Bongo Janani was to regain the party''s lost ground among women after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Women of the state remained solidly behind the Left till 2006-07, when the anti-land acquisition movements in Singur and Nandigram tilted their support towards Mamata Banerjee.

Since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, most women voted for Banerjee. While some crimes against women dented her support base among urban women voters, her rural base remained intact till the BJP entered the state''s political scene.

The BJP emerged as the prime challenger to the Trinamool Congress in the 2019 elections, bagging 18 seats, four less than the TMC''s tally out of 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

The saffron party pocketed a large chunk of the women''s vote share, sources said.

It is now targeting the TMC over "increasing incidents of rape" and "rising number of women trafficking from north Bengal and tribal areas".

"The rise in rape and other crimes against women shows that no woman is safe in West Bengal. Compensation to rape survivors is horrific. Is the TMC government trying to buy a woman''s honour? It has failed to ensure women''s safety," State BJP Mahila Morcha chief Agnimitra Paul told PTI.

The National Commission for Women has also slammed the state police for alleged inaction over complaints of atrocities against women.

The BJP is also highlighting the Centre''s initiatives like Ujjwala scheme, aimed at providing LPG connection to women of BPL families, the construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and health cover to families under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

"The TMC government did not implement Ayushman Bharat for political reasons. Women have got the benefits of Ujjwala scheme and Swachh Bharat," Paul said.

The BJP focuses on special rallies by Mahila Morcha workers at the booth-level and ensures that there is at least a woman member in every mandal and booth committee, party sources said.

The TMC had fielded 17 women candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, compared to the BJP''s five.

During the 2016 assembly elections, the TMC had fielded 45 women candidates as opposed to the saffron party''s 31.

If women voters number more than 50 per cent of the electorate in the final voter list expected to be released this month, West Bengal will be the fourth state after Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to have such a record.
The U.S. economy runs on immigration. Immigrants support crucial industries, pay huge amounts in taxes, take care of children and the elderly, sustain American innovation and - perhaps most importantly - make the country a more attractive destination for multinational investment.

Over the past few years, President Donald Trump, the COVID-19 pandemic and the end of the big Mexican migration wave have combined to reduce immigration substantially. With the economy still depressed, the pandemic still lingering and the U.S. image tarnished in the eyes of much of the world, President-elect Joe Biden will face an uphill battle to restore population inflows to a healthy level. But there are still a few important actions he can take.

The high-profile humanitarian issues of asylum seekers, refugees and ICE detention centers will no doubt suck up much of the oxygen in the immigration debate - as the focus on Bidens selection of immigration specialist Alejandro Mayorkas to head the Department of Homeland Security demonstrates. But while those are important issues, Biden cant afford to forget about other kinds of immigration - especially the influx of foreign researchers and students.

In June, Trump issued an executive order halting new visas for scholars from overseas. This action, widely decried by scientists, was extremely foolish at a time when the U.S. was racing to develop new vaccines and treatments for a novel pandemic disease. But its also a very bad economic strategy for the long term.

If China is the workshop of the world, the U.S. is its research park. The concentration of high-value industries in America depends crucially on the presence of top research universities, which in turn depend crucially on attracting the best and brightest scholars from all over the globe. Just as Silicon Valley needs engineers to move in from other cities and just as Houston cant train all its energy industry workers locally, the U.S. - with less than 5 percent of the worlds population - needs to pull in researchers from abroad in order to maintain its pole position as the center of science.

So Biden should immediately rescind the order banning foreign researchers from coming in. His administration should also act vigorously to clear away all of the regulatory and administrative barriers that the Trump administration has erected over the years that make it more difficult for foreign researchers to live and work in the U.S. Those barriers include making it harder to get green cards, and preventing spouses of visa holders from working.

Trump has made vigorous and concerted efforts to deter foreign students from studying in the U.S. Much of this has taken the form of rhetoric, subtle administrative changes, or planned restrictions that havent yet been implemented but cause a chilling effect. These small actions and threats have added up over time, causing a drop in international enrollment.

Biden can and should reverse all of those changes. In addition to making it easier for foreign students to get and keep visas, and to work longer after graduation, Biden can use vigorous and vocal rhetoric to make it clear that the U.S. welcomes foreign students. This will not only help preserve the U.S. dominance in science and technology, but will also help the economies of college towns, which depend on the overseas money that international undergrad students pump into local businesses.

Beyond researchers and students, Biden can do the U.S. a lot of good by making green card processing easier and quicker for all immigrants. While science is of paramount importance, immigrants in general make large contributions to tax revenue.

The reason immigrants are such a fiscal boon is that most of them are skilled individuals -even those who dont come with a college education. Moving to another country to work is itself an indicator of grit, risk-taking and entrepreneurialism. Recent papers by economists Ed Lazear and others have shown that even though its officially based around family reunification, the U.S. immigration system tends to select for the economically successful and upwardly mobile.

Making it easier to get green cards and visas might earn Biden some backlash from those who believe that immigrants primarily compete with native-born Americans for jobs. The truth - that immigration done through legal channels tends to create more jobs than it takes away - will have a hard time penetrating through the misconceptions built up through decades of anti-immigrant rhetoric.

But even if its politically difficult. Biden needs to make foreign researchers and students a priority. The U.S. needs those workers, and neither the pandemic nor the Trump era has changed that fact.
Seniors and first responders wait in line to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the Lakes Regional Library in Fort Myers, Fla., on Dec. 30, 2020. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Third State Confirms Its First Case of Highly Infectious COVID-19 Variant

Florida has reported its first case of a CCP virus strain that was first discovered in the United Kingdom, which marks the third case of its kind in the country.

The Florida Department of Health said that a male in his 20s tested positive to the new UK variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19. The man had no recent history of travel.

The Department is working with the CDC on this investigation. We encourage all to continue practicing COVID-19 mitigation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Twitter.

At this time, experts anticipate little to no impact on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, it added.

The first two cases involving the new and potentially more contagious variant called B.1.1.7 were reported in Colorado on Tuesday and California on Wednesday.

Both cases were found in people who also had not recently traveled. The pattern suggests that there has been community spread of the variant in the United States.

Scientists believe the variant is more contagious than others previously identified but is no more severe in the symptoms it causes. They also believe that the vaccines now being distributed will be effective against it.

A second possible case in Colorado was being investigated, a state health official said on Tuesday.

Colorados chief medical officer, Dr. Eric France, said that researchers estimate the B.1.1.7 variant is 5070 percent more contagious.

Instead of only making two or three other people sick, you might actually spread it to four or five people, France said, reported AP. That means well have more cases in our communities. Those number of cases will rise quickly and, of course, with more cases come more hospitalizations.

In southern California, health officials said that a second person may have also been infected with the new variant.

It is not unexpected for viruses to mutate to new variants but the fear is that the mutations will become significant enough to resist the vaccines at some point.

Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Dec. 30 that he is willing to take the vaccine for COVID-19 but has not done so because he is not in one of the groups prioritized to received the vaccine first.

According to the CDC, more than 12.4 million doses have been distributed and 2.7 million have been administered as of Dec. 30.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 13:37:52|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export grew 12.6 percent from a year earlier to 51.41 billion U.S. dollars in December 2020, a government report showed on Friday.

The daily average export expanded 7.9 percent to 2.14 billion dollars last month, keeping an upward trend for the second month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Import rose 1.8 percent over the year to 44.46 billion dollars in December, sending the trade surplus to 6.95 billion U.S. dollars. The trade surplus stayed in black for eight months running.

For the whole year of 2020, export amounted to 512.85 billion dollars, down 5.4 percent from the previous year.

Import dropped 7.2 percent to 467.23 billion dollars in 2020, resulting in a trade surplus of 45.62 billion dollars. The trade balance kept a surplus trend for 12 straight years. Enditem
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A mother holds her baby as she is transported by dugout canoe through floodwaters in the village of Wang Chot, Old Fangak county, Jonglei state, South Sudan (Maura Ajak/AP)

Some one million people in South Sudan have been displaced or isolated for months by the worst flooding in memory, with the intense rainy season a sign of climate change.

The waters began rising in June, washing away crops, swamping roads and worsening hunger and disease in the young nation struggling to recover from civil war.

Now famine is a threat.

On a scrap of land surrounded by flooding, families drink and bathe from the waters that swept away latrines and continue to rise.

Expand Close Thatched huts surrounded by floodwaters are seen from the air in Old Fangak County, Jonglei state (Maura Ajak/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Thatched huts surrounded by floodwaters are seen from the air in Old Fangak County, Jonglei state (Maura Ajak/AP)

On a recent visit by the Associated Press to the Old Fangak area in hard-hit Jonglei state, parents spoke of walking for hours in chest-deep water to find food and healthcare as malaria and diarrheal diseases spread.

Regina Nyakol Piny, a mother of nine, now lives in a primary school in the village of Wangchot after their home was swamped.

We dont have food here, we rely only on UN humanitarian agencies or by collecting firewood and selling it, she said.

My children get sick because of the floodwaters, and there is no medical service in this place.

She said she eagerly waits for peace to return to the country, with the belief that medical services will follow that will be even enough for us.

Expand Close Children wash themselves in muddy floodwaters in the village of Wang Chot, Old Fangak County (Maura Ajak/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Children wash themselves in muddy floodwaters in the village of Wang Chot, Old Fangak County (Maura Ajak/AP)

One of her nieces, Nyankun Dhoal, delivered her seventh child into a world of water in November.

I feel very tired and my body feels really weak, she said.

One of her breasts was swollen, and her baby had rashes.

She wishes for food, and for plastic sheeting so that she and her family can stay dry.

The mud sucks at peoples feet as they engage in the daily struggles to hold back the waters and find something to eat.

Nyaduoth Kun, a mother of five, said the floods destroyed her familys crops and life has been a struggle for months, with people selling their prized cattle to buy food that is never enough.

The family eats just two meals a day and the adults often go to bed on empty stomachs, she said.

Expand Close Nyaduoth Kun carries food in a bucket on her head as she wades through floodwaters in Wang Chot (Maura Ajak/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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She has begun collecting water lilies and wild fruits for food.

She said she had little knowledge of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging other parts of the world and spreading largely undetected in poorly resourced South Sudan.

There are many diseases living among us, so we cant figure out if its coronavirus or not, she said.

Instead, her fear is that the makeshift water dyke around their home could collapse at any time, flooding the young children.

The chief of Wangchot village, James Diang, made the decision early during the flooding to send badly affected children to the town centre after several drowned and everything was being destroyed rapidly.

Now cattle are dying, he said, and survivors have been transported to drier areas.

Remaining residents are eating tree leaves and sometimes fish to survive, he said. Fevers and joint pain are widespread.

When there is no canoe to transport people during times that waters surge, our children die in our hands because we are helpless, he said.

Expand Close A father and his sons transport cows from a flooded area to drier ground using a dugout canoe in Old Fangak county (Maura Ajak/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A father and his sons transport cows from a flooded area to drier ground using a dugout canoe in Old Fangak county (Maura Ajak/AP)

He hopes, like everyone, for sustainable peace, and for an improved dyke so the community can have enough dry ground for planting.

The people of South Sudan put their trust in President Salva Kiir and former armed opposition leader Riek Machar to lead during this transition period, but now they are failing us, said the governments acting deputy director in the area, Kueth Gach Monydhot.

We dont have hope, we lost confidence in them.

The situation in Fangak county remains volatile, with almost all of its more than 60 villages affected by the flooding and no response from the government, he said.

Do you think they will plan for other people when they have failed to implement the peace agreement?

At the clinic in Old Fangak run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, Nyalual Chol said the dyke she tried to build against the floodwaters collapsed, and her home quickly collapsed, too.

She had been alone at home with her four children.

As with many families, her husband was away on duty in another part of the country as a soldier.

She reached the clinic by canoe after an hour of travel, seeking help for her sick child.

Expand Close There are fears of famine in Jonglei state (Maura Ajak/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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There, she also received a ration of food.

The Doctors Without Borders project co-ordinator in Old Fangak, Dorothy I Esonwune, recalled the sight of newly displaced people sheltering under trees without mats, blankets or mosquito nets.

Meanwhile, the charitys mobile clinics were suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic, further complicating efforts to reach sick people stranded by the flooding.

The water continues to rise and the dykes continue to break and there are people still displaced, yet they dont have the main necessities, she said, describing several people often crammed into a single shelter.

Now the international community has rung the alarm about likely famine in another flood-hit part of Jonglei state.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation representative in South Sudan, Meshak Malo, has appealed to the parties that signed the countrys peace accord to cease violence and ensure safe humanitarian access to prevent the dire situation from turning into a full-blown catastrophe.

The new report of likely famine is an eye-opener and a signal to the government, which has not endorsed its findings, said the chairman of the National Bureau of Statistics, Isaiah Chol Aruai.

There is no way that the government would ignore or downplay an emergency when its really found out to be an emergency, he said.

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SKANEATELES, N.Y.  A sign sits beneath Tom Scrivens television in the living room of his Skaneateles home.

Do not be afraid of change, it reads. Be afraid of not changing.

That statement perfectly encapsulates both Scriven and his historic home.

It was Christmas Eve 2014 and Scriven, a native of the village, his wife, Lindsay, and their two children were all set to move to Florida.

Their realtor was with them to sign the papers when suddenly the sale fell through.

We went into panic mode, he said. We had two little children and we needed to buy a house. My wife, We have to do something!

So, I bought a schoolhouse!

The red brick, one-room Willow Glen schoolhouse at 936 Old Seneca Turnpike, just north of the village, was on the market.

It was built in 1872 and educated students from the first to the sixth grade. A previous owner had bought it and had started renovating it but left it largely unfinished.

Scriven called the previous attempt a hodge-podge.

We knew we were in for a project, he said of the almost six-year undertaking to turn the school into a modern open-concept, four-bedroom, two-bathroom house.

Scriven would be up to the task. His family had called Skaneateles home for generations and now he was doing something to preserve a piece of its history.

He said he came from a jack of all trades family and was a pain in the butt kid, who watched his father carefully while he did home improvement projects.

(Scriven also said he had a lot of assistance and during this interview thanked family, friends, and the community who have helped us through the process.)

The school was updated from top to bottom, with fresh paint, new flooring, and new fixtures throughout.

The kitchen features new floors, counters, backsplash, and Samsung Smart appliances. There is also a new pantry and laundry room.

The spacious master bedroom is large enough for a California king-sized bed and two walk-in closets.

Scriven had a great deal sensitivity for this historic property.

We tried to preserve and renew as much as possible, he said.

The coat rack at the front door was made from an old wooden shipping box and the top of the island in the kitchen was made from a canning table found in the basement.

(He has the large original shudders and hinges and thinks they could make one-of-a-kind closet doors.)

An old wooden ladder which was used by children more than 100 years ago to climb to the cupola to ring the schools bell now adorns a master bedroom wall.

I wish we had the bell! Scriven said.

He found other items from the schools early days, maps, textbooks, and composition notebooks, and held on to these treasures which he plans to give to the homes new owner.

He even kept the schools traditional red color.

When we first started the work, he said. Curious people would come up and ask if they could take a look.

Many would tell him stories of when they attended school there.

The backyard has been updated as well.

We love to be outside as much as we can, Scriven said. We try to take advantage of the room he had.

They built a barbecue patio with built-in furniture and storage in their private backyard.

A small koi pond, with a waterfall and underwater lighting, was this summers coronavirus quarantine project.

Scriven said much of the home is finished but not everything.

The COVID pandemic meant that the home ironically reverted back to a school for his son and daughter this year which meant he could not be hammering and sawing away.

It has been a lot of fun, Scriven said, looking back at what he accomplished. It certainly is not a cookie cutter home.

He says he wants to find a new adventure someplace with a warmer climate.

For more information about this property, contact the owner who is selling the property himself. His information is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 936 Old Seneca Turnpike, Skaneateles, N.Y. 13152

Price: $399,000

Size: 1,773 square feet

Acreage: 8,276 square feet

Monthly Mortgage: $1,325 (based on this weeks national average rate of 2.88 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $1,852 (Based on assessed value of $95,000)

Built: 1872

School District: Skaneateles

Kitchen: The new kitchen has plenty of new counter room and cupboard space. Owner Thomas Scriven updated the kitchen with a new travertine backsplash, new flooring, and new Samsung Smart appliances. The island was made from an old canning table found in the basement. Through the kitchen is a new laundry room and pantry.

Living areas: Scriven said that he renovated this historic one-room schoolhouse into an open-concept modern home. The place is like a bomb shelter, he said. It is built and insulated well. Forget the idea of the drafty old one-room school, this is an extremely warm and highly efficient home. The owner has updated paint, flooring, and fixtures throughout. There is a nice dining room off the kitchen and a spacious living room. There is plenty of room for a new home office and workshop in the detached garage. The office is heated and air-conditioned and was very useful during the COVID pandemic. All of the treasures from the buildings previous days as a school found during the renovation will be staying with the home.

Bedrooms: There are four bedrooms in the house. The first-floor master bedroom is big enough for a California king bed and two walk-in closets.

Bathrooms: There are two bathrooms in the home. The full bathroom on the first floor has new tile flooring and new fixtures.

Outdoors: Scriven and his family enjoys being outdoors and he has done his best to take advantage of the room we had. The private backyard has been updated with BBQ patio with built-in seating and storage. During the coronavirus pandemic, his project was creating a koi pond with waterfall and underwater lighting. There is an area for bon fires. The owner says that the property is close to everything, and mentions that it is within walking distance to the heart of Skaneateles, a nature trail, and Skaneateles Creek.

Sold by: Owner Tom Scriven

Address: 936 Old Seneca Turnpike, Skaneateles, N.Y. 13152

Phone: (315) 439-1883

Email: socalscriven@yahoo.com

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.
Son of Rep. Jamie Raskin Dies at Age 25

The 25-year-old son of Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) died, the Congressman announced on Thursday.

Thomas Bloom Raskin, a second-year student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Amherst College, died recently, the elder Raskin said in a statement.

Tommy was pure magic. His brilliance and compassion knew no bounds. He passionately loved his family, friends, and animals, and was devoted to the cause of the global poor. We are devastated and demolished to be without him, Rep. Raskin and his wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, said.

The cause of death was not detailed.

The college student was survived by two sisters and dozens of other relatives.

In a press release from Raskins office, the Raskin family said it is grateful for the outpouring of support and love from neighbors, constituents, and friends but asks everyone to observe strict COVID-19 protocols during this time of grief.

Funeral and memorial service arrangements will be released at a later time.

Losing a child is an unthinkable tragedy and on behalf of the Howard County residents, our prayers are with the Raskin family as we wish them strength over the days, weeks, and years ahead to overcome such a devastating loss, Howard County Executive, Calvin Ball said in a statement.

Like his mother and father, Tommy was dedicated to making our world a better place by lifting up the most vulnerable amongst us.

Fellow members of Congress shared condolences, including Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), and Dan Kildee (D-Mich.).

I offer my condolences to Congressman Jamie Raskin and his family. I am so sorry for your loss, Kildee said in a statement.

Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, offered his deepest sympathies and asked Maryland residents to keep the Raskin family in their prayers.

Raskin, 58, has represented Marylands 8th Congressional District since 2017. Before that, he was a member of the Maryland State Senate. Prior to his entrance into politics, Raskin was a constitutional law professor at American University Washington College of Law.

Raskin won reelection this year with over 68 percent of the vote. His district includes portions of Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties.
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Reliance Infrastructure share price gained 3 percent in the morning session on January 1 after the company completed sale of Delhi-Agra toll road to Cube Highways.

Reliance Infrastructure Limited announced the successful completion of the sale of its 100 percent stake in DA Toll Road to Cube Highways and Infrastructure III Pte Ltd for an enterprise value over Rs 3,600 crore, the company said in an exchange filing.

"The deal was announced in March 2019 with the signing of a definitive binding agreement between RInfra and Cube Highways and Infrastructure III Pte Ltd and has now been completed with transfer of shares of the DA Toll Road Private Limited and receipt of sale consideration," it said.

Cube Highways and Infrastructure III Pte Ltd. is a Singapore-based company formed by Global Infrastructure Fund  I Squared Capital and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

The total transaction value is over Rs 3,600 crore. The entire sale proceeds are being utilized for debt reduction. Reliance Infra has reduced its total debt liabilities by ~20 percent from the deal proceeds, the company added.

The stock was trading at Rs 27.65, up Rs 0.80, or 2.98 percent at 09:28 hours. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 28.15 and an intraday low of Rs 26.85.
Phuket enters New Year with zero road deaths

PHUKET: Phuket began the New Year with zero deaths on the roads overnight, and concluded the third day of the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the New Year (Dec 31) with zero deaths since the campaign began at midnight on Monday night.

accidentstransportSafetypolice

By The Phuket News

Friday 1 January 2021, 01:07PM

Phuket Vice Governor Vikrom Jakthee at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning. Photo: PR Phuket

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket) reported this morning (Jan 1, 2021) that the 24-hour period for Dec 31, Day 3 of the campaign, saw six people injured in six accidents, with no deaths.

The news was delivered by Phuket Vice Governor Vikrom Jakthee at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning.

Four of the six accidents recognised occurred in Muang District, with one in Kathu, and one in Thalang. Five of the people injured were male, and one was female, V/Gov Vikrom said.

So far 22 people have been injured in 21 accidents since this years campaign began, he added.

Meanwhile, Phuket police reported issuing 201 fines for moving violations during the 24-hour period, as follows:

6 fined for operating an unsafe/illegally modified motorcycle

10 fined for not wearing seatbelts

41 fined for driving without a licence

0 fined for speeding

14 fined for ignoring traffic signals

11 fined for ghost driving (driving opposite traffic flow)

2 fined for dangerously cutting off other motorists in traffic

17 fined for using mobile phones while driving.

0 people were arrested for drunk driving

100 people fined for not wearing helmets

DDPM-Phuket noted that there were 110 police checkpoints across the island, staffed by 490 people.

Of note, Phuket police have yet to catch anyone for drunk driving since the campaign began.

However, the DDPM-Phuket report this morning and V/Gov Vikrom confirmed that alcohol was a factor in four of the accidents yesterday.

All of the accidents involved motorbikes, and two of the accidents occurred between 4am and 8am, the DDPM-Phuket report nored.

It was found that all six accidents were caused by motorcycles and in four accidents the drivers were drunk, so we would like all sectors to strictly enforce the law in order to deter drivers [from breaking the law], V/Gov Vikrom said.

Also of note, the national road-safety agency ThaiRSC official website reports that Phukets tally for yesterday stood at 50 people injured in 50 accidents.

Traditionally, only people who have been admitted to hospital for medical treatment are recognised as injured during the Seven Days campaigns. ThaiRSC, however, receives reports from emergency workers as well as hospitals.

ThaiRSC this morning already reports 35 people injured in 35 accidents in Phuket so far today.

Follow traffic rules, dont drunk drive, wear a helmet, to help reduce the risk factors of people, vehicles, roads and the environment [in causing accidents], V/Gov Vikrom said at the meeting this morning.

Focus on building road-safety awareness for road users. In addition, data [from the campaign] will be used in planning for long-term surveillance of road accidents so that the number of accidents in the Phuket area is efficiently reduced and sustainable, he added.

Across Thailand, a total of 101 people were killed and 3,846 injured from 3,947 accidents on the third of the Seven Days of Danger yesterday, according to the website for the national road-safety agency ThaiRSC.

Bangkok recorded the highest number of accidents with 305 people requiring hospital treatment.

Nakhon Ratchasima set a provincial record from the number of road deaths in one day, with a nation-leading 11 deaths recorded yesterday (Dec 31).
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Pa. Republicans advance three anti-abortion bills. What they would do.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
2021 arrived to largely subdued celebrations across the US with New Yorks Times Square, typically the site of a million revelers on New Years Eve, eerily deserted as the ball dropped.

The crossroads of the world was closed off to the public for the first time in history due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A few hundred people, mostly frontline workers and their guests, were allowed to attend in a closed-off area with cubicles provided for dancing.

The square was a blur of purple and yellow, the colours of sponsor Planet Fitness, whose logo covered attendees hats, signs, and the stage where Mayor Bill de Blasio initiated the ball drop and danced with his wife Chirlane McCray.

Some of those who performed for the benefit of the millions watching from home included Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, Cyndi Lauper, and Lewis Capaldi.

The blocks surrounding the square were blocked off and the NYPD deployed hundreds of officers to move people along from the area. They also marshalled bomb-sniffing dogs and trucks filled with sand to protect against any possible explosions, ABC7 New York reported.

Restaurants closed at 10pm in New York City and at 11pm in Chicago. Curfews were in place across the country.

However not all states stuck with cautious celebrations. In Miami, Florida, hundreds of party-goers packed into bars and nightclubs with many appearing to forgo masks and social distancing.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made it illegal to fine anyone not wearing a mask, and has decided against reducing capacity inside restaurants and clubs.

This led people from all over the country to visit Miami to bring in the New Year. Some 80,106 people flew into Miami International Airport on December 30, local10 reported.

Florida is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 infections with more than 17, 000 new cases reported on New Year's Eve. Almost 3,000 of those cases were in Miami-Dade county, according to data from The New York Times.

Top: New Years Eve on December 31, 2020 and below, celebrations at the same time last year (AP)

While other cities such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Boston cancelled fireworks displays to discourage people from gathering in large numbers, Miami cancelled its show due to high winds, Miami Beach Police said on Twitter.

In Las Vegas, thousands of revellers gathered on the streets despite Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak telling people not to come and calling large gatherings irresponsible during a virtual press conference.

Sin City had closed its clubs and cancelled fireworks in an attempt to stop people from gathering. However many on the streets were pictured wearing face coverings, NewsNation reported.

California also had a subdued New Years Eve. The state has become a Covid hotspot, adding more than 32,000 news cases on December 31.

In San Francisco, the fireworks display was cancelled, holiday lights in Golden Gate Park were turned off, and police warned that they would arrest those not following the rules.

Los Angeles added 14,500 cases on December 31. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti told CNN that while there is capacity for new patients, healthcare workers are taking shift after shift and being stretched to the limit.

Despite the alarming situation, some chose to ignore the public health crisis.

Hundreds gathered for a concert in Valencia, north of LA, not wearing masks and ignoring social distancing guidelines, CBSLA writes.

Actor Kirk Cameron, whos openly against mask-wearing, hosted a New Year's Eve party despite warnings from public health officials, ABC7 reported.

The New York Times reported that others have been partying in secret with the help of mailing lists and apps like Vybe Together. Apple removed the latter from its app store it received attention last week with thousands still waiting for their access to the app to be approved.

Public health officials in Los Angeles pleaded with people to stay home. The official LA Public Health account tweeted Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life, dozens of times on New Years Eve.

At the beginning of 2021, the US is facing a total of 20 million Covid cases and 125,000 hospitalizations. Some 346,000 Americans have died so far during the pandemic.
The hospital system, Advocate Aurora Health, has given evolving accounts of what happened since it first discovered on Dec. 26 that the vaccines had been removed overnight from refrigeration.

First, it said the doses had been taken out accidentally. Then on Wednesday, it said that the pharmacist had admitted to intentionally removing the vials. On Thursday, in a video call with reporters, Jeff Bahr, the president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group, said that the pharmacist had admitted to removing the vials from refrigeration on two consecutive nights  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day  and that the hospital had administered 57 of the doses before realizing how long they had been at room temperature.

Dr. Bahr said there was no evidence that the pharmacist had tampered with the vaccine in any way other than removing it from refrigeration, and that the pharmacist was no longer employed by the hospital system.

Dr. Bahr said that the hospital had consulted with Moderna, the pharmaceutical company that made the vaccines, and had been reassured that the spoiled vaccines would not harm the individuals who received them. But because the mRNA molecules in the vaccine quickly fall apart at room temperature, the doses were rendered less effective or ineffective, Dr. Bahr said.

He said that the 57 people who received the vaccine had been notified. He did not say what the hospital planned to do about further doses for those people, who are probably employees of the health system, though Dr. Bahr did not say so specifically.
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Partly cloudy. Low 54F. NW winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 54F. NW winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
A riot squad was called in to stop an illegal firework display while police issued $32,000 in fines and made more than 200 arrests during a statewide crackdown on New Year's Eve.

A large crowd had gathered to watch the illegal display of fireworks at Villawood, in Sydney's west, though the revellers were quickly dispersed by riot squad and the celebration brought to a close.

Police arrested 219 people and laid 290 charges across New South Wales during the remainder of the night.

The riot squad were called in to stop an illegal firework display while police issued $32,000 in fines and made more than 200 arrests during a massive crackdown on New Years Eve (pictured, police patrol near the Harbour Bridge during the official display)

Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said Sydneysiders were well behaved overall (pictured, party goers in Sydney on New Year's Eve)

Of the 1,400 licensed premises that were patrolled, five were issued with $5,000 penalty infringement notices.

Seven people were also handed $1,000 penalty infringement notices.

A large party at an AirBnB in the Hills District, in greater western Sydney, was also shut down.

Police are continuing to investigate the party and could issue as many as 30 infringements.

Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said Sydneysiders were well behaved overall.

'We saw sparse crowds in the city, with only 5,000 New Year's Eve passes scanned to enter the Green Zone,' he said.

'That was mirrored on the harbour, with only 20 per cent vessel patronage compared to what we have seen in previous years.'

Commissioner Willing praised police for successfully cracking down on rule breakers over the course of the night.

'It was still disappointing to see some people being reckless and disregarding the rules, with police in the suburbs kept busy dispersing congregations, giving move-on directions and seizing illicit fireworks on multiple occasions.

'I would like to thank those members of the community who made their plans COVID-safe and celebrated the beginning of 2021 responsibly, in what we hope is a better year for everyone.'

Commissioner Willing praised police for successfully cracking down on rule breakers over the course of the night
This week: Pitkin Countys front line workers are eligible for the COVID19 vaccine, but can your employer require you to get vaccinated? Also a look at the two back-to-back worldwide ski events Aspen is hosting beginning March 10. Host Alycin Bektesh is joined by Madeleine Osberger, Erica 
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on December 31 to return to Washington after visiting his Mar-a-Lago resort. Credit:AP

Washington: After weeks of vowing to win his fight to remain in office, US President Donald Trump said in a video posted on Twitter: "We have to be remembered for what's been done."

Trump, who has yet to formally concede his November election defeat to his Democratic rival, returned to Washington early from his Florida resort amid a fight with Congress over a defence bill and coronavirus aid cheques.

Speaking from Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, President-elect Joe Biden paid tribute to healthcare workers and encouraged people to get vaccinated in a brief appearance with his wife, Dr Jill Biden, on the long-running ABC special Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021.

"I'm absolutely, positively confident  confident  we're going to come back and we're going to come back even stronger than before," said Biden, who takes office on January 20.
US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons

Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

Advisor to Armenia Prosecutor General provides details about incident with Armenian soldier killed in Verin Shorzha

Banksy's painting of punk Lenin sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 960,000

CSTO Deputy Secretary-General: Escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border requires undertaking of urgent measures

Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Japan

Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

Kathimerini: US seeks to increase military presence in Greece due to doubts about Turkey's reliability

US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities promised to separate business from politics, but they're failing to fulfill promise

There will be post-election processes if authorities try to rig voting, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

CNN: Putin and Biden will meet on June 15-16 in Geneva

Latin America has the highest poverty rate in 20 years

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia applying to CSTO: No one will help you if you do nothing to solve your problems

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party presents list of first 10 candidates ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting justice minister discusses broad range of cooperation issues with top CoE official

Armenia former President Kocharyan: This guilt, this criminal article is on these authorities

Man survives after spending 17 days in desert

Azerbaijan continues course towards systematic extermination of Armenian heritage in Shushi

Armenia Syunik Province ex-governor: Azerbaijani soldiers advanced along length of border two days ago

Newly appointed Ambassador of Montenegro presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President

Its about bringing Karabakh issue back to right to self-determination, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia

Ara Aivazian and Austrian counterpart hold phone talks, focus on Azeri army's infiltration into Armenia's territory

Kocharyan: Elect todays political team if you are ready to live squatting

Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 30 million

2nd President Kocharyan on Armenia Security Council chief: Do you take that person seriously?

"Key" to settlement of Karabakh conflict cant be in one place, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Texas may permit carrying of pistols without special permission

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's high popularity rating: We will wear it down to the root

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Election bloc format must be workable in some logical sense

Attorney: Political persecution against Robert Kocharyan is becoming more noticeable during election campaign

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We must do everything so that our domestic politics is not dictated by Azerbaijan

Armenian acting defense minister meets Russian peacekeeping mission chief

Congress predicts US nuclear spending to reach $ 634 billion by 2030

Russian MP: The effectiveness of military cooperation with Armenia depends on Yerevan as well

Delimitation now may create some problems in Karabakh negotiation process, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on relations with 3rd President Sargsyan: We go our own way they go their own

Judge adjourns hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM for 3 weeks

Court hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia must show that it will not be subjected to such pressures

Kocharyan: You may find yourself in stupid situations if you come to negotiations without any baggage

Armenia Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into soldiers death

157 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

EU helps UN World Food Programme provide humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected people in Armenia

Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

Armenia legislature speaker on situation at Syunik Province: CSTO still has procedures

Blinken arrives on his first official visit to Israel

World oil prices going up

Provincial hall issues statement on Tavush section of Armenia border with Azerbaijan

MFA statement: Azerbaijan continues to use Armenian POWs as political hostages

Newspaper: There are last-minute changes on Armenia ruling party electoral list

Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

Newspaper: Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan intensively engaged in election campaign

EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

Quake hits Georgia, also felt in Armenia

2nd President Kocharyan: Process of obtaining Armenia citizenship shall be simplified, shall take only few months

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Appointments in army were not based on knowledge but on loyalty

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia must not go back to the past and stay there, just like the incumbent authorities did

Armenia 2nd President on recent Karabakh war, consequences and the signed document

Armenia 2nd President: Current authorities don't have remorse, aren't conscious and patriotic

Armenia 2nd President on black PR and management system in the country
They have since returned to Victoria and health authorities in both states have begun contact tracing their movements since December 21. Alerts have been issued for two places in Eden and Bermagui linked with the pair's travels in NSW. It is unclear whether the cases will be added to NSW or Victorian case numbers. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said a number of lines of inquiry were being investigated in the search for patient zero. These include a Victorian who returned from NSW before border restrictions were introduced last month and dined at the Black Rock restaurant on December 21.

Loading That person has delivered a negative result, although that may not rule them out given it is now more than 10 days since the suspected infection event. Mr Weimar said two other people were being investigated as bringing the virus from NSW and he provided limited information about them. "We know they were in Sydney for at least 24 hours a couple of weeks ago. They travelled back. Testing is undergoing for those individuals and we are doing genomic and other testing," he said. Two of the five cases announced on Thursday were also at the restaurant on the same day, sitting on a different table adjacent to the traveller, who was unknown to them.

These infections have given health authorities confidence the restaurant transmission event is the most likely source of the outbreak. Health Minister Martin Foley said genomic testing was underway to confirm the source of the outbreak. "The NSW link is still our primary line of investigation for this outbreak," Mr Foley said. "We expect genomic testing to come through very shortly and to assist us in confirming the lines of inquiry for our investigation."

Serology testing, which analyses peoples blood for coronavirus immunity, may also help to provide answers. There are now about 200 people in isolation because they are linked to positive cases or their close contacts. Authorities are using a "third-ring" approach where positive cases, their close contacts and those people's contacts are all asked to isolate. Victorian health authorities have now identified 170 close contacts linked to the eight people who have tested positive to coronavirus in the Melbourne suburbs of Mitcham, Mentone and Hallam, and in Leongatha, in South Gippsland. These close contacts are being told to isolate for 14 days, and their close contacts are also being contacted and asked to isolate and undergo testing.

Loading COVID-19 viral fragments have been picked up in a wastewater sample from Lakes Entrance, about 300 kilometres east of Melbourne. The Health Department said the traces were detected on Tuesday and anyone in the Lakes Entrance area with symptoms should get tested for COVID-19. Leongatha is about 200 kilometres west of Lakes Entrance. Another three people in hotel quarantine have been diagnosed with the virus, in the past day, Mr Weimar said.

Mr Weimar acknowledged the stress of the situation for Victorians stuck in NSW but said the hard border was necessary to keep COVID-19 out of the state. He reiterated Victorians would be turned back at the border if they were not permitted to enter, and people would not be given the option of entering Victorian hotel quarantine. "We need to close the border because we do not wish to continue to import high-risk COVID cases back into Victoria  We do not think that would be right or fair for the Victorian community," he said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "[This] is a very challenging thing to do and we do not ask it lightly." He said Victorians would be turned away at the border if they arrived after midnight and would not allow people to enter hotel quarantine unless they had exceptional circumstances.

People from red zones, including Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, have already missed their chance to renter Victoria. Loading "Let's be very clear - we do not have capacity to put 100s of people into hotel quarantine because they elected to come home late," he said. "If you're going to come home, come home today. If youre not, thats fine, but were not planning to provide alternative accommodation for you. "If there are people whove gone to NSW, we did not design and set up a hotel quarantine system to enable people whove gone on holidays in NSW to come back a bit later."
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On New Year eve, Nigeria recorded over one thousand new cases of COVID-19, an indication the second wave of the virus currently being experienced is not over yet.

A total of 1,031 new cases were recorded on Thursday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 87,510.

The total death toll from COVID-19 in Nigeria also rose to 1,289 after 11 more people died on Thursday, the countrys infectious disease outfit, NCDC, announced late Thursday.

The spike in new cases is feeding through into fatalities as hospitals and isolation centres are increasingly becoming overwhelmed.

In the past 13 days, there have been 77 recorded deaths from the coronavirus.

The NCDC on its microsite said the 1,031 new cases were discovered in 16 states.

Since early December, there has been a spike in coronavirus cases in Nigeria.

Health experts believe the lowering of guard on safety and the weak enforcement of protocols especially in the countrys major airports in Abuja and Lagos could be responsible for the development, warning that the situation could get worse if citizens keep violating safety protocols.

Active cases in the country rose sharply from about 3,000 some weeks ago to over 11,000 due to a rise in new infections.

Of the over 87,000 cases so far, 73,713 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.

Specifics

The 1,031 new cases are reported from 16 states: Lagos (570), FCT (117), Kaduna (109), Nasarawa (34), Bauchi (31), Kano (28), Plateau (26), Sokoto (26), Ogun (25), Edo (18), Rivers (16), Abia (10), Imo (7), Taraba (6), Delta (4) and Osun (4).

Lagos led with 570 new cases followed by the FCT with 117 new infections on Thursday  more than half of the daily total.

With the country in the second wave of the pandemic, federal authorities have ordered the reopening of all isolation and treatment centres in the country.

The Nigerian government has also reintroduced new restrictions to check the spread of the virus, including closure of bars and nightclubs and limiting the number of people allowed in a public gathering.

According to the NCDC, the failure of Nigerians to comply with the COVID-19 safety protocols during the festive period could lead to more spread of the disease.

So far, Nigeria has tested nearly 950,000 of its 200 million people.
A motorcyclist was killed Thursday morning when his bike crashed into a pickup truck on the West Bank Expressway near Westwego.

Louisiana State Police said Selton Ussin, 27, of Bridge City was speeding upriver on a 2003 Yamaha R3 at about 10:30 a.m. when he hit a southbound 2019 Chevrolet Silverado that was trying to cross the road at North Claiborne Parkway. The impact ejected Ussin, who, despite wearing a helmet, died at the scene.

The impact knocked the Silverado into a 2005 Dodge Ram pickup that was stopped at the intersection. The two truck drivers were properly restrained in their vehicles and were not injured, State Police said.

Toxicology tests were pending on all three motorists.

State Police encourage all motorcycle riders to take an approved safety course to reduce their chances of injury should a crash occur.
Missionary Sean Feucht faces opposition over LA New Years events

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Missionary and activist Sean Feucht, who has been at the center of several large health mandate defying Christian gatherings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, is now at odds with religious and nonprofit leaders in Los Angeles who oppose his two-day New Years worship event that kicked off on Skid Row.

Local activists like Jenna Kyle with the Poor Peoples Campaign called Feuchts services a super spreader event.

Theyre coming in with no masks, no social distance. They havent done either in their past events. Chicago tried to shut them down. New Orleans put out a statement that they regretted that they ever allowed the event to occur, Kyle said.

Worshipers gathered on Skid Row on Wednesday to sing praises and distribute meals to the homeless. Feucht said they were assaulted with smoke bombs, pepper spray & death threats.

The world will tell you to not push in, not minister, not gather. But JESUS pushed in, He ministered, He gathered. Dont be discouraged. FOLLOW JESUS! he wrote on Facebook.

Those who gathered for worship  some with masks and some without  were met by a blockade of cars and others opposed to the outdoor event.

We made it clear, if they want to come to this community with masks on, were OK, said Pastor Stephe "Cue" Jn-Marie, who founded The Church Without Walls, according to CBSLA.

Southern California extended its stay-at-home order due to an unprecedented surge in cases and hospitalizations. While people are ordered to remain home and not mix with other households, outdoor activities are allowed for places of worship and political expression.

Were just coming, and were just praising, Hina Sheik told CBSLA. Were not doing anything thats illegal, were not doing anything thats harming anyone.

Feucht has been leading Let Us Worship events across the country, calling out abuses of religious liberty amid the pandemic and calling on the Church to rise up. He led an event in New Orleans last month that attracted thousands of people who mostly did not wear masks or practice social distancing, according to CBS Los Angeles.

Pete White, executive director of the L.A. Community Action Network, argued in a statement that Feuchts religious/political concerts target movements for racial justice, namely Black Lives Matter, while attempting to persuade his followers that pandemic related public health restrictions are nothing more than the persecution of Christians."

White said that nearly four houseless people die each day and that theyve created hand washing stations, secured masks and other protective gear, provided covid 19 education, secured partnerships with nonprofit health providers for rapid testing, created a mutual aid network that provided food and tools to shelter in place. This work was done to save lives because Los Angeles most vulnerable community had been abandoned.

He contended that Feuchts event on Skid Row was particularly egregious because its a predominantly black community experiencing structural and institutional racism, injustices that rival conditions found in Third World countries.

After the outcry, Feucht pushed back against his critics.

The CBS LA NEWS did a hit piece on us tonight (not surprised) and they had a pastor on that raged against me and actually said this line: I dont think you need to be living Jesus in LA right now. What professing Christians are saying right now against believers doing the things Jesus told us to do is mind-boggling! GOD, WAKE UP THE CHURCH IN AMERICA!! the 37-year-old worship leader declared in a statement on social media.

The Los Angeles event continued on Thursday at Echo Park, where people prayed for revival, and is scheduled to move to Azusa Street and later, Higher Vision Church. The church has clarified that the Feucht-led event is not a function of the church but that it is merely providing an outdoor venue. While asking those who attend to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others, the church added, We refer those who are objecting to the United States Supreme Court, which has already made it very clear that the freedom of worship remains a protected right even during a pandemic.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned that there should be no large or small gatherings on New Years Eve.

We will enforce the public health rules, Garcetti warned in a Deadline report, noting that residents should not be mixing with people outside their households. We will have the LAPD patrolling the city to stop large gatherings.

When asked specifically about Feuchts events, he said: I would encourage him, first of all, not to do it. If you care about human lives and what God has given us  this human life  dont do it.
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A south Alabama man has been charged in the shooting of another man in Birmingham earlier this month.

Raynod Cortez Sistrunk, 23, is charged with murder in the slaying of 20-year-old Naqwaun Torez Garner, according to court records made public Thursday. The deadly shooting happened Dec. 7.

Garner was shot at 1:22 a.m. that Monday in the 1300 block of Pineview Road in western Birmingham. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:48 a.m.

Birmingham police Sgt. Rod Mauldin said West Precinct officers responded to the location on a Shot Spotter call. They arrived to find Garner on the back porch suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities at the time said it appeared Garner was attempting to enter the back door of his residence when he was ambushed by the suspect. A motive in the slaying was not immediately available.

Sistrunk, who lists an Enterprise address, is also charged with two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Dec. 29 and remains held on bonds totaling $210,000. His first court hearing is set for February.
As Western Australias borders slammed shut on Friday, airlines were forced to re-examine flights sending West Australian passengers into a frenzy about trying to re-enter the state.

Travellers between WA and Victoria were told just before 2pm on Thursday afternoon that the hard border was going up as of midnight on New Years Eve due to eight COVID-19 cases recorded in Melbourne.

Australians from all states and territories except New South Wales and Victoria are allowed into WA. Credit:Erin Jonasson

The sudden move comes in the wake of WA closing its border to New South Wales on December 19, just ahead of Christmas.

Airfares out of Melbourne skyrocketed from $400 to $600 one way in a matter of minutes, on the back of Thursdays announcement, as WA residents scrambled to secure a new flight home. Half an hour later the G2G pass website and app froze due to the high volume of people trying to submit applications.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 06:31:10|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday approved 3.231 billion U.S. dollars to fund the world body's regular budget for 2021.

The UNGA's body dealing with UN administrative and budgetary matters, the Fifth Committee, discussed and approved the budget Thursday afternoon before the plenary voted in favor of the financial plan.

Back in October, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed a program budget of 2.99 billion dollars - a net reduction of 2.8 percent from 2020.

Guterres had told the Fifth Committee that despite the COVID-19 pandemic and liquidity crunch, "our new processes and structures have proven instrumental in enabling us to remain open and function effectively ... we are running this organization from thousands of dining tables and home offices."

"We worked together to build consensus, exercise prudence and flexibility, at a critical time in history," UNGA President Volkan Bozkir told the final plenary of the year.

Bozkir said that the Assembly's performance throughout this difficult year was a testament to the high caliber of diplomacy practiced in the Assembly Hall, which also encompassed efforts to ensure a more gender-inclusive chamber.

"In 2020, the General Assembly continued to lead on the world stage and fully function, in order to implement its mandates ... to meet the needs of the people we serve," said this senior diplomat from Turkey.

Bozkir on Tuesday expressed his disappointment at the world body's failure to adopt the budget and plan for 2021.

He said that if member states failed to reach an agreement, the consequences on the work of the United Nations would be "dire." Enditem
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The year 2020 was definitely one of the most dramatic years in Nigerias modern political history.

Despite the disruption caused by the deadly coronavirus, the countrys political sphere was filled with its usual twists and turns which led to defections, re-appointments, dismissals and more.

In the last 12 months, Nigerian political space witnessed two governorship elections,15 state and national assembly elections, death of key political figures, political moves and engagements ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Below are some major political events of 2020 as reported by PREMIUM TIMES.

Supreme Court sacked Ihedioha, declared APCs Uzodinma Imo governor

Nigerias Supreme Court in an unprecedented judgement early January dismissed Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor of Imo State and declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

Mr Ihedioha was sacked on the ground that the result of 388 polling units were unlawfully excluded during the collation by the countrys electoral body, INEC.

With the addition of the results from the excluded polling units, Mr Uzodinma polled a majority of the lawful votes and was declared the rightful governor of the state.

Mr Uzodinma came fourth at the March election but was favored because the Action Alliance, Uche Nwosu, who came second, was disqualified.

Supreme Court sacked APC governor-elect, declared PDP candidate winner

While Nigerians were savoring the January controversial judgment of the countrys apex court in favour of the ruling APC, the Supreme Court struck again in February, this time, in favour of the main opposition PDP.

In the February judgement, the apex court sacked APC governor-elect, David Lyon, a day to his inauguration ceremony, and declared the PDP candidate, Diri Douye, Bayelsa state governor.

Mr Lyon was disqualified on the ground that his deputy, Degi-Eremienyo, submitted false credentials to the countrys electoral body, INEC.

Edo political crisis

The Edo political saga took the central stage of Nigeria political discussions a few months to its 2020 governorship race.

At a side was the resounding drum of war between the then APC chairm, Adams Oshiomhole and his political protege, Godwin Obaseki, a development that caused factions among the party loyalists and leaders in the state and at the national level.

This fracas led to the defection of Mr Obaseki to the main opposition PDP after Mr Oshiomhole-led executives denied him a re-election ticket.

Caught in the web of his home state political brouhaha, Mr Oshiomhole was also sacked by the court, a case that lingered till the APC National Executive Council dissolved its excos and appointed a caretaker committee to paddle the affairs of the party for the next six months.

Emir Sanusi removed by Kano government

PREMIUM TIMES review of the 2020 major political events may not be complete without mentioning the controversial dethronement of the former Central Bank Governor, Muhammadu Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano state following a resolution of the stateexecutive council led by Abdullahi Ganduje, on March 9.

Mr Sanusi was removed on the ground of alleged insubordination to the states political authority.

The justification of his removal generated public outcry across Nigerian social media platforms and made headline discussion on the countrys daily.

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COVID-19 makes Nigeria political space mourn

Still in the business of springing surprises, the Nigeria political space recorded not less than death of five prominent politicians as a result of the deadly coronavirus.

The virus was responsible for the death Nigerian presidents powerful Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. His death was followed by that of the Oyo State immediate past governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who died in June at the age of 70 from underlying health conditions after contracting the virus.

In another news, the senator representing Lagos East Senatorial representative at the National Assembly, Bayo Osinowo and the Ondo state commissioner for health, Wahab Adegbenro, died after contracting the deadly disease in June and July 2020 respectively.

Edo 2020 Governor Election

In September, 2020, the country witnessed the much anticipated Edo State governorship election.

The election was less of a race between political party candidates and more of a contest between an adamant political son and his troubled god-father who was allegedly bent on correcting his former mistake through another ally.

Edo State was the last foothold of the ruling APC in the South-south region until the animosity between Messrs Oshiomhole and Obaseki eventually cost the party in the September 19 election.

Against all odds, Mr Obaseki surprisingly defeated his closest rival and the 2020 Edo APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, by a large margin.

Mr Ize-Iyamus defeat arguably silenced Mr Oshiomholes hitherto huge influence in the state.

Ondo 2020 Governorship Election

Like a journey of two fated lovers, the Ondo State 2020 governorship election was also held almost a month after Edo.

Earlier in a turbulent and similar intra-party crisis like Edo, the Ondo chapter of the APC, weeks before the election reached a compromise and rallied round the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to secure his re-election victory.

Mr Akeredolu defeated his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, of the Zenith Labour Party by a wide margin.

Against popular predictions, the APC governorship candidate won in 15 out of the 18 local governments.

Umahi, Dogara, Elisha Abbo ditched PDP for APC

Not less than five prominent members of the PDP defected to the APC in the second half of 2020 under the interim leadership of Mala Buni-led committee.

With the 2023 general elections in view, the former speaker of Nigeria House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in July, defected to the APC, after alleging the PDP-led government in Bauchi state of poor governance.

The Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi and the Adamawa State senator, Elisha Abbo, also joined the growing list of politicians who defected from the main opposition PDP in the last quarter of 2020.

While many ascribed Mr Umahis defection to his 2023 presidential ambition many believed would go to the Southern region, the governor has argued contrary in his defense.

Buhari reappointed Mahmood Yakub INEC chair

The

Nigeria political space recorded yet another feat as President Muhammadu Buhari re-appointed Mahmood Yakub as the INEC chairman.

Mr Yakub is the first INEC chair to be re-appointed in the countrys political history.

He succeeded Attahiru Jega after the 2015 general elections and supervised 2019 general election and off-cycle elections in states such as Kogi, Edo and Ondo.

INEC legislative bye-elections, Labour leaders death, PDP appointed Saraki reconciliatory led

The nine states House of Assembly and six senatorial bye-elections held across 11 states by INEC in November featured as one of the top political events in the year under review.

The elections were conducted to fill seats that became vacant as a result of death or resignation of their previous occupants.

Even though the elections were characterised by low voter turn-out by election observers, the APC won seven of the 11 seats in Lagos, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, while the main opposition PDP won in Bayelsa, Enugu, Zamfara, and Cross Rivers states in the federal and state legislative bye-elections.

To appease its warring members, the PDP has appointed the former senate president, Bukola Saraki, chairperson of its national reconciliatory team.

Mr Saraki is to lead a six-member committee set up to forge unity among members.

As Nigerians geared for the end of December 2020, tragedy struck the countrys political space as one of its gladiators died.

The National Chair of the Labour Party (LP), Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, was announced to have died in Abuja on Tuesday.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter dated Jan. 3 regarding the Napa Valley Transportation Authority's Vine Transit Services ("Bus system should have been planned better").

Prior to the pandemic, the Vine provided over 1 million transit trips in fiscal year 2019-20. Since the pandemic, ridership has dropped off by almost 80% but it is slowly coming back and the agency staff anticipate that ridership will be fully restored when the pandemic ends. During the pandemic, bus services nationwide - particularly those in suburban and rural areas - did not experience the same precipitous ridership drop as commuter services. This is because smaller systems, like the Vine, provide critical mobility for members of the community that cannot drive or choose not to drive. Providing services to the most disadvantaged members of the community is a key objective for the agency.
By SA Commercial Prop News

Artists impression of the Protea Glen Shopping Centre in Soweto.



Developers of the R360m Protea Glen Shopping Centre in Soweto are trumpeting success, despite much deteriorated market conditions that have set in between conceptualisation and construction of the centre.

The centre will add 30000m to the Soweto retail market. In a remarkable twist of historical retail infrastructure development trends, the Soweto market has been blessed with a couple of mega developments in the past few years. These include the R500m Maponya Mall, the R250m Jabulane Mall and the extensive developments around the Bara node.

These developments were conceptualised during the pre- 2008 retail boom, which has since burst. Following a promising recovery last year, national retail sales are coming under pressure.

How is it then that developers of the Protea Glen Shopping Centre, which is under construction and due for completion in September next year, can claim leasing success? Could this be a marketing gimmick designed to boost market confidence?

In a statement issued recently, developers Masingita Property Investment Holdings, headed by Mike Nkuna, suggested that the Protea Glen retail infrastructure was far from sufficient in meeting a growing market demand.

A statement released by the developer last week said retailers had moved quickly to secure space in the development to capitalise on the centres fast-growing trade area.

The development is situated at the highly visible nexus of Protea Boulevard and the K15 highway  the main arterial between Lenasia and Krugersdorp. It is the only retail destination in this area of budding residential development.

Nkuna said that independent analysts Fernridge Market Research rated the development site as excellent, because of its superior accessibility, high profile and central location.

Alf Levin of Township Realors said more than 20000 affordable housing units had already been built in Protea Glen, with another 15000 in the construction or planning phases. The 2000 sectional title units around the new shopping centre  along with a new 130-bed private hospital and Grace Bible Church  are expected to stimulate even more residential growth.

Thats in addition to 27000 new houses at Lufhereng, next to Protea Glen, and 35000 new houses planned for the southern side of the N12, next to Lenasia.

The centre will have a selection of 90 stores when it opens.
Looking through the Bureau of Military History files recently, in relation to another story, I came across a statement made by my old Editor, Frank Necy about his involvement in the Irish Volunteer movement 1913-21. The statement was made in November 1948 when he was Editor of the Dundalk Democrat and events must have been still fresh in his memory, whereas many of the other nearly 2,000 statements were not made until up to ten years later.

Much of the fairly short statement was familiar to me, as he had spoken to me about the events of the period after he had retired in 1966. There was one paragraph, however, which I cannot recall him mentioning to me. It related to events after he had returned to Dundalk after the abortive trip to Slane on Easter Sunday 1916. In it he mentions an attempt to get Volunteers who had returned to town to the Rising in Dublin by sea. In it he says ---

'The senior officer called together all (Volunteers) who were available on the Tuesday of Easter Week and it was arranged to get a motorboat and get as many men to Dublin as possible; petrol was bought, the boat secured and a midnight assignation for Wednesday made; only two turned up and the naval expedition abandoned. Following day British troops patrolled the quay front area.'

Frank was from a seafaring background himself and for that reason he was probably selected to go with the group but what they intended to do when they got to Dublin is not clear from the statement.

A statement made by another Volunteer who set out from the John Boyle O'Reilly Hall on Easter Sunday morning throws an entirely different light on the proposed boat trip. He was Peter Kieran of 14, Brook Street. He states ---

'On Tuesday (of Easter Week) I got in touch with Seamus Toal who was senior officer then of the Volunteers in Dundalk and we decided to hold a meeting at McGuills, The Bridge House, at 8 p.m. The meeting decided that the most practical plan of getting to Dublin under conditions existing was by motor boat. I was asked to interview James Norton who had the control of a motor boat and ask him to take us to Dublin. Norton was not a Volunteer at the time. We could, however, rely on him as he was a strong supporter of the Movement. The following men were asked to hold themselves in readiness and to meet at the Fairgreen on Thursday night at 8 p.m. : James Toal, John Finnegan, Thomas Callan, Joseph McGuill, Felix McQuillan, Arthur O'Neill, Thomas Kieran, Francis Neacy (note the different spelling of the surname), Patrick Duffy, Joseph Duffy, Patrick Quigley, Peter Kieran, John McGuill, Michael Donnelly, John Flynn.

On Thursday evening we got information that military had a patrol at the end of the Navvy Bank, controlling the River at the point the motor boat would pass going into Dundalk Bay for Dublin. We also heard that a gun boat was patrolling the coastline from Clogherhead to Greenore. This information convinced us that our plan of travelling to Dublin by motor boat was doomed to failure and the expedition was called off by James Toal'.

This statement was made by Peter Kieran in March 1951, two and half years later than the one by Frank Necy, but he still must have had a clear recollection of what had happened. It all goes to show that things were very confused in Dundalk in the week after the Rising, as the two statements seem to contradict each other in relation to the day on which the boat trip was supposed to take place and it also seems that Frank and one other Volunteer, were not informed that it had been called off. The names of the Volunteers given in Kieran's statement are also interesting because some of them do not appear in the list of Irish Volunteers who were reported as having left Dundalk to take part in The Rising on that Easter Sunday. For instance there is no mention of Patrick Duffy whom I believe was a young reporter with the Dundalk Examiner. He later wrote a book about the history of Dundalk but does not write a lot in it about the Rising.

Incidentally, I believe that Peter Kieran was the same man whom I mentioned as living and working as a tailor in Alma House, Clanbrassil Street in later years. I remember him because he was a founder member of the Dundalk Chess Club in the early 1960s and his sons were also keen chess players.

I wonder if Social Media communications had been available to the rebels in 1916, would the history of our country been a lot different?
Delhi Chief Minister greeted people on New Year's Day on Friday and hoped the vaccine for COVID-19 will be available soon in India and normal life restored.

He also cautioned people to follow rules for prevention of the disease.

In a video message, the chief minister said last year was difficult not only for India but the whole world. The world faced the biggest pandemic of the human history, he added.

"I salute the Corona warriors doctors, nurses, medical staff, police personnel, sanitation workers, and social and religious organisations. You all got down to serve the people despite a very tough situation," Kejriwal said.

The chief minister asserted that the strong medical system in Delhi presented many examples before the world amid the pandemic.

"Delhi did many things that were later followed by many countries and governments," he said, referring to his government's COVID-19 management.

The year has passed but the is still there, and there is a need to maintain caution and follow rules to remain safe, Kejriwal said.

"Hope the vaccine will be soon available in India and everything will be normal but till then, there is a need to take care of oneself and our families," he added.

The chief minister extended his best wishes to the people for 2021, saying the has brought with it new hopes.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Health Ministry on Thursday released a communication strategy to support the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in India that seeks to disseminate accurate and transparent information by alleviating apprehensions and ensuring its acceptance.

The 88-page document details information to guide national, state, and district-level communication activities to enable information about COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccination process reaches all people, across all states in the country.

"The communication strategy that supports the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in India seeks to disseminate timely, accurate and transparent information about the vaccine(s) to alleviate apprehensions about the vaccine, ensure its acceptance and encourage uptake," it said.

According to the document, the strategy aims at managing and mitigating any potential disappointment expressed by unmet demand for the vaccine or 'eagerness' amongst people and addressing vaccine 'hesitancy' that could arise because of apprehensions around vaccine safety, efficacy apart from any other myths and misconceptions.

It also aims to provide information on potential risks and mitigate unintended crises during the introduction and rollout. "The strategy also seeks to build trust and enable greater confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine amongst all people by employing transparency in communication, while also managing any mis/disinformation and rumors around it," it said.

The Health Ministry intends to achieve this in three ways. Firstly, using the social influence or endorsements from experts and official voices to spell out the process of immunization (where, how, who, when date, and time); emphasize the safety and efficacy of vaccines and explain the decision to conduct the drive in a phased manner.

Secondly, the ministry intends to establish a National Media Rapid Response Cell (NMRRC) under its ambit to ensure preparedness through media monitoring and social listening to respond in real-time. It will also unfold media and public discourse through extensive monitoring of print, electronic, and digital media.

Thirdly, this will be achieved by involving community mobilizers and frontline workers to engage with the community at various levels through community consultations, faith leaders, and religious meetings, engaging youth, civil-society organizations, self-help groups, panchayats, and other community-based platforms.

The four key areas that will be addressed as part of interventions under the strategy are -- giving information on COVID-19 vaccines, addressing vaccine hesitancy, building vaccine eagerness along maintaining and sustaining COVID appropriate behaviors.
Donald Trump will leave the White House without achieving his slogan during the 2016 presidential campaign: Make America Great Again (MAGA). Joe Biden will enter the White House with the slogan: Make America United Again. Biden will likely leave the White House in 2024, since he announced he will not run again after his first term, without achieving his slogan either.

Just as Trump was mistaken to think that the USs crisis and decline was caused by his Republican and Democrat predecessors  at least since George W Bushs tenure  and not because of a set of complex elements inside the US and on the global stage, Biden is also mistaken to think that division in US society is the result of Trumps short stint in power, and that reuniting the country will occur by using humanitarian slogans and symbolic inclusion of diversity in his administration. Trump did not understand that the decline in the USs standing was inevitable since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, and not because of a decline in the USs elements of power or the policies of his predecessors beginning with Bill Clinton until Barack Obama. The cause was the rising power of rivals and allies, especially China and the EU. It appears that Biden does not understand that divisions in US society, politics and culture are not the product of specific policies, but are due to the interaction of several factors the results of which cannot be reversed by any currently available means.

George W Bush thought his slogan War on Terror would unite Americans at home and create a world order led by the US alone to achieve this goal. But after eight years in power, Bush exited the White House and left the US and the world facing the worst economic crisis since World War II, and embroiled the US in the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, which spread terrorism around the globe, especially in the Middle East.

When Obama came to power in early 2009, his was a naive vision of the US and the world. He overlooked domestic ethnic and cultural differences and focused on policies that gave minorities equal rights, including illegal immigrants and homosexuals, which angered conservatives and deepened divisions along ethnic and political lines. Overseas, Obamas position was rooted in the belief that the US will create a new world order, and will participate in leading it and would not monopolise power. His opponents, competitors and aspirants understood this differently, namely that the US has admitted its weakness and now is a good time to change the status quo that existed before Obama came to power. Also, to expand their influence and achieve their ambitions even those that increase regional and global tensions.

Accordingly, Iran was no longer worried about continuing its programme to create a nuclear bomb or hide its expansionist ambitions in the region, stretching its influence to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. The once introverted Russia plucked up the courage to increase its influence in the Middle East and no longer feared direct military intervention in the Syrian crisis, annexing the Crimea without a care about US or European sanctions. China also stepped up its copyright violations of US companies, and instigated military crises in the southern China Sea and East Asia, threatening the USs traditional allies, most notably Japan.

Turkey, which Obama and the West were counting on to become a model of democracy and moderate Islam that embraces Western values and besieges Islamic fanaticism, became the greatest oppressor of its people in the last decade and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought out overt relations with the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood and its arms in the region (the Palestinian group Hamas, for example). Turkey also used terrorist groups operating in Syria as directed militias in Turkeys expansionist wars in Libya, Syria and Azerbaijan. Erdogan adopted inflammatory rhetoric towards the West, accusing it of being anti-Islamic and did not hesitate to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque, despite protests from the Christian world. He also sought to fortify his political and economic partnership with Iran and bought Russian weapons systems despite protests from Washington and the EU.

Biden comes after this string of failures due to a simplistic view of the world and US problems, but it seems he is continuing in the footsteps of his predecessors by raising slogans and setting unachievable goals. His call to reunite the domestic front in the US ignores the diversity and depth of these divisions starting with the Democratic Party itself, within which the radical wing has gained momentum and is closer to the extreme Left. This wing is demanding that Bidens administration immediately implement healthcare for all to be funded and managed by the government; raise taxes on the rich, upper middle class and businesses; grant residency and citizenship to illegal immigrants; adhere to environment-friendly policies; and confront regimes in Third World countries that receive aid or preferential trade treatment by the US about human rights violations.

It is impossible for Biden to partially or comprehensively adopt the agenda of the radical wing in the Democratic Party because it clashes with many interest groups and lobbies of major industrial and health insurance companies, as well as the mining and oil sectors, and their representatives in Congress and the Pentagon. Accordingly, the dream of uniting the party is impossible. The same applies to a society that is almost equally torn between a side calling for full liberty and equality for individuals and minorities and opening the gates to immigrants without regulation, while the other side demands protections for American values and views opposing ideas as a serious threat to the US spirit and future.

If we add to this the factor of Bidens health, which affects his ability to steer a broad administration with contradicting political and ideological views, then the aspiration of uniting the domestic front is not only difficult or almost impossible but a great delusion.

Biden might have an opportunity to distract Americans from the reality of division everywhere, which is difficult to address through policy, by succeeding in ending the Covid-19 pandemic in the country and if his inauguration goes smoothly without any violence or major protests by Trump supporters. But this depends on the successful distribution of a vaccine and its proven efficacy, and the ability of security agencies to secure his inauguration ceremony and confront any acts of violence before they expand and are difficult to bring under control.

Regarding foreign policy, it does not seem that Biden has a specific plan to address the USs declining influence around the globe, or curb the ambition of rivals. Biden said he views Russia as the primary and greatest threat to US interests, while also promising a sterner policy with regard to China. Many observers believe Biden cannot confront both China and Russia simultaneously, and he will not be able to eliminate the Russian threat without drawing closer to China if he is serious about making Russia Americas public enemy number one. If Biden decides to manoeuver between the two, he will only maintain the status quo left by his predecessor Trump, which would prove the fallacy of his criticism of Trump on the one hand, and sustain Chinese and Russian threats without redress on the other.

The same applies to his policy towards Iran. Biden does not dare to return to the nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from unless Tehran commits to returning to the stipulations of the agreement and not ask for the lifting of sanctions. However, Iran clearly stated that it will give Biden until February 2021 to lift sanctions or else it will begin enriching uranium at levels seen before 2015. Biden also talked about possibly expanding the number of countries negotiating with Iran on its nuclear programme by adding Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but did not mention Israel which views Irans nuclear programme as an existential threat more than the two Arab countries.

How will Biden resolve this dilemma, namely bringing Israel and Iran together at a multilateral negotiating table? And how will he convince Iran to include its missile tests and expansionist policies in the Middle East in proposed negotiations?

Regarding relaunching talks between Israel and the Palestinians  as an alternative to the Deal of the Century launched by Trump last year  Biden will present seemingly impossible conditions to Israelis and Palestinians. Resuming negotiations without consensus on their foundation means talks will merely be practice for new US diplomats in negotiations that have no chance of success, or just to save face for a US administration that is forging ahead with a foreign policy that lacks a plan or even a tentative vision of a desired goal of these policies.

On Turkey, Biden will need to convince Erdogan to distance himself from Russia and Iran and stop threatening Greece and Cyprus. In return, Washington will need to stop talking about Turkeys human rights violations and give Ankara more freedom to move on the Syrian and Libyan fronts. This could anger US allies such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Overall, Bidens chances of uniting a divided America and recovering the USs prestige overseas, that has been quickly declining over the past two decades, will be a tall task, if not impossible. The best plan of action for Biden is to stem the haemorrhaging at home and abroad without imagining that he can heal already open wounds.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 December, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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President Trump has the power to bar immigrants from the U.S. who cannot afford private health insurance, a ban that would affect as many as 375,000 people a year, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Trump has already denied legal status and work permits to immigrants who accept public benefits, such as food stamps or Medicaid. Thursdays court ruling involved his October 2019 proclamation denying visas to immigrants who did not have health insurance and could not show that they would obtain it within 30 days of entering the country.

Immigrants could receive Medicare and be allowed to remain, but those who planned to obtain coverage under the low-income Medicaid program or the government-subsidized Affordable Care Act would not be eligible. Advocates for immigrants say Trumps proclamation would bar entry to nearly two-thirds of all otherwise legal migrants, those who obtain their entry visas from employers, U.S. relatives or an annual lottery.

The ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, if it becomes final, would allow Trumps order to take effect for the first time. But attorney Esther Sung of the Justice Action Center, one of the legal organizations challenging the policy, said that under the courts standard timetable, the ruling will not be binding for 52 days. That would be well past President-elect Joe Bidens Jan. 20 inauguration. Biden has promised to undo his predecessors anti-immigration policies as soon as possible.

The ruling makes clear that the Biden administration must move swiftly to rescind all of President Trumps xenophobic presidential proclamations, including this health care ban, Sung said. Countless people have been hurt by this ban, and each passing day keeps families needlessly separated.

A federal judge in Portland blocked Trumps proclamation from taking effect in December 2019, saying it exceeded the presidents legal authority. Panels of the appeals court twice denied emergency orders that would have let Trump enforce the ban during the court proceedings.

But a different panel of the court ruled 2-1 Thursday that the presidents broad powers over immigration include the authority to limit entry only to those who can afford health insurance. The majority said the U.S. Supreme Court recognized those powers in 2018 when it upheld Trumps ban on travel to the U.S. from a number of predominantly Muslim nations.

Federal law allows the president to suspend entry for any group of noncitizens whose presence would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, Judge Daniel Collins noted in the majority opinion. Quoting the Supreme Courts 5-4 ruling, he said the law grants the president sweeping authority to decide whether to suspend entry, whose entry to suspend, and for how long.

That means Trump can impose restrictions beyond those enacted by Congress as long as the rules do not conflict with federal law, Collins said.

The appeals court said the Trump administration had presented evidence that legal immigrants are only one-third as likely as U.S. citizens to have health insurance, and that uninsured residents cost taxpayers and health care providers more than $35 billion a year.

Judge Jay Bybee joined Collins opinion. In dissent, Judge A. Wallace Tashima said Trumps order conflicts with immigration policies and laws passed by Congress, including the Affordable Care Act, which made newly arrived legal immigrants eligible for the same subsidized coverage as U.S. citizens. He said it also violates a provision of the Violence Against Women Act that protects victims of violent sex crimes from deportation.

The presidents proclamation was a major overhaul of this nations immigration laws without the input of Congress  a sweeping and unprecedented exercise of unilateral executive power, Tashima said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Dealers resisted the move. But with the new legislation, Congress moved to broaden the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, which increased federal scrutiny of financial transactions, to include the trade of ancient artifacts.

Exactly how the new law works will be determined over the next year by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau within the Treasury Department, in consultation with the private sector, law enforcement and the public. Legal experts expect that the new antiquities regulations will be similar to others governing the precious metal and jewelry industries, where certain transactions are flagged to the authorities, who then determine whether they are suspicious. The law also seeks to end the use of shell companies to conceal the identities of buyers and sellers.

Sponsors of the new measure described it as a much-needed reform.

Over the last decade, weve been working with all the industries and stakeholders to build a bill that satisfies everyone, said Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a New York Democrat, who introduced the Corporate Transparency Act in 2019 and later shepherded that bill into the defense package. We are at a point that weve built so much support that it became impossible to oppose the bill.

The Corporate Transparency Act faced opposition from antiquities dealers, who balked at the requirement to disclose client information and at the added costs of complying with the law. The art industry has fought similar legislation that would have extended the Bank Secrecy Act into the art market.

Federal disclosures show that the auction house Christies has paid lobbyists more than $100,000 over the last two years to influence the outcomes of such measures. A spokeswoman for the auction house, Erin McAndrew, said that its compliance department already maintains standards to protect against money laundering that were adopted by the European Union in 2018.
Dockside and Pier Wonders of the Oregon Coast: Ethereal, Dreamy Finds

Published 12/23/20 at 4:35 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Newport, Oregon)  The beaches of Oregons coastline are well known and their alluring facets in insane abundance. Theres little that beats them. (Above: marina at Charleston, courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast)

Except maybe  at times  the boardwalks and piers of these coastal towns. Where civilization meets the primitive, wild waters and builds structures that hover over them, there are experiences to be had in these places that cant be had on the beaches. Heres a few examples.

North Bend Boardwalk. Tucked off to the side of the small yet comely south coast burgh of North Bend sits its boardwalk, skirting the edges of the great river. A few hundred feet of concrete and tiled walkway are decorated by plants and ornate, old-timey lamp posts. In the water in front of you, rickety, tattered remnants of an old dock structure sit, with pilings now hosting birds and saltwater life  holding up their world instead of whatever mankind had put there before.



Courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast

Majestic green hills undulate in the distance to the east. Always-mesmerizing, gigantic freighters come and go along the riverfront here, their behemoth outlines and neck-straining height an impressive, almost overwhelming presence. Even to watch the smaller vessels is a constant kick in the pants.

To the west of here, at the opening to Coos Bay, along the beaches on either side, theres a veritable graveyard of shipwrecks. About a half dozen or more met their ends in and around those jetties. Almost none are visible now, but its worth a visit to Coos Bays outer edges to look around and imagine the oceanic drama that played out in the last 100 years. (Coos Bay's Mystery Shipwreck - Coos Bay's Czarina Shipwreck)



Bandon's pier/boardwalk - photo courtesy Ian Sane / Flickr



Also engaging are the boardwalk and piers at Bandon, where long structures jut out into the bay and let you vibe out on the beauty or partake in something a little more active  like crabbing. The marina at Charleston is also a hands-down stunner, with hundreds of pro and amateur photos of the sunset colors that erupt here as proof of its beauty. Oregon Coast Hotels for this - Southern Coast

Nehalem Bay. At Wheeler, one of the north Oregon coasts more subtle pleasures is at the tiny towns docks. Here, youre several miles inland via the highway, but actually only a couple of miles from the beaches if youre looking straight out. The dock is the gateway for kayakers, boaters and all sorts of water recreational possibilities and modes, leading into wild marshes and primitive, untouched scenery that cant be found any other way.

From here, the majesty of the skies at Manzanita can be mind-numbingly on display, including explosions of color or intensely moody clouds where marine and inland air masses collide. The mountains and summits surrounding Nehalem Bay can be seen, including the intriguing shape of Onion Peak.

At night, Nehalem Bays Wheeler docks are special, however. The opaque river is partially aglow in the lights of the town. Even more spectacular is when the glowing dinoflagellates (phytoplankton) are around the beaches and they make their way into the bay. Then, stick your hand in the bay  or even better go swimming in it  and youll see a weird, eerie blue / green glow in your wake. Its ethereal and unforgettable. Hotels in Manzanita, Wheeler - Where to eat - Manzanita, Wheeler Maps and Virtual Tours

Newports Yaquina Bay. The entire bay  from Newport proper to South Beach  is one gorgeous, entrancing place. The docks themselves are an effervescent kick to wander, sometimes encountering great, barking sea lions or watching the fishing vessels meander in and out. The whole of Newports Bayfront district is clamoring with activity, so its nice to get away from all that and slowly stroll through the inner workings of the docks and the less frenetic area down by the maritime museum.

Yet at South Beach, where theres not nearly as many other humans, the monumental, elongated pier jutting out into the salty waters may be the highlight. From here, crabbing is a must, or at least walking at a snails pace and chilling at the energizing yet calming sights and sounds. The water gently laps and plops against the structure, making a hypnotizing noise.





However, at night is when the South Beach Pier really shines. All those visual and auditory factors are still present, but now in the dark the place becomes one of the more romantic walks along the entire Oregon coast. Its also rather surreal, as sometimes the incoming vessels and their enormous lights look like alien craft hovering into the bay.

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President Mohamed Farmaajo has on Thursday night signed into law the 2021 Government Budget bill which also elections budget.

The budget which is also an increase of 46% from in the budget for this year to $ 671.8 million.

The president praised the lawmakers of the Federal Parliament for approving the government's budget of 2020.

UN Chief Appoints Anita Kiki of Ghana as deputy special representative for UN mission in Somalia

Somalia Chamber of Commerce Dissolved As Hormuud Telecom Takes Charge of Controversial Interim Committee

PM Roble appoints Ex BBC journalist government Spokesman

The President commended the members of the House of the People for their commitment to fulfilling their constitutional obligations to the country's new budget, which was approved by a majority vote.

The President has also indicated out that the budget reflects the collective efforts of the Somali people and the Government of Somalia to restore the sovereignty of their country.

He also instructed the Government to focus on accelerating social services, increasing employment opportunities for youth and ensuring the salaries of government employees and the Armed Forces.
General Assignment Reporter

Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012.
US President has extended the freeze on the most sought-after H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas by three months to protect American workers, saying while therapeutics and COVID-19 vaccines are recently available, their effect on the labour market and community health has not yet been fully realised.

The decision will impact a large number of Indian IT professionals and several American and Indian companies who were issued H-1B visas by the US government for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1.

The freeze on various categories of work visas was ordered by Trump through two proclamations on April 22 and June 22 last year.

Hours before the freeze was set to expire on December 31, Trump issued another proclamation on Thursday to extend it until March 30.

He said that the reasons for which he had issued such a restriction has not changed.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

They would now have to wait at least till the end of March before approaching the US diplomatic missions to get stamping. It would also impact a large number of Indian IT professionals who are seeking renewal of their H-1B visas.

President Trump said that the effects of COVID-19 on the US labour market and the health of American communities is a matter of ongoing national concern, and the considerations present in the two previous proclamations have not been eliminated.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to significantly disrupt Americans' livelihoods. While the November overall unemployment rate in the United States of 6.7 per cent reflects a marked decline from its April high, there were still 9,834,000 fewer seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in November than in February of 2020, Trump said in his proclamation.

The current number of new daily cases worldwide reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), for example, is higher than the comparable number present during June, and while therapeutics and vaccines are recently available for an increasing number of Americans, their effect on the labour market and community health has not yet been fully realised, he said.

Moreover, actions such as States' continued imposition of restrictions on businesses still affect the number of workers that can be hired as compared with February of 2020, Trump said, adding that his latest proclamation may be extended if necessary.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When the flow of drugs regained momentum, the transportation hurdles resulted in a sharp drop in the frequency of shipments, with cocaine from the Andean countries of South America arriving in Mexico once every two weeks, instead of a few times a week, as had been the case before the pandemic, Sinaloa Cartel associates and a Mexican navy official said.
State government in Madhya Pradesh continues to convince farmers about the efficacy of new farm laws introduced by the central government. However, a number of farmers from at least 10 districts have so far complained about being duped by traders outside Krishi Upaj Mandis.

However, the state government claims to have taken tough action and the police have arrested accused in several cases.

On Wednesday, police arrested two traders- Suresh Khoja and Pawan Khoja-- both residents of Khategaon in Dewas district, who purchased moong and gram worth Rs 1.73 crore from 22 farmers from Dewas, Harda, Sehore and Hoshangabad, but they didnt pay to the farmers all that was due.

As per the state governments official communique, the farmers, in a joint memorandum, complained to sub-divisional magistrate concerned on Tuesday as per the provisions of the new laws-- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act and Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act. The traders were booked under sections 420 and 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and arrested from Indore the next day.

Similar complaints from farmers having been duped by traders have been received from other places too.

More than 70 farmers from Nandarwada village in Hoshangabad district had alleged that trader Aditya Raj purchased paddy worth Rs 85 lakh on December 23 from them but ran away without making the payment. Superintendent of police, Hoshangabad, Santosh Singh Gaur said the trader was arrested within 24 hours of the complaint.

For five farmers of Ratlam district in the state, the sale of green peas, onion and garlic worth Rs 10 lakh to a trader in Satara in Maharashtra proved to be a nightmarish experience. The farmers were framed in a false case of kidnapping of the traders 11-year-old son when they visited him for payment. The farmers were booked under sections 364, 363, 504 and 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), arrested and sent to jail, stated a complaint, lodged with Bilpank police station in the district on December 9, by the father of one of the farmers.

Also Read: In his New Year greetings, Rahul Gandhi takes a veiled dig at Centre over farm laws

Similar complaints of cheating were received from farmers in Guna, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Balaghat and certain other districts.

In a glaring example of malpractices in purchase of agriculture produce, a private paddy procurement centre at Semra village in Patan Tehsil of Jabalpur district was found to be purchasing paddy from farmers without any authorisation from the government. Thousands of quintals of paddy worth about Rs 5 crore were purchased before action was taken against the centre, as per officials.

State president of Mandi Board Employees and Officers Association, Madhya Pradesh, Angira Pandey said, Farmers were duped of more than Rs 20 crore in 15 to 20 districts after the new farm laws came into being. This is all because of the confusion and chaotic situation outside the mandis due to the farm laws.

Also Read: MP govt orders probe after EC flags distribution of unaccounted cash

Pandey said that when purchase of agriculture produce by registered traders was completely regulated by Mandis, such a large number of complaints didnt surface. Whenever there was any malpractice by any trader, the provisions in Krishi Upaj Mandi Act of 1972 gave immediate relief to the farmers by penalising the traders. But now, farmers are supposed to approach the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) concerned and may not get relief as fast as they used to get under the Krishi Upaj Mandi Act.

National president of youth wing of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh Rahul Sharma said, Complaints by farmers of cheating by traders in almost every region of the state have corroborated our stand on the new farm laws that these are not in the interest of the farmers but the corporate houses. The central government should withdraw the farm laws and strengthen the Mandi system instead with guarantee of MSP to farmers on sale of agriculture produce.

Farmers welfare and agriculture minister Kamal Patel disagreed with the farmers associations. It is because of the new farm laws that farmers are lodging complaints with the administrative authorities and the administration is taking tough action against the wrongdoers. In many cases, the accused were arrested by the police. Earlier, there was no such remedy.

He claimed that the farmers in Madhya Pradesh understand well that the farm laws are there to help them get enhanced income. Thats why they are with the farm laws and the BJP government, he said.
My last Viewpoint of 2020, a year which I think you can safely say that we all want to forget. But I have high hopes for 2021. Spain has already started vaccinating people and by the middle of the year a sizeable part of the population will have been given the vaccine.

The Balearic government are also being upbeat; they believe that by Spring you will be able to travel to the island without restrictions; that will mean that the tourist industry can get into top gear once again. Even Brexit doesnt appear to have complicated our lives too much and full marks to the Spanish government for rolling out the red carpet for British citizens, effectively making their lives much easier when they come to get their paperwork in order.

At the moment there doesnt appear to be any other banana skins when it comes to Brexit and our rights as British citizens living in Spain have been safeguarded. So, there is reason to welcome in the New Year with hope for the future. Yes, there are important economic concerns and yes Covid will still be with us next year, but fingers crossed that the situation will be under control. We are exceptionally lucky that we live on this wonderful island which even in these hard times has given us reasons to be cheerful. So let us put 2020 behind us and move forward with hope. As someone said to me yesterday 2021 has got to be better...it couldnt be any worse than 2020.

Happy New Year!
PARIS  France is in theory a nondiscriminatory society where the state upholds strict religious neutrality and people are free to believe, or not, in any God they wish. It is a nation, in its self image, that through education dissolves differences of faith and ethnicity in a shared commitment to the rights and responsibilities of French citizenship.

This model, known as laicite, often inadequately translated as secularism, is embraced by a majority of French people. They or their forebears became French in this way. No politician here would utter the words In God we trust. The Roman Catholic Church was removed more than a century ago from French public life. The countrys lay model supplants any deity.

But, in a country with an uneasy relationship to Islam, laicite is also contested as the shield behind which France discriminates against its large Muslim population and avoids confronting its prejudices. As a result, the job of Nicolas Cadene, a mildly disheveled official with a mop of brown hair and multiple law degrees, has become a focus of controversy.

Mr. Cadene, 39, runs the Laicite Observatory as its general rapporteur, a weighty title for a young man  and one unimaginable outside France.
Backs, retracts: BJP MLA on Kerala motion against farm laws

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 01: The Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution against the farm laws against which the farmers have been protesting for over a month now at the Delhi border.

While the BJP launched a campaign defending the three farm laws, the party's lone legislator in Kerala, O Rajagopal backed the assembly resolution. However hours later, he issued a statement saying that he had in fact vehemently opposed the resolution and blamed the Speaker for not seeking a count of those opposing it.

"I have a different opinion on certain points in the resolution. But I have supported the resolution in its totality. I have backed the resolution, which demanded that the farm laws should be withdrawn. That is why I did not vote against the resolution," he had told the media.

Kerala Assembly passes resolution against farm laws

"That is the democratic spirit. I stood with the general consensus... In these types of issues, what we need is compromise. I don't find anything wrong in a BJP legislator supporting the resolution against the Centre's farm laws," he had said.

However hours later he said, "the Speaker violated all precedents. He did not seek a separate count of those supporting the resolution and those opposing it. I had made my stand clear in my speech on the resolution. I have not objected to the laws and I am not against the central law."

The Kerala Legislative Assembly held a one day special session on Thursday. Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan moved a resolution which said that the country is passing through a difficult situation and it was the fury of the state government to stand with the agitating farmers.

BJP member in Kerala Assembly supports resolution against farm laws

All the three laws will only help the corporate houses, he said, while adding that the current situation makes it clear that if this agitation continues, it will seriously affect Kerala. There is no doubt that Kerala will starve if the supply of food items from other states stop, he also said.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

The resolution was supported by the Congress and other parties. The Congress criticised the Governor, Arif Mohammad Khan was delaying permission to convene the House. The Governor had on Monday given his assent for convening the state assembly for a day. The nod came after the government sent a fresh proposal to convene the assembly after an earlier recommendation was turned down.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 8:56 [IST]
Nguyen Thi N, 39, had to be rushed to hospital when she was 36 weeks pregnant because her platelet level was just 5 grams per litre of blood (G/L) while the normal human platelet count ranges from 150-400 G/L.

38-year-old Nguyen Thi Thu Hien from Phu Tho Province is among 80 outstanding Vietnamese platelet donors who was honoured at a meeting organised by the NIHBT on Saturday. She has so far donated her blood and platelet 45 times. Photo vov.vn

As she suffers from thrombocytopenic haemorrhage, N has been hospitalised many times due to anaemia and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).

Thrombocytopenia is very dangerous and can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding and brain haemorrhage. Pregnant women with thrombocytopenia also face risk to the life of the baby.

Nguyen Thi Thao from National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) said it was necessary to perform Caesareans in cases like Ns because giving birth naturally would be extremely dangerous due to low platelet count.

It could be difficult to stop the pregnant woman bleeding, she said, adding that she would need a large number of platelets before, during and after caesarean surgery.

The institute has mobilised dozens of platelet units, helping pregnant women like N survive, who is now healthy, as is her four-month-old baby.

N is one of many patients whose lives have been saved thanks to platelet transfusions.

According to Bach Quoc Khanh, head of NIHBT, in the past, blood transfusion centres often separated whole blood units in a sterile and closed system to obtain platelets.

However, this method did not satisfy treatment needs, so modern techniques have been applied to extract platelets and then return the rest of the blood to the donors.

As many as 11,337 platelet units were collected by the NIHBT between 2000 and 2010, he said, but over the past 10 years, the quantity of platelets has climbed to 222,187 units.

Khanh said that this was a good sign, demonstrating the rising platelet donation.

Regular platelet donors contribute to providing the safest blood products because they always know how to self-monitor and ensure safe blood.

"Regular blood and platelet donation also help the institute reduce the burden and save time for mobilising people, testing, and processing blood products, he said.

According to Khanh, platelets are tiny cells in the blood, born from bone marrow. Their main function is to stick to the lining of blood vessels and stop bleeding.

Platelets are also blood components that play an important role in the treatment of diseases related to hemostasis disorders, cancer, victims of traumatic injuries, and patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Platelets must be transfused within five days of donation - so there is a constant, often critical, need for new and current donors.

The 38-year-old Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, a donor from Phu Tho Province, said she donated blood as it helped save patients in need.

Many people want to do charity work, but not everyone can do so without sufficient financial conditions. With blood and platelet donation, I find it very easy to realise my dream. As long as I have a kind heart and my health is good enough, I can do it, she told zingnews.vn.

Hien goes to the NIHBT in Hanoi to donate blood 3-4 times a year. After learning that platelet donation can be repeated after 21 days, she turned to give platelets.

Hien has so far donated her blood and platelets 45 times.

She is among 80 outstanding Vietnamese platelet donors who were honoured at a meeting held by the NIHBT last Saturday.

Hien said her health had improved after she engaged in platelet donation.

In the past, I used to experience dizziness and often felt poorly. Since I donate blood and platelets regularly, those symptoms have completely disappeared. I feel healthier, my skin is also improved, she said.

Nguyen Van Khai, a 28-year-old man from Nam Dinh Province, said he had donated blood 10 times and given platelets 50 on 50 occasions.

Khai said he understood the value of blood donation as in 2013, his father had an accident and lost a lot of blood. Thanks to blood from volunteers, his father survived.

Moved by the noble gestures of donors, Nguyen Thi Xuan, who has received treatment for bone marrow failure since June 2014, could say nothing other than thank you.

She couldnt remember how many times she longed for the nurses' trolleys to enter the hospital room because it meant she was about to be called for a platelet transfusion.

The feeling at that time was so joyful.

"On the occasion of National Day (September 2), I had to wait for the platelets for what felt as long as a century, she recalled.

The hospital said we could encourage family members to donate platelets, but my relatives would have had to travel 200 kilometres so it might be too late.

However, she said, unknown people brought life to her, as they have many times in recent years. VNS

Blood donor saves lives Tran Thi Mai, a middle-aged woman in Cam Ranh City in the central province of Khanh Hoa, is known as the provinces record holder for the highest times of blood donation.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 15:05:55|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Mexico's Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard voiced willingness to enhance bilateral cooperation in multilateral fields during a phone conversation on Thursday.

During the call, Wang said China has always regarded Mexico as an important strategic cooperative partner, and will unswervingly promote the long-term friendship between the two countries and firmly support Mexico in developing its economy and improving people's livelihood.

Wang noted that in April 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, held a phone conversation, charting the course for anti-pandemic cooperation between the two sides and the development of bilateral relations.

China highly appreciates Mexico's positive contribution to the continuous development of the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, he said, adding that the new year will bring new opportunities to China-Mexico and China-Latin America relations.

China and Mexico should maintain high-level contacts and deepen political mutual trust, so as to lift bilateral relations to a new level and maintain the momentum of development of China-Latin America relations, Wang said.

Mexico is a major emerging and developing country, Wang said, adding that China supports Mexico in performing its duties as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

China is willing to further strengthen coordination and cooperation between the two sides in multilateral fields, jointly safeguard multilateralism and the norms of international relations, jointly expand the rights and interests of developing countries, and looks forward to strengthening solidarity and cooperation in various fields, Wang said.

Noting that China attaches great importance to Mexico's request for vaccine cooperation, Wang said the Chinese government supports Chinese enterprises in carrying out vaccine cooperation with Mexico, and is ready to promote the cooperation in strict accordance with laws and regulations.

Wang expressed belief that under Lopez Obrador's leadership, Mexico will certainly prevail over the pandemic at an early date.

Noting that a friend in need is a friend indeed, Ebrard said that Mexico regards China as a partner and friend sticking together through thick and thin.

He thanks China for its strong support in Mexico's fight against the pandemic, expressing hopes that the Chinese government will facilitate Mexico's purchase of Chinese vaccines.

Mexico is ready to take its holding of the rotating presidency of the CELAC as an opportunity to push for more achievements in Mexico-China and Latin America-China relations, he said.

Mexico also thanks China for its support for Mexico's non-permanent membership of the UNSC and is ready to continue strengthening cooperation with China in multilateral areas, he added. Enditem
As we approach the end of 2020, it gives me great pleasure to announce $5,000 in contributions to several noteworthy charities along with our latest video contest.

LiveEventStream Automotive (LESA or the Company), the number-one provider of high definition full-motion automotive inventory video, today announced that it has donated, in aggregate, $5,000 to charities this holiday season as it completes its 9th year in business. Five organizations each received $1,000 from LESA: St. Jude's Children Hospital, the International Rescue Committee, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Salvation Army, and Loaves & Fishes, a local Chicago-area food pantry for which Cars.com (NYSE: CARS) provided a matching $1,000 donation. Separately, LESA launched a contest for dealership employees worth an additional $2,500 in prizes and donations  $500 will be given to one winning individual along with $1,000 worth of LESA video products and another $1,000 in donations to a charity of the associated dealerships choice.

Im pleased to say that, after such a challenging and tumultuous year, LESA has grown stronger as an organization, won new clients, and is well positioned for growth going forward, said Philip Ly, CEO of LESA. While the impact of COVID-19 in the spring saw reduced automotive production and inventory, this situation improved as the year went on, with increasing demand for touchless vehicle delivery and video-based purchasing. Through careful planning and execution, we were able to keep our operations running smoothly while working to ensure the health and safety of our employees.

As we approach the end of 2020, it gives me great pleasure to announce $5,000 in contributions to several noteworthy charities along with our latest video contest. I want to thank our employees and dealerships for their ongoing dedication to our products and services during this period of immense sacrifice and disruption; without you, LESA would not be able to survive, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting our extended family as the industry continues to rebound in 2021.

LESAs Video Inventory Program is the premier full-motion video provider for the automobile dealer industry. The Companys hi-def videos come complete with real human voiceover, search engine optimization, and custom voiceover options. With full inventory integration, a simple hardware platform, and a video and photo syndication process, dealers can quickly and easily present their walk around inventory videos not only on their main site including mobile but on major third-party sites as well.

About LESAs Video Contest

The contest is open to any employee of an automotive dealership in the United States, whether or not the dealer is a current LESA customer. Video submissions should describe how video has improved a dealership and customer experience. Submissions should be emailed to video@lesautomotive.com by December 31, 2020. Winners will be announced January 15, 2021; see website for additional rules and information.

About LESA

LESA, founded in 2011, is a privately-held streaming media service provider based in Manchester, Connecticut. The Company offers several unique, cutting-edge video services for the automotive industry and is partnered with a number of service agencies that provide high-definition inventory walk around videos across North America, Australia and Europe.
The Malaysia-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project has been terminated due to both parties being unable to reach an agreement, a joint statement said on Friday.

According to a joint press statement from the Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia and the Prime Minister's Office of Singapore, the HSR agreement had lapsed on Dec. 31, 2020.

According to the statement, the Malaysian government had proposed several changes to the HSR project in light of the impact of COVID-19 on its economy. The governments of both sides had conducted several discussions with regard to these changes and had not been able to reach an agreement, it said.

The bilateral agreement on the project, signed in 2016, had been suspended at Malaysia's request since September 2018, with the deadline for the extension of the suspension expiring on Dec. 31, 2020.

"Both countries will abide by their respective obligations, and will now proceed with the necessary actions, resulting from this termination of the HSR agreement," the statement said.

Both countries remain committed to maintaining good bilateral relations and cooperating closely in various fields, including strengthening the connectivity between the two countries, it added.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin met via videoconference on Dec. 2, 2020 to review the status of the HSR project, including changes proposed by Malaysia.

According to a statement of Singapore's Ministry of Transport on Friday, Malaysia had since allowed the HSR agreement to be terminated, and had to compensate Singapore for costs already incurred in fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.

The HSR would have been 350 km long, including 335 km within Malaysia and 15 km in Singapore. It had been scheduled to be completed by 2026, cutting travel time between Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes.
This New Years Eve is being celebrated like no other in most of the world, with many bidding farewell to a year theyd prefer to forget.

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Workers secure a panel of Waterford crystal triangles on the Times Square New Year's Eve ball, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

This New Years Eve is being celebrated like no other in most of the world, with many bidding farewell to a year theyd prefer to forget.

From the South Pacific to New York City, pandemic restrictions on open air gatherings saw people turning to made-for-TV fireworks displays or packing it in early since they could not toast the end of 2020 in the presence of friends or carousing strangers.

As midnight rolled from Asia to the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas, the New Years experience mirrored national responses to the virus itself. Some countries and cities cancelled or scaled back their festivities, while others without active outbreaks carried on like any other year.

Australia was among the first to ring in 2021. In past years, 1 million people crowded Sydneys harbour to watch fireworks. This time, most watched on television as authorities urged residents to stay home to see the seven minutes of pyrotechnics that lit up the Sydney Harbor Bridge and its surroundings.

In New York's Times Square, the ball was set to drop like always, but police fenced off the site synonymous with New Years Eve to prevent crowds of any size from gathering.

A signs adorns a security fence near the Sydney foreshore ahead of New Years Eve in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. One million people would usually crowd the Sydney Harbor to watch the annual fireworks that center on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. But this year authorities are advising revelers to watch the fireworks on television (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Another of the worlds most popular places to be on December 31, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, pressed ahead with its revelry despite a surge of infections. Images of masked health care workers briefly lit up Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest tower, before fireworks exploded in the sky over the building. Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets and squares marked out for social distancing were largely ignored.

Still, the pandemic robbed the night of its freewheeling spirit. Authorities implemented a raft of anti-virus measures to control rowdy crowds in downtown Dubai. At luxury bars and restaurants, music blared and people drank, but dancing was strictly prohibited.

The gleam of Las Vegas brought a similar crowd, with tens of thousands of people walking on the Strip by early evening despite a plea from the governor to avoid gatherings.

People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus visit Sensoji temple on New Year's Eve in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

South Africans were also urged to cancel parties. Many instead lit candles as a way to honour health workers and people who have died in the COVID-19 pandemic.

In many European countries, authorities warned they were ready to clamp down on revelers breaching public health rules, including nightly curfews in France, Italy, Turkey, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Greece.

No one will be on the streets after 10 p.m. (Athens) will be a dead city to make sure no more restrictions are imposed, said Greeces public order minister, Michalis Chrisohoidis.

Children chase a giant soap bubble at the Blake Park, Mount Manganui, New Zealand as they enjoy New Year's Eve celebrations, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. New Zealand is one of the first countries in the world to welcome in the New Year. (George Novak/NZ Herald via AP)

Frances government flooded the streets with 100,000 law enforcement officers to enforce the nationwide curfew.

A few families gathered in Madrids sunny central Puerta de Sol square to listen to the rehearsal of the traditional ringing of the bells that is held at midnight. They followed the Spanish custom of eating 12 grapes with each stroke of the bells before police cleared the area that normally hosts thousands of revelers.

Thats it, life goes on. Despite what happened we have to celebrate, said Cesar Pulido, 32, who celebrated in Madrid. "We have to eat the 12 grapes in order to ask 12 wishes like health, love, money, everything and good vibes.

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as New Year celebrations begin in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. One million people would usually crowd the Sydney Harbor to watch the annual fireworks that center on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But this year authorities advised revelers to watch the fireworks on television as the two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria battle to curb new COVID-19 outbreaks. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

As the clock struck midnight, fireworks erupted over Moscows Red Square and the Acropolis in Athens, but the explosions echoed across largely empty streets as people obeyed orders to stay home.

From Berlin to Brussels, normally raucous celebrations were muted by the pandemic.

Even the British government, keen to celebrate the U.K.s definitive split from the EU, ran ads imploring the public to see in the New Year safely at home amid a record number of newly confirmed cases. Londons annual New Year's Eve fireworks display was cancelled, but an unannounced display was broadcast before midnight, with tributes to health care workers, a reference to the Black Lives Matter movement and even a voice saying youre on mute in reference to a bugbear of virtual work meetings.

A resident passes by New Year slogans at the entrance to a mall in Beijing Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. This New Year's Eve is being celebrated like no other, with pandemic restrictions limiting crowds and many people bidding farewell to a year they'd prefer to forget. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

In Scotland, residents normally mark the new year with parties and first footing, where a homes first visitor of the year comes bearing gifts. The tradition is among the list of activities the government warned against.

No gatherings, no house parties, no first-footing. Instead, we should bring in 2021 in our own homes with just our own households," Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

Many around the world looked toward 2021 with hope, partly due to the arrival of vaccines that offer a chance of beating the pandemic.

Pedestrians walk in a nearly empty Times Square ahead of the New Year's Eve celebration Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Although this was a very difficult year, a year of many losses, I'm grateful to be safe, to follow the rules, to do my part," said Marilia Rafael, 33, who celebrated in Portugal, "and would like to ask that the next year may be better for all of us, may it be a year of hope, peace and love.

More than 1.8 million deaths worldwide have been linked to the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.

Some leaders, such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, used their New Year's address to thank citizens for enduring hardship during the lockdown and criticize those who defied the rules. Others, like Italys President Sergio Mattarella, flew the flag for science, urging citizens to discard their fears about getting immunized against COVID-19.

A combo image showing a general view of the Victoria Harbor at the New Year's Eve of year 2021 in Hong Kong, the top photo taken on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, and the bottom one on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, fireworks explode over the Victoria Harbor during New Year's Eve to celebrate the start of year 2019 in Hong Kong. As the world says goodbye to 2020, there will be countdowns and live performances, but no massed jubilant crowds in traditional gathering spots like the Champs Elysees in Paris and New York City's Times Square this New Year's Eve. The virus that ruined 2020 has led to cancelations of most fireworks displays and public events in favor of made-for-TV-only moments in party spots like London and Rio de Janeiro. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Faced with an illness so highly contagious, which causes so many deaths, its necessary to protect ones own health and its dutiful to protect those of the others  family members, friends, colleagues, said Mattarella, 79.

In Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, where official fireworks and celebrations also were cancelled to limit the rapid spread of the virus, police officers braced for what promised to be a long night.

Rio officials decided to seal off Copacabana, where millions of people dressed in white usually gather on the beach to marvel at fireworks and attend large concerts. This year, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, only local residents will be able to access the citys iconic shore, authorities said.

In this long time exposure image, a person appears blurred as he paints 2021 with a sparkler firework to represent the coming year, in the darkness on New Year's Eve, in Briesen, Germany, late Thursday Dec. 31, 2020. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)

In South Korea, Seouls city government cancelled its annual New Years Eve bell-ringing ceremony in the Jongno neighbourhood for the first time since the event was first held in 1953, months after the end of the Korean War.

New Zealand, which is two hours ahead of Sydney, and several of its South Pacific island neighbours that also have no active COVID-19 cases held their usual New Years activities.

In Chinese societies, the virus ensured more muted celebrations of the solar New Year, which is less widely observed than the Lunar New Year that in 2021 will fall in February. Initial reports about a mystery respiratory illness sickening people in the Chinese city of Wuhan emerged exactly a year ago.

Jordans reported from Bonn, Germany, and Gatopoulos from Athens, Greece. AP reporters around the world contributed to this report.
Madeleine McCann's parents said in a new year message their 'hope, energy and determination' to find her remains steadfast.

In a message posted on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign website, Kate and Gerry McCann said their thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has suffered during 2020.

The statement, which also thanks well-wishers, reads: 'Goodbye 2020. What a year! One we don't want to remember but will find it hard to forget.

Madeleine McCann's parents said in a new year message their 'hope, energy and determination' to find her remains steadfast

Kate and Gerry McCann said their thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has suffered during 2020

'There's no doubt that 2020 has been tough for most people, and often distressing, with so much loss, worry and isolation.

'Despite losing a parent each, we are aware we have been more fortunate than many, with our family unit at home and jobs to go to.'

The couple, from Rothley in Leicestershire, acknowledged the investigation to find Madeleine had understandably been forced to slow down as a result of the pandemic.

They added: 'It hasn't stopped, however, and the hope, energy and determination to find her and uncover the truth remain steadfast.

'We are very grateful for the continued support, especially throughout this 'rubbish' year and for all the Christmas wishes too. Thank-you.

Madeleine (left) was nearly four when she went missing from her family holiday in 2007. The main suspect, Christian Brueckner (right), is currently behind bars

'Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has suffered this year. Let's hope 2021 is a brighter, more positive one.'

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, on Portugal's Algarve, on May 3, 2007.

Scotland Yard last month confirmed it has no plans to end its missing person investigation, despite the belief of German prosecutors that Madeleine was murdered.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said the force is working 'really, really closely' with the German authorities, but does not expect them to share all of their evidence.

A suspect in the German inquiry, Christian Brueckner, was told last November that he will remain behind bars until 2026, after losing a bid to overturn a rape conviction.

He was last year found guilty of the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in the same Portuguese resort and sentenced to seven years in jail, at a court in Brunswick, Lower Saxony.

The 43-year-old German national - referred to as Christian B in Germany due to the country's strict privacy laws - was identified as a suspect in the Madeleine investigation last June.

It was recently revealed Brueckner wil be questioned by police over her disappearance.
The federal government will release the initial options for an Indigenous "Voice" to Parliament on the back of changing one word of the national anthem to reflect the millennia-long connection of First Nations people to the Australian land.

The interim report of the three co-design working groups, with options for a national Voice and local/regional ones, along with a discussion paper to prompt six months of consultation, is expected to be announced next week.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt and Prime Minister Scott Morrison will soon release the options for an Indigenous Voice to government. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Senior advisory group co-chairs Tom Calma and Marcia Langton delivered the report to Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt in October.

While Prime Minister Scott Morrison has agreed to release the report, it has not taken a formal position on any of the proposed models and is not expected to do so until after the consultation ends in mid-2021.
In the shadow of the frontline is a series documenting individual professionals who through their work demonstrate courage and resilience that keep the cogs of society moving through the COVID-19 pandemic.

_____________________________________________

For 30 years, William Goldie Williams has been waking up before sunrise and arriving for his shift at 4 a.m. driving buses for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. He sees the importance of his work, often working overtime on his days off if he is needed. He prides himself on professionalism and punctuality.

Public transportation is the lifeblood for many to get to and from work, the shops, or medical centers. For individuals that dont have their own transportation or who may have physical disabilities and are unable to travel far from their homes, the bus is their only option.

A transplant of Mississippi, 60-year-old Williams is known as Goldie by family, friends and customers on the bus. He came to Springfield when he was a 5-year-old boy with his family. His nickname had its genesis from a young age because, he said, of the lighter complexion of his skin and unique naturally red hair.

A veteran of the PVTA, Goldie has seen a lot since 1990 when he joined the company, but the issue that he and other drivers face now is unprecedented. Hundreds of people, from all walks of life, board the bus every day bringing with them particles they might have unintentionally picked-up on their errands.

A lot of us drivers out here risk our lives. Honestly, risk our lives out here, because of this pandemic, to get people back and forth to work, said Goldie, speaking of the anxiety that he and colleagues are facing in 2020.

For Goldie, going home to his wife and family is a way to deal with his stress. However, he always worries about those around him, particularly his mother.

William "Goldie" Williams is protected by a sheet of plexiglass that seperates passengers from driver. They were installed after July 1. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Im trying to be a safe as possible, Goldie confessed to MassLive, and in a resigned breath went on to state that I dont go out as much as I used to, you know.

His mother is 85 years old and very much in the high-risk category set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has been widely documented that coronavirus has a particular viciousness for those in older age groups. Over 90% of COVID related deaths in the U.S. are over the age of 50, according to the CDC.

Whats more, the U.S. health agency also reported seeing striking disparities between races saying that systemic health and social inequities have put many people from racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.

Goldie and his colleges at the PVTA all have health insurance provided and are tested once a week for COVID-19.

The precautions taken this year by the transit authority have been unprecedented.

At the maintenance building on Cottage Street, where all of Springfields 132 buses are taken and housed after drivers shifts, maintenance staff work overtime to clean each bus daily.

Dan Chiamis, Springfield Area Transit Company assistant director of maintenance told MassLive that before the pandemic five of the buses would undergo a full clean, inside and out each day. All of the buses now need to be cleaned each evening before they can be taken back out to be used for the public.

Currently, the PVTA in Springfield is operating at 55% of its pre-Covid ridership. Current average ridership has decreased to 259,845 per month from 499,210. The PVTA see the decrease in ridership mostly due to educational institutes being closed as a result of the pandemic.

Dan Chamis, SATCo assistant director of maintenance has undertaken a mammoth task of cleaning all the buses in the fleet daily. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

The organization, SATCo operates Springfields PVTA buses. There are only 20 staff members that work directly for PVTA. Drivers, mechanics, maintenance staff, cleaners and Goldie, all work for SATCo although they are issued PVTA uniforms.

In what could be mistaken for a scene from a sci-fi movie, Luis Bonet, clad from head to toe in defensive armor, grips his Electrostatic canon to take on humanitys greatest enemy that has so far taken the lives of almost 2 million people.

Bonet is one of the two dozen maintenance staff at the PVTA headquarters on Cottage Street that has been disinfecting the buses every evening.

His armor; white coveralls, goggles and pesticide respirator. His weapon; a Multi-Clean Electrostatic Hand-Held Disinfectant Sprayer.

The analogy of a spaceman fighting an enemy sadly is true, except for the spaceman. Bonet and others like him are part of the seemingly endless war to eradicate the virus, it just so happens he looks the part.

The Hand Held electrostatic spray system applies disinfectant to surfaces quickly. Electrostatic technology applies an attractive charge to the spray droplets so they are attracted to surfaces like a magnet.

Chiamis told MassLive that with a crew of roughly a dozen staff members all 131 buses are cleaned with the electrostatic spray making the work much quicker. At the beginning of the pandemic, they were just using disinfectant spray and cloth to wipe down the interior.

Luis Bonet, employee of SATCo cleans the interior of the bus. He will take just minutes to spray the entire bus and then come back to wipe the surfaces. At the beginning of the pandemic it was a much more time consuming process. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

PVTA, which had a 2019 budget of $39 million, announced that on March 23 a modified schedule in Springfield and Northampton due to the pandemic. The regular weekday schedule was replaced with a modified Saturday schedule for Monday through Saturday. Although the Sunday schedule remained the same.

In May, it was announced that $36.6 million was to be given to PVTA as part of a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act package by the Federal Transit Administration. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said the money was to help provide transit service during the COVID-19 crisis while also allowing it to respond to new needs when the pandemic is over.

News about the PVTA funding followed a previous announcement by Neals office that the FTA had awarded Massachusetts state and regional transit authorities $863.5 million in federal grants under the first CARES Act.

At the beginning of the pandemic, to travel on a PVTA bus was free and a maximum capacity of 10 passengers was enforced on each bus to ensure social distancing and public safety. On July 1, the buses reinstalled fees, to the customers dismay according to Goldie, and plexiglass was installed to separate the passengers from the driver.

However, although measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the driver, Goldie and his colleagues still have to step away from the wheel to aid passengers who need help strapping a wheelchair into position on the bus.

William "Goldie" Williams helps Eugene Forest attach his wheelchair. It's the only time that Goldie leaves his seat behind plexiglass during the working day. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

PVTAs Public Relations spokeswoman Brandy Pelletier told MassLive that the company is looking to invest in buses that have automatic wheelchair clamps that secure the wheels without the driver having to leave their seat.

Companies like QStraint have developed these clamps that not only benefit the driver and passenger, that come into proximity of each other when being secured, but also speed up pick-ups and drop-offs, according to the clamps company.

The issue is, Pelletier explained to MassLive, demand is so high for this type of technology, so at the moment there just arent enough to go around. But they are on backorder.

One of Goldies passengers, Eugene Forest, catches the B7 bus for almost everything. He told MassLive that the PVTA is an essential service for him and without it would go his freedom.

Pre-pandemic, Forest used to catch the bus outside Independence House, just off Boston Road, almost every day. Goldie added that he would be there come rain or shine to go to church, attend the community center, or go to run errands.

I catch the bus now once or twice a week, Forest admitted. He worries about becoming infected, like most people do. But for him it could be even more deadly. This has directly impacted his freedom.

Forest, like many individuals, relies on the bus company and drivers like Goldie to ensure their autonomy.

From July 1, plexiglass was installed into each PVTA bus to protect the driver. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

As Goldie drove down Boston Road in Springfield on his route, he mused over the work he and colleagues do that sometimes isnt seen or appreciated.

Goldie comes across as being full of compassion for his passengers and sees a world that most with privilege or resources might overlook. Some of the Springfield residents he transports have no other option but to use PVTA transport to get groceries or go to work. Some need the bus to refill life saving medical prescriptions at the pharmacies.

On one of the busiest routes, Goldie was confronted with a passenger that didnt have a mask. Goldie told MassLive that he stopped the man earlier in the week from boarding and asked him to cover-up to avert the potential risk of becoming infected himself but importantly, Goldie said, that of his other passengers.

Its sad to say, but you dont know what they have, said Goldie.

Goldie spoke to him only to discover that he had lost it somewhere along the way in his rush to catch the bus. He was on his way to CVS to pick up a prescription and needed to get there soon. Goldie reached into his pocket and handed over his spare face covering, the man boarded and he was able to get him where he needed to go.

They ride the bus for a reason. [People might not] have a car but they need to get to where they got to go, Goldie said. Thats why they got to keep us around.

Luis Bonet, employee of SATCo, preps to clean the interior of the bus. He will take roughly 10 to 15 minutes to spray the entire bus and then come back to wipe the surfaces. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

If you want to contact the author to highlight another shadow frontline worker, please email dhook@masslive.com or message him on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call the author at 413-351-1496.

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As per a video by Reuters, a spa in Cairo uses live snakes for massaging. There is an entire process for the snake massage which begins with applying oil on the part of the body which needs to be massaged. After that is done, a combination of snakes are used for the massage. A person handles the snakes as they slither on the body of the client. These snakes move on the face, back and other parts of the body. Photo: Reuters
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Alabamians could start receiving their $600 stimulus checks any day now.

But that money is subject to be taxed in Alabama.

We talked to one local state lawmaker who doesnt think it's fair for you to have to pay tax on stimulus money aimed to help you during this pandemic.

"These funds that our struggling citizens was receiving through the stimulus checks and also our businesses across Alabama that had gotten their PPP loans forgiven, these funds are subject to the Alabama state tax," said State Rep. Andy Whitt.

Whitt says he does not like that his constituents are being taxed on their stimulus money.

"It's not the right thing to do. Our citizens expect more out of us, and quite frankly, they deserve more out of their state," said Whitt.

Thats why he introduced a bill that would exclude money given by the CARES Act from individual taxation. Since then, he has gone back and done more work on the bill.

"We want to make sure we get it right and that everyone that has received these funds and help, the much-needed help, that they're covered under this legislation," said Whitt.

He is not the only representative that supports the bill.

"It's a very popular piece of legislation. I've had many comrades across the state, friends across the aisle, call and want to be part of it, want to support it," said Whitt.

Whitt thinks his bill will be among the first to be considered when the House is back in session.

"So, I think that we'll get it in front of the committees, get it passed out of the house, up to the senate. And I look forward to the governor signing it and become law," said Whitt.

Now, the Alabama House of Representatives will return to session on Feb. 2. But you should receive your second stimulus check before then.
Co and Mahindra and Mahindra said in separate statements that the two companies have called off their joint venture. As part of the JV, Ford was to cede most of its Indian operations to M&M. The companies attributed the decision to changes in global economic and business conditions caused, in part, by the global Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic since the agreement was first announced.

Mahindra and Ford have mutually, amicably determined they will not complete a previously announced automotive joint venture between their companies, M&M said in a late night notification to the stock exchanges. The action followed passing of the December 31, longstop, or expiration, date of a definitive agreement the companies had entered into in October 2019, it said.

The latest move will not have any impact on its product plan, Mahindra and Mahindra said, adding it is well positioned in its core true SUV DNA and product platforms with a strong focus on financial performance. In addition, Mahindra is accelerating its efforts to establish leadership in electric SUVs, the company added.

After two years of intense deliberations, which started in September 2017, M&M and Michigan-based announced a joint venture in which Mahindra controlled the majority 51 per cent stake, whereas Ford was to transfer its entire India business, excluding the engine vertical, to the new entity.

Both the companies expected to achieve cost synergies, pare product development time and cost and leverage each others distribution reach to boost exports.

The deal was one of the several partnerships formed under Hackett as the Blue Oval sought to reduce costs and increase scale. It comes just months into the leadership of new CEO Jim Farley, who replaced Hackett in October.
The World Health Organization says it has cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, meaning poorer countries may soon get access to the shot already available in Europe and North America.

Every country that has a drug regulatory agency will have to issue its own approval for any COVID-19 vaccine, but countries with weak systems usually rely on WHO to vet the shots.

The global body said late Thursday that the decision to issue its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine "opens the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine."

The UN health agency said its review found the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has already received clearance in the United States, Britain, the European Union and a dozen other countries, "met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO."

The BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine has to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures, a big hurdle for developing countries where the required freezers and reliable electricity supply may not be available.

"This requirement makes the vaccine more challenging to deploy in settings where ultra-cold chain equipment may not be available or reliably accessible," WHO said, adding that it was "working to support countries in assessing their delivery plans and preparing for use where possible"

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-02 06:07:30|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 371,504 babies will be born around the world on New Year's Day, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.

As the calendar turns to 2021, UNICEF is again celebrating the new lives being brought into the world on Jan. 1.

Fiji in the Pacific will welcome 2021's first baby. The United States will welcome its last. Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in 10 countries: India (59,995), China (35,615), Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), the United States (10,312), Egypt (9,455), Bangladesh (9,236) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,640).

In total, an estimated 140 million children will be born in 2021. Their average life expectancy is expected to be 84 years.

"The children born today enter a world far different than even a year ago, and a New Year brings a new opportunity to reimagine it," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. "Children born today will inherit the world we begin to build for them today. Let us make 2021 the year we start to build a fairer, safer, healthier world for children." Enditem
Rob Leathern, director of product management, left Facebook on December 30

Facebook's chief of advertising integrity, who handled the company's ad products around sensitive subjects such as politics and coronavirus misinformation, departed this week, according to an internal company post viewed by Reuters on Friday.

Rob Leathern, director of product management, said earlier this month on Facebook's internal network that he would be leaving the company on December 30. His exit had not been previously reported.

Facebook did not immediately respond to inquiries from DailyMail.com on Friday regarding his departure.

Leathern said in the internal post that he was 'leaving Facebook to work on consumer privacy beyond just ads and social media,' without disclosing where he was headed.

In a series of tweets on Friday, Leathern wrote that at Facebook he'd 'had a great experience in a difficult, fun, fast-growing and impactful role at the company working with amazing people.'

'While I'm not going to be working on ads directly, it will be a part of what I work on as I will be staying in the tech/data/privacy space,' he continued.

Leathern said in the internal post that he was 'leaving Facebook to work on consumer privacy beyond just ads and social media,' without disclosing where he was headed

Leathern vowed to share more about his next steps in 'the next week or two.'

He had worked at Facebook since February 2017, according to his LinkedIn page. His prior experience included stints at LinkedIn and a startup he founded.

Leathern was often the public face of Facebook's controversial political advertising policies.

Prior to the November 3 U.S. election, Facebook was heavily criticized for refusing to fact-check political ads, leading to accusations that it was allowing misleading claims and conspiracy theories to spread widely on its platforms.

In November, Leathern had tweeted that Facebook did not have 'the technical ability in the short term to enable political ads by state or by advertiser.'

Subsequently, Facebook lifted a temporary post-election ban on political ads in Georgia ahead of the January 5 runoff that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.

Asked what had changed since Leathern's tweet, a Facebook spokeswoman said the company had decided to implement a temporary solution where advertisers could be manually enabled to run ads.

The ban on political ads in other states will remain, the social media giant said in a blog post. A Facebook spokeswoman declined to say when this overall ban would be lifted.

In November, Leathern had tweeted that Facebook did not have 'the technical ability in the short term to enable political ads by state or by advertiser'

Subsequently, Facebook lifted a temporary post-election ban on political ads in Georgia ahead of the January 5 runoff that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate

Both Facebook and Google introduced pauses on political ads after the presidential election as part of measures to combat misinformation and other abuses on the sites.

Google lifted its pause last month, saying it no longer considered the post-election period to be a 'sensitive event.'

Facebook product manager Sarah Schiff wrote in the blog post that the company had heard feedback in recent weeks from 'experts and advertisers across the political spectrum about the importance of expressing voice and using our tools to reach voters ahead of Georgia's runoff elections.'

In the blog, Schiff said that Facebook would 'prioritize onboarding advertisers with direct involvement in these elections, including the campaigns, state and local elections officials, and state and national political parties.'

Leathern leaving the company comes just weeks after Facebook slammed Apple in a series of full-page newspaper advertisements over upcoming iPhone privacy changes that the social media giant says will devastate small businesses that rely on targeted ads - and accused the other tech giant of anti-competitive behavior.

At the crux of the issue is changes to Apple's iOS 14.4, which will go live next year and require users to give permission in order for apps to track them for advertising purposes. Facebook says Apple's own personalized ad platform will be exempt from the new prompt requirement the iPhone maker is planning to impose on other companies.

Facebook has accused Apple of engaging in anti-competitive practices with the changes, which it says will cut small businesses off from desperately needed customers.

But Facebook has also been at the center of major anti-trust lawsuits, including one by the Federal Trade Commission and at lest 48 states.

The FTC accuses the social media giant of abusing its dominance in the marketplace.

'Facebook's actions to entrench and maintain its monopoly to deny consumers the benefits of competition. Our aim is to roll back Facebook's anticompetitive conduct and restore competition so that innovation and free competition can thrive,' Ian Conner, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition, said in a statement.

As a result the FTC is seeking a permanent injurnction that would require Facebook to divest its assets, effectively breaking it up. Those assets include Instagram, which it bought for $1 billion in 2012, and WhatsApp, which it bought for $19 billion in 2014.
President-elect shared a New Year's Eve message on Thursday calling for the nation to "unite, heal and rebuild in 2021."

"The challenges we face as a nation will not disappear overnight, but as we look forward to the start of a new year, I'm filled with fresh hope about the possibilities of better days to come," he wrote.

He added, "After a year of pain and loss, let unite, heal, and rebuild in 2021."

The President-elect's tweet comes as the United States -- which has been the worst-affected by the COVID-19 pandemic -- tries to turn the corner as it has more than 19 million cases and more than 344,000 people have succumbed to the virus across the country, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The has also seen months of social unrest this year as protests erupted over the deaths of Black Americans George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.

"The president-elect's message of unity has been consistent throughout most of 2020. During the Democratic primary earlier this year... He maintained that he could make deals to get things done for the American people and serve as a uniting force in a country that appears to be politically divided," The Hill reported.

Shortly after his win in the 2020 presidential election, Biden immediately called for Americans to come together.

"With the campaign over, it's time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation," Biden said in November. "It's time for America to unite. And to heal.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
From Children's Health Defense:



Breaking! Public Prosecutor Orders Investigation Into Vaccine Quality Control and Says Scientific Answers Are Needed (Italy)



The Italian citizens organization Corvelva has finally forced an inquiry into the quality of vaccine lots after having financed independent analyzes of different vaccines that showed many samples are not compliant with quality standards and health product regulations.

Corvelva just issued a press release of the decision made by the Public Prosecutors Office in Rome on December 28th. They proudly announced that our analyzes, which had led to a complaint to the Public Prosecutors Office of Rome, after a request for dismissal made by the Public Minister and with our subsequent opposition last year, were today considered worthy of further study. The judge in charge issued AN ORDER in which he indicates to the Public Prosecutor the need to proceed with investigations.

Particularly interesting is a quote of this decision that emphasizes the need to provide real scientific answers and not get away with administrative or legal arguments. It is believed that a merely formal response to the complaint is not sufficient to overcome the technical and scientific arguments of the exponent. This sentence was written as a response to the Public Ministry who had motivated his request to dismiss, by arguing that the effectiveness of the controls of the Italian and European health agencies cannot be questioned by the results of the analyzes carried out by private individuals.

The order finds that arguments of the complaint are detailed and that it is therefore considered necessary to investigate what was reported.

Therefore there is an indication to proceed with independent analyzes by the health security police department to see if the findings can be reproduced.

Mattia Marchi a member of the Corvelva team summarizes the whole story: Read more here.
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George Gascon, then San Francisco district attorney who took office as Los Angeles County district attorney on Dec. 7, 2020, speaks during a new conference in San Francisco on Dec. 9, 2014. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Deputy District Attorneys Sue New Los Angeles DA

The Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA) for Los Angeles County has filed a civil lawsuit alleging that new policies enacted by recently elected District Attorney George Gascon violate California state law and place prosecutors in an impossible position.

Do we follow our legal and ethical responsibilities and risk getting disciplined, even fired, by our new boss? ADDA Vice President Eric Siddall said in a statement. Or do we follow his policy directives and risk losing our California State Bar Cards and, by extension, our ability to practice law anywhere in the state?

The suit, filed Dec. 30, argues that Gascons directives overstep his executive duty to enforce the law. Specifically, ADDA takes issues with the DAs Dec. 7 directive prohibiting prosecutors from filing enhancements, which are additional charges or penalties based on the gravity of a crime or the defendants criminal history.

In a Dec. 30 statement, Gascon reiterated the same perspective he has expressed on several occasions.

I have spent my life ensuring those who pose a threat to our community are held accountable and kept away from the rest of us, he wrote. During those years, enhancements and strike allegations have never been shown to enhance our safety. In fact, studies have shown excessive sentences exacerbate recidivism and create more victims in the future.

He added: After a summer of unrest, Los Angeles County voters embraced this new, modern approach. The will of the voters must not be mistaken as a commentary on the hundreds of Deputy DAs who labor, day in and day out, to protect the public.  As weve seen in recent weeks, this new approach will take some fine-tuning and a tolerance for change.

Despite todays legal challenge, I believe a collaborative path exists to achieve these goals based on what research shows, what voters want, and what LA County deserves.

ADDA holds that a blanket prohibition on enhancements is impracticable and must be based on individual circumstances. The DDAs allege Gascon has essentially taken on the role of a legislative body.

They are seeking a restraining order to prevent Gascon from putting his personally-held views as to which laws are or are not good policy  above the laws enacted by the state legislature and by the voters, according to a Dec. 30 ADDA statement.

While an elected District Attorney has wide discretion in determining what charges to pursue in an individual case, that discretion does not authorize him or her to violate the law or to direct attorneys representing the district attorneys office to violate the law, Michele Hanisee, president of the ADDA, said in the statement.

Meanwhile, a trio of legal experts from Northern California released a joint statement criticizing the lawsuit and standing behind Gascon.

We are confident this attempt to obstruct the will of the voters will be struck down, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of CaliforniaBerkeley Law School; David Mills, a professor at Stanford Law School; and Michael Romano, director of Stanford Law Schools Three Strikes Project.

The statement says the California Supreme Court has held that California district attorneys are given complete authority to enforce the state criminal law in their counties.'

It says the ADDA is being inconsistent because for decades it has remained silent while former DAs often dismissed enhancements and Three Strikes allegations in the interests of justice. the Three Strikes law gives defendants a sentence of 25 years to life if convicted of three violent or severe felonies.

That the Association now claims the practice to be unlawful is more reflective of their longstanding opposition to reform and the will of millions of Angelenos than it is the legality of DA Gascons directives, it states. DA Gascons policies will enhance health and safety in Los Angeles and begin a much needed process to reduce epidemic levels of mass incarceration.

Some victims families have spoken out against Gascons reforms, which give leniency to those who committed crimes against their loved ones. They say enhancements should continue to be allowed, applying additional penalties for suspects whose crimes are especially heinous or who have a serious criminal history.

Gascon has called the application of enhancements a racist practice. He said in a Dec. 16 Zoom meeting they are unethical and racist in application. He said in a Dec. 18 letter they are more likely to be applied to defendants who are African American or mentally ill.



Former Los Angeles DA Steve Cooley is among Gascon vocal critics. He called Gascons reforms unconstitutional and unethical in an interview with The Epoch Times in December.

Theyve taken an ideology and theyre forcing it onto a system of laws, Cooley said.

The DDAs have spoken out against not only the reforms, but also Gascons methods of applying them. He has directed DDAs to read out scripts in any case where enhancements may be applied.

A portion of the script reads, It is the position of this office that [these laws] are unconstitutional  [they] provide no deterrent effect or public safety benefit of incapacitationin fact, the opposite may be true, wasting critical financial state and local resources.

DDAs have also said they are being monitored and intimidated.

Gascon has not responded to The Epoch Times inquiries on these matters.

City News Service contributed to this report.
The death toll in the city stands at 1,935.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said 885 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in the city in the past 24 hours as of January 1, 2021.

"In the past day, another 885 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus, including 25 healthcare workers. There were 16 fatalities," Klitschko wrote on Facebook on Friday.

"As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 112,356."

According to the city mayor, 506 women aged 18 to 88 and 334 men aged 18 to 93 are among those infected.

Read alsoKyiv records warmest day in Dec over 140 yearsThe new cases include 24 girls aged one to 17 years and 21 boys aged one to 17 years.

Klitschko said 73 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest were self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision.

He added that 508 people had recovered in the past day.

In total, 39,911 Kyiv residents have already beaten the disease.

The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district (229), Dniprovsky district (195), and Obolonsky district (69).

The death toll in the city stands at 1,935.

COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest developments

Ukraine said 9,432 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of January 1, 2021.

The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,064,479.

Reporting by UNIAN
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Two prominent Zazzau princes died early Friday and were buried the same day.

The Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu, and the Talban Zazzau, Abdulkadir Iya-Pate, were both buried in Zaria.

Mr Aminu died in a hospital in Lagos on Friday and was returned to Zaria for burial while Mr Iya-Pate died in Zaria after an illness.

Amidst thousands of sympathisers, the Islamic prayer for the dead was held for both men after Jumaat prayers at the Zaria central mosque.

The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, had earlier announced the death of Mr Aminu in a Twitter post on Friday.

It is with the deepest regret and no pleasure that we announce the death of the most powerful traditional title holder and wealthiest prince in Northern Nigeria, Alh. Basar Aminu, Iyan Zazzau, he wrote.

Mr Aminu was one of the Zaria princes who lost the contest for the Emir of Zazzau position to Mr Bamalli last year.

After the installation of Mr Bamalli as the 19th Emir of Zazzau, in October the late Mr Aminu instituted a court case challenging the emergence of Mr Bamalli as the emir.

Mr Aminu asked a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Zaria to set aside the appointment of Mr Bamalli as the 19th Emir of Zazzau and declare him as the rightful monarch.

He asked the court to declare him as the duly selected Emir of Zazzau based on the selection of the kingmakers which took place on September 24, 2020.

At the kingmakers selection, the late Mr Aminu scored the highest, putting him ahead of two other princes: the Yariman Zazzau, Munir Jafaru from the Barebari dynasty and the Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Idris, also from the Katsinawa dynasty.

Mr Aminus death is expected to bring a closure to the suit.

The second prince, Mr Iya-Pate, passed away after a protracted illness.

He was buried according to Islamic rites alongside Mr Aminu in Zaria.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 22:19:31|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Approved by Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the CMC has released a set of interim regulations on the management of military officers on active service as well as multiple supporting regulations.

The regulations, effective from Friday, uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces and focus on combat capabilities.

Improving various policies such as those on the management of officers' career development and their service, welfare and support, the regulations aim to establish a career officers system with Chinese characteristics.

The release of the regulations will help achieve more professional, sophisticated and scientific officer management, and will provide strong organizational guarantee and personnel support for achieving the Party's goal of strengthening the military in the new era and building world class armed forces. Enditem
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Please reference CCSO Case # 20-027728

Photos: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ]

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a shooting incident with multiple victims at a vacation-rental property shortly after midnight on Dec. 31. One victim was transported to the hospital with a chest wound, and three others had left the scene to seek treatment at area hospitals. Authorities are seeking tips.

At 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, deputies were dispatched to a report of a shooting with injuries at 9221 SE Idleman Rd., a vacation-rental property in unincorporated Clackamas County.

Deputies were able to get the 20-30 partygoers out of the house. Upon entry, they found one victim with a gunshot wound to his chest who was being attended to by partygoers.

The deputies quickly stepped in and began life-saving measures. Deputies assessed the victim and applied a chest seal to his wound. Deputies declared the scene safe so medical personnel could enter and transport the patient.

The male with the gunshot wound was transported by ambulance to an area hospital by American Medical Response. He is expected to survive.

Deputies then received information that additional shooting victims had already left the scene to seek medical treatment on their own. Deputies and Portland Police Bureau officers were able to make contact with three additional shooting victims at area hospitals.

In total, three males and one female between the ages of 17 and 20 had been shot. All are expected to survive their injuries.

Sheriff's Office detectives and Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) and Criminal Reconstruction and Forensic Technicians (CRAFT) responded to the shooting scene to gather evidence and process the crime scene. They received assistance from the Milwaukie Police Department, Portland Police Bureau and Lake Oswego Police Department. The Clackamas County Roads Department assisted with the closure of SE Idleman Road between SE 91st Ave to SE 94th Avenue as the crime scene was processed.

Photos from the investigation scene are attached.

TIPS SOUGHT: Detectives are seeking tips from the public that can aid in the ongoing investigation and arrest of the suspect, who remains at large. Anyone with information on this shooting, the suspect or the suspect's whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office Tip Line -- by phone at 503-723-4949 or by using the online form at https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip . Please reference CCSO Case # 20-027728.

[END]

Sgt. Marcus Mendoza

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Public Information Unit
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South Korea's export fell last year due to an economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the slide was limited owing to a partial global demand recovery in the latter half of 2020, a government report showed Friday.

Export, which takes up about half of the export-driven economy, declined 5.4 percent over the year to 512.85 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Import contracted 7.2 percent to 467.23 billion dollars, sending the trade surplus to 45.62 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in black for 12 straight years.

Last year's export topped 500 billion dollars for the fourth consecutive year, while the trade surplus picked up 17.3 percent compared to the previous year.

For the whole year of 2020, the outbound shipment went down in single digits, but global demand partially turned around in the second half.

The country's export retreated 11.3 percent in the first half, before rebounding 0.4 percent in the second half. During the October-December quarter, the shipment advanced 4.2 percent from a year earlier.

Semiconductor export added 5.6 percent over the year to 99.18 billion dollars in 2020, logging the second-highest yearly figure.

Computer shipment surged 57.2 percent as people worked from home and attended online classes on the fear of virus infections.

Shipment of medical supplies in the bio-healthcare sector surpassed 10 billion dollars for the first time, continuing to rise for 11 years running.

Meanwhile, the export advanced 12.6 percent from a year earlier to 51.41 billion dollars in December, exceeding 50 billon dollars in 25 months since November 2018.

The shipment tumbled more than 20 percent in April and May, before recording the first rebound in seven months in September. It retreated 3.8 percent in October, before expanding 4.1 percent in November.

The daily average export increased 7.9 percent over the year to 2.14 billion dollars in December, keeping an upward momentum for the third consecutive month.

Import climbed 1.8 percent to 44.46 billion dollars last month, sending the trade surplus to 6.95 billion dollars. The trade balance maintained a surplus trend for eight months in a row.

Among 15 major export items, 11 grew in December as the COVID-19 pandemic raised demand for tech products.

Chip export jumped 30.0 percent last month, continuing to rise in double figures for four straight months.

Display panel shipment reached last year's monthly high of 2.11 billion dollars in December, and export for computer and consumer electronics grew in double digits.

Shipment for telecommunication devices, such as smartphone, surged 39.8 percent in December from a year earlier, posting the fastest increase in 62 months.

General machinery export rebounded in three months, and the shipment in the bio-healthcare sector kept advancing for 16 months through December amid strong demand for COVID-19 test kits.

Export to South Korea's four major export markets, including China, the United States, the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), all increased for two straight months in December.

Shipment to Japan added 1.4 percent, and those to Latin American countries and India posted a double-digit gain last month.
GARDAI will exhume the remains of an unidentified man washed up on a Co Leitrim beach in the 1980s in a bid to solve a 34-year mystery.

The body, which was later buried in Manorhamilton, was found on the rocks on Tullaghan Strand in north Leitrim in May 1986.

An exhumation is due to take place later this month under the supervision of detectives from the Garda Missing Persons Bureau.

A source involved in the case said it is hoped that advances in forensic science, in particular DNA identification, will help investigators to finally identify the man.

He is believed to have drowned, and no foul play is suspected.

The body, which was discovered shortly after 10am on May 1, 1986, is thought to have been in the water for some time.

Despite being badly decomposed, a number of distinctive tattoos on both arms could provide vital clues.

The word "Eire" was found on the upper left arm while the right arm had a green shamrock alongside a dagger and scabbard.

One theory, given the time period, is that the man may have been from the North.

At the time, however, the RUC nominated a missing man as a possible match that was later ruled out.

The remains had no upper body clothing, but there were a pair of Wrangler jeans with a belt that had a silver buckle with a dog on it.

A post-mortem was carried out before burial, but no DNA profile was obtained.

The Department of Justice confirmed that a ministerial order for the exhumation had been granted by minister Helen McEntee.

This followed a request from the coroner for Co Leitrim for the exhumation, for the purposes of DNA retrieval.

"Ireland's DNA database, administered by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), has made a significant contribution to missing persons cases since its establishment five years ago," a department spokesperson said.

"The DNA database contains valuable close family samples alongside profiles of persons whose identity is not yet known."

Chris Enright, the director general of FSI, recently told a National Missing Persons Day event that a number of cases of missing persons had been solved last year by DNA technology.The exhumation of bodies involves a complex application process and is allowed only in the rarest of circumstances.

The law requires that the exhumation be carried out "with due care and decency, and in such a manner as not to endanger public health".

A forensic anthropologist, the state pathologist, gardai from the technical bureau and a forensic scientist from FSI are expected to attend the exhumation in Manorhamilton.

The remains must be reburied or cremated within 48 hours.

There are around 20 cases of unidentified remains in Ireland.

The oldest is that of a male found in the sea off Co Wexford in 1968.

Download the Sunday World app Now download the free app for all the latest Sunday World News, Crime, Irish Showbiz and Sport. Available on Apple and Android devices

Herald
Marcus Rashford has insisted Manchester United need to clinch silverware in 2021 following several near misses last season.

United have fallen short of lifting their first trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer despite reaching three semi-finals under him, but expectations are high once again after their fine start to domestic life this time around.

And star forward Rashford, who enjoyed a memorable 2020 both on and off the field, has underlined the desire at Old Trafford to bring back their glory days.

Marcus Rashford (left) has urged Manchester United to end their trophy drought this season

'The platform has been there for a while and in this last year we've taken greater steps forward which is obviously a positive for us,' he said in an interview on the club's official website.

'We missed out on winning some trophies, losing in the semi-finals, and that's what we need to correct in the coming year and make sure we get over the line and win trophies.

'That's the next thing for us to do as a team then it's about doing it consistently and being able to repeat it back-to-back which is more difficult than getting it the first time.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) steered United to three semi-finals last year but his team lost all of them; Rashford, who had a fine 2020 on and off the field, wants this year to go even better

'We've still got a long journey ahead of us, but at the moment we're in a good place and we're concentrating on ourselves and our team and just trying to improve ourselves in each game.'

The last time United tasted glory was in 2017, under Jose Mourinho, although the club have recently come close to breaking their three-year duck.

Defeats to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, Chelsea in the FA Cup and Sevilla in the Europa League, all at the semi-final stage, meant Solskjaer's side were unable to mark their late season surge with tangible success.

Rashford, who netted his 50th Premier League goal - and his 80th for his club - in United's dramatic win over Wolves, will prove crucial to achieving their lofty targets.

United crashed out of the Europa League to Sevilla in one of last season's semi-final defeats

Rashford watched on dejected as United were sent out of the FA Cup by Chelsea at Wembley

United won the reverse leg away but were knocked out the Carabao Cup by Manchester City

He added: 'My main aim is to help the team and, as a forward, it's goals and assists that do that so the more of them I can get is the best for the team.

'That's what I'm concentrating on doing and ultimately that's what is going to help the team pick up points and if we have three or four of us that are playing in that way and trying to help each other score, then we can have big possibilities this season.'

The 20-time top-flight champions will be able to move level on points with Liverpool with victory over Aston Villa on Friday night.
US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons

Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

Advisor to Armenia Prosecutor General provides details about incident with Armenian soldier killed in Verin Shorzha

Banksy's painting of punk Lenin sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 960,000

CSTO Deputy Secretary-General: Escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border requires undertaking of urgent measures

Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Japan

Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

Kathimerini: US seeks to increase military presence in Greece due to doubts about Turkey's reliability

US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities promised to separate business from politics, but they're failing to fulfill promise

There will be post-election processes if authorities try to rig voting, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

CNN: Putin and Biden will meet on June 15-16 in Geneva

Latin America has the highest poverty rate in 20 years

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia applying to CSTO: No one will help you if you do nothing to solve your problems

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party presents list of first 10 candidates ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting justice minister discusses broad range of cooperation issues with top CoE official

Armenia former President Kocharyan: This guilt, this criminal article is on these authorities

Man survives after spending 17 days in desert

Azerbaijan continues course towards systematic extermination of Armenian heritage in Shushi

Armenia Syunik Province ex-governor: Azerbaijani soldiers advanced along length of border two days ago

Newly appointed Ambassador of Montenegro presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President

Its about bringing Karabakh issue back to right to self-determination, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia

Ara Aivazian and Austrian counterpart hold phone talks, focus on Azeri army's infiltration into Armenia's territory

Kocharyan: Elect todays political team if you are ready to live squatting

Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 30 million

2nd President Kocharyan on Armenia Security Council chief: Do you take that person seriously?

"Key" to settlement of Karabakh conflict cant be in one place, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Texas may permit carrying of pistols without special permission

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's high popularity rating: We will wear it down to the root

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Election bloc format must be workable in some logical sense

Attorney: Political persecution against Robert Kocharyan is becoming more noticeable during election campaign

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We must do everything so that our domestic politics is not dictated by Azerbaijan

Armenian acting defense minister meets Russian peacekeeping mission chief

Congress predicts US nuclear spending to reach $ 634 billion by 2030

Russian MP: The effectiveness of military cooperation with Armenia depends on Yerevan as well

Delimitation now may create some problems in Karabakh negotiation process, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on relations with 3rd President Sargsyan: We go our own way they go their own

Judge adjourns hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM for 3 weeks

Court hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia must show that it will not be subjected to such pressures

Kocharyan: You may find yourself in stupid situations if you come to negotiations without any baggage

Armenia Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into soldiers death

157 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

EU helps UN World Food Programme provide humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected people in Armenia

Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

Armenia legislature speaker on situation at Syunik Province: CSTO still has procedures

Blinken arrives on his first official visit to Israel

World oil prices going up

Provincial hall issues statement on Tavush section of Armenia border with Azerbaijan

MFA statement: Azerbaijan continues to use Armenian POWs as political hostages

Newspaper: There are last-minute changes on Armenia ruling party electoral list

Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

Newspaper: Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan intensively engaged in election campaign

EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

Quake hits Georgia, also felt in Armenia

2nd President Kocharyan: Process of obtaining Armenia citizenship shall be simplified, shall take only few months

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Appointments in army were not based on knowledge but on loyalty

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia must not go back to the past and stay there, just like the incumbent authorities did

Armenia 2nd President on recent Karabakh war, consequences and the signed document

Armenia 2nd President: Current authorities don't have remorse, aren't conscious and patriotic

Armenia 2nd President on black PR and management system in the country
WhiteKnight BHPian



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OEM LED/HID headlights - Do they cause issues to other motorists?



Quoting few for reference



https://abc3340.com/news/nation-worl...ight-less-safe

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/mot...getting-worse/

https://www.quora.com/What-will-it-t...s-to-be-banned

https://www.popularmechanics.com/car...ed-headlights/



So, what is the real issue?

Is there a regulation on colour temperature allowed? If so, don't think it is being followed by manufacturers.

Are the cut offs for low beams proper?

Does "cool white" really helping even the one who is driving the car?

Here are my thoughts

LEDs, by default produce more light per watt. So, a 60W LED would be way more brighter than a regular halogen. Government should refine/update the rules to limit the light emitted, than limit the wattage.

High wavelength light disperse less, hence gives more visibility to driver. This is the reason to have 3500K-4000K colour temperature (yellowish) for headlights. Anything above, due to dispersion, creates blinding effect to onlookers and is a hazard. This needs to be regulated by government, if not done already. I tend to think there could be rules that are getting violated.

Then the question is why LEDs seem to light the road ahead. It is purely because of the reason # 1 above- more light per watt.



Amongst the vehicles with LED/HID on Indian roads, some are more disturbing than others. The most disturbing headlight, by far is the one on Suzuki Baleno, and to a lesser extent Ciaz. It is definitely a higher colour temperature, normally referred as cool while, may be 6000K and it is HID, I guess. Mercedes Benz, in general, seem to have "cool white" light compared to BMW lights.



The least disturbing one I've seen is the one on Endeavour. Even the LEDs on Vento appears to be harmless.



To summarise, before it gets out of hand, government agencies need to publish rules governing the lights, matching with best use of latest technologies. Last thing I want is a rule similar to sun film ban- we need a rule that governs the desired outcome, not the means.



And, we're not even talking about aftermarket fitments. The reason for the thread is my own experience in night driving. I am absolutely blinded with LED/HID headlights in certain cars. I tried attributing the same to my dwindling eyesight, however, based on conversation with folks, this seem to be a real issue. I do know LEDs and HID are different, however, they both, in general seem to emit bluish light. Doing some google made me realise that across the globe people are complaining about the same.Quoting few for referenceSo, what is the real issue?Here are my thoughtsThen the question is why LEDs seem to light the road ahead. It is purely because of the reason # 1 above- more light per watt.Amongst the vehicles with LED/HID on Indian roads, some are more disturbing than others. The most disturbing headlight, by far is the one on Suzuki Baleno, and to a lesser extent Ciaz. It is definitely a higher colour temperature, normally referred as cool while, may be 6000K and it is HID, I guess. Mercedes Benz, in general, seem to have "cool white" light compared to BMW lights.The least disturbing one I've seen is the one on Endeavour. Even the LEDs on Vento appears to be harmless.To summarise, before it gets out of hand, government agencies need to publish rules governing the lights, matching with best use of latest technologies. Last thing I want is a rule similar to sun film ban- we need a rule that governs the desired outcome, not the means.And, we're not even talking about aftermarket fitments.
Mitch McConnell told fellow Senate Republicans that his vote to certify Joe Biden's election victory will be the 'most consequential' of his political career, a new report claims.

The Majority Leader made the declaration in a conference call on Thursday morning, according to Axios, which spoke to one person who was on the call and two who were briefed on its contents.

'I'm finishing 36 years in the Senate and I've cast a lot of big votes,' one source paraphrased McConnell as saying. 'And in my view, just my view, this will be the most consequential I have ever cast.'

He referred to the vote as a 'vote of conscience', the source said, adding: 'The context was McConnell saying we're being asked to overturn the results after a guy didn't get as many electoral votes and lost by 7 million popular votes.'

The call came one day after Missouri Sen Josh Hawley voiced his support for a Trump-backed plan to object to certifying the Electoral College votes on January 6.

McConnell and two other senators reportedly asked Hawley to explain what he plans to do at the certification vote during the call, but Hawley was not present.

Mitch McConnell told fellow Senate Republicans that his vote to certify Joe Biden's election victory will be the 'most consequential' of his political career on Thursday

Hawley on Wednesday announced that he would file objections alongside a group of House Republicans when Vice President Mike Pence goes through the Electoral College vote tallies next week.

The process is a ceremonial one - but objections have been made in the past.

The change this year is that President Donald Trump, who has refused to concede the election to President-elect Biden, is backing the effort, which could hold up the announcement of the final results by hours, even days.

The president has asked his supporters to come rally in Washington, DC, as he continues to tweet conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud.

McConnell's latest comments about the vote are likely to further infuriate Trump, who has been clinging to hope that the election is not yet over.

Missouri Sen Josh Hawley (pictured) on Wednesday voiced his support for a Trump-backed plan to object to certifying the Electoral College votes on January 6

Trump's chances at overturning the results took yet another hit on Thursday as the Department of Justice came out to condemn a Republican-led lawsuit that aimed to reverse Biden's Electoral College win by asking a judge to declare that Pence has the 'exclusive authority and sole discretion' to decide which votes should be counted.

Pence was named as a defendant in the case - led by Texas Rep Louis Gohmert and 11 Arizona Republicans - which the DOJ called a 'walking legal contradiction'.

Top DOJ officials asked a judge to reject the plaintiffs' request for an emergency injunction that would empower Pence to ignore the Electoral College votes from battleground states that handed the race to Biden.

McConnell's refusal to contest the Electoral College results has infuriated President Donald Trump (pictured arriving at the White House with Melania on Thursday)

Beyond Hawley, only a handful of Republican senators had expressed interest in objecting to state results on January 6, but just one senator needs to object to trigger two hours of debate in the House and Senate and then a vote for each state the lawmakers say they have a problem with.

A simple majority vote is needed to overrule an objection.

McConnell asked GOP senators not to engage in this effort because every one of his senators would have to go on-record and either dispute a state's result - or vote against Trump, which could have repercussions down the line in the form of Trump-backed primary challengers in 2022.

McConnell has already congratulated Biden for winning the election, doing so the day the Electoral College cast votes.

He's been joined by other moderate Republican senators, making Hawley's efforts to contest certain states' results doomed.

Republican Sen Ben Sasse threw his support behind McConnell on Wednesday as he called out 'institutional arsonist members of Congress' for signing on to the plot.

'When we talk in private, I haven't heard a single Congressional Republican allege that the election results were fraudulent - not one,' Sasse wrote in a long Facebook post.

'Instead, I hear them talk about their worries about how they will "look" to President Trump's most ardent supporters.'

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse wrote a Facebook essay explaining why he would not be taking part in the Trump-led plot to object to Electoral College vote tallies in January 6 and called out his colleagues, saying none of them believe vote was 'fraudulent' behind closed doors

Sasse, who's been one of the few Republican Trump critics on Capitol Hill, laid out the Trump campaign's court cases in each state and then explained why some reported instances of fraud or disparities would not flip the results.

'I started with the courts for a reason. From where I sit, the single-most telling fact is that there a giant gulf between what President Trump and his allies say in public  for example, on social media, or at press conferences outside Philadelphia landscaping companies and adult bookstores  and what President Trumps lawyers actually say in courts of law,' Sasse wrote.

Sasse points out that while there's no legal penalty for misleading the public, there is one for deceiving judges.

'[T]he presidents lawyers know that  and thus they have repeated almost none of the claims of grand voter fraud that the campaign spokespeople are screaming at their most zealous supporters,' Sasse said.

'So, heres the heart of this whole thing: this isnt really a legal strategy  its a fundraising strategy,' he added.

Sasse wrote about what he believed his colleagues' motivations were too.

'Let's be clear what is happening here: We have a bunch of ambitious politicians who think there's a quick way to tap into the president's populist base without doing any real, long-term damage,' Sasse said. 'But they're wrong  and this issue is bigger than anyone's personal ambitions.'

'Adults dont point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government,' he continued.

'All the clever arguments and rhetorical gymnastics in the world won't change the fact that this January 6th effort is designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party.'
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned it would be dangerous to rush a coronavirus vaccination rollout even if it could lead to restrictions and border closures easing sooner.

Amid confusion around Victoria's border closure to NSW that led to hours-long traffic queues, the Prime Minister said there was little reason to convene national cabinet because the premiers would not change their minds over a consistent hotspot definition.

"Their views on borders will be the same if they met this afternoon as they were a month ago," he said on Friday.

National cabinet is not scheduled to meet until February 5. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said that was "a long time away".
FLORENCE, Ore. -- Another Lane County restaurant is the subject of an Oregon Occupational Safety and Health investigation after the restaurant reopened for indoor dining, despite a ban instituted by Governor Kate Brown.

On Thursday morning, less than a dozen people were seated for breakfast inside Little Brown Hen Cafe on Highway 101 in Florence.

Under Brown's framework for extreme risk counties like Lane County, indoor dining is banned, and outdoor dining is limited to 50 people.

In an emailed statement, owner Stacey Brown Wilson said she was faced with a difficult decision.

It was either open and try to salvage my business and my employees lively hood or close the doors permanently, Wilson wrote. We are simply trying to survive. For those who presume I dont care about my community they couldnt be more mistaken.

Wilson called the decision difficult and said her actions are not intended to make a statement about the state or governors authority, but said she is exercising a constitutional right to run a business.

Reaction to the news among Florence residents was mixed, with some applauding the move and others calling it irresponsible.

At some point the restaurants are going to have to open up. I dont know how they can stay in business. Its been almost a year since weve limited their ability to run businesses, said Betty Ann Blachowicz, a Florence resident.

On Thursday, Brown released a statement in response to defiance of her orders.

If businesses reopen too early and instead create new spikes in COVID-19 cases, the actions of a few business owners could set entire communities back and keep them in the Extreme Risk category for even longer Brown said.

Brown reminded businesses that she has instructed OSHA and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to enforce her orders through citations, fines and red warning notices.

A spokesman for OSHA confirmed the agency has received multiple, recent complaints regarding the cafe and an investigation is underway.

I think its irresponsible to put other people at risk and give them a potentially fatal disease, said Mark Immel, Florence resident. I think its a really bad idea. I can certainly understand peoples economic woes in this time but you know so many of us have to just had to pivot and do business a different way.

Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bettina Hannigan said businesses have been backed into a corner and are feeling desperate.

I think theres a lot of desperation. Theres a lot of unfairness going on. Some people can reopen. Some people cant. Right now, I understand some of our counties south of us have opened, so our people here in Florence who want to eat, instead of eating here locally theyre going to drive down to Coos Bay and eat in Coos Bay. How fair is that? Hannigan said.

A request for comment from the Florence Police Department and Lane County Sheriff's Office was not immediately returned.

Read the cafes full statement below:

"This is not a decision I made lightly. I didn't open my restaurant as a statement, or to be in defiance of Governor Brown's "mandate". I am simply exercising my Constitutional right to run my business. I have spent the last nine months complying. It was a difficult decision to re-open. It was either open and try to salvage my business and my employees lively hood or close the doors permanently. We follow strict safety protocols, and have the utmost respect for our customers health and well being. We are simply trying to survive. For those who presume I dont care about my community they couldnt be more mistaken we have always supported our community in numerous ways and will continue to do so. Covid is real we are not denying that and of course we do not want it to spread in our community. We are even being more diligent than we previously were to help prove that Covid doesnt spread only in restaurants in the hopes that many more will be able to open safely."

Stacey Brown Wilson, Owner of Little Brown Hen Cafe
The war on sharks has been waged with shock and awe at times. When a shark bit or killed a swimmer, people within the past century might take out hundreds of the marine predators to quell the panic, like executing everyone in a police lineup in order to ensure justice was dispensed on the guilty party.

Eric Clua, a professor of marine biology at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris, said the rationale behind shark culls in the past was simple: fewer sharks, fewer attacks. That reasoning also drives methods such as shark nets and baited hooks, which are currently in use at a number of Australian and South African beaches that are frequently visited by sharks. Nature, he notes, pays too great a price.

They are killing sharks that are guilty of nothing, said Dr. Clua, who studies the ocean predators up close in the South Pacific.

Dr. Clua said he has found a way to make precision strikes on sharks that have attacked people through a form of DNA profiling he calls biteprinting. He believes its usually just solo problem sharks that attack humans repeatedly, analogizing them to terrestrial predators that have been documented behaving the same way. Instead of culling every bear, tiger or lion when only one has serially attacked people, wildlife managers on land usually focus their ire on the culprit. Dr. Clua said that problem sharks could be dispatched the same way.
 Flash

China and Egypt signed on Thursday a letter of intent for mutual cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines.



Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang signed the letter, on behalf of the National Health Commission of China, with Mohamed Hassani, Egyptian assistant minister of health for public health initiatives, said the Chinese embassy in Cairo in a statement.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed, the statement said.

Liao said that the signing of the letter will strongly promote the cooperation on research, development, production and use of coronavirus vaccines between the two countries' relevant institutions.

China and Egypt have helped each other amid the menacing pandemic, the ambassador said, adding that the signing of the letter of intent is the embodiment of the joint efforts by China and Egypt to build a health community.

He stressed that people of all countries have the right to obtain vaccines and medicines, pointing out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

"Chinese vaccines are undergoing phase III clinical trials in many countries, and they are progressing smoothly. China has approved the emergency use of the vaccines in the country, and there have been no serious adverse reactions," Liao said.

The ambassador emphasized that China has made a firm commitment that it will serve the vaccines as a global public product and supply them to the world at a fair and reasonable price, contributing to the realization of the availability and affordability of the vaccines in developing countries.

For her part, the Egyptian health minister said that the Egypt-China relations are particularly friendly, and cooperation in the health field has been further expanded.

"China has given full play to the joint efforts of the government and enterprises to firmly support and assist Egypt during the fight against the epidemic, and Egypt highly appreciates that," Zayed said.

"As a country with a large population in the region, Egypt has a very sincere desire to carry out anti-epidemic cooperation with China, including vaccines," she said, noting that Egypt looks forward to China's continued support.

On Dec. 10, Egypt received the first batch of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine to help fight the COVID-19 epidemic.

The batch of the vaccine, developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group, or Sinopharm, came from the United Arab Emirates.
Theres been a lot written about the power Vice President Pence has to turn the stolen election around on January 6. Many commentators on various sites (including AT) have weighed in, some expressing hope, while other have expressed doubt Pence would do the right thing.

But it appears all of this is moot, as Bill Jacobson, founder of Legal Insurrection writes:

A claim has circulated widely in the past few days that Vice President Mike Pence, as President of the Senate, has the power and discretion to reject certifications. If Pence had such power and chose to exercise it, it would be over, but he doesnt.

Jacobson cites relevant language from the Constitution (Article II, Section I, after the 12th Amendment) to support his assertion and then summarizes.

Note the words. Shall  open all the Certificates and the Votes shall then be counted. Shall is mandatory, there is no discretion. The certificates must be opened by Pence, and the votes must be counted (its unclear who does the counting, but the votes must be counted regardless). No Vice President (whether Mike Pence, Al Gore or future VP Kamala Harris) performing the function of opening the votes has discretion to reject votes. No Vice President has authority to accept votes presented through some extra-constitutional other process. There is an interesting legal question of what would happen if a state authority presented conflicting votes  for example the legislature certified one set of electors but the executive branch certified a different set  but that has not happened here. No state authority has certified more than one set of electors. A bunch of legislators acting on their own getting together outside the constitutional certification process to announce electors is not presented for counting any more than if I got together with some friends and we delivered an envelope to Pence with our chosen slate of electors. Maybe if legislatures (not legislators) had so acted, we would have a legal conundrum, but that has not happened. The Congressional legislation provides a mechanism for objections to be raised and resolved. Neither the constitution nor the legislation makes the Vice President king for a day.

Jacobson also addresses the original source for the idea that Pence had the authority to reject the votes, noting that his views were overstated, taken out of context, sometimes contradictory, and culled from law reviews (which are opinions).

I have no reason to doubt Jacobsons understanding. He has a fine legal mind and calls things as he sees them, even if the message is hard to hear. And I cant recall a time (though no doubt there was a least one) when he was wrong. So perhaps its best not to be hoping that Vice President Pence do something that he has no lawful power to do.

But Congressman Louie Gohmert is trying to change that. He sued Pence in an effort to expand the Vice Presidents role in rejecting the votes. Yesterday, Pence asked a federal judge to reject the case, stating that he is not the proper defendant and that any potential relief should be sought in the House and the Senate. Of course, Bidens lawyers are poised to weigh in on all of this, and on and on it goes.

Meanwhile, the number of Congressional representatives who plan to challenge the Electoral College vote appears to be growing rapidly. Two members of the house stated there are now at least 140 members, if not more, who will object. This includes nearly all, if not all, of the GOP representatives from Pennsylvania.

If thats true and each member who objects is granted 2 hours for debate, the time until Pence goes through the ceremonial motion of making the vote official could stretch for days beyond January 6.

At some other time, for some other reason, one might take pleasure in feeling like we were sticking it to the left by doing this. And dont get me wrong, I want to see as many Republicans as possible object to this fraud. But the matter is so grave and the implications so far-reaching, that I find cold comfort in this news.

Like tens of millions of Americans, I want this fixed!

This fraud should not be allowed to stand, yet I fear that it will. Its hard to wrap ones mind around all the evil that has rained down on us, with so much more yet to come.

But let me not end on that note, and instead, on this first day of the New Year, share this beautiful post by Sundance over at the Conservative Treehouse/The Last Refuge: here. Its like a little blessing.

Caricature by Donkey Hotey (cropped) CC BY-SA 2.0 license
India has formally protested with Pakistan regarding the recent vandalisation of a Hindu temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Karak district, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity on Friday. The matter was taken up officially with the Pakistani side and a strong protest was lodged, one of the people said.

Shri Paramhans Ji Maharajs samadhi along with the Krishna Dwara Mandir in Teri village in the northwestern town of Karak was vandalised on Wednesday by a mob. The mob claimed that the temple had encroached on extra land and set it on fire. At least two dozen people were arrested in overnight raids after the Hindu temple was attacked on Wednesday, according to reports. Some 1,500 people had reportedly participated in the attack on the temple.

The arrests came after the countrys chief justice Gulzar Ahmed on Thursday took suo motu notice of the attack on the place of worship in Teri village. The chief justice took the step after minority lawmaker Ramesh Kumar briefed him about the temple being set ablaze, during their meeting in Karachi on Thursday. The countrys supreme court will hear the case on January 5.

Pakistans minister for religious affairs Noorul Haq Qadri called the attack a conspiracy against sectarian harmony. Qadri took to Twitter on Thursday and said that protection of the religious freedom of minorities is our religious, constitutional, moral and national responsibility.

Local media quoted advocate Rohit Kumar, a representative of the Hindu community, as saying that the temple hadnt exceeded the area agreed upon. Meanwhile, dozens of Hindus reportedly rallied in the city of Karachi to demand the rebuilding of the place of worship in Teri village.

The temple was first attacked and demolished in 1997 and the local community had agreed to its reconstruction after the intervention by the supreme court in 2015. There was a dispute over the land allocated to the temple during its reconstruction, leading to some misunderstanding between the temple supporters and local clerics. Guru Sri Paramhans Dayal was laid to rest at the site in 1919 and a temple was built there.

The attack came weeks after the Pakistan government allowed Hindu residents to build a new temple in Islamabad on the recommendation of a council of clerics.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene of an overturned SUV on a highway in Philadelphia, and inside the vehicle, they found two people who had been shot.

They were rushed to the hospital after the crash on the Schuylkill Expressway late Thursday night, Action News 6 ABC is reporting.

It was unclear what prompted the shooting, but both people are expected to survive, NBC 10 is reporting. At least one of the two injured had been shot in the head, reports indicate.

What prompted the shooting is unknown, but traffic was snarled after the SUV flipped onto its roof in the westbound lane of I-76 near the Girard Avenue Bridge, reports indicate.

Traffic was backed up for hours.

The shooting and crash are under investigation.
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Third expansion of Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Sunday

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Bhopal, Jan 01: The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led Madhya Pradesh cabinet will be expanded on January 3 with likely induction of two loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia, BJP sources said on Friday.

It will be the third expansion of the state cabinet after Chouhan took over as chief minister for the fourth term in March 2020 after the Congress government collapsed. BJP sources said that Scindia loyalists Tulsiram Silawat and Govind Singh Rajput, who had to resign as ministers as bypolls got delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak, are going to be sworn in.

The two were among Congress MLAs who resigned and joined the BJP with Scindia in March last year. Silawat and Rajput became ministers in Chouhan government, but had to step down as by-elections could not take place within six months. The swearing-in is expected to take place around 12.30 pm on Sunday, an official said.

MP Cabinet gives nod to to ordinance on freedom of religion bill

After that, the newly-appointed Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Mohammad Rafiq, will take oath around 3 pm, he added. Rafiq, who was chief justice of Orissa High Court, was transferred to the MP High Court on December 31.

Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel, who is holding additional charge of Madhya Pradesh, will administer the oath of office to the new ministers and the chief justice. In the Assembly bypolls held on November 3, results of which were announced on November 10, the BJP won 19 of the 28 seats, while the opposition Congress bagged nine.

Out of the 19 winners of the ruling BJP, 15 were those who had quit the Congress with Scindia. Three incumbent ministers- Aidal Singh Kansana, Imarti Devi and Girraj Dandotiya- lost the bypolls and had to resign. At present there are 29 members in the cabinet including the chief minister, and the maximum strength can not exceed 35. The talk of cabinet expansion started after the by- poll results gave the ruling BJP a comfortable majority.

Kangana Ranaut gave fans a glimpse of her wardrobe and extensive shoe collection in her latest social media post. She said that she has been busy cleaning ever since she returned home, so much so that she feels like a slave of my own possessions.

In a tweet, Kangana wrote, Ever since I have come home, been only cleaning cleaning and cleaning. They say what you own, owns you as well, after incessant cleaning of days I feel like a slave of my own possessions. Hopefully I will be done today and enter 2021 like a Queen.

Ever since I have come home, been only cleaning cleaning and cleaning. They say what you own, owns you as well, after incessant cleaning of days I feel like a slave of my own possessions. Hopefully I will be done today and enter 2021 like a Queen  pic.twitter.com/EYyq1DeUKI  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) December 31, 2020

Currently, Kangana is at her home in Mumbai, having arrived in the city earlier this week. She has been involved in a war of words with the ruling Maharashtra government, since she criticised the Mumbai Police and compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in September last year.

ALSO WATCH | Case against Kangana Ranaut for re-tweeting meme on RLSPs Upendra Kushwaha

After returning to Mumbai earlier this week, Kangana paid a visit to the Siddhivinayak and Mumba Devi temples. Sharing pictures, she wrote, The amount of hostility I faced for standing up for my beloved city Mumbai baffled me, today I went to Mumba devi and Shri Siddhivinayak ji and got their blessings, I feel protected, loved and welcomed. Jai Hind Jai Maharashtra.

Also read | Neha Kakkar says Rohanpreet Singh was in tears ahead of their wedding: I told him we could put off the shaadi

Last month, Kangana and the team of her upcoming film, Tejas, met defence minister Rajnath Singh and shared the script with him. She plays an Indian Air Force pilot in the film, which is directed by Sarvesh Mewara and produced by Ronnie Screwvala.

Kanganas next release is Thalaivi, in which she plays former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The film, directed by AL Vijay, will dramatise the journey of the late actor-turned-politician from a superstar heroine to a revolutionary hero.

Apart from Thalaivi, Kangana also has Razneesh Ghais Dhaakad in the pipeline. In an earlier statement, she had said that the film will be a turning point for Indian cinema, as it is a one-of-a-kind female-led action film being made on a lavish scale.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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[January 01, 2021] INVESTOR ALERT: Kirby McInerney LLP Reminds Investors That a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Restaurant Brands International Inc. and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm Before February 19, 2021

The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of those who acquired Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("Restaurant Brands" or the "Company") (NYSE: QSR) securities during the period from April 29, 2019 through October 28, 2019 (the "Class Period"). Investors have until February 19, 2021 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Restaurant Brands is a Canadian corporation and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It is one of the world's largest restaurant chains with over 27,000 Tim Hortons, Burger King, and Popeyes restaurants in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. On April 24, 2018, Restaurant Brands announced a new strategy designed to improve performance within its Tim Hortons brand. Specifically, the "Winning Together Plan" would focus on three key pillars: restaurant experience; product excellence; and brand communications. Then, on March 20, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced "Tims Rewards" - a new loyalty program for Tim Hortons customers in Canada. Under the Tims Rewards program, customers would be eligible for a free hot brewed coffee, hot tea, or baked good after every seventh paid visit to a participating Tim Hortons restaurant. On April 10, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced that it was expanding the Tims Rewards program to include customers in the United States. The Class Period commences on April 29, 2019, when Restaurant Brands filed its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported 0.5% system-wide year-over-yar sales growth for Tim Hortons on system-wide sales of $1.547 billion. The lawsuit alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants repeatedly touted the implementation and execution of Restaurant Brands' Winning Together Plan and Tims Rewards loyalty program. On the heels of Restaurant Brands touting the benefits of these initiatives, the Company completed two stock offerings on or about August 12, 2019, and September 5, 2019, collectively resulting in proceeds of approximately $3 billion to insiders.



However, on October 29, 2019, the truth about Restaurant Brands' execution of its Winning Together Plan and Tims Rewards loyalty program was revealed when the Company announced disappointing financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported a 0.1% system-wide year-over-year sales decline for Tim Hortons-representing a 1.4% same-store sales decline-on system-wide sales of $1.774 billion. Following this news, the price of Restaurant Brands common stock declined $2.59 per share, or approximately 3.8%, from $68.45 per share to close at $65.86 per share on October 28, 2019. The lawsuit alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Restaurant Brands' Winning Together Plan was failing to generate substantial, sustainable improvement within the Tim Hortons brand; (2) the Tims Rewards loyalty program was not generating sustainable revenue growth as increased customer traffic was not offsetting promotional discounting; and (3) as a result, the defendants' statements about Restaurant Brands' business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Restaurant Brands securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney LLP at 212-371-6600, by email at investigations@kmllp.com, or by filling out this contact form, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you. Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs' law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm's efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP's website: http://www.kmllp.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210101005010/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
President Moon Jae-in flies on the E-737 Peace Eye military aircraft early Friday to inspect combat readiness on New Year's Day. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



For the first time, President Moon Jae-in's office will be run by an economic and ICT expert, a departure from the practice of filling the chief of staff post with political heavyweights with special personal ties to the President.



The presidential office on Thursday announced You Young-min, Moon's first science and technology minister with years of experience in the corporate sector, as successor to outgoing chief of staff Noh Young-min after almost two years on the job.



Moon also named Shin Hyun-soo, a former career prosecutor, as the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. The announcement came just one day after Noh, civil affairs secretary Kim Jong-ho and the controversial chief of staff for policy Kim Sang-jo expressed their intention to resign on Dec. 30, 2020 in order to give the President a chance for a "fresh start."



Economy



The presidential office was initially planning on announcing the replacements after the New Year holidays, but made an urgent announcement on the last day of 2020. The unusual transition at the presidential office was seen to reflect the President's determination to put all of the controversies surrounding his leadership behind him and start what is widely seen as his last year in office with a new mindset and new team.



The President highlighted the economy as a priority in his New Year message, Friday, delivered through his Facebook account. In particular, Moon will prioritize Green New Deal projects for laying the ground for economic recovery and sustainable growth in the post-COVID-19 era.



Moon's office has explained that the appointment of an economy and ICT expert as the chief of staff reflects the President's resolve to put all of his energy toward reviving the economy and restoring the people's lives that have been hit by severe hardships from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.





President Moon Jae-in, center, talks with employees during a visit to a hydrogen company based in the southern industrial center of Ulsan on Jan. 17, 2019. Green New Deal projects will become the focus on President Moon's final phase in office as he exerts all efforts to lay the ground for economic recovery and sustainable growth in the post-COVID-19 era. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae



"The pain our people have endured is immeasurable," Moon said during his last weekly meeting of 2020 with his senior aides on Dec. 28, 2020. "Not only those who have been infected with COVID-19 or have experienced death in their families from the pandemic, but also those who are struggling to make ends meet from the economic shock are dealing with an unprecedented ordeal. The frozen job market and loss of jobs are painful for those who have been affected and there are people who have been forced into unpaid leave. The government will never forget their hardships and will do our best to help them overcome the difficulties."









Stability



Cheong Wa Dae said that retaining the policy chief is a way to ensure stability in policy management. This is critical to avoiding an early lame-duck status ahead of the presidential election in March 2022. "Since there are many issues in progress, retaining Kim is a measure to ensure that they are not cut off and that projects underway are not disrupted," a presidential source said.



Keeping the policy chief, in addition to the recent series of Cabinet reshuffles which failed to stir much excitement among the public, is being viewed in a negative light by critics and the opposition. Moon recently announced replacements for the controversial Land Minister Kim Hyun-mee and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae.



Some experts point out that the reshuffles at the presidential office and the Cabinet lack fundamental signals that the President is sincere about winning back public trust after a series of policy failures, particularly with housing, as well as the year-long conflict over his prosecutorial reform.



"The reshuffles show that the President wants to keep the existing policy and personnel framework overall," Choi Jin, director of the Institute of Presidential Leadership in Seoul, told The Korea Times. "The conflict between the justice ministry and the prosecution will continue to have political repercussions. In the case of real estate policy, if it hasn't worked for three and a half years, and we're going to need to see changes in its direction, but it looks like he wants to follow the existing policies. This is bound to result in stronger public backlash."



Moon did not accept the offer of resignation Kim Sang-jo, the chief presidential policy adviser. Kim oversees the Moon administration's economic and housing policies and has led taskforces on some of the key initiatives of the government. Kim led a taskforce for Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's World Trade Organization (WTO) chief race and is also in charge of a taskforce for vaccination procurement, which has emerged as the core policy agenda.



Communication



The President is expected to be more forthcoming about communication amid intense criticisms of Moon's disregard for public opinion and the opposition.





President Moon Jae-in, left, and science and ICT minister You Young-min arrive at a Cabinet meeting on March 20, 2018. You was named Moon's third chief of staff on Dec. 31, 2020. Yonhap



The appointment of a new chief of staff came amid a significant drop in Moon's job approval rating in recent weeks, which has been stuck in the late 30 percent range. When this enters the low 30s, Moon is expected to find himself in real trouble, unable to lift himself out of lame-duck status as the people lose interest in him when the presidential campaigning begins in the latter part of this year. At such times, the willingness to communicate is critical, according to some experts.



"First of all, the President must show that he really respects the people's sentiments," Myongji University professor Shin Yul told The Korea Times. "Secondly, he must show sense of responsibility."



In his first press conference as chief of staff, You underlined his role as a messenger. "Above all, I will listen to the sentiments and opinions from the outside earnestly and deliver them to the President," he said.





President Moon Jae-in visits a traditional market during Chuseok holidays on Sept. 29, 2020. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae
Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 12:31 pm

The federal government has delivered 356,650 doses of vaccine to Washington state, but only a fraction of those doses have been used, according to data from the state health department.

Less than 20% of the distribution  59,491 doses  had been administered, the state Department of Health said Wednesday morning. The department's immunization data reporting lags by about three days.

The health department estimates that about 500,000 people qualify for vaccination in the top priority group, named 1A, which includes high-risk workers in health care, first responders and residents of long-term care facilities.

To speed the pace of vaccination in some areas, the health department announced Wednesday that it was expanding the definition of the 1A category to allow extra vaccine to be distributed to health-care workers who are not on the front lines.

"We need to deliver vaccine as quickly as possible, and we have to get it to the right people as quickly as possible," said Dr. Umair Shah, the state's new health secretary. The new guidance benefits rural health-care organizations that were able to quickly administer the vaccine to high-risk staffers but still have some doses remaining.

Concern has grown nationally about the pace of vaccination. For all the money the federal government spent on vaccine development and distribution, investments in local and state public-health departments have lagged, leaving underfunded public health agencies and busy, stressed hospitals managing the crucial step of getting shots into people's arms.

"We are below where we want to be," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN Tuesday. "I believe as we get into January, we are going to see an increase in momentum."

Washington state officials agreed that the pace of vaccination should improve over time.

"We don't have a predictable delivery schedule from the CDC," said Michele Roberts, the state Department of Health's acting assistant secretary, speaking of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of last week's Moderna shipment landed on the holiday weekend, Roberts said, which slowed administration.

"Logistics and timing  those are all things we'll smooth out after the New Year," Roberts said, adding that it took a tremendous amount of planning for local agencies and hospitals.

The health department this week expects to receive 57,500 more doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine and 44,500 doses from Moderna.

Tracking where vaccine administration has lagged is difficult. The health department has repeatedly declined to share with The Seattle Times a list of destinations where vaccine is being delivered, citing security and other concerns.

Many states have launched vaccination dashboards so the public can track immunization progress. Washington had hoped to publish its own dashboard by the end of this month but shifted that timeline to mid-January because of staffing, according to a health-department spokeswoman.

Other states, including California and Colorado, have laid out plans for their next tiers of vaccination. Washington health officials said they're working with Gov. Jay Inslee and his staff on finalizing details. Those plans will be shared with the public next week. Vaccinations in this tier could start sometime in January.

"We are in active discussions with him," Shah said of the governor.

The next waves of vaccination could include some essential workers, seniors and people with significant health risks that intersect with COVID-19.

In a November presentation to a group of state officials, the state health department was considering a second vaccination tier that would include people living in congregate housing where the majority of residents had comorbidities or were 65 and older.

Besides long-term care facilities, the department gave the examples of farmworker housing, prisons and homeless shelters, according to the document, which was obtained by The Seattle Times through a public disclosure request. That consideration predated federal guidance on vaccine prioritization, which the state is now using to make decisions.

Hospitals and organizations with essential workers were eager to receive any information about the next tier of vaccination.

"It's challenging to schedule your own employees who you know, and whose phone numbers you have, and whose addresses you have," said Cassie Sauer, president of the Washington Hospital Association, during a media briefing Monday. "The sooner we know who is in the 1B category, the sooner we can start reaching out to those people."

Tammie Hetrick, the president and chief executive officer of the Washington Food Industry Association, said grocers have been asking her if their front-line, essential workers would be included in the next wave of vaccinations. She doesn't have an answer yet.

"We're really evaluating this and trying to put a plan together," Hetrick said Tuesday. "This needs to be a thoughtful process, and I'm concerned some of these details haven't been worked through."

Erik Nicholson, who is representing the nonprofit United Farm Workers Foundation, said he was not aware of any decisions regarding where Washington's farmworkers are prioritized.

"We've been talking to agriculture employers and growers [about] how we can partner to do this. Everyone is waiting," said Nicholson, who acknowledged that many industry and advocacy groups were requesting early vaccine access.

"We want to make sure, in the feeding frenzy that may well ensue with access to the vaccines, that the essential men and women who feed us every day are at the front of the line," Nicholson said.

Nicholson said vaccine rollout in rural communities could be complicated. Snow and weather can make travel difficult during the winter months. Vaccine sites might be some distance from where workers live. Washington relies on temporary agriculture workers from other countries who will arrive to the state at different times.

"How are we going to get the vaccine to the rural part of the state and into people's arms?" Nicholson said. "When and how are these decisions being made, so we can get to work?"

Seattle Times reporter Mike Reicher contributed to this story.

___

(c)2020 The Seattle Times

Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Gujarat CM assures PM Modi's timely completion of over 1,000 houses

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Ahmedabad, Jan 01: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the state government would try to finish building over 1,000 houses under the Light House Projects (LHP) in Rajkot city within the deadline.

The prime minister on Friday laid the foundation stone for 1,144 residences coming up in Rajkot under the LHP. Rajkot is one of the six cities in India chosen by the Modi government for this project to provide homes to the urban poor using green construction technology.

India lodges formal protest with Pakistan against vandalisation of Hindu temple

"The 1,144 houses in Rajkot will be built at a cost of Rs 118 crore," Rupani said in his address in Rajkot ahead of the virtual foundation stone-laying ceremony. "The Light House Project will help the government provide houses to poor and middle-class citizens. I thank the PM for selecting Rajkot for this project. Crores of poor people across the country will get their houses. We will try our best to complete the project in time," Rupani said.

The chief minister further said that the Gujarat government will ensure that Rajkot's LHP will become a model for other states. "We will be using tunnel formwork construction technology, which will help us reduce the cost," he added.

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Giving details about the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the chief minister told the PM that the state government has given a go-ahead to build 7.29 lakh affordable houses in Gujarat under the scheme. "Gujarat is leading in the implementation of the PMAY. We have already allotted 4.39 lakh houses to the beneficiaries under the scheme till date.

Around 2.95 lakh beneficiaries also received subsidy on their home loans under the scheme," Rupani said. To give additional relief to the poor and the middle class, the state government does not collect any stamp duty and registration charges from beneficiaries, Rupani told Modi.

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On the occasion, the chief minister also inaugurated or laid foundation stones for different projects, meant for Rajkot, worth Rs 112 crore. The state government has launched projects worth Rs 20,000 crore in the span of five months, he said.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 15:55 [IST]
Democrats hold an edge in early, in-person voting in the Georgia Senate run-off races, leaving Republicans looking for a big Election Day boost.

Fox News Channel reported Thursday that 2.8 million Georgians had already cast a ballot, with black voters making up a larger percentage of voters than in the November general election, which could be good news for Democratic Senate hopefuls Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock.

Additionally, there's been higher turnout in Democratic Congressional districts than Republican ones.

There's been higher turnout in Democratic Congressional districts versus Republicans ones and a higher percentage of black voters than in the fall, which could be good news for Democratic Senate hopefuls Jon Ossoff (left) and Rev. Raphael Warnock

Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler (left) and David Perdue (right) will have to make up any voting deficit on Election Day Tuesday. Perdue announced Thursday he was in quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 by a staff member

The amount counts for more than a third of the 4.9 million Georgians who voted in the November 3 general election.

Ossoff and Warnock are challenging GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, respectively.

Perdue announced Thursday he was in quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 by a staff member.

If Democrats pick up both seats the party will have 50 members of the Senate - and with the help of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, a majority.

Harris will return to the state Sunday to campaign, while President-elect Joe Biden will be in Atlanta Monday.

President Donald Trump will also hold a rally in Dalton, Georgia Monday, which will be one of his few public appearances since Election Day.

Georgia-based GOP consultant Chip Lake told Fox News that 'the early-voting numbers are certainly a little more favorable to Democrats than the early-voting data that we had in November.'

'Republicans need to have a strong Election Day turnout on Tuesday. Election Day votes count the exact same as early votes. We had just under a million people vote on Election Day on Nov. 3,' Lake continued. 'For Republicans to win these runoff races, I think its crucial that we need to have Election Day turnout at 800,000 votes or higher on Tuesday.'

Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's top strategist who's running the Georgia Republicans fundraising apparatus, wrote in a memo earlier this week, 'the combined total number of votes cast so far by absentee mail-in and in-person early voting is a couple points more Democratic than it was in the fall,' Fox reported.

In November, Biden won the state, flipping it to red for the first time since Bill Clinton in 1992.

Both Ossoff and Warnock did well enough to squeak out a run-off, which occurs when neither Senate candidate reach a 50 per cent threshold.

Election Day is Tuesday, January 5.
Navy ship deck logs tend to be bland and eye-glazing entries on the day's activities, even in times of war, but there is a New Year's Day exception, in which sailors are encouraged to take poetic license and make the log rhyme.

In its wisdom, the Navy's top leadership, not always known as the fun bunch, has decided that this year's ending would be a good time to bring back the New Year's rhyming log contest.

On Dec. 18, the Naval History and Heritage Command announced that it was "hereby reviving the tradition of the New Year's Deck Log Poetry contest. Let your poetic prowess be celebrated!"

"By reviving the contest, the Naval History and Heritage Command hopes to preserve the tradition and boost participation throughout the fleet."

Lest that be taken as a suggestion, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday followed up two days later with a FRAGO. Roughly translated, a FRAGO, or fragmentary order, means that whoever came up with it has devised "timely changes" to an already existing order.

When a FRAGO comes from the CNO, the rough translation is: You WILL do this.

In his FRAGO, Gilday said the deadline for submitting entries for the rhyming log contest was one minute before midnight, or 2359 hours, on April 2, 2021. He thought the contest was a terrific idea.

"As we focus on the future, we will value and celebrate our heritage," Gilday said. "Harkening back to our heritage connects us with the generations of sailors that came before us, creating a sense of belonging and responsibility to uphold their legacy of valor and sacrifice."

"The contest also reminds the fleet of the importance of the deck log as a historical document, one that preserves for future generations the actions and voices of our sailors," Gilday added.

And there will be a prize for the first-place selection, judged by the Naval History and Heritage Command. Gilday said the winner will get a piece of copper sheathing from the USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides," the three-masted frigate best known for actions in the War of 1812.

The examples of Navy deck logs through the years show sailors sticking to just-the-facts presentations even under great stress and, sometimes, the weight of history.

On the sleepy Sunday morning of Dec. 7, 1941, in Honolulu, Lt. j.g. J.R. Hansen had deck log duty aboard the Mahan-class destroyer Conyngham in Pearl Harbor and recorded a delivery:

"Moored as before. 0630 [6:30 a.m.] Received the following provisions for use in general mess ... from Dairyman's Association Ltd: ice cream -- 6 gal."

Of course, Hansen was duty-bound to attest to the ice cream's quality by having a taste. He noted that Pharmacist's Mate P.C. Parcheski seconded his opinion om the ice cream's acceptability.

Then came the next log entry: "0755 Japanese planes commenced bombing Pearl Harbor Area. Held general quarters, manned all guns, commenced breaking out powder."

Then as now, the emphasis for deck logs was on the terse recording of facts, with the exception for the New Year's midnight log, when rhyming was permitted.

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, "On the first night of the New Year, an unofficially endorsed truce allows the sacrosanct veil of regulation to be pierced, if only for a brief moment. During the mid-watch from midnight to 0400 (and only during the mid-watch) it is permitted for a ship to record the first entry of the New Year in verse."

Aboard the battleship New Jersey off the coast of Vietnam at midnight on Dec. 31, 1968, Lt. T. J. Thornton put to rhyme the firing of the ship's formidable 16-inch guns in support of troops ashore:

"Independently off Viet Nam

In search of Victor Charlie Cong

And now just south of the DMZ

Shooting at targets too far to see."

There are some things we hold so dear

Among them peace in this New Year

Good cheer, good luck and safe trip home

And with that thought I'll end this poem."

A more recent example from the archives branch of the Naval History and Heritage Command was the deck log of the midwatch on Jan. 1, 2020, from the Ticonderoga-class cruiser Princeton:

"It's New Year's Eve on the Princeton

Last year's, last midwatch has just begun

Alas I find with trouble I am smitten

For the midentry in the deck log must be written

In poetic form so I am told

A long naval tradition to uphold

I have the deck and am ready to go

The quarterdeck heater is broken, it's freezing cold."

More information on the history of deck logs and how to submit entries for the contest can be found here.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Disney unveiled its streaming-centric future. At its Investor Day, the company presented around 100 titles, some 80% of which will be exclusive to Disney+. In contrast to Warnermedia (see below), Disney is making a point of reserving some films for theatrical release first. An expected reshuffle promoted Alan Bergman to sole chairman of Disneys studios, with former co-chairman Alan Horn remaining as chief creative officer. Meanwhile, Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Disney co-founder Roy O. Disney, slammed the companys corporate policies.

Warnermedia shattered the theatrical window for 2021, citing the pandemic. The AT&T-owned company announced that all 17 Warner Bros. features slated for theatrical release next year would simultaneously come out on streaming platform HBO Max. The news  which affects hybrid titles Tom & Jerry and Space Jam: A New Legacy  surprised everyone, infuriated filmmakers and production companies, and prompted much debate about the viability of theatrical exhibition. A Deloitte survey found that most Americans dont want to visit a cinema anytime soon.

The Demon Slayer movie broke the ultimate record in Japan, becoming the countrys highest-grossing film of all time. Its domestic tally stands at 32.47 billion yen (USD$313 million)  a whisker above Studio Ghiblis Spirited Away. Ahead of the films U.S. release next year, its distributor Aniplex of America signed with the agency Lucky Helmet to develop licensing and merchandising ventures.

Sony agreed to buy Crunchyroll from AT&T for $1.175 billion. The sale, if approved, will represent a major consolidation of global anime streaming and distribution  Sony already has a number of anime subsidiaries, including major distributor Funimation.

It was reported that Apple is in talks to buy two features from Skydance Animation. The negotiations are part of discussions around a larger agreement between the two parties. A deal would be a milestone for both: Apple has only released one animated feature to date, Skydance zero. The young studio is creatively led by John Lasseter, former creative head of Pixar and Disney animation studios.

Executive hires: Sidney Clifton joined The Jim Henson Company as svp of animation and mixed media; David Levine joined Moonbug as head of studio; Jason Tammemagi and Ailbhe McCabe joined Cartoon Saloon as producer and development producer; Luke Carroll joined Relish Interactive as svp of animation; Jasmine Johnson joined Stoopid Buddy Stoodios as head of studio; Christine Noel was promoted at the National Film Board of Canada to executive producer of the French Program Animation Studio.

RIP Doug Crane, renowned East Coast animator, and Tuck Tucker, veteran of Spongebob Squarepants and Hey Arnold!. We paid tribute to the industry figures who died in 2020.

Images at top, left to right: Demon Slayer, Tom & Jerry, Disney-Pixars upcoming Lightyear
WASHINGTON - Vice President Mike Pence asked a judge late Thursday to reject a lawsuit that aims to expand his power to use a congressional ceremony to overturn the presidential election, arguing that he is not the right person to sue over the issue.

The filing will come as a disappointment to supporters of President Donald Trump, who hoped that Pence would attempt to reject some of President-elect Joe Biden's electoral college votes and recognize votes for Trump instead when Congress meets next week to certify the November election.

The filing came in response to a lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a number of Republicans in Arizona, who argued that an 1887 law that governs how Congress certifies presidential elections is unconstitutional. The suit argues that the Constitution gives the vice president, in his role as president of Senate, sole discretion to determine whether electors put forward by the states are valid.

It asks a federal judge to take the extraordinary step of telling Pence that he has the right, on his own, to decide that the electoral college votes cast earlier in December for Biden are invalid and to instead recognize self-appointed Trump electors who gathered in several state capitals to challenge the results.

While experts agree that the law is vague and confusing, it has never before been challenged; it has been accepted by officials in both parties for more than 130 years as establishing a process in which the voters, ultimately, choose the president. This year, 81 million voters supported Biden, earning him 306 electoral college votes to Trump's 232.

To win a lawsuit, a plaintiff must convince a judge that the interests of the person they are suing are opposed to their own - there must be some controversy or conflict between them that could be resolved through the litigation.

In this case, a Justice Department lawyer, writing on Pence's behalf, wrote that the interests of Gohmert and the other plaintiffs were not sufficiently opposed to Pence's own - since they were seeking to expand his power - to justify a suit.

"The Vice President is not the proper defendant to this lawsuit," wrote Deputy Assistant Attorney General John V. Coghlan.

"The Vice President - the only defendant in this case - is ironically the very person whose power they seek to promote," he added. "A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction."

Instead, Coghlan wrote that Congress was the proper defendant for such a suit.

Coghlan wrote that the lawsuit has other problems, too, and that, as a result, the judge should reject the suit, particularly given the limited timeline before next week's vote, without trying to weigh difficult and never-before-tested constitutional issues.

While the filing dealt with a narrow legal issue, it still offered the first indication that Pence may not plan to reinterpret his role in next week's ceremony in an attempt to change the election results. Since the election, Pence has echoed some of Trump's unfounded complaints about the election, but he has been silent on Trump's attempts to badger Republicans into overturning the results.

Mark Meadows, Trump's chief of staff, was informed about the Justice Department's position at least a day before the filing, a person familiar with the matter said.

Lawyers for the House of Representatives also asked the judge to reject the suit late Thursday, arguing that it called for "a radical departure from our constitutional procedures and consistent legislative practices" and would "authorize the Vice President to ignore the will of the Nation's voters." In a statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the suit had "zero legal merit" and was "yet another sabotage of our democracy."

Filed in Texas, the case was randomly assigned to be heard by Federal District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle, a Trump appointee who took the bench in 2018. Kernodle has ordered the plaintiffs to respond to Pence's filing by Friday morning but has otherwise not indicated how he will handle the case, including whether he will hold a hearing on the matter. Pence could face less political pressure next week were the judge to reject the suit before Congress meets.

While the lawsuit proceeded, Republicans continued to grapple with how to handle the congressional ceremony next week.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., called the effort to use the congressional process to reverse Biden's electoral college victory a "dangerous ploy," underscoring the challenge Trump faces in persuading even members of his own party to join it.

In an open letter to his constituents, Sasse wrote that there is no evidence of fraud so widespread that it could change the results and said he has urged his colleagues to reject "a project to overturn the election."

"All the clever arguments and rhetorical gymnastics in the world won't change the fact that this January 6th effort is designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party," Sasse wrote on Facebook shortly before midnight Wednesday. "We ought to be better than that."

His letter followed Wednesday's announcement by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., that he will object next week when Congress convenes to certify the electoral college vote, a move that will force a contentious floor debate that top Senate Republicans had hoped to avoid.

Trump has repeatedly and falsely suggested that the ceremonial milestone offers a last-ditch way to reverse the election results and is urging Republicans to join his bid.

As he continued to press Republicans to support his effort to overturn the election, Trump on Thursday cut short a holiday trip to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, returning to Washington earlier than scheduled. Back at the White House, he released a valedictory video, more than four minutes long, in which he outlined the accomplishments of his tenure, including his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The video did not mention the election.

Sasse has been far more willing to criticize Trump than most of his GOP colleagues, but even so, his staunch opposition highlights the nearly certain futility of the president's efforts to hang onto power.

To succeed, Trump would not only have to prevail in the Republican-led Senate but also in the House, which is controlled by Democrats.

The objections would come during a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. According to the Constitution, Pence will read aloud electoral college votes cast in each state in December.

Any member of the House, joined by a senator, can object to a state's electoral college votes, prompting two hours of debate in each chamber, followed by a vote on the challenge.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other leading Republicans had discouraged members of their caucus from challenging the electoral college vote, conceding that the move would fail but could drag out the process through lengthy debate and, ultimately, force Republicans to take an awkward vote.

A number of other Senate Republicans have acknowledged Biden's victory, and several - including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania and Mitt Romney of Utah - said this week that they plan to oppose any challenge to the electoral college vote.

In a statement, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said he likewise believes that "evidentiary hearings in courtrooms remains the only viable course for the remedy the President is seeking." But he added, "I will listen intently - and with an open mind - to the arguments brought before the Senate if objections are made on January 6 to the Electoral College votes."

Hawley, meanwhile, who is believed to be contemplating a run for president in 2024 and is eager to inherit Trump's base, began citing his plans in fundraising appeals for his campaign committee Thursday.

More Republicans are expected to sign on to election challenges in the House, but their relatively small numbers there mean the effort will amount to little more than a final display of loyalty to Trump.

Seven House Republicans from Pennsylvania on Thursday issued a joint statement indicating they plan to contest the results from their own state, arguing that the Democratic governor and secretary of state, joined by a "rogue Pennsylvania Supreme Court," usurped the legislature's authority to run the election.

They did not allege fraud but complained about several issues involving the administration of the state's elections. Similar complaints have already been litigated in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania, and the Republican-led legislature declined to interfere with the certified results, which showed that Biden defeated Trump by more than 81,000 votes in the state.

Nationally, more than 90 federal and state judges have rejected challenges to the November vote, notably finding allegations of fraud to be without merit.

In his letter, Sasse said there is a constitutional basis for what is being attempted but it is "absolutely not" warranted in this case.

"For President-Elect Biden's 306-232 Electoral College victory to be overturned, President Trump would need to flip multiple states," Sasse wrote. "But not a single state is in legal doubt."

Sasse wrote that his GOP colleagues realize what is happening but fear crossing the president and his supporters.

"When we talk in private, I haven't heard a single Congressional Republican allege that the election results were fraudulent - not one," he said. "Instead, I hear them talk about their worries about how they will 'look' to President Trump's most ardent supporters."
Emeryvilles new police chief is a former BART deputy chief and Orinda police chief with 30 years of experience in law enforcement.

Jeffrey Jennings was sworn in this week and will lead the Emeryville Police Departments 41 sworn officers and 19 professional staff members. His base salary is $218,000 per year.

I am just very proud to be here, Jennings told The Chronicle. Im very excited about the future. We have some trying times coming out of COVID. Its going to be a very exciting, but precarious, 2021 to 2022. I look forward to that challenge.

As a deputy BART chief in 2016, Jennings defended the conduct of officers who arrested a man and his pregnant wife, punching the man after he was in handcuffs. The decision to defend the officers  one of whom was later cited  has drawn scrutiny at a time of renewed public awareness over police use of force.

Jennings was selected as the citys top cop by City Manager Christine Daniel, who said he was one of five finalists identified by an outside recruiter. Jennings was then interviewed by three panels made up of community members, city staff and police chiefs.

He was chosen for his open and engaging leadership style, commitment to transparent and accountable policing, extensive experience as a public safety professional, Daniel told The Chronicle by email.

Jennings said he decided to apply for the job because he misses the interaction with citizens and businesses. He plans to bolster those connections by holding public meetings at businesses to give officers the chance to build relationships and promote community safety.

Jennings also wants officers to be out in the community and to use social media more to get information out first  news that people can use when they are in the city, he said.

Most recently, Jennings worked as deputy police chief for BART for nearly seven years.

He previously worked for the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office and as Orindas police chief from 2010 to 2013.

Jennings appointment as the Emeryville police chief comes amid calls to defund the police after thousands of people marched against police brutality in the Bay Area and nationwide. In May, hundreds of people broke into Emeryville stores during the second night of protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

Cities including neighboring Oakland are confronting demands from the public to defund the police amid a surge in homicides. In Emeryville, conversations continue in City Hall about police accountability.

While its unfortunate that it took George Floyds murder to renew and refocus the public discourse on police accountability, its an important conversation all communities must continue to have in order to ensure we actually deliver justice to all, said Emeryville City Council member John Bauters.

In 2016, BART police were castigated after that arrest of a man and his pregnant girlfriend in which officers punched the handcuffed man after he spit at them. The man was later acquitted of battery charges and a mistrial was declared for remaining charges on whether he resisted arrest. The man sued BART and settled with the agency in 2018 for $40,000.

At the time, Jennings said the officers actions were a perfect response to what they thought was a person with a weapon. No weapons were found at the scene. An internal investigation of the incident resulted in a written citation for one of the officers involved.

On Thursday, Jennings said that whether the officer punched the man was a matter of opinion.

We dont want to strike anyone who is cuffed. Its generally frowned upon. But there are a lot of people who are very dangerous even when they are cuffed behind their backs, he said.

Jennings said he is a proponent of the 21st century policing policy, one developed by then-President Barack Obamas administration after the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., when a police officer fatally shot Michael Brown.

Jennings said he believes in policies that encourage transparency with citizens and crisis intervention training. Jennings said he would support policies  introduced by city government  that reallocates some Police Department funds and instead have mental health professionals respond to certain situations.

I started in 1992, and things have changed tremendously in nearly 30 years, he said.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Rain. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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I

ts been a strange year for love. Whether youve fallen in or out of it  or desperately tried to stay in it  love will undoubtedly have been a more complex affair for you than it was before. And thats saying something. Thanks to the advent of apps, the contemporary dating scene became a labyrinth of deceit, disappointment, and absolutely everything in between. Generally speaking, dating was already difficult. Then coronavirus happened  and it became a bit like a Mensa puzzle.

When the UK went into what would be its first of two nationwide lockdowns, in March, myriad romantic dilemmas arose, and they differed depending on your relationship status. For couples who didnt live together, the rub was having to choose between pressing pause on their romance, trying their hand at a virtual relationship, or accelerating their commitment and moving in together.

For couples whod already cohabited, the issue was adapting to a new life of spending 24/7 with a partner theyd typically only see in the mornings and evenings. As for single people, well, they really drew the short straw given that their dating lives had become online-only for the foreseeable future.

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Even as restrictions lifted several months later, things didnt get any easier. Sure, you might have been able to go on dates, but you had to maintain social distancing for the duration. Cue many awkward goodbyes and elbow bumps. This made things quite difficult for singletons looking for love, of which physical intimacy is obviously a fundamental part. It didnt help when, in June, new coronavirus laws actually made it illegal for couples who lived apart to have sex.

Then, in September, the government complicated matters even further by publishing a document stating that you could in fact ditch social distancing measures with a partner so long as you were in an established relationship, whatever that meant.

Now, as England has returned to a strict four-tier system, sex and dating is practically completely off the table, as mixing indoors with those outside of your household or support bubble is banned in all tier 2, 3 and 4 areas, which is most of the country.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

But despite these sizable hurdles, the dating scene hasnt wavered. In fact, it has thrived, with dating apps reporting peak figures and all-time usership highs. It seems that during a time where almost everything felt in flux, people craved the intimacy of a relationship more than ever - even if that relationship was an entirely virtual one.

From the Dominic Cummings jokes people made in their dating app bios to how lockdown might have put paid to ghosting once and for all, here are the seven ways the pandemic has changed the dating landscape this year.

Dating apps acquired new social significance

In 2020, the prevalence of dating apps reached new heights, given that they became the only way of meeting someone for much of this year  unless you were picking people up in the socially distanced queue for Tesco or meeting someone in the neighbourhood Whatsapp group, that is.

(Getty Images)

When the first lockdown was announced, Hinge saw a 30 per cent spike in messages sent on its app, while it reported an 83 per cent rise in overall downloads. Meanwhile, Happn reported a 52.7 per cent surge in messages sent this year compared to last, and a 15 per cent rise in the number of users joining the platform.

As for Tinder, on 29 March  one week after the first UK lockdown began  the dating app recorded its highest amount of activity to date.

Virtual dating became the norm

Real-life dating was put on hold this year, so people were forced to get creative. More than half (64 per cent) of Hinge users reported having a virtual date this summer, and most of them seemed to be somewhat successful, with 81 per cent of them saying it was only slightly awkward or not awkward at all. As for what people were doing on their virtual dates, activities spanned from virtual cocktail making classes to virtual dinner dates. But virtual dating is more than a pandemic necessity.

Many dating apps have now released in-app virtual features that enable users to video call one another while still using the app, which means you can do so without having to exchange phone numbers. Its a smart safety feature, one that is likely to gain popularity in 2021 among users who want to meet prospective dates over the phone before doing so in real life.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Logan Ury, director of relationship science at Hinge commented: Based on the findings of our Hinge Labs research, video chat dates are here to stay. A majority of our users who have tried virtual dating say theyll incorporate it as part of their dating process in the future, even once weve put away our masks. Users tell us that video chat functions as a vibe check, something that confirms theres chemistry and helps them feel more comfortable about eventually meeting up in person.

Ghosting became less common

Ghosting, when someone youre dating shuts off all communication from you without warning, is one of the cruellest trends of modern dating. But in 2020, its effects would have been more viscerally felt given that people were more reliant on human connection than ever before. So, to be ruthlessly ghosted would have taken quite the toll.

Thankfully, it seems like daters realised this and vowed to be kinder to one another, with 27 per cent of Hinge users reporting that they had been ghosted fewer times during the pandemic compared to before. Heres hoping this is a trend that will stick around for 2021 and beyond.

Relationships resembled something out of a Jane Austen novel

Much has been said for slow dating, but this year the term acquired new significance. Given that, for much of this year, single people couldnt meet up with one another in real life, the pace of dating naturally slowed. People spent more time getting to know one another, either virtually or via phone call and text, and subsequently formed deeper bonds based on emotional and intellectual connections given that they couldnt form physical ones. Dating website eHarmony called this trend Darcying in honour of the character Mr Darcy from Jane Austens classic novel, Pride and Prejudice.

Kate Winslet and Greg Wise in Sense and Sensibility (Rex Features)

The term reflects how many single people were forced to eschew casual sex culture and return to more archaic dating models, such as courting. The Darcying tend, saw many singles take a more traditional approach to dating, notes Rachael Lloyd, relationship expert at eHarmony. Getting to know a partner over a longer period of time. We applaud this return to more chivalrous values, where compatibility can be explored before things heat up physically.

Current affairs infiltrated bios and conversations

No matter how far removed the dating scene may seem from current affairs, the pandemic catalysed some inevitable crossovers. For example, Tinder reports that mentions of masks grew by 10 times this year, while many people also discussed masks and mask-wearing in their bios to ensure they matched with people whose views reflected theirs.

(Getty Images)

Additionally, Tinder reported that mentions of Black Lives Matter in peoples bios grew by 55 per cent, while mentions of NHS grew by 122 per cent in May compared to the beginning of the year. Of course, some memorable moments provided a much-needed dose of humour, too. Like when Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnsons former chief advisor, famously broke lockdown regulations when he drove to Barnard Castle as a way of testing his eyesight, a moment that Tinder found led to people using the following line in their dating app bios: Its a long drive to Barnard Castle, whos Cumming with me?

Breakups became even more brutal

Breaking up with someone is always a miserable process. But this year, it became even more so thanks to Covid-19. Consider those who broke up with live-in partners at the start of lockdown and were forced to isolate with their exes, or those who had to find somewhere entirely new to live (and spend lockdown in) due to a sudden breakup. But what of those whose relationships slowly disintegrated during the pandemic? And what if those couples who live apart? How can you end things when you cant even see each other in real life?

Enter the latest insidious dating trend: Zumping i.e. being dumped over Zoom. The so-called trend first came to light in April, when Los Angeles-based writer Julia Moser tweeted: Am I the first person whos been dumped via Zoom? The tweet quickly went viral, and as many concurred that they, too, had been dumped via Zoom, the internet leapt at the opportunity to coin a new catchy portmanteau in that way it always does. And so the term zumping was born. Lets hope this one doesnt last long.

People reassessed their dating patterns

If theres one thing weve had time to do this year, its think. For single people, the pandemic has offered ample time to reflect on ones romantic choices and habits. For commitment-phobes, Hinge data suggested that those who might have previously juggled numerous matches at once were focusing on just one person at a time and changing their habits as a result.

Perhaps this is why more than half (52 per cent) of the Hinge community have now said that they're ready for a long-term, serious relationship, and 51 per cent of users are being more honest with their feelings as a result of the pandemic.
Inter-state drug peddler held, 12 grams of Narcotic drug Mephedrone seized

Hyderabad, Jan 1 (UNI) The city police on Friday arrested an inter-state drug peddler and seized 12 grams of Narcotic drug Mephedrone from his possession.



On credible information, the sleuths of Commissioners Task Force, North Zone team, along with Gopalapuram Police, apprehended Ashish Kumar Umesh Trivedi (26) of Mumbai, Maharashtra State when he had possession of Narcotic drug Mephedron in order to deliver the same to needy customers on high price to earn easy money illegally.
Last New Years Eve, a million strong crowd flooded Midtown Manhattan, kissing and cheering in the warm glow of 2020s promise. This New Years Eve, just a few hundred will gather in Times Square  dozens of frontline workers among them  and only then by special invitation.

With temperatures checked and face masks secured, they will represent a nation holding a mirror to the lips of 2020 to confirm that there is no fogging, that the year has mercifully ceased to be.

But here is an existential question to ponder over your Trader Joes hors doeuvres and drink of choice: If a ball drops at midnight in Times Square and almost no one is present to see it, has a new year truly begun?

We have been conditioned to believe that with a clocks tick on one particular midnight, a bent old man hands the baton of time to a sprightly cherub in a top hat. All the travails of 12 months end, and life begins anew.
The blood tests were never conclusive.

It was late December 2019, and Dr. David Cennimo was treating a man with severe pneumonia and an abnormal white blood cell count.

Despite all the tests and chest scans  which showed his lungs were all but torn apart  the mans condition remained a mystery. Cennimo could never pin down a diagnosis.

The man died last January, long before a coronavirus test was available and months before New Jerseys first official COVID-19 case was reported March 4.

But 10 months into the crisis, Cennimo, an infectious disease expert at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Newarks Veterans Affairs clinic, still wonders what a coronavirus test would have revealed.

I think almost every person that Ive talked to that does (infectious disease) on the coasts  has somebody from December, early January, that was pretty sick, bad pneumonia, and we just never really figured out what was wrong, said Cennimo, 45.

The confounding nature of the coronavirus  from the multiple organs it attacks to its ability to spread even from those who are asymptomatic  is just one reason experts like Cennimo have been vital in sharing information with the public. The Union resident has been a knowledgable, relatable voice in news reports, including for NJ Advance Media, since before the crisis officially arrived in New Jersey.

But this virus keeps even experts guessing.

Looking back, Cennimo suspects blood tests would have shown the man he treated in late 2019 had COVID-19. But because blood samples are routinely discarded after a time, hell never know for sure.

Unfortunately, we didnt have any blood saved, said Cennimo, who searched for leftover samples.

The case remains a mystery, just one of many that have arisen with the coronavirus.

Cennimo sat in front of his computer at home in December 2019, watching emails flood his inbox from medical experts reporting strange, pneumonia-like illnesses cropping up in Wuhan, China.

On an online medical surveillance forum, he began exchanging messages with some of his peers.

We were like, This could be something real, he said.

It became the worst pandemic in a century.

SARS and Ebola failed to become the pervasive threats in the U.S. that some predicted. Many experts believe those examples lulled American officials into complacency, thinking a pandemic couldnt happen here.

But COVID-19 was the hurricane that actually hit, as Cennimo put it.

He has witnessed the crisis engulf nations around the world. Hes seen the ceaseless flood of misinformation and conspiracy theories that have plagued the response. He lived through the confusion-filled spring months as doctors and pharmaceutical companies scrambled to find treatments to combat the novel virus.

But he also watches in awe as the newly developed vaccines roll out just months after the virus emerged. To him, its nothing short of a medical miracle.

Cennimo wonders what people will say when they look back on this time.

I think about what historians will write about (this)  200 years from now, the New Jersey native said.

The mysterious aspect of his chosen field  deadly viruses and pathogens emerging out of nowhere  has always fascinated him.

Although infectious disease wasnt his initial calling.

The son of a retired Jersey City math teacher, Cennimo was always interested in science  specifically chemistry. He graduated from Drew University in the mid-1990s and considered going into drug design in the pharmaceutical industry.

He wanted to be part of the response when a mysterious illness emerged, and it was up to a team of scientists to figure out a solution using the best available technology.

You can help people (on) a very granular level, Cennimo said. I mean, its life or death.

He eventually found his way into infectious disease. Like many of his peers, he found his calling in medical school treating AIDS patients.

That was really the height of what I call the second generation of HIV treaters, he said.

He added: I just thought everything about this was fascinating.

AIDS was a new virus with no treatment that eventually became a manageable disease, thanks to antiretroviral therapy. Cennimo realized, I want to be part of this.

I was a kid in the 80s when HIV came out, but I remember it, he said. And it was all of the fear, and the stigma and the death sentence of this infection. And then it was being turned into a chronic manageable illness.

Cennimo was passionate about helping people. He was fascinated with the innovation that results from a horrific viral crisis. And he has always been intrigued by the dynamic between doctors and patients and the need to improve communication.

Infectious disease called to him.

An assistant professor of medicine/pediatrics infectious disease at Rutgers Medical School, Cennimo spends plenty of time in the classroom talking to medical students about how best to speak with patients.

One of my first small-group classes (was) on how to interview a patient, he said.

Cennimo often talks about the importance of saying the phrase, I dont know. Throughout the pandemic, there have been plenty of I-dont-know moments the medical community has had to confront.

And it brings him back to the AIDS epidemic.

At the beginning, theres nobody thats an expert on HIV in 1983, he said.

Just like theres no true expert on COVID-19 now, Cennimo said. Science is still figuring it all out in real-time.

Just another mystery to solve.

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Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com.
Greater Noida: Four persons were injured when their car collided with a metro pillar and overturned, late Thursday in Greater Noidas in Knowledge Park. All four victims, between the ages of 18-22 years, were on the way to meet a friend after attending a New Years Eve party.

Varun Pawar, station house officer of Knowledge Park Police Station, said that the accident took place around 2.30am. Four people were travelling in a Honda City car at night. They were travelling from Expo Mart side towards Knowledge Park. When the car reached near a metro pillar of Knowledge Park station, the driver lost balance, hit the pillar and all the four persons were injured, he said.

Officers said some passerby informed the police and a team reached the spot from Knowledge Park police station and rescued the victims. They were identified as Vaibhav Gaur, 20, and his younger brother Sameer Gaur, 18, residents of Ghaziabad; Aniket, 20, a resident of Mohan Nagar in Ghaziabad and Manish Bhati, 22, a resident of Sector Alpha 1 in Greater Noida.

Bhati is doing graduation in Bio-Tech from a private college in Noida while other three persons are students of BA-LLB from a private university in Greater Noida. Police said Sameer has received severe head injuries while the three others received minor injuries in the accident.

The SHO said that during questioning, the three injured persons told the police that they had attended a party in Jagat Farms at night. They were on their way to meet a mutual friend in Jaypee Aman in Noidas Sector 151. Vaibhav was behind the wheels when the accident took place. He lost balance of the vehicle and the car hit the metro pillar, he said. The victims are undergoing treatment at Kailash Hospital, Greater Noida.

Police said they have informed their family members about the matter. We have not received any complaint in this regard so far, the SHO said.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan's Emperor Naruhito expressed gratitude to medical professionals and acknowledged the hardship caused by the coronavirus in a New Year's Day message shared by video instead of the usual public speech in front of large crowds at the palace.

The emperor and his wife Empress Masako sat side by side, next to a sculpted bonsai plant in the video.

Naruhito expressed his deep respect and gratitude to doctors and nurses treating COVID-19 patients and offered empathy to those who lost loved ones, lost their jobs or were struggling with loneliness.

Over this past year, we have all faced many problems and hardships over the spread of this unknown coronavirus that for most of us living in this age have never experienced on such a scale, he said.

He also said he was worried about the discrimination suffered by those who had been sick or worked in the medical field, a phenomenon widespread in conformist Japan.

I look forward with all my heart to be able to meet with all of you again, face to face, he said, after offering his prayers for world peace.

Japan has had more than 3,000 deaths from COVID-19. Worries are growing about another surge in cases, reaching a daily record of 1,337 new infections for the capital Tokyo on Thursday.

The Imperial Palace in central Tokyo opens to the public each New Year's Day and crowds on the grounds cheer the imperial family's appearance.

The Imperial Household Agency said last month a video message will be released instead because of the pandemic. The bigger anticipation in Japan had turned to whether Masako would appear. She has tended to be reclusive, suffering what has been described as a stress-related condition, but has appeared in more public events in recent years.

Masako said Happy New Year, at the start of the message and spoke for the last 30 seconds of the nearly seven-minute message. Her beige suit matched the color of Naruhitos tie.

I am praying from the bottom of my heart that this year will be as gentle a year as possible for all of you. This winter has been harsh with heavy snow in some areas earlier than usual, and so please everyone do stay healthy, Masako said.

The video message was Naruhito's first. His father Emperor Emeritus Akihito did two, after the tsunami disaster in northeastern Japan in 2011 and when he announced his abdication in 2016.

The emperor does not have political power in Japan but holds symbolic significance for many people. Even Naruhitos grandfather, Hirohito, the wartime emperor, was seen as a gentle man who loved nature in postwar years.

The headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) named Palais Wilson, honouring the former United States president Woodrow Wilson are seen in Geneva on Jan. 8, 2018. (Fabrice Coffrin/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran Execution of Man Convicted of Murder When 16 Draws UN Condemnation

DUBAIIran executed a man on Thursday who had been convicted of murder 12 years ago when he was 16, a Western rights group said, drawing condemnation from the U.N. rights office, which said it was prohibited under international law.

There was no report of the execution on Irans media and judiciary officials could not be reached for comment on Thursday, the start of the weekend in the country.

This is the fourth confirmed execution of a child offender in Iran in 2020. The execution of child offenders is categorically prohibited under international law and Iran is under the obligation to abide by this prohibition, the U.N. human rights office said in a statement.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet strongly condemns the killing of Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee. We are also dismayed that this execution took place despite interventions with the Government of Iran on this issue, the statement said.

Amnesty International said on Twitter that Rezaiee had been convicted based allegedly on forced confessions and had spent 12 years on death row.

Persons convicted of crimes as juveniles have been executed regularly since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

Under Irans laws, the age for adulthood is determined by puberty, 15 for boys and nine for girls, but a judge is expected to determine the maturity of the defendant in capital punishment cases.

When there is a discrepancy between domestic law and international legal obligations, Iranian authorities have turned to domestic law.

By Stephanie Nebehay
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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen opened 2021 by reaffirming her willingness to talk with China, while vowing to stand up to mounting military pressure from Beijing.

Tsai used a brief News Years Day address Friday to criticize the near-daily patrols of Chinese military ships and aircraft that have stretched Taiwans more limited military resources. She warned that the actions had threatened the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, while calling on Beijing to restore communication channels it cut off after her election in 2016.

We are willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue, Tsai said, so long as Beijing is willing to defuse antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, in line with the principles of reciprocity and dignity.

The Taiwanese president has sought to position her democratically elected government as a bulwark against increasing Chinese influence in the region. Beijing considers Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and has sought to raise the pressure on Tsai by luring away diplomatic partners and expanding military patrols around the island.

Taiwan has raised its international profile over the past year through its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with only seven confirmed Covid-19 deaths among its population of 23 million. In 2020, Taiwan was a rare success story, underpinning a booming stock market and one of the strongest performances among developed economies.

We have shown again and again that Taiwan can help, Tsai said. As a force for good in the world, we will continue to be an indispensable member of the international community, both now and into the future.

Beijing has so far refused to hold any talks with Tsai unless she accepts that both sides belong to one China. That was the position accepted by Tsais predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, who saw ties flourish with Beijing, including an unprecedented meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, told a briefing Wednesday in Beijing that relations between the two sides were complicated and grim in 2020, citing separatist forces in Taipei and changes in the international landscape. But Zhu struck a more conciliatory tone for the coming year, saying China pledged to proactively promote peaceful development and integration.

Tsai is seeking to build on the momentum of last year, when she won a second term and US President Donald Trumps administration continued to improve ties with Taipei. Taiwan is awaiting signs of whether President-elect Joe Biden will continue that support after he takes office on Jan. 20.

The Taiwanese president defended her decision to lift long-standing curbs on certain US pork products, a move aimed at facilitating trade talks with Washington that prompted protests at home. The reaction made me fully experience why the previous government made promises, but was unable to implement them, Tsai said.
Explosion Nashville Telecom Vulnerability (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Fear, confusion and frustration dominated the panicked 911 calls that Nashville residents made on Christmas morning before a bomb planted in an RV rocked the city.

Emergency calls began pouring into dispatchers around the Nashville area just after 6 am.

The earliest callers reported hearing multiple gunshots in the area.

Half an hour after police officers found the RV in the area where gunshots were reported, the vehicle exploded, tearing through the city's tourist district.

Police have identified Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, as the bomb builder. Authorities believe he was killed in the blast.

Just before the RV exploded, the vehicle played a chilling warning telling anyone who could hear it to evacuate.

One of the 911 calls came from a woman begging for help as her building collapsed following the explosion.

"My entire building just fell down and it's collapsing. I live at [address] please come. Please come," the woman said.

While the dispatcher is trying to get the woman's information, the caller can be heard scrambling to get her things and escape.

"The roof is collapsing in, oh my god. Oh my god. I don't know what's going on," she says in the call. "We have to get out. We can't be up here. Oh my God, I think it's an explosion."

Several calls were focused on the unsettling evacuation warning that the RV played in the moments prior to the explosion.

One woman called to ask if the police were the source of the evacuation message.

"We've got a recording out here saying there is a limited time to evacuate this area on Second Avenue North, downtown Nashville. Is that you guys?" the caller asked.

The woman said she was panicking because she could hear the warning but was unsure if it was legitimate.

"There is a recording out there saying there is a limited amount of time to evacuate this area, 'there is a large bomb inside this vehicle.' Can you please send the police up here?" she asked on the call. "Meanwhile I'm getting dressed, can you please send a police up here? I'm sorry, I'm in a panic."

Story continues

The dispatcher said that they had only received calls about gunshots in the area and was unaware of any evacuation warnings.

Prior to the explosion, numerous callers reported hearing gunshots in proximity to the RV.

One caller said he heard several rounds of gunfire outside his apartment.

"There have been three rounds of gunshots inside the building," a man tells a dispatcher. "First, about seven or eight minutes ago, and then about five minutes ago."

The dispatcher asked the man if he wanted to give a statement to officers responding to the scene, which the man declined because he was too scared.

In the days following the bombing, police have learned more about the alleged bomber.

Warner's neighbor told authorities that the 63-year-old said that "the world was never going to forget him" in the days preceding the explosion.

The Tennessean newspaper reported that Mr Warner's girlfriend warned the police a year ago that he was a bomber.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said that Mr Warner was "not on our radar."

Read More

Nashville bombing spotlights vulnerable voice, data networks

Feds exploring if Nashville bomber believed in aliens, lizard people

Authorities investigating if Nashville bomber also blew up his dogs

Nashville bomber's girlfriend warned he was building bombs

Petula Clark condemns bomber who played Downtown ahead of explosion

Man driving truck playing similar audio to Nashville RV charged
A group of up to 150 people have protested for the second consecutive day following the fatal shooting of George Nkencho.

Mr Nkencho 27, was shot multiple times by gardai outside his home in Clonee, west Dublin, on Wednesday.

Mr Nkencho was allegedly brandishing a knife and threatened gardai before he was shot by members of Blanchardstown Garda Armed Support Unit.

In a statement on Twitter, Mr Nkenchos sister Gloria said he was suffering from serious mental illness and those who knew him know the type of person he was, he was not a thug nor a criminal.

On Friday, a group of approximately 150 people held a candlelit vigil before marching from the Spire on Dublins OConnell street to Pearse street Garda station.

Protesters chanted no justice, no peace, say his name, George Nkencho and later, five shots killed him and f*** the police.

Expand Close People at a candlelit vigil in Dublin for George Nkencho, who was shot multiple times by gardai outside his home in Clonee, west Dublin, on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp People at a candlelit vigil in Dublin for George Nkencho, who was shot multiple times by gardai outside his home in Clonee, west Dublin, on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA)

Those gathered were dressed in black, wore face masks and largely adhered to social distancing measures.

Placards were held up with the words black lives matter and thug is not a synonym for black.

A range of people spoke at the gathering, most of them young people in their early 20s.

They were critical of gardai and also spoke out against Irelands direct provision system.

Expand Close Protesters hold placards saying no justice, no peace in protest at the killing of Mr Nkencho (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters hold placards saying no justice, no peace in protest at the killing of Mr Nkencho (Niall Carson/PA)

Approximately a dozen uniformed gardai were in attendance but kept their distance from the protesters, who remained peaceful throughout.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she understood the concern and upset the incident had caused.

She told RTE: I think everybody, including the guards, understand the concern and the upset that is currently there. So they are actively engaging with the community.

It is extremely important that we allow the process to take its course. GSOC (Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission) have already begun that investigation and obviously we need to ascertain all of the facts as to what happened.

Expand Close People protest outside Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin for Mr Nkencho (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp People protest outside Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin for Mr Nkencho (Niall Carson/PA)

Writing on Twitter, Ms McEntee said: Gardai are engaging with the local community and I know they understand their concerns and anguish.

We are fortunate to have very few fatalities related to policing in Ireland, but all are fully and independently investigated by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission.

GSOC is headed by a High Court judge, and their independent investigation has already begun into the events in Hartstown.

Gardai were called to a business premises in Hartstown on the Co Meath/Dublin border at 12.15pm on Wednesday.

In a statement, Garda said there was a chase on foot and the man threatened officers with a knife.

Expand Close Protesters gathered outside Pearse St Garda station (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters gathered outside Pearse St Garda station (Niall Carson/PA)

Members of the Armed Support Unit arrived at a scene in Manorfields Drive, Dublin 15, the statement said.

The Armed Support Unit were also threatened with a knife and implemented a graduated policing response where the use of less-than-lethal force options was initially administered in an effort to resolve the incident.

The less-than-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful, and a number of shots were discharged from an official Garda firearm at approximately 12.35pm.

It is understood that gardai unsuccessfully used a taser and pepper spray before the shots were fired.

Mr Nkencho was treated at the scene before being transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where he was pronounced dead.

The GSOC was notified of the incident and attended the scene. Investigations are continuing.

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The European Union (EU) and its member states on Wednesday welcomed the completion of the investment agreement negotiations with China, hailing it as an important milestone in the development of EU-China relations.

The announcement of the completion of negotiations was made during a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link.

"Today, the EU &China concluded in principle negotiations on an investment agreement ... For more balanced trade &business opportunities," said von der Leyen on twitter.

"Tomorrow's post-COVID world needs a strong EU-China relationship, to build forward better," she added.

Michel welcomed the "political agreement achieved on negotiations on investment," saying "(the) EU remains committed to rules based international cooperation."

The German government said the investment agreement is a success for the German presidency of the Council of the EU.

The agreement provides European businesses with greater access to the Chinese market, creates a level playing field for companies on both sides and lays the groundwork for more sustainable development, the German government said in a statement on its website.

China is committed to opening up its markets to EU investors more than ever before, it said.

Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier hailed the agreement as "a milestone in trade policy."

The breakthrough is "a great success and at the same time an expression of European cohesion and unity," said Altmaier.

"For European companies, the agreement means more market access and more legal security as well as a better competitive environment in China," he said.

"The dialogue between Europe and China has been strengthened and rebalanced in recent years. It continues," Macron tweeted.

Austria's Minister for Economic Affairs Margarete Schrambock said the agreement in principle "opens the door to a future market for our companies."
Congress Overrides Trump Veto of Defense Bill

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Congress has overridden President Donald Trump's veto of a defense policy bill, a first by lawmakers since he took office nearly four years ago.In an extraordinary New Year's Day session, the Republican-controlled Senate easily turned aside the veto, dismissing Trump's objections to the $740 billion bill just weeks before his term ends.Trump had lashed out at GOP lawmakers on Twitter, charging earlier this week that Weak and tired Republican leadership will allow the bad Defense Bill to pass.Trump called the looming override vote a disgraceful act of cowardice and total submission by weak people to Big Tech. Negotiate a better Bill, or get better leaders, NOW!"The 81-13 vote in the Senate followed an earlier 322-87 override vote in the House of the widely popular defense measure. The bill provides a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops and guides defense policy, cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, personnel policy and other military goals. Many programs, including military construction, can only go into effect if the bill is approved.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said before the vote that Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act every year for 59 years in a row, "and one way or another, we are going to complete the 60th annual NDAA and pass it into law before this Congress concludes on Sunday.''The bill "looks after our brave men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform,'' McConnell said. But its also a tremendous opportunity: to direct our national security priorities to reflect the resolve of the American people and the evolving threats to their safety, at home and abroad. Its our chance to ensure we keep pace with competitors like Russia and China.''The Senate override was delayed after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., objected to moving ahead until McConnell allowed a vote on a Trump-backed plan to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000. McConnell did not allow that vote; instead he used his parliamentary power to set a vote limiting debate on the defense measure, overcoming a filibuster threat by Sanders and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.Without a bipartisan agreement, a vote on the bill could have been delayed until Saturday night. Lawmakers, however, agreed to an immediate roll call Friday once the filibuster threat was stopped.Trump rejected the defense measure last week, saying it failed to limit social media companies he claimed were biased against him during his failed reelection campaign. Trump also opposed language that allows for the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders.There was no immediate comment Friday from Trump or the White House.Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed with Trumps veto and called the bill absolutely vital to our national security and our troops.This is the most important bill we have, Inhofe said. It puts members of the military first.Trump has not had much public opposition in his party throughout his four-year term. However, this bipartisan override on the defense bill and a recent vote against the Trump-backed COVID relief checks by House republicans signaled limits on his continued influence.Besides his concerns about social media and military base names, Trump also said the defense bill restricted his ability to conduct foreign policy, particularly my efforts to bring our troops home. Trump was referring to provisions in the bill that impose conditions on his plan to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan and Germany. The measures require the Pentagon to submit reports certifying that the proposed withdrawals would not jeopardize U.S. national security.Trump has vetoed eight other bills, but those were all sustained because supporters did not gain the two-thirds vote needed in each chamber for the bills to become law without Trumps signature.Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Trump's Dec. 23 veto a parting gift" to Russian President Vladimir Putin "and a lump of coal for our troops. Donald Trump is showing more devotion to Confederate base names than to the men and women who defend our nation.
Two new coronavirus cases ignored warning calls from contact tracers and travelled from Melbourne into regional NSW to enjoy a night away.

The pair are close contacts of a case linked to the outbreak at a Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne.

Despite being called by contact tracers while on their way into NSW from Victoria and told they were close contacts - which means you have to isolate and get tested - the pair continued on their journey.

Officially, five new cases were recorded in Victoria on Friday, but had been announced on Thursday, taking the state's new unexpected cluster linked to a Thai restaurant to eight.

But just hours later, another two cases were recorded - taking the cluster to ten.

The two Victorians visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, in the southern region of NSW, on Wednesday from 5pm to 6.30pm

The pair then ate at Bermi's Beachside Cafe in Bermagui from about 9am to 10am on Thursday

The Melbourne coronavirus cluster grew to ten infections on Friday. The outbreak is linked to Sydney

The two Victorians visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, in the southern region of NSW, on December 30 from 5pm to 6.30pm.

The pair then ate at Bermi's Beachside Cafe in Bermagui from about 9am to 10am on December 31.

They had been contacted by health workers to tell them they were close contacts on December 30 when they were still in Victoria, and they later sought testing when in NSW.

'Please be advised we have been contacted by NSW Health and a confirmed Covid case visited the cafe for breakfast December 31 between 9-10am,' the cafe wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Staff at the cafe are in isolation and will be tested for Covid-19.

'We are very confident in our Covid safety plan and have followed all rules in enforce these rules to help keep everyone safe,' the cafe said.

There are now ten coronavirus cases linked to an outbreak at a Thai restaurant in Melbourne. Pictured: Revellers line-up in face masks for New Year's Eve celebrations in Melbourne

Hundreds of drivers are facing lengthy queues to get back into Victoria from NSW before the hard border closure comes in at midnight

Earlier on Friday, Victoria's testing chief Jeroen Weimar said 170 close contacts of the new coronavirus cases have been identified and are in self-isolation.

Hundreds of drivers are facing lengthy queues to get back into the state from NSW before the hard border closure comes in at midnight.

The border region also became a major point of contention on Friday, with the NSW far south coast towns of Eden and Bermagui also now on high alert.

Victorians had been warned to not enter New South Wales.

In the state's west at Genoa one motorist on Friday reported a wait of almost six hours as a line of hundreds of cars snaked through a checkpoint.

Growing coronavirus case numbers in NSW on Thursday prompted Victorian authorities to impose a hard border from midnight Friday. Anyone arriving after that time must spend a fortnight in quarantine.

The news sparked an urgent dash for the border by many Victorians holidaying outside the state.

Anyone crossing back on Friday needs to have a border permit and must isolate at home for 14 days.

Victorians are facing lengthy queues to cross the NSW border into their home state, as a COVID-19 quarantine deadline looms. Pictured: Police officers patrol and check for entry permits to Victoria at a border checkpoint on December 29, 2020

Two women in face masks are seen in Melbourne's CBD on Thursday ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations

Those still making their way home have until 11.59pm Friday to cross before being forced into hotel quarantine as the state scrambles to avoid a third wave of the deadly virus.

There were 13,801 coronavirus tests conducted across Victoria in the 24-hour period to midnight on New Year's Eve.

Martin Foley thanked Victorians who have come forward for testing.

'It is the most important thing you can do,' he said on Friday.

The latest cases, which first emerged on Wednesday night, ended a 61-day streak without infections for Victoria.

All are directly or indirectly linked to the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock on December 21, which was attended by a NSW returned traveller.

That traveller returned before border permits were in place and was being tested on Thursday.

'The NSW link is still our primary line of investigation for this outbreak,' Mr Foley said.

One of the active infections in Victoria is someone from Leongatha in southern Gippsland (pictured)

It was also revealed on Friday that wastewater samples taken from Lakes Entrance on December 29 recorded traces of the virus, prompting calls or anyone in that area with symptoms to get tested.

One of the active infections in Victoria is someone from Leongatha in southern Gippsland.

The person was a close contact of one of the three women who dined at the Thai restaurant and they are in isolation.

Mr Weimar said the latest cluster was 'not just a Melbourne issue'.

'We have returning people from NSW across our entire state,' he said.

'If you have symptoms, go to your nearest testing station regardless of where you are in Victoria.'

Revellers say goodbye to 2020 and ring in the New Year at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne

On Thursday, Acting premier Jacinta Allan apologised for the border closure but said Victorians who are in NSW should not be surprised.

'We have been sending a very strong message for the better part of a week-and-a-half ... advising people to think very carefully about their travel to NSW,' Ms Allan said.

'These difficult decisions are about protecting the community.'

Masks are also mandatory indoors and the number of visitors allowed in Victorian homes is down to 15 from 30, she said.

Mr Weimar thanked the 'thousands of people' who quickly packed up and returned to Victoria.

'I know we saw some very long waiting times in queues at border crossings last night and during the early hours of this morning,' he said.

'We are expecting another very busy day today at the border.

'If you're in NSW and you want to be back in Victoria you need to leave now.

'Please prepare for a lengthy wait at the border so make sure you have fuel, water, food and whatever you need to isolate safely when you get home.'
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021

What President Trump Could Do To Turn the Tables

Dec. 30, 2020 (EIRNS)The British Empire is making feverish preparationsall the while looking nervously over their shoulderto celebrate what they expect will be their strategic victory in removing Donald Trump from the White House on January 20, 2021. But that is not a done deal. The ongoing legal challenges up to the Supreme Court on vote fraud are important, as is the political mobilization of the American population against that fraud. But most important, Helga Zepp-LaRouche emphasized today, is what Trump could do to turn the tables entirely on the British, between now and Jan. 20, and define a totally new strategic situation which is to their great disadvantage.

Given the fact that he is surrounded by scoundrels, even in the White House, in the Republican Party, and in the Democratic Party, if I were Trump I would try to completely turn over the chessboard, Zepp-LaRouche stated.

What he could do, despite the anti-Russia and anti-China campaign, he could call up Russian President Vladimir Putin and say: Look, we have a pandemic which is out of control in many places. We have a famine. We have an extremely dangerous strategic confrontation. We have an unresolved financial crisis. Lets hold the UN Security Council permanent members (P5) summit meeting you proposed back in January 2020, and do it immediately, on an emergency basis. Once you have this combination of Trump, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, they could work out an approach to how to solve all these problems. French President Emmanuel Macron would for sure go along, because he is primarily a chameleon. And Britains Boris Johnson, in that combination, is a relative lightweight. So it could work! I dont know if Trump has the temperament to do it, but that is definitely something he should be doing.

Zepp-LaRouche continued: Then, Trump has other things he should be doing, like pardoning Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, and especially the exoneration of Lyndon LaRouche, for all the reasons we have discussed many times.

Such actions would immediately turn the tables on the so-called Deep State, on the British role of Russiagate, and on the British coup against Trump, as would declassifying all the relevant documents and appointing a special counsel to investigate the entire British coup. These are powerful things that Trump could do to destabilize the whole British fix in the first weeks of January 2021.

All of this is urgent, Zepp-LaRouche concluded, because what is clearly shaping up is the oligarchys plan to impose the Great Reset. If Biden comes in, that is going to be his program. The new budget bill signed by the Congress for the first time sets a goal of a zero carbon emission economy for the U.S., which would mean that both the EU and the United States would have a policy that means, in the relative short term, the death of any industry, and of all industrial states. And this deadly Malthusian policy was promoted once again in an interview by Prince Charles with BBC yesterday, Zepp-LaRouche warned.

That is why the tables must be turned now.
US President Donald Trump has extended a suspension on issuing certain work visas and green cards through the end of March, justifying the measure as a means to shore up jobs for US citizens amid the coronavirus pandemic.



Allowing immigrant workers into the country would "pose a risk of displacing and disadvantaging United States workers during the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak," a presidential proclamation released on Thursday said.



Therefore, measures imposed in April and June that significantly restrict legal immigration to the US should remain in place, for now, it said.



The limits are now set to remain in place as president-elect Joe Biden replaces Trump in the White House in January.

The Labor, Homeland Security and State departments are to periodically review whether changes to the measures are necessary.



The orders apply only to aliens who are currently outside the country and do not yet have permission to enter. Those who already have permanent residency are not affected, and there are exceptions for people including spouses and children of US citizens.



The US economy is struggling and the number of people receiving unemployment benefits is now 19.6 million, compared with only about 1.8 million a year ago. A large number of daily new Covid-19 infections gives little hope for a quick recovery.



Whilst the government painted a pessimistic picture to justify the measures in the proclamation, Trump claimed in a video message released on Thursday that the country had weathered the pandemic "dramatically better" economically than experts had predicted.

Source: dpa/GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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New Delhi: The Delhi Police fined 26 people for drunk driving, 174 for dangerous driving, and 706 for unauthorised parking as it reported 1,336 traffic violations across the city amid muted New Year celebrations because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Police also issued 144 challans for mask and social distancing violations from 4pm on December 31, 2019 to 4pm on the New Year day. So far, 5,13,529 people have been issued challans for not wearing mask while 38,256 people were fined for not following the social distancing rules.

The total traffic violations were nearly 32% more than 2019, when 1,012 people were fined for various traffic violations. The prosecutions were done between 11pm on Thursday and 6am on Friday, when restrictions were imposed in Delhi to prevent large gathering in public places for New Year celebrations due to the pandemic. Similar restrictions were in place from 11pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

The drunk driving challans were issued after a gap of nearly nine months, as the Delhi Traffic Police had stopped using alcometers due to Covid-19 fears. Unlike the previous years, when police would use alcometers to measure the alcohol content in breath samples, the police carried out manual checking of vehicles and used blood samples to ascertain drunk driving.

As per the Delhi Traffic Police data, the drunk driving prosecution was almost 87% less than the fines issued in 2019. While 203 people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol during the New Years eve in 2019, this number came down to 26 in 2020. In 2018, a total of 274 people were prosecuted for the same.

Senior police officers attributed this decline in drunk driving prosecution to the fact that the motorists were not being stopped for measuring alcohol content in breath samples using alcometers.
A pilot scheme incorporating social, cost rental and affordable to purchase housing should be instituted for land that the Council bought on the Stradbally road, Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley stated at the Portlaoise Municipal District meeting.

Cllr Dwane Stanley was speaking on her own motion calling for such a scheme in the development of Tyrrells land.

The Council response provided an update on the development to date.

"The council completed the purchase of 25.73 acres of land on the Stradbally road earlier this year. The cost of purchase, funded by a loan, was 1.4million.

"Since then a multi-disciplinary team has been procured to prepare a masterplan for the lands. They are currently carrying out preliminary investigations and assessments. Once completed consultation with key stakeholders will commence in the new year. The land has a mixture of residential, community type and open space zonings.

"The Council's primary objective in purchasing this landbank was to deliver additional housing for those who could not fund it from their own resources. In that regard it will explore all viable options for the delivery of such housing including social, affordable and cost rental on these lands.

"However, it should be noted that in the absence of a national subsidy/scheme the Council does not have the financial capacity of its own to deliver an affordable scheme."

Cllr Dwane-Stanley labelled the response as "a glass half full, half empty type answer."

"There is a need for more social housing and affordable housing to purchase. I'd like to see Laois County Council leading from the front on this and being an example to other Councils" said the Sinn Fein representative.

"A young couple with one child cannot get on the social housing ladder. We need to offer some kind of hope here. Those in private rented accommodation are being fleeced, with no security of tenure. I have called for cost rental. It's cheap affordable accommodation to rent with security of tenure. It allows the tenant to rent for the rest of their lives.

"We are leasing the building of homes to other bodies. I believe Laois County Council has to build itself. Use 10 per cent of this for social housing," stated the county coucillor.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said it was "soul destroying" that the income threshold was so low for social housing.

"It discriminates against middle and low incomes. It is 100 per cent wrong for hard working people," stated the Fianna Fail representative.

Cllr Thomasina Connell noted that Minister for State Peter Burke had said there will be a scheme to facilitate affordable housing across Ireland.

"Affordable housing to purchase is in it, is my understanding," said the Fine Gael councillor.

"We have to get on and build," said Cllr Willie Aird.

"No estate has been opened since Conniberry Way. Each Councillor has to look at themselves."

Director of Services, Simon Walton said that a masterplan for Tyrrells land is being developed.

"There are other zonings here which need to be factored in. The masterplan is at stage one," he stated.

"As regards an affordable scheme, Laois County Council wants to engage with an affordable housing scheme. Laois County Council cannot fund it, only through the State."

Mr Walton referred to the CEO's report as to the number of houses delivered directly by Laois County Council.

He also noted that a number of housing bodies were building under contract with the Council.

"They are equally as reliant on the Council," he pointed out to the December meeting.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  The pandemic has changed the way people deal with numerous things, including how to better deal with one's money.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Exchange with Rico Hizon, financial planner Salve Duplito said this is one of the hardest lessons the pandemic has taught people.

"There were so many people who told me if only they had done as I asked them to do prior to the pandemic, then the crisis wouldn't be so bad for them," she explained.

Emergency fund good for a year

With this, Duplito emphasized the need to save up for an emergency fund good for 12 months.

"Not three months anymore, Rico, because of the pandemic we learned kailangan one year na talaga [it should really be worth one year]," said the registered financial planner.

Automating one's savings

Duplito also advised "automating" one's savings, which may be done by using tools that allow transferring a specific amount from one's salary or income every payday to another account for safekeeping.

Whatever is left of the original amount can then be spent without guilt, she added.

How to invest properly

The financial literacy advocate likewise offered three tips for people planning to invest this 2021.

"One, make sure that you're not in debt," she pointed out. "It doesn't make sense to spend thousands in interest tapos [then] earn possibly hundreds in returns, di ba [right]?"

Next is related to a previous piece of advice she gave: ensuring enough emergency funds. This way, she said, one won't be forced to sell their securities in case something happens and the market also happens to be down.

And last but not the least, determine what kind of investor you are as this would define your investment strategies.

"Know whether you're a defensive or an enterprising investor. If you have the time, the inclination is to analyze companies then go pick stocks," said Duplito, adding this process is quite tricky but very rewarding if executed properly.

Beginners, meanwhile, are encouraged to purchase an index fund instead. This allows one to be diversified across the country's best companies with just little capital, she noted.

"[O]ver time, we all know that the numbers, it may go up and down but over time it goes up naman [eventually]," added Duplito.

The public is likewise enjoined to consistently review investment advisories issued by government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Department of Trade and Industry, which Duplito said have been active in issuing such. Investors-to-be may also peruse warnings issued by financial advisers such as herself, she added.

In sum, don't go into anything you don't understand, Duplito emphasized, adding caution is needed when investing as money may disappear quickly.

Starting a business in 2021

For those planning to set up shop this 2021, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion reiterated the benefits of going online during the pandemic.

"Kung may maganda kang produktong ginagawa mo sa bahay mo, pwede mong i-testing at pwede mong i-market dito sa mga ibang platforms," Concepcion told The Exchange in a separate interview, with Shopee and Lazada as examples of market platforms for aspiring sellers. Other technopreneurs, he added, are also in the process of setting up additional digital platforms.

[Translation: If you have been making a good product in your home, you can test and market it using these different platforms.]

Sellers should also take advantage of the delivery services offered by the likes of Grab and Lalamove as online shopping remains popular among Filipinos who prefer to stay at home.

RELATED: Logistics, warehousing to enjoy 'healthy' demand in 2021-2022 with e-commerce growth  Colliers

Social media, Concepcion added, has also allowed for cheaper costs for promoting one's products compared to marketing them on television or print.

"So yung savings nila sa capital expenditure  magpatayo ng mga carts, mga maliit na tindahan  pwede nang dito sa mga digital platforms," he said.

[Translation: Savings on capital expenditures supposedly for the construction of carts or little stores may be used in these digital platforms instead.]
Peshawar: After an angry mob in Pakistans Khyber Pukhtunkhwa provinces Karak district, attacked and vandalized the shrine of a Hindu saint in the Terri area of Karak; Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced the reconstruction of the Hindu temple, along with launching a crackdown against the attackers.

The incident sparked protests and drew strong condemnation from the human rights activists and the minority Hindu community in Pakistan. Pakistans Hindu community also staged protests in the aftermath of the demolishment of the temple which was over 100 years old.

Chief Minister Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) Mahmood Khan has issued instructions to relevant authorities to ensure reconstruction of the Hindu temple, while police authorities have arrested at least 45 people, including three notable clerics, who were nominated.

Among the nominated religious clerics, a local leader of the religious political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Rehman Salam Khattak, has also been arrested. Angry and violent protesters attacked and set a blaze the Samadhi of Shri Paramhansji Maharaj on Wednesday over the dispute over its expansion.

As per the police authorities, Rehman Salam Khattak of JUI-F had participated in a meeting before the attack on the shrine. However, the plan to attack the shrine was decided and ordered by local clerics Maulana Mohammad Sharif and Maulana Faizullah.

Police officials have been searching dozens of houses to arrest the people involved in the attack. The shrine holds critical importance as in 2015, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the KP government to restore and rebuild the shrine, while hearing a petition by Ramesh Vankwani, member of National Assembly and patron of Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC).

The court`s decision came after it became a dispute and confrontational contention between the Muslim and the Hindu community. As per latest details, police authorities have been directed to ensure security of the places of worship of minorities and protect their constitutional right, enshrined in the country`s constitution.

KP Inspector General of Police Sanaullah Abbasi confirmed that "the first information report (FIR) has been lodged in the case and a probe was underway". "At least 350 persons had been named in the FIR," he said.

Abbasi also confirmed that more arrests will be made in the coming days after the accused are identified through video clips and still images. The local leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) condemned the incident, insisting that an act of a few individuals should not be attributed to the entire Khattak tribe that inhabits Karak.

Moreover, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) took suo moto notice of the incident, fixing the case for hearing on January 5. Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, the representative of Religious Harmony and the Middle East, strongly condemned the incident, assuring zero tolerance towards the culprits.

"Attack on Hindu temple in Karak is very sorrowful and regrettable. The Constitution assures complete protection to the minorities and the elements involved in the attack on the temple have damaged the image of Islam and Pakistan," he said.

Meanwhile, the Government of India (GoI) has also lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the demolition of a Hindu Temple in Pakistans northwestern province Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. The protest was lodged on Thursday with Islamabad via diplomatic channels. It may be noted that a Hindu temple was vandalised and set ablaze by a mob in Karak in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.
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A killer on the run for murdering his 17-year-old former girlfriend in Mexico in 2009 is now wanted in Chile for allegedly murdering his latest ex.

Maria Pavez, 22, was last seen December 17 when she left her home in the Santiago commune of La Florida to meet her old flame who called himself Igor Gonzalez. His real identity was later revealed to be 36-year-old Carlos Mendez - wanted killer on the run from police and Interpol.

The couple had reportedly dated for two years before breaking it off in October.

Six days after Pavez, an obstetrics student at the Diego Portales University, Chile, went to meet her ex, she was found dead. Her body was discovered with a six-inch stab wound, in the bedroom of Mendez's abandoned Chile apartment.

As the victim's family mourned their daughter, they were contacted on social media by family of his first victim, who revealed the real identity of Pavez's ex and suspected killer; Mendez.

Mendez fled Mexico after hacking his former girlfriend, 17-year-old Itzel Barraza, to death with an ice pick on April 9, 2019 in the central state of Aguascalientes.

Maria Pavez (right) was last seen December 17 after she left her home to meet her ex-boyfriend Igor Gonzalez, whose real name is Carlos Mendez (left) - a wanted killer on the run

Itzel Barraza was killed April 9, 2009 in Mexico by Carlos Mendez, her ex-boyfriend, before he fled to Chile, where he is now wanted for the murder of Maria Pavez

'As soon as I saw the first photos, I immediately said it's him,' Barraza family told Mexican newspaper El Imparcial. 'We were tying the dots in terms of appearance, height, gaze, eyes, type of nose, type of mouth, mole on the chin. When I contacted to the family of this girl in Chile and I showed photos they said it is the same."

Pavez's family swiftly passed on that information to the police.

Authorities said Mendez illegally entered Chile seven years ago.

Brenda Pavez told DailyMail.com her half-sister met Mendez several years ago at an anime event in the Santiago commune of Penalolen. The former couple dated two years before ending their relationship in October.

'Nothing was ever suspected since we did not know him,' Pavez said. 'Only Maria's mother saw him once and no one else knew him. He did not let himself be seen.'

Friends of Maria Pavez who knew Mendez describe his as 'antisocial, a fan of anime, computers and Japanese manga.'

The suspect, who is overweight, has a mole under his lip and has a tattoo of a black cross on his left forearm. He also suffers from cataract in one eye, which he tries to conceal from the public by allowing his hair to fall right over the eye.

Carlos Mendez also went by the name of Igor Gonzalez. He is wanted in Mexico for killing 17-year-old, Itzel Barraza in 2009

Maria Pavez contacted her mother on December 17 and received a deposit to purchase a new cellphone because her other phone had technical difficulties. But calls in the following day went unanswered, which led the family to filing a missing person's report before the 22-year-old college student was found dead in her ex-boyfriend's apartment

Just days after it was revealed that Mendez, or 'El Meji', short for 'The Mexican,' was a person of interest to the authorities, an alleged friend went on Instagram and vowed to offer him a place to stay if he came asking because he care less about what had happened to Pavez.

'I'm a friend of Meji ... I don't care. If [he] were to ask me for refuge, because they are chasing him, I would say I take care of you,' the man said. 'It is not what is happening, but I would do it anyway.'

Brenda Pavez was shocked by the man's willingness to aid her sister's alleged killer.

'I think there's people with some kind of mental problem, who lack empathy and compassion,' she said.

Pavez said the family believes someone aided Mendez's escape from Chile the same way he was assisted in fleeing Mexico in 2009.

'We have absolute certainty that someone helps the murderer escape just as they helped him escape when he murdered Itzel in Mexico, but we do not know who helps him,' she said.

Pavez's mother Lorena Zamora told Chilean news outlet BioBio Chile that she had spoken to her daughter approximately at 11pm local time December 17 and deposited money into her account after she complained of technical difficulties with her cellphone.

She reportedly purchased a new one but calls went unanswered following their last conversation.

Berraza's parents reached out to Maria Pavez and her family Sunday.

'We shared information and now I can confirm it is the same person, the same person who killed their daughter,' Brenda Pavez said.
products have been known to provide instant results. The company is known for their cool and fashionable

BAX-U is a brand of wearable products for better alignment and optimal physical performance. BAX-U products have been known to provide instant results. The company is known for their cool and fashionable posture correctors and their home kits to relieve pain.

I had a chance to do an interview with Dr. Romina to learn more.

Why was Think Healthy created?

We named the company THINK HEALTHY because I wanted to inspire people to think outside the box of reaching out for a pill bottle for their aches and pains.

Why is improved posture so important?

Your posture is a reflection of your inner health. When people see someone with a good posture, it translates to confidence, strength, and more attractiveness. I see posture as good biomechanics, minimal spinal and nerve interruption physiology in function, and a reflection on inner health. Technology is causing poor posture. This problem is robbing the human's inner powerhouse, affecting normal body physiology, and worse of all, causing muscle overload, leading to chronic tiredness, aches, and pains.

Today in 2020, we were challenged to stay home and work in non favorable conditions. This took a significant toll on our bodies. Children will suffer from a poor posture more than adults as their academic, social, and playtime are evolving around smart devices, altering normal body growth. As a result, kids will develop a slouched posture, rounded shoulders, and worse than the gradual compensatory scoliosis developing in their growing bodies.

Posture is a simple word that has a profound direct and indirect impact on all body systems. Poor posture and chronic aches are directly correlated with mental health issues. By improving body physiology and posture correction, one can see changes in a person's mood, energy level, and even happier emotional state.

What are some times that people often don't realize they have poor posture?

When the mind is engaged in problem-solving, creating, uncovering, or completing a task, it is fully focused on the task. Body natal needs are delayed to gain the satisfaction of completion of the task on hand. Have you ever experienced being so busy or involved with a project that your hot morning coffee became cold, forgetting to eat lunch? That is the power of concentration that is effective for short-term projects, but working 6-12hrs a day on a screen can physically exhaust the body. That is why support to remind the body will be effective, not the buzzing kind, preferably the easier ones that offer internal shift, a wearable that retracts you back into better posture.

What sets Think Healthy products apart from other posture-correcting products?

A group of neural structures controls your finger movements while typing, texting, or working with your hands. These nerves originate from the spinal nerves in the neck area, pass through the armpits (axilla), and travel to hands and fingers. With this knowledge, Posture Correction of BAX-U is the only soft adjustable posture support that protects the axilla and the nerve struct pathways as they travel to fingers. The adjustable straps on the shoulders and chest offer personalized fitting for the best results in the most comfortable setup. When testing 53 people, 90% reposted posture correction and loved how breathing was easier; they felt taller and had more energy while wearing the BAX-U posture corrector.

Home Kits Under $100!

Head Home Kit- $79.00/ Relieves headaches and migraines. The kit comes with a posture corrector, chiropractic neck traction, resistive band, massage ball and ice/heat pack.

Neck Home Kit- $99.00/ relieves stiffness in the neck due to poor posture while texting or slouching. The kit comes with a posture brace, z traction, massage ball and ice/heat pack.

Posture Correctors for both men and women

Bax-U Posture Corrector- $59.95

Please check out www.ThinkHealthy.com to learn more about the company.

To check out Dr. Romina Ghassemi's interview check out http://motherhood-moment.blogspot.com/2020/12/healthy-habits-posture-correction.html
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More than 20 million Americans have been infected with coronavirus as of Friday afternoon.

US infections now make up nearly a quarter of the global total.

December was the deadliest month of the pandemic yet in the US, with coronavirus killing more than 77,000 Americans in the span of 31 days - outstripping the previous record fatalities from April by nearly a third.

The US rang in 2021 with a grim new record: coronavirus hospitalizations hit an all-time high for the fourth day in a row on New Years Eve with nearly 125,400 people in inpatient treatment.

Another 227,315 new infections were confirmed on Thursday, bring the tally to 20,007,149, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Deaths dropped slightly to a still-harrowing 3,419 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins, after two consecutive record-setting days with over 3,700 each on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thursday's figure marked the 10th day this month that deaths have exceeded 3,000, with 346,408 recorded to date.

New Year's Eve rounded out December as the deadliest month of the pandemic on record for the US, with more than 77,000 fatalities.

While the nation pinned its hope for finally bringing the pandemic to its knees on coronavirus vaccines, widespread issues with the rollout saw 2020 come to a close with only about 3.17 million people vaccinated, according to Bloomberg News- 16 percent of the official 20 million target Operation Warp Speed set for the end of the year.

Confusion over who can get the vaccine abounds across the country, with Americans told to call around to find out when they can get their first doses or facing miles-long lines to get the shots.

Adding to anxieties over the current surge is the emergence of a mutant strain of COVID-19 that has now been confirmed in three states: Colorado, California and Florida. The strain was first detected in the United Kingdom and is thought to be 70 percent more transmissible than the original.

The US finished 2020 with about 2.8 million vaccines administered, 10 percent of the end-of-year target. Pictured: Elderly Florida residents line up to receive COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday

The US is seeing more than four times as many cases as the UK, and Americans now account for nearly a quarter of total COVID-19 cases in the world

Hospitalizations reached a new peak of 125,379 on New Year's Eve, with the number of total COVID-19 cases in the US closing in on 20 million. Hospitalizations have been rising at an alarming rate for the past two months. Thursday marked the 30th consecutive day that hospitalizations have topped 100,000

Florida became the third state to confirm a case of the strain on Thursday evening after it was detected in a man his 20s who lives in Martin County and has no history of travel.

California, which reported its first case of the strain on Wednesday, confirmed three more people have been infected with it in the San Diego area on Thursday night.

Earlier this week, the first case was confirmed in Colorado and officials say they are also investigating a second suspected case in the state.

The fact that the confirmed cases in Colorado and Florida both involved individuals with no recent travel history means that the variant must already be circulating on US soil.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has been sounding the alarm that it's only a matter of time before other states detect the strain.

Long lines for vaccines build across the U.S. as a pharmacist is arrested and accused of destroying 500 doses. @KennethMoton reports. https://t.co/jOwP7lYWrK pic.twitter.com/CPRvW4EXft  Good Morning America (@GMA) January 1, 2021

The US set a new record for coronavirus hospitalizations for the fourth day in a row on New Years Eve with nearly 125,400. Pictured: Chaplain Sister Mary Jo Piccione visits a COVID-19 patient at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in California

'We predicted it would be, when you have so much of it in the UK, which then spread to other countries in Europe and Canada, it was inevitable that it would be here,' Fauci told Today on Thursday.

'You'll be hearing reports from other states and more cases in the state that is already reported. Unfortunately, that's just the reality of the way these viruses spread'.

But he added: 'The good news is that it does not appear to be more virulent, namely, making people more sick and leading to more death.'

Fauci's prediction followed a new forecast from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which projects a total of 383,000 to 424,000 COVID-19 deaths will be reported by the week ending January 23, 2021.

On the high end of the model, that could mean that more than 82,000 people could die within the next month.

There are fears the number of infections - followed by hospitalizations and deaths - will only continue to rise in the coming weeks as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed that it screened 1,163,696 people at airport checkpoints on Wednesday, December 30.

It marked the fifth consecutive day that the number of passengers screened exceeded one million and the ninth day this month that the threshold was passed.

Although new daily cases have fallen in California after the past several days, it remains a top hot spot, recording it highest daily death toll on Wednesday and its second highest number of deaths on Thursday with 428 new deaths

The TSA screened 1,163,696 people at airport checkpoints on Wednesday, the fifth consecutive day with over one million

Offering a bit of hope, Operation Warp Speed chief Dr Moncef Slaoui on Wednesday announced that a one-shot coronavirus vaccine could be in use by February if Johnson & Johnson's jab is approved.

Slaoui said Phase 3 trial recruitment for the vaccine has been completed and Johnson & Johnson is currently working with the Operation Warp Speed team to accelerate the availability of the vaccine doses.

'I think it can be quite a game-changer,' Slaoui told reporters. 'We're hopeful that this vaccine, which is a one-shot vaccine will have equivalent efficacy to those of Moderna and Pfizer.'

Single-dose shots would mean faster rollout, and that people would likely be protected from coronavirus in a matter of weeks after the injection - rather than the about one-month period it takes for Moderna or Pfizer's shots to reach their protective peak.

In the weeks since Pfizer and Moderna's jabs were approved several states have struggled to implement effective plans to get them out to patients.

The US has only administered about 16 percent of the 20 million doses it promised to give to Americans by the end of 2020, despite having distributed more than 12 million doses to states and territories.

The bottleneck is caused by officials on state and federal level who have failed to create plans to get those shots into the arms of Americans according to a former FDA official who told DailyMail.com that the failure is akin to dropping the baton on the last leg of the vaccine race.

Adding to the disasters of the U.S. rollout of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, a pharmacist allegedly removed 500 doses of coronavirus vaccines from refrigeration, knowingly allowing them to spoil.

Some of the doses were administered before the the hospital realized they'd gone off. The pharmacist was arrested on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 42 people in Boone County, West Virginia, were mistakenly given Regeneron's antibody cocktail - the same one that President Trump was treated with while he had COVID-19 - National Guard officials there said Thursday.

The nation is watching Colorado, where the first case of COVID-19 due to a new more contagious strain in the U.S. was reported this week. Cases have been declining but ticked back up this week with 3,238 new infections Thursday

Florida is once again seeing COVID-19 numbers akin to its summer peak of the pandemic with nearly 17,000 new infections recorded Thursday. It became the third state in the US to report the new mutant strain Thursday with at least four cases

In Florida websites for vaccine appointments have crashed and facilities have filled up so fast that they pose a risk for the potential spread of COVID-19. Seniors pictured in line with lawn chairs waiting for the vaccine at Lakes Regional Library on Wednesday in Fort Myers

While Americans continue to wait to be vaccinated, the UK on Wednesday authorized a vaccine by AstraZeneca that will almost certainly accelerate vaccine distribution there because it is cheaper, far easier to ship, handle and store than the Pfizer and Moderna alternatives.

Yet US regulators have no intention of approving the more efficient shot until April - two months after AstraZeneca's US trial will have enough data to prove to the FDA that it works. Other trials have already shown that AstraZeneca's $4 vaccine is safe and about 70 percent effective - well above the efficacy the FDA said it will require to approve a vaccine.

But in the US, federal government has punted distribution plans almost entirely to states, where health departments are already stretched thin by surging COVID-19 cases.

The result is a helter-skelter patchwork of last minute plans that look vastly different from state to state, bumping drug addicts and prisoners to the front of the line in some places, while in others, like Florida, elderly Americans are camping out in lawn chairs overnight in a bid to get vaccinated. Others say essential workers and the aged are being told to 'call around' to see if they can get a vaccine.

Florida becomes THIRD state to get Super-COVID and California finds three more cases

Florida has become the third state in the US to confirm a case of the mutant strain of COVID-19 as California officials find three more infections.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed the diagnosis on Thursday night. Officials said the man is in his 20s, lives in Martin County and has no history of travel.

On Thursday night, California officials also confirmed three more people have been infected with the virus variant. The state now has four cases of the strain, which was first detected in the United Kingdom and is thought to be 70% more transmissible than the original.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed the state's first case of the mutant 'super-COVID-19' strain on Thursday night

A 30-year-old man tested positive on Wednesday, and three more men - two in their 40s, and one in his 50s - also have been confirmed to have the strain.

Officials said that two of the men had not traveled outside the country and none of the men had any known interaction with each other.

Earlier this week, the first case was confirmed in Colorado and officials say they are also investigating a second suspected case in the state.

The fact that the confirmed cases in Colorado and Florida both involved individuals with no recent travel history means that the variant must already be circulating on US soil.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has been sounding the alarm that it's only a matter of time before other states detect the strain.

The emergence of the strain in the US comes as many states weather harrowing surges in cases, hospitalizations and deaths while the vaccine rollout falls further and further behind schedule.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came under fire earlier this week after his state chose to ignore CDC recommendations and give the vaccine to elderly people ahead of frontline workers.

Florida is ranked among the nation's top coronavirus hotspots, with more than 1.32 million cases and 21,673 deaths reported to date.

The state broke its record for daily new cases on Thursday with 17,192, after posting near-record increases in the three consecutive days prior.

As of Thursday the state's test positivity rate stands at 11.57 percent, down from 26.29 percent on Tuesday.

Concerns have grown in recent days that the state's vaccine rollout plan could lead to even more infections, as long lines of high-risk elderly residents form outside vaccination sites.

Florida's first case of the mutant strain was reported just north of Miami in Martin County, which is home to about 146,300 residents.

Florida's first case of the mutant strain was reported north of Miami in Martin County (highlighted), which is home to about 146,300 residents. It comes as daily case numbers in the state near its summer peak

The first US case of the mutant 'super-COVID' strain was confirmed on Tuesday when Colorado officials said identified it in a male member of the National Guard who is in his 20s and works in a care home.

A second suspected case was also being investigated in Colorado on Wednesday, when California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the first case in his state.

'Just an hour or so ago we were informed that this new variant, this new strain that we have identified obviously from the UK and some other parts of the globe, identified in Colorado yesterday has been identified here in the state of California, in southern California,' Newsom said during a virtual conversation with Fauci.

The strain is not thought to be more deadly but is said to be significantly more contagious, marking a blow to the Golden State as its already buckling under the weight of the pandemic.

One Californian is now dying every three minutes from the virus with the state smashing its record for daily COVID-19 deaths Tuesday.

Governor Gavin Newsom (left) announced California's first case of the strain on Wednesday during a virtual conversation with Dr Anthony Fauci (right)

What is the 'mutant COVID strain' and why are experts concerned? Coronaviruses mutate regularly, acquiring about one new mutation in their genome every two weeks. Most mutations do not significantly change the way the virus acts. This super strain, named B.1.1.7, was first identified in the UK in November. It has since been found in France, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Australia and now the United States. The new COVID-19 variant has a mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein at position 501, where amino acid asparagine (N) has been replaced with tyrosine (Y). It is more infectious than previous strains and potentially more harmful to children. It is not, however, believed to be any more lethal. Public Health England researchers compared 1,769 people infected with the new variant, with 1,769 who had one of the earlier strains of the virus. Forty-two people in the group were admitted to hospital, of whom 16 had the new variant and 26 the wild type. Twelve of the variant cases and 10 of the 'older' virus cases died within four weeks of testing. Neither the hospitalization nor the mortality differences were statistically significant. Advertisement

Newsom did not say where exactly the case was detected other than in Southern California.

He also gave no details on the identity of the individual or whether they have recently traveled. DailyMail.com has contacted Newsom's office for more information.

Newsom asked Fauci about the new strain and what it could mean for the state and the US.

'I know there has been a lot of conversations about the issue of variants, about the issue of transmissibility,' the governor said.

'I am curious more broadly on the issue of diagnostics on the testing side, immunity... have we received enough information to really understand the impacts in other categories?

'Not just on the issue of severity of the disease and the transmissibility of this disease.'

Fauci told Newsom he was 'not surprised' that there was a case detected in California and said he expects other states to soon report cases of the strain.

'I am not surprised that you have a case and likely more cases in California,' the nation's top immunologist said.

'We likely will be seeing reports from other states - Colorado was the first place to do that and I think we will start seeing it as if you have that much of a prominence of this in the UK with all the travel not just directly to the United States but through other countries intermittently like when you go from the UK to France, France to the Unites States etc. then Canada has cases.

'And so I don't think the Californians should feel this is something odd. This is something that is expected.'

Fauci said there is 'a lot we know' already about the new strain because UK experts have been studying it but there is also a lot that will become clear as the 'days and weeks go by'.

'It looks pretty clear from the UK group that in fact the transmissibility of this mutant is more efficient than the transmissibility of the standard virus that we have been dealing with up to now,' he explained.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday praised the Mumbai Police saying nobody can raise a question mark over their efficiency, and added that he would never allow anyone to malign their image.

He also said that the police force led from the front during the coronavirus pandemic in order to ensure the safety of people.

Thackeray was speaking during a programme held at the Mumbai Police Commissioners office here, in which people were returned their stolen belongings, recovered by the police.

There is no end to the accomplishments of the Mumbai Police and the tradition of policing dates back to 150 years.

With this long tradition and their efficiency, no matter how much one tries, he will not be able to malign their image andI promise that if anyone attempts to do so, I will not allow that to happen, he said.

The mouths of those who tried to defame the Mumbai police were shut as the polices accomplishments are huge, he said.

During the pandemic, police worked hard, due to which thousands of these personnel contracted the infection, with some of them getting martyred in the line of duty, he said.

It is only because of police and other frontline workers that the Covid-19 situation came under control, the CM said.

During the lockdown, we had asked everyone to work from home. But imagine what would have happened if the police were also allowed to do so, Thackeray said.

The threat of COVID-19 still persists. The pandemic is far from over yet. But some people criticise us for keeping some places shut. People should at least understand their responsibility while police, doctors, nurses are performing their duty in such difficult times, he added.

Citizens can celebrate their festivals only because of the police, who remain alert all the time and keep the common man safe, he said.

During the programme, the CM felicitated some Covid-19 warrior police personnel. Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and other senior officials were also present.
His sculptures are made from welded steel and painted, which means theyll last forever. Its not that steel is that lovable; I mean, you dont caress steel, but it has extraordinary tensile strength and malleability, so you can almost do anything you like. And because of the nature of the sculpture that I do, which is heavily influenced by Cubism, its like wanting to draw in space as it were. And very few other materials will allow you to do that  you cant do that with marble or stone or bronze or wood, he says. I can just put a tiny little weld in here and then make a giant leap across the horizon and it holds up. The smoked ocean trout from Buon Riccordo. Credit:Louise Kennerley His teachers proved a major influence on Robertson-Swanns style: often large-scale, Modernist, abstract pieces. He also worked as an assistant to Henry Moore, perhaps the world's best-known modern sculptor. Before moving to London, Robertson-Swann had studied sculpture at East Sydney Tech, now the National Art School, and was smitten from that point on.

I was wandering around  I was in the army and doing odd jobs  and all of a sudden I found what I wanted to do. Thats all theres ever been. The course involved art history, colour theory, painting and ceramics, and Robertson-Swann credits teachers including Dadswell and Peter Rushforth with lighting a fire in him. They made me fall in love with their love of something, he says. So much of this stuff in life is good luck. I knew bugger all and these people showed me the way, and I am eternally grateful to them. Robertson-Swann and Ayako Saito in 2019. Credit:Australian Galleries/Instagram Awarded a medal of the Order of Australia in 2002, things came full circle when Robertson-Swann began teaching at the Canberra Art School and later at his alma mater, the National Art School, where he was head of sculpture for many years, retiring in 2018.

He and fellow sculptor Ayako Saito have been together for seven years, marrying three years ago. Theres a significant age gap: Next year for a couple of months its 40 years  Ill be 80 and shell be 40. I wasnt going to go in to that so early  Buon Riccordo's butterflied chargrilled spatchcock. Credit:Louise Kennerley They work in the studio every day and he adores her, saying shutdown together was a joy. Although having an artist  especially one who has taught  as partner can be fraught. When shes in the middle of resolving something in her work and I jump in, that causes serious problems, he says. Ive learnt to restrain myself, which will come as a surprise to a lot of people  Shes got to find her own voice. Shes copped a lot of criticism being with me. For Robertson-Swann, the creative process remains a great mystery; Ludwig Wittgenstein's idea that art is unsayable appeals. That just touches me because even if its literature or poetry, you cannot explain why [it] is so bloody good, why it stays in your head. Our conversation is wide-ranging, covering ageing (all my mentors are dying on me, the bastards), his famous Melbourne pieceVault's impact (it has no equivalent in Sydney and its architecture is much duller as a result) and cancel culture.

Probably the two greatest artists of the 20th century, Picasso particularly but also Matisse, they were arseholes  But they were geniuses and they produced extraordinary stuff, he says. The receipt for lunch. Credit: For me its not a problem  its a sadness, but you must separate those things. They are different things. Bertrand Russell was an arsehole, his relationships with women were destructive, but that doesnt make what he did in mathematics wrong. It makes him as a man wrong, he says. Youve got to treat everything on its merits. And there are important distinctions between things. Robertson-Swann is particularly concerned by the conflation of politics and art, arguing that too much funding is tied to ideology. Here again, the merit of the work should be the focus. The Australia Council, of which he was a founding board member, alongside Fred Williams, James Mollison, Ann Lewis and Patrick McCaughey, should be disbanded, he says. Its run by ideologues  if you dont tick certain boxes, you dont have a hope in hell. I know a lot of serious artists who dont even bother to apply  It is the state telling artists what to do  the state shouldnt be telling artists what to do. This is not bloody Russia.

"Vault was something radically different, bright yellow and abstract." Credit:Rodger Cummins With regard to public art, Melbourne has been more adventurous, more generous and as a result is much richer than Sydney, he says, citing Architectural fragment outside the State Library and Public purse in Bourke Street Mall. Of Sydney City Councils Pavilion, a massive milk crate, he is dismissive: Boring as bat shit. Loading Growing up, there was little sculpture in the public domain. At the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a series of Aboriginal burial poles resonated, in part because they had colour and form. Colour is something I find very exciting; colour is the closest thing to the emotions of music for me, he says. I try to incorporate colour into my sculpture. Which leads back to Vault. Legend has it that even the Queen observed it could have been a more agreeable colour.
The government is looking to raise Rs 90,000 crore from the privatization of Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) at about double the valuation the stock is trading at, as the finance ministry seeks to benchmark the price of the fuel retailer to some of its publicly traded rivals, an official said.

The governments target price for its 52.98% stake is also based on the value of BPCLs assets, especially prime land in cities, the government official said, requesting anonymity.

If anybody thinks that the government will do the BPCL valuation only on the basis of its share price, then they are wrong. The government has to look at the asset valuation also. It will also have to look at the share price of the companies in the peer group, he said. The government should get at least Rs 90,000 crore. BPCLs assets are so vast, this money (Rs 45,000 crore) can easily be realized by selling BPCLs assets without impacting the main core business.

Besides Vedanta Group, two American fundsApollo Global and I Squared Capitalhave submitted their expressions of interest (EoIs) for Indias second-largest fuel retailer, the official said.

The department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) is managing the privatization of the state-run refiner while Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India is the transaction adviser.

The BPCLs stock has underperformed market benchmarks, like some other stocks of state-run companies, despite markets hitting new highs. BPCLs shares rose Rs 2.05, or 0.54%, to Rs 383 on Friday, while the Sensex rose 0.25% to 47,868.98.

ADDITION STARTS

We believe BPCL has potential value of 2x over current market price in long term, if government offers stable taxation regime for gasoline and diesel sales, as their 16000 plus retail outlets can be valued at more that 80000-100000crore based on RIL-British Petroleum and other similar global deal on retail outlets stake sales. Moreover, on replacement cost basis refinery and terminal/depots network can potentially add enterprise value of around INR40000 crore each, over and above value from other businesses like product pipelines, LPG, industrial fuel, ATF, Lubes, gas sales and stakes in IGL and Petronet LNG, said Gagan Dixit, Vice President, institutional equity research, Elara Securities (India) Private LTD.

However, 2020 witnessed huge tinkering with excise duties in gasoline and diesel, which resulted in doubling of excise duty in diesel. That we believe has impacted the valuation of BPCL and raise concerns over potential bidders as costlier gasoline & diesel would help grow competitive fuels like direct LNG use on trucks, electric vehicles, CNG sales at the expense of gasoline and diesel demand growth, he added.

ADDITION ENDS

This share sale is essential for meeting the governments record Rs 2.1 trillion divestment target that the finance ministry announced in the budget for 2020-21. India has so far raised around Rs 12,225 crore from divestment proceeds this financial year.

Disinvestment process is being undertaken by DIPAM, a spokesperson for India petroleum and natural gas ministry said in an emailed response to a query, adding that the query should be sent to the concerned department. Queries emailed to the spokespersons for the finance ministry, DIPAM, Vedanta Group, and I Squared Capital on Monday evening remained unanswered till press time.

The successful buyer will not only have a controlling stake in BPCL but will also get access to a 25.77% market share in Indias fuel retailing segment, besides 15.3% of Indias refining capacity. BPCL operates four refineries in Mumbai, Kochi, Bina and Numaligarh, with a combined capacity of 38.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

A Deloitte spokesperson in an emailed response said: We are bound by confidentiality obligations and are unable to comment on client-specific matters.

An external spokesperson for Apollo Global said an emailed response: Apollo Global wouldnt be commenting on the query sent.

Mint had earlier reported that Deloitte informed all the bidders about whether they had qualified for the second stage of the sale process or not. In the second stage, business transfer agreements will be signed with qualified bidders and site visits will be organized for BPCL facilities. The bidders will also be allowed to inspect the OMCs books before submitting their financial bids.

India is the worlds third-largest crude oil buyer and a key refining hub in Asia, with an installed capacity of more than 249.36 mtpa through 23 refineries. Large Indian refiners include Indian Oil Corp., Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd, Nayara Energy Ltd (formerly Essar Oil) and Reliance Industries Ltd.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India plans to grow its refining capacity to 400 mtpa by 2025 from around 250 mtpa now.

Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan earlier this month said the privatization of state-owned BPCL received three preliminary bids.

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Only six hospital beds were left unoccupied in Northern Ireland as 2020 came to a close yesterday, according to the Department of Health

Only six hospital beds were left unoccupied in Northern Ireland as 2020 came to a close yesterday, according to the Department of Health.

The figures also revealed that the number of patients with Covid in hospital was yesterday at 467, with 34 in intensive care units and 27 on ventilators.

A further 11 Covid-related deaths, nine of which occurred in the last 24 hours, were recorded yesterday, bringing the death toll here to 1,322. During the same period another 1,929 individuals tested positive for coronavirus.

Our health service has faced acute pressure in recent weeks with 17 ambulances forced to wait outside Antrim Hospital earlier this month.

There were also long waits at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

The lack of hospital beds yesterday prompted one medic in the Western Trust to make an urgent plea for any available health care staff to help from yesterday until next Thursday.

Dr Bob Brown, director of primary care and older peoples services, said in a video posted by the Western Trust on Twitter that he was making a special appeal for help to enable additional beds to be opened up for the new year period.

The month of January... may be the most difficult month of all, he said.

We remain in this period where Covid rates continue to be high and transmission across our community areas continues to increase.

Dr Brown continued: The demand that we anticipate will require us to put additional beds in place.

So Im seeking additional nurses, junior doctors, allied health professions, social workers and all members of the health and social care team to come and be part of this support plan.

He stressed that those who come forward would be helping to keep patients safe from the front door, right through all of our hospital services.

Meanwhile, the NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) said that planned cover in Belfast on New Years Eve was reduced by 50%.

Some frontline staff are isolating due to Covid-19 symptoms or close contact with positive cases. A NIAS spokesperson told the BBC that around 160 staff were off due to Covid, with around a further 100 absent for other reasons. Normally, seven crews are rostered for night shifts across four stations in the city.

It said: On the night of 31 December 2020, that planned cover has been reduced by 50% (3.5 crews).

Emergency cover will be complemented by one support crew and 10 voluntary/private ambulance service crews (VAS/PAS).

The public has been urged only to call 999 if there is a genuine need.

Belfast Telegraph
New Delhi:

The Environment Ministry on Friday banned the sale of cattle across the country for slaughter purpose. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified four rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 to regulate livestock market, case property animals, dog breeding and marketing and fish tank and aquarium.

The ministry clarified that cattle means a bovine animal including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers and calves and includes camels.

The move of the govt is expected to have huge repercussions on export and the domestic trade in beef and buffalo meat.

Regulation of Livestock Market Rules

1. Animal market monitoring committees at the state and district levels will implement the rules and supervise livestock markets. They will also identify and register existing animal markets. Proposed new markets must also submit blueprints to the District Committee prior to being established.

2. These committees shall ensure that markets provide housing, sufficient food and water, feed storage areas, water troughs, ramps, enclosures for sick animals, veterinary care, lighting, bedding, toilets, proper drainage and other facilities.

3. No animal market shall be allowed in a place that is situated within 30 kilometres from any state border or that is situated within 100 kilometres from any international border.

4. State animal welfare boards will issue directions for compliance of these rules, authorize inspections of animal markets and seize animals from non-complying markets.

5. Every market is to have an adequate veterinary facility, supervision of animals being loaded and unloaded, verification of the transport document, and a system of monitoring the handling of animals at the market. The veterinary inspector shall maintain records of all animals inspected and treated as well as the number of transport permits issued, the number of animals found unfit for transport, and action initiated when an animal found unfit for transport is transported.

6. Unfit animals, pregnant animals, animals who have not been vaccinated and animals under six months of age cannot be displayed or sold at the market. Persons in charge of the animals are liable for their well-being.

7. These rules prescribe methods of handling, controlling and penning or caging of animals in a manner that prevents unnecessary pain or suffering.

8. Unfit animals are required to have separate accommodation. For identification purposes, a veterinary assistant may mark an animal with convenient methods such as ear tags.

9. A District Magistrate or Collector will enforce these rules. If either the District Magistrate or Collector finds that a market is in breach of these rules, he or she may direct closure of such market.

Also Read: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pitches for law against cow slaughter in country

Dog Breeding & Marketing Rules

1. The rules mandate the obtaining of a certificate of the registration from the Animal Welfare Board of India for breeding activity, owning or housing dogs for breeding, for sale for dogs and pups. Such a certificate shall be valid for a period of 1 year, nontransferable and shall be subject to review.

2. Application for registration to be made to the State Board with a non-refundable fee of 5000 INR. A separate application shall be made for every establishment intended to be used for breeding or housing dogs for breeding.

3. On receipt of the application, the establishment sought to be registered shall be inspected by an authorized team and on being satisfied that the applicant and the establishment comply with requirements under these rules, the State Board shall recommend the application for registration to the board. The Board may issue the certificate of registration based on such recommendation. Where the recommendation is not made for certification, the State Board shall provide reasons in writing to the applicant. An applicant may prefer an appeal to the Central Government if agreed by the decision of the Board.

4. Rule 8 confers certain responsibilities on every breeder to ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of the dogs used for breeding and the ones that are sold.

5. The rules require the breeder to maintain records of all the animals housed in the establishment including the dogs being used for breeding and the dogs for sale. The breeder shall also maintain records of each individual dog.

6. Every registered breeder is required to submit an annual report to the Board detailing a total number of animals traded (sold or exchanged or rehomed), boarded or exhibited during the previous year.

7. No establishment being used or intended to be used for breeding or housing dogs for breeding shall be granted any license by the local authority unless the breeder (owner of such establishment) holds a certificate of registration as under these rules.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: AFP/VNA)



In his message, Putin noted the importance of maintaining the positive dynamics of Russian-Vietnamese ties in various areas despite the difficulties arising from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Kremlins official website.



He expressed confidence that through joint efforts of Russia and Vietnam, it would be possible to ensure the further build-up of the comprehensive strategic partnership, which fully meets the interests of the two countries friendly peoples and is in line with strengthening peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.



The same day, the Russian President also sent his New Year greetings to heads of state and government of many other countries worldwide, as well as executives of international organisations./.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) extended the terms of five long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) export authorizations through 2050. These latest actions follow several LNG export term extensions issued since October pursuant to an export term policy statement DOE finalized in July.

The new term extensions extend terms for the Southern LNG export facility operating in Georgia; the Cameron LNG export facility operating in Louisiana; the Annova LNG project proposed in Texas; and Eagle LNGs two small-scale facilities in Florida, including the Maxville facility currently in operation.

These issuances extend each projects long-term LNG export authorization to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries through 31 December 2050.

Including these most recent term extension applications granted, long-term LNG export authorizations with export terms through 2050 are now held by 18 US LNG export projects, as well as the Costa Azul project in Mexico.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
In this Nov. 13, 2017, file photo, a child collects palm kernels from the ground at a palm oil plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia. Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producer. The Girl Scouts of the USA said Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, that child labor has no place in its iconic cookies and called on the two companies that bake them to act quickly to address any potential abuses linked to the palm oil in their supply chains. / AP-Yonhap



The United States has banned imports from a Malaysian palm oil giant whose products are found in numerous household goods over concerns that its workers face a litany of abuse.



The move against Sime Darby Plantation, one of the world's biggest producers, marks the second time the US has blocked shipments from a palm oil company in the Southeast Asian nation in just months.



Palm oil is a common ingredient in items ranging from processed foods to cosmetics, with Malaysia and neighbouring Indonesia producing 85 percent of the world's supply.



But activists have long claimed that low-paid workers on plantations face abuse, and also blame the industry for driving destruction of rainforests to make way for the vast agricultural estates.



Announcing the ban late Wednesday, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said there was evidence Sime Darby workers face abuses including sexual and physical violence, withholding of wages and restrictions on movement.



The ban "demonstrates how essential it is for Americans to research the origins of the everyday products that they purchase," said CBP acting commissioner Mark A. Morgan.



The decision means that all Sime Darby palm oil and palm oil products from Malaysia are barred from entering US ports.



It came after anti-trafficking group Liberty Shared petitioned the CBP to block Sime Darby imports over concerns about labour abuse.



In a statement, the producer insisted it was "committed to combatting forced labour and has implemented robust policies to protect workers' rights", and pledged to work with US officials to address their concerns.



Shares in Sime Darby Plantation, whose annual exports to the US are worth about $5 million, fell 3.5 percent in Kuala Lumpur following news of the ban.



The company, which supplies major firms such as Nestle and Unilever, employs migrant workers from countries including Indonesia and Bangladesh on its network of sprawling plantations.



In October, the US banned imports from another Malaysian palm oil producer, FGV Holdings, following a lengthy probe that found evidence its workers were mistreated. (AFP)


Yes, along most or all of the coast

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Ferne McCann has declared she 'can't wait to get married and have babies' as she looks forward to 2021 after going public with her new man, hunky model Jack Padgett.

The reality star, 30, said she has 'started to feel broody and would love more kids' as she opened up to MailOnline in an exclusive interview about the future ahead of a busy year working on her new fitness app, Embodyment With Ferne.

The former TOWIE favourite, who is a single mother to daughter Sunday, three, explained what she now looks for in a partner - as her romance with model Jack came to light during a PDA-packed trip to Cape Town, South Africa.

New year, new me: Ferne McCann has declared she 'can't wait to get married and have babies' as she looks forward to 2021 after going public with her new man, hunky model Jack Padgett

Ferne told MailOnline: '100% I would love to have more kids, I really want to grow my family.

'I am very happy and content at the moment, but the other day I started to feel broody. I saw a pregnant woman in the supermarket and it set me off!

'I started to get that feeling again, honestly, I would love to be pregnant, I love that cosy feeling of growing a baby inside you.

'It is crazy and a bit alien but it was an amazing experience that I would love to have again.

'I'm open to love and I can't wait to meet the one, have kids, get married and run off into the sunset! But there wasn't much dating going on for me last year because of the pandemic.'

Prior to her new romance with Jack, Ferne was swept off her feet last year by a mystery admirer dubbed 'Mr C'.

Pucker up! The former TOWIE favourite explained what she now looks for in a partner - as her romance with model Jack came to light during a PDA-packed trip to Cape Town, South Africa

Growing family? The reality star, 30, said she has 'started to feel broody and would love more kids' as she opened up to MailOnline about the future (pictured with daughter Sunday, three)

He treated the star and her friends to a luxury trip to Cannes via private jet, in celebration of her 30th birthday.

His identity was subsequently released to the media and he was unveiled as 30 million property mogul, Charlie Wilson.

Ferne confirmed their romance wasn't meant to be as she recalled an awkward text exchange after his name was leaked to the press.

The beauty added: 'When I saw it, I sent him a text because it's that weird thing of, "ah, I see your name's come out in the press." So I messaged him, "hi, are you ok?"

'My secret admirer is not a secret anymore! It's an awkward conversation, I didn't really know what to say but it's all good, he's a gentleman and it just didn't work out.

'But he's a lovely guy and so intelligent and wise, but we just weren't each other's lobster! Back to the drawing board.'

Staying motivated: Ferne is also focused on practicing meditation and yoga, which she has incorporated into her six-week programme on her fitness app, Embodyment With Ferne

When reflecting on what she now looks for in a partner, Ferne commented: 'I think I'm a pretty good judge of character, I just go off connection, I think you get the vibe.

'That's why I want to meet someone organically because there is no better way then feeling chemistry. I live for chemistry!'

Ferne was spotted getting close to model Jack earlier this week during her winter break to Cape Town, South Africa.

While she is yet to confirm or deny a possible romance with the hunk, she stated that her personal growth in recent years has changed her taste in men.

The mother-of-one added: 'I think turning 30 was a really big moment for me. I'll be honest, I had a little wobble and then I was cool with it, and then I went back to "ah I'm an adult now."

'I feel really content with my life but there's definitely things I do now that I wouldn't have done in my twenties. You do change, you just mature and have new goals.

New man? Ferne confirmed she goes off 'connection' and 'chemistry' after she was recently spotted getting close to model Jack during her winter break to South Africa

'I talk about my behaviour patterns in therapy, to identify them and therapeutically work through them. I have taken a long hard look at myself in order to do some self improvement, but I see that as a positive not negative.'

To develop her sense of gratitude and self awareness, Ferne practices rituals including meditation and yoga, which she has incorporated into her new six-week programme on her fitness app, Embodyment With Ferne.

The short, sharp workouts and nutritious recipes in her programme have helped her feel confident in both body and mind.

Ferne said: 'As a female, you pick yourself apart and sometimes you just need to be kind to yourself.

'I work out for my mental health and as a form of meditation, but yeah, I love how it makes me look as well, and the feeling of being toned.

'When you can see those changes in the mirror, it definitely gives you body confidence and body happiness, I love putting the work in and then seeing the physical results.

Yoga bunny: Ferne practices rituals including meditation and yoga, which she has incorporated into her new six-week programme on her fitness app, Embodyment With Ferne

Healthy lifestyle: 'I work out for my mental health and as a form of meditation, but yeah, I love how it makes me look as well, and the feeling of being toned,' Ferne said

'But working out for me is a release from anxiety, it brings me to the present moment and gives me clarity.'

Ferne embraced a lifestyle overhaul before falling pregnant with Sunday in 2007, which she believes was instrumental in managing her labour and recovery.

She said: 'It's one of the toughest things you're going to experience as a female but exercise helped me give birth one million percent! I have no doubt.'

Her experience as a single parent is documented in her hit reality series, Ferne McCann: First Time Mum.

While her daughter is too young to appreciate her new fitness app, she plays a starring role in the ITVBe programme, and is already picking up her mother's mannerisms.

The former TOWIE star concluded: 'She is one of a kind. There is definitely some things she does where I'm like "wow, she has learnt that from me." She does these little mad faces that remind her of me.'
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Every year hundreds of new California laws take effect Jan. 1. Many of them won't have much effect on your daily life. Here's a closer look at some that might in 2021.

Note: Thank you to our friends at Capital Public Radio for putting together this overview.

You also can watch a video playlist of explainers below courtesy of CalMatters, or click to jump to a section summarizing bills by category. Some bills that appear in the videos are not listed below, and vice versa.

Jump to:

Health  Workplace  Law Enforcement  COVID-19  Education  Environment

HEALTH

HEALTH

SB 793: Flavored tobacco ban

A broad ban on sales of flavored tobacco products, from vape cartridges to menthol cigarettes. This bill was passed in response to a nationwide outbreak of lung injuries linked to e-cigarettes and cannabis vape products in 2019.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This bill was passed in response to a nationwide outbreak of lung injuries linked to e-cigarettes and cannabis vape products. The law will not take effect on Jan. 1 as planned, since opponents of SB 793 launched a referendum to overturn it. Counties have until Jan. 21 to verify signatures in the referendum effort. If the referendum qualifies for the ballot, voters will decide whether to ban the products in November 2022.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

HEALTH

SB 855: Equal insurance coverage for mental health

This bill requires health plans to cover medically necessary treatment for all recognized mental health and substance abuse disorders. As it stands, Californian insurers are only required to cover treatments for nine specified mental health disorders.

WHY THIS MATTERS

California advocates say people can't easily access affordable, preventive behavioral health care -- leading them to seek treatment only when they reach a crisis point. The measure marks a step forward in the fight for health care parity, or treating mental health services in the same way as physical health services.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

HEALTH

SB 1237:Nurse-midwives practice without physician

Starting Jan. 1, certified nurse-midwives will be able to practice independently in California, without physician supervision.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The measure makes it easier for these practitioners to furnish medication, attend to low-risk deliveries and provide immediate care to newborns. Finding an obstetrician can be a challenge in many rural areas of California. Supporters of the new law say it will increase delivery options and access to pregnancy care, and could help lower the rates of infant and maternal mortality in the state, which are especially high among Black mothers and babies.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

HEALTH

SB 852: Generic prescription drugs

Requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to enter partnerships to produce and distribute affordable generic prescription drugs.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This law paves the way for the state of California to start manufacturing its own generic prescription medications, including at least one form of insulin. This means Californians will get access to cheaper versions of some prescription medications as prices have continued to rise and access has become more difficult for many.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

HEALTH

AB 2276: Testing for lead exposure in kids

The law imposes additional requirements on health care providers and the Department of Public Health to ensure that children who are most at risk of lead poisoning are tested for lead exposure.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This law will require providers to prioritize protective lead screening services for Medi-Cal children. This means the state can now clearly sanction managed care plans that don't comply with lead testing requirements. The Department of Public Health will also need to update its funding formula for local lead prevention programs at the local level. This will help account for all children exposed to lead in the state.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

Back to top

WORKPLACE

WORKPLACE

SB 1383: Expanded family leave

Gives workers at small businesses job protection if they take time to care for a family member, and expands the types of situations that are eligible for protected leave, including domestic partners, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings and parents-in-law.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This would expand job protections to businesses that employ five or more people, making millions more Californians eligible. It comes as many people, especially women, are leaving the labor force to care for family members during the pandemic. The bill's author says while all workers pay into the system, many don't take leave for fear of losing their jobs.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

WORKPLACE

AB 2257: Worker classification exemptions

Exempts certain professions -- such as musicians, writers, landscape architects and a host of other professional services from AB 5, a law signed last year that required the reclassification of many contractors to employees.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Effective Sept. 4, 2020. The bill provides some relief from AB 5 but there are still restrictions. Those who work in the music recording industry, for example -- like directors, producers, song writers and sound engineers - gained broad exemptions. But the restrictions lifted for live music performers are more limited. That's left some worried that theaters and clubs won't be able to hire as many performers once people can again safely gather for live shows.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

WORKPLACE

AB 2992: Workplace protections for crime victims

Expands the ban on employers taking action against employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or other crimes that cause physical or mental injury when they take time off for judicial proceedings or to seek medical attention or related relief.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This law will make it easier for more victims of crime and abuse to take time off of work to seek various forms of relief without worry of retaliation, discrimination or termination from their employers. It expands these protections to victims of crimes that caused a physical or mental injury, or a threat of physical injury, whether or not someone has been arrested, prosecuted, or convicted in the case.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego). Passed in 2020. Read the bill >

WORKPLACE

AB 979: Corporations: boards of directors: underrepresented communities.

This law requires publicly-held corporations whose principal executive office is in the state of California to include at least one director from underrepresented communities on its board by the end of 2021.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This bill would require all publicly-held companies headquartered in California to have at least one person of a minority background or underrepresented community on their board of directors. California has 674 publicly-held companies, and yet according to a report by the Latino Corporate Directors Association, 36.8% of these companies do not have any ethnic diversity on their board. For example, though Latinos make up nearly 40% of the state's population, only 2% of the state's board seats were held by a Latino/a. This bill would require companies to add at least one board director who is African American, Latinx, Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander or who identifies as LGBTQ before Dec. 31, 2021. The bill would also require this number to increase to at lease three members for boards of nine or more people before Dec. 31, 2022. Fines of $100,000 to $300,000 could be issued for companies not complying.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Chris Holden (D-Pasadena). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

WORKPLACE

SB 973: Employer pay gap data

Requires companies with 100 or more employees to report pay data by gender, race and ethnicity annually.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This law is intended to help determine if women and people of color are being discriminated against in how they are paid by a company. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, the bill's author, has said this is an important step toward closing the pay gap.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

Back to top

LAW ENFORCEMENT

LAW ENFORCEMENT

AB 1185: County oversight of sheriff's offices

Would allow counties to implement sheriff's review boards or an inspector general to oversee the department and launch investigations.

WHY THIS MATTERS

If counties take advantage of the law, it could create more oversight of sheriff's offices. The review board or inspector general position can be established by the county's board of supervisors or through a county-wide vote. The review board be comprised of residents. This legislation directly responds to tensions in Sacramento County between the sheriff and the inspector general. The review boards

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

LAW ENFORCEMENT

AB 1506: State investigation of police shootings

Would require state-led investigations into police shootings of unarmed civilians and, starting in 2023, would require the state Department of Justice to review use of force policies upon request of local law enforcement agencies.

WHY THIS MATTERS

State prosecutors in California will investigate all police shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian. Supporters say it will standardize investigations, which are generally handled by local law enforcement, and create more transparency. State investigators will be required to publish a public report for every investigation conducted.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

LAW ENFORCEMENT

AB 1076: Automatically clearing criminal records

Under this law, the state will automatically clear records for arrests that did not result in conviction after the statute of limitations has passed, and those around probation and jail once the sentence is completed. It applies to individuals arrested or convicted after Jan. 1, 2021.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Currently, a person who is eligible to clear their record must petition the court. According to the bill's author, only 20% of those eligible do so. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of employers, 80% of landlords, and 60% of colleges screen applicants' criminal records. This will automatically expunge those records, and potentially make it easier for people to access those opportunities. Around 8 million Californians have criminal records.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). Passed in 2019.

Read the bill >

Back to top

COVID-19

COVID-19

AB 685: COVID-19 workplace rules

Requires employers to notify workers of potential worksite COVID-19 exposures, report outbreaks to public health departments and gives Cal/OSHA more teeth to enforce pandemic safety violations in the workplace.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The new law requires written notification of potential COVID-19 exposures in the workplace. Labor attorney Caroline Donelan says employers have an ethical duty to keep their workers safe, and many have already been doing this, but now they have a legal obligation to do so as well. The law also requires companies to report outbreaks -- defined as three or more cases at a jobsite -- to their local public health department. The last thing AB 685 does is give Cal/OSHA the authority to shut down work sites that aren't following these new coronavirus rules. But Donelan says the agency is already overwhelmed, and how much it actually uses that power remains to be seen.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

COVID-19

SB 1159: COVID-19 workers' compensation

Creates a disputable presumption that death or illness related to COVID-19 is an occupational injury eligible for workers' compensation benefits.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This bill makes it easier for employees who contract COVID-19 on the job to receive workers' compensation for their illness or death. This is in place for employees who suffer illness or death from COVID-19 between July 6, 2020 and Jan. 1, 2023. While some Californians have been able to work from home during the pandemic, millions of "essential workers" have remained on the job. As of Dec. 27, there were 67,320 confirmed positive cases and 250 deaths in health care workers alone statewide.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

Back to top

EDUCATION

EDUCATION

AB 376: Protections for student loan borrowers.

Creates a Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, which sets minimum standards for student loan companies and a Student Loan Ombudsman to advocate for borrowers. It also enacts special protections for military families, teachers, other public service workers, borrowers who have disabilities and older Americans.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Most provisions go into effect on July 1, 2021. The law aims to end abusive practices by the student loan industry. Borrowers would receive greater protection from predatory student loan servicing companies, which can steer students toward more expensive loans, lead to serving errors and fees that add to a borrower's debt. Supporters of the bill say the protections would especially help Black, Latino and first-generation college students who disproportionately rely on loans.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Asm. Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay). Passed in 2020.

Read the bill >

ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT

SB 346: Limit on copper in brake pads

California enacted a law in 2010 requiring brake pads to have less than 5% copper content in them by 2021.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This rule was created because of the toxicity of copper when it enters waterways. In 2010, California made a law which said that by the start of 2021, brake pads sold couldn't have more than 5% copper by weight. By 2025, that reduces to 0.5% copper by weight. Because of this rule Chevrolet won't be able to sell high performance 2021 Camaros in the state due to the copper content in its Brembo brakes, which exceeds 5%.

WHO BACKED IT?

Introduced by Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego). Passed in 2010.

Read the bill >

Back to top

This story was originally published on the website of Capital Public Radio.

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SPRINGFIELD  Police confiscated 10 guns and arrested a 25-year-old man following a joint investigation into firearms trafficking.

Alidaud Whitehead, of Jonesboro, Georgia, was arrested Wednesday and charged with trafficking in 10 or more firearms, 10 counts of carrying a firearm and ammunition without a license, two counts of carrying a loaded firearm without a license, four counts of possession of a high capacity magazine, carrying a dangerous weapon with an active warrant and on an arrest warrant for failure to attend jury duty, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman.

The Springfield Police Narcotics Bureau under the direction of Capt. Brian Keenan working with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Special Agent Kelly D. Brady had been investigating Whitehead for several months on possible firearms trafficking, after local police recovered several illegally-possessed guns from Georgia, he said.

At about 5:40 p.m., Whitehead was apprehended on Lyman Street and police seized 10 guns in his backpack, including four that contained high-capacity magazines. Amtrack Police assisted in the arrest, which took place on Lyman Street on railroad property, Walsh said.

This investigation exemplifies ATFs mission to work with our state and local partners to combat the illegal trafficking of firearms, which in the wrong hands, could be used in crimes of violence against our citizens or law enforcement officers, Brady said.

This was excellent work by our narcotics detectives working with our Federal partner in the ATF. The investigation was in-depth and this will hopefully slow the flow of illegal firearms across state lines into our city. We have seized more than 200 guns this year in our city and this type of local-federal collaboration will hopefully lead to this individual being held, said Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood.

In the past year Springfield Police have seized a total of 274 firearms, including the 10 in Wednesdays arrest. This is the highest number of guns seized in a single year since at least 2015.
The US Senate Finance Committee initially launched an investigation into the relationship between non-profit organization World Vision and Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA) in February 2019, in the wake of a National Review article in July 2018 that claimed Barack Obamas administration had approved a $200,000 grant of taxpayer money to ISRA.

A US Senate investigation has discovered that the Barack Obama Administration in 2014 approved sending government funds to an organisation that had been sanctioned for its ties to terrorism.

The transaction between World Vision United States, a non-profit humanitarian agency, and the Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA) was revealed on 22 December in a report recently released by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

A probe into the connections between World Vision and ISRA was launched in February 2019.

The investigation found that World Vision had not known that ISRA had been sanctioned by the US since 2004, after channelling an estimated sum of $5 million to Maktab al-Khidamat, also known as the Afghan Service Bureau, the precursor organisation to Al-Qaeda, controlled by Osama Bid Laden.

Ignorance Not an Excuse

The Senate report concluded that the humanitarian agencys ignorance had stemmed from insufficient vetting practices.

World Vision works to help people in need across the world, and that work is admirable. Though it may not have known that ISRA was on the sanctions list or that it was listed because of its affiliation with terrorism, it should have. Ignorance cant suffice as an excuse. World Visions changes in vetting practices are a good first step, and I look forward to its continued progress, Chuck Grassley said in a statement.

The investigation launched in 2019 was triggered after the emergence of an article in National Review in July 2018. Sam Westrop, the director of the Middle East Forums Islamist Watch, had revealed findings that the Barack Obama administration had signed off on a $200,000 grant of taxpayer money to ISRA even after discovering it was a sanctioned entity for its ties to terrorist organisations.

Taxpayer Funds Funnelled to ISRA

The current Senate report states that on 21 January 2014, World Vision had submitted a grant application to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to carry out its Blue Nile Recovery Programme, seeking to provide food security, sanitation equipment, and health services to areas hard-hit by conflict in the Blue Nile region of Sudan.

USAID accordingly awarded the Evangelical humanitarian non-profit a $723,405 grant for the programme. The following month, ISRA offered to partner with World Vision to provide humanitarian services to aspects of the Blue Nile programme, says the report, with the organisations collaborating on a spate of projects in 2013 and 2014.

All the while, World Vision had allegedly been oblivious of the fact that ISRA was sanctioned. The revelation came after the non-profit set out to collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on a humanitarian project in Sudan. Prior to taking a decision, IOM embarked upon a routine vetting procedure, only to learn of World Visions ties with ISRA, and the latters sanctioned status.

Upon receiving confirmation of this from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Compliance Team, IOM rejected World Visions offer to collaborate, states the report.

The legal department of the non-profit was notified of ISRAs status in September 2014, with all payments to the organisation placed on hold during an investigation.

World Vision also wrote to OFAC on 19 November 2014, requesting a temporary license to wrap up the existing contract with the organisation if confirmation of ISRAs sanctioned status was received.

The response, while confirming that ISRA was sanctioned, rejected the request for a temporary license, stating it would be inconsistent with OFAC policy.

World Vision followed up with yet another request for a license to transact with ISRA, as it reportedly feared legal consequences and potential expulsion for not following through with the contract.

On 4 May 2015, the Barack Obama administrations State Department recommended OFAC grant World Visions request for the temporary license to transact.

OFAC granted the license to funnel $125,000 into ISRA the following day, accompanying the move with a cautionary letter. The letter warned the non-profit that its partnership with ISRA appeared to have violated the Global Terrorism Sanction Regulations.

No proof was found that World Vision intentionally sought to dodge US sanctions by partnering with ISRA, claim the findings of the US Senate report on 22 December.

We also found no evidence that World Vision knew that ISRA was a sanctioned entity prior to receiving notice from Treasury. However, based on the evidence presented, we conclude that World Vision had access to the appropriate public information and should have known how, but failed to, properly vet ISRA as a sub-grantee, resulting in the transfer of U.S. taxpayer dollars to an organisation with an extensive history of supporting terrorist organisation [sic] and terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden.

The report deplored the humanitarian organisations system of vetting prospective sub-grantees as borderline negligent.

The non-profit was found to have ignored elementary level investigative procedures.

World Vision has a duty to ensure that funds acquired from the U.S. government or donated by Americans do not end up supporting terrorist activity, says the report, while adding that a more robust and reliable system of screening would be called for to restore the publics trust that contributions made to World Vision are not funding illicit organisations.

In response to the report, the non-profit issued a statement to underscore that it takes compliance obligations seriously and shares Sen. Grassley and the committee staffs objective for good stewardship.

It added:We appreciate the acknowledgement that the committee staffs report to the chairman found no evidence that World Vision knew that ISRA was a sanctioned entity prior to receiving notice from TreasuryTerrorism runs counter to everything World Vision stands for as an organisation and we strongly condemn any act of terrorism or support for such activities.

(SPUTNIK)
Police on the streets of Belfast on New Year's Eve (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

House parties breaching Covid regulations in Northern Ireland on New Years Eve saw police issue 126 fines of 200 as well as issuing 34 warnings, new figures show.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said that in relation to breaches of the coronavirus regulations, enforcement action was taken by officers right across Northern Ireland.

This included 126 Cov4 200 fines and 34 Cov2 prohibition notices for house parties as well as two Cov5 penalty notices issued in respect of businesses continuing to operate in breach of the regulations.

ACC McEwan said: Its really disappointing that despite the health crisis due to the deadly virus, there were still people last night who deliberately decided to breach the Regulations and put themselves and others at risk.

I do want to take this opportunity to thank the vast majority of people who are being responsible, and who are doing their bit and continuing to take this virus seriously as we navigate this pandemic.

ACC McEwan said it was vitally important that people take the time to understand the latest regulations, and to take personal responsibility for stopping the spread of the virus.

We will continue with our partnership approach, working closely with our colleagues at the Department of Health, Public Health Agency and the Northern Ireland Executive as we progress through this period, he said.

Where people do not follow the Health Protection Regulations, our approach will remain the same we will engage with people first explaining the guidance and the law and encourage people to do the right thing.

However, where we are left with no choice but to enforce, we will take this measure in order to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities and help protect our NHS."

Meanwhile, post-primary pupils will be required to wear face coverings in classrooms when they return to school settings in 2021, new guidance from the Department of Education has said.

It comes as part of additional safety measures outlined in a letter to schools, seen by BBC News NI.

Pupils in years 12 to 14 are expected to return to school on January 11 and it's not known whether the measure will be in effect by that time.

Post-primary pupils and teachers are already required to use face coverings in communal areas but the measure will now be extended to classrooms.

Some pupils and staff are already exempt from wearing face coverings for medical reasons.

The move was revealed in a letter to schools on Thursday which clarified future schooling arrangements ahead of a return to the classroom.

Read More

The Department of Education letter said that additional safety measures would be put in place in schools for the new term, including "face coverings being required in all post primary settings, including the classroom, improved signage and stronger public messaging".

Read More

Follow live updates here:

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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MORE people died on our roads in 2020 than 2019, according to provisional road collision statistics from the RSA.

There were 140 road user fatalities in 2019, with the number increasing to 149 last year. However, there was a serious decrease in collisions which only resulted in injuries.

There were 1,407 fewer serious and minor injury collisions recorded in 2020 compared to 2019  a decrease of 25pc.

It has been a disappointing year for road safety, said Minister for State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton. While we have seen a significant reduction in the number of serious and minor injury crashes, road deaths have increased.

This is despite a reduction in traffic volumes for periods during the year due to the pandemic.

However, she noted that this was not the first time there have been setbacks and said she was hopeful that, now that road safety has been identified as a priority social issue in the Programme for Government, change was possible.

Read More

The development of the new Government Road Safety Strategy, which will span the next decade, is well under way and will have at its heart the Vision Zero, she said.

All deaths on our roads are preventable and no loss of life or injury should be tolerated or accepted as the price of our mobility. Starting in the new year, working together, government agencies and public alike, we must begin the work of realising the vision of zero deaths on Irelands roads.

RSA chairperson Liz ODonnell said that while she was saddened by the increase in deaths last year, the RSA's general strategy appeared to be working.

Overall, our strategy to reduce road trauma is working. Between 2013 and 2019, Ireland saw a 26pc reduction in road traffic fatalities, compared to just a 6pc reduction across the whole of the EU-27, she said.

It is important to acknowledge that many lives have been saved and the next strategy now being prepared will build on this progress.

She also mentioned Vision Zero, a Government initiative to try to get road crash fatalities down to zero by 2050.

RSA chief executive Sam Waide reminded people to follow basic road safety advice.

What is particularly worrying is the rise in the number of passenger deaths, he said. While gardai continue to analyse the circumstances of these incidents, we do know from past research that non-wearing of a seatbelt can be a factor.

Therefore, I would remind every person getting into a car to wear their seatbelt.

He also highlighted that people should be aware of how roadside behaviour may have changed since the start of the pandemic.

A continued emphasis on social distancing in 2021 will mean that we will need to share the road carefully and, as drivers, not only look out for vulnerable road users but also reduce our speed, he said.

Read More

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India-France partnership will go stronger in the coming years, stated Indian Embassy in France on Friday.

Wishing everyone a healthy&prosperous #NewYear; looking forward for stronger India-France partnership; for health, economic recovery, stable international world order& peaceful world.#NewYear2021 @MEAIndia @JawedAshraf5 @Indian_Embassy @DrSJaishankar @harshvshringla @PMOIndia @FranceinIndia, tweeted the Embassy.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have remarkably deepened strategically in recent years. Recently, the Indian Ambassadors Group said brutal terrorist attacks in France by Islamic fundamentalists have implications for all democratic countries based on pluralism and rule of law and India stands with Paris at this difficult moment and fully supports the French government on this issue.

They said India has been a victim of state-sponsored terrorism for decades and is especially sensitive to issues of terrorism.

Moreover, France is the first country with which we initiated a strategic dialogue after our 1998 nuclear tests when France refused to impose any bilateral sanctions on us and displayed a far greater understanding of Indias security compulsions compared to other countries.

The induction of Rafale fighter jets in Indian Air Force is a glaring example of this strategic tie. (ANI)



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Lagos and Abuja  Insurance companies yesterday got a breather in their efforts to recapitalise their businesses as the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) yesterday announced the suspension of the exercise, whose deadline expires today.

The commission cited the need to obey the December 21 restrained order by Justice C. J. Aneke of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, for its decision.

The commission had directed insurance firms to recapitalise on or before December 31,2020 and later extended it to September 30, 2021.

But the exercise encountered some legal brickwalls as Justice Aneke ordered the suspension of the exercise.

Justice Aneke had restrained NAICOM from taking any further steps in implementing its deadline date for insurance and reinsurance companies to recapitalise.

The commission told THISDAY that it will abide by the Federal High Court ruling, pending the outcome of litigation brought before the court by some aggrieved operators.

The judge had delivered the ruling in an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Incorporated Trustees of the Pragmatic Shareholders' Association of Nigeria.

In the motion, marked FHC/L/CS/1797/2020, filed on December 15, 2020, and moved on behalf of the group by their lawyer, I.C. Ifedora, the applicant prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendant and its agents from taking further steps in the recapitalisation process in the insurance industry pending the hearing and determination of its motion on notice before the court.

Following the new development, the commission had remained silent on the judgment, keeping stakeholders in the dark regarding its next line of action and whether the recapitalisation timelines still stand.

It was, however, gathered that despite the opposition, some insurance firms had already complied with the directive to inject fresh capital into their respective companies.

Responding to THISDAY inquiry on the position of the commission as a result of the ruling, NAICOM Head, Corporate Communications and Market Development Department, Mr. Rasaaq Salami, in a text message yesterday, said: "You are aware that the issue is in court and there's an interim order of the court. NAICOM, being a responsible and law-abiding organisation will respect the order of the court."

The commission had in June extended the deadline issued to insurance operators to raise their minimum paid-up capital to September 2021 from December 31, 2020.

However, the regulator broke the recapitalisation programme into two-phases - mandating insurance firms to provide 50 per cent of the required capital by December 31, while balancing the remaining 50 per cent by September 30, 2021.

Under the proposed capital injection, life insurance firms are required to meet a minimum paid-up capital of N8 billion, from the previous N2 billion, while general insurance companies are required to raise their minimum paid-up capital to N10 billion from N3 billion.

NAICOM also raised the regulatory capital for composite insurance from N5 billion to N18 billion, while it increased the minimum capital of reinsurance businesses from N10 billion to N20 billion.

Earlier yesterday, operators had told THISDAY that they were in a quandary over the next step to take following the December 21 order of the court.

They said NAICOM had remained silent over the court ruling, thereby creating uncertainty in the industry.

A top official at the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), who asked not to be named, had told THISDAY that the operators were yet to receive any official directive from NAICOM.

"Everybody is looking up to NAICOM on the next line of action," the source said.

Meanwhile, insurance stocks have remained attractive and resilient despite uncertainties over the direction of the recapitalisation exercise.

THISDAY checks showed that insurance sector remained bullish with its capitalisation standing at N149 billion as at yesterday. This was 38 per cent above the N107.48 billion value when the recapitalisation was announced last year.

Market analysts said some discerning investors are finding insurance stocks attractive considering their low valuations and efforts made by some of the companies to comply with the new capital requirements.

High demand for the stocks, which is an indication of investors' confidence, has led to the significant price appreciation. Some of the stocks that have recorded year-to-date (YTD) growth are: AIICO Insurance Plc; Cornerstone Insurance Plc; Custodian Investment Plc; Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc and Coronation Insurance Plc.

Many of the companies had activated strategies and plans to meet the recapitalisation deadline. While some had raised additional capital via right issues, others were considering merger and acquisition. However, the recapitalisation plans of some firms were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent destruction of lives and property occasioned by the #ENDSARS protests.

THISDAY had reported that some Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of insurance companies recently called on NAICOM to waive the first phase of its segmented recapitalisation from December 31, 2020.

The CEOs were said to have made the call recently during a meeting with Insurance Commissioner, Mr. Sunday Thomas, in Ogun State.

One of the CEOs was quoted as saying: "The waiver will give the insurance and reinsurance companies more time to settle back to business and pursue their full recapitalisation programme in order to meet the commission's set objectives by December 31, 2021.

"As operators, we were more concerned about the aspect relating to attainment of certain thresholds by December 31, 2020, failing which the commission may restrict the scope of business insurance and reinsurance companies will transact. We observed the huge impact of COVID-19 on the financial services sector and the national economy at large, coupled with the situation that was worsened by losses from the nationwide #EndSARS protests. We are convinced that it will take businesses, especially insurance companies, some time to ascertain the full extent of loss and recover from the shock of the devastating developments," the CEO added.

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Also, the House of Representatives had called for the suspension of the proposed recapitlislation of insurance companies and intermediaries. This followed a unanimous adoption of a motion by Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

According to Kalu, in addition to the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian economy was just announced to be officially in a recession, noting that this signified that there will be significant slowdown in economic activities and the liquidity position of both the government and businesses are negatively impacted.

"In times as this, the best move by the government and regulators is to push more liquidity into the economy in a bid to stimulate economic activities, encourage spending and prevent job losses as well as support the indigenous businesses in the country. This is pertinent because in addition to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry was also affected by the aftermath of the ENDSARS protests in which several insured properties were affected.

"To this effect, most of these insurance companies have tonnes of liabilities to settle in order to fulfil their obligations so as not to deny the rights of these affected insured persons," he had said.
Health authorities are investigating three new mystery cases in Sydney's west, with a plea issued for any Greystanes, Berala, Auburn and Lidcombe residents with the mildest of symptoms to get tested.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the results of genomic sequencing for the western Sydney cases was expected on Sunday to learn whether it matched the Avalon cluster.

Gladys Berejiklian will announce a relaxation of northern beaches restrictions on Saturday. Credit:Sam Mooy

"At this point the western Sydney cases are not linked," she said.

NSW recorded three locally acquired cases on Friday, all from western Sydney. It follows the unlinked Croydon cluster emerging a day earlier. There are two men infected - one in his 40s and one in his 20s - and the third case is a close contact of one of the men.
Iran said on January 2 that it plans to enrich uranium up to 20 percent purity at its underground Fordow nuclear facility "as soon as possible," a level far above limits set by an international nuclear accord.



Ali Akbar Salehi, the U.S.-educated head of the civilian Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, offered a military analogy to describe his agency's readiness to take the next step.



"We are like soldiers and our fingers are on the triggers," Salehi told Iranian state television. "The commander should command and we shoot. We are ready for this and will produce [20 percent enriched uranium] as soon as possible."



His comments on January 2 come a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Tehran had revealed its intention in a letter to the UN nuclear watchdog.



"Iran has informed the Agency that in order to comply with a legal act recently passed by the country's parliament, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran intends to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant," the IAEA said in a statement on January 1.



The letter, submitted on December 31, did not say when this enrichment activity would take place," the IAEA said.



Russia's ambassador to the IAEA, Mikhail Ulyanov, said earlier on Twitter that IAEA chief Rafael Grossi had reported Irans letter to the agencys board of governors.

Iran currently enriches its uranium stockpile up to around 4.5 percent, which is above the 3.67 percent cap imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal but below the 90 percent purity considered weapons-grade.



An increase to 20 percent would shorten Irans break-out time to a potential nuclear weapon, if it were to make a political decision to pursue a bomb. The Iran nuclear deal also prohibits Tehran from enrichment at the Fordow facility, buried deep in a mountain to protect against air strikes.



Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the accord since the United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018 and started imposing crippling sanctions on Iran.



Following the assassination of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on November 27, Irans parliament passed controversial legislation that ordered an immediate ramping up of the countrys uranium-enrichment program to 20 percent and an end to IAEA inspections.

The government led by President Hassan Rohani has opposed the bill, saying it was detrimental to diplomatic efforts and no funds were allocated to implement the law.



Some analysts have suggested that Iran could use parliament's move to gain leverage in future talks with the United States.



The remaining parties to the deal -- China, France, Germany, Russia and Britain -- said on December 21 that they were preparing for a possible return of the United States to the accord after President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20. Biden has said he will try to rejoin the deal, which was struck when he was vice president.



Biden has suggested the United States would reenter the deal if Iran complies with the agreement, leaving other issues of concern such as Irans ballistic missiles and support for regional proxies to "follow on" agreements.



Iran says its missile program and regional policies are off the table, and has said it would come back into compliance once the United States and the three European countries that signed the deal fulfill their end of the agreement by providing Tehran with the economic relief promised under the accord.



Tehran has always denied pursuing nuclear weapons, saying its nuclear program was strictly for civilian purposes.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters.
POTTSVILLE  A Dauphin County man will spend time in prison after a Schuylkill County judge recently sentenced him for drug-related crimes.

Jason C. Houtz, 38, of Williamstown, must serve six to 12 months in prison. President Judge William E. Baldwin ruled.

Baldwin also sentenced Houtz to pay costs, a $2,500 fine and $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund.

Houtz pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension-DUI related. State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Houtz with possessing drugs and paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license, on June 21, 2019, in Tremont Township.

Also recently in the county court, Baldwin sentenced Lawrence C.T. Aiken, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, to spend 72 hours to six months in prison, plus an additional 12 months on probation. and pay costs, a $1,000 fine and a $100 SAEF payment.

Aiken pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Butler Township police alleged Aiken was DUI, and possessed drugs, on Dec. 9, 2019, in the township.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  A 12-year-old child from Lanao del Norte died on New Year's Day after being hit by a stray bullet while playing outside her home past midnight, the Philippine National Police said on Friday.

PNP Spokesperson Ilderbrandi Usana said the police have yet to conduct an autopsy as the slug is still in the girl's head. He added it may be tough to trace the perpetrator if they used a loose firearm, but he vowed justice if the gun is registered.

"Kung registered ang firearm na ito, we will inform the public who the owner of the firearm is. Makakaasa po kayo kakasuhan namin ang tao," he said in a media briefing.

[Translation: If it's registered, we will inform the public as to who own the firearm. We will file charges.]

PNP also said a six-year-old boy from Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental and a man from Dagupan were injured by stray bullets.

In a separate incident, a policewoman from Malabon City was arrested for firing her PNP-issued firearm hours before the country rang in the New Year. Usana said neighbors reported hearing the gunfire from the home of Police Staff Sergeant Karen Borromeo.

"We assume na ang pagdidischarge niya illegally ng firearm is something personal to her. We didn't even expect na gagawa siya ng ganoong aksyon... Definitely she will be facing criminal and administrative sanctions," the spokesman said.

[Translation: We assume that what she did was something personal. We did not expect it to happen.]

Usana said this incident may be considered in the next New Year after the PNP skipped gun muzzle sealing as the world entered 2021.

The Department of Health reported at least 50 fireworks-related injuries from December 21, 2020 to January 1, 2021. This is 85% lower than the 340 total cases reported last year. It has yet to confirm the three cases of stray bullet incidents.
Back in March, facing lockdown, 2020 was looking poor but at least from a property prospective that bark never turned into a bite.

The spring lockdown gave people time to reflect on their life plans and many decided it was time to change.

Also, for many, money was saved in that period. Rather than come out of it with fear or reluctance, house buyers came forward with determination and vigour.

Following Lockdown No. 1 the spring summer market was vibrant with good take up especially among owner occupiers. WFH (Working From Home) became the new catchphrase. The second Lockdown really saw WFH become a factor.

According to Joe Brady of REA Brady I think that both employees and more importantly employers decided at the end of the summer that permanent WFH could work.

Jump forward to Lockdown No. 2 on Oct 21, normally the start of the slow part of the year, except in 2020 it was the opposite.

From Oct 21 to December 10, REA Brady sold 21 properties. One week we sold six. Buyers had their deposits, their mortgage approval, their decision made and they loved our property listings on the internet, our good imagery, virtual tours and detailed information.

Our email enquires were off the charts, many from abroad, but because people living abroad could not travel, Irish Residents had the market mostly to themselves.

Across the year it looks like in this area we had price increases of 6 to 10%. Time on the market has shortened significantly from 8+ weeks to just over 4, with many homes selling with in 3 weeks.

Joe concluded, REA Brady are looking forward to 2021. We have some great offers for vendors in 2021 and hope that we can be successful in navigating Covid.

We look forward to seeing you in 2021.
Just a day before the dry run of COVID-19 vaccination drive, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday (January 1) held a review meeting with Delhi government for the preparation of the crucial programme.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the main aim of the dry run is to research the minutest details in detail. "At least 2 vaccines have sent their applications to Drug Controller & experts for approval, their data are being studied pro-actively," he added.

"The lists of health workers have been created & will be uploaded on COVID platform. Just like we prepare during elections, the same way we need to train each member of all medical teams responsibly: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on dry run of Covid-19 vaccine on January 2. After training over 2,000 master trainers at the national level, the training is underway at State and district level, in over 700 districts. The procedure is similar to conducting elections where the team at a booth is also trained," added the Union Health Minister.

Earlier, the Centre had asked all States and UTs to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine rollout. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness at session sites for COVID-19 vaccination with Principal Secretaries (Health), NHM MDs and other health administrators of all States/UTs through video conference.

The dry run will be conducted by all the State and UT governments on 2nd January 2021 (Saturday). The activity is proposed to be conducted in all State Capitals in at least 3 session sites; some States will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain/have poor logistical support; Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to schedule the dry run in major cities other than their Capital.

Live TV

In a related development, the Subject Expert Committe of the national drugs regulator will meet on Friday to decide on issuing an approval on the emergency-use authorisation for Serum Institute of Indias (SII) Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotechs COVID-19 vaccines.
New Delhi:

Six minor girls who went missing from Nashik some two days ago were on Thursday rescued by the city police. The girls were traced to Mumbai outside Shah Rukh Khan's bunglow 'Mannat'. It is being reported that the girls had reached there to catch a glimpse of their favourite Bollywood star.

On May 23, a missing complaint was lodged at Mhasrul police station in Nashik by parents of the girls, when they were not to be found in the house, police told.

The girls were of the age between 12 and 15. They left their house in Nashik on May 23 to got to the famous Nandipuri temple temple in Kalwan taluka of the district. Then they went to Nashik Road railway station and boarded the Shatabdi Express to reach suburban Dadar from where they ended up outside Khan's residence said Subhash Chandra Deshmukh, in-charge of Mhasrul police station.



The girls were brought home safely within 24 hours after a police team from Nashik was sent to Mumbai to trace their whereabouts. The worried family had told the cops that the girls had a fascination for Bollywood, Deshmukh said on Thursday.

After searching railway stations and bus stands across the metropolis, the Nashik team found these girls outside "Mannat" in suburban Bandra, with the help of Thane and Kalyan police, in co-ordination with the GRP, he said.



The girls were then brought back to Nashik and handed over to their parents on Wednesday after proper police counselling, the official said.

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Earlier this year, Russia claimed victory in the global race for a vaccine against the coronavirus. But as Charles Maynes reports from Moscow, the Kremlins new challenge is the vaccines rollout, and convincing Russians the drug is both safe and effective.
NEW DELHI : Heres a list of top ten stocks that may be in news on Friday:

Vedanta: Mining major Vedanta Limited emerged as the highest bidder for the Radhikapur West coal block, located in Angul district, Odisha at a distance of about 190 km from the Companys Jharsuguda Aluminium Smelter.

JSPL: Jindal Power has been declared as the successful bidder for a block of Gare Palma coal mine in Chhattisgarh.

IDBI Bank: LIC-controlled IDBI Bank has sold 23% stake in life insurance venture to foreign partner Ageas for 507 crore. With this transaction, the stake of the Belgian partner in IDBI Federal Life Insurance Co Ltd (IFLI) has risen to 49%, the upper foreign direct investment limit prescribed by the law.

Infibeam Avenues: The company has divested its 100% ownership with control in its Wholly Owned subsidiary Cardpay Technologies Private Limited to its subsidiary Instant Global Paytech Private.

Mahindra & Mahindra: The company has called of its automotive joint venture with Ford Motor Company, it said in a regulatory filing.

DHFL: 63 Moons Technologies, formerly Financial Technologies, on Thursday said it has moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking to ensure that recovery from DHFL benefit all creditors, including NCD-holders. The company holds over 200 crore of NCD (non-convertible debentures) of the crippled mortgage player.

Jubilant Foodworks: Jubilant Foodworks Ltd (JFL), which operates fastfood chains Domino's Pizza and Dunkin' Donuts in India, will invest 92 crore into Barbeque-Nation Hospitality Ltd (BNHL) for a 10.76% equity stake.

Future Enterprises: Kishore Biyani-led Future group firm Future Enterprises said its executive director and chief financial officer Dinesh Maheshwari has resigned from the company.

Canara Bank: State-owned Canara Bank has raised 1,635 crore through bonds, to fund business growth. The capital was raised by issuing additional tier-1 bonds at 8.50 per cent coupon on December 31, the bank said in a statement.

Antony Waste Handling Cell: The stock will make market debut today. Its IPO was subscribed 15 times in total.

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How to participate

The Planning Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 7, at 1501 Truxtun Ave.

Due to California's regional stay at home order, the meeting will be closed to in-person participation.

The meeting can be streamed at http://kern.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=241 or on your local government channel.

Those who wish to submit written comments can send an email to DEVPln@bakersfieldcity.us no later than 12 p.m. Jan. 6.

Alternatively, call 661-326-3043 and leave a voicemail shorter than three minutes.
Almost 120 people are hospitalized in the Shoals' two biggest hospitals, Helen Keller and the North Alabama Medical Center.

Helen Keller Hospital President, Kyle Buchanan, said the scary thing about this increase is that it isn't the Christmas or New Year's increase they're planning for. All hospitals are feeling the strain of this virus more than ever.

"We've averaged over 50 last week. This is the first week that we've averaged at that level of 50+, and there are several times this week, we've been as high as 58, which is a record for us," said Buchanan.

Helen Keller Hospital isn't the only one feeling the strain. As of Wednesday, the North Alabama Medical Center said it had more than 65 coronavirus patients. Buchanan said it's scary to reach these records before the other holiday spikes.

"In our corner of the state in Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin Counties, we have record numbers of community positives, so we're seeing 1,000 and last week, over 1,000 new COVID-positive patients receiving their test results," said Buchanan.

With more people testing positive, Buchanan said that means more people are being hospitalized with the virus. Right now, Helen Keller Hospital is limiting elective surgeries based on how many beds they have available. He said if this keeps up, we could see what's happened in other states throughout the pandemic.

"Outside of our state, we've had several lessons learned from other states that got overwhelmed. You will have entire counties or metro areas in which they can no longer accept patients and patients are being shipped across state lines, because in that local community, there is no health care for COVID or non-COVID patients," said Buchanan.

Buchanan said the community must do everything it can to make sure this isn't our future.

"We've seen within our state, several transfer requests from 4 or 5 hours from the Shoals area to say, 'hey, we're in South Alabama. We no longer have any beds. Can Helen Keller Hospital take this normal pneumonia that we would otherwise be comfortable taking, but we just don't have the space?' We don't want that here. Really, the ball is in our court as a community to make sure that doesn't happen anywhere in North Alabama, but especially the Shoals. We can choose to do it or we can walk directly into the path in which we put ourselves in that type of risk," said Buchanan.

Buchanan said science doesn't lie and they're confident the uptick in community spread is coming from more and more people gathering for the holidays and spending more time indoors because it's cold and people are letting their guards down.
Thank god the borders are closed. No longer do we need to deal with holidaymakers from other states, heading to the beach in a pair of swimming bathers, demanding a pot at the local pub, while their children beg for an icy pole.

In normal times, Australians behave as if state borders dont matter  but, when it comes to January, they always have. In the winter months we may be one country, girt by sea, but not once we start splashing around in the stuff that is doing the girting.

First up: the question of what to call our beach attire. According to the Macquarie Dictionarys Australian Word Map, its a swimsuit, swimming costume or cozzie in NSW; togs or trunks in Queensland; and the rather posh bathers in Adelaide and Perth.

Sydneysiders don swimsuits, cozzies and swimming costumes. Credit:Tanya Lake

None of these terms make much sense. The word costume seems to imply a superhero  more Wonder Woman than an old bloke in a saggy pair of sluggos. A suit sounds like something youd wear to the office. As for bathers, has anyone since 1920 slipped down to Bondi, not to swim but to bathe?
The Baltimore Ravens are still navigating injury concerns as they inch toward Sundays regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, but Thursday provided some relief.

Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (knee/shoulder) and Jimmy Smith (ribs/shoulder) returned to practice Thursday in limited fashion after missing Wednesdays session. Defensive end Calais Campbell (calf) and offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (not injury related) were also on the field for the first time this week and practiced without restrictions.

Another cornerback, Marcus Peters (calf), also practiced fully Thursday  a positive sign after he missed the past two games and practiced in limited fashion Wednesday.

Despite the good news, four Ravens players remained sidelined with injuries Thursday: defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (thigh), wide receiver Willie Snead (ankle), running back Mark Ingram (illness) and center Patrick Mekari (back). Defensive tackle Brandon Williams was also absent, but he typically takes Thursdays off to rest.

Ngakoue, Snead and Mekari all suffered injuries during Sundays win over the Giants, and their statuses for the Bengals game are unclear. Ingram has been healthy but has not played the past two games as the Ravens turned to J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards to power the ground game.

The presence of Smith, who missed the past two games, and Humphrey give Baltimore hope of entering a high-stakes game with a mostly intact secondary. On the flip side, Ngakoue, Snead and Mekari are all starters who provide valuable contributions.

A win Sunday over the Bengals (4-10-1) would guarantee the Ravens (10-5) a spot in the playoffs.

Baltimore can turn to a variety of outside linebackers  from Jihad Ward to Jaylon Ferguson to Pernell McPhee  to take on an increased role if Ngakoue cannot play, but the one-time Pro Bowlers is the teams most explosive edge rusher.

Veteran center Matt Skura struggled with snaps this season, which led to his benching and Mekaris return to the starting role. Skura or rookie Trystan Colon-Castillo are options to play center Sunday if Mekari cannot.

Third-round rookie Devin Duvernay would likely shoulder a heavier workload as a slot receiver if Snead, a dependable sixth-year pro, remains sidelined.

Aaron Kasinitz covers the Baltimore Ravens for PennLive and can be reached at akasinitz@pennlive.com or on Twitter @AaronKazreports. Follow PennLives Ravens coverage on Facebook and YouTube.
New Mexico megachurches fined $10K for violating coronavirus restrictions

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Two megachurches in New Mexicos largest city are facing $10,000 fines after state officials alleged that they violated the states coronavirus restrictions.

Calvary Church and Legacy Church, both based in Albuquerque, have been fined for violating restrictions on in-person worship services and mask mandates implemented by the New Mexico Department of Health to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The restrictions, effective Dec. 15, require churches located in red-level counties to cap attendance at 25% of capacity.

Because Bernalillo County, home to Albuquerque and the largest county in the state, is a red-level county, the 25% capacity restrictions apply to Calvary and Legacy Churches. According to local news outlet KRQE, videos of the two churches' Christmas services, showing many people gathered with few people wearing face masks, circulated online.

In response to the KRQE report, the New Mexico Department of Health sent nearly identical letters to the two churches. The letters, obtained by local news outlet KOB, were designed to act as a notice of contemplated action to impose civil monetary penalty for violation of public health order.

After noting that the churches operated at or close to capacity during their respective Christmas Eve services, the letters informed them that they would face a civil administrative penalty of $5,000 for operating in violation of the public health order and a $5,000 policy for violating the COVID Safe Practices by failing to wear masks or face coverings.

In a statement, Legacy Church defended its decision to hold a Christmas service: We have taken the pandemic seriously from the start, and have prudent measures in place. But when governments exceed their constitutional authority and contradict what we are called on by God to do, we answer first to His authority.

Calvary Church acknowledged that it attracted significant attendance at its in-person Christmas Eve service and defended its actions in a lengthy statement.

In response to this outpouring, Calvary Church chose not to break fellowship with any worshiper by requiring them to leave the gathering of their church family. Instead, we continued to urge and provide opportunity for our congregants to maintain safe social distance, wear face coverings, and properly sanitize. As for all our services, church seating was staggered in the main auditoriums with every other row cordoned off so people were kept from sitting directly behind or in front of anyone outside their immediate family.

Moreover, to ensure safety and distancing, an outside screen was provided for people to be in the open air while enjoying the worship broadcast originating from the auditorium. Additional and separate large rooms were available for seating in order to maintain acceptable spacing. Church staff was diligent to monitor allowable percentages, while encouraging people to choose outside seating or seating in the overflow rooms.

Skip Heitzig, pastor of Calvary Church, lays out his philosophy regarding the coronavirus worship restrictions on the church website, contending that for some congregants, the risks of a complete lockdown to their spiritual, mental, and emotional health are equal to or greater than the risk of COVID-19 to their physical health.

We realize that more than the maximum number of people allowed per the current order might arrive to our in-person services, and while we will continue to urge them to maintain social distance, wear face coverings, and properly sanitize, we do not foresee breaking fellowship with them by requiring them to leave the presence of the body of Christ gathered, he added.

As of Thursday morning, nearly 2,100 people have signed a petition calling on the state of New Mexico to hold Calvary Church accountable. The petition accuses Calvary, among others, of guilting their members into attending church services in person - rather than online. The petition cited a new sermon series from Calvary, claiming that you cannot serve from your couch.

The church told KOB4: "For those to whom the perceived risk to their health and the health of their loved ones outweighs the benefits of worshiping in person, we continue to labor to serve them as best as we can by producing the most engaging online worship experience possible."

Steve Smothermon, senior pastor of Legacy Church, has been a vocal critic of the way Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state of New Mexico as a whole have responded to the pandemic. None of the shut downs and mandates have worked, he tweeted on Nov. 19. Now this Governor and others are doubling down on failure.

None of the shut downs and mandates have worked. Now this Governor and others are doubling down on failure. How long do we put up with these politicians who are destroying peoples liberty. The constitution is the law of the land!!!  Steve Smothermon (@Stevesmothermon) November 19, 2020

How long do we put up with these politicians who are destroying peoples liberty. The constitution is the law of the land!!! he added.

Earlier this year, Legacy Church sued the state over its worship restrictions but a judge denied the megachurchs request to ease the restrictions. The church is one of the many places of worship that have taken legal action against restrictions on in-person church services in their respective states.

The U.S. Supreme Court has, meanwhile, issued orders in favor of houses of worship. Most recently, it vacated lower court decisions against churches suing Colorado and New Jersey over each states restrictions on worship gatherings. Last month, it ruled in favor of a Catholic diocese and an Orthodox Jewish group, saying New York's restrictions on worship gatherings "strike at the very heart of the First Amendments guarantee of religious liberty."
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A Wisconsin man has horrified Twitter users with his very unusual recipe for a salad-stuffed M&M cookie  which he cooked and ate because it came to him in a dream.

Twitter user @thatfrood from Madison explained that he 'had a dream where there was a food called Kings Hand, a hollow hand made of m&m cookie, filled with Greek salad.'

While most people would dismiss such a bizarre and unappetizing dream dish, @thatfrood took it as inspiration, and spent a week preparing the salad-cookie combo which has left Twitter users reeling.

Well, that's different! A Wisconsin man has horrified Twitter users with his very unusual recipe for a salad-stuffed M&M cookie

Twitter user @thatfrood from Madison explained that he 'had a dream where there was a food called Kings Hand, a hollow hand made of m&m cookie, filled with Greek salad'

While most people would dismiss such a bizarre and unappetizing dream dish, @thatfrood took it as inspiration, and spent a week preparing the salad-cookie combo

He tweeted about the food, sharing photos and a recipe and shocking other Twitter users

The man admitted that after the dish came to him in a dream, 'I could not stop thinking about it.'

He decided to make it, and  possibly due to quarantine boredom  was willing to put in quite a bit of effort.

'First, you will need to make a mold of a hand. For this I used food grade silicon putty safe up to 400 [degrees]. I ordered it online. It takes an hour to go solid,' he said, showing how he used the silicon putty to make a mold of his own hand.

'Next, make M&M cookie dough. I just took some recipe off online. Fill your mold with the dough,' he went on.

While he filled the mold with enough dough to take on the shape of the hand, he left the bottom of it hollow to leave room for the salad.

Step by step: He ordered silicone putty to make a mold of his own hand

Pictured: @thatfrood waits while the putty hardens into a mold of his hand

Baking up a storm! He then made the M&M cookie dough for the outside

He put the cookie dough into the mold with extra M&Ms for the knuckles and nails

Something healthy! He then mixed up a Greek salad with tomatoes and cucumbers

He really did it! He places the salad inside the cookie and ate them together

After cooking and cooling the cookie, he chopped up Greek salad ingredients and poured them inside.

Images of the concoction  and of @thatfrood actually eating it  have gone viral, but it doesn't seem that any of the 168,000 people who liked his tweet are planning to make their own King's Hand.

'I am completely speechless,' wrote one.

'Why would you do this to us? To yourself?' asked another, while a third wrote: 'I both respect and am repulsed by this..'

'I have to say that the photo of this dish makes me feel the same feeling that I get after waking up from a fever dream. So. Good job on bringing surrealism into real life,' wrote yet another. 'Also. This is very cursed.'

Cursed: Images of the concoction have gone viral, and commenters have called it a 'nightmared'

One wanted to share it in a Facebook group called 'food crimes are real and we need a food police force to stop them!'

'This is a nightmare and i'm afraid of it,' said one more.

Some were more optimistic, with one writing: 'Everyone says "follow your dreams" but you actually did it!! Congratulations.'

'My fellow person this is downright admirable of you! You had a dream and you actualized it, something few people ever achieve,' commented another.
By Swati Pandey

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia welcomed 2021 with subdued celebrations as fresh coronavirus restrictions and border closures at its two most populous states forced families to ditch New Year plans.

Media reported traffic jams at border check-points stretching as long as 40 km (25 miles) as people rushed home to avoid border restrictions that kick in from midnight.

New South Wales (NSW), the epicentre of the latest outbreak, reported three new coronavirus cases overnight from more than 32,000 tests. Its largest cluster in Sydney's Northern Beaches is now at 146 cases.

"The strong message from us is to be on high alert, come forward and get tested with the mildest of symptoms," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney, urging people to wear masks.

Sydney's famous fireworks went ahead above deserted streets as gatherings were banned, while its harbour sported just 20% of the vessels typically seen on New Year's Eve.

Neighbouring Victoria state reported no new virus cases since Thursday afternoon, though authorities expect numbers to rise in coming days. The state has a cluster of eight cases, with some believed linked to the Sydney outbreak.

The outbreaks in the two states occurred after weeks without any community transmission.

"The NSW link is still our primary line of investigation for this outbreak," said Martin Foley, health minister for Victoria state, which this week limited indoor gatherings to 15 people and reintroduced mandatory masks indoors.

"We expect genomic testing to come through very shortly."

South Australia state said the infections in Sydney had led it to put up a hard border with NSW starting on Friday.

"I think we have to keep reminding ourselves that there is no simple easy way of this all being fixed. It is a global pandemic and that means that there will be frustrations from time to time," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, welcoming the low case numbers in the two states.

Story continues

Australia has reported just over 28,400 COVID-19 cases and 909 deaths since the pandemic began. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/34pvUyi)

(This story has been refiled to add dropped word in lead)

(Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Rosalba O'Brien and Kim Coghill)
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
The Howard government believed in the promise of hundreds of thousands of jobs from the emerging LNG industry in the face of official advice warning that the cheapest way to cut greenhouse emissions could be compromised by a special deal for the sector.

Cabinet documents from 2000 released by the National Archives on Friday reveal how the Howard government accepted the argument that it could promote LNG as a "greenhouse beneficial transition fuel" while trying to protect other industries which could increase Australian emissions.

A Woodside Petroleum platform on the North West Shelf. Cabinet papers from 2000 show the Howard government's battle to balance support for the industry and its greenhouse gas reduction policy. Credit:Woodside Petroleum

At the time, the environment department under then minister Robert Hill was considering the design of an emissions trading scheme as a way to reduce the nation's greenhouse footprint.

While concerns over greenhouse emissions were growing, the industry department under then minister Nick Minchin was seeking to boost the LNG industry which at the time was restricted to WA's North-West Shelf.
CHICOPEE -- Police investigating the discovery of a dead person in Chicopee Memorial State Park said the incident does not appear to be criminal.

There is no threat to public safety related to this incident, which does not appear to be criminal in nature, said James Leydon, spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

The body was found in the early afternoon in the park off Burnett Road, said Danusia Liszka, spokeswoman for Chicopee Police.

The Chicopee Police Department along with the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to Gullunis office is investigating, Leydon said.

Related content:
In a seemingly weird manner of protest, a resident of the Indira Nagar locality in Lucknow, actually hauled the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) over the garbage, instead of the proverbial coals. The resident, Ashutosh Singh, 32, set up a portable barbeque grill, using garbage as fuel, outside his house.

He was protesting against the mounting pile of garbage that had not been removed despite please to the local municipal authorities. He then grilled cottage cheese and vegetables and served them to friends with tea. The protest continued for three hours on Thursday afternoon.

A passer-by shot a video of the act and made it viral. Ashutosh later told reporters, "People here throw garbage in open because door-to-door garbage collection is very poor here. We wake up every day only to see garbage piles all around and are forced to bear the stench. Our complaints to the municipal officials have failed to elicit any response." The local residents supported Ashutosh in his protest and said that there would be more such 'unusual 'protests' if the area was not cleared up.

The state capital had witnessed a similar protest in November last year, when a college student stood at a garbage dump near City Station all day. Authorities swung into action after his video went viral.

Meanwhile, when contacted, a zonal municipal official, Vidya Sagar Yadav, said, "We will take action against the private agency hired to ensure household garbage collection in the area. The garbage pile will also be cleaned up within two days."
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BRIDGEPORT  Police are actively investigating shots fired on Fairfield Avenue Friday afternoon, according to Director of Emergency Management Scott Appleby.

Police received a ShotSpotter alert about gunshots heard on Fairfield Avenue near Andover Street and Albion Street around 3:30 p.m., police say.

There were no injuries reported, according to Appleby. A person who was shot at but not struck by any gunfire went to the hospital afterward, Appleby said.

Officials said there are no suspects at this time, but it is an active incident that police will continue investigating. Bridgeport Police are asking anyone with information to contact the departments tipline at 203-576-TIPS.
Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office

A Florida man who made national headlines after posing as Dr. Love and running a clinic as a teenager is back behind barsthis time for allegedly stealing thousands from his employer.

The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office said Malachi Love-Robinson, 23, was arrested and charged with fraud and grand theft on Thursday. Police say Love-Robinson stole almost $10,000 from a freight company he worked for in Delray Beach, by telling clients to send money to his own account instead of the firm.

According to an arrest report first obtained by the Sun-Sentinel, Love-Robinson was a contract employee at United States Freight in March when he allegedly diverted payments from customers into his personal account. When his boss discovered the scheme, Love-Robinson allegedly begged for forgiveness, telling his employer he cant say how truly sorry he is.

I dont want to go back to jail, Love-Robinson texted the owner of United States Freight after he was discovered, according to the arrest report. He reportedly added that he had fucked himself and was doing everything he could to make it right.

Love-Robinson was released hours after his arrest on a $1,000 bond for each charge. It is not immediately clear if he has an attorney.

The Craziest, Most Shocking Crimes of 2020

The West Palm Beach native made national headlines in 2016 after investigators discovered the then-18-year-old was illegally posing as a doctor and running the New Birth New Life Alternative Medicine and Urgent Care Clinic without a license.

Authorities say he misled patients into believing he was a licensed medical doctor for the high-quality Holistic and Alternative Medical care facility. The teenager was also accused and later convicted of stealing more than $34,000 from an 86-year-old patient during several house calls to treat her intestinal pain.

Love-Robinson has maintained he never intended to pose as a medical doctoreven though he had several fraudulent diplomas, a white doctors lab coat, and a real stethoscope.

Story continues

Rogue Pharmacist Arrested After 57 People Get Compromised Vaccine

In a stunning February 2016 ABC News interview, Love-Robinson even claimed he thought his job as a good citizen was to help people as a naturopath. He denied diagnosing and treating patients, even though his initial arrest came after performing an exam on an undercover officer.

I have been studying this particular field for a while, he said, shortly before storming out of the interview after being asked if he was a fraud. It may not have been eight, nine, 10 years. It has been long enough to, I would say, justify what I do.

While out on bond and awaiting trial in Palm Beach County, he was arrested again in September 2016 in Virginia after allegedly trying to buy a Jaguar with an older womans personal information. He was convicted in 2017 and served a year in a Virginia jail, then was extradited to face trial in South Florida.

A year later, Love-Robinson struck a deal with Palm Beach County prosecutors, pleading guilty to practicing naturopathy without a license and grand theft in exchange for a three-year sentence. He was released from prison in September 2019 after 21 months.

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(Newser)  Truth in advertising is important to most people, but especially to Robert Galinsky. UPI reports that the Yonkers, NY, resident has filed a class-action lawsuit against King's Hawaiian, a maker of Hawaiian sweet rolls based in Torrance, Calif.hence leading to Galinsky's complaint. In his suit, Galinsky says that even though the California location is noted on the back of the rolls' packaging, "Hilo, Hawaii" adorns the front, which led him to believe the bread was made in the Aloha State. Galinsky adds in his complaint that King's Hawaiian has filed its own suits against other manufacturers to keep them from using the word "Hawaiian rolls" in their marketing collateral, essentially making the company his main target.

story continues below

King's Hawaiian "is the leading seller of Hawaiian rolls and essentially invented this category of food," Galinsky says in his suit. The company's website explains it was founded in the 1950s in Hilo by Hawaiian Robert Taira and named Robert's Bakery. When it expanded and moved to King Street in Honolulu, it was renamed King's Bakery. But "Robert was determined to spread his Aloha Spirit all across the mainland," the site notes, and so in 1977 the company moved to a new facility in Torrance and rebranded as King's Hawaiian Bakery, which is its current name. Galinsky says the company knew that placing "Hilo" prominently on the front of the packaging "would [mislead] consumers," his suit claims, per Top Class Actions. Hawaii News Now notes this type of complaint regarding the use of Hawaii-themed labeling has happened before, including with Kona Brewing and Hawaiian Host. (Read more lawsuit stories.)
In a major win against the pandemic, Israel has vaccinated more than 950,000 residences since mass inoculation began earlier on December 20, Health Ministry said. The latest count implies that the country, which houses nearly 9.3 million, has vaccinated over 10.3 per cent of its total population. The expedited vaccination has also provided a sigh of relief to countrys PM Benjamin Netanyahu who has been lambasted for mishandling the pandemic.

In a press statement, the ministry reported that the number of doses reached a record high on December 31 with 153,400 people getting Pfizer/BioNTech jab in a single day. Previously, the daily high was 150,000 on December 29 and 28. According to Channel 12 News, a million doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, which has not yet been used in Israel, are set to arrive next, far ahead of the March target date.

Vaccines are giant leap for health

Netanyahu had become the first Israeli to be vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech shot receiving the shot nearly two weeks ago. The vaccination was shown live on Israel television as Netanyahu also became the first sitting prime minister publicly known to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Netanyahu was of the opinion that this small injection is a giant leap for the health.

Netanyahu said that after taking the vaccine shot that he thought about reopening his country again and about returning to normalcy. In a tweet, Netanyahu also said, "We have worked hard to bring millions of vaccines to our small country. Israel is one of the first countries to be vaccinated. Tonight, more than ever, I am excited and proud to be the Prime Minister of Israel.

Read: Israel Vaccinates 1m Against COVID-19

Read: Benjamin Netanyahu To Become First Israeli To Receive Covid-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 in Israel

The number of coronavirus cases in Israel reached 423,262 on January 1, with 3,319 new cases since December 31 evening. The virus death toll in Israel increased to 3,325 with seven new fatalities, while the number of patients in serious condition rose from 661 to 679, out of 1,089 hospitalised patients.

Read: Benjamin Netanyahu To Become First Israeli To Receive Covid-19 Vaccine

Read: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Receives Pfizer Covid Vaccine, Says 'excited And Proud'
Border Force officials talk to a lorry driver at the Daera site near Belfast Harbour (Liam McBurney/PA)

The first freight checks required under the terms of Brexits economic sea border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland have taken place.

The end of the transition period late on New Years Eve brought into force the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, which sees the region operate under different regulatory and customs arrangements to the rest of the UK.

Northern Ireland is remaining in the single market for goods and is applying EU customs rules at its ports.

Customs declarations and additional regulatory checks are now required on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Trade in the other direction remains largely unfettered.

The full consequences of the protocol will not be felt until later in the year, as several grace periods have been agreed between the UK and EU to reduce the volume of paperwork and certifications needed in the first few months of operation.

The first affected ferry into Northern Ireland on New Years Day docked in Belfast at 1.45pm having sailed from Cairnryan in Scotland earlier that morning.

Expand Close Lorries lined up at the checking site at Belfast Port (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Lorries lined up at the checking site at Belfast Port (Liam McBurney/PA)

There was no evidence of disruption or delay.

Officials are required to conduct physical checks on a selection of roll on/roll off lorries under the terms of the protocol.

After the Stena Line ferry docked, six lorries were diverted to a new checking facility in the grounds of Belfast Port operated by Stormonts Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera).

UK Border Force officers and Daera inspectors were in attendance.

The checks were primarily document-focused on Friday, with limited signs of physical inspections taking place at the site.

Expand Close A lorry belonging to MVT car transportation company disembarks the Stena Line Superfast VIII ferry at Belfast Harbour on New Years Day (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A lorry belonging to MVT car transportation company disembarks the Stena Line Superfast VIII ferry at Belfast Harbour on New Years Day (Liam McBurney/PA)

Similar processes were in operation at Larne Port on goods arriving from Great Britain on New Years Day.

Officials have pledged a light-touch enforcement regime in the first week of the protocols operation to give traders time to adjust to the new requirements.

Seamus Leheny, policy manager for hauliers representative body Logistics UK, observed the first ferry arriving in Belfast.

Mr Leheny said it would only start to become apparent from next week whether the protocol will cause significant delays and disruption.

Initially for the first day or two it will be fairly quiet, he told the PA news agency.

And thats down to two reasons  a lot of companies here have already stockpiled in advance of this and also a lot of companies are just standing back for the first day or two, they just want to see how the systems hold up and if there are any issues, what they can learn from that.

So I expect the first couple of days of this that it will be relatively quiet, low-freight volumes, and well get a bigger picture of how it pans out probably the start and the middle of next week.

Expand Close Seamus Leheny, policy manager at Logistics UK (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Mr Leheny said while he expected the majority of GB-NI supply chains to continue, he predicted some Northern Ireland importers would look closer to home for products to avoid the red tape.

I think most of the trade will hold up  if something is still profitable to move next week, as opposed to two weeks ago, those goods will still move here, he said.

You might have some reconfiguration on some products. Weve already heard of some businesses looking closer to home in Northern Ireland here to source products that they may have previously sourced from suppliers in GB. So I expect there will be some change in the months ahead.

Darren Mone, from MVT car transportation company, parked up at the port to capture video of his vehicle disembarking the ferry.

Expand Close An official from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (left) talks to a lorry driver at the inspection site (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Mr Mone said he had completed all the required declarations on New Years Eve.

Its more paperwork at the end of the day, its going to be more aggro for our customers, he said.

Most of the second-hand car market comes in from the UK. For us, its going to be an aggro, theres no point saying another other.

Its more paperwork that we feel doesnt need to be done because everything we put in that declaration is in our customer VAT returns.

When youre dealing within the one jurisdiction Northern Ireland is still reporting everything to GB for their tax and their VAT and everything. All the information is in the tax returns. So its really duplicating everything doing these declarations.

However, Mr Mone predicted the protocol could end up being beneficial for Northern Ireland in the long run, as it meant traders based in the region had unfettered access to both the EU and to GB.

Northern Ireland is probably going to be the place to be in the future, hopefully, he said.

We can trade with Europe and the UK, with access both ways, without any declarations.

There is no aIrish Sea Bordera. As we have seen today, the important preparations the Govt and businesses have taken to prepare for the end of the Transition Period are keeping goods flowing freely around the country, including between GB and NI. https://t.co/CPwwQQOYGd  Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) January 1, 2021

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis tweeted there is no Irish Sea border'.

As we have seen today, the important preparations the Govt and businesses have taken to prepare for the end of the Transition Period are keeping goods flowing freely around the country, including between GB and NI, he tweeted.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

PA
Mike Pence has rejected a GOP lawsuit aiming to expand the vice presidents authority in Congress to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, striking a blow against a growing body of Republican lawmakers who plan to object during the formal count of the electoral votes next week.

The vice presidents filing on Thursday responded to a lawsuit from Texas congressman Louie Gohmert and Arizona Republicans in an attempt to throw out electoral college votes during a joint session of Congress on 6 January, with the vice president presiding, to formally certify Joe Bidens win.

The lawsuit argues that the vice president has the ultimate authority to determine the validity of electoral votes, as Donald Trumps allies file dozens of meritless court challenges to contest the validity of elections in several battleground states.

"The 'plaintiffs suit seeks to empower the Vice President to unilaterally and unreviewably decide objections to the validity of electoral votes," according to the 14-page filing from Mr Pence, through Department of Justice lawyers.

But "a suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction, the brief says.

Mr Gohmert is among at least 140 GOP lawmakers in the House of Representatives who intend to object to the results, according to CNN. Their attempt undermines the votes of millions of Americans by relying on spurious claims of election fraud, interference and vote manipulation, amplified by the president and his campaign.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned the ploy among Republican lawmakers who have refused to respect the will of the American people and instead have spread dangerous conspiracy theories and brought over fifty extreme, failed lawsuits in a brazen attempt to overturn the certified results of the 2020 election, she said in a statement on Thursday.

The Gohmert lawsuit has zero legal merit and is yet another sabotage of our democracy," she said.

She contended that despite this desperate unpatriotic charade Mr Biden will be confirmed on 6 January.

Congressman Gohmert is challenging the constitutionality of the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which establishes procedures for the vote count and how members of Congress can raise their challenges.

Both a House member and senator must agree to object to the count in order to trigger a vote on whether to accept the results, which is almost certain to fail. Republicans in the House have mounted a campaign to pressure GOP senators to validate their efforts.

Among the challengers, led by Alabamas Mo Brooks, are Georgias Jody Hice, Louisianas Clay Higgins, New Jerseys Jeff Van Drew, and recently elected far-right House members Lauren Boebert, Madison Cawthorn and Marjorie Taylor Green.

Trump loyalists in the House have at least one ally in the Senate  Missouris Josh Hawley.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has reportedly demanded GOP senators to avoid engaging any attempt to overturn the results.

On the Senate floor this month, he said: Many of us had hoped the presidential election would yield a different result  But our system of government has the processes to determine who will be sworn in on January 20. The Electoral College has spoken.

Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska said his colleagues who plan to challenge the results are playing with fire.

They have unsuccessfully called on judges and are now calling on federal officeholders to invalidate millions and millions of votes, he said in a statement.

"If you make big claims, you had better have the evidence. But the president doesn't and neither do the institutional arsonist members of Congress who will object to the Electoral College vote."
Bengaluru, Jan 1 : The Karnataka Biodiversity Board (KBB) has urged the state government to declare sprawling 467.53 acre Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate situated in southern part of Bengaluru as a "Biodiversity Heritage Site" under the Biodiversity Act 2002.

The KBB also asked the government to discourage commercial tourism inside the estate as the estate is home to unique flora and fauna besides being an elephant corridor.

This recommendation assumes significance in the backdrop of the Karnataka Chief Minister, B. S. Yediyurappa announcement that he intends to convert this estate into a sprawling film studio.

Yediyurappa on September 19 proposed that a film city be built at the Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate at Tataguni, a lung space spread over hundreds of acres off Kanakapura Road.

He even described it as an "innovative idea" in his speech during the Founder's Day celebration organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI).

"We saw elephants during our visit last week," KBB chairman, Ananth Hegde Ashisara noted in his report and added that the estate is also home to wild dogs, jackals, and dears. Botanists have identified close to 150 unique species of trees and the forest department has set up a tree park.

In his report he added that the estate is unique as it is a natural landscape and has a tree park.

"It is rich in biodiversity and needs to be protected. I had visited the estate with other Board members a few days ago. It is also part of the elephant corridor. The government should work on clearing garbage and plastic piles en route to the estate, on Kanakapura Road. Karnataka Biodiversity Board members should be made a part of the Roerich Estate Board," Ashisara said.

The estate, spread across 467.53 acres, has 128 varieties of plants, including 400 Indian Lavender plants. All the plants have been recorded and recognised by the Biodiversity Board. In 2009 and 2016 too, the KBB had tried to get the area declared a biodiversity hotspot, but the government did not take it forward.
The "New Year's message" of an unidentified Russian peacekeeper to the Armenian population of the liberated regions of Azerbaijan was distributed in the social networks. In the video, the peacekeeper sends greetings to the residents of the Azerbaijani city of Lachin, calling it Berdzor" at the request of unknown provocateurs.

According to the speech of the Russian soldier, he does not understand the essence of the processes taking place in the region and says to the camera what the provocateurs asked him to, including supporting revanchist sentiments for the re-occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan.

It is important to emphasize that the activities of the Russian peacekeeping mission in the liberated lands of Azerbaijan, as well as the overall position of the Russian Federation on the post-war situation in the South Caucasus, are aimed at stabilizing the region. In this direction, the Russian military is doing a great job, which brings positive results every day.

Such provocations are very harmful as they are being committed against the peacekeepers by the supporters of Karabakhs occupation staying on Azerbaijani lands. Attempts to present Russians as participants in revanchist actions are directed against Russian interests in the South Caucasus.

In this regard, it is necessary to intensify efforts to prevent such provocations, including raising awareness of the peacekeeping mission personnel about what is happening in the liberated regions of Azerbaijan and the illegality of any attempts to question the peaceful future of Karabakh as an internationally recognized territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is also important to be cautious in contacts with the population, as there may be separatist provocateurs.
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BarcelonaThe strangest New Year's Eve in Catalonia will be remembered for a rave with at least 150 people in an abandoned warehouse on a road in Llinars del Valles. It is a celebration that violates the restrictions of the covid-19 in which there are people from various countries with multiple vehicles, most with foreign numberplates. Sources from the Mossos have explained this afternoon to the ARA that they do not intend to evict the attendees because they do not see it as "convenient". According to the police, since the early morning they have set up presence in the area to prevent more people from accessing the party and to identify all those who leave in order to report them. The Mossos have argued that carrying out a control, instead of an eviction, is the "usual" intervention in a large rave.
Jade Buddha Temple rings in the New Year

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-01-01 11:54

At 0:00am on January 1, Shanghais Jade Buddha Temple rang in the New Year with 108 bell chimes, welcoming a year of good fortune and auspiciousness.

(A Buddhist priest rings the bell in Jade Buddha Temple.)

Shanghai citizens visit the temple each New Years Eve and Spring Festivals Eve, praying for a good year ahead. This year, the bell ringing ceremony was livestreamed on the Internet, in order to limit the gathering of people to prevent and contain the COVID-19 epidemic.

(Citizens pray for a good year in Jade Buddha Temple on New Years Eve.)

(The temple prepares vegetarian noodles for visitors.)

After the ceremony finished at midnight, people went to other areas in the temple to burn incense and pray, wishing for a peaceful and happy 2021.

During the New Years Day holiday, the Jade Buddha Temple will be open to the public as normal, from 8am to 5pm. Reservations should be made in advance and a green health QR code should be presented to visit the temple.

(Photos by Bai Kelin)
Good riddance 2020 and welcome 2021!

In a year like no other, a little bit of tradition is a nice thing and what better way to welcome the new year than with the 49th annual Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

Times Square is closed to the public due to the coronavirus so you will have to tune in via TV or online to join in the socially distant fun.

Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest will kick off Thursday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST). Host Seacrest will be joined by co-hosts Lucy Hall and Bill Porter in New York with Ciara in the West Coast and Big Freedia hosting in New Orleans.

2020 has been a trying year for the world and Im thrilled to have Billy and Lucy join me in ushering in a new year with fresh beginnings, Seacrest said. We look forward to making sure its a night for everyone to remember.

Other performers will include Jennifer Lopez, Cyndi Lauper, Nelly, Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, En Vogue and Brandy.

Additionally, country artist Jessie James Decker will return as Powerball correspondent for the second year. Decker will provide live updates throughout the evening, checking in with five randomly selected finalists across the country, before revealing the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2021.

The big event will be broadcast on ABC. If you have a cable subscription you can watch via ABCs livestream website. You can also access via Hulu and fuboTV.
A ward councillor in Nsanje is in court on allegations that he beat his herdsman to death over the missing of four goats.

The Nsanje Second grade Magistrate court on Thursday committed to the High Court a murder case involving Robert Chabvi, the ward councilor for Nsanje South Constituency.

Chabvi is suspected to have beaten to death one of his shepherds for failing to account for some missing four goats.

He has however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate John Mphahiwa has since committed the matter to the High Court as the lower court has no jurisdiction to hear murder cases.

Meanwhile, Chabvi has hired Edwin Banda private practice lawyer to represent him.
Ricky Hill was sitting on his front porch in Algiers on the night of Dec. 10 when someone pulled up and unleashed a barrage of bullets at the 34-year-old father of three. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, one of almost 200 killings that by the close of 2020 had made the year the third-most murderous in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

It marked a sharp reversal for a city that enjoyed one of the most peaceful years in decades in 2019. Killings were up steeply across the country in 2020, but there were few big cities where the trend was more pronounced than New Orleans: 2020 saw a homicide spike of more than 60%, compared to a national average of 21% among agencies reporting data to the FBI, according to crime analyst Jeff Asher of New Orleans.

Police, scholars and politicians have offered explanations that range from the stress of the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn to disruptions in the market for illegal drugs to the fallout from the summers protests against police brutality.

The big-picture explanations are cold comfort for Hills mother, Rita Kelly, who lives in the house where he died. Like most of this years homicides in New Orleans, her sons killing hasn't resulted in an arrest.

I never thought I would lose my son like that, she said in an interview this week. They stole him. On this porch.

New Orleans registered 195 homicides in 2020, according to statistics that Asher maintains for the City Council. It was the third-highest tally in the 15 years since Katrina, trailing only 2007, which saw 209 homicides, and 2011, which saw 200.

There were 121 killings reported in 2019, the fewest since 1972, although even with that historic progress, New Orleans per-capita murder rate ranked in the top five among major U.S. cities. The nationwide jump in 2020 killings means New Orleans ranking is likely to hold steady when the federal government finishes auditing annual crime statistics in the fall.

Those whose lives were claimed amid the pronounced spike included at least two young children felled by bullets presumably meant for someone else:

Devante Dman Bryant, 9, on July 13 in the 7th Ward

Isaha Adams, 3, on May 11 in Algiers.

The killings rattled the city, with Adams leading to three arrests; Bryants remains unsolved.

Another killing that outraged the city was that of Kim Boutte, a 55-year-old Black-masking Indian queen cut down in a hail of gunfire outside an Aug. 11 funeral repast for a murder suspect who was killed several days earlier. That killing is also unsolved, like most that occurred this year.

At least 56 people were booked into New Orleans lockup in connection with homicides, though not necessarily ones that occurred in 2020. That means there were almost four killings for every homicide arrest.

Kim Boutte was in 'wrong place at the wrong time' when killed outside funeral repast, friends say Given the way Dellmarcus Kirton died, cut down in a hail of bullets on Interstate 10 a few months before his 23rd birthday, organizers of his 

Other key crime metrics also surged in 2020. In the final days of the year, non-fatal shootings had jumped by almost 65%, from fewer than 260 in 2019 to more than 425. One victim this year was a New Orleans police officer, who survived a gunshot wound to the face in what investigators described as an ambush.

Carjackings, where victims are more typically targeted at random than in killings or shootings, were up about 124%, from 105 to about 235, according to City Council statistics.

Embedded in the citys year-end crime stats is the slimmest of silver linings. Overall property crimes  offenses such as auto theft, burglary, bicycle theft and shoplifting  fell by almost 15%, from almost 20,000 to almost 17,000. Nationwide, the average drop in overall property crime as calculated by Asher was 8%.

That is scarcely a consolation for the families of those killed over the past 12 months, a year already made traumatic by the pandemic.

Before Hill was killed, the pandemic cost him his job as a porter on a tourist steamboat, his mother said. She remembers the way he called her Queen and his love for his family. On Dec. 27, the day he would have turned 35, his relatives lit candles and released balloons to remember him.

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Five days after Hills killing, and a little over a mile away, someone burst into a strip mall in the 1500 block of Newton Street and shot three people, killing the owner of the building, 47-year-old Gwangi Richardson-Alston, and a barber who worked there, Terrell "Hollywood" Jackson, 45.

Richardson-Alston was a social worker and counselor who ran a business that employed dozens of people, said her sister, Edna Richardson. Her duties this year included grief counseling for people whose relatives died from COVID-19.

If somebody came to her with a problem, she would sit down and talk to them until they were able to feel better about the situation, Richardson said. People loved her. So for them to brutally kill her like they did, the family is devastated. We cant get past it.

What drives yearly trends in violence is always hard to discern, and that was even more true in this strange, disruptive year. Asher said there are enough data available to identify a nationwide rise in violent crime. But the data are incomplete and not enough to explain the spike in a way that would reliably inform policies to reverse it.

For instance, surveying 98 cities with more than 150,000 residents, it made little difference whether the mayor was a Democrat or a Republican, Asher said. Cities from the sample with Democrat mayors on average saw an increase of 23% in murders, while those with Republican mayors saw a jump of 26%.

In New Orleans, with a Democrat mayor, the trend accelerated as the year went on.

This doesnt reflect a simple explanation, Asher said on a Twitter thread analyzing the big picture.

Hills mother said shes heard of a tit-for-tat battle between warring neighborhoods of Algiers, although she didnt think her son was caught up in it. She figures the coronavirus and the hardships it unleashed must have played some role  but that it oesnt explain everything for her.

The pandemic does play a major part, but then, some of the young boys are just trigger-happy, she said.

Richardson-Alstons sister thought that massive unemployment in the New Orleans area must have something to do with the trend. But she didnt know why her sister was killed.

Right now with the economy, people just dont want to work and theyre hurting, for money, so they feel like they can just get it the best way they know how, she said.

Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson echoed those sentiments in remarks throughout the year, repeatedly saying that countermeasures to the uptick in violence must involve more than simply having his officers patrol the city more aggressively.

Interventions such as recreational programs, educational enrichment, mentorship and job opportunities  especially for young people  must be part of the equation, said Ferguson, who notably did not object when the City Council reduced his agencys budget by $16 million, or 8%, for 2021 because of a steep decline in sales tax and other revenues.

Former Orleans Coroner Jeffrey Rouse, who helps manage the psychiatric caseload at the city jail, gave court testimony recently that provided some insight into the men and women accused of some of this years crimes.

New Orleans police tout work of new anti-crime unit amid spike in violence; here's how it works City, state and federal officials touted a new unit created to fight violent crime in New Orleans on Thursday as the city grapples with this y

Even as the jails inmate population dropped, under the weight of concerted efforts from defense lawyers and judges to prevent the spread of coronavirus behind bars, the number of psychiatric patients rose. Out of 886 inmates on Oct. 1, 477 were receiving psychiatric medications.

That is reflective of many larger trends in society," Rouse said. "For example, there have been recent studies that show that close to half of Americans are reporting depressive symptoms. Eleven percent, which is a staggeringly high number, of American adults in the midst of this pandemic admitted to having suicidal thoughts.

"This is over-represented in persons who are unemployed and experiencing socioeconomic challenges which, of course, is over-represented in persons that come to jail. So that's certainly no surprise to me that we're seeing those numbers reflected here.
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Protesters Block Worship Event on LAs Skid Row, Attack Epoch Times Reporters

LOS ANGELESDozens of protesters clashed with followers of Christian worship leader Sean Feucht and the Let Us Worship movement on Skid Row in Los Angeles on Dec. 30. The protesters were attempting to block access to Feuchts homeless outreach event.

A dozen protesters encircled a reporter and photographer from The Epoch Times. Someone threw a smoke bomb on the street, taunts escalated, and protesters began physically shoving the photographer. The Epoch Times reporting team left for safety reasons, with the photographer being chased as he ran away.

Police were on scene, but did not approach the protesters.

Although Feucht scheduled the event and was to perform, he didnt appear.

Protesters blocked one of the major access points to the event by parking their cars in all lanes of a one-way street. Others demonstrated on the street, voicing opposition to Feuchts view that government restrictions due to COVID-19 are an infringement on religious freedom.

Among those demonstrating against Feucht were members of The Row Church, also called The Church Without Walls, and the Los Angeles Community Action Network. Some held signs saying Black Lives Matter.

Men call on protesters to block Pastor Sean Feucht and his followers from reaching Skid Rows homeless with food, music, and worship, in Los Angeles on Dec. 30, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Although Feucht, who has toured the United States this year with his Let Us Worship message, did not appear at the event, members of his team passed out clothing and food.

The same type of outreach event happened at Echo Park in Los Angeles in the morning and afternoon of Dec. 31. There were no immediate reports of any unrest or public disturbances at those events, but activists critical of the gathering were on hand, continuing their calls for the city to shut down the gatherings.

A New Years Eve Let Us Worship event at a church parking lot in Valencia was scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

Activists said they were upset at Mayor Eric Garcetti for allowing the three events, and vowed to protest at his office, according to reports. Garcetti said Wednesday night that Los Angeles police and county public health officials would be monitoring Feuchts activities, while recognizing the activity as a religious event.

There are constitutionally protected rights, both religion and protest, which clearly he has used and exercised, but just because we do have the right to do things, doesnt mean its the right thing to do, Garcetti said. So I would encourage him first and foremost to come back, have a good concert after this pandemic is done.

We do not want to see this [virus] spread, and the more spread there is, the more hospitalizations, the more deaths. So if you care about human lives, and what God has given each of us, which is the power of life, please dont do this.

Cars block a section of 5th Street in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Dec. 30, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Chris Venn, 73, who said he and his wife were from a group called San Pedro Neighbors for Peace and Justice, was inside his parked car in the middle of 5th Street as part of the blockade. A sign on the couples car stated: Throw Feucht To The Lions.

This is a disgusting presentation of Christianity, Venn said. Los Angeles is being affected by the pandemic more than almost any other city in the country. [Feucht] is known for having rallies and telling people that COVID is a crime against Christians. Hes referring to the stipulations that people shouldnt gather in churches because its dangerous to them.

Morgan Barnhill, who is from Texas and is currently staying with friends and family in Southern California for the holidays, told The Epoch Times that what transpired during the Skid Row outreach and counterprotest was not benefiting the homeless.

Im not here for the chaos, Barnhill said. Im not here for anything but to bring hope to the hopeless. Its not about the noise. Its not about the protest. Were here to be friends with the people of Skid Row to understand what they need. Were here to share our testimony about how Jesus has changed our lives.  This is doing nothing for the homeless community because no one is talking to the homeless community.

Its not about who wears a mask and who doesnt and who deserves food and who doesnt. Everyone is worthy in the eyes of Jesus, she said. Thats why Im here because people need to know what the love of Christ looks and feels like. This is not it. This is just noise. Jesus isnt noise.

Feucht, whom The Epoch Times was unable to reach, tweeted on Dec. 31: While distributing meals to the homeless on Skid Row, our team was assaulted with smoke bombs, pepper spray and death threats.

The world will tell you to not push in, not minister, not gather. But JESUS pushed in, He ministered, He gathered. Dont be discouraged. FOLLOW JESUS!
Its an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Thanks to native acumen, political patronage and conditions that Karl Marx would at once have recognised as uncannily similar to nineteenth century England in the throes of the Industrial Revolution  the inspiration for his own magnum opus  Indias rich became richer amidst the pain and penury, death and disease that marked 2020 as a year of suffering. Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Ramdev, whose Baba or Swami prefix is a courtesy title like the Uttar Pradesh chief ministers Yogi, saw their fortunes soar astronomically.

It wasnt only because of the pandemic which killed nearly 150,000 people that Indias economy shrank by around a tenth. In jubilantly noting that the United Kingdom had leapfrogged India to become the worlds fifth-largest economy, Britains Centre for Economic and Business Research confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modis India had been losing momentum even ahead of the shock of Covid-19 and was knocked off course during the pandemic. The further news that an enfeebled India is not expected to regain momentum or be able to overtake the UK again until 2024 must have gladdened Britains boisterous Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, already crowing triumphantly at having at last concluded a 1,246-page deal with the European Union (though it still has to be ratified by both sides at the time of writing), as he prepared to pack his bags to take the salute at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

He will no doubt try to trump the European Union pact with a UK-India trade deal, especially since his predecessor, Theresa May, had failed in the task in 2016. The following year Mr Johnson, then foreign secretary, flaunted a flamboyant saffron turban in a gurdwara in Bristol and announced that he would get Mr Modi to reduce import duty on alcohol and buy more Scotch. He told the Sikh congregation that his Indian relatives (meaning the maternal family of his half-Sikh ex-wife Marina Wheeler) were constantly badgering him to bring them clinky, their word for bottles of whisky.

But for all the bluster and despite the now divorced Marina, Britains Prime Minister is embarrassingly innocent of Indian reality. Recently, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Labour MP for Slough and the first to sport a turban in the House of Commons, asked him to intercede with Prime Minister Modi on behalf of the farmers protesting at Delhis borders. To everyones astonishment Mr Johnson replied that India was quite capable of handling its problems with Pakistan. Clearly, no echo of the hundreds of thousands of farmers who have been on the rampage around the National Capital Region since August had reached Number 10 Downing Street. A foreign leader who knows nothing and knows that he knows nothing can be instructed, but one who thinks he knows it all but knows nothing is of little use.

If Mr Johnson does want to sell whisky to India, he should know that the newly minted desi sahibs of New Delhi, Mumbai and even what was once called Calcutta nowadays ostentatiously imbibe only single malt. He should also understand that a taste for clinky offers no clue to life in a country that was already home to one-third of the worlds poor before the coronavirus pandemic plunged it into even more grinding poverty so that a billion Indians are struggling to survive on less than the global subsistence wage. Single malt is the rage in certain rarefied circles because the ranks of our billionaires doubled in what Charles Dickens would undoubtedly have called the best of times that is also the worst of times.

It is a global phenomenon. Billionaires wallow in greater riches than the 4.6 billion people constituting 60 per cent of the planets population. But they are not multiplying rapidly like Indias super-rich. In fact, the 2,095 billionaires list worldwide with a total net wealth of $8 trillion that Forbes compiled for 2020 was 58 fewer than in 2019. Their collective assets fell some $700 billion below the previous years total. More to the point, even in the year of Black Lives Matter, the 614 American billionaires, leading the global wealth parade, are not accused of lining their pockets at the expense of other Americans. That cant be said of Asias rich. Chinas 456 billionaires cannot escape responsibility for the conditions in Tibet and Xinjiang or the deprivations of millions of Han people.

The World Bank has predicted that the ranks of the extremely poor will increase to 150 million in 2021. The United Nations has warned grimly that between 240 million and 490 million people in 70 countries will be pushed into multidimensional poverty. The death toll from Covid-19 seems lower than the predictions based on the 1918 Spanish flu fatalities but global growth has been hit much harder, suffering the biggest contraction since World War II. Homeless families, hungry children, clean water a rare luxury, rampant disease, famine when a crop fails, death because medicine is unaffordable  these are the stark features expected of the year ahead. South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa will be the worst affected.

Confronted with a similar trauma which he examined and analysed on the basis of meticulous personal investigations and voluminous official and parliamentary reports, Marx decided the villain of the piece was the employer who controlled the means of production. That laid the foundations of a theology that one day permitted Vietnams urbane foreign minister, Nguyen Co Thach, to boast smugly: We are not without accomplishment. We have managed to distribute poverty equally.

A capitalist proletariat committed to wealth generation seemed  and still seems  a contradiction in terms. But it could be the dazzling icon of a new era to heal the ravages of the old. As Queen Elizabeth II said in her annual Christmas message to the Commonwealth, Even on the darkest nights  there is hope in the new dawn.
RTHK: HK speeches earned Yellen US$500,000, filing shows

US President-elect Joe Biden's pick for Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, earned at least US$7 million from speaking engagements over the past two years, according to disclosures posted on Thursday.

The disclosures show that some of her most lucrative speeches were made on visits to Hong Kong.

A keynote address at the Asian Financial Forum in January last year earned her US$270,000 from organiser the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the disclosures show. In 2019, she earned US$292,500 for speaking at a Credit Suisse conference in the SAR.

Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chair, disclosed the more than 50 speaking gigs, including to government-regulated Goldman Sachs, Barclays and hedge fund Citadel, as part of a set of documents that move her candidacy closer to consideration by the US Senate.

In another filing to the US Office of Government Ethics, Yellen said she would seek written authorisation to participate in substantive issues involving such firms.

Yellen agreed to resign from her position as a consultant for Australian investment firm Magellan Financial Group if she is confirmed by the Senate. She also outlined several divestments in public company stock that she would implement if she is confirmed.

The Treasury Department has broad regulatory powers over financial companies. High-profile former government officials like Yellen, who was appointed as Fed chair by Democratic President Barack Obama and served in the role until 2018, often take paid speaking jobs after their retirement from public service.

President Donald Trump's Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive and Hollywood film financier, pledged to divest at least US$94 million worth of investments in 43 entities to avoid conflicts of interest when he was appointed to Trump's Cabinet.

In his confirmation hearings, Mnuchin was attacked for failing to promptly disclose that he was a director of an offshore business vehicle domiciled in the Cayman Islands and owned more than $100 million in real estate.

Senator Ron Wyden, the senior Democrat on the committee that will evaluate Yellen, said she has shared views in a range of forums, from media interviews to speaking engagements, and has been fully transparent.

Secretary-designate Yellen is one of the worlds top economic minds, and her perspective on economic matters has been widely sought after since she left the Federal Reserve," Wyden said.

At her speech in Hong Kong, Yellen said the United States had many valid concerns over is trade relationship with China, but should remain open to the benefits of sharing technology. (Reuters/RTHK)

This story has been published on: 2021-01-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Im just out with my family having a good time, she said. We met up with the rest of them and they invited us to come hang out at Dauts, so we came along.

At Joelles French Bistro in Skaneateles, owner Alain Castel helped patrons ring in the New Year in style.

Castel festively greeted the customers at the restaurants door wearing a purple-sequined hat, noisemaker in hand.

Weve had pretty good business. Its a great way to finish off the year, Castel said.

Joelles offered a special New Years Eve, five-course menu and supplied all of its diners with party hats.

This is the first seating, Castel said. We have another round of reservations at 9, those are the people who really get a little crazy. Theres going to be dancing and drinking.

Tom Cosgrove III, just moved to Skaneateles from Columbus, Ohio, two weeks ago and said Joelles came highly recommended.

We were looking for a nice place to go out tonight, and Joelles had rave reviews, he said. My parents were visiting and I thought it might be nice to take them out.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
In death, theres the promise of life. The two are uniquely entwined.

It has been six days since Syed Rafath Parveen,40, left this world after a sudden brain haemorrhage. Her heart is healthy and ticking in Bhairav Singh, 56, who has miraculously slipped out of deaths grasp.

Recuperating from a life saving timely heart transplant, the 18 Assam Rifles havildar is happy that he will finally be able to meet his teenage son and daughter eagerly waiting for him in his village in Khatima, Uttarakhand. Apne bachhon ka chehra dekh paunga...doosra jeevan mila hai (finally, I will get to see the faces of my children...its a rebirth for me), he says.

Singh had been diagnosed with end-stage heart failure. Running from one hospital to another, his wife, Pushpa Devi had lost all hope that Bhairav Singh would survive. The heart transplant brings her ordeal to an end.

I am forever indebted to the donors familyI wish them all the joy in this world, says Devi, 50.

A final act of compassion

Syed Rafath Parveen, the donor whose heart was transplanted in Bhairav Singh, had returned home from Dubai to spend her short winter vacation with her family in Ghaziabad just two weeks ago. The last movie she had watched before leaving for India was Phir Zindagi, a short film on organ donation. Only lucky people get the opportunity to give the gift of life to someone while departing, Rafath had told one of her friends over the phone.

On 24 December, doctors declared Rafath brain dead after she suffered a brain hemorrhage. Even as they dealt with unimaginable shock, her family took no time to decide that they wanted to donate her organs. Her parents felt that this would be the most befitting tribute to the person they say she was  compassionate, courageous, committed to the cause of others.

Rafaths friends recall how would always find ways to bring joy in the lives of other people. Even in her death, she managed to do something so beautiful - save four lives.

Syed Rafath Parveen taught primary school students in DPS Mathura Road for 20 years. Last year, took up a teaching job in Delhi Private School, Dubai. As she returned home, Rafath wanted to spend every bit of her winter holidays with her family  husband, two sons and her parents in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

She was jovial and chirpy as always. Her husband and elder son went to receive her at the airport. We were so happy that she was back. We could have never imagined that we were going to lose her in a few days, says her father, Syed Ahmad AliShah.

The very next day of her arrival, Rafath had gone out with her friends. She hung out with us, had noodles from a road side stall, went to the salonshe wanted to live every moment to the fullest. Every time we would say, lets go home, she would reply, five minutes more, please. May be she wanted to grasp every bit of life that remained, says Maninder Jit Kaur, her friend of 20 years.

Kaur recalls how Rafath would always find ways to bring joy in the lives of other people. She used to stay back in the school to teach underprivileged children. She had so many plansshe wanted to register an NGO for children. She often pondered over the purpose of life. She would have endless discussions on the purpose of human life. While she leaves so much unfinished, even in her death, she managed to do something so beautiful, says the 52-year-old Kaur who teaches primary school students in DPS Mathura Road.

It started with a headache that grew worse. A CT scan of Rafaths brain was conducted the next day that detected an abnormality. She was taken to Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali. Despite sustained efforts by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, Rafath could not be saved. The doctors announced that she was brain dead. She had suffered subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by intracranial aneurysm rupture (bleeding caused due to dilated blood vessels in the brain).

Kindnessthe thing that survives death

Even in the face of grief, Rafaths family requested the doctors to facilitate donation of her organs. It could not have been any other way for her she always stood out from others, always wanted to do something worthwhile, says her mother, Sirajunnisa Begum, 60.

Rafaths father believes that his daughter would be glad with this decision, wherever she is. This is the best decision we could have taken. It gives some solacethe fact that my daughter could save four lives even in her death. It makes me proud of her, says Alishah, vice president, Andhra Education Society.

Five years ago, Alishah himself had pledged to donate his organs after his death. The 67- year-old says that his faith teaches him to practice selfless compassion for all, and in this decision, he only stayed true to this learning. We believe that there can be no bigger act of compassion than this for a human being. My daughter is indeed lucky to get an opportunity to give the gift of life to four people. May Allah grant her the highest place in jannat, says Alishah who retired as assistant general manager, Kendriya Bhandar.

Rafath with her husband, Shailkh Saleem Durrani and her sons, Arsh and Aman

Rafaths husband, Shaikh Salim Durrani is also trying to find relief in the fact that his childhood sweetheart and life partner of 21 years could give the gift of life to others. Durrani, 50, works as manager, operations in a Noida based digital firm.

The couple had a love marriage. Their families knew each other for a long time. Rafath and Durrani used to play together as children. Soon, Raffaths family left for Libya, where she finished her schooling. They returned to India when Raffath was 16. The childhood buddies met once again and the soft-spoken, introverted Durrani fell in love with the spirited, bubbly girl. After a courtship of five years, they married. The couple had two sons, Aman, 18 and Arsh, 11.

Professional commitments often forced the couple to live apart. For the last one year, Rafath had been living in Dubai to work. So naturally, her husband and sons wanted to spend as much time with her as possible when she returned for winter holidays.

But little did one know that death was going to snatch her away so cruelly. Durrani says that organ donation was the only way to for him to ensure that his wife lives on. We had reached a point where there was no question of resurrection. Brain death is irreversible. I wanted my wife to be alive, to be in this world in some or the other way, so I gave my consent, he says.

Dr Gaurav Aggarwal, VP-Operations, Max Hospital, Vaishali, says the family has set a truly beautiful example of humanity with this noble deed. Religious beliefs pose the biggest hurdle to organ transplants in India. Its rare for people to come ahead and donate the organs of their deceased loved ones. This family is an inspiration for all, he says.

Dr Aggarwal says that the number of people suffering from end stage diseases is rising steady. Cadaveric transplants can be the only way to save their live, and thus more and more people should donate the organs of loved ones who pass away due to sudden death. Live transplants are rare as it is tough to find willing donors. Cadavers (deceased donors) can be an important source of organ transplantations, especially in a post Covid 19 world, where many who have recovered from the virus might also need lung transplants, says Dr Aggarwal.

The doctor urges religious leaders and the recipients of cadaver donations to come ahead and encourage people to donate the organs of their deceased relatives, just like Rafaths family. You will be doing the biggest service to mankind, he says.

Apart from her heart, Rafaths kidney was transplanted in a 37-year-old female patient from Jharkhand who was on dialysis for the last four years. Rafaths liver was transplanted in a terminally ill 59-year-old female patient from Delhi, a journalist who works in the PMO. Rafaths second kidney was transported to Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon.

Some are indeed born to give.

Every year, nearly 500,000 people die in India because of non-availability of organs, 200,000 people die due to liver disease, and 50,000 people die due to heart disease. Out of the 150,000 people awaiting a kidney transplant, only 5,000 of them find a donor, says a survey. If you wish to pledge to donate your organs, log on to www.notto.gov.in to know more.
Of 300 people on a Dreamliner, we could expect three to be carrying the virus. Quarantine at our international border is good, but it will, unfortunately, never be perfect. Witness the incursion into Sydney, then NSW, which has now spread to Victoria. Quarantine at our international borders is good but can never be perfect. Credit:Kate Geraghty My rough guess is that somewhere in Australia we will see about one viral leakage per month out of international quarantine, and the last month has demonstrated how much disruption that can cause. How do we tighten up our international border further? Ongoing "as best as possible" practice in quarantine of course. Constant quality control and learning to improve infection disease control is needed.

But what about the testing of people before they get on the plane? That will help, but still misses the people who are not yet shedding the virus. Loading The additional measure that I do not see being discussed, but which in my view should be, is prioritising that the first doses of a vaccine in Australia be administered to all staff in international quarantine, airport and airline staff and customs. Why? Because it is likely (but not yet proven) that vaccination will not only stop severe disease, but also stop people getting infected in the first place. Thus, a security guard in quarantine will be less likely to unwittingly take the virus home to their family and the community. This might reduce viral incursions out of international quarantine in Australia from something like one per month to one every four months or so. That is a major gain.

We need to seriously consider this first deployment of the vaccine. Perhaps urgently. Back to what we have in front of us now in Victoria: it is precarious. The measures so far from Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services, including reinstating masks and reducing the size of gatherings, are on the money. Contact tracing, community testing and surveillance systems in Victoria now face their first major test after the second wave. The aspiration is the greatly enhanced capacity will stamp out the outbreak and get Victoria back to donuts. But we need other proportionate measures to give contact tracing the best chance of stamping this out  without the need for a hard lockdown. Masks are back on, and group sizes in private homes reduced. What else should we do?
Pinarayi Vijayan takes oath as Kerala Chief Minister for second time; 20 ministers inducted in his cabinet

Meet Subaida, Kerala woman who sold goats to donate for CM fund, gets VVIP pass to attend swearing-in ceremony

Father-in-law-son-in-law combo to new opposition leader; first session of 15th Kerala Assembly on May 24

After a gap of 9 months, schools reopen in Kerala

India

oi-Deepika S

Thiruvananthapuram, January 01: The students were brimming with excitementseeing friends and teachers after a gap of many months. But, strict instructions right from wearing masks, washing hands at frequent intervals to mandatory social distancing gave a formal colour to theirfirst day in schools, when they reopened partially in Kerala on Friday.

As part of the government's instructions, students of classes X and XII resumed their studies in schools across the southern state with limited hours and restricted number of pupils.

"I am really excited to be back in my school, I have never thought that I can spend time with my friends at this campus again," a thrilled Akhila, a Class X student of a city school here, said.

Parvathy, another student, said she was fed up attending online classes and she had really missed actual classroom studies.

"Online class is a good option at this time of crisis. But, it cannot give the feel and positivity provided by an actual classroom. Not just schools and classrooms, I really missed my teachers and friends," she said.

But, the strict instruction of keeping distance from other students and admission of only one student in a bench made some students a tad unhappy.

Backs, retracts: BJP MLA on Kerala motion against farm laws

It was after a gap of nine months that the schools opened in the southern state, in compliance with strict COVID protocols.

All these months, students were attending online classes through the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education's (KITE)- Victers channel.

They were greeted with digital thermometers at the entrance of schools to measure their body temperature, which is mandatory as per the guidelines issued by the authorities. They were admitted into the school campus only after collecting consent letters from the parents.

Schools in Kerala was remained closed since the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March.

A recent high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had decided to reopen educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in adherence with COVID guidelines.

In its guidelines, the General Education Department directed that only 50 per cent of students be allowed at a time in schools and that classes be arranged as one student per bench in the first week.

It is better to allow 25 per cent of the students at a time in schools, where their strength exceeds 300 in number in classes X and XII, according to the guidelines issued by the Director of Public Instructions (DPI).

In the detailed instructions given, the authorities have asked the school managements to ensure masks, sanitizer, digital thermometer and soaps in their institutions.

Students should be asked to maintain a distance of two metres between each other and classes may be conducted in shifts of limited hours if necessary, it said.

Articles in classes should be disinfected every two hours and children should be admitted in classes only with the consent of parents.

As per the present plan, the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and Higher Secondary (HSC) second year board exams would be held from March 17 to 30 in strict compliance with COVID protocols.

At the college level, graduate and post-graduate classes and classes at the Universities of Agriculture and Fisheries would also begin early January with a limited number of students.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

It was also decided to start classes from second year in medical colleges, official sources added.

Meanwhile, an official statement said here that a total of 1.75 lakh new students have taken admission in classes I to X in state-run schools this academic year.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 15:17 [IST]
Noida: A group of farmers protesting at the Chilla border (Noida-Delhi link road) on Friday vowed to continue their protest against the Centres new farm bills amid the bone-chilling cold. The farmers also organised folk dances to welcome the New Year.

Tarun Sharma, state vice-president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), said, We have been on protest for over a month against the farm bills. The government is adamant on its stand while the farmers are also ready to continue their fight. The temperature has fallen in the last few days but we have resolved to continue our struggle. On January 1, we offered red roses to police personnel and media people. We also organised a Ragini (folk dance) programme to entertain the protesters.

The supporters and members of BKU (Bhanu) have been protesting at the Chilla border since January 1. On Friday too, the Noida-Delhi road remained close due to the protest.

The protesting farmers at Dalit Prerna Sthal distributed kheer on the occasion of New Year, and continued with their struggle.

Dr SK Giri, general secretary of BKU (Lok Shakti), said that our farmers continued protest at Dalit Prerna Sthal. We heard that a farmer died due to heart attack at the UP gate on Friday. The farmers health and well being is important as the temperature is falling. On Friday, we called a doctor to check up on protesting farmers. The doctor advised farmers to observe precautions, he said.

The farmers were seen keeping themselves warm with bonfire and hookah at the Dalit Prerna Sthal. A group of street players also performed there to entertain the protesters. BKU (Lok Shakti) president Master Shyoraj Singh said that the protest will continue till the government withdraws all the three farm laws and gives in written about MSP.

The farmers are protesting against the three farm laws --The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act -- for over one month.
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Mumbai: Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi", directed by celebrated filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will arrive in cinema halls this year, the makers announced on Friday. The film has been adapted from one of the chapters of noted author Hussain Zaidis book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai".

The drama features Bhatt as Gangubai, one of the most powerful, loved and respected madams from Kamathipura during the 1960s. In an eight second video shared on Instagram, the filmmakers banner  Bhansali Productions  announced that the movie will come out sometime this year. Brave, bold and ready to take over 2021 with fire in her eyes and fierceness as her style #GangubaiKaithiawadi awaits to reign over the coming year," the production house captioned the video.

According to a source close to films production, the movies shoot was resumed at Film City in suburban Mumbai from October last year and its near completion. Gangubai Kathiawadi" was earlier scheduled to arrive in theatres on September 11 in 2020 but was delayed to the coronavirus pandemic. Bhansali is co-producing the film with producer Jayantilal Gadas Pen India Limited.

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New Delhi: Six months have passed since the death of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. But till now, there has been confusion about this matter. While some people are calling Sushant's death a suicide, there is no dearth of those who consider it murder. Initially, the Mumbai Police was investigating this case, then this case was handed over to the CBI, but till now this fact has not been solved.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh has given a shocking statement regarding a CBI investigation.

Speaking on the case of Sushant Singh Rajput's death, Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said that the way we are solving the TRP and Dilip Chhabria cases, it shows despite many challenges that the Mumbai Police is Investigates every matter in a professional manner.

Last year, we had investigated and solved cases related to drugs, we had also seized stocks of many big drugs. During the last year, "some people tried to tarnish the reputation of the Mumbai Police, but we gave a good response and we won."

Recently on December 30, the CBI had stated that 'CBI is engaged in investigating this case through the latest and most professional scientific aspects. During this investigation, all aspects are being considered and till date, no aspect has been dismissed.'

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his flat in Bandra, Mumbai on 14 June last year. Earlier, the Mumbai Police had filed a report on the death and was investigating the case.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The French government on Friday announced that it was bringing forward by two hours a the nighttime curfew in 15 regions to help combat the coronavirus, as infections remain high.

The 15 of France's 101 departments affected by the switch to a curfew beginning at 6:00 pm rather than 8:00 pm include the Les Alpes-Maritimes department where the Mediterranean city of Nice is located.

The other areas are concentrated in the east of the country and Paris has, for now, been spared the additional restriction.

"The virus is continuing to spread in France... but with a disparity between regions," said government spokesman Gabriel Attal as he announced the move.

"If the situation were to deteriorate further in certain areas, we will take the necessary decisions," he told TF1 broadcaster.

The measure had been urged by mayors increasingly concerned that their local health systems are being overburdened by an influx of new cases.

Attal also confirmed that theatres, cinemas and concert halls would not be able to reopen from January 7, the most recent minimum date given for their closure.

Attal meanwhile defended the pace of France's campaign to vaccinate against COVID-19, which TF1 noted has seen just 332 people vaccinated in the country so far compared with over 130,000 in Germany since it began last weekend.

Arguing that France was targeting its campaign on care homes for the elderly which took more time, he said: "We are not going to judge a vaccination campaign that will last six months in just a few days".

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
U.N. Lesotho, Southern African Parliamentary Trust and Fako Foundation Sponsors the Middle East founded 'SDGs Challenge' Award Ceremony for Local Youth Teams

Washington, DC: December 30, 2020  This month in Southern Africa, 65 students from Machabeng College and the National University of Lesotho International School (NULIS) were invited by the host of the event, his Excellency Salvator Niyonzima, UN Resident Coordinator of the nation of Lesotho, to celebrate this year's accomplishments supporting action around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The event was held at one of Lesotho's most pristine venues, the Avani Hotel, and was attended by Members of Parliament, including keynote speaker Honorable Moshoeshoe Fako, Chairperson of the Social Cluster.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Challenge is a dynamic free annual competition created by UAE's Arab Youth Venture Foundation with the United Nations Association UAE serving as SDGs Knowledge Partner. The 100 day rolling Challenge encourages citizens from all walks of life to come together to arrive at imaginative and viable solutions to the 17 SDGs adopted by all 193 UN Member States in 2015.

In 2020, the inaugural open-innovation contest gained 610 participants from 53 nations with the nation of Lesotho finishing with the most participants from any one country and earning two spots among the 17 team winners. The teenage team's submissions were evaluated by a global judging panel of esteemed business, government and sustainability experts.

The awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of the 65 fearless, dynamic Basotho youth who collectively showed the world the capabilities of determined minds. With limited resources the students from the two schools were able to use the Challenge as a launch pad and megaphone for their ideas and solutions for their country's most pressing sustainable development issues.

Grace Makwaza, SDGs Ambassador to Lesotho, stated, "The teams became part of the reason the United Nations in Lesotho accelerated youth involvement in implementing the SDGs in the country."

The 2021 Global Citizens Innovative Solutions SDGs Challenge will begin April 22, 2021. Learn more at www.SDGsChallenge.org

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WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump returned to Washington from his Florida resort on Thursday, a day earlier than planned, as he continued a fight with Congress over a defense bill and stimulus checks and amid a spike in tensions with Iran.

Trump, who originally was scheduled to attend a New Years Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago resort, did not speak to reporters on departure from Florida or on arrival at Joint Base Andrews near Washington and has not done so in weeks.

The White House has given no reason for the change in plan, but it coincides with Trumps fight with Congress over his veto of a major defense bill and his demand for increased COVID-19 stimulus checks, as well as a spike in tensions with Iran.

While Trump is back in Washington, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to spend a quiet night at his beach house in Delaware, although he is due to appear on the long-running ABC special Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021" on Thursday evening.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the chamber, dealt a likely death blow on Wednesday to Trumps bid to boost coronavirus aid to Americans, declining to schedule a swift vote on a bill to raise relief checks to $2,000 from the $600 included in a $892 billion relief package passed by Congress earlier this month.

McConnell on Thursday again rejected a vote on a standalone bill that would increase the stimulus checks, calling it socialism for rich people" and a terrible way to get help to families who actually need it." The bill was passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on Monday.

McConnell also said there should be nothing controversial about approving the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Trump vetoed because it does not repeal certain legal protections for tech giants.

Weve enacted an annual NDAA for 59 straight years and counting," McConnell said. In the next few days  the easy way or the hard way  were going to do our job once again. This body will fulfill our responsibility to the men and women who protect our country."

The House voted to overturn Trumps veto on Monday. The Senate is likely to override the veto on Saturday at the latest.

If that happens, it would mark the first time lawmakers have voted to override a Trump veto since he took office.

Republicans in Congress have largely stuck with Trump through four turbulent years, but the president is angry that they have not fully backed his unsupported claims of election fraud in the Nov. 3 election won by Biden.

TENSIONS WITH REPUBLICANS

Trump sought to ramp up pressure on fellow Republicans to back the bigger checks for struggling Americans in a series of tweets in recent days in which he attacked Republican leaders as pathetic" and accused the party of having a death wish" if it did not increase stimulus payments.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri on Wednesday pledged to challenge Bidens victory when Congress convenes to officially tally the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, which could trigger a lengthy debate in the Republican-controlled Senate but has virtually no chance of overturning the results.

Some Republican senators had supported an increase in the stimulus payments, including David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who face runoff elections in Georgia next week that will determine which party controls the Senate under Biden.

The tensions among Republicans have been exacerbated by the effort in Congress to reject Trumps NDAA veto.

The Senate voted 80-12 on Wednesday to begin debate on the issue, with another procedural vote due on Friday.

U.S.-Iran tensions, meanwhile, have again spiked.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused Washington of trying to fabricate a pretext for attacking his country and vowed Tehran would defend itself even though it does not seek war.

Two U.S. B-52 bombers flew over the Middle East on Wednesday in what U.S. officials said was a message of deterrence to Iran ahead of the first anniversary of a U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3, 2020.

Trump ignored reporters questions about the tensions with Iran and whether he would attend Bidens Jan. 20 inauguration when he arrived back at the White House on Thursday.

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The number of speed cameras on motorways has trebled in a decade  and they are now responsible for more than one in ten of all speeding fines issued by police.

The 'stealth cameras' have proliferated because they are deemed crucial to controversial smart motorways.

Figures obtained by the Mail showed that more than 253,000 notices of intended prosecution (NIPs) were issued in the 12 months to this autumn by 17 of the 20 police forces whose areas cover smart motorways in England and Wales.

The figures  which exclude fines issued by temporary, average speed check cameras  reveal for the first time the extent of speeding penalties issued on motorways.

The number of speed cameras on motorways has trebled in a decade  and they are now responsible for more than one in ten of all speeding fines issued by police

It comes after speeding fines hit a record 2.3million last year in England and Wales, driven by the growth of smart motorway cameras.

Smart motorways account for 416 miles of road and are expected to almost double in length by 2025, and so a huge number of extra cameras are due to be installed.

Road bosses plan crackdown on tailgaters Roads bosses are planning a crackdown on the lethal habit of tailgating using cameras that monitor gaps between vehicles. The technology is being tested on the M1 in Northamptonshire, and could be rolled out nationwide later this year. Highways England figures obtained by the Daily Mail show the devices have caught more than 26,000 drivers in two months  more than 400 a day. Motorists caught tailgating  driving too close to the vehicle in front  risk a minimum fine of 100 and three penalty points, but those caught during the trial are only being sent warning letters. More than 100 people are killed or seriously injured each year in accidents where a vehicle has driven too close to the one in front. Advertisement

They are supposed to improve traffic flow by varying the speed limit, using the hard shoulder as a driving lane and asking drivers to stop in 'refuges' if their car breaks down.

But the scheme has faced controversy after a series of fatal accidents when cars have broken down in a live lane. Now campaigners say they are also behind an unfair surge in speeding fines.

Motoring organisations say the cameras are hard to see. They are small and typically are mounted on the left-hand side of gantries at the edge of the motorway. Sometimes they can be obscured by signs or vegetation.

To begin with, the cameras were painted grey. They did not have to be painted yellow  like traditional Gatso cameras  until 2017.

When first installed in 2014, the cameras, of a model known as HADECS3 (Highways Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System), were nicknamed 'stealth cameras'. There were only 49 motorway speed cameras in England in 2010, but there are now 168 in operation on the M1, M25, M3, M4, M5, M6, M20, M42 and M62. All but a handful are on smart motorways.

A further ten cameras have been installed on the M4 in South Wales. Scotland has only started to install cameras on motorways so no statistics are available.

Separate figures show that two cameras on a traditional stretch of motorway on the M4, operated by the Metropolitan Police, snapped a further 37,295 motorists in the first ten months of last year  equivalent to more than 120 per day.

Last night motoring groups expressed concern about the way they are being used.

Edmund King, AA president, said: 'The majority of drivers support the use of cameras if used for safety reasons, but there are inconsistencies in their use which can catch drivers out.'

While smart motorways display signs warning motorists that cameras are being used, Mr King also called for better signage to show exactly where they are located.

'Signs should be displayed on all gantries when cameras are in place as the objective should be to slow people down, not catch them out,' he said.

The 'stealth cameras' have proliferated because they are deemed crucial to controversial smart motorways

Figures obtained by the Mail showed that more than 253,000 notices of intended prosecution (NIPs) were issued in the 12 months to this autumn by 17 of the 20 police forces whose areas cover smart motorways in England and Wales

Motoring groups are also concerned about how the cameras are used.

Some police forces only switch them on when reduced speed limits are in operation, while others use them at all times including when the standard 70mph limit applies.

But Highways England, the government department responsible for major roads, insists speed cameras are necessary on smart motorways to enforce reduced speed limits when lanes are closed due to congestion, breakdowns, collisions or roadworks. It said drivers are made aware of them by frequent signs on gantries.

Jeremy Phillips, head of road safety at Highways England, said: 'We're not using cameras to catch drivers out or to make money out of fines.

'They're there to encourage drivers to stick to speed limits, for the safety of everyone using the road, and to help traffic flow freely.

'That's why they are bright yellow and clearly-signed; alerting drivers to the presence of cameras helps to encourage compliance and so improves safety.'

Highways England added that it encourages road users to report any vegetation or other obstructions hiding cameras from view.
In a horrific attack that shook the Democratic Republic of Congo on New Year's Eve, at least 25 civilians have been killed allegedly by the members of the banned rebel outfit Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). According to reports, Army officials discovered dead bodies of 25 civilians in the Tingwe village of North Kivu province, which borders Uganda, the birthplace of the ADF group.

Read: UN Envoy Warns New Congo Crisis Could Impact Its Security

The Congolese forces were reportedly informed about ADF members heading towards the village on Friday, however, due to a delay in the response they couldn't catch hold of the terrorists. One of the officials of the Beni territory, which is situated in the North Kivu province, said that the people had gone to their fields to prepare for the New Year, but they were picked and killed one by one by the ADF.

Read: Congo Announces End To Its 11th Deadly Ebola Outbreak

ADF killed around 800 in 2020

The ADF is believed to be responsible for the death of around 800 civilians in the North Kivu province in 2020 alone. The ADF has been blamed for the 2016 Beni massacre in which about 64 people were hacked to death. Several reports also blamed the Congolese Army commanders for orchestrating the attack. The Beni massacre is one of the worst civilian killings in the history of DR Congo.

Read: UN Chief Has Plan For Eventual Peacekeeping Exit From Congo

However, the ADF has never claimed responsibility for these attacks, instead, the local factions of the Islamic State and the Al Qaeda sought credit for the killings. The ADF was formed in the early 1990s with the motive of creating an Islamic State in Uganda, justifying their so-called religious movement by citing discrimination against members of Tablighi Jamaat. The group then spread to the neighbouring DR Congo and started to run its activities with an objective of making money in the mineral-rich country. It smuggles wood and indulges in the trafficking of goods for financial gains.

Read: More Than 1,300 Inmates Escape From Prison In Eastern Congo

(Image Credit: AP)


Do you want to add a new member to your family and do something good for the world at the same time? Adopt a pet from a local shelter or organization! Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, shelters have dogs, cats and other animals ready and waiting for someone to take them home.

In the search for a new companion, consider checking out a local adoption center like Feral Care, where Angie the cat is waiting patiently. If you aren't sure if you have time to take care of a pet year round, many shelters also offer opportunities to foster pets until they are placed in permanent homes.

Here at Patch, with a little help from our friends at Petfinder, we put together a list each week of all the pets recently put up for adoption in your area. If you're a dog person, meet Antonio, a Kai Dog mix up for adoption. If cats are more your thing, there are several great cats available, too. Click on any listing for more information, or to start the adoption process.

Name: Antonio

Species: Dog

Location: Heaven 4 Paws, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Male, Kai Dog Corgi Mix

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "All our dogs local in Seattle we don't post them until they arriveAntonio came from Turkey as stray. He..." Learn more

Name: Forest (bonded w/ Sparrow)

Species: Cat

Location: Meow Cat Rescue, 10600 NE 68th, Suite F, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Male, Siamese

Description: "Forest & Sparrow are available for contactless adoption by appointment only from MEOW Cat Rescue. To apply to adopt them,..." Learn more

Name: Sparrow (bonded w/ Forest)

Species: Cat

Location: Meow Cat Rescue, 10600 NE 68th, Suite F, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Female, Domestic Medium Hair

Description: "Sparrow and Forest are available for contactless adoption by appointment only from MEOW Cat Rescue. To apply to adopt them,..." Learn more

Story continues

Name: Owen

Species: Dog

Location: Rebeccas Rainbow, 6513 132nd Ave NE #387, Kirkland, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Male, Chihuahua Rat Terrier Mix

Description: "Owen came to us Christmas week after his owner passed away so he has not been with us very long...." Learn more

Name: Angie

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Senior, Medium, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids and cats

Description: "Angie is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. She is 15 years old, but she..." Learn more

Name: Mao

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Senior, Medium, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Description: "Mao is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Mao was originally brought to our feral..." Learn more

Name: Chrissy

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Cats

Description: "Chrissy is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Chrissy was a feral kitten before being..." Learn more

Name: Claude

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Cats

Description: "Claude is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Claude was a feral kitten before being..." Learn more

Name: Harrison

Species: Cat

Location: Feral Care, 8103 161st Ave NE, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Description: "Harrison is an adoptable cat at the Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond. Harrison is a very sweet cat that..." Learn more

Name: BABY RIGGS

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RIGGS! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RYDER - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RYDER! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RHETT - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RHETT! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RUTHIE - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Female, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RUTHIE! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with her siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RUBY - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Female, Labrador Retriever Shepherd Mix

Description: "MEET RUBY! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with her siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY ROSS

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Labrador Retriever Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET ROSS! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY RILEY - Adoption Pending

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET RILEY! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with his siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: BABY ROSE

Species: Dog

Location: Lil Waif Puppy Rescue, Bothell, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Female, Shepherd Labrador Retriever Mix

Description: "MEET ROSE! This adorable tyke is currently in a loving foster home with her siblings and momma. Born approximately November..." Learn more

Name: Humma Kavula (bonded w/ Vogon)

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "NAME: Humma Kavula is part of our Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy transportAGE/GENDER: 7/18/2020 MaleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic short..." Learn more

Name: Wham!

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "** HAS SPECIAL NEEDS. PLEASE SEE HEALTH SECTION BELOW **NAME: Wham!AGE/GENDER: 2 year old maleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic..." Learn more

Name: Joey King

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Female, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids

Description: "** HAS SPECIAL NEEDS. PLEASE SEE HEALTH SECTION BELOW **NAME: Joey KingAGE/GENDER: 5/18/2020 FemaleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic Short..." Learn more

Name: Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz (bonded w/ Humma)

Species: Cat

Location: Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, Redmond, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Good With: Kids and cats

Description: "NAME: Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz is part of our Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy transportAGE/GENDER: 7/18/2020 MaleBREED/HAIR LENGTH: Domestic..." Learn more

Name: Rocky

Species: Dog

Location: Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Medium, Male, Husky

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Meet Rocky! This cuddly teddy bear is ready to bring lots of love and goofy antics into your life! Rocky..." Learn more

Name: Magnolia

Species: Dog

Location: Washington German Shepherd Rescue, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Female, German Shepherd Dog

Good With: Dogs and cats

Description: "Maggie is an absolutely beautiful 2.5 year old, white female German Shepherd dog. Her fosters have been calling her Maggie,..." Learn more

Name: Scout

Species: Dog

Location: 4 Legged Friends, AMC 10006 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Labrador Retriever

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Meet ScoutScout is a big, goofy boy that loves to please people. He is a little reserved when you..." Learn more

Name: Bruno

Species: Dog

Location: Pacific Northwest Cattle Dog Rescue, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Male, Australian Cattle Dog / Blue Heeler Cattle Dog Mix

Good With: Dogs and cats

Description: "Bruno is a 16-week old, 15 lb cattle dog. Bruno and his sibling came from a hoarding situation in New..." Learn more

Name: Frankie

Species: Dog

Location: K9kare, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Male, Chihuahua Terrier Mix

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "Hello I'm Frankie! I am one of three puppies that was born into an unwanted litter. The people gave us..." Learn more

Name: Honey

Species: Dog

Location: K9kare, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Medium, Female, Labrador Retriever Shepherd Mix

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "My name is Honey I am a 2 years old Lab/Shepherd mix and this is my story.My owners got..." Learn more

Name: Noel

Species: Dog

Location: K9kare, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Large, Female, Anatolian Shepherd

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "Hi my name is Noel. My family let me outside in a backyard regardless of the weather, I think is..." Learn more

Name: Benjamin

Species: Dog

Location: K9kare, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Small, Male, Chihuahua Terrier Mix

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "Hi there, my name's Benjamin. I am one of three puppies that was born into an unwanted litter. Now I..." Learn more

Name: Diamond

Species: Dog

Location: K9kare, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Medium, Female, Shepherd American Bully Mix

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Learn more

Name: Rocky

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Area Feline Rescue, 14717 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Medium, Male, Domestic Short Hair Siamese Mix

Description: "If you're looking for an incredibly sweet and affectionate lap cat, look no further! 3-year-old Rocky may be the friendliest..." Learn more

Name: Toboggan

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Senior, Small, Male, Domestic Short Hair

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am very sweet and love to be pet! I love..." Learn more

Name: Lily

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Domestic Medium Hair Domestic Short Hair Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I love my BFF James and need to go home with..." Learn more

Name: James

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Domestic Medium Hair Domestic Short Hair Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I love my BFF Lily and need to go home with..." Learn more

Name: Daisy

Species: Guinea Pig

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Female, Guinea Pig

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am very sweet! I love treats, chew toys, and running..." Learn more

Name: Poppy

Species: Guinea Pig

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Guinea Pig

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am very sweet! I love treats, chew toys, and running..." Learn more

Name: Dharma

Species: Cat

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Siamese Domestic Short Hair Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I am stressed in new situations, so I will need a..." Learn more

Name: Gilby

Species: Dog

Location: Seattle Humane The Humane Society For Seattle King County, 13212 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Chihuahua Mixed Breed Mix

Description: "What my friends at Seattle Humane say about me: I can be fearful and stressed in some situations. I will..." Learn more

Name: RYDER - shelter favorite

Species: Dog

Location: Ferry Dog Mothers, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Medium, Male, Pointer Pit Bull Terrier Mix

Description: "Meet Ryder.............a true survivor! He's looking for a dedicated and qualified person who can walk through his healing process with..." Learn more

Name: SULLY - Super smart and loyal boy

Species: Dog

Location: Ferry Dog Mothers, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Male, Golden Retriever

Description: "Sully is a 7 year old Golden / Labrador Retriever mix, approximately 75 pounds, up-to-date on vaccines & neutered. He..." Learn more

Name: Risken

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Chihuahua Jack Russell Terrier Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Risken is an adorable chihuahua/JRT mix (best guess!). He was rescued from a high kill shelter in Modesto,..." Learn more

Name: Fancy

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Female, Chihuahua

Good With: Dogs and cats

Description: "Animal Profile: Fancy is an adorable, petite chihuahua mix who was rescued from Southern CA. She was rescued along with..." Learn more

Name: Kiera

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Female, Shepherd

Description: "Animal Profile: Kiera is Shepherd mix (best guess) that was rescued from a high kill shelter in San Bernadino CA...." Learn more

Name: * Isaiah Jordan - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Large, Male, Border Collie

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile: Isaiah Jordan is a 14 week old border collie mix who will be joining..." Learn more

Name: * Teddy - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Extra Large, Male, Bernese Mountain Dog

Good With: Dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile: Teddy is a 5 year old purebred Bernese Mountain Dog (DOB 12/20/2015) who was..." Learn more

Name: * Nilla - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Small, Male, Chihuahua Terrier Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile: Nilla is an adorable 2 year old chihuahua/terrier mix (best guess!) who was rescued..." Learn more

Name: Paris

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Female, German Shepherd Dog Labrador Retriever Mix

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Paris is a German Shepherd Dog / lab mix (best guess!) that was rescued from a high kill..." Learn more

Name: Noah David

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Baby, Large, Male, Border Collie

Good With: Kids, dogs and cats

Description: "Animal Profile: Noah David is a 14 week old border collie mix who will be joining us from Texas on..." Learn more

Name: * Drew - HOLD

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Labrador Retriever Catahoula Leopard Dog Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAnimal Profile:Drew is an estimated 1 year old 60 lb male Lab Catahoula mix. We..." Learn more

Name: Nova

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Large, Male, German Shepherd Dog

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Nova is German Shepherd Dog mix that was rescued from a high kill shelter in Moreno Valley CA...." Learn more

Name: Schroeder

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Extra Large, Male, Saint Bernard

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Schroeder is a 2 year old 125 lb male purebred Saint Bernard. He is house trained and friendly..." Learn more

Name: Joy

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Adult, Extra Large, Female, Great Pyrenees

Good With: Dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Joy is a Great Pyrenees Mix that joined us from Texas on December 18th. She was rescued from..." Learn more

Name: Stella

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Female, Labrador Retriever Treeing Walker Coonhound Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "Animal Profile: Stella Mae is a beautiful little girl that was originally thought to be a GSP mix. DNA test..." Learn more

Name: Cameron

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Large, Male, Labrador Retriever Catahoula Leopard Dog Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "Animal Profile:Cameron is an estimated 1 year old 60 lb male Lab Catahoula mix. We took him in last..." Learn more

Name: * Willy - Hold

Species: Dog

Location: Dog Gone Seattle, Seattle, WA

Age, Size, Sex, Breed: Young, Small, Male, Chihuahua Terrier Mix

Good With: Kids and dogs

Description: "NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POPULAR BOYAnimal Profile: Willy is an estimated 2.5 year old male wired haired..." Learn more

This article originally appeared on the Kirkland Patch
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
Napas police chief is resigning effective Friday, after less than three years on the job, saying he wants to spend more time with his family.

After much prayer and contemplation, I have decided to put aside the stressors of the job and retire after 30 years of public service in law enforcement, Chief Robert Plummer said in a statement released Thursday evening. I have had a rich and rewarding career that I embarked upon at just 22 years of age with many opportunities that I will be forever grateful for, including the honor of leading the Napa Police Department as the Chief of Police for the last two and a half years.

Plummer, the citys first Black chief, spent most of his career with the Las Vegas Police Department in a variety of roles, including heading the homicide division.

In Napa, he had made efforts to increase the diversity of the department, which is largely White. Over the summer, he met with protestors after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, and he promised to discuss police reforms, though he has yet to complete the project.
Ending all speculations, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Thursday (December 31) announced the date for CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams 2021. Pokhriyal announced that CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams 2021 will be held from Many 4 to June 10 and the results of the exams will be released on July 15.

We have decided to conduct Class 10 and 12 CBSE board exams from May 4. The exams will conclude by June 10, 2021. Results will be out by July 15, Pokhariyal said in a video message on Thursday.

The Education Minister made this announcement during a live session with students. The minister also announced that Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will release the date sheets online at the board's official website -cbse.nic.in.

Minutes after Pokhriyal's announcement, CBSE announced that the schools will be allowed to conduct Practical/Project/Internal Assessment of Class 10 and 12 from March 1, 2021 to last date of conduct of theory examination of these classes. The CBSE will soon issue the datesheet of both Class 10 and 12 Practical Exams.

CBSE Board Exam 2021: How to check datesheets online

Step 1: Visit the official website of CBSE, i.e., cbse.nic.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link that reads 'CBSE Board Exam 2021 date sheet for classes 10 and 12'

Step 3: A new page will appear on the screen.

Step 4: Select Class 10 or Class 12 as per your preference.

Step 5: Your CBSE Board Exam 2021 datesheet will appear on the screen.

Step 6: Download it and take a printout for future reference.

CBSE Board Exam 2021: Sample papers

The Central Board of Secondary Education has already released the sample papers for CBSE Class class 10 and 12 board exams 2021 on its official website.

CBSE Board Exam 2021 syllabus

It is to be noted that CBSE has already reduced the syllabus for each subject by 30 percent and the paper for CBSE Class 10, 12 Board exams 2021 will be based on the reduced syllabus. The revised syllabus of the exam is available on the official website of CBSE.

CBSE Board Exam 2021 admit card

CBSE is expected to soon release CBSE Admit Card 2021 for the upcoming CBSE Board Exams 2021. The admit card is an important documents required to get the entry in Central Board of Secondary Examination centre.
To convert to a district, both the Library Board and the City Council had to approve the move, which they did late last year. The conversion needed a final blessing from the 16th Circuit Court, but it was delayed while the courts were closed for most functions due to the pandemic. As things started to reopen last summer, a judge gave approval to the conversion.
Flights between India and the United Kingdom will resume from January 8, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Friday. The flights were suspended after the mutated strain of coronavirus wreaked havoc across the island nation last month. Earlier this week, the suspension was extended till January 7. Until January 23, only 15 flights per week have been approved for airlines of both countries. Flight operations will be allowed to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad only, Puri mentioned.

"It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from January 8, 2021. Operations till January 23 will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only," Puri tweeted.

It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021.

Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly a Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 1, 2021

The limit of 15 flights per week for each country's carriers means that Indian airlines will get 15 flights per week and British air carriers will operate 15 flights per week. This arrangement will remain in force from January 8 to 23.

Currently, Air India and Vistara operate flights to the United Kingdom. British Airlines and Virgin Atlantic operate flights to India. DGCA is expected to announce the division of alloacted 15 flights between the Indian airlines shortly.

Meanwhile, the number of people infected with the UK strain of coronavirus in India rose to 29 as four new cases were detected on Friday.

ALSO READ: India suspends international flights till January 31, 2021; cargo operations exempted

ALSO READ: COVID-19 mutant: Scientists advise complete lockdown in the UK
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Nine nuns have died from Covid-19 in just over a month at a New York convent after an outbreak infected at least 22 sisters.

A spokesman from Albany County - in upstate New York - said that officials were aware of the deaths among the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Latham.

Earlier in the month, it had been reported that 22 of the 140 sisters at the convent had contracted the disease that has now killed 37,983 in the state.

At least thirteen nuns have died at the convent since November 25, although it was unclear if they had all died from coronavirus.

Obituaries showed that of the 13 people that have died at the facility, seven were in their 90s, five in their 80s and one in her late 70s.

Pictured: The congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Latham, Albany where 13 sisters have died - at least nine of which passed due to Covid-19

County spokeswoman Mary Rozak emailed the Times Union a statement from county Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen saying the county was aware of the nine COVID-19-related deaths at the convent.

'Four of the deaths associated with the congregation had been previously reported earlier this month by the hospitals,' the statement from Whalen said. 'The other five were not reported to the Albany County Department of Health by the facility.'

Albany has recorded 3,469 cases of the coronavirus - a rate of 8,922 cases per 100,000 people - and 202 related deaths.

The deaths at the 370-year-old convent come as part of the region's worst period in terms of infections since the beginning of the pandemic.

'Our department has been working with the congregation on outbreak control since early December, and worked with additional private professional staff brought in by the facility to provide infection control guidance,' Whalen said.

She added that the convent does not fall under the oversight of the state Department of Health or other regulatory agencies.

'Our heartfelt condolences go out to those in the community,' Whalen said.

In the most recent obituary posted to the congregation's Facebook page on December 22, the death of Joan Marie Curley was announced.

'Deeply aware these days of that mysterious paradox of sadness and joy, we announce the death of our beloved Sister Joan Marie Curley, CSJ (Sister Richarda Wlliam), 84, who died Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at St. Josephs Provincial House, Latham,' the message read.

Similar messages have been posted about the other sisters that have passed away in the last month, but did not clarify whether they had been victims of Covid-19.

Mary DeTurris Poust , a spokeswoman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, told the news outlet: 'All of us at the Diocese of Albany are praying for the Sisters during this challenging time.

'In addition to the loss of so many beloved sisters who served others so selflessly for decades, there is the added difficulty of not being able to celebrate their lives as a community due to COVID restrictions.

'As for so many people who have lost loved ones in recent months, the already difficult task of grieving is made even more difficult by isolation and lack of closure.'

Poust said on Monday that Mary Rose Noonan - the director of communications at the convent - had told her that the facility was still grieving the loss of the sisters and was not ready to give a public statement at the time.

Noonan had also said the home has 'had cases like every other nursing home but the deceased were not all COVID patients and we would like to protect the privacy of all of our sisters at the present time,' the Times Union reported.

On March 16, St. Joseph's announced via its website that because of the pandemic and guidelines from health officials, general public access to the facility were to be suspended and prohibited until further notice.

All masses, meetings and programs were also cancelled until May 31.

A statement from county Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen (pictured) said the county was aware of the nine COVID-19-related deaths at the convent

The Sisters of St. Joseph's congregation dates back to 1650 in southern France. After five sisters were executed by revolutionaries during the French Revolution, they went undercover and moved to the United States.

They first moved to near the village of Carondelet outside St. Louis. They opened a school in Oswego before later moving to Albany, where they founded the College of Saint Rose in 1920.

The Latham location dates back to 1963 and serves as the center and headquarters for the congregation's Albany Province, and as a home for retired nuns from the congregation, including those in need of long-term health care.

According to the congregation's Facebook page, the convent and monastery is a 'Catholic community of women religious who work to bring God's unifying and reconciling love wherever the needs are.

'Through our ministry in education, health care, parish and social services, the arts, spiritual direction, counseling and hospitality and through our life together in prayer and community, we try to serve all God's people, especially the poor.'
MASON CITY, Iowa - A majority of the people who spoke to KIMT News 3 this afternoon seem to be glad that 2020 is almost gone and they're looking forward to what 2021 might hold.

Of course, the biggest thing on everyone's mind is the pandemic. People are saying they are tired of wearing masks and having to be separated from family and friends.

They're also sad about missing out on some big events this year, like the 4th of July.

It's not just the pandemic on people's minds, it's another 'P' word, politics.

The election was also a source of stress for many of the people we spoke with and they hope 2021 is more peaceful in that regard.

Francis Miller gives his hopes for a pandemic free new year.

"I'm hoping it will be eradicated someway or another with the shots that are going on. I'm just hoping and praying especially for the restaurants and the businesses who will be able to open up," said Miller.

Miller also said he hopes both sides of the political spectrum can work together and do what's best for the country in 2021.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), speaks at a press conference in Washington on Dec. 1, 2020. (Tom Williams/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Senate Overrides Trumps Veto of NDAA, 13 Members Uphold Veto

The Senate voted to override President Donald Trumps veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2021.

The upper house on Jan. 1 passed the bill without the presidents signature with an 8013 votethe first time a Trump veto had been overridden. The debate over the bill was ended earlier in the day with the same result.

Thirteen senators voted to sustain Trumps veto of the bill, including Republicans Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and John Kennedy (R-La.).

Across the aisle, supporters were Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The House voted on Dec. 28 to override Trumps veto with a 32287 vote.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated early this week that his chamber would vote to override Trumps veto. He urged the Senate Republicans to pass the bill, breaking away from the president.

The president said Republicans lost a chance to abandon Section 230 after the Senate override.

Our Republican Senate just missed the opportunity to get rid of Section 230, which gives unlimited power to Big Tech companies, he stated in a Twitter post.

Trump vetoed the NDAA on Dec. 23 for a number of reasons, including wasteful spending overseas and a failure to remove Section 230the liability shield that protects social media companies.

He said hes unhappy with the bill also because it requires the renaming of historic military installations, restricts the presidents ability to use military construction funds for national emergency use, and contradicts his efforts to bring the U.S. troops back from overseas.

For all of these reasons, I cannot support this bill, Trump said in a statement on Dec. 23.

The president emphasized that despite his veto, hes a strong supporter of the military.

No one has worked harder, or approved more money for the military, than I haveover $2 trillion, he wrote in his statement. During my 4 years, with the support of many others, we have almost entirely rebuilt the United States military, which was totally depleted when I took office.

My Administration has taken strong actions to help keep our Nation safe and support our service members.
Karnataka schools and PU colleges set to reopen on January 1

Karnataka's schools and pre-university colleges are set to reopen today after a span of nine-and-a-half months. According to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), all teachers and non-teaching staff have to mandatorily get tested for COVID-19 and can attend classes only after they get a negative report for the RT-PCR test.

PM Narendra Modi to lay foundation stone for 1,144 houses for EWS category in Rajkot

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually lay the foundation stone for 1,144 houses for people from the EWS category to be built at Rajkot under the Centre's 'light house project' (LHP), the Gujarat government said. .

In Delhi, commercial vehicles without RFID tag banned from January 1

The Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas announced that commercial vehicles without RFID tags will not be allowed to enter the city from Friday (January 1). It also warned that commercial vehicles without RFID tags or inadequate balance in the tags, will not be allowed entry from January 1.

Mahindra and Mahindra, Nissan, Datsun cars to cost 5% more from January 1

Mahindra and Mahindra have announced that they will increase the prices of their cars from January 1, 2021 to offset the impact of rising input costs. Meanwhile, car maker Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd too announced that it will increase the prices of all its models by five percent effective from January 1, 2021.
Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:48 pm

The Salvation Armys annual Red Kettle Campaign, situated outside retail stores throughout the community leading up to Christmas, has yielded lower than expected returns.

As of Wednesday night, with just one final day left in the campaign that ended Jan. 1, 2021, the red kettles had raised just $64,000; a 19 percent lower return than the Red Kettle Campaigns goal of $79,000.

We set the goal for our Red Kettle Campaign at $79,000  thats basically $1 per resident of Lewis County, said Lieutenant Gin Pack, co-director of The Salvation Army in Lewis County.

The Salvation Army in Centralia sent out a press release Wednesday, asking the community to donate to its virtual red kettles to help make up the difference before the end of the year.

In comparison, the Red Kettle Campaign raised about $70,000 in 2019. The decrease in donations is due to the closing of retail stores, the decline in foot traffic and shoppers carrying less cash, Pack said. The Salvation Army also had a tough time retaining bell ringers, which Pack said was likely due to people not wanting to be near others for long periods of time and possibly be exposed to COVID-19.

We, as a society, have done an excellent job at adapting to a world where a pandemic is going on, which meant more accessibility to online retailers and less foot traffic and donations at retail stores in Lewis County, Pack said.

But donations were needed this holiday season more than ever before, she said, with an increased number of people needing services due to the pandemic. During 2020, an average of 50 percent more people turned to the charitable organization for assistance, including many new families coming to The Salvation Army for the first time. The Salvation Army relies on donations from the community to fund services year-round in the community.

Money raised during the Red Kettle Campaign is a critical source of funding for the organizations services throughout the year, including its food bank, hygiene center, shelter, financial and rental assistance for the needy and other social services. Many of the services provided fill a gap where grants dont always fit in.

We know the need for Salvation Army services will continue into 2021, as so many families continue to experience economic challenges due to the COVID pandemic, Pack said.

For anyone who was unable to donate to the Red Kettle Campaign, but still wants to donate, they can do so online at centralia.salvationarmy.org. Walk-in donations are also welcome and donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box: 488, Centralia, Washington.

Anything thats donated directly to our location stays in Lewis County, Pack said. Thats the important part, too.
OTTAWA - The fraught, often frightening year of 2020 may be over, but experts warn the dawn of a new one doesn't leave behind the troubles caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People are ushered in to a COVID19 testing centre at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto December 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

OTTAWA - The fraught, often frightening year of 2020 may be over, but experts warn the dawn of a new one doesn't leave behind the troubles caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients in multiple Canadian hotspots are flooding hospitals at an alarming rate and expected to arrive in even greater numbers in the weeks to come, doctors and health centres said Friday.

If these rates of increase continue the way they are, the months of January and February are absolutely going to be brutal. Its just a question of how brutal will it be," said Anthony Dale, head of the Ontario Hospital Association.

One-fifth of the province's intensive care capacity is now devoted to COVID-19 patients, with Toronto and the regions of Peel, York, and Windsor-Essex hardest hit.

Dale said 45 of the 149 COVID-19 patients admitted into intensive care in Ontario last week have died.

We will see accelerating numbers of unnecessary deaths  more people dying. We will see more people suffering in intensive care and in hospitals," he said, calling the situation "totally unsustainable."

The spike could jeopardize elective surgeries and other care. Some hospitals have already started to cancel procedures, adding to the backlog created after 160,000 were nixed in the first wave, he added.

"Even though COVID's going on, people still get cancer, they still get heart disease, they still need organ transplants."

He said the pandemic has prompted staff shortages at numerous hospitals, with some front-line workers redeployed to testing centres, labs and long-term care homes.

Hospitals in the greater Montreal area are on track to exceed capacity within the next three weeks, with almost two-thirds of beds designated for coronavirus patients already occupied, according to a report from INESSS, a government-funded health institute.

"Unfortunately, if the trend continues, this will have to be compensated in particular by the additional shedding of non-COVID treatments in our hospitals," Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said Thursday in a Twitter post in French.

However, the projection did not take into account Premier Francois Legault's shutdown of all non-essential businesses in the province from Dec. 25 to Jan. 11., which could help curb the spread, said Dr. Luc Boileau, who heads the institute.

The good news behind all of this is the vaccinations coming on," Boileau said. The impact of this will be manifest on the outbreaks inside health services and of course lowering mortality.

Nearly 500,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which requires ultracold storage, have been distributed across the Canada since Health Canada approved it on Dec. 9.

The Moderna vaccine  green-lighted on Dec. 23  has also started to roll off tarmacs, beginning to reach remote and First Nations communities over the past week. Its -20 C storage temperatures make for easier delivery compared to the -70 C needed for the Pfizer vaccine.

The country's not in the clear yet.

Individuals need to make sensible choices around social distancing and staying home, said Tim Sly, an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University's School of Public Health.

"We're still seeing knucklehead parties from seven to 14 to 25 people, raving out there with no masks, lots of booze and drinking and hugging and kissing and so on," Sly said. "That's avoidable."

Public officials are not above making dubious travel choices, with several prominent politicians taking heat for holiday travel despite public-health guidelines to stay home.

On Friday evening, the federal NDP released a statement saying that MP Niki Ashton travelled to Greece to see an ill family member, and would consequently be relieved of her shadow cabinet roles, which include transportation.

"While we are sympathetic to Ms. Ashton's situation and understand her need to be with her family, millions of Canadians are following public health guidelines, even when it made it impossible for them to visit sick or aging relatives," the party said.

Earlier, Rod Phillips resigned as Ontarios finance minister after cutting short a Caribbean vacation, while Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard came under fire for a Hawaiian getaway from Dec. 19 to Dec. 31.

Surgeries typically ramp-up following a winter holiday lull, but more could now be sidelined due to the ripple effects of rule-flouting, said Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician at St. Joseph's hospital in Hamilton and an associate professor at McMaster University.

"If theres no beds to put those patients in afterwards, unfortunately those surgeries just get cancelled," he said.

St. Joseph's has opened a satellite site in a revamped hotel, transferring dozens of patients to the renovated facility in order to keep the main health centre's occupancy rate below 90 per cent to handle the expected surge.

We're filled to the brim," Chagla said.

I have patients that didnt have COVID but had horrible outcomes because ... they werent able to access care the way they should," he added, recalling the first wave.

"Im very worried about those individuals again going into the next three to four months, that were going to see a fallout of people that have missed cancer diagnoses or infections that needed to be treated earlier.

Its a lot of strain on a system that is already strained, he said.

Canada's two largest provinces reported new record highs of COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

Ontario reported 3,328 new cases and 56 more deaths linked to the virus, matching the highest death toll from the first wave. In Quebec, there were 2,819 new cases and 62 deaths.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said Thursday more than 720 patients hospitalized with the virus are now receiving treatment in ICUs, including 337 in Ontario and 165 in Quebec.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2021.
Look out from the south coast of England towards the horizon and you may spot a piled cloud formation that ancient myth dubbed Summerland, a fluffy eruption of turrets and castle where dead Saxon souls went to enjoy an array of their favourite things. Here on land, its the early 1940s. The war is in full swing, but barely registers with cantankerous scholar Alice, a professional debunker of myths, legends and local mirages who spends her days scraping at relics of old religions.

Goodness knows there is no shortage of gently whimsical British films set during World War II, but Jessica Swales Summerland pushes the boat in a slightly different direction. Alice (Gemma Arterton) owes her rationalist commitment to a beloved father, who died at sea during the last war; she lives alone, snapping at all comers.

The village children push rubbish through the weird spinster ladys letterbox and the ladies auxiliary luminaries tut-tut as she shrugs off their efforts to rope her into knitting socks for the troops. Nobody can believe it when she is assigned an evacuee from London: a little boy called Frank (Lucas Bond) whose own father is at war, feared dead. Will he crack her scaly shell? No prizes for guessing the answer to that one, but the story has other twists in store.

Gemma Arterton and Lucas Bond in Summerland. Credit:Michael Wharley

Few actors are as inherently charming as Gemma Arterton, but she says she revelled in the opportunity Summerland gave her to be unpleasant. When she read Swales original script, she says, she was thinking only of producing it; the role was written for someone about 50. Swale responded to her enthusiasm by rewriting it for her; Arterton is 34 next month. I loved how unapologetic she was. And I think I hadnt played a character like that on screen, she says.
Bharat Biotech expects approval of Covaxin for emergency use from WHO in July- September

Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 crore doses for 2021

Ahead of COVID-19 vaccine rollout, 96,000 vaccinators undergo training

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: As India plans to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine, nearly 96,000 vaccinators have been trained.

In a high level meeting with the states and ITs, the Centre said that the effective preparedness should be ensured. On January 2 a dry run would be conducted. This comes in the wake of the drug regulator's panel getting to set to meet today to consider the emergency use authorisation for Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Preparations are underway on a massive scale for the launch of the world's largest vaccination driver against COVID-19.

WHO clears Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the people should not let their guard down and strictly abide by the COVID-19 preventive norms even after the vaccination. The PM said this while speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the AIIMS, Rajkot.

Earlier, I said 'dawai nahi too dheelai nahi." Now I am saying dawai bhi aur kadaai (caution) bhi. Our New Year mantra should be dawai bhi aur kadaai.

The PM said that people will be given doses of the vaccine manufactured in India. He also said that the last day of the year is to remember lakhs of doctors, health warriors, sanitisation staff, pharmacists and other frontline workers. I pay my respect to those people who have sacrificed their lives while performing their duties.

The PM said that in 2020, there was an atmosphere of disappointment and dismay due to the infection.

There were doubts, but in 2021 there comes a ray of hope in terms of its treatment. He also described the battle against COVID-19 as a fight against an unknown enemy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rajkot, Gujarat, via video conference, the PMO said.

In run up to COVID-19 vaccine, all states, UTs to conduct dry runs on Jan 2

Over 201 acres of land has been allotted for the institute, which will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,195 crore and is expected to be completed by mid-2022, the Prime Minister''s Office said.

The state-of-the-art 750-bed hospital will also have a 30-bed AYUSH block. It will have 125 MBBS seats and 60 nursing seats, the PMO said.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 13:40 [IST]
A Massachusetts State Police trooper was injured late Thursday when he was hit by gunfire on Nursery Street as he responded to a call for a reported shooting, official said.

The trooper, whose name was not disclosed, suffered an injury described as not life-threatening, according to state police spokesman David Procopio. The trooper was treated at Baystate Medical Center and has since been discharged.

The trooper was struck when the bullet passed through his cruiser, he said. He was responding to a Shot-spotter alert for gunfire in the area of 195 Nursery. He was struck just as he arrived at the scene.

Springfield police responded to the scene also, and a Springfield officer provided immediate first aid to the trooper until an ambulance arrived, said Springfield police spokesman Ryan Walsh.

Walsh said a Springfield police cruiser was also hit by gunfire in the same incident, but it was unoccupied at the time.

The trooper is assigned to the Springfield barracks on Armory Street, and was a member of the most recent state police academy class that graduated in May.

As news of the shooting spread, the State Police Association of Massachusetts posted a statement on Twitter that read Tonight, one of our members has a lot to be thankful for. Not the way to end and start off the New Year, with another Trooper being shot!

Col. Christopher S. Mason, superintendent of the state police, on Friday issued a statement that read:

I commend our Trooper for his proactive response to the shot-spotter alert that led to his being shot. He rushed to a scene where he knew violence was occurring, in order to investigate and end a threat to public safety.

I am also extremely grateful to the Springfield officer who cared for our injured Trooper at the scene, to the EMTs who treated him and took him to the hospital, and to the medical professionals who cared for him there.

Last nights shooting once again underscores the dangers faced on any given shift by Massachusetts State Troopers and all police officers who protect our communities. Again we are reminded  as if any reminder was necessary that no tour of duty is routine or predictable for law enforcement officers.

We continue to investigate the incident so that we may identity and hold accountable the person or persons responsible for this violent act, and we will continue to provide all necessary support to the Trooper involved.

The investigation is ongoing, Procopio said.
Theyll tear a plane apart in midair if the crew isnt careful, the movie suggests, taking the idea of these havoc-wreakers to their most malevolent extreme  even more than that now-classic Twilight Zone episode Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, and repeated in the 1983 feature, two pop-culture touchstones that were obvious influences on Max Landis script, which Liang overhauled to suit her own agenda. Who knows what Landis imagined for the movie, but Liang has turned this white-knuckle survival story into a compelling parable for all the crap women put up with from disrespectful dudes. Setting the film in 1943 allows the helmer to amplify the sexism, although most of what she depicts still goes on today  so thats not the part that strains credibility.
The federal government will release the initial options for an Indigenous "Voice" to Parliament on the back of changing one word of the national anthem to reflect the millennia-long connection of First Nations people to the Australian land.

The interim report of the three co-design working groups, with options for a national Voice and local/regional ones, along with a discussion paper to prompt six months of consultation, is expected to be announced next week.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt and Prime Minister Scott Morrison will soon release the options for an Indigenous Voice to government. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Senior advisory group co-chairs Tom Calma and Marcia Langton delivered the report to Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt in October.

While Prime Minister Scott Morrison has agreed to release the report, it has not taken a formal position on any of the proposed models and is not expected to do so until after the consultation ends in mid-2021.
Posted Friday, January 1, 2021 11:23 am

Washington state will rely on an honor system to determine eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations, so those administering vaccines do not have to police who qualifies.

The state plans to launch an online questionnaire  called PhaseFinder  soon where people can determine their own eligibility for vaccination.

When more vaccination sites are available, members of the public could present screenshots of their questionnaire results at vaccination sites, said Mary Huynh, a deputy director at the state Department of Health. The state also plans to provide a template letter for employers to vouch for workers' eligibility.

"This tool will help with all the questions we're getting from people about which phase I'm in, where can I get vaccine?" said Huynh, of PhaseFinder, during a Thursday meeting of the state's vaccine advisory committee.

As Washington seeks to speed its vaccine rollout, these tools could be efficient means to clarify who is eligible for vaccination, but they're reliant on Washington residents to faithfully represent themselves. And efficiency comes at a cost  health officials acknowledge people will likely take advantage of the system and attempt to jump their spot in the priority line.

"It's all self-reported. It's all trust-based," Huynh told the committee. "We really wanted to relieve the burden of the vaccination site to have to assess phase eligibility. It's just awkward conversation ..."

As hospitals vaccinate health care providers outside of their systems  nurses from small community clinics, dental hygienists and others  it is difficult to know who is eligible, said Darcy Jaffe, the vice president of safety and quality at the Washington State Hospital Association.

"The hospitals have been pretty clear that they don't want to be the vaccine police," she said.

Administrators don't want to have to "interrogate someone" who shows up requesting a vaccine, Jaffe added.

Department of Health officials have told hospitals they wouldn't face official repercussions if they happen to vaccinate someone ahead of their priority phase, Jaffe said.

The PhaseFinder tool, which the health department plans to make broadly available to the public, is designed to take care of any questioning.

It will include questions about someone's age, ZIP code, preexisting conditions, their occupation and living situation, according to a DOH presentation for vaccine providers posted online. A pilot version of PhaseFinder, for people in the first vaccination phase, asks for age, and if the user works in a health care setting or lives in a long-term care facility, whether they plan to get the vaccine, and if they want to be notified by email or text when eligible.

The tool will come in multiple languages, according to the presentation, and will refer a user to a vaccination site through VaccineFinder.org, an existing national platform for seasonal flu vaccines, vaccines for travel and other routine vaccines.

Some people might not have internet access or the ability to use an online tool. Huynh said the health department wants to provide multiple routes for people to determine their eligibility, and suggested that providers could ask questions in person at vaccination sites, provide an iPad or other device for people to use Phasefinder on-site or rely on voucher letters.

Dr. Jeff Duchin, of Public Health  Seattle & King County, who said he had used a demo version of the PhaseFinder tool, noted that people could repeat the questionnaire to get the desired results about their eligibility.

"We recognize people can game the system. That's going to happen. We really wanted to stick to principles of having this be trust-based," Huynh said.

Duchin said he suspected it will soon become common knowledge how to manipulate the questionnaire and get vaccinated more quickly.

"We don't have a good system set up to easily create verification, so we want to err on the side of vaccine getting into arms," said Michele Roberts, the state Department of Health's acting assistant secretary.

During the vaccine advisory meeting, Duchin said he was concerned about public perception if the system could be easily manipulated.

"I do worry about the perception that there's no control over whose getting vaccinated before we get through the high risk adults," Duchin said. "It just makes me wonder whether we should abandon the pretense of prioritization after a certain point."

The honor system could face its first big test as soon as this month, when the state could open up its next priority phase.

While the state Department of Health hasn't released its Phase 1b priority list, observers say it is likely to follow the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a national group of doctors and health officials who counsel the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on priority.

That group recommends Phase 1b include people 75 and older, and people with "front line essential" jobs: food and agricultural workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers and others whose jobs are critical for society and require them to be on-site and in proximity to others.

A national grocery chain may have human resources personnel who could notify workers when it's their turn, and provide a corporate voucher letter, but a small deli, for instance, may not have the same capacity and employees may have to vouch for themselves, said Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Preexisting medical conditions will pose another challenge. Medical records are generally not centralized. A pharmacy, for instance, wouldn't have time to verify if someone has type 2 diabetes. Again, it will require trust.

"The majority of people would follow the honor system, I would hope," Adalja said. He noted that during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, people generally adhered to their priority groups for vaccines.

"If you vaccinate somebody outside of their schedule, it's not the end of the world," he added. "Ideally we want to get everybody to be vaccinated."

Much of the U.S. will rely on an honor system.

"We really don't have a choice," Tinglong Dai, an associate professor specializing in health care at Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.

The CDC's priority system is nuanced and harder to implement, Dai said, compared to an age-based priority scheme like the United Kingdom's. "The reality is we have such a highly fragmented health care system that makes information sharing costly, time-consuming, and often impossible."

Dai said finding ways to verify eligibility will be important.

"Nothing is more important than public trust for this mass vaccination to be successful." Dai said. "Verifying priority eligibility is essential because nobody will trust a system that can be easily gamed."

During the first phase of vaccination, vaccine providers could choose to ask for employee identification badges along with voucher letters, said Danielle Koenig, a health department spokesperson.

"We have not yet shared a system for verifying eligibility past phase 1a," Koenig wrote in an email to The Seattle Times. "We hope everyone in Washington will be honest and get the vaccine in the phase they're eligible for to make sure their friends, family members, and community members who are more impacted by the disease get protected first."

Gordon Oakes, the director of clinical support services who is leading vaccinations at Bellevue's Overlake Medical Center, said he was glad the state had created a way to screen vaccine eligibility. Oakes said Overlake had vaccinated about 1,500 people high-risk health workers so far, including some Bellevue firefighters.

As the vaccination effort expands, Oakes said he would "hope for the best in my fellow man" when it came to observing the priority line. He planned to concentrate on getting everyone through as efficiently as possible.

"If you have somebody maybe who misrepresents themselves, I'm not going to get worked up about that. I want people to get taken care of," Oakes said. "We're all in this together."

___

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Quetta, Jan 1 : An accountability court has isAsued bailable arrest warrants of former Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani and others accused for not appearing during the hearing of a reference against misuse of powers.

NAB Balochistan had filed the reference agaiAnst Raisani, his younger brother ex-senator Lashkari Raisani, ex-secretary finaAnAce Dostain JamalAdini and five others last month, the Dawn reported.

The reference alleged that the accused received Rs 817 million (Pakistani currency) for the rehabilitation and compensation of the MehrAAgarh archive site which was badly damaged during a clash between two tribes.

The accused got approval of this amount by misusing powers, putting pressure on the auAAthoArities concerned and preparing wrong estimates of the losses.
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U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said his son Tommy (pictured) has died at the age of 25

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said his son has died.

Raskin announced the death Thursday of Tommy Bloom Raskin, 25. No cause of death was given.

The younger Raskin was a student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Amherst College.

'Tommy was pure magic. His brilliance and compassion knew no bounds. He passionately loved his family, friends, and animals, and was devoted to the cause of the global poor.

'We are devastated and demolished to be without him,' Jamie Raskin and his wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, said in a statement.

They added: 'Tommy is survived by his beloved sisters Hannah and Tabitha, dozens of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and grandparents Arlene Bloom and Lynn Raskin.

'The family is grateful for the outpouring of support and love from neighbors, constituents, and friends but asks everyone to observe strict COVID-19 protocols during this time of grief.'

Rep. Raskin is a Democrat who was first elected to Congress in 2016.

He represents Marylands eighth district, which includes Montgomery, Carroll, and Frederick counties.

On Twitter, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said he and First Lady Yumi Hogan extend their deepest sympathies to the Raskin family.

Raskin (pictured left with his parents in May) was a student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Amherst College

Tommy is survived by his beloved sisters Hannah and Tabitha, dozens of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and grandparents Arlene Bloom and Lynn Raskin

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball also expressed condolences in a statement: 'Tonight, our thoughts and sympathies are with my friend Representative Jamie Raskin and his wife, former Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Sarah Bloom Raskin, and the Raskin family over the loss of their son, brother, and beloved, Thomas Bloom Raskin.

'Like his mother and father, Tommy was dedicated to making our world a better place by lifting up the most vulnerable amongst us.

'From working on Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation to the rigors of Harvard Law school, this young man was destined to do great things nationally and abroad.

'Losing a child is an unthinkable tragedy and on behalf of the Howard County residents, our prayers are with the Raskin family as we wish them strength over the days, weeks, and years ahead to overcome such a devastating loss.'

'We are devastated and demolished to be without him,' Jamie Raskin and his wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, said in a statement
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 05:34:25|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Thursday the statements made by the spokesperson for the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which he addressed Egypt's internal affairs.

In a statement, the Egyptian ministry described the statements of the Ethiopian diplomat as an unacceptable "blatant transgression."

In a recent press conference, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Dina Mufti, criticized Egypt regarding the issue of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and touched on Egyptian internal affairs. Enditem
DENVER, Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 5280 Radon Mitigation is currently offering $150 off of a Radon Mitigation System installation for the month of January for National Radon Action Month .

The company says that Colorado residents may be unaware that their homes should be tested for high levels of radon gas. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, approximately 50% of Colorado homes have radon levels higher than the action limit of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air (pCl/i ) recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

If a home is found to have radon levels above the EPA guidelines, 5280 Radon Mitigation guarantees to bring the radon levels below the threshold with Radon Mitigation Services. The company offers free no-pressure estimates for homes and businesses and a 7-year system warranty for all radon mitigation systems installed. If at any time during the 7-year warranty period a home's radon levels go above 4.0pCi/L, the company will fix it free of charge. Additionally, customers receive a free radon test kit to assess the performance of their new radon mitigation system post-installation.

"Most people don't realize that radon is the largest exposure to radiation and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. We want to make sure that all Coloradans have access to clean air in their homes. Our expert technicians and installers are certified through the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and are committed to making sure your loved ones can breathe easy," said Bryan Coy, Owner of 5280 Radon Mitigation.

Take advantage of this special offer by calling (720) 695-6677 or by scheduling a free estimate .

About 5280 Radon Mitigation:

5280 Radon Mitigation serves homeowners and businesses throughout the front range of Colorado, from Colorado Springs to Ft. Collins. They provide reliable radon testing and radon mitigation systems at an affordable price with an industry-leading 7-year warranty. The company also works with real estate agents and home inspectors to ensure homebuyers move into healthy homes.

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SOURCE 5280 Radon Mitigation
President on Friday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of the and expressed hope that the people of the country will move ahead with renewed energy to achieve the common goal of the country's progress.

Taking to Twitter, the President in a series of tweets said that challenges that arose out of the COVID-19 situation strengthen the country's determination to move forward together.

"Happy everyone! provides an opportunity to make a fresh beginning and resolve for individual and collective development. Challenges arising out of COVID-19 situation strengthen our determination to move forward unitedly," the official Twitter account of Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted.

"Let us continue to work together for creating an inclusive society filled with the spirit of love and compassion that promotes peace and goodwill. May all of you remain safe and healthy, and march ahead with renewed energy to achieve the common goal of our nation's progress," Rashtrapati Bhavan said in another tweet.

President in his greetings to citizens on the eve of New Year 2021 urged them to work together towards creating an inclusive society instilled with the spirit of love, compassion, and forbearance that promotes peace and goodwill.

In his message, he said the difficult time arising out of the COVID-19 situation is a time for people to move forward in a united manner.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India's drug regulator, which met on January 1, has recommended conditional use of Serum Institute of India's (SII) COVID-19 vaccine, sources said. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) would take the final decision on the vaccine on the basis of the SEC recommendation.

The SEC is also reviewing the emergency use applications of Bharat Biotech and Pfizer for their COVID-19 vaccines.

In an emergency situation, like a pandemic that is causing great human loss and damage to the economy, it may not be possible to have all the data related to safety and efficacy that regulators expect in normal times. The regulator will have to rely on preliminary data to assess whether a particular vaccine or drug will actually save lives and whether its benefits outweigh risks. The regulators may also take a cue from what the other regulators have done.

Unlike in the US, in India, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act doesnt have any specific provision that allows the special use of drugs and other medical products during emergencies like pandemics. But if there is an emergency and unmet medical need, and the drug or vaccine in question has evidence of safety and efficacy, the Indian regulator has the flexibility to approve the drug, on condition that the vaccine maker will have to do post-marketing surveillance.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The approvals of HCQ, Remdesivir and Convalescent Plasma were given, based on limited clinical data, but without randomised clinical trials. Experts say things are different for vaccines as vaccine developers have to conduct double-blind randomised control trials - where the volunteers who get the vaccine (vaccine arm) are compared to those who get placebo (control arm). To ensure there isnt any bias, both the person taking the vaccine and one who is administering it are 'blinded', which means they don't know whether it is a vaccine or a placebo.In the SII's case - the SEC and DCGI have reviewed the emergency use applications based on the data generated from the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford clinical trial from the UK and Brazil. The experts and regulator will also review the interim data for safety and immunogenicity of all participants from the SII's Phase 2/3 bridging trial in India.

The UKs MHRA assessed the efficacy of the vaccine based on 131 events in 11,636 people merging data across two trials from the UK and Brazil.

So far, the data related to SII's Phase 2/3 bridging trial in India hasn't been published, and we don't know what is the efficacy of the vaccine with respect to India trial. The participants, who took two full doses of the vaccine, appeared to be only 62 percent successful at preventing disease, while those who got a half dose, followed by a full dose were about 90 percent immune. That latter analysis was conducted on a smaller subset of only 2,741, all from the UK. AstraZeneca claims that the primary efficacy endpoint based on a pooled analysis showed that the vaccine was 70.4 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 occurring more than 14 days after receiving two doses of the vaccine. The UK regulator said that vaccine efficacy appeared to rise to 80 percent in a smaller group of volunteers who were given the two doses roughly three months, rather than four weeks apart.

A secondary efficacy endpoint of prevention of severe disease demonstrated no cases of severe infections or hospitalisations in the vaccine group.

The UK regulator recommended two doses administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks. India expected to follow a similar pattern.The company has indicated a price of $3-$4 a dose for governments, making it the most affordable vaccine. For the first wave of the rollout for 300 million people, the Indian government is expected to foot the bill.The vaccine can be stored at 2-8 degrees temperature, which means that it can be stored in normal refrigerators for up to six months, making it easier to administer in countries like India.Serum Institute of India (SII) has stockpiled 75 million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine, and will be increasing it to 100 million doses by the first week of January. About 50 percent of the vaccine supplies would go to India and the rest would go to COVAX, the WHO's programme to deliver COVID-19 vaccine to low and middle-income countries. However, during the initial months, India would get priority in supplies. The capacity is enough for Indian government to administer 2.5 crore people. About 80 percent of the vaccine is shipped directly from a manufacturer to State and divisional vaccine stores, depending on the airport availability. About 20 percent of the annual need is kept as a buffer in the four Government Medical Store Depots (GMSDs) where stock is maintained for a maximum of three months. Serum said they are ready to ship the vaccines following approval.
RAMALLAH, West Bank  As part of measures to prevent the spread of bird flu, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture in Ramallah culled thousands of young birds imported from Israel, thus inflicting huge material losses on Palestinian farmers in the West Bank.

The ministry announced in a statement Dec. 14 strict preventive measures in the wake of the outbreak of bird flu within the Green Line, after the Israeli Veterinary Services informed veterinary authorities in the West Bank about the registration of clusters of the flu (H5N8) in different areas within the Green Line, specifically at turkey, poultry and poultry barns.

After the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture announced Oct. 14 the discovery of a cluster of bird flu in an agricultural kibbutz that was infected through migratory birds, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture banned the entry of poultry and poultry products into the Palestinian market without it issuing the necessary papers.

Mohammad Mahareeq, owner and director of Al-Mahareeq Investment Company for Poultry in Hebron in the southern West Bank, suffered a heavy loss after the Ministry of Agriculture, with the help of the customs police and the security services, culled Dec. 14, 15,000 broiler turkeys no more than two weeks old, two days after the farm was seized for violating the ministerial decision to ban poultry imports.

Mahareeq told Al-Monitor that the losses he incurred as a result amounted to 200,000 Israeli shekels ($62,000).

Mahareeq has been breeding turkeys for years and has about 60 employees; he imports chicks from Israel, breeds them and then distributes them.

Every two months, I import about 30,000 chicks in two batches with a two-week interval so that the farms are constantly operating, he said. When the bird flu was discovered in Israel in October, I was expecting a batch of chicks, but the ministry asked me to cancel the order, and I respected the ministrys decision. Ever since, our farms have not been operating. We have incurred losses worth millions of shekels.

Mahareeq said that on Nov. 30, he brought about 15,000 chicks without the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture, but two weeks later the ministry culled the birds and categorically refused to cooperate with the farmer, let alone examine the chicks, despite the presence of papers proving their health status.

The Ministry of Agriculture refused to give me 24 hours to defend myself, and it insisted on culling the birds inside the farm not because they were infected, but because I violated its decision, Mahareeq said.

He added that the birds were culled in a heinous way, as they were suffocated inside large plastic bags and left on the farm.

Similarly, the ministry culled Dec. 13 about 13,000 broiler turkeys found on the farm of Amin Barham, a farmer from the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank.

Barham told Al-Monitor that since mid-October, our farms have not been operating because they are committed to the ministrys decision not to import poultry from Israel, but this has caused us losses worth millions. He noted that the batch that was culled was certified by the Israeli Ministry of Health and conformed to the specifications.

I have 60 employees and we have obligations to supply turkey meat to markets and restaurants in the northern and central West Bank. I tried to communicate with the ministry and suggested keeping the birds until a decision was issued, but the ministry refused my suggestion, he noted.

Barham added, The ministry is unable to confront the smuggling of turkeys from Israel into the West Bank. Therefore if the ministry wants to prevent us from importing, it must find us an alternative.

West Bank farmers import turkey chicks from Israel to breed them in their farms due to the lack of incubators. They have, however, incubators for broiler chickens, in which Palestinians are self-sufficient.

Iyad al-Adra, director general of the Veterinary Services and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, told Al-Monitor that the measures were taken to protect the animal wealth due to the outbreak of bird flu within the Green Line more than 2 months ago.

He said, As soon as they learned about the outbreak of the disease within the Green Line, the Palestinian Veterinary Services surveyed all farms and poultry barns and the results came out negative. The tests were repeated, and it was then confirmed that the disease had not reached the country.

Research and monitoring procedures for the disease have also been intensified in the Palestinian territories, and the process of introducing the raw materials needed in the manufacture of meat and mortadella has been organized, he added.

Adra said that there are smuggling operations from Israel into the West Bank, and that is why the ministrys staff, along with the customs police and the Ministrys Agricultural Control, have intensified their monitoring, while many shipments of broiler chicken eggs have been seized and the necessary legal action taken against them. More than 100,000 birds have been culled, he said.

Asked about Mahareeq and Barhams complaints, Adra said, What happened was a smuggling, not a legal import operation, as these imported quantities contradicted the Ministry of Agricultures decision, which posed a great danger that no one could bear the consequences of.

Adra pointed out that, to date, the Israeli authorities have recorded more than 16 clusters of bird flu, 12 of which were at turkey farms, which infers that turkeys are super spreaders, and the decision to prevent their import is still valid and subject to evaluation.

Although farmers have incurred huge financial losses amid concerns over the collapse of the turkey breeding sector, the Ministry of Agriculture seems to be proceeding with its procedures in an attempt to prevent bird flu from reaching the Palestinian territories.
The lawyers for British-born al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and his three aides have filed an appeal petition in a Pakistani court against the refusal of the authorities to release them from jails despite their convictions in the kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl being set aside last month.

In a surprise move, a two-judge bench of the Sindh High Court on December 24 directed security agencies not to keep Sheikh and other accused under "any sort of detention" and declared all notifications of the Sindh government related to their detention "null and void". However, the provincial and jail authorities have not released them as yet.

On Thursday, the lawyers for the four accused filed an appeal in the Sindh High Court and also asked for contempt proceedings against the provincial and jail authorities after which the court issued notices to the two authorities for a hearing on January 7. In April, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench commuted the death sentence of 46-year-old Sheikh to seven years imprisonment.

The court also acquitted his three aides who were serving life terms in the case almost two decades after they were found guilty and jailed. However, the Sindh government refused to release them and kept them in detention under the Maintenance of Public Order. Their continuous detention was challenged in the Sindh High Court, which ordered their release last week. However, the Sindh government said it will not release them in view of the Supreme Court's September 28 order.

A three-judge apex court bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam, which is hearing the appeal by the Sindh government and the family of the slain journalist against the acquittal of Sheikh, on September 28 noted that till the next date of hearing, the accused shall not be released.

In the appeal petition, the lawyers for the four men said that the Sindh High Court had set aside the conviction order of the trial court in April and last week the high court also declared the preventive detention orders of the provincial government illegal and ordered the jail authorities to release them.

The counsel said they had approached senior jail officials on December 24 and provided jail authorities with certified copies of the court order for the release of the petitioners, but they insisted on verification of the order from the Sindh High Court. On December 26, the verification of order was also provided to the jail administration, but they refused to set them free. The US has been mounting pressure on Pakistan, demanding justice for Pearl.

Early this week, the US has said it is ready to take custody of Sheikh, asserting that Washington will not allow him to evade justice. "We cannot allow him to evade justice for his role in Daniel Pearl's abduction and murder," Acting US Attorney General Jeffrey A Rosen said on Tuesday.

"We understand that Pakistani authorities are taking steps to ensure that Omar Sheikh remains in custody while the Supreme Court appeal seeking to reinstate his conviction continues," Rosen said in a statement released by the US State Department. " The separate judicial rulings reversing his conviction and ordering his release are an affront to terrorism victims everywhere," he said.

"We remain grateful for the Pakistani government's actions to appeal such rulings to ensure that he and his co-defendants are held accountable. If, however, those efforts do not succeed, the United States stands ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand trial here," he said.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. Pearl's murder took place three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814.

He was serving a prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country.
A lobby has asked the government to enhance transparency and accountability in the use of Covid-19 funds.

This is amid concerns about the use of billions of shillings set aside to fight the pandemic, by both the national and county governments, as well as claims of embezzlement.

The Health NGOs Network (Hennet), an umbrella organisation of health civil societies in Kenya, raised the alarm over the scarcity of information on funds disbursed to counties or received by the national government from donors.

A report by Hennet, Africa Centre for Health Systems Research and Management and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) revealed that the government secured over Sh200 billion from the international community, including the World Bank and European Union, for the fight against Covid-19.

In April, as part of Kenya's Covid-19 Emergency Response Project, the World Bank approved Sh5.4 billion while the allocation to the National Safety Net Programme (NSNP) was increased by Sh8.7 billion, from Sh30.2 billion to 38.8 billion.

Other shares

An additional Sh1.1 billion was allocated to the National Covid-19 Contingency Plan while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions donated Sh2 billion to the country's coronavirus emergency fund.

In terms of in-kind contribution, Kenya received Jack Ma's care package of 100,000 face masks and 20,000 testing kits in March.

Unep, through its Office for Africa, donated assorted products, including personal protective equipment worth Sh3 million and, according to World Vision's website, the CSO had dispatched PPE and water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) equipment valued at Sh52 million to various countries by June.

The report further showed that by June, the ministry had received Sh83 billion for the fight against Covid-19, the highest expenditure in a financial year.

Scandal

However, individuals at the ministry allegedly took advantage of the plight of Kenyans and embezzled the bulk of the funds, a case in point being the scandal at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa).

The report also fingered a number of counties for being scanty with information regarding use of the money.

For instance, Vihiga County only released information after a demand by MCAs. It showed that the funds had been misappropriated.

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It emerged that the county's emergency committee spent Sh10.2 million on precautionary measures and other logistics in the first 51 days of the pandemic, which was first reported in Kenya on March 13.

Over the same period, Kisumu County spent Sh91.8 million in the fight against the pandemic before its first case was confirmed.

What Hennet wants

Hennet wants the government to post all procurement information related to Covid-19 on government portals to enhance transparency and trust in line with constitutional provisions on access to public information.

"The national government should publicly disclose funds disbursed to county governments," said the organisation's chief executive, Dr Mercy Onsando.

"County governments should also account for funds that have been channelled towards initiatives and projects in mitigating Covid-19," Dr Onsando said, adding that information about these projects should be publicly available.

Hennet further called on relevant agencies to quickly investigate scandals around use of Covid-19 funds.

It also wants the investigative agencies to give the public a detailed update on the Kemsa scandal.

"Hennet is concerned that three months into the Kemsa Covid-19 scandal, investigations have not been concluded and those responsible held to account. This is despite President Uhuru's directive for the investigation to be concluded in 21 days," she said.

She noted that Kemsa has spent billions of shillings on the procurement of supplies yet 97 per cent of the commodities remain in its warehouses, eroding value for money.
CHICO, Calif. - With the new year comes new laws and another minimum wage increase.

But it means money gets just that much tighter for businesses, especially when some have half of their business shutdown because of the pandemic.

"They totally deserve it, and it's a good thing, but right now it's a hard thing," said Charlie Barrett, next to his wife and co-owner of Secret Trail Brewery in Chico. "And we're gonna make it work."

Starting in 2021, the minimum wage for California employees will increase by one dollar per hour, The increase will go from 12 to 13 for businesses with less than 26 employees, and 13 to 14 for businesses with more.

"It's a double-edged sword," said Michelle, "because they need it more because of the pandemic, because of the lack of tips and everything else. We'll do what we need to do to make sure they get it, but it's just tough right now."

The pandemic has closed the brewery's bar and patio since dining of any kind must be closed under the regional stay-at-home order. They follow all of the stay-at-home order guidelines, even if it hurts their bottom line.

"We're only allowed for take-out so it's really impacted business and then having to come up with an extra dollar an hour per employee, it's just tough," said Michelle.

Phil Feser, of Rush Personnel Services, a company that helps employees and employers fill positions, says the increase will hit smaller businesses harder.

"Yeah, it affects smaller businesses more because they may only have two or three employees but they don't have as much income," said Feser over the phone. "Larger companies, they may be able to absorb that cost easier."

"It is something that we'll have to do honestly, but that's just the way business works," said Charlie Barrett when asked whether a wage increase would cause the cost of beer to up in price as well. "Everything is costing us more, it's, unfortunately, gonna cost our customers a bit more."

"We are adjusting our prices to help us cover, just a bit," said Michelle. "It's just with COVID right now and being shut down and not being allowed to have customers, it makes it pretty painful."

Several other businesses said off-camera no matter what the protocols are for the new year when it comes to it, they'll follow them.

In 2021, businesses are also required to notify employees and customers of a coronavirus exposure within 24 hours. This new law will last until 2023.
'People draw hope from Scripture': Bible sales increased amid COVID pandemic

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Bible sales increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the world's largest providers of Christian books and educational material.

Carol Pipes of LifeWay told CBN News that Bible sales have "remained strong since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the U.S. in April and increased through June.

The company's CEO, Ben Mandrell, added that the increase in Bible sales is no accident, as people often go to the Bible as a source of hope in times of crisis and uncertainty.

"People draw hope from Scripture because in it they see a God who is with us during our suffering. The Bible, as God's words to us, is a reminder that He doesn't leave us to walk through difficult times alone, he said.

Fellow faith-based publisher Tyndale House Publishers previously told The Christian Post they also saw an increase in Bible sales amid the pandemic.

This includes their Life Application Study Bible sales going up 44% and sales of the Immerse Bible going up 60%, according to Jim Jewell, an executive at Tyndale.

Jewell said he believed concerns over the pandemic has upended almost everyones lives in some way.

It's not surprising that people turn to the comfort and clarity of the Bible in times of trouble and uncertainty, he said, adding that social media engagement for Tyndale was also growing.

On [our Facebook page for the] New Living Translation, where we post Bible verse memes, engagement was triple what it was last March and up 72% from just last month.

In April, book sales data provider Nielsen BookScan revealed that biblical and liturgical texts had been rapidly climbing the charts. The group said the increase in purchases was an "unusual pattern in comparison to the same period in recent years."

Nielsen cited the closure of churches as a factor, adding that "perhaps people are turning to scripture for comfort in these abnormal and melancholy times ... or perhaps people are curious as to whether the coronavirus is prophesied in Revelations.

David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California, and host of the radio program "Turning Point, told CP that ever since the shutdown began, viewership of his online services has dramatically skyrocketed.

The church is alive and well and maybe more responsive now that I can ever remember except for the possible exception of 9/11, he said. What we've learned from all of this is God doesn't need a building for there to be a church.

I'm preaching right now to more people than I have ever preached to my life, he said, adding that a sermon he delivered in which he addressed whether COVID-19 is mentioned in biblical prophecy received over 1 million views on YouTube.

We've never had anything on YouTube get that kind of traction, he said. When everything in which we have trusted is taken away and we are left with ourselves, we have to ask the hard questions. If this is it, what happens to me now? Theres a renewed interest in the Gospel and a desire to know what the Bible has to say.

Is this the beginning of a revival? This may not be a revival in the truest sense of the Great Awakening, but I believe we are seeing an online revival.

While the pandemic is frightening and frustrating for many people, Jeremiah stressed that God is clearly in the midst of it all, adding: He is with us wherever we are. You don't have to be in a crowd to have God. You just need a quiet moment.
BJP's Saumitra Khan has sparked off speculation that Mamata's forest minister Rajib Banerjee will join BJP soon. After attending a party function in Howrah, Saumitra Khan claimed that either TMC leader Arup Roy or Minister Rajib Banerjee is likely to join BJP. The Bishnupur MP also said that 7-8 other leaders from Howrah are also in talks with the saffron party. Moreover, sources, said that Rajib's supporters have put up posters of their leader alongside Suvendu Adhikari who recently joined BJP. Local media reported Saumitra Khan saying, Arup Roy or Rajiv Bandyopadhyay. Either of these two could join the BJP soon.

This comes after Rajib skipped the cabinet meeting called by CM Mamata. He was incommunicado even as TMC leaders tried contacting him. Rajib Banerjee had openly said that loyal party workers in TMC are being "overlooked". He later reiterated that those working in the interest of people and working hard are not getting due importance in Mamata Banerjee-ruled Trinamool Congress.

Though Rajib maintained that he is with the Trinamool Congress and has not quit the state cabinet, he also said that he won't share with the media whether he had any talks with the party in recent times. Earlier, when TMC leaders reached out to him, Rajib Banerjee said, "I am not taking back my earlier statement I had made at an apolitical function in Kolkata. I spoke my mind. I will not tell the media if there have been talks with the party."

READ | 2020 Highlights: Janta Curfew to Galwan clash & Bihar polls to Farmer stir, here's a recap

TMC leaders miffed with Abhishek Banerjee

Leaders in TMC are miffed due to the growing clout of Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Reportedly, it was Abhishek on whose advice Mamata agreed to rope in Prashant Kishor for her re-election bid. Leaders like Mihir Goswami, Suvendu Adhikari, Silbhadra Dutta have already joined BJP and forest minister Rajib Banerjee has openly called out the party for sidelining hardworking leaders. BJP's big pick was Adhikari, who has said that a "deep rot and malaise" has set in the party, and asserted that "individuals in charge of the party currently are treating it as their personal fiefdom." In an apparent dig at Prashant Kishor, who is the political strategist of TMC for 2021 polls, said that those who have no idea about the sacrifices of the party are being hired to assist the party.

Abhishek Banerjee, meanwhile, has been vocal and has slammed those who has quit the Trinamool. He has dared the BJP leaders to take his name and not attribute him as "Bhaipo" (Nephew). However, turning the attack around, BJP has claimed that Abhishek has done nothing for the people and his political presence is all because of Mamata Banerjee - who is his 'Pishi.'

READ | Mamata Banerjee cancels Nandigram visit on January 7 after Suvendu declares rally next day

West Bengal assembly elections

West Bengal assembly with 294 seats will go to polls in April-May 2021, Trinamool holds 222 seats. BJP has made major inroads in the state in the Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats and establishing itself as the major Opposition force in the state. Recently TMC trumped BJP in all 3 bypolls but the BJP is using its booth-level strategy, has placed its top leaders including Amit Shah and JP Nadda in the state for winning the upcoming elections.

READ | Mamata government removes rebel Suvendu Adhikari's brother Soumendu from influential post

READ | 2020 Highlights: Justice for Nirbhaya to NEP & Delhi riots to Recession, here's a recap
A London hospital has reportedly declared that it is in "disaster medicine mode" and won't be able to provide "high standard critical care" as it is short-staffed and deluged with coronavirus patients.

The news comes days after reports of emergency vehicles forcefully lining up outside the hospital in London's Whitechapel district came pouring in.

A campaigning doctor took to Twitter to reveal that the Royal London Hospital had shot an email to its staff notifying them of the grave situation. Dr. Julia Grace Patterson, Founder and Chief Executive of EveryDoctorUK, a campaigning organisation run by doctors, tweeted that the hospital managers had warned the employees in an email of the "disaster mode" the hospital had entered adding that the content of the said email was "shocking."

Also Read: New COVID-19 strain: 20 passengers from London test positive at 5 airports in 2 days

She was the first to report the email on the microblogging site.

"BREAKING: from the Royal London Hospital, this email from management. "We are now in disaster medicine mode. We are no longer providing high standard critical care, because we cannot" The content of this email is SHOCKING and I'm passing it to a trusted journalist right now," Dr. Patterson tweeted.

BREAKING: from the Royal London Hospital, this email from management

We are now in disaster medicine mode. We are no longer providing high standard critical care, because we cannot



The content of this email is SHOCKING and Im passing it to a trusted journalist right now  Dr Julia Grace Patterson (@JujuliaGrace) December 31, 2020

Several UK media houses and publications revealed the contents of the mail which reads: "We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the fact we are now in disaster medicine mode. We are no longer providing high standard critical care because we cannot. While this is far from ideal, it's the way things are, and the way they have to be for now."

"Every hospital in North East London is struggling, some with insufficient oxygen supplies, all with insufficient nursing numbers. Believe it or not, Royal London critical care is coping well relative to some sites," the mail written by NHS chiefs at the hospital stated warning that "Kent is in a similar, if not worse, position."

Also Read: New coronavirus variant that spreads faster found in the UK

The email, however, tried to end its message on an optimistic note saying, "Things are going to get harder before they get better (which they will, eventually). As we get busy, we all tend to reach a limit, in some way or another."

The email came after senior medics at the East London hospital reportedly appealed to their bosses to declare a major incident because the employees had reached a "breaking point" in the wake of COVID-19 patients swamping the hospital in scores.

Hospitals across Britain have been flooded with patients infected with the new strain of coronavirus during the catastrophic second wave of COVID-19.
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BOSTON  The MBTA put the first new six-car Red Line train into service Wednesday, step forward in the project that promises 252 new cars from Springfields CRRC MA but which is running a year late.

This train consisted of pilot cars built by CRRC in Changchun, China, said CRRC MA spokeswoman Lydia Rivera. The remainder of the new Red Line Cars will be built at CRRCs manufacturing plant in Springfield.

The pilot cars underwent testing for months, according to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Officials said they were the first new cars on the Red Line since 1994.

The new train entered passenger service around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, leaving Cabot Yard and heading toward Braintree, then from Braintree to Alewife, and from Alewife to Ashmont, according to spokeswoman Lisa Battiston.

This website newtrains.today tracks the trains current location.

The T debuted the new Red Line cars on passenger service Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 in Boston . Built by CRRC, most of the order of new cars will be assembled in Springfield. (Photo courtesy of the MBTA)

While the MBTA is pleased to put the first new Red Line train into passenger service, there is much work ahead of us, said General Manager Steve Poftak. As we enter 2021, the cars manufacturer and our vehicle engineering team are singularly focused on improving the pace of production and delivery.

Subjecting the new Red Line and Orange Line trains to a high degree of scrutiny, the MBTA will continue to closely monitor the cars to ensure they are performing at optimum levels, Poftak said. When ridership begins to rebound in the future, new trains and major infrastructure improvements will combine to provide Red Line and Orange Line riders with safe and reliable service for decades.

CRRC, the Chinese-owned largest rail car manufacturer in the world, received a $566 million contract from the MBTA in 2014 to build 152 Orange Line cars and 252 Red Line cars in Springfield. In 2016, the state upped the order with another 120 Red Line cars, with a production cost of $277 million.

The T said the 404 new cars will have service lives of at least 30 years.

It has already accepted its 24th Springfield-built Orange Line car. The Orange Line runs six-car trains and typically has three of them, for 18 cars total, in service daily.

The state went without federal money on the new trains project so it could require final assembly in Massachusetts. CRRC built a $95 million, 204,000-square-foot factory on Page Boulevard and later added a 48,000-square-foot warehouse.

CRRC has blamed production problems on difficulty training new employees. Then came disruptions caused by COVID-19, both to the workforce here and to the supply chain overseas. Some 60% of the rail car components are U.S.-made.
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According to the nation's vaccination plan, which was approved by Parliament on December 2, these initial categories will be followed by teachers and other essential service providers, as well as prison inmates and staff. The rest of the population will be vaccinated after all these categories are covered."We should be able to vaccinate 10 to 15 million people by April," Conte said.The pandemic has so far infected 2,083,689 people and claimed over 148,439 in Italy since the country reported its first known Covid-19 case in February 2020, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.Conte said that the government will not make the vaccine mandatory, but it is assessing whether to issue a special form of identification to people who get vaccinated so that they can move around more freely than those who refuse the vaccine.The vaccination campaign kicked off in Italy and the rest of the European Union (EU) on December 27.The Prime Minister also expressed the hope that "on January 7, 2021, schools can reopen with at least 50 per cent of the students in class" and the rest in remote learning mode."We will extend the (Covid-related) state of emergency as long as necessary," he added.Italy declared a national state of emergency due to the pandemic on Januray 31 this year and has extended it to January 31, 2021."We were the first in the Western world to be challenged by the pandemic though we managed to reinforce our credibility in Italy and in Europe," Conte said.Italy must not squander this credibility, and come up with viable projects to spend EU's Covid-19 recovery financing, he said.A sizable portion of that money has been allocated to Italy."We cannot afford to waste one euro" of the forthcoming EU money, Conte said, adding that his government is committed to "the digital transition, the green transition, and sustainable development."Italy expects to finalise its Recovery Plan based on EU funding by February 2021, he added.Source: IANS
Interglobe Aviation announced that some of the company's servers were subject to a hacking incident earlier this month. The company was able to restore the systems in a very short span of time with minimal impact.

There were some segments of data servers that were breached - so, there is a possibility that some internal documents may get uploaded by the hackers on public websites and platforms. The company realises the seriousness of the issue, and are continuing to engage with all relevant experts and law enforcement to ensure that the incident is investigated in detail.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People are invited to light a candle today in remembrance of the victims of Covid-19.

Give sorrow words, wrote Shakespeare in Macbeth. The grief that does not speak whispers the oerfraught heart and bids it break. One year  and nearly two million deaths  since Chinese officials informed the World Health Organisation of a cluster of cases of viral pneumonia, people around the world will be coming together to give their sorrow words.

Today, people around the world will come together for a worldwide day of remembrance for those taken by coronavirus in 2020. It will span 24 time zones, starting in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii.

People are invited to mark the day by lighting a candle, taking a pebble to a hilltop or simply sitting and thinking of those we have lost.

In Britain and America, where Covid-19 has become inextricably entwined with politics, we have not had a national moment to remember the dead. Compare this with Spain, where a 10-day period of remembrance was held. Indeed, it sometimes feels that in the UK and US, the simple act of grieving the dead has become a political act.

But on Covid Memorial Day we will set aside politics and, just as our hearts swelled with gratitude when we clapped the carers, so will we share our collective grief.

Expert David Kessler argues grief must be witnessed and today, around the world, we will allow ourselves to feel the loss. To feel the pain. To feel the grief.

Stefan Simanowitz

Covid Memorial Day founder, London

To speed up roll-out, only give one dose of the Pfizer vaccine

In light of the sharp rise in Covid infections, why dont we give people one shot only of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Apparently it is 90pc effective, you only get 5pc more with the second shot.

We could double the daily vaccination rate and probably save more lives and ease the burden on the HSE.

We are way behind the UK on this front. I think we were first in Europe with the bank guarantee, it might be time to take the lead again.

Thomas Denniston

Legan, Co Longford

UKs Brexit ill-wind will blow in favour of more Irish jobs

Now that the Brexit deal is done and dusted, the city of London could lose out as the EU bloc is set to shift to European share trading exchanges, and a trading big bang could trigger an EU trading rift (Irish Independent, December 30).

This is because Brexit is shifting tradings centre of gravity away from London. It is more likely that the EU will have a multi-centred financial market in places like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Paris and Dublin.

London has been a major financial centre for many years and served as a very important hub for the EU before Brexit.

After Brexit, the question for the remaining 27 members of the bloc will be how reliant they want to be on a major financial centre that operates in a country outside of the EU.

This is very good news for Ireland on the jobs front and for our capital city. In recent months it was reported that Ireland had attracted more global financial institutions relocating to our shores ahead of Brexit than any other member state.

Its an ill wind that doesnt blow in someones favour.

Meanwhile back in London, Alasdair Haynes, chief executive of Aquis Exchange, a city-based share trading operation, is quoted as having said, its not the start of the end of London, but its pretty bloody embarrassing, and a huge own goal for Britain.

Tom Towey

Cloonacool, Co Sligo

Johnson should be grateful for part played by backstop

It is right and proper that Boris Johnson should thank Michel Barnier and his negotiating team for their part in achieving an EU-UK trade agreement.

It would probably never have come to pass without their efforts. They managed to achieve a majority of 80 for Johnson in the UK parliament  something he could never have managed on his own. He should be gracious enough however to include Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney as well; after all they and their backstop played a vital part.

Padraic Neary,

Tubbercurry, Co Sligo

I welcome Brexit  but more changes are surely on way

I voted for Brexit and welcome the UK finally completing the EU transition period today. While I am pleased to be free of Europe, I have no objection to a second EU referendum for those too young to vote in 2016, or those who have changed their minds. Ultimately, in the not-too-distant future, Scotland will become independent  hopefully within a republic  and Ireland will be reunited under Dublin.

Dominic Shelmerdine

London, England
A new era has begun for the United Kingdom after it completed its formal separation from the European Union.

The UK stopped following EU rules at 23:00 GMT, as replacement arrangements for travel, trade, immigration and security co-operation came into force.

Boris Johnson said the UK had "freedom in our hands" and the ability to do things "differently and better" now the long Brexit process was over.



The first lorries arriving at the border entered the UK without delay.



UK ministers have warned there will be some disruption in the coming days and weeks, as new rules bed in and British firms trading with the continent come to terms with the changes.



But officials have insisted new border systems are "ready to go".



As the first customs checks were completed after midnight, Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said: "It all went fine, everything's running just as it was before 11pm. It's very, very quiet, there are very few trucks around, as we predicted."





The first ferry from Holyhead in Wales arrived in Dublin Port at 05:55 GMT with about a dozen lorries on board, all of which cleared customs checks for the first time without delays.



The UK officially left the 27-member political and economic bloc on 31 January, three and half years after the UK public voted to leave in the 2016 Brexit referendum.



But it has stuck to the EU's trading rules for the past 11 months while the two sides negotiated their future economic partnership.



After trade talks went down to the wire, a landmark treaty was finally agreed on Christmas Eve. It became law in the UK on Wednesday after it was approved by Parliament.



Under the new arrangements, UK manufacturers will have tariff-free access to the EU's internal market, meaning there will be no import taxes on goods crossing between Britain and the continent.



But it does mean more paperwork for businesses and people travelling to EU countries while there is still uncertainty about what it will happen to banking and services, which are a major part of the UK economy.



Mr Johnson - who was a key figure in the Leave campaign during the 2016 referendum and who took the UK out of the EU in January six months after becoming prime minister - said it was an "amazing moment" for the UK.



In his New Year message, the PM said the UK was now "free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU".



Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he added that the combination of the Brexit deal and rollout of the Oxford vaccine means "we are creating the potential trampoline for the national bounceback".



Lord Frost, the UK's chief negotiator, tweeted that Britain had become a "fully independent country again" while veteran Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash said the outcome was a "victory for sovereignty and democracy".



But opponents of Brexit maintain the country will be worse off than it was while in the EU.



Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose ambition it is to take an independent Scotland back into the EU, tweeted: "Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on."



Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said it was "not something to celebrate" and the UK's relationship with Ireland will be different from now on, but "we wish them well".



French President Emmanuel Macron said the UK remained a "friend and ally".



What is changing?

The culmination of the Brexit process means major changes in different areas. These include:



The free movement of people between the UK and EU countries has ended - and has been replaced in the UK by a "points-based" immigration system

Anyone from the UK who wants to stay in most of the EU for more than 90 days in any 180-day period now needs a visa

Duty-free shopping has returned, with people coming back to the UK from the EU able to bring up to 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of wine, four litres of spirits and 200 cigarettes without paying tax

EU citizens wanting to move to the UK (except those from Ireland) face the same points-based system as people elsewhere in the world

UK police have lost instant access to EU-wide databases on criminal records, fingerprints and wanted persons

Traders in England, Scotland and Wales must complete more paperwork when dealing with EU countries

British firms exporting goods to the continent will have to fill out customs declarations straight away.

While checks on goods entering Britain from the continent will be phased in over a six-month period up to July 2021, some new customs procedures have already come into force, on imports of alcohol, tobacco, chemicals and controlled drugs.



In other major breaks from the past, the European Court of Justice will cease to have any role in deciding disputes between the UK and EU.



And the UK will gradually be able to keep more of the fish caught in its own waters.



Unlike the rest of the UK, Northern Ireland will continue to follow many of the EU's rules, as its border with the Republic of Ireland remains all but invisible. The UK government said on Thursday online retailers in Britain will not have to make customs declarations when sending parcels to customers in Northern Ireland.



How prepared is the UK?

Intensive preparations have been taking place over the past two weeks to ready the UK for the coming changes, although concerns remain many small business are not ready.



The UK's Countdown Plan has involved operational testing of infrastructure at the border and close co-operation with France, Holland and Belgium.



A government spokesman said: "The border systems and infrastructure we need are in place, and we are ready for the UK's new start."



Vehicles trying to take goods across the channel without the correct documentation face being turned back while drivers of HGVs weighing more than 7.5 tonnes who do not have permits to enter Kent risk being fined.



Traffic volumes are expected to be lower than normal on 1 January due to the pandemic but are expected to pick up from Monday, when the new procedures and the UK's contingency measures are expected to be tested.



The government said 450 "Kent access" permits had been issued to HGV lorries intending to cross the channel at Dover on 1 January and hauliers arriving without them would be identified and subject to a 300 fine.



Meanwhile, the UK and Spain have reached an agreement meaning the border between Gibraltar and Spain will remain open.









Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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BioNTech is working flat out with partner Pfizer to boost production of their COVID-19 vaccine, its founders said, warning there would be gaps in supply until other vaccines were rolled out.

The German biotech startup has led the vaccine race but its shot has been slow to arrive in the European Union due to relatively slow approval from the blocs health regulator and the small size of the order placed by Brussels.

The delays have caused consternation in Germany, where some regions had to temporarily close vaccination centres days after the launch of an inoculation drive on December 27.

At the moment it doesnt look good - a hole is appearing because theres a lack of other approved vaccines and we have to fill the gap with our own vaccine," BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin told news weekly Spiegel in an interview.

A shot from Moderna is expected to be cleared by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on January 6.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has urged the EMA to also quickly approve a vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca that Britain cleared this week. The EU timeline for that treatment remains uncertain.

Sahin said the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which uses messenger RNA to instruct the human immune system to fight the coronavirus, should be able to cope with a variant first detected in Britain that appears to be more contagious.

We are testing whether our vaccine can also neutralise this variant, and will soon know more," he said.

Asked about coping with a strong mutation, he said it would be possible to tweak the vaccine as required within six weeks - though such new treatments might require additional regulatory approvals.

NEW PRODUCTION LINE PLANNED

Sahin founded BioNTech with his wife, Oezlem Tuereci, who is the companys chief medical officer. Both faulted the EUs decision to spread orders in the expectation that more vaccines would be quickly approved.

The United States ordered 600 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine in July, while the EU waited until November to place an order of half that size.

At some point it became clear that it would not be possible to deliver so quickly," Tuereci told Spiegel. By then it was already too late to place follow-on orders."

BioNTech hopes to launch a new production line in Marburg, Germany, in February that could produce 250 million doses in the first half of the year, said Sahin.

Talks are under way with contract manufacturers on boosting output and there should be greater clarity by the end of January, he added.

Sahin also said BioNTech would make its vaccine, which requires storage at around minus 70 Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit), easier to handle. A next-generation vaccine that would keep at higher temperatures could be ready by late summer.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31) - The government's immunization road map will still push through as planned after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said there's still no evidence that the new COVID-19 variant will affect the efficacy of the vaccines to be purchased.

"There is no evidence to show that the new variant will make the vaccines ineffective," said Duque in a press briefing on Thursday.

The new COVID-19 variant first detected in the United Kingdom is said to be more contagious.

Duque said this is not the first time the virus has mutated, but added that the Sars-CoV-2 strain which causes COVID-19 did not change.

"Some mutation of the strain has been observed. In fact, this is not something new, we have had mutation, I think June or July," he explained.

The government has already implemented a travel ban on 19 countries where the new coronavirus variant was detected, from Dec. 30 to Jan. 15 next year.

"I'm quite positive, optimistic that the COVID-19 immunization road map will be implemented effectively," Duque said.

The government has so far formally secured 2.6 million doses of vaccines from AstraZeneca which is due to arrive in the second quarter of 2021. Deals with other vaccine manufacturers like Sinovac Biotech, Novavax, and Moderna are also being worked out.

Duque said the earliest the vaccines will be made available is at the end of the first quarter next year.
Cooperation with Russia and joint solution of bilateral problems are necessary, first of all, for Georgia itself, ex-speaker of the Georgian parliament Nino Burjanadze said, commenting on statements by a number of politicians seeking to form a negative image of Russia for voters and discredit opponents.

"Politicians are trying to accuse Russia in all problems. In the mass consciousness, especially among young people, the image of Russia is extremely negative," she said.

According to her, the current government continues the course of Mikhail Saakashvili's team, for which cooperation with Russia was tantamount to betrayal. This was facilitated by the policy of the National Movement and Mikhail Saakashvili, she said, noting that at the same time an anti-Russian trend emerged, a stereotype was formed and common sense was lost.

Over time, this stereotype became a kind of political weapon directed against the opposition. If you want to discredit a politician, you call him pro-Russian, she told Kommersant. The politician added that in this regard, some sane statesmen may lose a significant number of voters.

"I believe that we should talk with Russia to solve our problems," Nino Burjanadze expressed confidence.
The New York Stock Exchange said it would delist Chinas three big state-run telecommunications companies following an executive order from the Trump administration, in a symbolic severing of longstanding ties between the Chinese business world and Wall Street.

The exchange said in a statement late Thursday that it would halt trading in shares of China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom by Jan. 11. It cited an executive order issued in November by the Trump administration that barred Americans from investing in companies with ties to the Chinese military.

The United States Department of Defense had previously listed the three companies as having significant connections to Chinese military and security forces.

The companies Hong Kong offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday, the New Years Day holiday.
Actor Kajols maiden digital project Tribhanga is set to release on streaming platform Netflix on January 15. The multi-generational story, directed by actor Renuka Shahane is backed by Kajols husband, actor-producer Ajay Devgn, in collaboration with Bannijay Asia and Siddharth P Malhotras Alchemy Films.

Tribhanga, matlab, tedhi, medhi, crazy, but sexy. #Tribhanga, premieres 15 January, only on Netflix, Kajol wrote on Twitter. The film, which derives its title from an Odissi dance pose, is described as a heartwarming storyline that looks at the importance of family in everyday lives.

Tribhanga is a story of three women from the same household who belong to different generations. Set in Mumbai, it weaves a complex tale that goes back and forth through three generations of the same family, from the late 1980s to the present day. The film also stars Mithila Palkar, Tanvi Azmi and Kunaal Roy Kapoor.

Kajol was last seen on the big screen in last year's historical action blockbuster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, co-starring her husband Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan.
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - On Saturday, Vigo County School Corporation leaders will assess any staff-shortages that will impact in-person classes.

The plan, starting Monday, will have elementary students in the classroom for five-days of in-person learning per week.

Middle and high school students will attend school in a modified A-B schedule.

LINK | SEE THE FULL A/B SCHEDULE HERE

Monday, January 4 will be a remote learning day for all middle and high school students.

The A cohort students will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the B cohort in the classroom on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The district hopes to avoid corporation-wide remote learning this semester.

Decisions at schools, with staff shortages, will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Fully at-home options will still be available. Families should speak to their school's principals for more information.
Hindus can never be anti-India, patriotism is their basic character, says RSS chief citing Gandhi

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 01: If someone is a Hindu he will be patriotic and that will be his basic character and nature, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Friday while citing Mahatama Gandhi's remarks that his patriotism originates from his dharma.

Bhagwat was speaking at an event to release the book titled 'Making of a Hindu Patriot: Background of Gandhiji's Hind Swaraj', authored by JK Bajaj and MD Srinivas. Releasing the book, Bhagwat said there is no need for speculation that Sangh "is trying to appropriate Gandhiji, that is not the case, no one can appropriate great personalities like him."

Describing the book as an authentic scholarly research document on Gandhi, Bhagwat said Gandhi had suggested that for him his dharma and patriotism are not different as love for his motherland originates from his spirituality. "Gandhiji had said that his patriotism originates from his dharma," Bhagwat said asserting that dharma does not merely mean religion, it is wider than religion.

"If someone is Hindu he has to be patriotic, that will be his or her basic character and nature. At times you may have to awaken his or her patriotism but he (Hindu) can never be anti-India. But we have to be conscious of the fact that if one loves his country it doesn't mean land only, it means its people, rivers, culture, traditions and everything," he said.

Arrested Khalistani sympathiser was tasked by ISI to oversee killing of RSS leaders

He underlined that Hinduism believes in the existence of unity. "Difference does not mean separatism and Gandhiji has suggested that Hinduism is the religion of all religions," he said. Talking about Gandhi's concept of 'swaraj', Bhagwat said by it he means not only changing rulers or becoming self-governing, for Gandhi the struggle for 'swaraj' was the reconstruction of society based on civilisational values.

Meanwhile, in the book, the authors have quoted Gandhi as having written to Leo Tolstoy that, " my patriotism is patent enough, my love for India is ever growing but it is derived from my religion and is therefore in no sense exclusive."

Giving an overview of the book, Bajaj said it tracked Gandhi's life from Porbandar to his visit to England and then to South Africa. Bajaj said there was a time between 1893-94 when Gandhi was pressured by his Muslim employer and his Christian employees to explore converting to their respective religions but he refused. By 1905, he became a devout Hindu and also gave lectures on Hinduism, Bajaj said. He cited instances that while practising law in South Africa, Gandhi quoted Bhagwad Gita and Mahabhrata in his petitions before the courts.
Data on New Year's Day shows just 3.17 million COVID vaccine doses were administered since rollout began

That is just a quarter of the 12.4 million doses delivered to the states and awaiting administration

Maine and South Dakota lead the way in distribution, while Kansas and Georgia lag far behind

Trump administration official said Friday the US has rejected the UK plan of shipping all available doses

Instead, the US will hold back second doses in reserve until a steady supply is assured

Joe Biden took a swipe at Trump administration Friday saying he 'will spare no effort' in vaccinations

Republican Mitt Romney also blasted the vaccination rollout as 'incomprehensible' and 'inexcusable'

Democrat elected official in Florida called on the National Guard to intervene and aid vaccination effort

Dr. Fauci said in an interview that inoculation will 'quite possibly' be required for school or travel

The sluggish and at times chaotic rollout of COVID-19 vaccines across the country continues to draw strong criticism, particularly from Democrats, as new data reveals just a quarter of the shots distributed to states have been administered, even as Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that it is 'possible' the jabs could be required for school or travel.

As of New Year's Day, 3.17 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been administered. That is just 25 percent of the 12.4 million doses that have been delivered to states, according to an analysis from Bloomberg.

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Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden and Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican but frequent critic of President Donald Trump, both spoke out in harsh terms about the clumsy effort to distribute vaccines.

And after Dr. Anthony Fauci said recently that officials were considering releasing 20 million doses that are being held in reserve for required booster shots, federal officials now do not currently view this as viable option, a senior Trump administration official told CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes on Friday.

The move came as a repudiation of the strategy in the UK, where doses are being shipped as soon as they are produced, relying on future production to fill the need for booster shots.

Critics of the UK strategy have argued that it runs the risk of wasting millions of first doses if the vital boosters aren't available on time, and point out that at least for now, U.S. states already have far more doses than they are able to quickly get into arms. But proponents of the UK strategy argue that it will double the speed of vaccinations.

It came as the total number of Americans infected in the pandemic topped 20 million since March, and coronavirus hospitalizations hit an all-time high for the fourth day in a row on New Years Eve, with nearly 125,400 people receiving inpatient treatment.

As of Friday, West Virginia has still vaccinated the highest percentage of its population, followed by South Dakota and Maine. Kansas continues to lag the farthest behind in population vaccinated, with just 0.42% of all residents having received the jab

A table shows for each state, vaccine doses received and administered, and the percentage of shots used. Maine has now distributed the highest percentage of its available vaccine, with more than 50% of doses administered

Click here to resize this module

Daily deaths remained harrowing at 3,419 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins, after two consecutive record-setting days with over 3,700 daily deaths on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Biden took a swipe at the Trump administration's oversight in a tweet on Friday, writing: 'Let me be clear: The Biden-Harris Administration will spare no effort to make sure people are getting vaccinated.'

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Biden has vowed to invoke the Defense Production Act and ensure that 100 million vaccines are administered in his first 100 days in office, though he has offered few concrete details on how this would be achieved.

Senator Romney, a Utah Republican, also chimed in, issuing an emotional statement on Friday urging the U.S. government to immediately enlist veterinarians, combat medics and others in a dramatic proposal to boost vaccination efforts.

'That comprehensive vaccination plans have not been developed at the federal level and sent to the states as models is as incomprehensible as it is inexcusable,' Romney said in a statement that was perhaps aimed as much at the incoming Biden administration as the outgoing Trump one.

'It was unrealistic to assume that the health care workers already overburdened with Covid care could take on a massive vaccination program,' Romney said.

He called on the government to 'enlist every medical professional, retired or active, who is not currently engaged in the delivery of care' to be drafted into a crash program of government-run vaccination sites across the country.

'This could include veterinarians, combat medics and corpsmen, medical students, EMS professionals, first responders, and many others who could be easily trained to administer vaccines,' he proposed.

Romney also proposed a scheme to 'Schedule vaccinations according to a person's priority category and birthdate: e.g., people in group A with a January first birthday would be assigned a specific day to receive their vaccination.'

Referring to his experience overseeing the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Romney also included what could be seen as a pitch to the Biden administration to offer his own assistance, saying: 'I have experience organizing a major logistical event,' though adding humbly that it was 'nothing on the scale of what is called for today.'

President-elect Joe Biden took a swipe at the Trump administration's oversight in a tweet on Friday, writing: 'Let me be clear: The Biden-Harris Administration will spare no effort to make sure people are getting vaccinated'

Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican but frequent critic of President Donald Trump, issued statement on Friday urging the U.S. government to immediately enlist veterinarians, combat medics and others in a dramatic proposal to boost vaccinations

Even as the slow rollout leaves most people without any opportunity to get the vaccine for now, Dr. Anthony Fauci says it's 'quite possible' that COVID-19 vaccines will become mandatory to attend school or travel outside the country

Even as the slow rollout leaves most people without any opportunity to get the vaccine for now, Dr. Anthony Fauci says it's 'quite possible' that COVID-19 vaccines will become mandatory to attend school or travel outside the country.

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'I'm not sure it's going to be mandatory from a central government standpoint, like federal government mandates. But there are going to be individual institutions that I'm sure are going to mandate it,' Fauci, who will be chief medical adviser to Biden, told Newsweek.

'A citywide school system might require it in some cities but not other cities. And that's what I mean by things not being done centrally but locally,' he said.

Asked if the U.S. government could issue a 'vaccine passport' to authorize travel abroad, as Israel has done, Fauci responded: 'Anything is on the table. Anything is possible, of course.'

Meanwhile, Florida's agriculture commissioner this week called on Governor Ron DeSantis to deploy the National Guard to assist the vaccination campaign, saying in a letter to the Republican governor that the effort had been 'very chaotic' so far.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida's only statewide elected Democrat, said in the letter on Wednesday that there is a lack of 'clear direction' on vaccination procedures for healthcare workers.

'Instead of efficient, centralized distribution management by the state of Florida, distribution has been left to hospitals and county health departments,' Fried wrote. 'While you characterize this as 'cutting out the middle man,' vulnerable residents are left without answers or clear direction from overwhelmed local agencies on when, where and how to receive the vaccine.'

The state's Republican party hit back in a statement, saying: 'It's nice to see that Commissioner Nikki Fried is taking time out of her vacation to send out an ill-informed, irresponsible letter on social media that prioritizes politics over helping Floridians who are interested in the vaccine.'

'Commissioner Fried's insinuation that the Governor is not properly utilizing the Florida National Guard is ridiculous,' the statement added.

'In fact, the Governor mobilized the Florida National Guard weeks ago to form strike teams with the Florida Department of Health to begin vaccinating residents of long-term care facilities, making Florida the first state in the nation to begin vaccinating long-term care residents.'

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida's only statewide elected Democrat, said in the letter on Wednesday that there is a lack of 'clear direction' on vaccination procedures for healthcare workers, and called for National Guard assistance

In Fort Myers, Florida, seniors camped out overnight on Wednesday to wait in line for vaccines after Governor Ron DeSantis opened vaccination to anyone over 65 on a first-come, first-served basis

Cape Coral, Florida residents wait in line to receive a COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday morning during first day of vaccinations in the city. Florida is offering vaccines to high-risk frontline health care workers and those 65 and older

Florida has administered just 176,729 out of the 783,600 doses it has received so far, or 22.6 percent, according to CDC data as of December 30.

The state, which opened up vaccination to anyone over the age of 65 on a first-come, first-served basis, has witnessed chaotic scenes, with elderly residents brawling outside of pharmacies over line cutting, and bundling up to wait overnight for the shots.

The National Guard is currently being used by governors in at least 26 states to assist in COVID-19 vaccine distribution in some capacity, according to a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau.

It's unclear whether any state is using medically trained guardsmen to administer the jabs. Most are relying on the Guard for shipping and logistics help.

According to the new data, Maine is now leading the way in efficiency in administering the vaccine. The Pine Tree state has administered 51.1 percent of the doses that the state has received, a higher ratio than any other state, according to Bloomberg.

Washington DC, South Dakota, Connecticut and Montana follow Maine as the next most efficient states.

West Virginia, which is among the states utilizing the National Guard in vaccine rollout, has vaccinated the highest percentage of its total population, with 2.5 percent of all residents having received a shot.

The Mountain State is also number five in efficiency, having administered 43.4 percent of the doses that have been shipped to the state so far.

Music producer Emilio Estefan, 67, receives a Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine from Nadia Johnson, RN from Jackson Health System, at Jackson Memorial Hospital-Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday in Miami, Florida

On the other hand, the worst performing states include Kansas, where just 10.6 percent of the doses delivered to the state have been administered, as well as Georgia (16.4 percent) and Oregon (18.8 percent).

New York City has administered only 88,410 doses so far, or 25.4 percent of those delivered to the city already.

California, the new pandemic epicenter, has administered just 335,983 doses, or 22.8 percent of the 1,476,425 doses that the state has received.

The failures in vaccine rollout have been blamed on various factors, including lack of federal oversight, chaos in distribution, 'woke' governors setting convoluted priorities for initial distribution, and the simple lack of staff to administer jabs in overstretched healthcare systems.

Why the vaccine rollout has proceeded so slowly:

Shipping delays created chaos in the first weeks, a mistake General Gustave Perna apologized for

Overstretched hospitals have struggled to find enough staffers to administer the shots

Some governors have issued increasingly convoluted restrictions on who gets the jabs

Local and state officials complain that their public health offices are underfunded

Some healthcare workers have refused the vaccine, with a shocking 50% declining in some areas

Cold storage requirements create logistical hurdles and tight windows for administering the vaccine

Federal public heath officials, including Fauci and Surgeon General Jerome Adams, have blamed poorly funded state and local health offices for the sluggish vaccine rollout.

'We would have liked to see it run smoothly and have 20 million doses into people today,' Fauci told the Today Show on Thursday. 'Obviously it didn't happen and that's disappointing. Hopefully, as you get into January the gaining of momentum will get us to the point where we want to be.'

Asked if the federal government should take over the process of administering vaccines, which is now being managed at the state level, Fauci responded: 'rather than stepping in and taking over, I think it would be better to work with them and give them more resources.'

The federal government has said that for every dose shipped, it is holding back a second dose in reserve as well as a safety stock, which would bring the total number of vaccine doses closer to 40 million.

That plan has raised criticism, with some calling on the government to release all available doses, and rely on new production to fill the need for the required second doses.

The Pfizer vaccine requires a booster dose after 21 days to be effective, and the Moderna shoot after 28 days. Failing to deliver the required boosters could result in millions of doses effectively being wasted.

On Thursday, Fauci said that spreading out the initial doses of vaccine to more people is 'under consideration.'

'I still think, if done properly, you can do a single dose, reserve doses for the second dose, and still get the job done,' he said on the Today Show, 'but there's a lot of discussion about whether or not you want to spread out the initial vaccination by getting more people vaccinated on the first round.'

Others point out that if states are unable to quickly administer the doses they already have available, flooding distribution channels with another 20 million doses, rather than holding them in reserve for booster shots, would make little difference.

Up to 60% of US health workers refuse to get COVID vaccines over fears of side effects Thousands of health care and frontline workers across the US are refusing to get COVID-19 vaccines as the rollout of the shots in America continues to sputter. Up to half of health care workers in one California county and a Texas hospital say they will not get the shot, 60 percent of nursing home staff in Ohio are turning down the jab and 40 percent of frontline workers in Los Angeles won't get it either, polls reveal. Respondents to a number of surveys cite fears of dangerous side effects, health care worker forum posters say they feel they are being used as guinea pigs and experts blame misinformation. Although life-threatening side effects are rare, examples of them cropped up in the first days of the vaccine rollout with two health care workers in Alaska - one of whom had no history of allergies - suffering anaphylactic shock minutes after getting the first dose of Pfizer 's vaccine.

As well, it has become increasingly clear that large numbers of healthcare workers are actually declining to take the vaccination.

In Southern California's Riverside County, a shocking 50 percent of frontline healthcare workers have refused the vaccine, leaving public health officials scrambling to figure out how to distribute the unused doses, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 29 percent of healthcare workers were 'vaccine hesitant,' a figure slightly higher than the percentage of the general population, 27 percent.

The poll found the top reasons for not wanting to get vaccinated included fears about side effects, a lack of trust in the government to ensure the vaccines were safe, concerns about the role of politics in the development of the vaccines, and belief that the dangers of COVID-19 had been exaggerated.

Although clinical trials showed the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be safe and effective, many healthcare workers apparently feel skeptical about the speed at which they were brought to market, which was unprecedented.

Meanwhile, some governors have been criticized for setting convoluted requirements on who receives the initial rounds of vaccines.

States ultimately control distribution, but the CDC recommended that frontline healthcare workers and nursing home resident be prioritized for the initial round.

Following that, the CDC recommended frontline essential workers and those over the age of 75 take priority.

This week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced criticism for prioritizing drug addicts in rehab over the elderly in the general population.

During Cuomo's press briefing on Monday, the governor said that shots would be given to 'priority populations' and that when more vaccines become available the populations will be expanded and that residents of 'OASAS'  the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports would be next in line to receive the jab.

'These are congregate facilities. Congregate facilities are problematic. That's where you have a lot of people in concentration,' Cuomo said.

Adding to the concerns, millions of the doses that have already been shipped are due to expire next month. Phizer's vaccine lasts only 30 days in the shipping freezer it is distributed in, which can also be used for on-site storage.

While it is possible to extend the vaccine's shelf life up to six months with ultra-low-temperature freezers, supplies of the specialized freezers have been severely constrained as hospitals and pharmacies rush to snap up the limited supplies.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said Thursday that 60% of nursing home workers are refusing vaccine. Up to 40% of health care workers in Los Angeles and 50% in Riverside County are refusing shots, according to the Los Angeles Times

A health-care worker reacts as she receives the COVID-19 vaccine at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg, Florida on New Years Day. Long lines of cars were at the site as the Lake County vaccines are currently being given to people who are 65 years and older and front line workers

Once the vaccine is thawed from deep freeze, it must be used within five days or be thrown out -- a requirement that has also created issues.

In Kentucky, a Walgreens in Lexington was blasted by Governor Andy Beshear for handing out vaccines to the general public, after a batch of doses that the pharmacy had thawed for nursing homes could not be distributed before they expired.

Ultimately, the key bottleneck appears to be the number staffers available to administer the jabs.

Under optimal conditions, a single nurse working a 12-hour shift could administer just 72 doses a day, assuming the nurse took no breaks and gave one shot every 10 minutes, including the time it takes to check for a history of allergies and enter the patient's information into record systems.

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To administer a million doses a day nationwide, as Biden has vowed, that would require nearly 14,000 staffers working full time on vaccines -- even as many health systems are stretched to the limit handling COVID patients.
The new year brings some good tidings, such as an increase in the minimum wage, allowances for low income households and disabled people, among others.

MINIMUM WAGE

Deputies have recently voted unanimously in favour of increasing the minimum wage by 2.8%. This comes into effect on 1 January.

This means the minimum salary in Luxembourg is now 2,201.93 Euros a month for non-qualified workers and 2,642.32 Euros a month for qualified workers - a gross increase of 60 Euros a month for the former and 72 Euros a month for the latter.

This will affect around 15% of employees in Luxembourg, just over 60,000 people, 27,000 of which are cross-border workers.

THE REVIS AND INCOME FOR THE SEVERELY DISABLED

The social inclusion income and the allowance for severely disabled persons is also set to increase by the same rate (2.8%), effective on 1 January.

This will amount to an additional expense of 7.1 million Euros according to the Chamber of Employees.

COST-OF-LIVING BENEFIT

The cost-of-living benefit sees a 10% increase in 2021 starting 1 January. This was announced by the government in late 2020.

This amounts to 1,452 Euros over the whole year for an individual or 2,178 Euros for two people, for instance. This benefit varies in accordance with the number of people living in a household.

Luxembourg City on 28 December 2020 /  Domingos Oliveira/ RTL Luxembourg

The increase will allow low income residents to weather the consequences of the current health crisis, as well as compensating for the new CO2 tax.

SOCIAL TAX CREDITS

Social tax credits for employed, retired and self-employed people increase by 96 Euros a month for people earning up to 40,000 Euros a year, slowly decreasing up to 80,000 Euros a month.

This measure should help compensate the lowest 40% of households for the coming carbon tax, according to the STATEC.

The rest will be able to make use of the cost-of-living benefit and the mentioned benefits.

THE CO2 TAX AND FUEL PRICES

After an initial delay, the new CO2 tax will finally come into force on 1 January. This is linked to the introduction of the WLTP norm and will lead to an increase in taxes for future new car buyers, reflected in the registration tax.

They are not the only ones affected, however, as petrol prices are also set to go up a few cents. The new carbon tax of 20 Euro per tonne will also impact domestic oil and gas bills. Household can expect an increase of 150 to 200 Euros per year, according to govenment estimates.

Traffic jams on the A3 motorway photographed in 2019 /  Domingos Oliveira/ RTL Luxembourg

This measure has been heavily criticised by the consumer union ULC and the Automobile Club Luxembourg, who said in a statement that motorists were being used as cash cows. For their part, the Ministries for Environment and Energy consider this a necessary measure to encourage residents to reduce their emissions.

Another likely effect will be a decrease in "petrol tourism", which the government expects will reduce the country's emissions by 6% by the end of the year and 11% by 2023.

GLYPHOSATE USE

Luxembourg is the first European country to ban the use of glyphosate on Luxembourgish soil. This was included in the 2018-2023 coalition agreement and also takes effect on 1 January.

The measure has been described by the Ministry of Agriculture as "a decisive step" in a sustainable strategy aimed at "a modern and environmentally friendly use of phytopharmaceutical products"
She recently escaped Britain's ongoing coronavirus restrictions to soak up some sun in Dubai.

And Chelsee Healey was making the most of the warmer temperatures in the United Arab Emirates as she posed for a series of swimsuit snaps on Friday.

The former Hollyoaks actress, 32, showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she donned a gold one piece with a cut out across the abdomen.

Stunning: Chelsee Healey was making the most of the warmer temperatures in Dubai as she posed for a series of swimsuit snaps on Friday

Highlighting her taut midriff, Chelsee also cinched her waist with a matching gold belt along with a sparkling sheer chiffon skirt.

The soap star added height to her frame with a pair of gold heels while she added to her look with a matching necklace.

Chelsee completed her look for the day by styling her brunette locks into voluminous waves.

Alongside the post, the TV star wrote: 'Golden girl '.

Wow: The former Hollyoaks actress, 32, showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she donned a gold one piece with a cut out across the abdomen

The mother-of-one, who lives in Manchester which is under Tier 3 restrictions, confirmed that she was in Dubai on Monday night as she enjoyed dinner with pals and asked if any of her followers knew someone who could 'lay a frontal wig'.

In a Tier 3 area, people should avoid travelling outside of your area and also carefully consider whether they must travel abroad, according to the government's website.

Travel is still permitted for reasons such as work, education, medical attention or if a person has caring responsibilities.

Chelsee had revealed she was jetting off for a festive break on Sunday with a snap of her posing up a storm on a plane.

Beauty: Highlighting her taut midriff, Chelsee also cinched her waist with a matching gold belt along with a sparkling sheer chiffon skirt

Since landing in Dubai the beauty has wasted no time in soaking up the sun and showcasing her sizzling figure in a range of stunning bikinis.

However the star has raised some of her followers eyebrows, with one commenting on her posts to question why she's flown out of the UK amid the pandemic.

Replying to the question, Chelsee sarcastically replied she'd booked the trip and taken a 'run hop jump on the plane from Heathrow' however she later added another reply saying she had tested 'negative' and will be 'isolating for 2 weeks' on her return.

It comes after Chelsee was spotted attending a secret lockdown flouting bash in June and later apologised on Instagram, saying she had been 'irresponsible'.

So that's where she is! The beauty confirmed she was holidaying in Dubai on Monday night as she enjoyed dinner with pals (left) and asked if any of her followers knew someone who could 'lay a frontal wig' (right)

The TV star has since had a change of heart and told The Sun she has banned new boyfriend Jake McLean - who lives in London - from visiting her home to ensure her daughter Coco, three, stays safe.

Speaking in October, she said: 'It's hard to resist the temptation of breaking the rules but they have to be followed. I made a silly mistake. I am truly sorry. I now realise it was stupid and irresponsible.

'The whole COVID thing has definitely taken its toll on everyone. This time I will just have to abide by the rules until it blows over. You have to abide by the rules.'

She said: 'I won't be locking down with anyone I'm seeing because I've got a daughter and she's my first priority, and he's in London and that would be too much of a drama.'

Holiday time: Chelsee had revealed she was jetting off for a festive break on Sunday with a snap of her posing up a storm on a plane

Not impressed: The star raised some of her followers eyebrows, with one commenting on her bikini snaps posts to question why she's flown out of the UK amid the pandemic

Chelsee said she came under a great deal of stress after the lockdown rule break and had to temporarily delete her Instagram due to trolls.

It comes after the actress was reportedly summoned by 'appalled' soap bosses after she flouted lockdown regulations in May.

The star sparked backlash after she was spotted outside Lauren Goodger's jailbird ex Jake's home which is more than 200 miles from her Manchester abode.

At the time, Chelsee was said to have been told off about her behaviour by soap bosses and they were 'looking into what consequences she is likely to face'.
A prison chef was arrested for getting an inmate to perform a sex act in exchange for a candy bar, police say.

Leon Spencer, 48, is accused of propositioning the inmate who worked for him at the Las Vegas City Jail in November 2019.

Spencer suggested that if the male prisoner did the act, he would give him a Snickers chocolate bar, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Leon Spencer, 48, was arrested in December after, police say, he got an inmate to perform a sex act in exchange for a Snickers bar

The cook was arrested on December 21 on charges of voluntary sex conduct with a prisoner, open and gross lewdness and soliciting or engaging in prostitution.

An arrest report from the Metropolitan Police Department revealed the inmate said he reported the incident to the police because he did not want to see him when he turned up for work the next day.

After they received the reports, officers checked CCTV footage from inside the prison.

The male victim told police he decided to report the incident because he did not want to see Spencer the next day when he came to work. Picture: Stock

The clips showed them both going into a bathroom and leaving at different time, which correlated with the times the prisoner provided to the police.

The prisoner who is said to have been offered a candy bar for a sex act was in jail due to drug possession charges after his arrest in February 2019.

Spencer has since been released and will appear in court in April.
Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) on Friday held a protest on the varsity campus for the 43rd consecutive day over the pending promotions of teachers under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).

The teachers body of PU began their protest in November last year after the scheduled selection/screening committee meetings of some teachers were postponed by the varsity. PUTA has been pressing vice-chancellor Raj Kumar to hold the interviews of teachers for promotion under CAS immediately.

According to PUTA, over 80 teachers of the university are waiting to be promoted. Varsity had held a few interviews of teachers under CAS in December, but PUTA members have resolved to continue the protest until all the pending cases of promotions are not cleared by the university.

Letter to chancellor

On December 30, PUTA again wrote to Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, who is the chancellor of the university, requesting him to direct the vice-chancellor to complete the CAS promotions without further delay.

The pace at which the vice-chancellor is conducting these meetings clearly shows that the career advancement process of teachers, who are the backbone of the university headed by him, stands nowhere on his agenda, states the letter to chancellor.
Several rules and regulations are set to change on January 1 and in coming days, including implementation of the new cheque payment system meant to curb banking frauds and introduction of a higher transaction limit for contactless cards.

Heres a list of key rules and procedures that are coming into force on January 1 and in the coming days.

Positive Pay system for cheques

Introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Positive Pay System for cheques came into force on January 1. Reconfirmation of key details will be required for payments of more than Rs 50,000.

Under this system, the issuer of the cheque will be required to submit electronically, through SMS, mobile app, internet banking or ATM, certain minimum details of the cheque such as the date, name of the beneficiary, payee and amount to the drawee bank.

These details will be cross-checked before the cheque is presented for payment. If any discrepancy is flagged by cheque truncation system (CTS) to the drawee bank and presenting bank, redressal measures would be undertaken, according to the RBI.

Read more | Positive pay system for cheque payments to come into effect from January 1: RBI

Reliance Jio makes domestic voice calls free

Reliance Jio Infocomm once again made off-net domestic voice calls free after interconnect usage charges (IUC) on such services ended.

"Honouring its commitment to revert off-net domestic voice-call charges to zero, as soon as IUC charges are abolished, Jio will once again make all off-net domestic voice calls free, starting 1st January 2021," the company said in a statement on December 31, 2020. The company also clarified that on-net domestic voice calls have always been free on the Jio network.

Off-net domestic voice calls from Jio to any network, anywhere in the country, will be free. Before this, customers were being charged for off-net voice calls due to the IUC regime.

Contactless card transaction limit increased

Payments limit of contactless cards has been raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 by the RBI in a bid to boost digital payments.

GST-registered small business

Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 5 crore are now required to file just four Goods and Services Tax (GST) sales returns, instead of 12. This change is is expected to impact around 94 lakh small businesses across the country.

Car prices

Maruti Suzuki India, Mahindra and Mahindra and Skoda Auto India will increase vehicle prices from January 1 to cope up with the impact of increasing input costs.

WhatsApp to stop working on some phones

Instant messenger WhatsApp has withdrawn support from some platforms including older Android and iPhones. According to the Facebook-owned messenger, it will only be compatible with phones running Android 4.0.3 operating system or newer, and iPhones running on iOS 9 and newer.

Thus, smartphones such as HTC Desire, LG Optimus Black, Motorola Droid Razr and iPhone 4 will no longer be supported by WhatsApp.

Also read: No WhatsApp updates for select iOS and Android smartphones starting January 2021

FASTag mandatory for four-wheelers

The FASTag electronic toll collection system was supposed to become mandatory for all four-wheel vehicles  carrying both passengers and goods  that were sold before December 1, 2017. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 was amended for this.

However, on December 31, 2020, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways extended the deadline till February 15.

Landline to mobile phone calls

You will be required to prefix '0' while making calls from landlines to mobile phones in the country. While this would be effective from January 15, the telecom department had asked telecommunications companies to work on the required infrastructure by January 1.

Twitter resumes account verification

Social media giant Twitter will restart account verification policy (blue tick) for common users. However, this will begin on January 20.

: Reliance Industries Ltd., which also owns Jio, is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
Hackers Access Personal, Banking Info of TransLink Employees in Ransomware Attack

Hackers accessed the personal and banking information of TransLink employees during a cyberattack that targeted the companys IT infrastructure earlier this month.

The hackers accessed and may have copied files from a restricted network drive, according to an internal email by Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) to their employees. CMBC is the transit service company under the TransLink enterprise serving passengers in Metro Vancouver.

The email was obtained by The Global News on Wednesday, and said that the files contain payroll information such as banking information and social insurance numbers of employees from TransLink, CMBC, and Vancouver Transit Police, alongside with other network drives.

TransLink is currently working to identify the affected employees but said customers fare payment information has not been compromised.

Meanwhile, employees are advised to sign up for a two-year credit monitoring service through their workers union at no charge to monitor any suspicious activity in their bank accounts.

TransLink confirmed in a news release on Dec. 4 that the companys IT infrastructure was targeted by hackers in a ransomware attack. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that disables part of a computer system or access to data until a ransom is paid.

The attack included a printed message by the hackers that said, your network was ATTACKED, your computers and servers were LOCKED, your private data was DOWNLOADED, including threats that if you do not contact us in the next 3 DAYS we will begin DATA publication, according to a Global News reporter who posted a photo of the ransom letter on Twitter.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said in the release that the moment the company detected the attack, they took immediate steps to isolate and shut down key IT assets and systems to contain the threats so that they could resume their operation quickly and safely.

He also assured customers that TransLink does not store their fare payment data as the company uses a third party to process the transactions, which TransLink does not have access to. Desmond said the company would conduct a comprehensive forensic investigation to determine how the incident occurred and what information may have been affected.

Besides TransLink, in September, the College of Nurses of Ontario, the organization that regulates the nursing profession in Ontario, and Canadian Tire were also hit by a ransomware cyberattack.

A student from an engineering school attends the first edition of the Steria Hacking Challenge., in Meudon, west of Paris, March 16, 2013. (Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images)

In the 2020 National Cyber Threat Assessment report, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) warned that the number of cyber threat actors will continue to rise and target Canadians and Canadian organizations to steal personal, financial, and corporate information.

We judge that ransomware directed against Canada will almost certainly continue to target enterprises and critical infrastructure providers, CCCS said. These entities cannot tolerate sustained disruptions and are willing to pay up to millions of dollars to quickly restore their operations.

The intentions of the cyber threat actors are to cause major damage or loss of life in the absence of international hostilities. according to the centre.

Of the countries named, CCCS said state-sponsored cyber activities coming from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea pose the greatest strategic threats to Canada as they will almost certainly continue to conduct commercial espionage against Canadian businesses, academia, and governments to steal Canadian intellectual property and proprietary information.

To prepare and prevent ransomware attacks, the CCCS advises companies to have backups of all their devices stored offline. It can also include backing up data on a different network, or in an external hard drive.

Keeping operating systems, applications, and software updated are essential to counter ransomware attacks too, the report states. Training employees to recognize phishing emails or suspicious attachments work well as well. The centre also recommends granting restrictive IT access to employees based on their job functions.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report
Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) attends a campaign event as he runs for reelection at the Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub, in Milton, Ga.,, on Dec. 21, 2020. (Al Drago/Reuters)

Sen. David Perdue Enters Quarantine Days Before Runoffs After COVID-19 Exposure

WASHINGTONDavid Perdue, one of two Republican senators facing a runoff election in Georgia next week, is quarantining after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus, his campaign said on Thursday.

Perdue (R-Ga.) was notified on Thursday he was in close contact with someone on his campaign who was infected with the virus, a campaign statement said, adding that Perdue and his wife tested negative.

The quarantine threatens to disrupt the final days of campaigning ahead of the Jan. 5 contest that will determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the Senate.

Perdue attended a campaign event on Wednesday in Hiawassee, Georgia, where he met with supporters. In photos of the event, he and others can be seen wearing masks and standing close together.

Perdue posted a photo of himself and his wife on Twitter Thursday night and said the couple was feeling great and planned to ring in the new year with a lot of virtual campaigning.

Thanks to everyone who has called, texted, and reached out, Perdue said.

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga) speaks during a campaign rally in Milton, Ga., on Dec. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

More than 2.8 million Georgians have voted so far, according to state data published on Thursday, the last day of early in-person voting. The early voting has put turnout at a record high for a Georgia runoff, exceeding the 2.1 million ballots cast in a 2008 Senate contest.

The runoffs pit Perdue and the states other Republican senator, Kelly Loeffler, against Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. The runoff was necessary because no candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in the Nov. 3 election.

Perdues campaign did not provide details on when he came into contact with the infected person, how long his quarantine would last or how it would impact any campaign events, adding that more information would be provided later.

If Republicans win one or both Senate seats in Georgia, they will retain a slim majority in the chamber. If Democrats win both, the chamber will be split 50-50, giving the tiebreaking vote to vice presidential candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).

Early voting, both by mail and at in-person voting centers, appears high across the state, including in Republican areas.

Across more than 2,600 voting precincts, county officials have accepted roughly the same number of ballots in precincts carried by Trump in November as in those carried by Biden, state data showed.

By Jason Lange
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LAS CRUCES  Bingo! Almas Kitchen, formerly housed in the parish hall of St. Genevieves Catholic Church, will make its new home on the New Mexico State University campus in Frenger Food Court.

Almas Kitchen has been run out of the parish hall kitchen for 10 years. Arik Ruiz, Almas son, has been the owner for four years, since his mother retired. He and his Mexican food have become popular among bingo players who used to frequent the hall before it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since March, Ruizs restaurant has been closed. To make ends meet, he started delivering groceries through Instacart and food deliveries through OrangeCrate. Meanwhile, he still tries to keep in touch with his elderly customer base, making sure they have everything they need while the novel coronavirus runs rampant throughout the county.

Related: Las Cruces restaurant owner adapts during COVID-19 closure

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Ruiz said he was expecting to reopen Almas Kitchen in the parish hall once the pandemic was under control and restrictions relaxed, but his contract was canceled.

I was super, super sad, stressing out more because I was like, Wow, I was not expecting that,' Ruiz said.

But, he added that he believes that things happen for a reason.

Ruiz decided to apply at a new location, turning to his alma mater, NMSU. He said he was welcomed with open arms and will be filling a spot previously held by Petes a Pasta. Frenger Food Court, located on Frenger Street near Zuhl Library and Domenici Hall, also hosts Mix Pacific Rim and TCBY Treats/Coffee Haus as food vendors.

Almas Kitchen will serve Mexican food, including burritos, gorditas and flautas. But Ruiz said what makes his food special is his homemade tortillas.

Frenger Food Court and its three food vendors will reopen at its new location the first week of classes for the 2021 Spring Semester, Jan. 25, 2021. Ruiz said he is looking forward to serving food again and being so close to students in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management who have historically volunteered with him. He also said his bingo night customers are planning to continue to support him.

Almas Kitchen is not just a building, Ruiz said. When you treat people  your customers  really good, they will follow you wherever you go.

He added that he is still in shock that his business is moving forward after such a long hiatus.

Frenger Food Court will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting Jan. 25, though this schedule is subject to change based on the status of the pandemic in the county. Almas Kitchen will operate Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Indoor seating may be limited or unavailable. According to NMSU, no other changes will be made to food options on campus for this coming semester.

Others are reading:

Investigation into City of Las Cruces finds $1.7M in public money mishandled New Mexico: COVID-19 metrics improve, though 32 of 33 counties still Red Low-income New Mexicans to get more help with utility bills Former Las Cruces, Alamogordo postmaster dies after contracting COVID-19

Leah Romero is a fellow with the New Mexico Local News Fund and can be reached at lromero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Almas Kitchen moves to NMSU after ten years in parish hall kitchen

___

(c)2021 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Victoria has recorded 10 new locally acquired coronavirus cases overnight, all linked to a Thai restaurant.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley announced on Saturday the new cases brought the state total to 29.

'Now that we are seeing a total number of some 29 active cases across all of Victoria, including in hotel quarantine, this is a very significant issue for Victoria as we head into 2021,' Mr Foley said.

There were two cases recorded in hotel quarantine while all 10 locally acquired cases have been linked back to the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne.

Mr Foley revealed the results from genomic testing had also directly linked the cluster to Sydney's Northern Beaches outbreak.

Authorities had previously announced they believed the cluster was linked to the neighbouring state, though were waiting for definitive confirmation.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley announced on Saturday the new cases brought the state total to 29

There were two cases recorded in hotel quarantine while all 10 locally acquired cases have been linked back to the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne (pictured)

Exposure sites have also been identified around the Lakes Entrance, Strathbogie, Cheltenham, Oakleigh, Brighton and Mentone.

Mr Foley also revealed a Victorian couple, who crossed state borders to visit a pub in regional NSW, had returned to Melbourne to isolate.

The pair had been identified as close contacts of a case linked to the outbreak at Thai restaurant in Black Rock, which now sits at 18.

They were warned by contact tracers - and told to isolate and get tested - though still travelled from Melbourne into regional NSW to enjoy a night away.

The two Victorians visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, in the southern region of NSW, on December 30 from 5pm to 6.30pm.

The pair then ate at Bermi's Beachside Cafe in Bermagui from about 9am to 10am on December 31.

They had been contacted by health workers to tell them they were close contacts on December 30 when they were still in Victoria, and they later sought testing when in NSW.

'Please be advised we have been contacted by NSW Health and a confirmed Covid case visited the cafe for breakfast December 31 between 9-10am,' the cafe wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Staff at the cafe are in isolation and will be tested for Covid-19.

'We are very confident in our Covid safety plan and have followed all rules in enforce these rules to help keep everyone safe,' the cafe said.

Two New South Wales residents who flew into Melbourne Airport on Friday and allegedly fled after an authorised officer told them they would need to isolate for 14 days, have also returned to their home state.

Exposure sites have also been identified around the Lakes Entrance, Strathbogie, Cheltenham, Oakleigh, Brighton and Mentone

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley announced on Saturday the new cases brought the state total to 29 (pictured, Covid-19 testing facility at Cheltenham, Melbourne)

The two Victorians visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, in the southern region of NSW, on Wednesday from 5pm to 6.30pm

'I did want to make particular mention of two people who absconded from discussions with authorised officers yesterday who have now apparently returned to Goulburn in New South Wales,' Mr Foley said.

'Upon the advice of the public health team, those people have breached numerous orders of the public-health state of emergency in Victoria and they will each be fined at least $19,000 for their breaching of those arrangements. '

Mr Foley said he also 'made no apologies' for Victoria's hard border closure, which came into effect from 11.59pm on Friday.

'The border closure, based on public health advice, has caused significant disruption for returning travellers and regrettably will also cause disruption for our border communities,' he said.

The pair then ate at Bermi's Beachside Cafe in Bermagui from about 9am to 10am on Thursday

Hundreds of drivers are facing lengthy queues to get back into Victoria from NSW before the hard border closure comes in at midnight

'As I think I indicated yesterday, we've been quite consistent for some time now, in fact for two weeks, that the deteriorating position in New South Wales was of significant concern and that the public health advice was likely to change very quickly in a rapidly changing public health environment.

'We make no apologies for closing the border.'

Hundreds of drivers faced lengthy queues to get back into the state from NSW before the hard border closure.

Victorians had been warned to not enter New South Wales.

In the state's west at Genoa one motorist on Friday reported a wait of almost six hours as a line of hundreds of cars snaked through a checkpoint.

Victorians are facing lengthy queues to cross the NSW border into their home state, as a COVID-19 quarantine deadline looms. Pictured: Police officers patrol and check for entry permits to Victoria at a border checkpoint on December 29, 2020

Two women in face masks are seen in Melbourne's CBD on Thursday ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations

On Thursday, Acting premier Jacinta Allan apologised for the border closure but said Victorians who are in NSW should not be surprised.

'We have been sending a very strong message for the better part of a week-and-a-half ... advising people to think very carefully about their travel to NSW,' Ms Allan said.

'These difficult decisions are about protecting the community.'

Masks are also mandatory indoors and the number of visitors allowed in Victorian homes is down to 15 from 30, she said.

Mr Weimar thanked the 'thousands of people' who quickly packed up and returned to Victoria.

'I know we saw some very long waiting times in queues at border crossings last night and during the early hours of this morning,' he said.

'We are expecting another very busy day today at the border.

'If you're in NSW and you want to be back in Victoria you need to leave now.

'Please prepare for a lengthy wait at the border so make sure you have fuel, water, food and whatever you need to isolate safely when you get home.'

Revellers say goodbye to 2020 and ring in the New Year at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne
Australia's first coin for 2021 will carry an image of three different generations of RAAF aircraft. (AAP)

First Australian Coin of 2021 Honours Air Force

The Royal Australian Mint is honouring 100 years of the nations air force by featuring images of its planes on the first coin pressed in 2021.

The first coin struck in 2021 will commemorate the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force.

The Royal Australian Mint unveiled the theme on Friday, as excited coin collectors around the nation monitored the coin pressing in Canberra.

Three Royal Australian Air Force aircraft are featured on the reverse side of the $1 coin, alongside a soaring wedge-tailed eagle as depicted on its badge.

Inspirational stories showcasing Heroes of the Sky will also adorn packaging and include pilot officer Rawdon Middleton, sky wing officer Doris Carter, and warrant officers Harry Allie, John Snow Coughlan and Len Waters.

Air Force chief Mel Hupfeld described the theme as a superb way to honour the sacrifice and service of our people over the past 100 years.

Air Forces contribution to the Australian Defence Force is one to be commemorated, particularly for our people serving today and as we look forward to continuing to evolve into the future, she said.

Australian coin collectors traditionally line up in their hundreds outside the mint on New Years Day in a bid to press the first coin of the year.

However, the annual event has been converted into an online ballot this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Cristy England, the mints acting chief executive, said it was important to keep the tradition alive.

This years lucky ballot winner, Lorraine Edgar from Charleville, Queensland, will receive a one-of-a-kind coin set that includes the first 2021 coin, along with the C mintmark and privy coins, a silver proof coin and a certificate of authentication.

By Callum Godde
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London: British hospitals around the country face a perilous situation in January, medical workers warned Friday amid surging coronavirus infections blamed on a new virus variant. Authorities pressed to reactivate field hospitals previously mothballed just to handle the crush of new patients.

Concerns are mounting about the ability of the already stretched National Health Service to cope with the anticipated increase in people seeking treatment for COVID-19 infections over the coming weeks that could be further fueled by holiday gatherings over Christmas and New Year's.

On Friday, the U.K. recorded another 53,285 new infections, down slightly from the previous day's record high of 55,892. Although comparisons with the outset of the pandemic are difficult given that testing was limited in the spring, the U.K. has recorded its four highest daily new infection numbers over the past four days  all above 50,000 and around double the daily number of a few weeks ago.

The Royal College of Nursings England director, Mike Adams, told Sky News that the U.K. was in the eye of the storm" and that it was infuriating" to see people not following social distancing guidance or wearing masks.

A leading physician also warned of burnout among health workers on the front line in hospitals, while also urging people to follow the rules.

I am worried," Adrian Boyle, vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, told the BBC. We are very much at battle stations."

The spike in new cases is said to be due to a new, more contagious variant of the virus first identified around London and the southeast of England.

Given the time lags between new cases, hospitalizations and COVID-19 deaths, there are huge concerns about the path of the pandemic over the coming month or two. Britain already has Europe's second-highest virus death toll at 74,125 after another 613 deaths were recorded Friday. The country looks set to overtake Italy and become Europe's worst-hit country once again.

As a result of the spike in new infections, which has prompted even tighter lockdown restrictions, British authorities have changed their strategy for rolling out coronavirus vaccines, choosing to get more people an initial jab as soon as possible, and delaying the second shot for up to three months.

In a joint statement, the chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said the first vaccine dose offers substantial" protection.

Currently, two vaccines have been approved for use in the U.K. and both require two doses per person.

Around 1 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine developed by American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer and German biotechnology company BioNTech, with a small minority also getting the second dose as planned after 21 days.

Earlier this week, Britain also approved a vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca that is substantially cheaper and easier to use.

Authorities then outlined the new dosing regimen, which delays a person's second vaccine shot from being done at three weeks to being given up to 12 weeks after the first shot.

In the short term, the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest. The great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine," the medical officers said.

Still, the new plan has faced some criticism. The U.K.'s main union for doctors warned that delaying the second dose causes huge scheduling problems for thousands of partially vaccinated elderly and vulnerable people.

It is grossly and patently unfair to tens of thousands of our most at-risk patients to now try to reschedule their appointments," said Richard Vautrey from the British Medical Association.





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Zurich: The World Health Organisation on Thursday, local time, listed the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech for emergency use, saying the move opens the door for countries to expedite their own approvals to import and give the shot.

Once a vaccine has been listed for WHO emergency use, the United Nations health agency said, it "engages its regional regulatory networks and partners to inform national health authorities on the vaccine and its anticipated benefits based on data from clinical studies to date."

A pharmacist holds a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Credit:Bloomberg

The WHO's review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address COVID-19 offset potential risks, the WHO said in a statement.

This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere, said Dr Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant-director general for Access to Medicines and Health Products.
The chief minister said From Seed to Sale should be the motto of RBKs and they should support farmers in all activities ranging from sowing seeds to selling the crop

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said the state government will set up multi-purpose facility centres including for agricultural marketing and food processing under Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) across the state with an outlay of `10,235 crore.

He said during a review meeting on Dr YSR RBKs, agricultural marketing, food processing and Amul project here on Thursday that the construction of multi-purpose facility centers would start in March and be completed in a year. The facilities would include warehouses, drying platform, collection centers, cold rooms for storage, custom hiring centers, primary processing centers, assaying equipment, Janata Bazaars, bulk milk cooling units, cattle sheds and aqua infra, in select villages, procurement centers and e-marketing.

The chief minister said it's very important to provide quality inputs to farmers on time. Farmer should be informed when seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and the like will be delivered and the schedules should be displayed in RBKs as well.

The CM said quality aqua feed and aqua seed should be provided through RBKs. The labs to be established at the constituency level to determine the quality of feed and seeds should be linked with RBKs. The products of organic and natural farming methods should be brought under RBKs and well publicised. Manufacturing units of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers should be encouraged at the village level.

The chief minister said From Seed to Sale should be the motto of RBKs and they should support farmers in all activities ranging from sowing seeds to selling the crop. Agriculture university should prepare an action plan for effective functioning of RBKs and a curriculum should be prepared on marketing, before harvest and after harvest. It was important for officials to focus on completing the construction of Rytu Bazaars in the fixed timeline.

The CM said the Nadu-Nedu scheme should be implemented in market yards and the proposals were laid out with a Rs212 crore budget. He directed officials to prepare proposals for modernization of all Rytu Bazaars across the state.

Officials said an additional 125 Urban RBKs would be set up along with 10,641 RBKs and the vehicles count in RBK hubs has been increased to 154 from the existing 65. Some 147 constituency level integrated labs will start functioning from March 31 and 13 district-level integrated Agri labs will be set up by June 30.

Agriculture minister Kurasala Kannababu, agriculture special chief secretary Poonam Malakondaiah, Zero Budget Natural Farming Adviser and vice-chairman T Vijayakumar, agriculture commissioner Arun Kumar, special commissioner for marketing PS Pradyumna, horticulture commissioner Chiranjeevi Chowdary, AP dairy development cooperative federation MD Babu A, AP AGROS MD Srikesh Balaji Rao, civil supplies corporation MD A Suryakumari and other senior officials were present.
I understood, He was wonderful. God love him.

Jack Cumming, 84, Carlsbad, Calif.

My wife and I live in a senior housing complex with a skilled nursing facility on the premises. Our lives are centered on the facility where we live. We are old, and so are our neighbors. Many are deep into those transitions that lead to lifes ending.

Two cultures dwell side by side in most senior care facilities. One is the staff members culture. They are there to do a job, often one that others would never want. They are dedicated and come to work in the face of danger, after which they go home to their families. The residents dwell in a different culture. They never leave. They have few contacts. Both cultures vary widely from one community to another, but the contrast between staff freedom and resident confinement is common. People who live in care facilities trade freedom for security.

Most difficult have been bans on visits. You may wonder whether residents just passively accept these imposed restrictions. Many do, but many dont. Its the same as in the general population. Walking the streets, we encounter many unmasked strangers. Are they contagious? Perhaps. They seem oblivious. Similarly, many residents ignore the rules and sneak out (elopement in the industry) to visit with family or friends.

Beverly Zeroogian, writing about Dorothy S., Newtown, Conn.

Dorothy lived in the nursing home where I worked for over five years. She had advanced dementia and was no longer able to walk or talk. But every day her husband, daughter and son arrived at about 12:30 to take her to the dining room for lunch. Her husband would sit on one side holding her hand. Her daughter would feed her pureed food, and her son would help Marianne and Joan, two other residents who also had challenges with feeding themselves. They were all like a family.

When Covid-19 hit, all family visits were halted. Dorothy was OK at first, already accustomed to the staff feeding her twice a day. But after a while, I think it hit her. Her family was gone. We could not tell her why or where they were. We could not reassure her, although we tried.

Dorothy slowly went downhill, and in July, she died. She is the collateral damage, the many who decline simply from the isolation and loss of routine, but most important, from the loss of the people who love them. She was one of many here, and she deserves a voice.

Debra L. Eder, writing about her mother, Ruth Eder, 92, Eatontown, N.J.

My 92-year-old mother, Ruth Eder, survived the coronavirus in a long-term care facility in New Jersey. Since recovering, she has left her room only a handful of times in the past nine months. Mom feels grateful shes in a safe place. The same stalwart staff members have cared for her throughout the pandemic. But that doesnt prevent her from griping  her sense of humor intact.
The national Capital on Friday recorded 585 fresh Covid-19 cases after 80,565 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, which took the positivity rate to 0.73 per cent. Total Covid-19 deaths in Delhi reached 10,557 with 21 deaths recorded on Friday. The city at present has 3,874 containment zones.

On January 2, as part of the nationwide dry run of vaccines, trials will be conducted at three sites in Delhi  Central district, Shahdara district and South West district

After a sudden spike in the number of cases from the last week of October, Delhis daily infections fell from December 21. From December 21-23, the daily case count had been below the 1,000-mark. On December 21, 803 cases were reported; 939 on December 22 and 871 on December 23.However, on December 24, 1,063 cases were recorded, dropping again to 758 on December 25 and 655 on December 26. On December 27, 757 cases were recorded while on December 28, the daily case count was 564, the lowest in the last five months.On December 29 and 30, the city recorded 703 and 677 cases respectively. On December 31, 574 cases were recorded.

On Friday, four more people have tested positive for the new variant of Covid-19 strain first detected first in India. This variant is believed to be more contagious but it has so far not affected Indias Covid-19 caseload. The civil aviation ministry, which barred UK flights till January 7, has decided to resume operations from January 8 in a staggered manner.

The presence of the new UK variant has already been reported by Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore, so far.
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New Delhi, Jan 1 : Despite the Covid-19 pandemic hitting the country and imposition of the nationwide lockdown for several months, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) managed to solve 800 cases.

Addressing the CBI officers through video conference, agency Director Rishi Kumar Shukla said, "Covid-19 related lockdown came as a challenge. In spite of the best efforts taken, the CBI family lost a few officers and men." "A large number of cases numbering around 800 were disposed off during the year gone by (2020) despite the huge challenges of Covid-19 pandemic, which caused tremendous hurdles in the operations in various walks of life," he said.

"With your cooperation and efforts, we have been able to finalise the investigation of a substantial number of cases to achieve our targets. We need to work hard in the coming days," the CBI Director said.

He also complimented the investigating officers and the supervisory officers in exhibiting the true nature of team CBI towards relentlessly pursuing cases. He cited the example of a recently adjudicated case in Kerala in which conviction was pronounced despite the severely hampered and complicated case handed over to the CBI.

Shukla also emphasised the need for officers and others at various levels to keep themselves updated with the latest tools of investigation through sustained training.

He pointed out that new and well innovated online or virtual training modules are now available or developed as a fallout of restrictions due to the Covid pandemic.

Shukla underscored the need for "supervisory officers to involve themselves in live investigation cases" more frequently as a New Year resolution.

"This will help them to have first-hand experience of some of the present investigation methods and can further guide their teams to strengthen or further improve investigation with an objective of accelerating the process," the Director said.

Shukla conveyed his condolences to the family members of those officers who died due to Covid and assured them of all possible assistance. He stressed the need to continuously adhere to the Covid protocols as the pandemic is still raging.

"We should continue with periodic sanitization of our workplace and frequent testing," he said.

The Director also highlighted the welfare activities and said efforts were made to fill up the existing vacancies, hold maximum DPCs whereby a number of officials were promoted.

He recognised the services rendered by the officers while getting various prestigious awards, including IPM/PPM/USM/AUSM/Home Minister's Medal and Asuchana Padak, etc.

The Director complimented the officers of the agency for professional work and for progressively achieving better results, especially during the last two years.

Recently, a large number of high value bank fraud cases have been taken up which marks an emerging challenge to the CBI, he added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The New York City skyline seen from an observation deck in New York City, on Sept. 2, 2020. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

New York Restaurant Loses Liquor License After Hosting Maskless GOP Club Party

A New York eatery that hosted a large holiday party with largely maskless patrons had its liquor license suspended for violating several COVID-19 regulations and other health safety laws, according to a Thursday announcement by state authorities.

The Whitestone Republican Club held an indoor holiday party at the Queens establishment, called Il Bacco Ristorante, on Dec. 9, with footage from the event posted on social media subsequently going viral. It showed about a dozen revelers dancing in a conga line to the Bee Gees You Should Be Dancing, with a man in the line waving a Trump 2020 flag while other attendees were seen seated at tables or milling about. Several people had masks on, but the vast majority had no facial coverings.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo later reacted to the footage, telling NY1 journalist Zack Fink: I saw the video. Covid conga lines are not smart. That is my official position. Why you would do an unmasked Covid conga line in the middle of a pandemic defies logical explanation.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio also weighed in, telling NY1 that anyone who violates the state rules, were going to go deal with, adding, Im certain the sheriff and other city agencies are going to follow up.

The Whitestone Republican Club reacted to reports Cuomo and de Blasio had taken interest in the event, saying in a Dec. 22 statement, The fact that the two most powerful people in the state are talking about our little party speaks volumes about their priorities, as well as how hypersensitive they are to even the slightest threat to the dictatorial authority they crave.

We ALL have the inalienable right under the First Amendment to peaceably assemble, and thats what we did. Theres no pandemic clause in the Constitution, no matter how badly the media and Cuomo want you to believe otherwise, the club added.

A Dec. 23 investigation by the New York State Liquor Authority found a range of pandemic-related violations at the restaurant, including staff improperly wearing masks and indoor dining in a fully-enclosed rooftop space, an agency spokesperson told Patch.

Authorities subsequently moved to suspend the eaterys liquor license.

During a follow-up inspection, investigators found flagrant violations of indoor dining regulations and existing health safety and Alcoholic Beverage Control laws, while verifying the maskless party depicted in the video did in fact occur, the State Liquor Authority said in a statement, as cited by New York Post.

This summary suspension should send a strong message that we have zero tolerance for establishments that put New Yorkers health at risk, it added.

One person attending the party later tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the Whitestone Republican Club, although it was not clear whether he contracted the illness at the event.

We wish the best to Jim Trent for a speedy recovery and understand that his hospitalization was purely precautionary, and that he is being released today. Whether he contracted the virus at our event, his clubs holiday party held a few days prior, or in the normal course of life will likely never be known, the Whitestone Republican Club said in a Dec. 31 statement.

Trent told The Queens Daily Eagle that he wasnt sure his falling ill had anything to do with his attendance at the party.

I wasnt on the conga line. I ate by myself, he said. I dont know how I got this.

The Whitestone Republican Club defended holding the event and denounced pandemic-related punitive measures.

There are clearly two camps people have broken into during this challenging time, it said. One that believes that people should be forced into compliance with recommended guidelines under threat of force by official penalty and retaliation.

The second believes that people should be responsible to decide for themselves how to protect their health and how much risk they are willing to assume, just as we do with most other personal risk decisions in our society, it added. We clearly fall into the second camp.

Defending our personal liberties is paramount in a free society, and no one should be penalized, shamed, or ostracized for how they choose to live their life, the Whitestone Republican Club stated.

According to Patch, the restaurant has until Jan. 27 to respond to the State Liquor Authoritys charges.
A bobblehead, bouquets of flowers and a race car helmet were among the gifts given to Queensland politicians last year.

Former natural resources minister Anthony Lynham, now retired from politics, was given a bobblehead figurine and a leather baseball glove by the Brisbane Bandits, which he put on display.

AEG Ogden chairman Harvey Lister had three bouquets of flowers delivered to Queensland ministers.

Dr Lynham also declared gifts valued at $880 from mining company Meijin Group after he was bestowed two Chinese inlaid lacquer jewellery boxes and two red silk traditional Chinese outfits.

Both were forwarded on to the ministerial services branch (MSB).
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Maxar Technologies Inc. ("Maxar" or the "Company") (NYSE: MAXR) on behalf of the company's stockholders.

Current Maxar stockholders who purchased or acquired shares of Maxar's common stock prior to March 26, 2018 are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.) at (484) 258  1585, or by email at [email protected] or online at http://kaskelalaw.com/case/maxar-technologies-inc/, for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options.

Recently an amended securities fraud complaint was filed against Maxar on behalf of investors who purchased shares of Maxar's common stock between March 26, 2018 to January 6, 2019. According to the complaint, during that time period Maxar and certain of the Company's senior executive officers knowingly and/or recklessly issued a series of false and misleading statements regarding: (i) the Company's financial reporting of GeoComm's materially impaired balance sheet assets; (ii) a geosynchronous satellite construction contract known as AMOS-8 that proved to be illusory; and (iii) the October 2018 failure of the WorldView-4 imagery satellite concealed from investors.

The investigation seeks to determine whether the members of Maxar's board of directors breached their fiduciary duties to Maxar and its stockholders in connection with the above alleged misconduct.

Kaskela Law LLC represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com.

CONTACT:

D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.

KASKELA LAW LLC

18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(484) 258  1585

(888) 715  1740

www.kaskelalaw.com

[email protected]

This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.

SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC

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Franklin Graham urges Christians to vote in Georgia Senate runoffs: The soul of our nation is at stake

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The Rev. Franklin Graham is calling on Christians in Georgia to vote in the states Senate runoff elections next week, warning that the soul of our nation is at stake.

Graham, a prominent evangelist and CEO of the charitable organization Samaritans Purse, took to Facebook Monday to direct a message at Christians who believe in the Bible and live in Georgia. Grahams message came one week before two Senate runoff elections that will determine control of the United States Senate for the next two years.

Please encourage your family, your friends, your community to pray and to vote, he wrote. If conservatives lose control of the Senate, there is nothing to stop the radical agenda of the left. There will not be another chance to get this right. The nation is depending on you.

Graham described the Senate as the last line of defense to block the radical, wicked agenda that is trying to take control of our nation. Additionally, he maintained that the policies supported by those on the left promise to be openly hostile to those who hold Christian beliefs.

So called progressives  immediately want to pass The Equality Act which is anything but equal. It is an attempt to rid our country of religious freedom protections. Friends, this is dangerous, Graham warned.

This would change our nation at its very foundationand yes, it would also greatly change your everyday life. It will vastly alter the America that we leave for our children and grandchildren. I encourage Christians across the country to pray for this electionand if you live in Georgia, vote before its too late.

Graham has repeatedly warned about the consequences of the Equality Act, which has already passed the Democratic-led House of Representatives but stalled in the Republican-led Senate. Shortly after its passage in the House, Graham warned that the legislation would have catastrophic consequences for competitive sports, along with churches and faith-based nonprofits who would lose all protections to hire people who adhere to their Biblical statements of faith.

Graham was one of 21 Christian leaders who wrote a letter to lawmakers expressing concern that the Equality Act would gut religious freedom protections  even the protections enjoyed by houses of worship. He predicted that if the Senate majority changes or if the presidency were to change hands in 2020, I would have little doubt this would become the law of the land.

President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to make passage of the Equality Act a priority of his first 100 days in office. The possibility remains that the Senate majority will change for the next two years. Following the 2020 elections, Republicans will hold at least 50 seats in the U.S. Senate while Democrats will hold at least 48.

The two Senate elections in Georgia remain undecided, as both races went to runoffs because no candidate received the required 50% of the vote required to avoid a runoff in either election. The runoffs are slated to take place on Jan. 5.

On Election Day, Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., captured 49.7% of the vote while his Democratic challenger, Jon Ossoff, won 47.9% of the vote. The winner of that race will serve a six-year term.

In addition to the regularly scheduled Georgia Senate election, the resignation of Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., at the beginning of the year prompted a special election where the winner will finish the remaining two years of his six-year term. Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., appointed Kelly Loeffler to fill the seat until the special election.

Loeffler finished second in the Nov. 3 election, where all candidates ran together on the same ticket regardless of partisan affiliation. Democrat Raphael Warnock won 32.9% of the vote while Loeffler received 25.9% support.

Currently, the Real Clear Politics average of polls taken of the race between Perdue and Ossoff shows Ossoff with a 0.8 point lead. The RCP average of the contest between Loeffler and Warnock shows Warnock with a 1.8 point lead. Should those leads hold and Democrats end up winning both races, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, giving Democrats control of not only that chamber but of the entire federal government.

While Real Clear Politics polling averages are seen as reliable predictors for election outcomes, the aggregator does occasionally miss the mark. For example, in 2020, the final RCP polling average for the Senate race in North Carolina showed Democrat Cal Cunningham beating Republican Sen. Thom Tillis by 2.6 points. Tillis ended up winning by 1.8 points.

The Equality Act is just one legislative provision supported by Democrats that cause Graham and other religious Americans great concern. Biden has also vowed to codify the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide into law and top Democrats on Capitol Hill have illustrated a desire to do away with the Hyde Amendment, which prevents the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions.

The more progressive members of the Democratic Party have proposed expanding the size of the Supreme Court to dilute the power of the 6-3 Republican majority. While Biden has not explicitly embraced that idea, he has expressed an openness to rotating Supreme Court justices to lower courts.
Despite inexact substantiation of his losses, the Tax Court held that a taxpayer had lost more than he had won gambling during 2014, and he could take a gambling loss deduction equal to the amount of winnings reported to the IRS on Forms W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, from casinos for the year.

Background

John Coleman is a self-acknowledged compulsive gambler. His preferred form of action is the slot machine, which, unfortunately, generally offers among the worst odds of any type of game in a casino. Coleman testified in Tax Court that over the years his love of playing the slot machines had adversely affected his financial circumstances and his family life. In 2014, it also brought him into conflict with the IRS.

During 2014, Coleman had nongambling income of $76,784 and a personal injury settlement of $150,000. He also won $350,241 gambling at four casinos in Maryland and Delaware, which was reported to him (and the IRS) on Forms W-2G from the casinos. The Forms W-2G from all of the casinos included only his wins of over $1,200 or more.

Besides recording prizes of $1,200 or more on Forms W-2G, two of the casinos tracked his wins and losses when he signed into slot machines using casino-issued rewards cards (sometimes called players cards). He frequently signed into slot machines with the rewards cards when he was gambling at these casinos, but not every time. Combining his prizes of $1,200 or more and his wins and losses when he used his rewards card, Coleman had net gambling winnings of $52,804 during 2014 at one of the casinos. At the other, he had net gambling winnings of $1,501. The other two of the four casinos he gambled at did not keep win/loss records based on rewards card data.

When going out for a gambling session, if Coleman did not have any money left from his last session, which he usually did not, he would stop to withdraw cash on the way to the casino. If he ran out of money while gambling, he would withdraw money from one of two credit union accounts or secure an advance on a debit or credit card from an ATM at the casino where he was playing, or get a cash advance from the casino itself (which he was required to pay back several days later). Sometimes he would replenish his funds more than once a day. During 2014 he made 210 withdrawals from his credit cards and credit union accounts while gambling at casinos, totaling $240,113.

Coleman did not file a federal income tax return. Because the casinos and other payers reported to the IRS that Coleman had received a significant amount of income, the IRS opened an examination and prepared a substitute for return (SFR) for him. In the SFR, the IRS included as income the $350,241 in gambling winnings reported to it on the Forms W-2G from the various casinos where Coleman had gambled in 2014 and approximately $40,000 of additional unreported income from other sources. It did not do Coleman the favor of including any of his substantial gambling losses for 2014 in the return. Based on the return, the IRS issued a notice of deficiency to Coleman for $128,866 in tax and $46,025 in failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties.

Coleman, after filing a petition challenging the IRS's determination in Tax Court, filed a return that included, along with his gambling winnings and other income, a $350,241 deduction for gambling losses. The IRS refused to accept the return, but before trial the IRS stipulated that all the items on the return were correct, except for the claimed gambling loss deduction and a minor business expense deduction.

The Tax Court's decision

The Tax Court held that Coleman had substantiated that his gambling losses for 2014 were in excess of his gambling winnings, so he was entitled to the $350,241 gambling loss deduction. In making its decision, the court relied in part on the testimony of a gaming industry expert who testified on behalf of Coleman.

Under Sec. 165(d), for a taxpayer who does not engage in gambling as a trade or business, losses from wagering transactions are allowable as an itemized deduction, but only to the extent of the gains from such transactions. Unlike currently, in 2014 taxpayers were allowed to take miscellaneous itemized deductions.

The court explained that while taxpayers must substantiate that they are entitled to take an expense and the amount of the expense, in some cases, under the Cohan rule, a court can estimate the amount of an expense if the taxpayer establishes that he or she paid or incurred an expense but not its precise amount (see Cohan, 39 F.2d 540 (2d Cir. 1930)). The court, noting that not all gamblers keep complete records of their wins and losses, found that the Cohan rule applied in Coleman's case. Thus, the question was whether Coleman could "substantiate his losses to a degree sufficient for [the court] to estimate, using [the court's] best judgment, that his gambling losses exceeded his gambling winnings."

The court found that Coleman had provided sufficient evidence to substantiate a deduction for gambling losses of at least the amount of his gambling winnings of $350,241. This evidence included Coleman's records showing he had withdrawn $240,113 from his credit union and credit card accounts, which he and the IRS stipulated he used for gambling; the small amount of money in his various bank accounts at the end of the year, despite his having deposited the $150,000 personal injury settlement into the account; and his continuation of a very modest lifestyle (apart from his gambling) throughout 2014. This evidence collectively convinced the court that Coleman could not have had any net gambling winnings in 2014.

The court found that this conclusion was confirmed by the report of Coleman's expert, Mark Nicely, whom the court recognized as an expert in mathematics, the casino gaming industry, and casino gaming equipment, particularly slot machines. Using established statistical techniques, Nicely estimated the likely outcome of Coleman's gaming transactions during 2014 on the basis of the frequency with which he gambled and the expected win percentages at the casinos where he gambled, concluding, with a 99% level of certainty, that Coleman had overall net gambling losses of at least $151,690 during 2014.

In his report Nicely explained if a player gambles long enough and does not win any prizes that are exceptionally large relative to the size of the wager, it is virtually impossible for that player to have annual net gambling winnings. Based on his analysis, Nicely determined that the odds against Coleman's having earned even $1 of net gambling profit during 2014 were 140 million to 1.

The IRS criticized the methodology Nicely used in his report, claiming it was based on uncertain or flawed assumptions. The Tax Court disagreed, noting that it had approved of a report by the same expert using the same type of casino data and statistical techniques and that the expert claimed that in Coleman's case the information was more detailed and complete than in the previous case.

The IRS also asserted that the expert's conclusions were implausible because Coleman could not have sustained annual net gambling losses of $151,690 indefinitely into the future. The Tax Court found this argument to be faulty because the expert's conclusions were based on Coleman's frequency of gambling and the amount of money he gambled in 2014. The court found that Coleman had credibly testified that his gambling varied from year to year, based on how much money was available to him. Because he had received a one-time large windfall of $150,000 from his personal injury settlement (over 200% of his regular income) in 2014, it followed that he had unusually large gambling losses for 2014.

Reflections

While it is clear from this case and Gagliardi, T.C. Memo. 2008-10, that the Tax Court will sometimes give bona fide compulsive gamblers great leeway in determining the amount of wagering losses they can deduct, less-prolific gamblers cannot assume the court will apply the Cohan rule to determine their gambling losses. Thus, if gambling losses of taxpayers not in a trade or business of gambling become deductible again in the future, these gamblers should track their losses through rewards card programs or some other method to ensure they are able to deduct their losses.

Coleman, T.C. Memo. 2020-146
By Ramzy Baroud

December 31, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - On December 21, the United States Congress passed the COVID-19 Relief Package, as part of a larger $2.3 trillion bill meant to cover spending for the rest of the fiscal year. As usual, US representatives allocated a massive sum of money for Israel.

While unemployment, thus poverty, in the US is skyrocketing as a result of repeated lockdowns, the US found it essential to provide Israel with $3.3 billion in security assistance and $500 million for US-Israel missile defense cooperation.

Although a meager $600 dollar payment to help struggling American families was the subject of several months of intense debate, there was little discussion among American politicians over the large funds handed out to Israel, for which there are no returns.

Support for Israel is considered a bipartisan priority and has, for decades, been perceived as the most stable item in the US foreign policy agenda. The mere questioning of how Israel uses the funds  whether the military aid is being actively used to sustain Israels illegal occupation of Palestine, finance Jewish settlements, fund annexation of Palestinian land or violate Palestinian human rights  is a major taboo.

One of the few members of Congress to demand that aid to Israel be conditioned on the latters respect for human rights is Democratic Senator, Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, who was also a leading presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. We cannot give it carte blanche to the Israeli government  We have the right to demand respect for human rights and democracy, Sanders had said in October 2019.

His Democratic rival, now President-elect, Joe Biden, soon countered: The idea that Id withdraw military aid, as others have suggested, from Israel, is bizarre, he said.

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It is no secret that Israel is the worlds leading recipient of US aid since World War II. According to data provided by the US Congressional Research Service, Israel has received $146 billion of US taxpayers money as of November 2020.

From 1971 up to 2007, a bulk of these funds proved fundamental in helping Israel establish a strong economic base. Since then, most of the money has been allotted for military purposes, including the security of Israels illegal Jewish settlement enterprise.

Despite the US financial crisis of 2008, American money continued to be channeled to Israel, whose economy survived the global recession, largely unscathed.

In 2016, the US promised even more money. The Democratic Barack Obama Administration, which is often  although mistakenly  seen as hostile to Israel, increased US funding to Israel by a significant margin. In a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding, Washington and Tel Aviv reached a deal whereby the US agreed to give Israel $38 billion in military aid covering the financial years 2019-2028. This is a whopping increase of $8 billion compared with the previous 10-year agreement, which concluded at the end of 2018.

The new American funds are divided into two categories: $33 billion in foreign military grants and an additional $5 billion in missile defense.

American generosity has long been attributed to the unmatched influence of pro-Israeli groups, lead among them American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The last four years, however, required little lobbying by these groups, as powerful agents within the administration itself became Israels top advocates.

Aside from the seemingly endless political freebies that the Donald Trump Administration has given Israel in recent years, it is now considering ways to accelerate the timetable of delivering the remainder of US funds as determined by the last MOU, an amount that currently stands at $26.4 billion. According to official congressional documents, the US also may approve additional sales of the F-35 to Israel and accelerate the delivery of KC-46A refueling and transport aircraft to Israel.

These are not all the funds and perks that Israel receives. Much more goes unreported, as it is channeled either indirectly or simply promoted under the flexible title of cooperation.

For example, between 1973 and 1991, a massive sum of $460 million of US funds was allocated to resettling Jews in Israel. Many of these new immigrants are now the very Israeli militants that occupy the West Bank illegal settlements. In this particular case, the money is paid to a private charity known as the United Israel Appeal which, in turn, gives the money to the Jewish Agency. The latter has played a central role in the founding of Israel on top of the ruins of Palestinian towns and villages in 1948.

Under the guise of charitable donations, tens of millions of dollars are regularly sent to Israel in the form of tax-deductible gifts for Jewish settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the New York Times reported. Much of the money, falsely promoted as donations for educational and religious purposes, often finds its way to funding and purchasing housing for illegal settlers, as well as guard dogs, bulletproof vests, rifle scopes and vehicles to secure (illegal Jewish) outposts deep in occupied (Palestinian) areas.

Quite often, US money ends up in the Israeli governments coffers under deceptive pretenses. For example, the latest Stimulus Package includes $50 million to fund the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Funds, supposedly to provide investments in people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation  between Israelis and Palestinians with the goal of supporting a negotiated and sustainable two-state solution.

Actually, such money serves no particular purpose, since Washington and Tel Aviv endeavor to ensure the demise of a negotiated peace agreement and work hand-in-hand to kill the now-defunct two-state solution.

The list is endless, though most of this money is not included in the official US aid packages to Israel, therefore receives little scrutiny, let alone media coverage.

As of February 2019, the US has withheld all funds to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, in addition to cutting aid to the UN Palestinian Refugees agency (UNRWA), the last lifeline of support needed to provide basic education and health services to millions of Palestinian refugees.

Judging by its legacy of continued support of the Israeli military machine and the ongoing colonial expansion in the West Bank, Washington insists on serving as Israels main benefactor  if not a direct partner  while shunning Palestinians altogether. Expecting the US to play a constructive role in achieving a just peace in Palestine does not only reflect indefensible naivety but willful ignorance as well.

 Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books. His latest is These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons (Clarity Press). Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) and also at the Afro-Middle East Center (AMEC). His website is www.ramzybaroud.net
Last September, it was announced that Kildare will have an approximate even share of 300 new jobs being announced by Pfizer.

The jobs will be created over the next two to three years and will bring to 4,000 the company staff in Ireland. The pharmaceutical company is announcing approximately 300 million capital investment in its Irish operations which, it said, will support the further development of existing manufacturing sites in Newbridge, Grange Castle and Ringaskiddy.

A company spokesperson said the new jobs would be spread roughly evenly over the three Irish sites. Paul Reid, Country Manager, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, said: Currently we are focused on our Covid-19 efforts, including our vaccine development program.
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Houston, Texas -- The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas announced Wednesday that they resolved a claim that luxury jeweler Harry Winston Inc. violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by refusing to offer full-time employment to U.S. Army National Guard Reservist John A. Walker because of his military service obligations.

Discrimination against members of the National Guard or Reserve because of their service to our country is intolerable, violates the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and the Department of Justice will not stand for it, said Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. We honor all servicemembers for their service to our nation, and this settlement signals the Justice Departments ongoing commitment in protecting the rights of our men and women in uniform.

Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines fight for us. Fighting for their legal rights is the least we can do, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick for the Southern District of Texas. All service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, need to know that employers cannot discriminate against them based on their military service obligations. This settlement sends a strong message to employers that the U.S. Attorneys Office will protect the rights of our service members.

In December 2017, reservist Walker applied for a job with Harry Winston, Inc., which denied his application. Walker alleged that Harry Winston, Inc. refused to hire him because of his military service obligations. Under the terms of the settlement, Harry Winston, Inc. has agreed to fully compensate Walker for his back-pay and non-wage damages.

Congress enacted USERRA to encourage non-career service in the uniformed services by reducing employment disadvantages; to minimize the disruption to the lives of persons performing military service, their employers and others by providing for the prompt reemployment of such persons upon their completion of such service; and to prohibit discrimination against persons because of their service in the uniformed services or if they pursue a claim under USERRA.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) referred this matter following an investigation by their Veterans Employment and Training Service. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas and the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division handled the case and work collaboratively with the DOL to protect the jobs and benefits of military members.

This investigation was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Edward Wyatt and Annalisa Cravens and Paralegal Specialist Raymond Babauta of the Southern District of Texas, along with Assistant Director Andrew Braniff of the Department of Justices Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and Senior Trial Attorney Alicia Johnson of the Civil Rights Divisions Employment Litigation Section.
At least 25 civilians have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's troubled east, local officials said Friday, blaming the attack on the notorious ADF militia.

The army was chasing ADF fighters on Thursday when they found the bodies of 25 civilians, who had been "taken by surprise in their fields on New Year's Eve," Donat Kibuana, the administrator of the Beni territory, told AFP.

The ADF is one of more than 100 militias that plague the eastern provinces of the vast country and has been blamed for the deaths of hundreds of civilians over the past year.

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As lockdown measures loom, scientific debate continues about their worth but a wall of censorship keeps much of that debate hidden from the public.(Zigres/Shutterstock)

Scientific Debate Over Lockdown Measures

Confronting COVID-19 while maintaining public trust has proven difficult and divisive

In March 2020, officials called for a lockdown across most of the United States and Canada due to COVID-19. Schools closed, businesses were shuttered, and public life came to a screeching halt.

The initial plan was to slow the spread but this timeline eventually stretched into several weeks, and then months of restrictions.

The stated goal of these restrictive measures is to contain a potentially lethal illness until the threat of COVID-19 is eradicated. But there are painful side effects to this strategy: suicide and mental health problems, drug overdoses, domestic abuse, the destruction of small businesses, unemployment, hunger, and poverty.

Yet medical experts and policymakers say, despite the pain weve endured so far, even greater sacrifice is necessary, as the constant rise in COVID-19 case numbers confirm.

Despite the suffering and growing pushback against such measures, lawmakers say science and the opinions of top medical experts guides their orders. Lockdowns, while painful, are necessary for the public good.

But many health experts promote a radically different path.

The Great Barrington Declaration, for example, expresses grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies. Written by medical experts from Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford, it is signed by 12,785 public health scientists, and 38,463 medical practitioners.

Lockdown advocates maintain that stay-at-home orders save lives, but the Declaration argues that these policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health. According to this group of public health experts, keeping socially restrictive measures in place will cause irreparable damage, with the underprivileged disproportionately harmed.

Against the Herd

Instead of lockdowns, the Great Barrington Declaration advocates for a return to life as normal, before masks were seen outside an operating room and people were able to gather with less than six feet between them. Their aim is something called herd immunity. The idea is that if enough healthy people catch the virus, they can develop an immunity to it, and pass these acquired antibodies to the weaker members of humanitys herd. Public health experts behind the Declaration say their plan would give healthy people their lives back, and would actually protect those at highest risk.

The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity, is to allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk, states the Declaration. We call this Focused Protection.

So why dont more policymakers consider the recommendations of these experts and scientists? One reason is uncertainty and risk avoidance. We still dont know how long natural immunity to the virus will last. Natural immunity is often temporary with coronaviruses, which is also why vaccines have limited value for these diseases. Another reason is censorship. All throughout the pandemic, numerous doctors and scientists have come forward with insights and evidence that challenge the conventional approach. However, social media has routinely censored or scrubbed much of the public testimony. Once viral videos are now impossible to find.

Tech companies say they silence the stray crackpots who spew false claims about COVID-19 in order to prevent imminent physical harm. But what if some of these renegade ideas have merit, and what if the number of experts behind them is considerable?

Scientific journals add to the confusion. In October, an open letter published in The Lancet speaks of a scientific consensus on the COVID-19 pandemic. This supposed consensus views the herd immunity idea as a dangerous fallacy unsupported by scientific evidence, and insists the only way forward is to keep up the restrictions.

We cannot afford distractions that undermine an effective response; it is essential that we act urgently based on the evidence, states the Lancet letter.

However, herd immunity supporters can point to real world evidence that lessening restrictions may actually be healthier for society overall. Sweden was credited early on with keeping case numbers low despite avoiding lockdown rules that have decimated personal and national economies in other countries.

South Dakota has so far avoided lockdowns. In a letter published on December 7 in the Wall Street Journal, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem explains that, although shes been labeled reckless, the COVID case numbers in her state have been much lower than in several states that enforced socially restrictive measures.

The state hasnt issued lockdowns or mask mandates. We havent shut down businesses or closed churches, writes Noem. In fact, our state has never even defined what an essential business is. That isnt the governments role.

South Dakota has since seen a rise in COVID cases, but that rise has not come at the same social and economic expense to the state that it has to other states with strict lockdown measures.

Of course, such decisions seem dangerous to some experts. In an article published in The Lancet on October 24 by the journals editor-in-chief, Dr. Richard Horton, Swedens strategy isnt as successful as the herd immunity crowd suggests. Horton says that, due to Swedens no lockdown policy, deaths in care homes have been especially severe, and outbreaks in hospitals are common.

Herd immunity has not been achieved. Infections are rising once again, Horton wrote. And many Swedish scientists believe that too many citizens have needlessly died from a policy that didnt take the consequences of COVID-19 seriously.

Horton says he understands the allure of a herd immunity approach in a population struggling with quarantine-fatigue. But he warns that governments who take this road will face higher infection rates, and overwhelmed hospitals.

Horton also worries that the promotion of strategies that stray from conventional measures puts the publics delicate trust at risk.

Scientists are no longer seen as providing impartial, independent advice to government, Horton writes. They are seen as being responsible for crashing economies, driving up unemployment, and ruining livelihoods.

Follow the Science?

So how do you find the truth among conflicting perspectives and the systematic censorship of dissenting voices? Health experts and policymakers give lip service to science, but does another force have an even greater influence?

A November 2020 editorial from the British Medical Journal blames policymakers for selecting only the studies that suit their plans and suppressing the ones that dont. Researchers write that, all over the world, people, policies, and procurement are being corrupted by political and commercial agendas.

Politicians often claim to follow the science, but that is a misleading oversimplification. Science is rarely absolute, researchers wrote. Politicisation of science was enthusiastically deployed by some of historys worst autocrats and dictators, and it is now regrettably commonplace in democracies.

The BMJ article points to specific examples of corruption in the UKs pandemic response, but it says a similar corrupting force can be found all over the world.

Government appointees are able to ignore or cherry-pick science  and indulge in anti-competitive practices that favor their own products and those of friends and associates, states the article.

Lockdowns are but one bone of contention in the conventional COVID response. Another is treatment: specifically with the drug hydroxychloroquine. Soon after President Donald Trump highlighted doctors using it to treat COVID-19, a number of medical experts came forward to discredit it.

The backlash was widely promoted, but much of it proved false. However, suppression of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a treatment for COVID-19 has persisted.

Despite some states and hospitals banning or restricting the use of HCQ, many doctors still consider the drug to be a key weapon in the fight against COVID-19. One is Dr. Peter McCullough, a clinical cardiologist and professor at the Texas A&M School of Medicine. McCullough published guidance on early treatment of COVID-19 in the American Journal of Medicine in July 2020 as part of a U.S./Italian collaboration. He says a hydroxychloroquine cocktail is his primary treatment.

And hes hardly alone. In a November 30 interview with Australias SKYNews, McCullough said that HCQ is the most widely used therapeutic to treat COVID-19 in the world, hands down.

Its been on the market for 65 years. Ive prescribed it for 30 years for systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and to treat and prevent malaria. Its a very safe and effective medication. In India and Greece, its in their guidelines to use it first line, McCullough said.

But health officials urge caution for what some believe to be an unproven and potentially dangerous treatment. The American Medical Association (AMA) has instructed doctors to stop prescribing HCQ for COVID. On October 30, a proposal was submitted to the AMA to rescind its demand with evidence that the help HCQ provides far outweighs any risk. But the Association rejected the proposal.

McCullough believes there has never really been any controversy about whether hydroxychloroquine works. The controversy is in the public policy that guides its use. He says that although the medicine is widely prescribed for COVID-19 all over the world, in certain countriessuch as the United States, Canada, U.K, and Australiapatients suffer because doctors are discouraged from prescribing any home treatment.

The public health approach is just about wearing masks, staying at home, sheltering in place, and waiting for a vaccine. It must be part of the master plan. But for people who get sick, it obviously doesnt work. McCullough said. So the population is now so hungry for a vaccine just to move on. But the means dont justify the ends in my view.

The BMJ article takes no position on lockdowns, and it expresses concern that hydroxychloroquine was hastily approved in the U.S. But it carries a warning that resonates with much of our understanding and policy COVID-19: when good science is suppressed for political or financial gain, people die.

COVID-19 has unleashed state corruption on a grand scale, and it is harmful to public health, states the BMJ article. Politicians and industry are responsible for this opportunistic embezzlement. So too are scientists and health experts. The pandemic has revealed how the medical-political complex can be manipulated in an emergencya time when it is even more important to safeguard science.
Pune: Puneites who made distress calls to the control room on December 31 night seeking police help were in for a pleasant surprise as their calls were answered by home minister Anil Deshmukh. The minister attended the calls at the city control room as part of citizen initiative.

Deshmukh celebrated the New Year with the city police and cut a cake on the occasion post-midnight.

Namaskar. I am Anil Deshmukh speaking. I am home minister Anil Deshmukh speaking. What is your complaint? You are calling from Anandnagar Sun City. What happened there? What is the name of the society? Shivasagar Society. What is your complaint? I will inform the nearest police station to take action. What is your name? Indranil Apte. I wish you a very happy New Year, the minister was heard answering the calls.

Addressing the police staff through the control room microphone Deshmukh said, Our police have been handling the Covid situation for the last ten months and must be tired, but the courage is not lost as they are Covid warriors .Even in this situation, the police are doing their best to maintain law and order. We hope that Maharashtra will be free of coronavirus soon.

The incidents of violence against women are rising and the accused should be punished as soon as possible. We are bringing the law of Shakti and will try to pass the Act in the assembly session in March, he said at the meeting that was attended by the senior police officials.
Eight students have been found dead from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in a village in southwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina, authorities said.

The victims were described as high school and university students between the ages of 18 and 20 who were at a New Year's Eve celebration in a holiday cottage in Tribistovo, about 150 kilometers southwest of Sarajevo.

Police officers responded to a call around 10 a.m. on January 1 and went to the cottage, where they found several people dead, local police spokeswoman Martina Medic told the Associated Press.

Milan Galic, the police commissioner of the West Herzegovina Canton, told local media that police are on the ground and that an investigation is under way.

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared January 2 a day of mourning in the country. The West Herzegovina Canton declared three days of mourning.

The municipality of Posusje, where the village is located, said on Facebook it mourned the eight young lives lost and urged the owners of cafes and restaurants to close down to honor the victims.

Bosnian and Croatian media said the victims died from a poisonous gas leak apparently caused by a power generator used for heating as they celebrated New Years Eve in a holiday cottage.

Many people in the region are thought to have organized similar private events in order to celebrate the holiday during a lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Carbon monoxide gas is odorless and colorless and can build up in confined spaces when generators or gas heaters are used.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and RFE/RL's Balkan Service
CASTRIES, St. Lucia: Residents of the eastern Caribbean island chain of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were advised to evacuate their homes on Thursday after a volcano, dormant for decades, came back to life and began spewing ash.

The government raised the alert level to orange for the volcano La Soufriere, indicating that it could erupt within 24 hours, and recommended people who live nearby should leave their homes immediately.

Steam, gas and a volcanic dome, formed by lava that reaches the Earths surface, were seen over La Soufriere, located in the northern area of St. Vincent island, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency said.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which has a population of just over 100,000, has not seen volcanic activity since 1979. An eruption by La Soufriere in 1902 killed more than 1,000 people.

Authorities on the Caribbean island of Martinique, an overseas territory of France, are also closely watching the Mount Pelee volcano there after tremors became more frequent last month, prompting concern among residents.

Mount Pelee has recorded an increase in seismic activity since April 2019, the first activity since the end of an eruption that lasted from 1929 to 1932. Authorities on the island have said a new volcanic eruption could be dangerous.

The simultaneous uptick in activity of La Soufriere and Mount Pelee is not linked, scientists said.

(Editing by Cassandra Garrison and Barbara Lewis)

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
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(Newser)  While it's been a tough year for small businesses, a new one has just popped up in Florida. Per Fox News, state records show that paperwork for Case Research & Consulting Services, LLC, was filed Dec. 14, and the private investigation firm has a well-known name as its owner: Casey Anthony, the young mom acquitted in 2011 of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, three years previously. The company, which has an effective date of Friday, will be located in West Palm Beach.

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CBS12 reports that the business address for the company listed in the filing is that of Patrick McKenna, who served as a private investigator for Anthony's defense, as well as on OJ Simpson's legal team. Anthony has reportedly been living with the 72-year-old PI and learning about the private investigation business. WESH notes that even though the 34-year-old can't ever get a private investigator's license herselfshe's a felon who was convicted of lying to authorities about Caylee's deaththere's no law on the books preventing her from doing research and reviewing public records. (Read more Casey Anthony stories.)
REDMOND (dpa-AFX) - Microsoft, in an internal solorigate investigation update, said it found no evidence of access to production services or customer data and that there were no indications that the company's systems were used to attack others. The ongoing investigation discovered that one account was used to view source code in a number of source code repositories. In 2020, a major cyberattack by a group, backed by a foreign government, penetrated multiple parts of United States federal government, leading to a data breach. The hacking group, Cozy Bear, backed by the Russian intelligence agency SVR, was reportedly identified as the cyberattackers. The attack, which had gone undetected for months, was first publicly reported on December 13, 2020, and was initially only known to have affected the U.S. Treasury Department and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. In the following days, more departments and private organizations reported breaches. The cyberattack that led to the federal breaches began no later than March 2020. The attackers exploited software from at least three U.S. firms: Microsoft, SolarWinds, and Vmware. Microsoft Thursday said it found no evidence of the common TTPs or tools, techniques and procedures related to the abuse of forged SAML tokens against its corporate domains. Microsoft said it detected unusual activity with a small number of internal accounts and upon review, it discovered one account had been used to view source code in a number of source code repositories. But, the account did not have permissions to modify any code or engineering systems and its investigation further confirmed no changes were made. These accounts were investigated and remediated. Previously, Microsoft had detected malicious SolarWinds applications in its environment, which it isolated and removed. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
North India, which has been reeling under a severe cold wave , is likely to get some relief from January 3 as temperatures are expected to rise by three to five degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

A Western Disturbance as a cyclonic circulation lies over Afghanistan and its neighbourhood at the middle and upper tropospheric levels. It is likely to move slightly eastwards to central Pakistan and its neighbourhood during the next 48 hours and remain practically stationary there during the subsequent three to four days.

There is also an induced cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

"Under the influence of these systems light/moderate fairly widespread rainfall/snowfall over the western Himalayan region is likely during January 4-6. With its peak intensity on January 4 and 5, there is a possibility of heavy rain/snow over Jammu and Kashmir. Hailstorm at isolated places is also likely over western Himalayan Region during this time," the IMD said.

Minimum temperatures over the north Indian plains are between one to six degrees Celsius except at isolated places in south Haryana and north Rajasthan where it is between zero to minus one degree Celsius.

"These are very likely to increase gradually by three to five degrees Celsius over these regions during the next three days and no significant change (is expected) thereafter for the subsequent three days," the IMD said.

"Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are prevailing over many parts of the plains of northwest India and adjoining central India. These are likely to continue over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan during the next 24 hours and abate thereafter," it said.

Dense to very dense fog in isolated pockets are likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and north Uttar Pradesh in the morning hours January 2 and 3, and likely to abate thereafter, the IMD said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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COOPERSVILLE, MI  A national waste disposal company wants to inject liquid waste deep underneath a shrinking aquifer that is tapped for drinking water in West Michigan.

Republic Services is seeking approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to build two injection wells at its Ottawa Farms Landfill along I-96 near Coopersville.

The injection wells would force leachate 4,490-feet down into subsurface rock formations beneath groundwater thats used for local drinking supply. The EPA has drafted permits and is taking public comment until Jan. 27.

Republic Services is seeking Class 1 well permits, which would allow injection of non-hazardous leachate  the liquid byproduct from decomposing trash  from the landfill at 15550 68th Street in Ottawa Countys Polkton Township.

The application also requires approval from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), which says it received the application in September and expects to hold a separate public review and possibly a joint online meeting with the EPA should it receive significant public interest in the Republic Services proposal.

Injection wells can be controversial and are sometimes opposed by environmental protection groups who worry that lax operators will contaminate groundwater supplies.

The EPA requires injection wells to be operated at a certain pressure to prevent fluid from spurting back up the well casing, potentially contaminating groundwater at higher levels.

The EPA recently fined Gaylord company Paxton Resources $73,000 for poor record-keeping and pressure monitoring over a two-year period on several wells in northern Michigan.

According to the EPA, the lowermost source of drinking water beneath Ottawa Farms rests at 470 underground in the Marshall Formation, a shrinking glacial aquifer thats been the focus of study because of rising salinity levels due to increased use and lack of surface water recharge.

Nick Assendelft, spokesperson for EGLE, said there are dozens of similar wells that already inject industrial and municipal waste underground in Michigan.

Some of these wells have a commercial disposal designation and have handled landfill leachate for many years, Assendelft said. There has been more recent interest for siting these wells on landfill property for the direct disposal of leachate.

Assendelft said EGLE has issued two permits since 2018 for leachate injection at landfills and is also currently reviewing a similar application from Republic Services to build two leachate injection wells at its Carleton Farms Landfill in Wayne County near New Boston.

EGLE is currently seeking EPA approval to assume primary authority for regulating a similar type of injection well known as Class 2, which is mostly used for the disposal of brine wastewater from oil and gas extraction. There are about 1,250 such wells in Michigan.

The EPA says Ottawa County Landfill Inc., a subsidiary of Republic Services, has established a bond fund of $129,500 to cover the costs of plugging and abandoning its wells someday.

Regulators allowed Republic Services to expand landfill space by 51 acres and mound height by 70 feet in 2017, adding an additional 60 years of operating life to the facility. The landfill takes waste mainly from Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties.

Republic Services did not respond to a request for comment on its Ottawa Farms application.

Related stories:

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EPA says proposed Barry County brine well is safe

EGLE rejects appeal to Nestle water extraction permit

Grand Rapids company fined $925k for chemical spills

$35M settlement with Valero will clean up gas stations

DEQ approves expansion of Ottawa Farms landfill

Allendale stops new homes from tapping shrinking aquifer
New Delhi:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday named Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin as accused in the journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case.

As per the CBI Special courts order, Shahabuddin was produced in the court of Special Judge Anupam Kumari here through video-conferencing facility.

Shahabuddin is the 10th accused in the murder case.

The CBI Special court had on May 22 issued the production warrant against Shahabuddin on the plea of CBI to produce him through video-conferencing for trial.

The CBI had also filed the application the same day for making Shahabuddin as an accused in the case.

The CBI counsel submitted that it would soon file charge-sheet against Shahabuddin, who is currently lodged in high-security Tihar jail in the national capital.

The premier investigating agency has already filed charge-sheet against seven accused persons in the case while two accused persons- Mohammad Javed and Mohammad Kaif- are on bail. Javed and Kaif are active members of Shahabuddin gang.

The four-time RJD MP from Siwan is alleged to have been involved in the murder of Rajdeo Ranjan, a journalist of a prominent Hindi daily in Siwan last year.

Shahabuddin is facing trial in more than 45 criminal cases and was moved to Tihar Jail in February this year on a Supreme Court order on a plea by Siwan native Chandrakeshwar Prasad, whose three sons were killed in two separate incidents.

Rajdeo Ranjan, district bureau chief of a Hindi daily was gunned down on May 13 last year and his wife has accused Shahabuddin of having a role in the killing.

The Special court fixed June 9 as the next date for production of Shahabuddin in the case.

With PTI inputs

Also read: Lalu-Shahabuddin link: TV channel tapes show RJD chief 'taking orders' from dreaded criminal, BJP admires expose

Also read: Jharkhand court acquits RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin in triple murder case



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Arielle Bobb-WillisTo cap off 2020, Chloe x Halle delivered a stunning performance of their single, "Don't Make It Harder on Me."

The sibling singing duo serenaded audiences from the Honda Stage Wednesday while wrapped in skin-tight dark green latex.

"Don't make it harder on me / I told you not to love me / And now you're growing on me," Chloe x Halle sang in perfect harmony. The ladies gracefully swayed their arms and hips with 60s-inspired choreography, channeling The Supremes.

"Dont Make It Harder On Me" appears on Chloe x Halles 2020 album, Ungodly Hour. According to Halle, the duo's ability to vulnerably tackle issues such as relationships, love and self-worth on their sophomore album is a true reflection of the album's title.

"The reason why we called it Ungodly Hour is because in the ungodly hour, you feel everything so deeply," Halle told Billboard. "Sometimes in the middle of the night, 3:00 to 4:00 a.m., you truly are self-reflecting and all of your true feelings come to surface. These were the feelings that we were picking from to write with."

Featuring their previously-released singles "Do It"and "Forgive Me," UnGodly Hour debuted at #2 on Billboards Top R&B Albums chart after its June release and recently landed three Grammy nominations, including one for Best Progressive R&B album. That in part earned Chloe x Halle the Rising Star Award at Billboard's annual Women in Music Awards earlier this month.

By Rachel George

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Madison: Authorities arrested a suburban pharmacist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday, local time, suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by removing it from refrigeration for two nights.

The Grafton Police Department said the former Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property.

The department said in a news release that he was in jail. Police did not identify the pharmacist, saying he has not yet been formally charged.

The Aurora Medical Centre in Grafton, Wisconsin. Credit:AP

His motive remains unclear. Police said that detectives believe he knew the spoiled doses would be useless and people who received them would mistakenly think they'd been vaccinated when they hadn't.
With the old year coming to a close and a new one just beginning, heres a look at some of the news stories that defined 2020.

The legal aftermath of a brutal 2019 attack on a disabled Milford woman captured the publics attention in January after she and her brother fought to overturn a plea deal given to her attacker.

Judge Peter Brown tossed a seemingly lenient plea bargain given to Russell Molleur, 57, after public outcry fueled by the activism of Lori Wierzbicki, 50, and her brother, Stratford firefighter Tim McLaughlin.

The judge imposed a stiffer sentence on Molleur in late January  eight years in prison, suspended after four years served, and five years of probation. A second-degree assault charge also was changed to reflect Wierzbickis multiple sclerosis, which she said limited her ability to fend off the attack in her home.

The second-degree assault charge carries a minimum sentence of two years.

McLaughlins Justice For Lori movement gained national support through Facebook. He also gathered more than 19,000 signatures on a change.org petition and led a rally on the Milford Green that drew 100 sign-carrying protesters.

January also saw the death of Fotis Dulos, a Farmington developer accused of killing his wife, Jennifer, in May 2019. Dulos died January 2020 in an apparent suicide at his home, where he had been under house arrest.

His death came as he faced the prospect of being returned to jail. The South Carolina company that posted Dulos $6 million bail was no longer willing to guarantee the funds due to the collateral Dulos put up from his struggling real estate development business.

Dulos denied killing his wife in a suicide note found in his car parked in his garage where he was overcome by carbon monoxide from the vehicle.

March saw the coronavirus pandemic hit Connecticut, with state and local officials closing schools and most businesses for months. Nearly all Connecticut school students finished the 2019-20 school year taking classes online.

Many schools returned to in-person classes at the start of the new school year in September, only to return to online learning toward the end of the calendar year as COVID-19 cases surged again, with quarantine guidelines sidelining so many teachers in some cases that schools couldnt do in-person classes.

New Havens first death attributed to the pandemic occurred on March 25 when a man in his 50s living in the citys Bella Vista apartment complex passed away.

COVID-19 deaths and infections subsided over the summer, but returned with a vengeance during the final few months of 2020.

Supermarkets were deemed to be an essential business and were allowed to stay open. But the pandemic set off a mad scramble by the supermarket owners to adapt their stores in order to protect their customers and workers. Workers in some sectors fought for hazard pay as they faced hundreds of customers each day, even as health guidelines called for people to remain socially distant.

The pandemic also changed customers shopping habits as consumers stocked up  at levels more akin to hoarding  on toilet paper, cleaning supplies and meats, creating shortages in their wake. Photos shared on social media showed empty aisles in stores throughout Connecticut, and when they were stocked, they were soon empty again. Many grocery stores began to put limits on the number of such items a shopper could buy.

Connecticut ended the year with nearly 6,000 deaths from COVID-19. But researchers and individuals who participated in drug trials in the New Haven area played a key role in the development of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine before it was approved for emergency use in December. Hospital workers and first responders throughout the state began receiving the first dose of the vaccine just as the year came to a close, and municipalities began to plan for mass vaccinations of the public.

And while the pandemic sent unemployment numbers skyrocketing in March and the following months, one of Milfords largest employers, Subway, drastically cut its workforce before that.

Workers at Milford world headquarters of the sandwich giant  which had more than 1,000 employees working at the headquarters complex, according to Mayor Ben Blake  went through two rounds of layoffs during the first half of 2020.

The first came in early February when about 300 people lost their jobs. It was followed in May with another 150 headquarters staffers being laid off.

As the nation grappled with the evolving pandemic each day, history also took a hit in 2020.

The national trend of battles honoring historical figures who were no longer deemed appropriate by some came to New Haven in June as protesters squared off over the Christopher Columbus statue in Wooster Square Park. The iconic statue. which was erected in 1892, was source of pride for Italian Americans in the region who traditionally gathered at the statue each Columbus Day, celebrating their heritage in the city.

But in recent years, the celebration of Columbus achievements fell out of favor with some who said the explorer, who sailed to the Caribbean in 1492, brought imperialism, disease and racist violence to the New World.

The statue ultimately was removed from the park by city officials, but not before competing factions met in sometimes contentious conflict.

June also saw Black Lives Matter protests in New Haven and other Connecticut cities, sparked by the death of George Floyd while being detained by police in Minneapolis. Protesters blocked highways in order to register their frustration with what they viewed as systemic racism in law enforecement.

For the most part, the protests didnt result in any significant violence here. One exception to that came on May 31, when protesters tried to enter the New Haven Police Department, which was closed to the public because of the pandemic, and were met with pepper spray by officers.

Natures wrath also caused turmoil in 2020, as a pair of strong summer storms made news in the New Haven area during August.

In early August, Tropical Storm Isaias wrought plenty of damage across the region and left more than 700,000 people without power, some for nearly a week.

More bad weather swept across the region at the end of August with a tornado that touched down from Bethany to North Haven as well as in several Shoreline communities.

The tornado, which saw winds gust to between 80 to 100 mph, tore the roof off of a Hamden office building, crushed a car in Guilford and left 90 percent of Branford homes without power.

Gov. Ned Lamont said at the time that the damage done in Branford was worse than any other town in the state.

The power restoration efforts of the states two major electric distribution companies, The United Illuminating Co. and Eversource Energy, led Connecticut lawmakers to approve increased regulations of the utilities. Those new regulations take effect Jan. 1.

At least one of 2020s sudden changes ended with a bright note.

Officials at one of the Elm Citys oldest grocery stores announced in November that the business was leaving the Elm City and moving to North Haven. Ferraros Market long had been a favorite of shoppers because of its selection of meats and seafood, as well as its prices.

Reaction from store patrons to the relocation was mixed. Some said moving one town away to North Haven wasnt enough to change their shopping habits, while others bemoaned the change and said they were unlikely to continue patronizing the store, which for many city residents was a local staple.

Ferraros had been in New Haven for 60 years before it closed its Grand Avenue store on Christmas Eve. The business is scheduled to reopen in its new location, at the North Haven Commons shopping plaza, in mid- February.

But the old Ferraros location wasnt even vacant for a full week before a pair of Brooklyn, N.Y., brothers opened a new market there. Orlando and Fernando Cepeda opened The Meat King Farms at the end of December and said they plan to refurbish and modernize the interior of the store.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
Domestic equity benchmarks ended with decent gains on Friday. The Nifty settled above the 14,000 mark. As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, gained 117.65 points or 0.25% to 47,868.98. The Nifty 50 index added 33.35 points or 0.24% to 14,015.10.

The broader market outperformed the benchmarks. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 1.24% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.90%.

Buyers outpaced sellers. On the BSE, 2043 shares rose and 953 shares fell. A total of 174 shares were unchanged.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 8,34,45,600 with 18,18,387 deaths. India reported 2,54,254 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,48,994 deaths while 98,83,461 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Economy:

The gross GST revenue collected in the month of December 2020 is Rs 1,15,174 crore of which CGST is Rs 21,365 crore, SGST is Rs 27,804 crore, IGST is Rs 57,426 crore (including  27,050 crore collected on import of goods) and Cess is Rs 8,579 crore (including Rs 971 crore collected on import of goods). The total number of GSTR-3B Returns filed for the month of November up to 31st December 2020 is 87 lakhs.

The government's fiscal deficit for April-November 2020 soared to Rs 10.76 lakh crore, or 135% of the full year budgeted target of Rs 7.96 lakh crore, as the government's finances continued to be stretched due to lower revenues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic slowdown. Expenditure for the period has been 62% of the Budgeted estimate vs 65.3% last year.

Contracting for the ninth consecutive month, the output of India's eight core infrastructure sectors dropped by 2.6% in November, mainly due to decline in production of natural gas, refinery products, steel and cement. The production of eight core sectors had recorded a growth of 0.7% in November 2019.

Barring coal, fertiliser and electricity, all sectors - crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel and cement - recorded negative growth in November 2020.

During April-November, the sectors' output dropped by 11.4% as compared to a growth of 0.3% in the same period of the previous year.

The government on Thursday said that foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflows into India grew 21% to $35.33 billion in the April-October period of FY21 from $29.31 billion a year ago. In a statement on its highlights for 2020, the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) also said that 26 FDI applications marked to it were disposed of during the year.

December Auto Sales:

Maruti Suzuki rose 0.50% to Rs 7688. The car major said its total sales rose 20.2% to 160,226 units in December 2020 from 133,296 units in December 2019.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) gained 1.62% to Rs 732.25. The company's total auto sales skid 10.30% to 35,187 units in December 2020 as against 39,230 units in December 2019. Sequentially, the auto sales jumped 7.52% in December 2020 compared with 32,726 units in November 2020.

M&M's total tractor sales soared 25% to 22,417 units in December 2020 over 17,991 units in December 2019. While the domestic sales rose 23% YoY to 21,173 units, tractor exports jumped 60% YoY to 1,244 units during the month.

Separately, M&M and Ford Motor Company have mutually, amicably determined they will not complete a previously announced automotive joint venture between their companies.

Escorts rose 2.40% to Rs 1289.85 after company said its tractor sales jumped 88% to 7,733 units in December 2020 over December 2019. On a sequential basis, however, the tractor sales declined 23.9% in December 2020 from 10,165 units sold in November 2020.

Eicher Motors added 0.90% at Rs 2553. VE Commercial Vehicles, an unlisted subsidiary of Eicher Motors, announced that its total commercial vehicles (CV) sales fell 3% to 4,892 units in December 2020 from 5,042 units in December 2019. Sequentially, however, total CV sales jumped 31.8% in December 2020 from 3,710 units sold in November 2020.

Ashok Leyland advanced 3.72% to Rs 99 after the commercial vehicles maker's total sales jumped 14% to 12,762 units in December 2020 from 11,168 units sold in December 2019. Sequentially, the company's total auto sales advanced 19.73% last month from 10,659 units sold in November 2020.

SML Isuzu slipped 0.38% to Rs 479.95 after the company posted a 7% decline in December 2020 sales to 509 units from 549 units posted in December 2019. The company's sale for the Q3 December 2020 rose 1% YoY to 1607 units.

Atul Auto fell 0.38% after its December 2020 sales declined 57.85% year on year to 1,728 units from 4,100 units sold in December 2019.

Stocks in Spotlight:

MOIL rose 2.52% to Rs 146.70 after the company hiked prices of manganese ore and other products with effect from 1 January 2021. MOIL said prices of all Ferro grades of manganese ore having Manganese Mn-37% and above have been increased by 10% and all the other Ferro grades of Manganese Ore having Manganese below Mn-37% have been increased by 15%.

MOIL further added that prices of all SMGR grades (Mn-30% & Mn-25%) and all grades of Fines have been increased by 15%. The company hiked prices of all grades of chemical grades of manganese ore by 10%. The state-run miner said that price of Electrolytic Manganese Di-oxide (EMD) were kept unchanged.

Bharat Dynamics gained 2.76% to Rs 348.45 after the company said that it is geared up to take up export orders for Akash Missile. With the announcement from the Union Cabinet regarding clearance of Akash Weapon System for export, Bharat Dynamics (BDL), the manufacturer of Akash Missile, is geared up to take up export order.

Given the export potential and demand of Akash in the international market, BDL has been promoting the product at various forums including national and international exhibitions The missile being offered for exports will be of a different version. BDL is already supplying Torpedoes to a foreign country, it added.

Rain Industries jumped 13.95% to Rs 144.15. Rain CII Carbon, the wholly-owned step down subsidiary of Rain Industries, has completed the sale of its wholly owned subsidiaries namely RUTGERS Polymers, Canada and Handy Chemicals (U.S.A.) for an aggregate cash consideration of Rs 637.40 crore. Both the companies were acquired by CPS Performance Materials Topco. The consideration received from the sale of above two subsidiaries will be utilized for repayment of debt and other general corporate needs of the company.

Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) added 1.39% to Rs 269.75. The company said its subsidiary, Jindal Power, was declared the successful bidder for Gare Palma IV/1 coal mine by the Ministry of Coal. The company won the auction for the coal mine at 25% bid premium of the representative price.

Global Markets:

Shares in Europe and Asia are shut today on account of New Year. US stocks advanced on Thursday as investors closed the book on a turbulent year of pandemic, recession and recovery. All three major indexes gained ground, with the Dow and S&P 500 picking up steam in the session's final minutes to exit 2020 at record highs.

All eyes are on two U.S. Senate races in Georgia next week that will determine control of the chamber and influence Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's ability to enact his agenda.

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As we start the new year, we take this moment to thank you, our readers. 2020 challenged us, to say the least. COVID-19 changed everything for the worse, climate change unleashed one of the most destructive hurricane seasons ever, and too many of our elected officials chose to grandstand rather than lead. Realistically, 2021 may not be a particularly good year, but we find reasons for hope, even in these dark times, thanks to our fellow citizens collective response to the difficulties of 2020.

When the pandemic began, many cast New Orleans as one of the hardest-hit communities in the world. We are, after all, an affectionate bunch. Singing, dancing and gathering in large numbers are as natural to New Orleanians as breathing. But New Orleans culture is much more than our love of a good party, so we donned strange, drab masks and learned to keep our distance. The fact that New Orleans closed out 2020 as arguably the safest city in the South relative to other metropolitan areas when it comes to Covid reflects the determination and civic mindedness of its people.

Assuming things go reasonably close to the governments vaccination plans, we could return to normal by early fall. The prospect of music returning to our streets  and posteriors to our favorite barstools  excites us all. Hopefully, the promise of second lining and crowding around tables at neighborhood boils will fuel our resolve to stay masked up and socially distant during this next (and hopefully last) leg of the pandemic.

We also draw hope from the remarkable way in which New Orleanians responded to Mayor LaToya Cantrells decision to call off major Carnival and Mardi Gras events this year. As our cover story this week shows, our community has responded not with defiance but with responsibility. The citys Big Chiefs and the leaders of Zulu are powerful voices in New Orleans, and theyve used that power to try to protect all of us.

Other krewes and Carnival groups are doing what New Orleans does best: getting creative. From the Mahogany Baby Dolls returning to their historical roots to krewes raising funds for worthy causes to the Krewe of House Floats, New Orleanians are sending a clear message to the world: Keeping each other safe doesnt mean letting go of what makes us, well, us.

Year in Review: 2020 is almost over, yall Even before the pandemic, 2020 didnt exactly start great. When we all woke up, hungover and sore on Jan. 1, failed real estate developer and 

And when Louisiana took it on the chin  again  during hurricane season, all of southeastern Louisiana responded admirably by opening their arms, homes and wallets to our neighbors in Lake Charles and other regions.

Perhaps most importantly, 2020 showed us the power and efficacy of grassroots organizing. From anti-police brutality protests in the summer to the falls successful efforts to protect the citys libraries to beginning the process of changing the criminal justice system, New Orleanians flexed their muscles in an extraordinary way last year. In doing so, citizens rejected the notion of thats just the way it is and set the stage for a potentially monumental citywide election next Fall.

As we begin 2021, let us remain vigilant yet hopeful, and let us never forget the harsh lessons we learned in 2020.
A Pakistani parliamentary committee has ordered a fresh inquiry into the abduction of a minor Christian girl in Punjab provinces Faisalabad city after being convinced that police mishandled the case. The 13-year old was freed five months after some Muslim men allegedly abducted her, forcibly converted her to Islam, and then one of them married her, the Dawn News reported.

A meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was held on Thursday and it discussed the issues of forced conversion and marriage. Faisalabad police officials told the committee that they had received a complaint from the family of the girl that a man named Khizer Hayat allegedly abducted the girl. But the girls recorded statement said otherwise.

The police maintained that the girl in her statement recorded before a magistrate said she had left her home voluntarily and embraced Islam and got married. The police officials told the committee that the girl had also undergone a medical test and according to the doctors report she was between 16 and 17 years old.

However, during the committee meeting, the girls father presented a certificate issued by National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) which showed her as 13 years old.

The members of the committee raised questions over the investigation process and declared that the certificate issued by Nadra was authentic proof of the girls age, rejecting the doctors report. As a proof, the family members also presented her twin brothers Form B, the daily said.

The girls father also registered a complaint with the committee about the behaviour of the police over which the committee expressed its regret.

The chairman of the committee apologised to the family of the minor girl and demanded that legal action be taken against those responsible and proper protection be provided to the family.

The committee also directed the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Faisalabad to investigate the whole matter and submit a report to the committee on January 6. The SSP assured the committee that the matter would be investigated and a charge-sheet would be issued to the concerned investigating officer.

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Scientists around the world are scrambling to learn more about previously unknown variants of the coronavirus that seem to spread from person to person more readily than other versions of the Covid-19-causing pathogen.

One new variant, known as B.1.1.7, was identified in December in the U.K., leading to travel restrictions and a widespread lockdown there. Since then, the U.K. variant has been detected in China and other countries, as well as in Colorado and California.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

In South Africa, meanwhile, doctors and researchers battling a second surge of Covid-19 cases are studying another new variant and what role it plays in the rising tide of cases there. The variant, known as B.1.351, has been identified in samples dating back to October. It hasnt been detected in the U.S.

Here is what we know so far about the new variants and the genetic mutations that characterize them, as well as their potential impact on public health.

What is a viral variant?

Viral variants are new versions of a virus that arise as a result of small changes in its genetic code. Over the course of the pandemic, there have been several variants. Those that proved able to spread more efficiently have become more prevalent, while others fizzle out. Its just like natural selection, like evolution," said Bettie Steinberg, a virologist and provost at Northwell Healths Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research.

Why the concern about these particular variants?

Some doctors worry that the new variants of the coronavirus could supercharge the spread of Covid-19, putting additional stress on hospitals and nursing homes when cases are near their historic highs.

Preliminary data suggest that the new variants are no more likely to cause severe illness than the more familiar forms of the coronavirus. But even if their virulence isnt greater, the variants apparently increased transmissibility could spell more misery and death by increasing the number of cases of Covid-19.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine combined behavioral and epidemiological data on patterns of disease transmission with mathematical models to determine whether the U.K. variant is more transmissible than previously identified variants.

They found the new variant to be more transmissible than previous variants.

U.K. contact-tracing data show that patients infected with the new variant went on to infect more people than those infected with previous variants. Data also suggested that the viral load, or the amount of virus in the body, was higher among people infected with the new variant. The higher the viral load for individuals, the more infectious they tend to be.

Is it possible that the rapid spread of the new variants isnt a result of increased infectiousness but instead of poor adherence to social distancing and other measures aimed at curbing contagion?

Scientists dont think so, at least in the U.K. As evidence, Prof. Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London and a member of a scientific panel that advises the British government on respiratory-virus threats, pointed to epidemiological data from November showing that cases of the new U.K. variant were exploding in the area southeast of London as coronavirus cases were falling in other parts of the country. The entire country was in lockdown during this period.

The situation may be different in South Africa, where researchers said human behavior might be playing a key role in the surge of cases. Millions of South Africans traveled widely in recent weeks, and tens of thousands had gathered in restaurants and bars and on beaches during the holiday season.

What gave rise to the new variants?

Like other viral pathogens, the coronavirus spreads by infecting cells and then reproducing within them, creating copies of itself that spread throughout the body and then are shed, potentially infecting other people.

The reproduction process involves copying the viruss genetic code, which holds the instructions for building successive generations of virus particles, or virions. But the code isnt always reproduced faithfully; sometimes the copying process yields mistakes that researchers have likened to typographical errors. This is what gives rise to new viral variants such as the ones that have emerged recently.

Some viruses have genetic codes of DNA, the same molecule that carries the genetic information in human cells. Other viruses, including the coronavirus, are based on a related molecule known as RNA. RNA viruses lack a molecular proofreader, a protein that checks for mistakes and corrects them, so they accumulate more typos more quickly," Dr. Steinberg said.

What about the mutations seen in the new variants?

The new variant that cropped up in the U.K. has about two dozen separate mutations, including some related to the prominent outcroppings that stud the coronaviruss outer surface. It is this so-called spike protein that helps the virus infiltrate cells by binding to and then breaching their outer membranes.

In theory, a mutated form of the spike protein could boost the ability of a virus to attach to cells and thus enable it to infect with increased efficiency. Previous research has shown one mutation of note in the U.K. variant can make the virus more infectious, said Dr. Ravindra Gupta, a University of Cambridge virologist who ran the studies.

The South African variant has more than 20 mutations, including several affecting the spike protein. Some are in key spots where antibodies that prevent the virus from entering cells bind, scientists said, meaning they could potentially help the virus evade a persons natural immune response.

The U.K. and South Africa variants share a spike-protein mutation that enables the spike to bind more tightly to the cell membranes, research suggests.

Do existing vaccines work against new variants?

While there is no final word yet on whether the existing vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE and the one from Moderna Inc. confer immunity to the new variants, scientists have expressed confidence that they do.

The mutations raise some questions about vaccine efficacy, but its important to note that the vaccines elicit a broad immune responsethat targets several areas of the spike protein," said Dr. Richard Lessells, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa, and a member of the team that discovered the South African variant.

Pfizer and Moderna have conducted lab tests of their vaccines against several versions of the coronavirus and found that the vaccines were effective against all, according to the drugmakers. The companies said they were conducting experiments to determine whether antibodies generated by people vaccinated were effective against the U.K. and South Africa variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to urge people who are eligible for vaccination to get the shots. Based on studies with other viruses containing similar mutations, CDC believes there will be little or no impact on immunity from natural infection or vaccination," the agency said in a statement Tuesday.

How will scientists know for sure if these new variants spread more easily?

Scientists said that they had studied some of the new variants individual mutations but that it would be important to look at what happens when they appear togetheras they do in the new variants. That research involves experiments in cells and in animals to test whether the new variants attach to and enter cells more efficiently; whether they replicate more readily; and, most important, whether they spread more easily.

Animal studies involving an earlier coronavirus variant convinced some scientists that its particular mutations made it more infectious, said Dr. William Hanage, a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health biologist who specializes in infectious disease. That version of the virus also had a mutated spike protein.

What can be done to stay safe from the new variants?

Infectious-disease experts and public-health officials say it is important to continue to adhere to the familiar strategies for avoiding contagion, including social distancing, masking and hand-washing, as well as avoiding exposure to other people in indoor settings, especially where ventilation is poor. Extra care might be required in indoor gatherings if experiments confirm that the new variants are more infectious.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Highlights Several smartphones will be launched in first half of 2020.

Focus will once again be on value for money.

Samsung Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 to watch out for.

2021 is here. All of us deserve a pat on the back for making it through 2020. In a year that made us more dependent on technology, smartphone makers continued to launch new smartphones and introduce new features that catered to changing demands. The pandemic is still here and the approach is unlikely to change at least in the first half of 2021. The technology enthusiasts can expect smartphone makers to focus on value instead of gimmicks and we are already hearing about several smartphones that can arrive early next year. Here are few you need to keep a close eye on:

Samsung Galaxy S21

Every year smartphone lovers eagerly wait for Samsung's Galaxy S series for it is the first glimpse of where the industry is heading in the next 12 months. This year, it will be more about Samsung's future than anything else. The smartphone maker has faced a lot of flak for its under-performing processors and is likely to use an all new Exynos 2100 chip which is expected to deliver an improved performance.

At the same time, the unveiling of Galaxy S21 series will also give us an idea about the future of the Note line up. There are rumours that Samsung is planning to merge the two by bringing the stylus to the S series. It will also be interesting to see how many smartphones are launched as part of the S21 series.

Realme Race

No other smartphone makers have moved up the ladder as fast as Realme. And, in 2021, it plans to remain in the race to introduce one of the first smartphones with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 SoC. Realme Race is likely to be that smartphone which officially marks company's entry into the flagship segment. Earlier, Realme has flirted with the affordable premium segment with the Realme X50.

Since the brand has built itself on the aggressive pricing, it will be interesting to see where exactly is the Realme Race positioned in the Indian market.

OnePlus 9

OnePlus had a mixed 2020. The brand somehow failed to decide whether it should further push and challenge Samsung and Apple in the premium segment or compete with the likes of Xiaomi in the mid-range. Result? We had the OnePlus Nord which emerged as the go to option in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment but no OnePlus 8T Pro, reducing OnePlus' presence in the premium category.

The company has now channelised its energy towards the OnePlus line up which is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2021. It will also be the most significant smartphones for OnePlus in the long time, deciding its future in India. The leaks suggest that we can get a 120Hz display, 30W fast charging and Snapdragon 888 SoC. Will that be enough? Let's wait and watch.

Mi 11

This is one of the smartphones you should wait for because of the sheer value it can offer. Xiaomi had very aggressively priced the Mi 10T Pro last year and a similar approach can be expected for the Mi 11. Already launched in China, the smartphone comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, features a 6.81-inch OLED screen with support for QHD+ resolution (3,200 x 1,440) and 120Hz refresh rate

The Mi 11 has been launched in China at a price of CNY3,999 for the 8/128GB base model. This roughly translates to around Rs 45,000. If Xiaomi manages to keep the India pricing under Rs 50,000, this can one can turn few heads.

Realme X7

The recent tweets from Realme CEO Madhav Sheth hint that Realme X7 could be the first smartphone to come from the company in the new year. Apart from Realme, this could also be an important launch for MediaTek which is trying to gain the lost ground. The Realme X7 could be the first smartphone to bring the new Dimensity chipsets to India. The Pro model in the series is tipped to come with Dimensity 1000+ chipset. Only time will tell how these smartphones are received by the customers.
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 Christopher M. Peluso, 46, Port Byron, was charged Dec. 29 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

 Jordan-Tyler E. Larue, 24, Wolcott, was charged Dec. 30 with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

 Mathew A. Wilmot, 38, Union Springs, was charged Dec. 30 with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction within the past 10 years and aggravated driving while intoxicated.

 Scott F. Kirkey, 56, Groton, was charged Dec. 30 with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of at least .08 of 1% and driving while intoxicated first offense.

 Edwin M. Roberts, 39, Auburn, was charged Dec. 31 with petit larceny.

 David M. Vedro, 30, Elbridge, was charged Dec. 31 with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content level of at least .08 of 1% and driving while intoxicated first offense.

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New Delhi: The ED on Friday said it has attached assets worth Rs 72 crore of a Maharashtra-based man whose wife's alleged transaction with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's spouse is under its scanner in the over Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case.

The central probe agency alleged that the man, Pravin Raut, had "siphoned off" Rs 95 crore worth of funds from the scam-hit bank in the garb of loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife, Madhuri Raut, who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Varsha Raut, wife of Sanjay Raut, as an "interest-free loan."

The ED recently summoned Varsha Raut for questioning with regard to this transaction and a few other deals leading to a political blame game between Maharashtra and the Centre with various constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) led state government alleging that the Centre was using federal probe agencies to harass them.

Varsha Raut skipped the agency's notice thrice and is now expected to join probe before the ED in Mumbai on January 5.

Sanjay Raut, while holding a press conference in Mumbai early this week, had denied any wrongdoing on the part of his wife and said they were in correspondence with the ED in connection with the case for about one-and-a-half months.

Raut, 59, is a Rajya Sabha MP and also a spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, which is in power in Maharashtra and is a former ally of the BJP. He said details regarding the Rs 55 lakh loan transaction have already been submitted to the ED during the correspondence.

The ED said it has provisionally attached Rs 72 crore worth of assets of Pravin Raut under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as it explained in a statement the alleged financial links between him his wife and that of Sanjay Raut's spouse.

"Probe revealed that Rs 95 crore has been siphoned off through HDIL by one of the accused Pravin Raut in active conspiracy and connivance with various persons. "The source of the funds were illegal availed loans/advances by HDIL from PMC Bank. There was no document or agreement in support of these payments made to Pravin Raut," the ED alleged in a statement.

It said, "as per the ledger of HDIL, the funds were given to Pravin Raut for acquiring land in Palghar area." The probe found, it said, that Pravin Raut "paid an amount of Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Pravin Raut from the proceeds of crime.

Out of the said money, Madhuri Raut transferred Rs 55 lakh (Rs 50L on December 23, 2010 and Rs 5L on March 15, 2011) as an interest-free loan to Varsha Raut who is the wife of Sanjay Raut". "The amount was further utilised for purchase of flat in Dadar East, Mumbai," the ED claimed.

The probe found that Varsha Sanjay Raut and Madhuri Pravin Raut "are partners in Avani Construction and Varsha Raut has received Rs 12 lakh from this entity (as overdrawn capital converted to loan) on a contribution of mere Rs 5,625." "The loan amount of Rs 12 lakh still remains outstanding," it said.

The ED had filed a criminal case of money laundering to probe the alleged loan fraud in the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank in October last year against Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), its promoters Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, his son Sarang Wadhawan, its former chairman Waryam Singh and ex-managing director Joy Thomas.

It took cognisance of a Mumbai Police economic offences wing FIR against them that charged them for causing "wrongful loss, prima facie to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank, and corresponding gains to themselves".

The ED has attached assets of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Wadhawan family trust and others worth Rs 293 crore and had seized jewellery worth Rs 63 crore.

A chargesheet had also been filed by it in this case.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Work from anywhere (WFA) has had an "unintended consequence"- the return of the retail investor investing directly in the markets, side stepping mutual funds.

According to the Annual Equity Market outlook 2021 - by Anoop Bhaskar, Head - Equity, IDFC AMC in the US, this phenomenon is most closely associated with an app-based trading platform, which has caught the imagination of the retail trader, especially millennials.

Facilitating investment through an app, it focused exclusively on retail investors, encouraging them to trade rather than be long term investors - allowing them to buy fractional shares etc.

"WFA (work from anywhere), it seems has had an "unintended consequence"- the return of the retail investor investing directly in the markets, side stepping mutual funds as the preferred vehicle for their equity investment", the note said.

The report said India, too, has witnessed a surge in retail investing through online brokerages. It would not be out of place to admit, that during the dark days of March 2020, retail investors who dived into the market to "bottom fish", while most institutional investors focused on career mitigation, raising cash, the year end results favour the former.

"With large caps delivering 60% plus returns, Small Cap Index registering a gain of 100% from its March lows, the pickings for this segment of intrepid investors has far exceeded what institutional investors have delivered", the report said.

The report says that market moves may be shorter, sharper - deeper on the way down and overshoot on the way up, than the docile 1990s. In short, more vicious. The fall during March lasted less than 35 trading days, erasing between 36-43% across the indices - Large, Mid and Small Caps.

Clearly, the markets are primed for a strong revival in earnings, after a dismal FY20. The trajectory of this growth will clearly have the closest correlation to market levels. The delivery of promise, on this front, will be the most critical factor which will influence the markets, as valuations boosted by the benign monetary and fiscal policies are at an elevated level, the report said.

Earnings growth has been robust only in a handful of sectors like retail banks and consumer discretionary. Growth has been steady in sectors like Staples, IT Services, etc.

Large majority of sectors have seen earnings deterioration due to headwinds, resulting in a decade of lost earnings growth With the spread of the pandemic and the lockdown during Q1 FY21, earnings for the year FY21 were sharply downgraded, the report said.
With the Covid cases under control, the state government is now focussing on the vaccination drive, which is set to begin soon. The state will hold a dry run for the vaccination programme in four districts in different regions on Saturday.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said the state administration was fully prepared and they were waiting for the Centres approval to start the drive. Dry run basically means a mock drill of the actual vaccination drive, where the entire process, right from sending messages to people, verifying identification of those who reach the health centre, giving them dummy vaccine shots and keeping them under observation will be carried out. This will help in plugging potential problems that might occur while conducting the vaccination drive, Tope said.

Tope said the Centre wanted them to hold the dry run in one district, but they have chosen four in four different regions. Pune (western Maharashtra), Nagpur (Vidarbha), Nandurbar (north Maharashtra) and Jalna (central Maharashtra) will have the dry run on Saturday.

Maharashtra reported 3,524 new cases on Friday, taking the tally to 1,935,636, while the toll reached 49,580, with 59 new casualties. Mumbai clocked 631 cases on Friday, taking the case count to 2,94,067. The city has 8,943 active cases. Nine deaths took the citys toll to 11,125.

Until Friday, 67 United Kingdom (UK) returnees have tested positive for Covid-19, however, it is yet to be confirmed if any of them carry the new, more transmissible strain of Covid-19.

In each district, the dry run will be conducted at three health centres and 25 health workers have been selected for the shots. Each centre will have a team of five, with one vaccinator and four supporting staff for identification, maintenance of protocols and making entries on Co-WIN mobile app prepared by the ministry of health and family welfare. The team will also observe (during actual vaccination) Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) protocol to check if the participant shows any health complications or side effects post vaccination, said Dr Archana Patil, director of health services.

They will also run a test on the toll-free number, 104, where people appointed at any of the vaccination centres can call and inform about a difficulty or emergency situation for support. Each centre will have officials from the state health department, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to oversee the mock drill, she added.

The health centres have been equipped with a waiting room, vaccination room and observation room, apart from facilities such as electricity connection, internet connectivity and security arrangements, the officials said.

After conducting a dry run of vaccination in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat on December 28 and 29, the Centre has decided to extend the drill to rest of the country on January 2.

In the dry run, the entire process of transporting the vaccines from storage to the site, administering them to candidates, feeding data on Co-WIN app is practised without any real vaccine.

The state government has made preparations to administer a vaccine to around 3.25 crore people, which will be completed in three phases. Vaccine shots will be given to health workers, frontline workers and citizens above the age of 50 years and having co-morbidities.

Also read: Mumbai civic body identifies 50 lakh who will get Covid-19 vaccine shots

We have trained 16,000 vaccinators who will give vaccine shots to the people. To preserve vaccines, cold storages are ready and the state administration is fully prepared. We are waiting for the Centres nod for the vaccination drive, the health minister said

Maharashtra has reported fewer than 5,000 cases for the past 28 straight days, although the state authorities have expressed fear of a spike in the first week of January in view of the crowding during Christmas and new year celebrations.

The state completed a total of 1,28,23,834 Covid tests with 76,201 tests conducted on Friday. The positivity rate for the day has declined to 4.62% against the overall positivity rate of the state stood at 15.09%.

A total of 4,471 UK returnees who had landed between November 15 and December 23 have been traced till date. RT-PCR tests have been conducted on 3,273 of them, and 67 samples were found positive. Of them, 29 are from Mumbai, Pune (13), Thane (7), Nagpur (8), 2 each from Nashik, Aurangabad, Raigad, Buldhana and one each from Nanded and Washim, said state surveillance office Dr Pradip Awate.

He said that 61 samples have been referred to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune to ascertain if they are infected with the new variant. The state has also traced 422 people who have come in contact with the UK returnees and 26 of them have tested positive for Covid-19, he added.
Four families of Syrian refugees that have arrived in Clonmel had received a warm welcome from the people of the town, a meeting of Clonmel Borough District was told.

Sean Lonergan, senior staff officer with Tipperary County Council, also told the meeting that twelve more families of Syrian refugees would be coming to Clonmel.

Those families already here had been accommodated in houses in areas including Glenconnor Heights, Crann Ard and St Pius Terrace, Old Bridge.

Mr Lonergan told The Nationalist that a number of houses had been set aside for the refugees and this resettlement programme would have no effect on the councils waiting list.

The people of the Clonmel area will still be looked after, he said.

45 families of Syrian refugees will be settled throughout the county by the end of March.

For more Tipperary news see New urban design project could be "game changer" for Clonmel
(CNN) -- Backpacking trips have been something of a rite of passage for young people for almost 70 years.

Whether you're setting off around the world, or exploring a particular region, country, or city, taking off with a few belongings and moving from destination to destination remains a hugely attractive prospect for those searching for fun and adventure.

Sadly, the border restrictions implemented due to Covid-19 have left most backpackers unable to travel extensively, and many are itching to hit the road once again. But even when the world begins to reopen, they might struggle to find their place in it.

Although round-the-world trips vacations date back centuries, it wasn't until the 1950s and 60s, when backpacking as we know it truly began.

An overland route between Europe and Southeast Asia, which became known as the "hippie trail," proved popular among young people with limited budgets who were keen to broaden their horizons.

The popularity of the trail led to the publication of the first Lonely Planet guidebook, "Across Asia on the Cheap," in 1973, written by co-founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler.

While backpacking has certainly evolved in the years since then, it tends to involve hopping from place to place, staying in hostels, picking up temporary jobs here and there and bonding with fellow travelers.

"Backpacking is a timeless concept," Kash Bhattacharya, founder of BudgetTraveller.org and author of "The Grand Hostels: Luxury Hostels of the World," tells CNN.

"It's very easy and accessible. I've been backpacking for 20 years now and the sense of connection, humanity and curiosity never ends no matter how old I get."

One of the many appeals to this type of travel is affordability. Backpackers can bed down in hostel dormitories for a fraction of the price of hotels, and the growth of low-cost carriers helped to open things up for those who had previously seen travel as out of their reach financially.

But with airlines set to see combined losses of $157 billion in 2020 and 2021, according to the International Air Transport Association, the cheap flights that many backpackers rely on could soon become a thing of the past.

And while the roll out of Covid-19 vaccines in a number of countries, including the US and the UK, is no doubt a positive step, more and more destinations now require proof of a negative PCR test on departure or arrival.

Such requirements will likely end up being rather costly for those planning to visit multiple destinations where tests aren't provided free of charge.

The backpacker buck

So can this form of low-cost, independent travel really survive a new age of social distancing, test and trace, potentially rising flight prices and constantly changing travel restrictions?

There's no doubt that the loss of income from backpackers has impacted the destinations these travelers frequent in large numbers.

Although backpacking is a relatively cheap way to travel independently, it brings in a huge amount of revenue to the tourism industry.

According to figures from WYSE Travel Confederation, 45 million backpacking trips are taken each year, with the average amount of money spent per trip in 2017 at around $4,000.

Southeast Asia has remained one of the world's most popular backpacking spots since the hippie trail days and Thailand is undoubtedly one of its top destinations.

Over 20 million people visit its capital Bangkok each year, and the vast majority end up going to Khao San Road, one of the most famous backpacker strips.

The bustling street lined with bars, restaurants, hostels and street vendors previously had hordes of high-spirited travelers spilling out at every corner.

But Khao San Road lay pretty much deserted for months when Thailand closed its borders in April.

Officials seized this opportunity to give the street a $1.54 million facelift, a move that Deputy Bangkok Governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul had been pushing for for years.

However, business remains relatively slow due to the lack of travelers and the fact the most hotels are still closed.

According to Phattiyakul, international tourists account for at least 90% of visitors to Khao San Road.

Things have been so shaky without them, that officials decided to launch a "Go to Khao San 2435" to attract more locals to the area, a move that would have seemed unthinkable this time last year.

Undesirable customers?

But does a city like Bangkok, along with similar destinations that were largely overrun with travelers before the pandemic, actually want backpackers back?

After all, low budget travelers have -- perhaps unfairly -- become synonymous with bad behavior over the years, and the likes of Australia, another top backpacking spot, have seemingly taken steps to discourage them from visiting.

In 2017, a controversial "backpacker tax" was introduced, meaning people on working holidays could be taxed 15% -- Australian workers have a tax-free threshold of A$18,200 (US $12,500).

The tax was ruled illegal for citizens of eight countries which have treaties with Australia, including the UK, US, Germany and Japan, in October 2019,

"Most destinations are focusing on high-yield market segments now," Denis Tolkach, assistant professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told CNN last year.

"Backpackers are traditionally known for exploring destinations off the beaten track, purchasing local products and interacting with local residents, but in large numbers they can inflict damage to the local environment, culture and community through partying and misbehaving."

With that in mind, could the after effects of Covid-19 see places that have become weary of budget travelers opting to keep them out for good?

Stuart Nash, tourism minister for New Zealand, another hugely popular backpacking spot, indicated that this might well be the case when he suggested the country would be marketing to more "high-net-worth individuals" in the future.

His words were viewed as a direct snub to backpackers, many of whom arrive on working holiday visas and take on jobs such as fruit picking and farm work.

But Jenni Powell, chair of the Backpacker Youth and Adventure Tourism Association, stresses that backpackers contribute to New Zealand in many different and positive ways, and their presence has been missed.

"Pre Covid, international youth arrivals were about 25% of total visitor arrivals for New Zealand and contributed about 1.5 billion New Zealand dollars to the economy," she tells CNN.

"So it [the lack of backpackers] is huge for us. We can't wait for the borders to open safely again."

According to Powell, younger travelers visit more destinations around the country and stay for longer, which is good for seasonal growth.

"The value that this market brings is not just economic," she adds. "They contribute environmentally and socially and they add to us culturally."

New Zealand has been relatively successful at containing coronavirus outbreaks, and social distancing and mask wearing has never been commonplace there, which is likely to increase its appeal with travelers.

"In a world after Covid, or even with Covid, New Zealand is a really attractive travel proposition for people to actually get that sense of normality back," says Powell.

She predicts that budget travel will be the first to recover once international travel resumes, as "millennial travelers are crisis resilient."

Businesses decimated

Backpacking and hostels go hand in hand, so it's no surprise that the hostel community has also been hit hard by the absence of backpackers during the pandemic.

While safety measures vary from destination to destination, most businesses have had to tighten up safety measures by installing acrylic glass at check-in desks and hand sanitizer units and operating at a reduced capacity to ensure travelers can keep a safe distance from each other.

However, creating extra space won't have been an issue for the vast majority, who've been struggling to fill beds.

The Youth Hostel Association (England and Wales), an international non-profit organization with over 150 properties, open to schools, families, couples and backpackers, celebrated its 90th year in 2020, but the last 12 months have proved to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

"For the year to date, we're around 75% down on our income," says James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA.

"So that's a loss of around 30 million (about $41 million) turnover for us, we normally have an annual turnover of around 55 million."

Although the grant-funded organization has survived World War II, and the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK back in 2001, he admits this is the biggest challenge they've ever faced.

"We've never had to close down the whole network before," Blake explains.

Meanwhile many small, independent hostels have also had to close their doors temporarily, while some were forced to close permanently.

Unfortunately Singapore's Mitraa Inn fell into the latter group, shutting its doors back in June after 15 years in business.

In an interview with Channel News Asia Insider, co-owner Viji Jagadeesh told how she'd resorted to pawning her jewelry to raise enough money to refund canceled bookings and did not have enough funds to pay the internet bill for the hostel

"Covid-19 is decimating. It's putting a lot of hostels out of business," says Bhattacharya. "The hostels that are struggling are the smaller, independent hostels, which in many ways represent the soul of the industry.

"These hostels aren't just a place to sleep in. They represent communities in each and every city."

One such supplier is The Broke Backpacker blog founder Will Hatton, who runs backpacker adventure tours to Pakistan, Iran and Kyrgyzstan, and had been in the process of opening up a digital nomad co-working hostel in Bali before Covid hit.

Over the past few months, he's had to cancel his planned 2020 adventure tours, issue refunds to customers and provide financial assistance to local partners "on the ground."

"I won't lie -- it's been very tough for those of us working in the travel industry," he tells CNN. "All of my ventures have been making substantial losses.

"But I do believe the worst is now over, as domestic travel is picking up, a vaccine is on the horizon and the urge to travel is still strong for many."

Hatton made the decision to "slow down the build" of his upcoming hostel several months back and now plans to open in March 2021.

Back in May, Bhattacharya launched a campaign named Adopt a Hostel that implored travelers to purchase an online gift card for an upcoming stay, or donate to a hostel of their choice.

The Beehive in Rome, run by husband and wife team Linda Martinez and Steve Brenner was one of the 200 or so hostels featured.

The couple opened the hostel 21 years ago, after relocating from the US to the Italian capital.

They say their profit margin relies on the property being 100% full around eight to 10 months of the year in order to make up for winter months, when occupancy is down to 50%.

"The best we did this summer was 10% and that was just for a couple of months. Now there's nobody [bar one or two long term guests]" Brenner tells CNN.

In order to keep a float, the pair have built a side business of selling bagels, something they did on a much smaller scale before the pandemic, teaming up with a nearby pizzeria.

"We've developed this completely separate business, because we have no guests, there's nothing going on at the hostel," says Martinez.

While they've implemented all of the safety measures required to protect guests and themselves, the pair admit that the new, distanced way of dealing with customers has been tough to adapt to.

"The approach and the attitude is really incompatible with what we want to do," explains Brenner.

"Normally the benefit of staying in any hostel is that you get to socialize, and feel like you're part of a local community.

"Now when we have guests, we're required to keep people spaced apart by law. We can't do things that we would normally do, like big dinners and cooking classes."

Although the majority of the guests who've checked into The Beehive during the pandemic have been happy to adhere to the new guidelines, some have been disappointed that the hostel isn't offering its usual activities.

They've even received negative reviews from customers unhappy at being asked to wear masks, while a few complained that there weren't many other guests around.

Silver lining

However, both say they've been heartened by the amount of travelers engaging in "slow travel."

"Some of the kinds of people we were seeing were really interesting people who weren't just traveling with a bucket list of places to check off," says Brenner.

The couple believe the impact of the pandemic may take us to appoint where people start to adopt a more relaxed and considered approach to seeing the world again.

"We got people who were taking their time and really experiencing the city in a more profound way, rather than just rushing here and there ticking off boxes," adds Martinez.

"It reminded us of when we first opened. We haven't seen that type of traveler for many, many years.

"So I would be very happy if those were the kinds of people that continue to come if people begin to embrace that kind of travel again."

Hatton shares this sentiment, stressing that one of the few positives to come from the pandemic is that busy destinations such as Bangkok, Rome and Bali, where his upcoming hostel will be based, have been able to reassess their approach to tourism.

"The Covid pandemic has had a few silver linings -- it gives places like Bali a chance to improve their infrastructure and to take a bit of a breather from the millions of tourists who normally come here every month," he says.

"It provides countries a chance to reassess how they can make their tourism industries more sustainable and eco-friendly."

Hatton remains optimistic about the future of the industry, and anticipates that people will start to appreciate travel more when they're able to move around the world relatively freely again.

"It's my hope that folks will not take travel for granted anymore," he says. "That they take the time to take a deep breath and truly soak in their surroundings rather than viewing everything through their phones and doing it for the 'gram.

"I think that Covid gives the world the chance to slow down a bit, reset and hopefully we'll come back stronger and wiser from this experience.

"I truly miss backpacking and can't wait to get back out there."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Backpacking is a rite of passage for many travelers. Covid could end it forever"
Use of Ayush medicines, HIT Covid app, Door-to-Door testing...: Some of the best practices followed by States

Fake: No new clash took place in Galwan Valley in early May

India calls for 'early resolution' on 39 Indian sailors stuck in China

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 01: India on Friday called for "urgent, practical and time-bound" assistance to 39 stranded Indian sailors on board two ships in Chinese waters considering the "grave" humanitarian situation developing in the vessels.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Indian bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand has been on anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since June 13 and it has 23 Indian sailors.

Another vessel, MV Anastasia, with 16 Indian nationals as its crew is on anchorage near Caofeidian port in China since September 20, he said.

China reports first case of new COVID-19 variant: CDC

Srivastava said both these vessels have been waiting for discharge of their cargo and there is a growing stress on the crew members on account of the long delay.

"Given this and our concern for the increasingly difficult conditions for our crew members, these two cases are being pursued vigorously," he said responding to a media query on the matter.

Srivastava said the Indian Embassy in Beijing continued to remain in close and continuous touch with the Chinese authorities in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, adding the MEA is also following up on the matter through the Chinese Embassy here for "an early resolution".

"We have noted the statements of the Chinese side, expressing their willingness to extend their assistance in this matter. We expect that this assistance will be provided in an urgent, practical and time-bound manner, given the grave humanitarian situation that is developing on board the ships," Srivastava said.

He said the Indian Embassy has repeatedly taken up the issue with both the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs and the local provincial authorities, requesting that the ships be allowed to dock and/or the crew be allowed to be changed.

"They have been following up this matter for the last few months. The Indian Ambassador has personally taken up this issue with the Vice Foreign Minister. The Ministry has also been following this issue with the Chinese Embassy," Srivastava said.

He said the Chinese authorities have conveyed that on account of various COVID-19-related restrictions imposed by the local authorities, change of crew is not being permitted from these ports.

"While the shipping companies are examining the logistics of sailing the ships away from their current points of anchorage, our embassy is liaising with relevant authorities in Tianjin for berthing approvals to facilitate the crew change," Srivastava said.

He said the shipping companies have been requested to ensure that they submit their plans for crew change at the earliest for approvals by the local Chinese authorities.

"We also understand that MV Anastasia is exploring the possibility of a crew change at sea at its current point of anchorage in Caofeidian. Our Embassy has yesterday written to Chinese authorities proposing this alternative and sought approval for the same," he said.
Sub Editors are butchers of words! Stories are spiked and killed! Editors are gatekeepers and use professional discretion in using stories! Journalism is not for the faint-hearted! Media sets the agenda for society! Newsrooms are freedom halls!

These were common phrases in newsrooms and journalism classes a few decades ago to show the brutal face of this profession- the tough choices required of journalists and the frustrations in the profession.

While the face of mean-looking fellows in tattered jeans, tough insensitive and never give damn guys have changed over the years, the basic tenets of journalism practice remain the same: responsible and professional service to the people- seeking and reporting the truth, minimizing harm in the society, being accountable and transparent and above all, using professional and independent judgment while serving the public interest.

With the country facing a referendum, a president serving his last term and keen on leaving a legacy and a number of Governors facing a similar situation, a political class intent on clinging to their positions at whatever cost and an emotional tribal-based cheering crowd in the mix, journalists will be expected to be highly professional, cautious about their safety and exercise high-level solidarity and support for each other in the course of their work.

The year 2021 is going to be demanding and messy especially on the political front and journalists must be ready to make tough decisions-butcher hate speech without caring who uttered them, spike unworthy stories irrespective of the sources, exercise professional discretion without fear or favour and set a national agenda for Kenyans that will change their lives, especially amidst the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without necessarily gagging people, while showing the true face of some of our leaders, media will have to rise up and say no to some stories that might push the country to the brink of a precipice- the level of intolerance and frustration from both sides of the political divide is evident, and the media has been the most used as a market place of ideas, but where clearly the people given space in the media have no idea, please don't allow pedestrian talk to spread. Let people use their personal publicity spaces to do their dirty work.

As we start 2021, the most noticeable challenges facing the media in Kenya are competition for audience and advert revenue where we have seen a highly commercialized media employing cost-cutting strategies, linear and over-quoted sources largely elites in towns, routine PR sources for news from pre-planned events.

Digital migration has seen an increased number of more media outlets, government spending on adverts is reducing, we have seen media concentration and cross-ownership in terms of media ownership, editorial influence by the big corporates- advertising, journalists working for media houses while at the same time working for county governments or media advisors for politicians.

A lot of people now want media attention and coverage; the big players in the country especially the political and business class have invested in media campaigns and will want to sway public opinion to their side-they will cry out and blame media whenever critical stories come out on them. In the same breath, a number of media relation brokers/middlemen and quacks are in the market in search of the politicians' millions in the name of fixing their media problems.

Many with past media working connections have bought media equipment including cameras, recorders, and notebooks and have media badges, to convince none suspecting Kenyans of how they will secure media coverage; especially positive stories covered or negative ones killed, but their only interest is the money.

Media practitioners should not allow themselves to be used as the flame for violence, hate speech and tool for radicalizing Kenyans on non-issues. Media must remain vigilant and only allow ideas that facilitate dialogue and responsible conversations informed by the need to enable Kenyans to get reliable and factual information.

Let the media set an agenda for the country including on reforms, 2022 politics, post COVID-19 interventions, legacy politics and related professionally. Let the media be brutal to those fake news peddlers by setting strong fact-checking desks, establish internal mechanisms for identifying hate speech and allow more diversity in sourcing stories. More importantly, the safety of journalists is paramount.

Professional journalists will be expected to move from lamentations, welcome feedback and peer reviews, interactions amongst themselves to share lessons, and support self -regulation in the profession by respecting their own code and subjecting themselves to accountability.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Governance Media By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

Similarly, Kenyans should be aware that not all the people wielding cameras, recorders and notebooks are journalists or work for legitimate and credible media outlets; many are mere cons and brokers looking for your money.

Press conferences will be parked to capacity, fake interviews will be done and a number of sources will be asked to facilitate or "release" the "journalists" after those interviews or press conferences, but no stories will be forthcoming.

Angry sources after failing to see the articles will accuse the media of all manner of things creating a very hostile working environment for journalists and other media practitioners who are legitimate.

Misrepresentation as most of the quacks in the industry do is a criminal offence and attracts prosecution. Public places including hotels and offices should always seek to authenticate those claiming to be working for media.

Don't fall prey to cons in town.

Victor Bwire is the Deputy CEO at the Media Council of Kenya
The National Communication Officer of the main opposition NDC, Sammy Gyamfi that the NDCs petition case brought before the Supreme court is mainly about fictitious figures declared by the Returning Officer of the 2020 Presidential Election.



This he noted is in violation of the 1992 Constitution and not mere typographical errors committed by the ECs Chairperson, Jean Mensa.



This was contained in a 12-point response after the NPPs reaction to their petition.



The NPP in a statement signed by its National Communications Director, Yaw Buaben Asamoah said the Presidents legal team will show that the NDC has presented no material evidence of value in Court to support its blatantly false claims regarding the results of the 2020 Presidential Election.



They lied to their supporters that they had won and started referring to John Dramani Mahama falsely as the President-Elect. Now they have backtracked, settling futilely for a run-off which they themselves know will not happen. They have attempted and continue to use lies, threats, violence, and intimidation to seek forlornly to overrule the manifest will of the people as freely expressed on 7th December, 2020. We are absolutely confident that the facts and figures as presented in court, even by the NDC, will very easily, in a transparent and indisputable manner, reaffirm the expressed will of the voting public that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the 2020 Presidential Election one touch and convincingly so, the statement said.



However, Sammy in his rebuttal indicated there is absolutely no basis for equalization.



He claimed, what matters most is for the NPP to file their answer to the Petition and stop issuing useless press releases.



He added:Well, whiles we wait for the ECs answer to our petition, all I can say is that Tsatsu Tsikata Esq. is a genius. Cudos to all the lawyers who worked with him in crafting this Petition.



Below is Sammy Gyamfis write up



On the matter of the 2020 Election Petition filed by HE John Dramani Mahama:



1. The 1992 constitution of Ghana, specifically article 63(3), requires the winner of a Presidential election in Ghana to obtain more than 50% of Total Valid Votes. Failure of any of the candidates to attain more than 50% of Total Valid Votes must lead to a runoff between the first and second candidate.



2. The results of the 2020 Presidential elections were declared by the Returning Officer, Jean Mensah on 9th December. Per the content of the said declaration, none of the Candidates got more than 50% of the Total Valid Votes as required by the Constitution, i.e taken into account her assumption on Techiman south.



Fact is, if all votes in Techiman South were added to the votes of candidate John Mahama, Candidate Akufo Addo would have dropped below 50%. The EC Chairperson and retuning officer, Jean Mensah lied when she said in her declaration that even if all votes in Techiman South were added to the 2nd Candidate, John Mahama, the first Candidate, Akufo-Addo will still obtain more than 50% of Total Valid votes. Her own declaration doesnt support this claim.



3. Also, Percentages allocated to the names of the candidates in the 9th Dec. declaration were wrong. The sum total of the percentages is 100.3%, a clear mathematical and statistical impossibility.



4. The case of John Mahama is simply that, the declaration of Candidate Akufo Addo as the winner of the 2020 Presidential elections is unconstitutional and null and void as Candidate Akufo- Addo didnt get more than 50% of total valid votes per the declaration of the Returning Officer, Jean Mensah, hence must be set aside.



5. The next day after the declaration, 10th December, the EC posted a press release on their website claiming that the returning officer made a mistake by using Total Votes Cast in her declaration instead of Total Valid Votes and purported to rectify this alleged error. The so-called press release was not signed by the returning officer who made the declaration. In fact, it was not signed at all.



6. Also, the unsigned press release didnt make any reference to the Total valid votes figure the returning officer is alleged to have gotten wrong in her declaration of 9th Dec. Rather, it made reference to another figure, hence cannot be described as a true and proper correction of the alleged mistake the returning officer made in her declaration of 9th December.



7. Also, the EC claims in the unsigned press release that the mistake the returning officer made on the 9th Dec. was just a slip of tongue and does not affect the votes obtained by the candidates. Yet, the new total valid votes figure the unsigned press release of 10th Dec. introduced is different from the sum total of votes obtained by the 12 candidates per the declaration of 9th Dec. This is because, the unsigned press release varied the votes obtained by the candidates. JDMs votes were reduced by 1707 and NADAA votes increased by 174, among other variations. The sum total of votes obtained by the candidates per the Returning Officers declaration of 9th Dec. is completely missing in the unsigned press release of 10th Dec. The EC lied.



8. More importantly, article 63(9) requires the EC to pass the outcome of the Presidential election into law (Constitutional Instrument) and gazette same. The EC passed the declaration of 9th Dec., which it admits was in error (per the unsigned press release) into law (Declaration of President Elect Instrument, CI 135) and gazetted same. The unsigned press release of 10th Dec. that purported to correct the 9th Dec. declaration is neither part of CI 135 nor was it gazetted. Rather, it was the declaration of 9th Dec. that the EC admits was in error that was passed by CI 135 and gazetted.



9. Moreover, the new total valid votes figure introduced by the unsigned press release of 10th Dec. is fraught with padding and wrong aggregation of votes as shown by exhibit E & F, hence cannot stand.



10. To make matters worse, the new total valid votes figure capriciously and whimsically introduced by the ECs unsigned press release of 10th Dec. to purportedly correct the alleged mistake the Returning Officer committed in her declaration of 9th Dec. was done without the involvement of agents of the candidates as required by law. No one has seen the basis of that new total valid votes figure nor the new votes allocated to the names of the candidates. This is a gross violation of articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution in the opinion of the Petitioner.



11. Note that, the declaration of election results is a formal act, the form of which is prescribed by law. Also note that, as we speak, there is only one declaration of the 2020 Presidential election results; The declaration of 9th Dec. as captured by CI 135.



12. The NDC is asking the Supreme Court to set CI 135 aside on grounds of unconstitutionality, as the winner declared therein didnt obtain more than 50% of the Total Valid Votes as required by article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution.



And whats the NPPs response to this serious constitutional issue? That the NDC committed curable typographical errors in its petition? Hahahaha!



NB: it is important to make the point, that the NDCs case is about fictitious figures declared by the Returning Officer of the 2020 Presidential Election in violation of the 1992 Constitution and not mere typographical errors committed by her. Hence, there is absolutely no basis for equalization.



Need I say more? Cant you see where this matter is going?



Well, whiles we wait for the ECs answer to our petition, all I can say is that Tsatsu Tsikata Esq. is a genius. Cudos to all the lawyers who worked with him in crafting this Petition.



Now can the NPP file their answer to the Petition and stop issuing useless press releases?









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Passenger flights between India and the United Kingdom will resume from January 8, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Friday, days after New Delhi stopped commercial flights to the UK after a spike in Covid cases attributed to a more infectious mutant virus.

The initial round of suspension of flights from 23 December was valid till 31 December. On Friday, the minister announced on Twitter that a limited number of flights from four airports would resume.

Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only, the minister said.

The minister further added that these flights will only operate from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad only. He said, It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly.

Flights to and from the United Kingdom were suspended initially on December 21 over fears of a new mutated strain of the coronavirus which is believed to be more infectious was first discovered in the United Kingdom. The initial suspension of flights was till December 31 but on Wednesday the Directorate General of Civil Aviation modified its order to extend the ban till suspension on international flights till January 31. The DGCA also said that international flights to and from the United Kingdom will remain suspended till January 7.

The flights were suspended based on recommendation by the union health ministry. The government has launched efforts to track down thousands of people who have entered India from UK in the past few weeks. A total of 29 people have been detected with the new UK variant of Covid-19. The new mutated variant is believed to have the potential to affect younger people which forced several nations across the world to suspend its flight operations.

Norway also lifted its flight suspension order with the United Kingdom on Friday. The United Kingdom government on December 30 placed thousands of its citizens under strict lockdown like measures to stop the spread of the mutated variant of Covid-19. The government has strictly warned against travelling during the New Years and requested citizens to stay at home.

Health secretary John Hancock said, With our NHS under pressure we must all take personal responsibility this New Years Eve and stay at home. I know how much we have all sacrificed this year and we cannot let up.
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Japanese businesses have deployed a number of new business models in Vietnam in 2020 in an effort to shelter from the storm of COVID-19.

Takeo Nakajima, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization in Hanoi

The Vietnamese government has been taking a number of supporting policies to support businesses in a difficult time. How have Japanese companies benefited from these?

We highly appreciate the work Vietnam has done in the prevention of COVID-19 in the country. Effectively containing the pandemic provides significant support for the economy, and the business community as well.

Moreover, easing restrictions on the border is helpful to resuming business. A series of dialogues between the Vietnamese central and local governments with Japanese companies, meanwhile, has also assisted business confidence, with the highlight being a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in September 2020.

Because of the quick initiation of countermeasures against COVID-19, most Japanese companies are maintaining operations in Vietnam and do not need financial or other direct support.

The central and local governments priority in 2020 was to tackle the pandemic. As a result, the business climate has not improved much, but businesspeople have accepted it. According to our recent survey, Japanese companies local procurement rate in Vietnam was 37 per cent, a one-point increase from the previous year. The rest is imported from other countries.

Domestic and foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam have looked into new business models to stand firm and develop in 2020. What have been the key focus points for Japanese businesses in Vietnam during the year?

First was reinforcing the supply chain and value chain to avoid business disruption by unexpected incidents. Now, Vietnam is one of the critical countries for a more resilient Japanese supply chain.

Next, investment is spreading into more provinces throughout Vietnam as the domestic markets expand, and business costs in urban areas increase. Furthermore, more Japanese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will start operations in Vietnam if COVID-19 remains under control. Most of the big Japanese enterprises have factories or branches in Vietnam, and the next significant trend is that SMEs with superior technology will invest in the country.

The Vietnamese government has been accelerating the digital transformation of state agencies and the business community. How have Japanese companies tapped into this trend?

Japanese companies waste no time in capturing these types of opportunities. There are many players in digital transformation - large multinational corporations, domestic SMEs, and international startups. We help companies in Japan and Vietnam meet and collaborate through different channels, including business matching, seminars, and one-on-one introductions. Vietnam has a unique potential with a manufacturing base, ICT capability, and English and/or Japanese speaking ability.

Looking towards 2021, what are the possible scenarios in business activities among Japanese businesses in Vietnam in the context that the global health crisis will be around for some time to come?

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank predict major countries would bounce back to positive GDP growth in 2021 thanks to new vaccine development to counter COVID-19, and Vietnam may attain 6-7 per cent growth next year.

However, Vietnam has uncertain factors surrounding the country. Firstly, it depends heavily on foreign markets, particularly the United States, China, Europe, South Korea, and Japan too. The growth of other countries impacts Vietnams economy.

Secondly, tourism occupied around 10 per cent of Vietnams GDP. If you include its related industries, the figure would be much higher. If COVID-19 continues to hinder the entry of tourists, it would be challenging for the sectors to recover.

Lastly, we are entering a transition period for Vietnams Party leadership towards the next five-year term. We would like to see a clear, comprehensive policy by the new administration next year in the time to come. VIR

Bich Thuy

Vietnam is No 1 destination for Japanese investors Of 81 businesses receiving support from the Japanese government, 37 have decided to invest in Vietnam, while 19 have chosen Thailand.
The situation as U.S. forces leave Afghanistan looks dire for the thousands of interpreters and their families that helped our troops. Read more
Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer has hit out at alleged victim Annie Farmer and accused her of being motivated by money, days after she was denied bail for a second time.

The legal team working for Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam slammed Farmer in new court filings in a civil suit against Maxwell and Epstein's estate, ABC News reports.

Maxwell's attorneys have alleged that accepting a confidential settlement in October from Epstein Victims' Compensation Program indicated Farmer has a financial motivation to make 'false assertions' about Maxwell.

Maxwell's lawyer Laura Menninger wrote in a letter to the court earlier this week: 'The fact that [Farmer] seeks money from the estate and from Ms. Maxwell, in the millions of dollars, at the same time she is a government witness in an upcoming criminal trial on the same topic is reason enough to suspect that her newly asserted memories of abuse - without corroboration - are not based on the truth or a desire for 'justice' so much as her desire for cash.

'The motive for fabrication could not be clearer.'

It comes after Farmer filed a passionate letter in which she pleaded with a judge not to grant Maxwell bail.

Ghislaine Maxwell's (right) lawyer has hit out at alleged victim Annie Farmer (left) and accused her of being motivated by money, days after she was denied bail for a second time

Farmer claims Maxwell and Epstein sexually assaulted her aged 16 at the disgraced financier's New Mexico ranch (pictured), and is seeking damages from Maxwell

In accepting the offer from the compensation program, Farmer had to drop litigation against Epstein's estate and Maxwell's lawyers have protested the dismissal.

They say that the amount Farmer received should be disclosed, something they doubled down on in Wednesday's letter.

It read: 'The amount of money [Farmer] obtains from the Epstein program is very much a matter of public interest and will go to the very core of plaintiff's credibility during the upcoming criminal trial.'

One of Farmer's lawyers said Maxwell's legal team's letter was 'vicious' and 'victim-blaming', according to ABC News.

Sigrid McCawley responded to the letter on Thursday, writing: 'Ms. Farmer will not respond to Maxwell's meritless challenges to the merits of her case, to her credibility, or to her entirely appropriate participation in Maxwell's prosecution.

'Ms. Farmer simply states that she stands by the allegations in her [lawsuit] and any statements she made in related proceedings, and she intends to testify truthfully if called in any future proceedings.'

Farmer claims Maxwell and Epstein sexually assaulted her aged 16 at the disgraced financier's New Mexico ranch, and is seeking damages. She filed the civil suit in November 2019.

Maxwell's attorneys have alleged that accepting a confidential settlement in October from Epstein Victims' Compensation Program indicated Farmer has a financial motivation to make 'false assertions' about Maxwell. Pictured: Farmer as a teen

Maxwell is accused of procuring girls as young as 14 for Epstein between 1994 and 1997

It comes after Maxwell was denied bail for a second time on Monday when a judge ruled that she remained a 'flight risk'.

Judge Alison Nathan said that nothing submitted to the federal court in New York had changed her original decision.

Judge Nathan was unmoved by the $28.5 million bail package that Maxwell and her husband Scott Borgerson offered to the court.

She ruled that 'no conditions of release can reasonably assure the Defendant's appearance at future proceedings'.

The ruling means that Maxwell will remain in the grim Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York until at least July next year when her trial is due to take place.

The women that Maxwell allegedly procured for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse had urged the judge to not allow for her release from prison before trial.

'In light of that strong incentive to flee, all three of the victims listed in the Indictment have asked the Government to convey to the Court that they continue to seek the defendant's detention,' the documents state.

'Additionally, pursuant to the Crime Victims' Rights Act, one of the victims has provided a written statement urging the Court to deny bail, which is attached as Exhibit A hereto. That unanimous view of the victims reflects three related reasons that this factor weighs so heavily in favor of detention.'

Farmer wrote in a letter to the judge: 'I write this not only on behalf of myself, but all of the other girls and young women who were victimized by Maxwell.

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail in July

'Ghislaine Maxwell sexually abused me as a child and the government has the responsibility to make sure that she stands trial for her crimes.

'I do not believe that will happen or that any of the women she exploited will see justice if she is released on bail. She has lived a life of privilege, abusing her position of power to live beyond the rules. Fleeing the country in order to escape once more would fit with her long history of anti-social behavior.'

She goes on to call Maxwell a 'psychopath' and says that she has a 'disregard for and violation of the rights of other'.

Maxwell is accused of procuring girls as young as 14 for Epstein between 1994 and 1997.

She is also accused of perjuring herself in a separate civil case and denies all the allegations.

If convicted she faces up to 35 years in jail.
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HONG KONG  Hong Kongs highest court on Thursday revoked media tycoon Jimmy Lais bail after prosecutors succeeded in asking the judges to send him back to detention.

Lai had been granted bail on Dec. 23 after three weeks in custody on charges of fraud and endangering national security. His appeal hearing is slated for Feb. 1.

The court said Thursday that it was reasonably arguable that the previous judges decision was erroneous and that the order of granting bail was invalid.

Lai is among a string of pro-democracy activists and supporters arrested by Hong Kong police in recent months as authorities step up their crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

He was charged with fraud on Dec. 3 for allegedly violating the lease terms for office space for the Next Digital, the media company he founded. He was later charged again on Dec. 12 under the sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security.

Lai entered the Court of Final Appeal without making any comments to supporters and media, many of whom swarmed the tycoon as he made his way into the courtroom. His bail conditions included surrendering his travel documents and a ban on meeting with foreign officials, publishing articles on any media, posting on social media and giving interviews.

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Chinese state-owned newspaper Peoples Daily posted a strongly worded commentary on Sunday criticizing the court for granting bail to Lai, stating that it severely hurt Hong Kongs rule of law.

The Peoples Daily said that it would not be difficult for Lai to abscond, and called him notorious and extremely dangerous. It also warned that China could take over the case, according to Article 55 of the national security law which states that China can exercise jurisdiction over a case concerning offence endangering national security.

Hong Kongs judiciary on Tuesday uploaded a 19-page judgment on its website, laying out the reasons why High Court Judge Justice Alex Lee had granted Lai bail. Lee said that he was satisfied that there was no flight risk in Lais case, and noted that Lai was willing to have his movements monitored if it had been a feasible option.

On Tuesday, Lai resigned as chairman and executive director of Next Digital, which runs the Apple Daily newspaper, according to a filing made to the Hong Kong stock exchange. He did so to spend more time dealing with this personal affairs and confirmed that he had no disagreement with the board of directors, the filing said.
A 27-year-old woman was raped inside her New York City apartment on Wednesday morning by a man posing as a delivery driver.

The young woman answered the door to her Midtown Manhattan home just before noon and was immediately attacked by the man, according to the New York Post.

Authorities said the woman believed she was getting a packaged delivered when the attacker started choking her in her home near East 30th Street and Third Avenue.

A 27-year-old woman was raped inside her New York City apartment (authorities pictured at the scene) on Wednesday morning by a man posing as a delivery driver

The young woman answered the door to her Midtown Manhattan home just before noon and was immediately attacked by the man

Authorities said the woman believed she was getting a packaged delivered when the attacked started choking her in her home near East 30th Street and Third Avenue

'He made it look like he was delivering a package,' a police spokeswoman told the Post, without elaborating on what exactly the man was wearing.

The woman told authorities that she was choked until she lost consciousness. When she woke up the man was raping her both vaginally and anally, police said.

The man also stole her bank card and pin number before fleeing the scene.

The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment. Authorities are still investigating the attack and have not released any other information.

The attack comes just two days after a 19-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in Brooklyn.

New York City police are searching for the man who was captured on surveillance footage in the area.

Police said the suspect approached the woman from behind near East New York Avenue and Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn just after midnight on Monday.

She told police the man held a kitchen knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she resisted.

He then forced her into a building at 672 Ralph Avenue where he raped her before fleeing the scene on foot.

Both attacks come amid a surge in crime in New York City.

The woman told authorities that she was choked until she lost consciousness. When she woke up the man was raping her both vaginally and anally, police said

The man also stole her bank card and pin number before fleeing the scene. The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment

Authorities are still investigating the attack and have not released any other information

Crime stats from the four weeks between November 30 to December 27 show violent crime is far higher than it was at the same time last year.

During that time frame, there were 21 murders - an increase of 61.5 per cent when compared with the same dates in 2019.

There was also a 4.2 per cent increase in rapes, and a staggering 122.4 per cent surge in shootings.

Violent crime began spiking following a $1billion cut to the NYPD's budget which was approved this past summer following passionate protests to defund the police.

Officials have failed to take responsibility for the surge in crime, instead shifting blame.

NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told NY1 earlier this month that changes to bail laws as well as progressive policies that encourage criminal justice reform are making the city more dangerous.

'Until we come to that realization as a society  is this what we want?'

'It's good to have philosophical discussions about 'end mass incarceration' and 'end incarceration' but you don't want to do it by turning the innocent public into jails in their own apartments and houses.'

Shea's boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, pushed back on the commissioner's comments.

The mayor told reporters at a City Hall meeting on December 8 that the surge in violent crime this year can be pinned on an 'absolute perfect storm' that hit New York this year.

'You cannot combine a massive health crisis, tens of thousands of people dying, hospitals overwhelmed, economy is shut down, schools are shut down, houses of worship shut down, society not having its normal moorings all at once, a social justice crisis' the mayor said.

'Come on, this is not like anything we have seen in our history and I believe not like anything we will see again in our lifetimes.'

De Blasio acknowledged there had been an 'uptick in violence' though he added that it is 'clearly being addressed because we're regluing the situation together again'.
Trump's annual New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago went on without him after he was forced to return to Washington amid an ongoing fight with Congress

Many of the president's family members gathered at the Palm Beach resort to ring in the new year

Donald Trump Jr, and Kimberly Guilfoyle shared a video wishing everyone a new year from the venue

Trump is battling lawmakers over $2k stimulus checks, defense bill and certification of electoral college vote

Trump and Melania held hands walking toward the White House before Trump headed to the Oval Office

On Thursday afternoon, the president also released a New Year's video message to the American people

Trump touted his accomplishments with Operation Warp Speed, saying 'everyone is calling' to thank him

Senate Leader Mitch McConnell made clear there is 'no realistic path' forward on Trump's demand to increase stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000; Senate moved forward to override Trump's veto of defense bill

Tensions with Iran are on the rise as one-year anniversary of the US drone strike that killed the country's top general, Qasem Soleimani, approaches

The president's return to DC comes as Republicans plan to object to the electoral certification on January

As President Donald Trump returned to Washington D.C. amid his ongoing battle with Congress, his friends and family members gathered maskless at his Mar-a-Lago estate for his annual New Year's Eve gala.

Trump and First Lady Melania were forced to forgo the festivities on Thursday to resolve the highly-anticipated COVID relief bill in Washington, but still hosted hundreds of guests at the Palm Beach resort.

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Other members of the Trump clan were seen dressed to the nines as they gathered at the opulent ballroom to ring in the new year.

Earlier in the evening, the president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr, who turned 43 today, and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle shared a video message wishing everyone a happy new year from the venue.

'We just wanted to wish you guys an incredible new year. Obviously 2020 has been a little bit nuts and rather crazy, I don't think anyone's going to be upset about moving on from this one,' Don Jr, said.

Trump's younger son, Eric, 36, also shared a picture posing alongside wife Lara at the party. Lara donned a glittery green evening gown while he wore a black tuxedo and white bow tie.

The Trumps: The president's children gathered at his Mar-a-Lago estate for his annual New Year's Eve gala on Thursday

Donald Trump Jr, who turned 43 today, and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle shared a video message on Facebook wishing his supporters a happy new year from Mar-a-Lago

Eric Trump, 36, shared a photo alongside wife Lara as they celebrated the end of 2020 at the Palm Beach resort

Lara Trump, who shares a son and daughter with Eric, put the kids to bed before heading off to the celebration

Among the slew of guests was Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who recently proposed to his girlfriend Ginger Luckey.

Videos from the event show dozens of maskless guests sitting around tables, drinking wine and enjoying the entertainment.

Tickets to the event were going for $1,000 each, one person attending the gala told DailyMail.com. A person has to be a member of Mar-a-Lago or a guest of a member in order to attend.

It's unclear how many people attended this year's New Year's Eve gathering, but at least 500 people had reserved tickets by Wednesday, CNN reported. Hundreds of people typically attend. The main ballroom can hold 700 people and there are smaller ballrooms available to add to the crowd size.

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The New Year's Eve gala is an annual tradition that pre-dates Trump's time in the White House. Last year, Trump walked the red carpet with his wife Melania and their son Barron.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner also attended with their children. Donald Trump Jr. was accompanied by one of his sons and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. Eric Trump and Lara Trump were also there as were Tiffany Trump and her boyfriend Michael Boulos.

Prominent Trump friends like Rudy Giuliani have also made an appearance.

As the president returned to White House Thursday, he released a New Year's video message claiming that 'everyone is calling' to thank him for the vaccine.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump held hands as they walked from Marine One toward the White House with the president splitting off from his wife to go to the Oval Office.

Trump also touted his accomplishments with Operation Warp Speed in a bizarre video he shared on Twitter Thursday afternoon.

Rep Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who recently proposed to girlfriend Ginger Luckey (not pictured) at the resort, was among the guests on Thursday night

Gaetz, who was pictured with two guests, was seen dressed to the nines ahead of the new year, but neglected to wear a mask

The New Year's Eve gala held at the president's second home (pictured) is an annual tradition that pre-dates Trump's time in the White House

2019: President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are pictured at last year's New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago

'Over and over again, we were told it would be impossible to deliver a vaccine by the end of the year,' Trump said in the five-minute clip.

'All of the experts said, "Absolutely unthinkable. Trump is exaggerating. It can't happen." And we did it,' the president said. 'Years from now, they'll be talking about it. They'll be talking about this great, great thing that we did with the vaccines.'

'The world will benefit. We'll benefit. And everybody's calling to thank me,' Trump added.

'To defeat the China virus we launched the largest mobilization since World War II. We transformed our factories to build tens of thousands of ventilators and millions and millions of masks virtually overnight,' Trump said.

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'Nobody thought it could be done. We ignored the experts who demanded open borders and we shut down travel from China and Europe to protect our citizens and we built the wall,' Trump said before claiming that his administration's pioneering of new therapies and treatments 'saved millions of American lives'.

Trump said his administration has 'to be remembered for what's been done'.

The video was released the same day Trump returned to the White House. Officials at the White House did not give a reason for the return but it coincides with Trump's fight with Congress over his veto of a major defense bill, his demand for increased COVID stimulus checks, and the January 6th electoral college certification, which Republicans plan to object. It also comes amid increased tensions with Iran.

While Trump is back in Washington, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to spend a quiet night at his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, although he is scheduled to appear on the ABC special 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021' on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave the likely death blow to Trump's bid to boost the COVID relief checks to $2,000 from the $600 - an 11th hour demand the president made after sitting on the sidelines while the deal was negotiated with his administration and passed by Congress.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk from Marine One toward the White House after returning to Washington D.C. from Florida a day earlier than planned

The Trumps exit Air Force One on New Year's Eve, where they will celebrate the New Year holiday at the White House rather than at a gala at Mar-a-Lago

President Donald Trump walks to the Oval Office after arriving back in Washington D.C.

Trump also touted his accomplishments with Operation Warp Speed in a bizarre video he shared on Twitter Thursday afternoon. 'Over and over again, we were told it would be impossible to deliver a vaccine by the end of the year,' Trump said in the five-minute clip (pictured)

In the opening minutes of the Senate's New Year's Eve session, McConnell again objected after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tried to get a vote on the matter for the third day in a row.

McConnell has made it clear there is 'no realistic path' forward on increased stimulus checks this year, as he said on Tuesday. He offered his own bill that included the $2,000 provision, but also killed off Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, while also creating an election commission - two Trump demands.

That bill was a poison pill for Democrats.

McConnell then moved on to the other business at hand - overriding President Trump's veto of the annual defense bill, which funds the Pentagon and gives troops a pay raise.

Senator Bernie Sanders and a small group of progressive Senate Democrats had wanted to delay the vote to overrule Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act to push McConnell on the $2,000 check issue, but they were overruled by members of their own party who voted Wednesday night to start that process.

Schumer and also Vice President-elect Kamala Harris voted in favor of the motion to proceed. The Senate voted 80-12 to begin debate on the issue, with another procedural vote due on Friday.

The House already overrode Trump's veto of the must-pass defense legislation. The Senate is expected to do the same, making the defense bill law and giving Trump his first veto override.

Tensions have increased with Iran as the one-year anniversary of the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani approaches - above his portrait hangs along the highway leading to Beirut

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell crushed yet another Democratic effort to get a vote on a stand alone bill to increase COVID-19 stimulus checks to $2,000

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One as they depart from Florida early on Thursday to return to Washington, D.C.

The first couple will skip out on the annual New Year's Eve Party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club after guests paid $1,000 and were promised the president would be in attendance

Trump supporters lined the road as the president's motorcade made its way from Mar-a-Lago to Palm Beach Airport

The president had long promised to veto the defense bill, first over the inclusion of a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate figures.

More recently, Trump threatened to veto it if Congress didn't retool Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which the president argued gives 'big tech' companies like Facebook and Twitter too much legal protection. The section gives the companies protection from lawsuits over content published on their platform.

The president was also said to have concerns over whether Iran will retaliate in the coming days on the one year anniversary of the US drone strike that killed the country's top general, Qasem Soleimani.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused Washington on Thursday of trying to manufacture a reason to attack his country. He vowed Tehran would defend itself even though it does not seek war.

Two US B-52 bombers flew over the Middle East on Wednesday in what U.S. officials said was a message of deterrence to Iran ahead of the first anniversary of a US drone strike that killed Soleimani on January 3, 2020.

Meanwhile, January 6 has been a crucial date on Trump's radar while he's been in Florida as that is the date Congress will certify the electoral college results. Biden won with 306 votes to Trump's 232.

The president is trying to overturn the election results so he can stay in the White House for a second term.

Trump spent the majority of Wednesday on Twitter blasting various Republicans for not doing more to stop his alleged voter fraud, claiming Georgia Gov Brian Kemp is being controlled by Stacey Abrams. He's also falsely claimed that he has enough votes to flip Georgia.

Melania Trump waves to supporters lining the route in Palm Beach as the first couple drives from Mar-a-Lago to the Palm Beach Airport to return to Washington D.C.

Trump has spent the majority of Wednesday on Twitter blasting various Republicans for not doing more to stop his alleged voter fraud, claiming Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is being controlled by Stacey Abrams

Trump has also falsely claimed that he's had enough votes to flip Georgia

'@BrianKempGA, his puppet Lt. Governor @GeoffDuncanGA, and Secretary of State, are disasters for Georgia. Wont let professionals get anywhere near Fulton County for signature verifications, or anything else,' Trump claimed. 'They are virtually controlled by @staceyabrams & the Democrats. Fools!'

His early return comes as Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri became the first member of the upper chamber to voice his support for contesting the electoral college vote on Wednesday. Hawley, a Republican, said that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws.

At the very least, Congress should investigate, he said in a statement.

'For these reasons, I will follow the same Democrat members of Congress have in years past and object during the certification process on January 6 to raise these critical issues,' Hawley explained. Hawley did not provide any evidence for his claims.

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Next Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence will preside over a meeting of Congress when the results of the Electoral College vote are read and tallied.

It's generally a formality, but as Hawley pointed out, Democrats did object to certain states' vote counts, including during the 2016 and 2004 races.

Pence refused to sign on to the plan that would upend Congress certifying the election for Biden. In order for challenges to be debated, both a House member and a senator have to sign on to an objection.

House Democrats raised concerns after the 2016 race over state tallies in Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Mississippi and the Carolinas, however no Democratic senator joined the effort. Biden, at the time serving as vice president, gaveled down the protests because they weren't joined by a senator.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri got into a Twitter spat with Walmart, the world's largest retailer, on Wednesday

Vice President Mike Pence refused to sign on to a plan that would have him choose to read the votes cast by President Donald Trump's 'electors' in states that President-elect Joe Biden won when he presides over a Congressional session to finalize the election on January 6

President Donald Trump has been pressuring Republican senators to object to states' Electoral College vote counts, as a senator and a House member have to sign on for there to be a debate and a vote. Depending on how many states Republicans object to, it could hold up certifying the election for Joe Biden for hours

President Donald Trump is encouraging his supporters to come to Washington, D.C. the day that Congress certifies the Electoral College results. With Hawley saying he'll join in an effort to object to states' votes, the process could take hours

Once Hawley and House Republicans object to a state's vote count on January 6th, lawmakers will go back to their respective chambers and discuss the merits of the objection for two hours.

Only a majority vote is needed to overrule the objections.

With the Democrats controlling the House and several Republicans in the Senate publicly saying that the election is over - and Biden is the winner - Hawley's objection will trigger a delay, but not flip the results to Trump.

McConnell asked senators not to engage because they'd be forced to go on the record and by voting in favor of Biden's win, could be in danger of being taken down by pro-Trump forces within the Republican Party.

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On December 15, the day after the Electoral College met, McConnell publicly congratulated Biden as president-elect.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 1, 2021 - 15:31 | World, All

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen took issue with China's military activities around Taiwan over the past year in her New Year's address on Friday, saying both sides should engage in "meaningful dialogue" to manage their differences.

Tsai said China's frequent maritime and air activities in the vicinity of the self-ruled island that Beijing considers a renegade Chinese province have not only undermined relations across the Taiwan Strait, but they threaten the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

"I want to reaffirm that in dealing with cross-strait relations, we will uphold our principles and not act rashly," Tsai said.

"We are willing to facilitate meaningful dialogue under the principles of parity and dignity as long as the Beijing authorities sincerely want to resolve differences and improve cross-strait relations," she said.

The president said that when the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, she expects people-to-people exchanges with mainland China to gradually resume "to improve mutual understanding and reduce misunderstandings."

While touching on trade and other issues, Tsai sought the public's understanding of her decision last year to relax restrictions on the import of U.S. beef and pork, over which there have been protests.

She said as Taiwan relies heavily on trade, "there was no way to avoid" this issue that was left pending by three successive administrations.

Among the other challenges ahead for the Tsai administration is a ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures imposed after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan insists it be lifted.

Related coverage:

Taiwan bans entry of nonresident travelers after virus variant found

FOCUS: Taiwan seeks "asymmetric" defense to deter China

FOCUS: China may extend olive branch to neighbors in 2021 ahead of key events
Anutin 2mn Covid vaccine doses available by April

THAILAND: Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday (Dec 31) he had secured the supply of at least 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from producers between February and April.

CoronavirusCOVID-19health

By Bangkok Post

Friday 1 January 2021, 11:45AM

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in a signing ceremony to acquire a COVID-19 vaccine from producer AstraZeneca, at Government House on Nov 27. Photo: Government House.

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday directed him to discuss procurement with all producers that have made their vaccines available.

It was intended to acquire vaccines to help cope with the ongoing outbreak.

Efforts and negotiations with vaccine producers mean that between February and April 2021, at least 2 million doses of vaccine will be initially delivered to Thailand, Mr Anutin wrote on his Facebook account.

He had informed the prime minister of the result, he said.

The prime minister had promised full budgetary support for the procurement.

Preparations would be made to ensure the vaccine was distributed to at-risk people, Mr Anutin said.

He did not say which vaccine it is.

The government earlier signed an advance agreement with AstraZeneca for the supply and production of its COVID-19 vaccine, but supplies were not expected before May.
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Health care has been hanging by a thread for some time  in our community and across the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses inherent in an underfunded public health system, a monopolized hospital, and a fractured medical supply chain.

At the beginning of this pandemic, I wrote, Our lives will not be saved by the government. And lives will not be saved by elected officials or large institutions. Lives will be saved by everyday decisions made by responsible citizens in Washington State and the rest of the nation.

As Kitsap County faces an outbreak of COVID-19 at a local hospital, my opinion hasnt changed all that much.

A recently released state investigative report identified the most likely source of the outbreak as aerosol-generating procedures, such as intubation, performed on patients who displayed no symptoms of illness. An additional contributing factor was noted to be a lack of personal protective equipment for employees, a struggle faced by health care personnel universally.

While local news organizations cover this story from a variety of unflattering angles, this column will not be about the missteps made by the sole hospital entity responsible for serving 300,000 residents on the Kitsap Peninsula during a viral pandemic. In reality, an outbreak there was not only foreseeable but practically inevitable.

If a large proportion of residents become infected with COVID-19, how should our community respond?

It is time to look at novel approaches to contain a novel disease.

Without access to treatments or a vaccine, control of infection requires interruption of person-to-person transmission. Successful public health strategies include contact tracing, rapid testing and isolation of known contacts. Contact tracing is most fruitful when the disease causes a specific set of symptoms, such as fever with a recognizable rash, as with smallpox, measles or chickenpox. Contact tracing of COVID-19 is complicated by the fact that asymptomatic individuals can transmit disease unknowingly.

Research reveals as few as 10% of those infected (the superspreaders) are responsible for community transmission up to 80% of the time.

All hope is never lost. Home visits are one innovative method to contact trace more effectively.

Two physicians working for the Indian Health Service in Whiteriver, Arizona, Drs. Close and Stone, reduced the case-fatality rate by developing an integrated early-response plan that relied heavily on contact tracing. The Whiteriver Indian Hospital is located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and serves about 17,000 members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and other nearby Native American communities.

Knowing that COVID-19 transmission occurs through singing, shouting, and coughing more often than contact with contaminated surfaces, the physicians prioritized rapid testing of newly identified contacts. The Whiteriver team focused heavily on those high-risk patients who could benefit most from early intervention. Public health nurses visited homes of those who tested positive each day and phoned high-risk contacts who were exposed but tested negative for COVID-19 to make sure they were quickly identified if they became ill.

On the reservation, as many as eight or more people can reside in a two-bedroom home, often including a high-risk grandparent or great-grandparent. The likelihood of contracting COVID-19 in crowded home environments is approximately 80% through sharing bathrooms, meals and other communal spaces. The tracing team targeted those relatives of an index case at higher risk of developing medical complications.

It is during these home visits where public health nurses made a remarkable discovery. They identified cases of happy hypoxemia, where patients were experiencing little to no shortness of breath yet had oxygen levels registering below 80%. (For reference, 95% or higher is normal for those living at sea level.) These happy hypoxic patients tended to be young, healthy individuals who were less likely to quarantine and would not have normally presented for medical care.

Unfortunately, because home visits are a relic of the past, clinicians usually see patients after becoming sick in the later stages of disease. In reality, no infection, including COVID-19, is completely silent. There are subtle findings that often go unnoticed at first. When happy, sick patients can be identified earlier, contact isolation and tracing efforts can be more strategic. Supportive measures, such as supplemental oxygen, can be initiated at home and lead to better outcomes.

Through simple, cost-effective measures, 1,600 cases were diagnosed in the Whiteriver community, and the case fatality rate was 1.1%, less than half that of Arizona. While about 400 (25%) of these patients required hospitalization, only one required emergent intubation prior to being transferred to a higher-level facility for care.

The work of these two innovative doctors and their team provides valuable insight into a community-based strategy to contain COVID-19. Their experience lends support to the notion that a well-funded and effective public health system working in tandem with individual community clinicians can save lives. To quote Drs. Stone and Close, In our current health care system, knocking on doors and talking to patients may be the most novel approach of all.

That sentiment is music to my ears.

Niran S. Al-Agba is a pediatrician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Dr. Niran Al-Agba.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
"Theres nothing like painting on a big scale. It's completely different to painting any other thing," says street artist and muralist George Rose.

George Rose and the mural she is painting on the walls of TikTok's Sydney offices. Credit:James Alcock

For her, it's a joyous combination of creativity, being outside, immersing yourself in a community and being active. "You have to use your whole body when you do it. Also theres a huge theatre about creating works in public. I love people coming up and talking to me. Youd probably never come across them otherwise."

Street art and muralism is big business these days and has long been a trademark of Melbourne. Hosier Lane is one of the CBD's top tourist attractions, regularly repainted and a prime location if you want to see artists at work. In November, an Artcade opened in Spencer Street, showcasing work by eight artists (including Rose) in a project run by Juddy Roller. Online platform Book an Artist has sprung up, with commissions adding new works in Brunswick, Hampton and Eltham. Further afield, the Silo Art Trail in the Mallee has proven a tourism success, as have Bendigo's street art tours.

Rose recently spent almost a month in Sydney, painting murals at Tik Tok's headquarters in Martin Place. She is known for her gradients  when one colour turns into another  and super bright colour pallettes. Recent local works include a Christmas mural on corner of Errol and Queensbury streets, North Melbourne, and another at Foot Locker in the city.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
The farmers protest on the DelhiHaryana border has been on for over a month and is making a record of sorts as the largest protest in the world during the pandemic. Much has been said about the right and the wrong of the protest. There is one aspect that needs more scrutiny.

Let us take the issue of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Everyone and his uncle in the ruling party has promised the farmers that MSP will not be removed. But no one seems to trust them. More crucially, the farmers dont trust Prime Minister Modi and his words. This is a huge problem. How do people petition the government when they dont trust its head?

One answer may be that our democracy has been hollowed out, it is an empty shell, but we still go through some rituals of democracy. Another way of looking at it is that this is a real challenge from democratic forces to a cynical and authoritarian regime that mocks at peoples power. The answer may be blowing in the wind, as the Prophet of Protest Bob Dylan said.

In a parliamentary democracy, citizens vote for their representatives and elect them to office because they trust him/her to do some good for them. The Social Contract theorists  Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau, the original philosophers of Constitutionalism, of representative government and of a nascent democratic state -- postulated that individuals came together and parted with a portion of their sovereignty to create a ruler primarily to ensure their life, property and liberty.

This primordial act was based on implicit trust that the ruler would abide by his part of the contract. Today, this expression of trust takes place through elections, where people vote for their representatives. Vote is the ultimate mode of transferring trust. Vote is to politics what money is to economics.

Talking about money, we all accept some colourful pieces of paper on which certain numbers are written as valid currency of commerce because it says the Governor of the Reserve Bank promises to pay the bearer the sum written on that note. We accept that solemn promise without a question. Money is the purest form of trust. And we have a Prime Minister who violated that trust without a thought on November 8, 2016, when with four hours notice, he demonetised all the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes then in circulation and threw the country into chaos and caused untold misery to people. That was the beginning of the mistrust.

It was a reckless violation of trust, and it resulted in the deaths of over 100 people who could do nothing with their old currency, nor could they get new currency in time. Peoples faith in the system was rudely shaken as they no longer trusted the currency in hand. Societies are built on and revolve around trust. And if that trust is broken, it hollows out human interaction.

Similar was our experience when we faced a 70-day national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister first announced a one-day Janata Curfew with three days notice and then suddenly imposed a 21-day lockdown with only four hours notice. The 21 days became an excruciating 70 days, with the whole country grinding to a halt. While the lockdown may have been necessary, it could have been tempered with an impact study after 21 days or even after a month. There was no assessment of how the economy was hurting, and no course-correction. Millions of people lost jobs and livelihoods, and the poorest of the poor  the migrant workers  had to walk hundreds of miles back to their homes, with many dying on the way of hunger and thirst. An uncaring State had broken the basic trust to ensure their life.

The Prime Minister has often announced a policy or a law first and then thought out the reasons for it. This was clearly evident with demonetisation. As he went along, the Prime Minister gave a new rationale and justification every day for that act. The government and the RBI issued 74 notifications related to demonetisation in a period of 50 days.

How can people react to such a reckless ruler and his rules? What recourse do they have if they are not sure what he is up to the next day, and more so if they cannot trust his word? The parliamentary mechanism provides for a no-trust vote wherein the Opposition parties, with or without having a sufficient number of votes, may attempt to unseat a ruling party. But then, what if there is no Parliament?

With Parliament in abeyance, the people have no option but to march on to the streets to oppose laws that they consider harmful. This is when the street becomes more powerful than Parliament, a phenomenon that was so vividly evident at the height of JPs movement against Indira Gandhis rule.

The government is most likely to reject their demand because they will rightly contend that they have come to power with about 37% of the polled votes. That would still leave 63% of the people who did not vote for them.

The ruling party should always remember that there is a large part of the population that did not vote for it and do not trust it. It is incumbent on it to take those who did not vote for it along by persuading them that there is a greater good in the legislation it has passed. Demonising the Opposition, criminalising dissent and calling protesters terrorists and anti-nationals is undemocratic. Doing so shows up an unbridled authoritarianism that brooks no dissent, questioning, or criticism

(The writer, a former Cabinet Secretariat official, is Visiting Fellow at ORF, New Delhi)
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Delhi Congress President Anil Kumar spent the first day of the year with the farmers at the Ghazipur Border on Friday, and distributed raw ration and helped the farmers in preparing food and other chores.

Kumar said that the three 'black' farm laws will put the farmers at the "mercy of the corporates," who would then exploit those who till the land at their whims, to undercut their earnings, and dictate the modes and methods of agriculture.

Kumar underlined that the Congress has been vociferously protesting against the 'black' farm laws from the very beginning, and had extended its full support to the agitating farmers.

He said that Congress endorses the farmers' demand for the repeal of the farm laws. He said that till now, over 41 farmers have sacrificed their lives while protesting against the farm laws, but the authoritarian Modi Government is unmoved by the farmers' plight, by taking a rigid stand in the discussion with the farmers, to resolve the deadlock.

The farmers from across the country have been protesting at the borders of Delhi for over the past 41 days, braving icy cold weather, demanding repeal of the three agricultural laws passed by the Modi Government at the Centre.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Mexico's Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard voiced willingness to enhance bilateral cooperation in multilateral fields during a phone conversation on Thursday.

During the call, Wang said China has always regarded Mexico as an important strategic cooperative partner, and will unswervingly promote the long-term friendship between the two countries and firmly support Mexico in developing its economy and improving people's livelihood.

Wang noted that in April 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, held a phone conversation, charting the course for anti-pandemic cooperation between the two sides and the development of bilateral relations.

China highly appreciates Mexico's positive contribution to the continuous development of the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, he said, adding that the new year will bring new opportunities to China-Mexico and China-Latin America relations.

China and Mexico should maintain high-level contacts and deepen political mutual trust, so as to lift bilateral relations to a new level and maintain the momentum of development of China-Latin America relations, Wang said.

Mexico is a major emerging and developing country, Wang said, adding that China supports Mexico in performing its duties as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

China is willing to further strengthen coordination and cooperation between the two sides in multilateral fields, jointly safeguard multilateralism and the norms of international relations, jointly expand the rights and interests of developing countries, and looks forward to strengthening solidarity and cooperation in various fields, Wang said.

Noting that China attaches great importance to Mexico's request for vaccine cooperation, Wang said the Chinese government supports Chinese enterprises in carrying out vaccine cooperation with Mexico, and is ready to promote the cooperation in strict accordance with laws and regulations.

Wang expressed belief that under Lopez Obrador's leadership, Mexico will certainly prevail over the pandemic at an early date.

Noting that a friend in need is a friend indeed, Ebrard said that Mexico regards China as a partner and friend sticking together through thick and thin.

He thanks China for its strong support in Mexico's fight against the pandemic, expressing hopes that the Chinese government will facilitate Mexico's purchase of Chinese vaccines.

Mexico is ready to take its holding of the rotating presidency of the CELAC as an opportunity to push for more achievements in Mexico-China and Latin America-China relations, he said.

Mexico also thanks China for its support for Mexico's non-permanent membership of the UNSC and is ready to continue strengthening cooperation with China in multilateral areas, he added.
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Enjoy your holiday and please spend some time reading what is in the news today!

Society

 On New Years Eve thousands of people flocked to downtown streets in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City and elsewhere across the country to usher in 2021 and join a myriad of celebratory activities, including spectacular fireworks and light shows.

 Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony on Thursday to announce the National Assembly Standing Committees resolution on organizing administrative units at the district and commune levels and establishing Thu Duc City.

 Border guards across Vietnam had detected 144 cases of illegal entry into the country on Thursday, as of 6:00 pm.

 Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has requested the in-charge consultancy unit to study the feasibility of constructing the Can Tho  Ca Mau Expressway running parallel to National Highway 1 and keeping the distance of 5-7km to the centers of the Mekong Delta provinces of Soc Trang and Bac Lieu.

 The results of a survey carried out by the General Statistics Office (GSO) and National Institute of Nutrition in 2019-20 showed that the average Vietnamese man is 168.1cm tall and the average Vietnamese woman is 156.2cm tall  marking noticeable improvements from 2010 when the figures were 164.4cm and 153.6cm, respectively.

 The construction of the 22.97km My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway project with an investment of over VND4.82 trillion (US$ 209 million) is scheduled to begin on January 4, according to the Cuu Long Corporation for Investment, Development and Project Management of Infrastructure - the project operator.

 Police in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau on Thursday arrested a 25-year-old man from the neighboring province of Dong Nai to investigate his illegal sale and purchase of military weapons, seizing 34 rubber-bullet guns, ball-bullet guns and pen guns, 54 pepper sprays, and nearly 1,000 bullets.

Business

 Many hotels and accommodation businesses in Sa Pa have had their rooms fully occupied as tourists have flocked to the tourism hot spot in the northern province of Lao Cai during the New Year holiday to watch frost and expect snow fall.

 Total tax collection in 2020 is estimated at over VND1.26 quadrillion ($54.37 billion), equivalent to 100.6 percent of the estimation, deputy director of the General Department of Taxation Dang Ngoc Minh said on Thursday.

 Foreign direct investment (FDI) registered in Vietnam hit $28.53 billion in 2020, a year-on-year decline of 25 percent due to the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a report from the GSO revealed.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Ministry of Roads & Highways has announced that it has signed a contract with Portuguese conglomerate Mota-Engil, Engenharia E Constructao Africa S. A for the design and construction of the Accra-Tema Motorway and Extensions Project.



A press release signed by the Minister of Roads & Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah said the contract was signed on December 16, 2020, after the approval of the Public Procurement Authority and the Central Tender Review Board.



The release added that "Actual construction works will commence soon after the detailed design has been approved and relocation of services are completed".



Scope of contract



As part of the contract, the release said the existing 19.5kilometre motorway is to be reconstructed and expanded into a two-lane dual carriageway for the freeway and a three-lane dual carriageway for the urban highway. The freeway will remain concrete surfacing whilst the urban highway will be in asphaltic concrete with paved shoulders.



The Tetteh Quarshie Interchange - Apenkwa Interchange (5.7km) is also to be reconstructed into a 6-lane dual carriageway with asphaltic concrete surfacing while the Tesano Junction - Neoplan Junction (2.5km) will be reconstructed into a three-lane dual carriageway in asphaltic concrete surfacing.



Additionally, Mota Engil is to construct five new interchanges at Lashibi, Community 18 Junction, Teshie Link Junction, Dzorwulu Junction and Neoplan Junction to facilitate traffic movement at the junctions, remodel the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to eliminate congestion, provide streetlights and construct toll booths.



The Portuguese construction company is also tasked with reconstructing the Apenkwa interchange, rehabilitating the Achimota Interchange and constructing 14 new pedestrian footbridges.



Read the entire release below;



DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF ACCRA  TEMA MOTORWAY AND EXTENSIONS PROJECT (ATMP) 27.7KM



PRESS RELEASE



The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Roads and Highways, is happy to announce that the contract for the Design and Construction of the Accra-Tema Motorway and Extensions Project, from the Tema Interchange through Apenkwa Interchange to Neoplan Junction, was signed on 16th December 2020 with Mota-Engil, Engenharia E Construcao Africa SA, after the approval of the Public Procurement Authority and the Central Tender Review Board.



The scope of works under the contract includes the following:

1) the reconstruction and expansion of the existing Motorway(19.5km) into a two-lane Dual Carriageway for the freeway, and a three-lane dual carriageway for the urban highway. The freeway will remain concrete surfacing, whilst the urban highway will be in asphaltic concrete with paved shoulders;

2) the reconstruction of the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to Apenkwa Interchange (5.7km) into a six-lane dual carriageway with Asphaltic Concrete surfacing;

3) reconstruction of Tesano Junction  Neoplan Junction (2.5km) into a three-lane dual carriageway in asphaltic concrete surfacing;

4) construction of five (5) new interchanges at Lashibi, Community 18 Junction, Teshie Link Junction, Dzorwulu Junction and Neoplan Junction to facilitate traffic movement at the junctions;

5) remodeling of the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to eliminate the perennial congestion;

6) reconstruction of Apenkwa Interchange;

7) rehabilitation of Achimota Interchange;

8) provision of streetlights;

9) construction of fourteen (14) new pedestrian footbridges to ensure safe crossing of pedestrians, where necessary; and

10) construction of Toll plazas:



Actual construction works will commence immediately after the detailed design has been approved, and relocation of services are completed. The Employer during this time will also be engaging stakeholders and persons affected by the project to ensure all issues are resolved.



The Ghana Highway Authority is the implementing agency, and the public may contact the Public Affairs Division of the Authority for any further clarification.



SIGNED

KWASI AMOAKO-ATTAH (MP)

MINISTER













Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
People often put pressure on themselves to make sure everything goes smoothly on Christmas Day - but we've all experienced the pain of a festive mishap.

Whether it's underwhelming presents or a photobombing pet in the annual family snap, there's no stopping some holiday moments from being slightly ruined.

So spare a thought for these unlucky social media users from around the world, who shared images of their festive disasters online, with the best examples featuring in a gallery on Bored Panda.

One man opened a present to find it was the same outfit he was already wearing, while a woman revealed the handmade notes she was sharing to inform all her loved ones that their gifts were still in the post.

Whether it's underwhelming presents or a photobombing pet in the annual family snap (pictured), there's no stopping some holiday moments from being slightly ruined.

So spare a thought for these unlucky social media users from around the world, who shared images of their festive disasters (pictured, a gingerbread house fail) online, with the best examples featuring in a gallery on Bored Panda

A woman revealed the handmade notes she was sharing to inform all her loved ones that their gifts were still in the post (pictured)

One man opened a present to find it was the same outfit he was already wearing - but thankfully, he doesn't appear to be too upset

After deciding to spend her Christmas holiday in Iceland, one woman was shocked to discover she'd been snowed in after her arrival

Festive fail! This person had to rely on their art skills to finish decorating one gift after running out of wrapping paper

Oops! A London-based TV presenter revealed that Tesco would only give you one sprout, rather than one bag of them, if you selected the quantity one

One Twitter user, from North Carolina, joked that he discovered that his parents' unconditional love expires on New Years Eve due to the wording on their Christmas card to him

A distraught person, from an unknown location, revealed their oven glass shattered just before they planned to cook the Christmas dinner

This woman clearly regretted mentioning to her mother that she liked bees after many of her gifts turned out to be themed or about the insect

Nightmare before Christmas! One person admitted they captured this terrifying snap when trying to get a cute photo of a dog they were looking after
Yet Rodriguez most vivid memories are of his decision to leave Mexico and of the Americans who helped him.

He choked up remembering the journey by rail from Mexico City to the U.S., switching from a cattle car with rough wooden benches to a plush Pullman that gave him the first taste of life in America.

Seventy-seven years later, he still remembers the porter setting down a tray containing an apple, a container of milk, and a sandwich  the first one hed ever seen in his life. Hes come to see that sandwich as a symbol of his growing awareness of the broader world beyond the one hed experienced in his hardscrabble childhood.

His fondest memories are of people like Emmolo, Souza and Coppola, who rewarded him for many of the same traits his family sees in him  responsible, hardworking, generous, and eager to learn, to list a few ticked off by his daughter, Esther Butler.

A voracious reader who likes to teach his family new words he found in the dictionary, Rodriguez can talk cogently about the lingering remnants of discrimination in America and how ethnic minorities internalize the demeaning attitudes with which they are treated.
The heartbroken family of a slain bikie boss gunned down in his driveway are determined to ensure justice is served as the hunt for his killer continues.

Notorious bikie Shane Bowden, 48, was shot in the head and chest in an execution-style killing outside his Gold Coast home shortly after midnight on October 12.

The father-of-two had just returned home from a late night gym session when his life was abruptly cut short.

Two months after he was cremated at a private ceremony in Adelaide, Bowden's grieving family are still seeking answers to his unsolved murder.

Chelsea Bowden (pictured, left) is determined to see justice served over the death of her father-in-law and notorious bike boss Shane Bowden. She's pictured with her husband Kain

Daughter-in-law Chelsea Bowden has vowed justice will be served and hopes his killer 'rots in hell.'

'I hope no family has to go what we have gone through, karma is a b*****,' she told the Herald Sun.

'No one deserves to die like that, to be shot in such a cowardly move.'

The wife of Bowden's eldest son Kain remembered her father-in-law as a loyal family man who would give anyone the shirt off his back.

Bowden had told his family he was trying to turn his life around after being released from prison earlier this year.

He had fled to Queensland weeks before he was shot dead.

'He was loved by many but did have his fair share of enemies. He lived for his club and loved the brotherhood. Our families will never be the same,' Ms Bowden said.

Shane Bowden (pictured right with eldest son Kain in 2016) was shot dead in his Gold Coast driveway

She added her husband Kain, 23, was struggling to grieve the loss of his father while serving time in an Adelaide prison.

The desperate hunt for Bowden's killer continues as part of a joint investigation between Queensland Police and Victoria's bikie-busting Echo Taskforce.

Two burnt out cars have been seized and forensically examined as detectives continue to scour through CCTV.

Bowden was released from prison in central Victoria in June after a five year stint behind bars and was driven back to Melbourne by his Mongols bikie club mates in a limousine.

Chelsea Bowden (left) says her husband Kain (right) is struggling to deal with his father's death

Shane Bowden was shot dead in his Gold Coast driveway after returning home for a late night gym session. Pictured are police examining the crime scene

He defected from the Mongols to his original club the Finks days later and then survived a drive-by shooting in Melbourne where he was shot in the leg two weeks after he was released from prison.

He contracted coronavirus while recovering from his injuries in Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Bowden was still recovering from the virus when he flew to Queensland in September and was later charged for allegedly lying on his border declaration pass.

Anyone with information about Bowden's murder is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

No charges have yet been laid over the execution-style killing of Shane Bowden (pictured)
Israel says it has vaccinated 1 million people against COVID-19, more than a tenth of its population, as it rolls out one of the worlds earliest and most rapid inoculation campaigns, Associated Press News informs.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on hand when the millionth Israeli received a vaccination in the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm. Netanyahu called it a moment of great excitement.

Arabs make up around 20% of Israels population and have been slow to embrace the vaccination campaign. They have Israeli citizenship and the right to vote but face discrimination in housing and other areas, contributing to widespread mistrust of authorities.

According to AP News, Netanyahu said its important for me that the Arab public in Israel will get vaccinated quickly, because its saving lives. He delivered the same message at a vaccination center in Tira, another Arab town, on New Years Eve.
A suspected drink-driver and three of his passengers were taken to hospital after a car smashed into a popular Manchester city centre restaurant on New Year's Day.

No staff were inside Asian-themed restaurant Tampopo on Albert Square when the dramatic crash happened at around 3.15am on Friday.

But the car burst into flames upon impact and firefighters had to help a man and a woman from the vehicle. They and two others were taken to hospital for treatment.

The flames coming from the car set fire to umbrella stands outside the venue.

Owner David Fox, 55, who has five other Tampopo outlets, said: 'It would appear someone just crashed into it, a great start to 2021.'

A suspected drink-driver and three of his passengers were taken to hospital after a car smashed into a popular Manchester city centre restaurant on New Year's Day

No staff were inside Asian-themed restaurant Tampopo on Albert Square when the dramatic crash happened at around 3.15am on Friday

None of the venue's 20 staff nor the owner were onsite when the crash happened.

The full extent of the damage to the restaurant, which opened there in 1997, is yet to be established.

Mr Fox, who hopes to open the restaurant for takeaways on Saturday, said: 'I'm hoping it will just be minor external damage. We will see.'

Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to the scene at around 3.15am.

A force spokesman said: 'A man aged 19 was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and failing to remain at the scene of a collision.

'He was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Tampopo opened in Albert Square in 1998 and serves Tampopo cuisine from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan

The car burst into flames upon impact and firefighters had to help a man and a woman from the vehicle. They and two others were taken to hospital for treatment

The flames coming from the car set fire to umbrella stands outside the venue

None of the venue's 20 staff nor the owner were onsite when the crash happened

'Three passengers in the car - a woman aged 19, a man aged 18, and a man aged 20 - were taken to hospital for injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.'

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines, from Moss Side and Salford, were called to the scene alongside a technical response unit from Ashton-under-Lyne after reports that a car had gone into a building in Albert Square just before 3.15am.

Firefighters used hose-reels to tackle a fire but the blaze did not appear to have spread to the inside of the restaurant, although it was left heavily smoke-logged.

Firefighters pulled a man and a woman from the car and they were taken to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service.
New York State has been aggressive in mandating rules to combat Covid-19. But can the governor  or the Legislature  force you to get the coronavirus vaccine?

The answer is a mixture of yes and no.

There are two ways to look at that question. From a literal point of view, can the government force you to get a vaccine before leaving your house? And from a practical point of view, can the government limit your activity to such an extent that most people feel compelled to get a vaccine?

The answer to the first question is, probably no.

Thats despite a recent bill in the state Legislature that seeks to empower the state health department to mandate vaccinations. No such law exists, and its unclear if such a law would stand up to a legal challenge, if passed.

The question on government mandates during the pandemic always comes down to a balance between personal liberty and public health, said Stewart Schwab, law professor at Cornell University.

While coronavirus is deadlier than the common flu, its not a near-death sentence, like Ebola, for example.

A virus that killed 25% of those infected might warrant a stay-at-home order for anyone without a vaccination, Schwab said. But the coronavirus likely doesnt meet that bar.

On the other hand, mandates regarding masks, testing and crowd sizes have been deemed reasonable: Theyre somewhat intrusive, but not overboard considering the scientific evidence of the viruss mortality rate.

State governments have wide powers  general police powers  in times of crisis, Schwab said. Public health is classic example of use of police powers.

So could the government make it so difficult to live daily life that vaccination seemed necessary? Perhaps.

Government action is typically presumed to be reasonable; a challenge to a government mandate requires proof that the action isnt reasonable, Schwab said.

The first mandates would likely target high-risk places, like hospitals and nursing homes. Visitors to those facilities might need to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccine before entering, Schwab suggested.

I think that would be an acceptable use of governmental power, he said.

The requirements could also be applied to some optional activities, such as watching the state Legislature in session, he suggested.

What about mandating a vaccine before something essential, like entering a courthouse or getting a drivers license? Maybe not, he suggested.

Theres a direct connection between a vaccine and vulnerable hospital patients. There isnt such a direct connection between a vaccine and a courthouse or DMV.

Theres a lot of balancing, Schwab said. The more tailored the rules, the more politically acceptable.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren is expected to miss a significant portion of the regular season.

Warren will undergo surgery to correct a stress fracture on his left foot.

Indiana Pacers forward TJ Warren will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, sources tell ESPN. He will be out indefinitely.  Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 31, 2020

This is not the first time Warren undergoes a procedure like this, considering he also had season-ending surgery for a stress fracture in 2016 while with the Phoenix Suns.

The Pacers froward had a strong performance during the Orlando restart last season.

Warren was named in the All-Bubble first team, averaging 31 points in six games including a 53-point game against Philadelphia to tie the teams single-game scoring record.

Prior to the injury, the 27-year-old was averaging 15.5 points this season.
On Thursday, Abdolrahim Mousavi, commander in chief of the Iranian Army, reiterated sentiments previously made by other officials that there was no one in the US political or military hierarchy of equal worth to Qasem Soleimani, the Quds Force commander slain in a US drone strike in early January 2020.

Actors within the United States may independently respond to the Gen. Qasem Soleimanis assassination, Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, the officer who replaced Soleimani as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, has said.

With what you did, you created another job for the freedom-seekers of the entire world, and it is even possible that some people inside your home (the United States)would respond to your crime, Ghaani said, speaking at a ceremony marking the one year anniversary of Soleimanis death on Friday, his remarks cited by Press TV.

Ghaani did not elaborate on who these people inside your home might be, or what form their response would take.

Previously, Iranian officials indicated that the ballistic missile strikes on US bases in Iraq in response to Soleimanis assassination on 8 January 2020 were only the first slap of revenge. However, Tehran has stopped short of threatening a direct tit-for-tat assassination of a US military official or politician, with officials saying repeatedly that there was no one of equal value to the slain commander who could compensate the Quds commanders death.

Soleimani was a beloved figure in his native Iran, with his popularity reportedly extending far beyond supporters of the countrys Islamic Republican system of government owing to his exploits fighting jihadist extremists in Syria and Iraq alongside the secular republican Syrian government, Shia and Sunni militias, Kurds, and even, indirectly the US and its coalition allies. Following his 3 January 2020 assassination, US media described him as the equivalent of the commander of US military operations in the Middle East, a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or even the US Secretary of Defence.

In his remarks Friday, Ghaani blasted US President Donald Trump for giving the assassination order, describing him as the filthiest man who succumbed to Israeli and Saudi pressure to make such an unwise move.

For his part, Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian Judiciary Chief who has been carrying out an investigation into the actors Iran believes is responsible for Soleimanis death, said that Irans enemies must know that they wont be safe anywhere in the world, and added that President Trump too will not be immune to the administration of justice. The time and location [of revenge] will be determined by resistance forces, he said.

Iran suspects a broad range of actors from multiple countries of plotting or facilitating the attack on Soleimani on 3 January 2020, when he and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a Baghdad-allied militia commander, were killed in the Iraqi capital in a US drone strike. Iran retaliated to the murder five days later, launching about a dozen ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq, which resulted in over 100 US troops sustaining traumatic brain injuries. Iran reportedly warned its Iraqi allies of the strikes ahead of time.

On Thursday, Iranian Armed Forces chief of staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Baqeri reiterated that there was no expiry date for taking revenge on Soleimanis killers, and said that a US withdrawal from the Middle East was inevitable.

(SPUTNIK)

Image Credit: OnLeaks

What do we know about the Galaxy S21?

Well, to start, we know it's called the Galaxy S21. For a while, many of us expected Samsung to jump to S30, but that's definitely not what's happening this year.

As usual, the Galaxy S21 is Samsung's smallest flagship phone, and it got a slight makeover this year. The changes are most notable when you view the device from the rear: the all-black camera humps that debuted in last year's S20 series have been replaced by more elegant housings that blend into the S21's metal frame. (The phone nerd community quickly dubbed this the Phantom of the Opera design, and who are we to argue?) As a result, some of the S21's new color options look a lot cooler than others; the black and pink models have metal frames that match their bodies, while the white and purple models have eye-catching silver and bronze trim, respectively.

Meanwhile, the cameras themselves seem quite close to the ones we got in last year's non-Ultra Galaxy S20s. WinFuture's Roland Quandt notes the main 12-megapixel rear sensor offers an f/1.8 aperture and a 79-degree field of view, just like last time, and the phone's 12-megapixel ultra-wide and 10-megapixel front camera seem similarly unchanged. The one difference Quandt points out has to do with the S21's 64-megapixel telephoto camera: Samsung's chosen sensor seems to be a little smaller than last year, but the light-capturing pixels are reportedly the same size.

The front of the S21 is as sparse as ever, but there are a few interesting things to note about the 6.2-inch, 120Hz Infinity-O display. For one, it uses an LTPS backplane which  long story short  allows for either lower power consumption or higher resolutions. Curiously, a detailed leak provided by AndroidPolice claims the Galaxy S21's display only runs at Full HD+, which would make this year's display quite a bit less pixel-dense compared to the ones we saw last year. If these reports hold up, then it's clear Samsung wanted to squeeze as much life as it could out of the S21's reported 4,000mAh battery.

Multiple reports also suggest Samsung is finally giving up on its use of curved-edge displays, and we're frankly happy to see them go. If you've ever accidentally launched an app or clicked a link with the side of your hand while stretching your thumb to reach for something, this is good news for you.

The Galaxy S21 will come in four colors, and the best is clearly pink. Evan Blass/@evleaks

In the past, we've occasionally seen Samsung use Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets in all versions of a particular smartphone, like the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Don't expect that here, though. While an FCC leak confirms the US version of the S21 will use Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 888 chipset, some variants sold outside the US will instead pack Samsung's Exynos 2100.

In other years, that would come as troubling news to some of the company's biggest fans, since Exynos-powered devices are frequently outgunned by their Qualcomm variants, but some early benchmarks suggest Samsung might have actually turned the tables this time. Granted, these kinds of tests don't speak to the totality of the smartphone experience, but the results are promising at least. And beyond the different chips powering the S21, you can expect to see similar configurations just about everywhere. We're expecting Samsung's small flagship to come with 12GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.

Oh, and one more thing: Samsung may give people the option of using Google's Discover feed on their homescreens instead of the company's lookalike. Not everyone will find this change all that interesting, but it's great news for Google purists who prefer the search giant's intelligent reminders and customized content picks.

S21+ ?



i never leak images,

but a friend sent me these, so hey.. pic.twitter.com/npjamUSlTh  Mauri QHD (@MauriQHD) December 29, 2020

What about the Galaxy S21 Plus?

WinFuture

Just like last year, the S21 Plus is shaping up to be (what else?) a bigger version of the standard S21. The only differences we're expecting to see are fairly obvious ones, like a larger 6.7-inch screen also running at Full HD+ and a more capacious battery. Otherwise, expect the same RAM and internal storage allotments, the same cameras, the same new design  the list goes on. That said, the S21 Plus might not come in that charming pink-on-pink color scheme which has us a little bummed.

Conventional logic would suggest that, based on specs, the S21 Plus has the potential to be the most popular. After all, it nicely splits the difference between Samsungs most affordable and most premium new models. Then again, Samsung felt the same going into 2020, but more people gravitated toward the highest-end model instead.
The Bachelor's Chelsie McLeod confirmed her relationship with model Ricki Dehaan last week.

And as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, Chelsie no doubt enjoyed a romantic kiss with her new boyfriend.

The couple attended Together Events' Melbourne NYE party, alongside a host of other reality stars and influencers.

Glamorous: The Bachelor's Chelsie McLeod (right, with her boyfriend Ricki Dehaan) was among the celebrities who attended Together Events' Melbourne NYE party on Thursday

Chelsie looked happier than ever with her beau, just 12 months after breaking up with astrophysicist and 2019 Bachelor Matt Agnew.

The couple posed for photos in front of the media wall, as Ricki placed his arm around Chelsie's slender waist.

Throughout the night, the pair were spotted looking cosy together and at one stage leant in for a kiss.

Fireworks: Throughout the night, Chelsie and Ricki were spotted looking cosy together and at one stage leant in for a kiss

Case of the ex: Chelsie looked happier than ever with her beau, just 12 months after breaking up with astrophysicist and 2019 Bachelor Matt Agnew (right)

Pretty in pink: Chelsie looked effortlessly chic in a striped pink slip dress

Chelsie looked effortlessly chic in a striped pink slip dress.

She styled her long blonde hair loosely and had a flawless application of makeup.

The chemical engineer was also joined by one of her best friends, Married At First Sight New Zealand star Samuel Levi.

Party pals: The chemical engineer was also joined by one of her best friends, Married At First Sight New Zealand star Samuel Levi

Ready for 2021! Samuel unbuttoned his shirt as he commanded attention on the dance floor

The boys have arrived! Elsewhere, The Bachelorette's Adam Todd (left) and Agostino 'Aggi' Guardiani (right) posed up a storm as they arrived at the party

Elsewhere, The Bachelorette's Adam Todd and Agostino 'Aggi' Guardiani posed up a storm as they arrived at the party.

Nightclub owner Nick Russian and his wife, ballerina-turned-blogger Rozalia, also looked glamorous for their date night.

The hospitality honcho looked suave in black pants and a white jacket, while Rozalia showed off her slender figure in a bikini-style crop top and leather trousers.

Date night! Nightclub owner Nick Russian and his wife, ballerina-turned-blogger Rozalia, also looked glamorous for their date night

Dressed to impress: Former Love Island star Anna McEvoy looked pretty in pink as she attended the event as a newly single woman

Former Love Island star Anna McEvoy looked pretty in pink as she attended the event as a newly single woman.

In November, Anna announced her sad split from Josh Packham, telling fans it was the 'right thing to do'.

Joking that she didn't have a boy to kiss at midnight, Anna shared a clip to Instagram of herself kissing a female friend at the event instead.
An estimated 3,002 babies will be born in Vietnam on New Years Day, according to UNICEF.

As the calendar turns to 2021, UNICEF is again celebrating the new lives being brought into the world on January 1.

Fiji in the Pacific will welcome 2021s first baby. The United States, its last.

Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in 10 countries: India (59,995), China (35,615), Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), the United States (10,312), Egypt (9,455), Bangladesh (9,236), and Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,640).

Vietnamese babies will account for 0.8 percent of the estimated 371,504 babies to be born on New Years Day.

Their average life expectancy is expected to be 88.6 years.

While UNICEF welcomes every birth, it signals a growing concern with the disturbing level of pre-birth sex selection in Vietnam  resulting in a very high rate of sex ratio imbalance at birth, with 111.5 boys per 100 girls, according to the 2019 Population and Housing Census.

Vietnam was listed among the three countries with the highest rate of sex ratio imbalance at birth, behind China and India.

A mother hugs her baby born in Ho Chi Minh City on January 1, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

This has been a difficult year for all of us, and there is perhaps no better way to turn the page than to welcome new young lives into the world, said Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative in Vietnam.

With the challenges of 2020 behind us, and the opportunities of 2021 before us, now is the time to begin to build a better world.

Every girl and boy born today will inherit the world we begin to build for them  today.

2021 marks the 75th anniversary of UNICEF.

Over the course of the year, UNICEF and its partners will be commemorating the anniversary with events and announcements celebrating three-quarters of a century of protecting children from conflict, disease and exclusion, and championing their right to survival, health, and education.

Today, as the world faces unprecedented challenges caused by the pandemic, an economic slowdown, rising poverty, and inequality, the need for UNICEFs work is as great as ever.

There is no more appropriate year than this  the year of UNICEFs 75th Anniversary  to renew our commitment to each other, and to the young lives who will inherit the world we leave, said Flowers.

2021 will be a critical year for children, but UNICEFs three-quarters of a century of delivering results for children around the world are a testament to what we can accomplish together.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday strongly criticised the decision of the state government to allow New Year celebrations till late at night even as there existed a fresh Covid-19 threat.

A division bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy asked Advocate-General B.S. Prasad to urge the government for a reconsideration of the decision. The bench directed the government to consider the possibility of imposing Section 144 CrPC on the state as a new strain of Coronavirus has reached here from the UK.

The court was adjudicating a batch of 25 public interest litigations seeking a direction to the government for a step-up in testing, strengthening of medical infrastructure etc to contain Coronavirus. Chief Justice Chauhan posed the question, What prompted the government to grant such permissions while several other states imposed night curfew and restricted New Year celebrations? Merely by closing the Tank Bund and flyovers will not help. The government should act in a stricter manner.

The Chief Justice quizzed the Advocate-General about the reason for not imposing the night curfew and asked if this could be done for the coming days. From one side, the health department says do not hold New Year parties and avoid huge gatherings. On another side, the government is allowing celebrations and gatherings, the bench said.

Referring to the return of many from the United Kingdom and not being traceable, the Chief Justice cautioned the government to be more vigilant.

The court directed the government to consider the possibility of issuing a GO, through which a clear message can be sent to such of those who hide their addresses on arrival or give wrong information. They can be punished under Section 269 IPC. Prosecution can be initiated against them, the court said.

The court also directed the government to tell officials manning the fair price shops to not insist on bio-metric identification for obtaining provisions. Also, ask the police to ensure that not more than 50 persons attended a marriage or other functions, the court said.

The Advocate-General was directed to submit a report by January 20 on the steps taken for implementing the orders and tackling the possible emergence of a second wave of Covid-19.
A young traveller who spent New Year's Day trapped in a mad traffic dash has spoken of his frantic efforts to cross the Victorian border from New South Wales before midnight.

After midnight the border rules change to force those entering from NSW into two weeks mandatory hotel quarantine - although comfort has been offered to motorists stuck in the queue.

'Anybody in the queue at that time will be allowed to go through - but that does not extend to people tomorrow morning,' Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Jeroen Weimar on Friday said.

One man trying desperately to get back over the border is Melbourne resident Reid Gough.

Melbourne resident Reid Gough (right) with his mother Lisa. Reid went to Lismore, NSW for a family Christmas but spent New Year's Eve desperately driving for the Victorian border

Pictured: Mr Gough's family Christmas. It was his first in two years. Reid is pictured second from left. Lismore was not a coronavirus hotspot but Victoria has shut the border to all of NSW

Mr Gough suffered months of lockdown in Victoria and lost his job because of the pandemic.

He spent five months on JobSeeker and had only just found another position shortly before Christmas.

Things were looking up in early December however, with Victoria and New South Wales free from lockdowns - and a new job to celebrate.

So Mr Gough made plans to visit his mum, Lisa, for Christmas and New Year at the family home in Lismore on the NSW mid-north Coast.

Mr Gough (pictured) spent New Year's Eve driving to the border, desperate to make it over so he doesn't lose his job. He spent five months on Job Seeker during the pandemic already

The 25-year-old hadn't been home for Christmas in two years and was looking forward to seeing his parents, so he left his home in Melbourne's trendy inner suburb of Northcote and made the journey north.

Lismore had not been a coronavirus hotspot but the family were keeping a close eye on the border.

They were, however, blindsided on New Year's Eve when Acting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced the state would close its border to all of NSW from January 2 because of an increase in case numbers, after 10 new infections were confirmed on Thursday.

Mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine would spell disaster for Mr Gough who could risk losing his job and devastating his finances, even though he hasn't been in a coronavirus-hit area.

Mr Gough immediately threw his things in the car and hit the road on a drive of more than 13 hours to try to make it over the border before it shut.

'We dropped everything,' his mother, Lisa Gough told The Northern Star.

'We thought we were in a green zone because we were away from Greater Sydney and he had avoided the area driving.'

Mr Gough left the family home at 5.30pm on New Year's Eve stopping for the night at Armidale and hit the road early in the morning.

Police patrol the snaking queue at the NSW-Victorian border on December 31 at Mallacoota

As of 7pm on Friday night, Ms Gough told Daily Mail Australia her son had made it to an hour from the border at Albury.

'The worst thing is he has to drive through to Melbourne once he crosses (the border) as he has to self-isolate for 14 days,' she said.

She said she was worried about young people panicking on a long drive in wet weather.

Ms Gough said her son was among six friends from his old Lismore school who were all trying to get back over the border before it shuts for the sake of their jobs.

'He joked it was a memorable New Year's Eve at least,' she said.

Hundreds of drivers have faced lengthy queues to get out of NSW before hard border closures. Pictured: Motorists at Coolangatta on the Queensland-NSW border checkpoint, December 21

The Melbourne coronavirus cluster grew to ten on Friday, New Year's Day. The outbreak is linked to Sydney, but Victoria is taking no chances and has shut the border to all of NSW

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reignited another war of words over border closures, on Friday with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews as lengthy car queues snaked at the border.

'I don't think at this stage closing the border between NSW and Victoria is a good use of resources,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Friday.

'I think we're better off asking the community to come forward to get tested, cutting off those chains of transmission, making sure everybody has enough information about venues and about COVID safe activities.'

Her words fell on deaf ears, as Victoria - which suffered the worst outbreak in the nation which it only managed to break with crushing lockdowns lasting months - was taking no chances.

Victoria's cluster, sparked by an infected person from NSW, grew to 10 in the last 48 hours, prompting the border closure, while the outbreak in Sydney grew to 173 cases on Friday.
WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. (AP)  In this Franklin County town sits an unassuming museum packed with memorabilia from the regions men and women who served their country in conflicts dating back to the Civil War.

It is located inside an old train depot off Main Street, a few feet from the tracks that once hauled commuters and loads of coal mined from the countys belly to places across the nation.

The tracks still serve freight cars, but the depot has been out of service as a commuter hub for many years. In the 1980s, citizens transformed it into a museum to honor the regions servicemembers.

It offers the perfect salute to their contributions  and the towns historical significance at the crossroads of America.

Many of Franklin Countys citizens called to serve in foreign wars were the same men who toiled in dangerous conditions in underground mines back home to help fuel the nations growth.

Of note, a significant number of the 119 men who died in the Orient 2 Mine explosion just days before Christmas in 1951 were veterans, said Jack McReynolds, a volunteer with the Veterans Depot Museum.

Last week, McReynolds and fellow volunteer Danny Loeh gave a reporter from The Southern a tour of the museum.

They want the public to know about their plans to spruce it up and better categorize the hundreds of artifacts housed under its roof so that they are preserved for future generations.

The museum volunteers are taking advantage of down time during the COVID-19 pandemic to get the job done. And theyre hoping that, once the pandemic ends, their efforts will result in more visitors coming through the doors.

A lot of people dont even know this exists here, said Loeh, a Vietnam War-era Army veteran.

Loeh said the goal is to have the remodel and inventory project completed this winter.

Its a huge undertaking. The basement is jammed full of personal effects that have been donated to the museum over the decades, often given by family upon the passing of a local veteran. They dont want to see these pieces lost to time alongside the people who still have some connection to their historical significance.

For the publicly accessible main floor, theyve purchased several used display cases. And theyve been rearranging items to make the walk-through a more memorable experience. Were getting it straightened up, McReynolds said. In the meantime, Loeh said hes reached out to area high school teachers in hopes they will consider taking their students on field trips here when its safe to gather in crowds again.

Whats on display now is an impressive collection of items dating back more than 150 years. Theres a shawl from the Civil War era, an old McClellan Army saddle from World War I, dozens of newspaper clippings and military patches, a display case of Medals of Honor dating from World War I to the Korean War, a large collection of World War II radios and a hand grenade found on Normandy Beach, to name only a few items in the vast collection.

Life-size mannequins with historical uniforms representing each branch of the military  Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy  greet visitors at the front entrance.

There are numerous photos of those who served throughout the museum, such as the late George Michalic, a Pearl Harbor survivor who was on a ship anchored next to the USS Arizona when she went down during the surprise Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941. His son, Mark Michalic, later went on to play a key role in capturing Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh after he blew up a federal building there in 1995.

These are the types of stories that Loeh and McReynolds hope to pass along to West Frankforts younger generations.

The museum first opened in 1989. Loeh and McReynolds said theyre grateful for the volunteers who came before them to make it happen. At one time, the old depot  built in 1921  was destined for the wrecking ball. Citizens united to save it, as it has rich historical meaning for many in the county. President Harry Truman even made a stop here while riding a commuter rail car through town in 1948.

He gave a speech right out front here, McReynolds said. I was in high school and I was standing right across the street.

The late Evelyn Patton, a community-minded citizen of West Frankfort, is credited with helping raise money to restore the depot in the 1980s. The museum project, Loeh and McReynolds said, was also helped along by several World War I veterans active in the American Legion post in Frankfort Heights. They were a group of men known unofficially as the Last Man Alive Club, McReynolds said.

They had a pact that the last man to survive from their bunch would have the honor of drinking a bottle of cognac they had purchased in France and brought home from the war. When that man died at 93, he couldnt do it, McReynolds said of the legend. It was too strong. But he had a little sip of it.

Not everyone from Franklin County who fought in Americas wars were able to come home. The names of those who died in combat are etched in stone monuments outside the building. The last name added was of a young West Frankfort man, Matthew J. Vosbein, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2006.

Loeh said he dedicates so much time to this project because he wants people to remember the sacrifices that have been made for the nation by people right here at home.

Never forget, he said. Never forget.

This article was written by MOLLY PARKER from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
Paddy Harte said there had been some success in 2020 over peace walls (Liam McBurney/PA)

The new year has been forecast to be particularly challenging, with Brexit, the coronavirus pandemic and a number of significant centenaries.

Paddy Harte, chair of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), said those challenges come on top of ongoing tensions.

However looking back over 2020, he said in many areas the orange and green faded away as communities came together to support each other through Covid.

He also hailed notable successes over peace walls in some of the most divided areas of Belfast.

As the Brexit transition period ended on New Years Eve, Mr Harte described the new arrangements as an unknown.

Orange and green disappeared, people were now dealing with something of common concern Paddy Harte, on the impact of the pandemic

He told the PA news agency: Its important to acknowledge that the border on the island looks like it is not going to be there, and that is a plus, but there is a bit to go before we know how it will affect communities we work with.

Meanwhile the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is set to have a socio-economic and mental health fall-out, he said, and a number of major dates including the centenary of Northern Ireland approach.

2021 is the centenary year, we have big commemorations, 50 years since internment, 40 years since the turn out, the NI Census is coming out and discussions that that triggers in terms of border polls etc, and we still have all of the tensions in certain areas around identity, paramilitarism, flags, bonfires, they are still all there.

2021 is going to be a particularly challenging year, were trying to make the best of the lessons we have learned.

Looking back over 2020, he said a lot of peace building work undertaken by the groups which the IFI funds had to be postponed.

But he said the pandemic also brought people together.

The communities responded outstandingly, he said.

The first thing we noticed was the orange and green disappeared, people were now dealing with something of common concern. More than 100,000 food parcels were given out, 30,000 pieces of personal protective equipment was made and delivered. An amazing amount of work was done.

As a result of that, there are relationships that were fast-tracked because of the pandemic due to the urgency to make sure the community were safe  people were much keener to work across traditional community lines.

However he expressed concern about the potential for high levels of unemployment and mental health issues from the effects of the pandemic.

We have an advantage in being an independent organisation, we have flexibility to move without having to go through the rigour that public bodies rightly have to go through, he said.

Communities have dealt with lots of very challenging things through the years so were confident well work with them and that well get through it.

Mr Harte said there were some notable successes in the ongoing work on peace walls.

Dozens of barriers which separate unionist and nationalist communities remain in place across Northern Ireland, mostly in Belfast, ranging from tall walls and steel gates to fences.

They were erected at different stages from 1969 to the 2000s to stem disorder.

Plans for an interface resource centre beside the site of the former Finlays factory, in the Black Mountain area of west Belfast, have been termed an iconic success.

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Mr Harte said: It will open up that entire area right along the wall, that will open up a walk way and cycle ways, Im really excited about that one. It is an iconic success.

Ourselves, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), Belfast City Council and the department of justice see this as being the example of very best practice in terms of how you go from a very intractable interface to one where you have a shared community space.

Agreement has also been reached over social housing and a retail unit on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast, which Mr Harte said would not have happened even five-six years ago.

We have been working with groups on peace walls for 13 years, we have built up very strong relationships, there have been some notable successes and they have given the confidence to other groups to say we can do this, he said.

I couldnt praise enough those doing that very slow tricky work.

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Byron Bay has become immensely popular with A-list celebrities, who have flocked to the NSW seaside town.

The coastal enclave has even been dubbed 'Hollywood 2.0' thanks to the number of Tinseltown stars who have in recent years either enjoyed vacations in the area, or settled down there permanently.

But the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Zac Efron, Natalie Portman and Mark Wahlberg frequenting the area has caused house prices and holiday rentals to soar, Domain reported on Friday.

Expensive! Byron Bay has become immensely popular with A-list celebrities, who have flocked to the NSW seaside town. Pictured: The Byron Bay Lighthouse

Stars: The likes of Chris Hemsworth, Zac Efron, Natalie Portman and Mark Wahlberg frequenting the area has caused house prices to soar, Domain reported on Friday. Chris is pictured with his wife Elsa Pataky

According to Domain, the median house price in Byron Bay is now over $1.44 million, going up 22.8 per cent over the last year.

The real estate website claims that nearby towns like Lennox Head, Suffolk Park, Pottsville and Brunswick Heads have seen an increase in tourism as Byron Bay becomes increasingly pricey.

But even those more humble towns are now seeing price increases, the site reports, with prices in Lennox Head going up 44.7 percent.

Ouch! The median house price in Byron Bay is $1.44 million, going up 22.8 per cent over the last year. The real estate website claims that nearby towns like Lennox Head, Suffolk Park, Pottsville and Brunswick Heads have seen an increase in pricing, too

Pottsville has a median house price is $780,000, up from $500,000 five years ago.

It's no easier to rent in the area, with Mr Browning revealing a property listed on a Friday night had night had received 400 inquiries by Monday, with one applicant offering to pay $200 more than the asking price for rent in a bid to secure the home.

Peter Browning of LJ Hooker in Brunswick Heads told the site: 'In the last three months, it's gone off its head'.

Locals: Most famously, Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky arguably started the 'Hollywood 2.0' craze

Huge: They now reside in a $20million mega-mansion in the area, situated on 4.2 hectares. The home boasts six bedrooms, a game room, gym, steam room, media room and a 50-metre rooftop infinity pool

Those hoping for a holiday in the Byron Bay area now need to book months ahead - even in the pandemic.

In recent months, a number of celebrities have spent time in Byron Bay.

Rumours are swirling that Zac Efron is planning to permanently relocate to Australia after falling for Byron Bay waitress Vanessa Valladares.

He spent most of the year in the region, and has now purchased $2million worth of land in Tweed Valley - a town on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales.

Loves it: Rumours are swirling that Zac Efron (pictured) is planning to permanently relocate to Australia after falling for Byron Bay waitress Vanessa Valladares. He spent most of the year in the region

Most famously, Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky arguably started the 'Hollywood 2.0' craze.

They now reside in a $20million mega-mansion in the area, situated on 4.2 hectares. The home boasts six bedrooms, a game room, gym, steam room, media room and a 50-metre rooftop infinity pool.

Chris' younger brother Liam soon made the leap as well, while American actor Matt Damon is thought to own a holiday home in Byron Bay.

Incoming: Earlier this month, Mark Wahlberg arrived in Australia to film an ad campaign for online betting agency Ladbrokes. Pictured in Sydney

Fancy! The Hollywood A-lister spent 14 days of quarantine at a luxury $2500 per night retreat outside of Byron Bay

Loves it: Mark is known to enjoy the serene Byron Bay area

Nicole Kidman has been living in Byron Bay on-and-off with her husband Keith Urban and their two daughters since filming for her new show Nine Perfect Strangers began earlier this year.

Her co-star Melissa McCarthy has also been staying in the area with her family while filming Nine Perfect Strangers Down Under.

Aussie star Elyse Knowles bought a $2.3million beach house in Byron Bay in early 2020 after more than a year of renting in the coastal town with her boyfriend, Josh Barker.

Greener pastures: Nicole Kidman (pictured) has been living in Byron Bay on-and-off with her husband Keith Urban and their two daughters since filming for her new show Nine Perfect Strangers began earlier this year

Isabel Lucas first purchased a home in Byron Bay in 2016, but the Australian actress has lived on-and-off in the region for the better part of a decade.

Hollywood actress Natalie Portman was spotted on several occasions holidaying in Byron Bay ahead of filming Thor: Love and Thunder.

Earlier this month, Mark Wahlberg arrived in Australia to film an ad campaign for online betting agency Ladbrokes.

The Hollywood A-lister spent 14 days of quarantine at a luxury $2500 per night retreat outside of Byron Bay.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
New Delhi:

The suspected Manchester bomber Salman Abedi, who detonated himself in a pop-concert in the city passed through a German airport before the attack, police said on Thursday.

Salman Abedi spent only a short time at Duesseldorf airports transit area four days before the bombing at Manchester Arena, Duesseldorf police said, confirming an earlier report in German magazine Focus.

According to the current state of the investigations, the suspect transferred in Duesseldorf on his travels to Manchester. Therefore he spent a short time in the transit area, police said in a statement.

Police didnt provide any further information or say where Abedi was coming from when he landed in Duesseldorf.

Salman Abedis Father Ramadan was arrested by Tripoli-based force. Ramadan was once part of a Libyan militant group with alleged ties to Al-Qaeda, a Libyan security source said.

Manchester terror attack: UK police make seventh arrest

Abedis father Ramadan was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), said Ahmed bin Salem, spokesman for Libyas Deterrence Force, which acts as the police for Libyas unity government.

The Tripoli-based force arrested Abedis father and brother after Mondays attack at a pop concert which killed 22 people and was claimed by the Islamic State group.

Ramadan Abedi was hunted by the regime of Moamer Kadhafi for his ties to the group, finding refuge in Britain before returning to Libya in 2011 to join the NATO-backed uprising that finally overthrew the dictator, British media have reported.

The now-disbanded LIFG was founded in 1995 by Libyans who had fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan and stayed on after their withdrawal. The groups sole aim was to topple Kadhafi.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Arlene Foster said the Executive felt it was important for MLAs to have their say. Photo: Reuters/Eddie Keogh

The Northern Assembly has voted against Brexit and the trade deal agreed between the UK Government and the European Union.

The vote will not have any impact ahead of the end of the transition period.

The European Union (Future Relationship) Bill was passed by the House of Commons as members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) debated in Belfast.

However, Stormont speaker Alex Maskey said he will convey the view of the Assembly to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Read More

MLAs voted by 47 to 38 in favour of an SDLP-amended motion which rejects Brexit and withholds consent for the legislation.

The Assembly was recalled early from recess by the First Minister and deputy First Minister to allow MLAs the opportunity to have a say on the trade deal announced on Christmas Eve.

First Minister Arlene Foster moved the original motion, which was simply that the Assembly noted the Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the EU.

While MPs from her party voted against it at Westminster, Ms Foster said the deal is extensive and will require careful legal scrutiny.

She said she regretted that MLAs did not have more time to scrutinise the agreement, but added that the Executive felt it was important for MLAs to have their say.

There was criticism of the deal from each of the parties. Sinn Fein, UUP and DUP amendments to the original motion were put forward, but all fell.

The successful fourth amendment, proposed by the SDLP, rejected Brexit in line with the referendum result in Northern Ireland, called for the implementation of the protocol, for the Assembly to decline legislative consent to the British Government to impose the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill, their inferior trade deal and their Brexit against the will of the people of Northern Ireland.

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon called on Mr Maskey to make the Assemblys views known in a letter to the House of Commons Speaker as well as the prime minister, which he said he had been planning to do.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill closed the debate, noting widespread difference across the chamber over Brexit.

She called for clear guidance and communication ahead of the end of the transition period later this week to minimise impact.

Speaking outside the chamber, Ms Mallon said Stormont had set an important precedent which she encouraged the other devolved administrations to follow.

The British Government must accept that it does not have the support or the confidence of the people of Northern Ireland for their Brexit, she said.

Read More

Irish Independent
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-02 00:32:12|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The African continent on Friday started trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, amid growing expectations towards continental integration.

The AfCFTA, which was launched in March 2018 in the Rwandan capital city, Kigali, has so far garnered 54 AU member signatories, offering new hope and continental exhilaration in terms of boosting intra-African trade, and eventually facilitating Africa's development and industrialization. Eritrea is the only non-signatory country.

South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the current Chairperson of the African Union (AU), also underscored that the free trade deal "will fundamentally change" Africa's economic fortunes.

"The African Continental Free Trade Area will fundamentally change the economic fortunes of our continent," the South African President said in a Twitter post.

"I call on the entrepreneurs of our nation to seize the abundant opportunities that this historic development will present to explore new markets and build new partnerships," he added.

According to the AU, the AfCFTA envisages a long-standing goal of creating a unified continental market.

The African free trade accord has the potential of boosting the level of intra-Africa trade by more than 52 percent by the year 2022, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Ramaphosa's remarks were also echoed by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, as he congratulated the African continent on the start of trading under the continental free trade pact. He emphasized that the free trade agreement would strengthen Africa's quest towards a more integrated and prosperous continent.

"Congratulations to our continent for the beginning of trading under the AfCFTA. The new frontier for Africa is indeed regional integration, where minds are open to ideas and markets are open to trade. Trade defuses the most fraught relations and integrated markets generate prosperity," Ahmed said.

Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame, is also another African leader who congratulated the African continent on the start of trading under the free trade pact, saying that "cheers to the launch of trading AfCFTA, to those who put it all together and the rest of us who have to join in to make it work and worthwhile."

Experts are also expressing their positive expectations from the free trade deal.

Speaking to Xinhua on Thursday, Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, professor of public policy at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, said that the continental free trade pact is a great initiative by African governments to promote intra-African trade, and eventually, it will cement unity in Africa.

"The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement will show us that Africa is not just a bulk water of underdevelopment, but Africa can take care of itself," Costantinos said.

Costantinos, who served as an economic advisor to the AU and the UNECA, however, stressed that the continent should heavily invest in the development of infrastructure so as to effectively realize the ambitious free trade initiative. Enditem
A more contagious form of the coronavirus has begun circulating in the United States.

In Britain, where it was first identified, the new variant became the predominant form of the coronavirus in just three months, accelerating that nations surge and filling its hospitals. It may do the same in the United States, exacerbating an unrelenting rise in deaths and overwhelming the already strained health care system, experts warned.

A variant that spreads more easily also means that people will need to religiously adhere to precautions like social distancing, mask-wearing, hand hygiene and improved ventilation  unwelcome news to many Americans already chafing against restrictions.

The bottom line is that anything we do to reduce transmission will reduce transmission of any variants, including this one, said Angela Rasmussen, a virus expert affiliated with Georgetown University. But it may mean that the more targeted measures that are not like a full lockdown wont be as effective.

What does it mean for this variant to be more transmissible? What makes this variant more contagious than previous iterations of the virus? And why should we worry about a variant that spreads more easily but does not seem to make anyone sicker?

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

We asked experts to weigh in on the evolving research into this new version of the coronavirus.

The new variant seems to spread more easily between people.

Many variants of the coronavirus have cropped up since the pandemic began. But all evidence so far suggests that the new mutant, called B.1.1.7, is more transmissible than previous forms. It first surfaced in September in Britain but already accounts for more than 60 percent of new cases in London and neighboring areas.

The new variant seems to infect more people than earlier versions of the coronavirus, even when the environments are the same. Its not clear what gives the variant this advantage, although there are indications that it may infect cells more efficiently.

Its also difficult to say exactly how much more transmissible the new variant may be, because scientists have not yet done the kind of lab experiments that are required. Most of the conclusions have been drawn from epidemiological observations, and theres so many possible biases in all the available data, cautioned Muge Cevik, an infectious disease expert at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and a scientific adviser to the British government.

Scientists initially estimated that the new variant was 70 percent more transmissible, but a recent modeling study pegged that number at 56 percent. Once researchers sift through all the data, its possible that the variant will turn out to be just 10percent to 20 percent percent more transmissible, said Trevor Bedford, an evolutionary biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Even so, Bedford said, it is likely to catch on rapidly and become the predominant form in the United States by March. Scientists like Bedford are tracking all the known variants closely to detect any further changes that might alter their behavior.

Apart from greater transmissibility, the variant behaves like earlier versions.

The new mutant virus may spread more easily, but in every other way it seems little different than its predecessors.

The variant does not seem to make people any sicker or lead to more deaths. Still, there is cause for concern: A variant that is more transmissible will increase the death toll simply because it will spread faster and infect more people.

In that sense, its just a numbers game, Rasmussen said. The effect will be amplified in places like the U.S. and the U.K., where the health care system is really at its breaking point.

The routes of transmission  by large and small droplets, and tiny aerosolized particles adrift in crowded indoor spaces  have not changed. That means masks, limiting time with others and improving ventilation in indoor spaces will all help contain the variants spread, as these measures do with other variants of the virus.

By minimizing your exposure to any virus, youre going to reduce your risk of getting infected, and thats going to reduce transmission overall, Rasmussen said.

Infection with the new variant may increase the amount of virus in the body.

Some preliminary evidence from Britain suggests that people infected with the new variant tend to carry greater amounts of the virus in their noses and throats than those infected with previous versions.

Were talking in the range between 10-fold greater and 10,000-fold greater, said Michael Kidd, a clinical virologist at Public Health England and a clinical adviser to the British government who has studied the phenomenon.

There are other explanations for the finding  Kidd and his colleagues did not have access to information about when in their illness people were tested, for example, which could affect their so-called viral loads.

Still, the finding does offer one possible explanation for why the new variant spreads more easily. The more virus that infected people harbor in their noses and throats, the more they expel into the air and onto surfaces when they breathe, talk, sing, cough or sneeze.

As a result, situations that expose people to the virus carry a greater chance of seeding new infections. Some new data indicate that people infected with the new variant spread the virus to more of their contacts.

With previous versions of the virus, contact tracing suggested that about 10 percent of people who have close contact with an infected person  within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes  inhaled enough virus to become infected.

With the variant, we might expect 15 percent of those, Bedford said. Currently risky activities become more risky.

Scientists are still learning how the mutations have changed the virus.

The variant has 23 mutations, compared with the version that erupted in Wuhan, China, a year ago. But 17 of those mutations appeared suddenly, after the virus diverged from its most recent ancestor.

Each infected person is a crucible, offering opportunities for the virus to mutate as it multiplies. With more than 83 million people infected worldwide, the coronavirus is amassing mutations faster than scientists expected at the start of the pandemic.

The vast majority of mutations provide no advantage to the virus and die out. But mutations that improve the viruss fitness or transmissibility have a greater chance to catch on.

At least one of the 17 new mutations in the variant contributes to its greater contagiousness. The mechanism is not yet known. Some data suggest that the new variant may bind more tightly to a protein on the surface of human cells, allowing it to more readily infect them.

Its possible that the variant blooms in an infected persons nose and throat, but not in the lungs, for example  which may explain why patients spread it more easily but do not develop illnesses more severe than those caused by earlier versions of the virus. Some influenza viruses behave similarly, experts noted.

We need to look at this evidence as preliminary and accumulating, Cevik said of the growing data on the new variant.

Still, the research suggests an urgent need to cut down on transmission of the variant, she added: We need to be much more careful overall, and look at the gaps in our mitigation measures.

By Apoorva Mandavilli

c.2020 The New York Times Company
Senator Ben Sasse blasted his Republican colleagues in a stinging 2,200-word critique in which he accuses those going along with Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election of being engaged in a dangerous ploy.

In his unvarnished criticism of the actions of some in his party, posted in six parts on Facebook, he wrote: Lets be clear what is happening here: We have a bunch of ambitious politicians who think theres a quick way to tap into the presidents populist base without doing any real, long-term damage.

But theyre wrong  and this issue is bigger than anyones personal ambitions, Mr Sasse bluntly continued. Adults dont point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government.

He said that those entertaining the notion of electoral fraud dont actually believe it to be true and are simply worrying about their political careers being dependent on Trump supporters.

When we talk in private, I haven't heard a single Congressional Republican allege that the election results were fraudulent  not one, the senator wrote. Instead, I hear them talk about their worries about how they will 'look' to President Trump's most ardent supporters.

The senator penned his assessment of the state of the GOP following the announcement by Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri that he intended to challenge President-elect Joe Bidens victory in Pennsylvania.

Mr Sasse took aim at the House Republicans that had already said they would challenge Mr Bidens win, claiming the election was stolen. He calls them institutional arsonist members of Congress.

In just one week, a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate is to certify Mr Bidens victory in what is traditionally a ceremonial meeting. Any objection to the results requires both a House member and a Senator to back it, both of which are now lined up, but all this will do is delay the inevitable when the objection is set to be rejected by both chambers.

While some Democrat lawmakers have attempted to challenge Republican presidential victories in the past, such attempts were not encouraged either by losing candidates nor outgoing administrations.

However, in 2020 the president is leading efforts to overturn Mr Bidens substantial victory and encouraged members of Congress to join him in his quest, despite there being nor evidence to back up his allegations of electoral fraud.

For President-elect Bidens 306-232 Electoral College victory to be overturned, President Trump would need to flip multiple states. But not a single state is in legal doubt, Mr Sasse reminded his colleagues, including a breakdown of the many unsubstantiated claims of fraud made by Mr Trump and his team and how they had been dismissed by courts or state leadership. He called the attempted lawsuits a fundraising strategy.

The senator also lambasted the Trump legal team, led by Rudy Giuliani, for making grand claims to the public and to donors, but not daring to make the same claims in front of a judge.

Thats not a surprise. Because there are no penalties for misleading the public, Mr Sasse wrote. But there are serious penalties for misleading a judge, and the presidents lawyers know that  and thus they have repeated almost none of the claims of grand voter fraud that the campaign spokespeople are screaming at their most zealous supporters.

Mr Sasse conceded that while specific cases of electoral fraud should be investigated, we shouldnt burn down the whole process along the way.

We have good reason to think this years election was fair, secure, and law-abiding, the senator wrote. Thats not to say it was flawless. But there is no evidentiary basis for distrusting our elections altogether, or for concluding that the results do not reflect the ballots that our fellow citizens actually cast.

Near the close of this lengthy critique, Senator Sasse opines on the dangers of deep intractable partisan division.

All the clever arguments and rhetorical gymnastics in the world wont change the fact that this January 6th effort is designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party. We ought to be better than that, he wrote.

If we normalise this, were going to turn American politics into a Hatfields and McCoys endless blood feud  a house hopelessly divided.
Of the hundreds of billions of pictures taken by Florida visitors, its likely most of them were taken outdoors. Thats because much of Florida basks in the middle of a subtropical climate and the weathers never too hot or too cold to head outside and savor the outdoors.

Parks

But its not just the weather. The 500 miles between Northwest Florida and the Florida Keys encompass a diverse assortment of landscapes and environments, ranging from the Apalachicola National Forest to the famed "River of Grass" that creates Everglades National Park. And throughout Florida, we can boast 175 state parks.

Water Everywhere

And if you circumnavigate the Atlantic coastline from Jacksonville to Key West then onward and upward through the Gulf to Pensacola, youll find thousands of miles of beaches, bays, inlets, islands and estuaries designed by nature for swimming, surfing, sunbathing, camping and exploring.

Florida's 320 known freshwater springs offer the luxury of living it up in deliciously cool comfort as you drift downstream. Locals and visitors have enjoyed these crystalline springs and rivers for decades, and so have the gentle manatees who make these waterways their winter homes and create lasting memories for the visitors who adore them.Florida is where youll find the third-largest concentration of nesting bald eagles in America.

Wildlife

Even better: much of the state is traversed by the Great Florida Birding Trail, a network of 510 wildlife-viewing sites found along a flyway for migrating birds. And between Sugarloaf Key and Big Pine Key en route to Key West, youll pass a habitat for the elusive Key deer, the smallest in North America. You can also see wildlife by taking a nature tour, dropping into award-winning zoos or scheduling a visit to private preserves that protect wolves, bears, elephants, tigers, lions and primates.

Nature itself is preserved at places such as the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which stretches along barrier islands east from Pensacola, and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge ,where 140,000 protected acres look largely the same as they did thousands of years ago. Explore Florida and youll also find St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge and hundreds of state parks where guests enjoy camping, swimming, hiking, picnicking, canoeing, kayaking and, in one unique park, the universe: Floridas Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is the only state park certified by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Diving

Whether fresh, salt or brackish, Florida waters are meant for fishing, but theres far more beneath the surface. Off Floridas Miami coast divers from around the world explore coral reefs at Biscayne National Park and, further down the Keys, slip into turquoise waters at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Americas only underwater state park. Off the northern Gulf Coast, the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail marks dive sites for dozens of wrecks-turned-artificial reefs, including the massive USS Oriskany, a WWII-era aircraft carrier.

Happy Trails

Add recreational trails created atop historic railroad beds, bicycle trails that will soon connect the Gulf to the Atlantic, back roads that offer a great escape whether in a car or on a motorcycle and ever-changing vistas that making photography a snap and it all adds up to something wild and wonderful.
A group of people unloaded a dung-laden trolley in front of a Punjab BJP leader's house in Hoshirpur on Friday, prompting Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to warn those protesting over the new farm laws not to take law in their hands. Some people, believed to be farmers, unloaded the trolley in front of the residence of former Punjab minister Tikshan Sud in Hoshiarpur.

They also raised slogans against the Centre for its alleged callous attitude towards farmers' demands. Annoyed by the act, BJP workers led by Tikshan Sud staged a dharna on the Rai Bahadur Jodhamal road in Hoshiarpur, seeking action against those responsible for it.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Kumar Sharma condemned the incident. He said some mischievous persons under the garb of farmers attacked the residence of Sud, only to disturb peace and brotherhood in the state.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh too took a serious note of the incident and said invasion of privacy will bring a bad name to the peaceful agitation of farmers and defeat its very objective. He warned protesters not to take law in their hands in their fight for the farmers' rights.

After months of showing exemplary restraint and not indulging in any violence or lawlessness in Punjab as well as at the borders of the national capital, some protesters are losing restraint despite being categorically asked by farmer leaders to keep the protests peaceful, said the CM in a statement. He urged the protesters to exercise restraint and express solidarity with farmers in the same spirit of self-discipline as has been demonstrated so far by farmer organisations.

The chief minister said such acts have the potential of vitiating the atmosphere of peace and destroy harmony amongst people of diverse castes, religions and communities. Traumatisation of families of political leaders or workers through such acts may lead to a law and order problem in Punjab, he said.

A large number of farmers are protesting at the borders of Delhi for over a month, seeking repeal of three new agriculture laws.
(Newser)  The head of an Indiana hospital has addressed the allegations of Dr. Susan Moore, a Black medical doctor who died last month from coronavirus complications after accusing a doctor and other hospital staff of being biased in their treatment of herbut his comments have only fueled the controversy. In a Dec. 24 statement, Dennis M. Murphy, president and CEO of Indiana University Health, said he was "saddened" about the experience Moore relayed, and that it "hurt me personally" to see Moore reach out on social media because she'd felt ignored by medical staff. Then he added he'd seen "several human perspectives" in Moore's story, including that of doctors who'd been treating a "complex patient," and of nurses "who may have been intimidated by a knowledgeable patient who was using social media to voice her concerns and critique the care they were delivering."

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All of that combined to create a "complex picture," he noted. He acknowledged that his team "may not have shown the level of compassion and respect we strive for," but that they were simply overwhelmed by their responsibilities during the pandemic. Moore's 19-year-old son, Henry Muhammed, isn't buying Murphy's explainer. "I don't understand how knowing your medical history is intimidating to a nurse or hospital staff," Muhammed tells ABC News, adding that the only hospital official he's so far heard from personally is the chaplain. ABC and the Indianapolis Star cite other reactions to Murphy's response, with many calling it a form of victim-blaming. "It's absolutely terrifying for nurses to interact with ... doctors," one commenter snarked. One New York public health advocate was more straightforward. "It's honestly a disgrace," Christie VanHorne tells ABC. "To say that the nurses were intimidated by the patient, it's absolutely ridiculous when she was just trying to advocate for herself." (Read more bias stories.)
Beijing, Jan 1 : Chinese behemoth BBK Group's smartphone brand iQOO is all set to launch its next generation flagship smartphone iQOO 7 BMW M edition with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset on January 11 in China.

The company in a post confirmed on the Chinese social networking site Weibo that the next generation flagship would be unveiled at 7.30 p.m. local time in China, which is 5 p.m. in India, reports news portal Gizbot.

As per a teaser shared by the company, the rear panel of the iQOO 7 BMW edition appeared to have a triple rear camera which is placed in a triangle pattern.

The smartphone would come with a Full HD+ display that offers 2400 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It would pack up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage.

The phone is expected to have an in-display fingerprint sensor and a punch-hole cutout at top of the screen for housing the front-facing camera. The device would come with 120W fast charging technology.

As for the software, the iQOO 7 would be running the latest Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Irish Ferries ship Ulysses arrives at Dublin Port from Holyhead in Wales as new post-Brexit trade rules come into operation (Niall Carson/PA)

The first ferries have arrived in Ireland from Britain under new trade rules following the end of the Brexit transition period.

In Dublin, Irish Ferries ship Ulysses docked at 5.55am with about a dozen trucks on board, having travelled from Holyhead in Wales.

There were no delays as the freight trailers cleared customs checks for the first time under the new rules.

In Rosslare, Irish Ferries ship Isle of Inishmore arrived from Pembroke in Wales. A truck transporting bananas was the first to pass the new customs checkpoint.

After 47 years as an EU member state, the UK left the bloc at 11pm on New Years Eve, becoming a third country for trade purposes and customs declarations.

New documentation and red tape is now required between EU member states and Britain which is anticipated to cause massive delays at ports in the coming weeks.

A small number of ships arrived after 11pm on Thursday night but they were covered by the previous arrangements.

The Stena Line ferry group said while it had been quiet in Holyhead early on New Years Day, the port authority had indicated that six freight loads bound for Ireland had been turned away due to not having the correct references.

While it has been quiet in Holyhead so far today, the port authority indicate that six freight loads bound for Ireland have had to be turned away due to not have the correct references. Hauliers please ensure you have your PBNs ready for check-in. @WGEconTransport @TrafficWalesN https://t.co/ae7KmPwPxb  Stena Line (@StenaLine) January 1, 2021

The company appealed for hauliers to have their pre-boarding notifications (PBNs) ready for check-in.

Irelands Foreign Affairs Minister said the dramatic disruption of a no-deal Brexit had been avoided but that did not mean that things are not changing fundamentally for businesses trading with Britain.

Simon Coveney told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland: Make no mistake. From today on, any company doing business with, to or through the UK is going to face a very new reality: customs checks, sanitary and phytosanitary checks if there are food products involved, export declarations, health certs, regulatory checks and all of the paperwork and delays and costs that go with that.

We have avoided the kind of dramatic disruption of a no trade deal Brexit, but that doesnt mean that things arent changing very fundamentally, because they are.

Speaking on BBCs Radio 4s Today, Mr Coveney said the change in trading arrangements with the UK would inevitably cause disruption.

Were now going to see the 80 billion euro (71.2 billion) worth of trade across the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland disrupted by an awful lot more checks and declarations, and bureaucracy and paperwork, and cost and delay, he said.

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That is the inevitable consequence, unfortunately, even with a trade agreement which everybody, I think, is very relieved was signed on Christmas Eve.

Mr Coveney added the changes marked the end of an era.

For 48 years, the United Kingdom really has been a central part of the European Union.

That is now firmly ending with the end of the transition period, post-Brexit. For all of us in Ireland, that is not something to celebrate.

Irish hauliers have warned of mayhem at ports in the coming weeks.

Eugene Drennan, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), said on New Years Eve that hauliers are bracing themselves for trouble and chaos because the systems had not been tried and tested.

There will be delays, for sure. The mayhem thats coming in Dublin Port is unbelievable, he said.

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Theyve done nothing to alleviate it. They have a plan that is absolutely nonsensical and the nature of it and how it is laid out and the structure of it, it is going to cause a lot of grief.

Aidan Flynn, general manager of the Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI), said there will be a period of unprecedented change for the movement of goods and delays will be inevitable.

While new year is traditionally a quiet time for freight, Mr Flynn predicted that once goods start moving next week there will be delays unless authorities showed some flexibility.

The reality is that having to input information into systems that havent been robustly tested is going to deliver inevitable problems for industry, he said.

We dont want to see scenes of drivers and hauliers parked up on the side of the road, whether thats in Holyhead or Dublin, trying to get on to a ferry because they dont have their paperwork correct, he added.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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Disney ignites New Year with celebratory nighttime show

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-01-01 09:03

The Shanghai Disney Resort ushered in the New Year in typical Disney style with a celebratory nighttime show on December 31.

During the show, fireworks lit up Shanghais night sky with the shape of a giant 2021.

As 2021 marks the fifth anniversary of the Shanghai Disney Resort, the anniversary logo was also revealed, which features Shanghai Disneylands iconic Enchanted Storybook Castle silhouetted against a colored number 5.

It has been an incredible five years and we are thrilled to be approaching such a significant milestone. We have been truly humbled by the warm welcome our guests have given us since our Grand Opening, and we cannot wait to give back to them with a spectacular assortment of magical moments, celebrations and so much more, said Joe Schott, president and general manager of the Resort.








Srinagar, Jan 1 : Police in J&K's Baramulla district on Friday said that they have recovered three "unique" Chinese grenades from an arrested militant associate.

Speaking to media told, SSP, Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom, said the three recovered grenades are Chinese and the recovery is first of its kind.

"Arrested militant associate, Asif Gull was tasked to kill a newly-elected municipal councillor. He has been slapped with four Public Safety Act (PSA) detention orders in the past.

"Most wanted militant, Hyder, slain last year, and another associate were in touch with Asif Gull and it repeatedly surfaced he was involved in grenade attacks, but had gone into hiding since then to undertake some task.

"In the preliminary investigation, it surfaced that Asif had even managed to move outside J&K," the SSP said adding that he has at least 29 FIRs against him.

"Abid, his friend, a student enrolled at Jammu College went to Pakistan via Wagah Border by availing a visa and is presently running the TRF outfit as a top commander based in Pakistan and Asif was tasked to recruit youth into the outfit (TRF).

"Asif has done huge extortions in the name of Lashkar and TRF, but nobody has so far approached the police with a complaint against him because of the life threats he made.

"With his arrest, we are sure that almost eight youth have been saved from joining the TRF outfit and his stay in Srinagar is also being investigated." The SSP also said that questioning by joint teams of security agencies will reveal the purpose of his visit outside J&K.
Next week (January 6) may very well be the most important event in our nations history since the Civil War. On Wednesday, Congress convenes to open the elections results from the Electoral College for the 2020 Presidential and Vice Presidential elections.

Most of those results will be an accurate reflection of how the voters voted in most of the states. But in some states the results are bogus. If those bogus results are accepted, Joe Biden will have stolen the election by cheating. Approximately half the country believes that to be the case. As well they should.

To substantiate that conclusion, one need only read a report by John Lott, a Department of Justice researcher. J. D. Rucker, reporting for the <i>Noqreport.com</i> summarizes it this way:

Americans have been conned. We are still being conned. This is, in fact, the biggest con-job perpetrated against the masses since WMDs were used as the predicate for permanent Middle East wars. The only reason that con-job was technically bigger is because it fooled more people. This one only seems to be fooling about half of the country. But its effects may end up being even bigger as a corrupt, controlled puppet of the Chinese Communist Party is poised to become the leader of the free world.

An academic analysis and report written by a Department of Justice researcher may be the clearest indication that massive voter fraud took place. Its not that it presents additional evidence, but instead dives into the numbers in a way that makes it crystal clear voter fraud was the only viable explanation for surges in votes that were isolated to key counties in swing states. What makes his analysis different from others is that it quantifies the likely voter fraud scope in a way that makes clear it was sufficient to change the results of the election. According to the abstract of his 25-page report:

This study provides measures of vote fraud in the 2020 presidential election. It first compares Fulton countys precincts that are adjacent to similar precincts in neighboring counties that had no allegations of fraud to isolate the impact of Fulton countys vote-counting process (including potential fraud). In measuring the difference in President Trumps vote share of the absentee ballots for these adjacent precincts, we account for the difference in his vote share of the in-person voting and the difference in registered voters demographics. The best estimate shows an unusual 7.81% drop in Trumps percentage of the absentee ballots for Fulton County alone of 11,350 votes, or over 80% of Bidens vote lead in Georgia. The same approach is applied to Allegheny County in Pennsylvania for both absentee and provisional ballots. The estimated number of fraudulent votes from those two sources is about 55,270 votes.

Second, vote fraud can increase voter turnout rate. Increased fraud can take many forms: higher rates of filling out absentee ballots for people who hadnt voted, dead people voting, ineligible people voting, or even payments to legally registered people for their votes. However, the increase might not be as large as the fraud if votes for opposing candidates are either lost, destroyed, or replaced with ballots filled out for the other candidate. The estimates here indicate that there were 70,000 to 79,000 excess votes in Georgia and Pennsylvania. Adding Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, the total increases to up to 289,000 excess votes.

The data Lott analyzes and subsequently explains is inexplicable without the presence of massive voter fraud. But its bigger than that. The coordination between states becomes apparent when we realize the same process that were used in one county were also applied to others. There are differences in the way the cheaters went about their normal business of cheating before and on election night, but the post-election night injections of ballots were uniform. In other words, they cheated stealthily at first but when it was clear they had still lost, they went with the clumsier, more easily noticeable wholesale fraud attempts.

Unfortunately, all of the so-called arbiters of truth have declined to cover any of this, just as theyve covered up the entire process from the start. Mainstream media and Big Tech in particular are complicit in this cover-up to the point that they often do not even try to debunk reports like Lotts. They simply announce that the election is over and theres nothing more to be said about it. But the details of Lotts report are not only worth reading, but definitely worth spreading to the masses. If mainstream media wont cover it, we will. If Big Tech will try to suppress it, well continue to share anyway.

John Lott is a world-renowned economist and statistician. His work has always been impeccable and this particular research is top notch. There is no feasible way for the left to counter it, which is why theyre focused on keeping it away from as many eyeballs as possible. As we continue to hope and pray for the MOAB to arrive, this isnt it. But its further affirmation of the righteousness of our pursuits. The truth is clearly on our side even if they liars are more powerful and numerous.

Is it a bombshell? Technically, no. Its a methodical, comprehensive analysis that logically reveals what tens of millions of Americans already knew: The election was stolen through massive, coordinated voter fraud. This is 100% certain.

Source: https://noqreport.com/2020/12/30/anyone-who-reads-doj-researcher-john-lotts-paper-and-still-denies-voter-fraud-is-a-fool





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Andy Cohen had some unfiltered criticism for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio during the New Years Eve broadcast he shared with Anderson Cooper.

Cohen and Cooper reunited for their now-traditional live show in Times Square on Thursday night, as 2020 drew to a close and 2021 was ushered in.

At one point, the co-hosts each took a shot of tequila  another tradition between the two friends.

Recommended The best TV moment of 2021 has already happened

Cohen, who said he had brought two bottles of liquor, happily threw his back, but Cooper expressed a vocal mix of discomfort and disgust.

All right, all right! Cohen told him. Thats how I felt when I saw Mayor De Blasio dancing just now.

Cohen was referring to an earlier sequence in which the mayor was seen dancing on a stage in Times Square as part of the festivities.

The TV hosts tone escalated into frustration as he addressed De Blasio. Do something with this city! he exclaimed, arms outstretched. Honestly, get it together.

De Blasios handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been criticised by a number of New Yorkers.

During the New Years Eve broadcast, Cohen joked he would soon be tiptoeing back to Bravo, the network on which he hosts Watch What Happens Live. Cohen is also an executive producer on Bravos Real Housewives franchise.

But while I have this platform, I have some other stuff I want to say too. All right? Cohen joked on CNN.

Cooper stepped in and told him: Youre that guy in the bar. Yeah, I am, Cohen confirmed.
It was back in April 2020 when 29-year-old second officer Gaurav Singh, from Pune, and his 18-member crew (out of which 16 were Indians) were to disembark from their ship Anastasia at a port in China and come home. Their departure was delayed week after week, at first due to the breakout of Covid-19 and then for reasons that were unclear to them.

During this forced isolation, Gaurav realised that nearly 1500 other sailors stranded like them in Chinese waters on 74 other ships.

Recently one of the stranded sailors slashed his wrists in a suicide bid. Anxiety and depression are building up among the sailors who are getting increasingly desperate to return home, says Gaurav in conversation with News18 over phone from his ship Anastasia.

How is the situation like there at the moment?

The situation is quite bad. For the past five months we have been at the same spot. Despite our pleas for rescue, no official or diplomat has got in touch with us. We dont still know why we are being kept here and for how long we will continue to remain here.

Getting medical assistance is also becoming increasingly difficult. There are people who have developed skin infections, those who are now unable to get up from their beds, but we have been told that we will get medical attention only in case of emergencies.

We have already been in the sea for the past 18 months. The morale among people is really down. People are feeling quite hopeless. Nobody laughs or smiles anymore. Hum sab yahan zinda lash ki tarah hain (We all are like living corpses).

How long have people been stuck here? When were you supposed to reach home?

My contract was for 6 months and I joined in November 19. The labour working here had a contract for 9 months, and they came to the ship in June 2019.

We left Australia on 20 June carrying coal for China. On August 3 2020, we reached China. Upon reaching we were told that there is lot of congestion, that after one week we would go to port, offload the cargo and go home. Then we were told to stay on for another week.

After one and a half months we read an article somewhere that said there was some trade issue between China and Australia. Then we read China has completely banned import of coal from Australia.

At first we thought we will reach our homes by Diwali, then we thought we would be together on Christmas. Today is New Years Eve and we are still here, stuck at the same spot. For the past one and a half years we haven't even seen the land.

How many are stuck there?

As far as we know there are around 1500 sailors on 74 ships, most of them are Indians. There are people here who have been on sea for the past 20 months, having no Internet access. I cant even imagine how they are coping.

Have you tried reaching out for help?

We have tried to contact marine organisations and unions, the governments of India, China and Australia, but nobody so far has been able to help us in any way. Some people here believe that they will never be able to see their families again. One person tried to kill himself by slashing his wrists. Another sailors mother died. He tried everything but he wasnt allowed to participate in her last rites.
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P olice have shut down a large illegal New Year rave in Londons Royal Docks, with organisers facing a 10,000 fine for breaching coronavirus rules.

The unlicensed music event was one of many that were expected to take place in the capital on New Years Eve despite warnings from Scotland Yard.

Pictures from the scene in the riverside industrial district showed officers clearing the venue, which was left littered with bottles and N20 canisters.

Officers said arrests were made but it was not immediately clear how many.

The illegal music event was one of many expected to take place in the capital despite warnings from police / Twitter/ Newham MPS

Newham police wrote on Twitter: A large unlicensed music event has been shut down by officers tonight in Royal Docks.

Arrests made and considerations being given for a 10,000 fine for breaches of Covid-19 legislation.

It comes after 60 partygoers were broken up by police after officers were called to an unlicensed music event in Kemp Road, Chadwell Heath on Thursday night.

Police said they dispersed the crowd and handed a 10,000 fine to the organiser of the rave.

In a tweet Barking and Dagenham police said: We take the lives of all those within our communities seriously.

We only intend to protect our communities & operate with Covid Tier 4 Legal Guidelines. Please help us to help you, Stay Home, Stay Safe this NYE.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 02: Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner and U.S. President Donald Trump speak in the press briefing room with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force April 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government reported an unprecedented 6.6 million jobless claims this morning as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

A new report by The New York Times examined the contentious relationships within the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

It alleges that President Donald Trump lashed out at son-in-law Jared Kushner over COVID-19 testing.

"I'm going to lose," Trump reportedly told Kushner during debate prep. "And it's going to be your fault, because of the testing."

The White House denied the conversation happened, telling The Times, "President Trump has led the largest mobilization of the public and private sectors since WWII to defeat COVID-19 and save lives."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Throughout the course of the pandemic, President Donald Trump lashed out at his son-in-law Jared Kushner over testing and mask-wearing, according to a report by The New York Times.

According to The Times, during a meeting of top aides in the Oval Office on August 19, Trump grew angry with increased COVID-19 testing in the US, which he blamed for higher case numbers. "You're killing me! This whole thing is! We've got all the damn cases," Trump reportedly yelled at Kushner.

Trump continued, The Times reported, by telling Kushner, "I want to do what Mexico does. They don't give you a test till you get to the emergency room and you're vomiting."

Read more: Secret Service experts are speculating in group chats about how Trump might be hauled out of the White House if he won't budge on Inauguration Day

The report alleged that Trump viewed testing "as a mechanism for making him look bad by driving up the number of known cases."

Trump also lashed out at Kushner about testing during debate preparation, according to the report.

"I'm going to lose," Trump said according to The Times. "And it's going to be your fault, because of the testing."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement to The Times, a White House spokesperson said that the conversation with Kushner "never happened."

Story continues

"President Trump has led the largest mobilization of the public and private sectors since WWII to defeat COVID-19 and save lives," White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern told The Times.

Read the original article on Business Insider
First there was Thanksgiving, when some families who gathered for turkey and stuffing also shared the coronavirus, causing cases to spike in some places and further taxing the nations already stretched hospitals.

Then there was Christmas weekend, when Americans crowded airports in numbers not seen since the start of the pandemic. Anyone who caught the virus then would probably still be in the incubation phase or just starting to feel symptoms now, so its too soon yet to gauge the full impact of peoples Christmas activities.

Now comes New Years Eve, an occasion for celebrating in large crowds, often among strangers, drinking and reveling and uttering a primal yell when the clock strikes twelve.

In other words, its a holiday tailor-made for superspreader events. And it arrives just as the first cases of a new, more contagious variant of the virus have been detected in the United States, in ways that suggest it is already circulating widely.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : The US has yet again reminded China that it will continue to push back against the Middle Kingdoms expansionism by sailing two of its formidable warships through the Taiwan strait, hours before a turbulent 2020 came to an end.

USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur, steamed through the Taiwan Strait on New Year's Eve, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. This was the 13th occasion in 2020 that US warships had passed through the Taiwan strait, which China claims as its own.

The US 7th Fleet described the passage as adhering to international law and demonstrating the American commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific," according to the report.

Washington's intent to dissuade China to change the status quo in Taiwan and elsewhere in the region became glaring since August. On August 12, the US deployed three B-2 stealth bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.

These deployments took place when military tensions showed no signs of abating -- Ladakh, on the India-China border, and Taiwan.

By deploying at the Indian Ocean island, which falls under the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), China was being sent an unambiguous signal-that Washington was committed to safeguard the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, under well-defined rules.

The deployment of the B-52 trio followed the earlier dispatch of six B-52 Stratofortress bombers in the archipelago.

In tune with the landing of the B-2 planes, the formidable US aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, had steamed into the South China Sea on August 14.

When these deployments, carrying enormous firepower, in the air and sea, are taken together, the multiple messaging to China is clear. In the South China Sea, the US was announcing that any Chinese attack and takeover of Pratas or Dongsha Islands of Taiwan was a red line.

This is not surprising. These Taiwanese islands have significant strategic value. They are located 310 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong betweenthe South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. All PLA Navy (PLAN) vessels must pass those islands before they can reach the Pacific Ocean, where they would be harder to track. The takeover of these islands by China will therefore significantly enhance Beijing's capacity to project power far away from its shores.

To reinforce its readiness to confront China, the US has announced that F-16 planes that that will be exported to Taiwan, will be armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles. On August 14, the day when USS Ronald Reagan sailed into the South China Sea, the Pentagon announced that Taiwan had signed a $62 billion deal for the latest version of F-16 planes.

Till the very fag end of the year, the US intent has been to deter China from crossing the Rubicon - of using military force to settle maritime disputes with its neighbours, including Taiwan. During the year, the US also stepped on the gas to impart greater coherence to security in the Indo-Pacific region, crowned by the Quad comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia to counter Chinese muscle flexing in the region. The effort peaked with and elaborate Malabar naval exercise where the quartet sent their frontline ships and equipment for drills in October in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Queensland government documents from 1990 show then-premier Wayne Goss's cabinet knew documents shredded that March were required for court proceedings.

Ministers were told on March 5, 1990, that evidence gathered by magistrate Noel Heiner into allegations of child abuse, sexual assault and the management style at Wacols John Oxley Youth Centre was a "public record".

Late Labor premier Wayne Goss. Credit:Fairfax Media

Then-family services minister Anne Warner also told ministers: "Representations have been received from a solicitor representing certain staff members at the John Oxley Youth Centre. These representations have sought production of the material referred to in this (cabinet) submission."

"However to date, no formal legal action seeking production of the material has been instigated," she told colleagues.
Four Rafale fighters of the French Air Force will land in India this month to participate in joint exercises with the Indian Air Forces Golden Arrows Squadron that was resurrected in September last with the induction of the Rafale fighter jets. The exercises have been scheduled between 19 and 25 January in the skies over the deserts of Rajasthan, people familiar with the matter said.

The French air forces Rafales will be accompanied by the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft (MRTT) for aerial refuelling support. The four fighters will also participate in joint exercises with the Australian Air Force before reaching India.

The wargames, named Exercise Skyros, will take place over the air force firing range in Rajasthans Pokhran that had seen Indian Air Force fighters participate in Exercise Vayu Shakti. The 2019 exercise was designed to let the pilots practise and showcase the IAFs ability to strike targets including radars and enemy convoys on the ground.

The joint exercises are expected to focus on interoperability, low flying over the desert and manoeuvrability of the omni role fighters. The exercises involving the Rafales - which would be Indias frontline fighter in case of conflict in East Ladakh or elsewhere - are being held weeks after Chinese and Pakistani air force carried out joint exercises near Indias western border.

Also Read: Rafales deep-strike cruise missile gets an upgrade for targets in mountains

Exercise Skyros will be the first joint exercise involving the Indian Air Forces Rafale fighter jets and is cited as another example of the deepening military ties between the two countries, a senior Indian military officer said.

The Indian Air Force has inducted 11 of the 36 Rafale jets ordered by New Delhi at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Seven more fighters have been handed over to India by Dassault but these are being used for training IAF pilots in France. The third batch of three fighter jets is scheduled to land on January 27.

A top Indian Air Force officer said there was a possibility that the three Rafale jets could, logistics permitting, fly together with the French Air Forces four fighters and the Airbus A300 MRTT.

India is also considering a French proposal to acquire six Airbus 330 multi-role transport tanker aircraft on a government-to-government basis for expanding the strike capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The mid-air refuelers can be turned into purely a tanker or transport or air ambulance or all three at the same time with a total crew of three. Else, it can transport 260 personnel in the cabin and fuel in the cargo hold.

The refuelers are crucial to expand the operational envelope of the fighter jets of the air force and the navy by extending range, letting a Su-30 MKI or Rafale flying from Port Blair fly all the way up to Sunda, Lombard and Malacca Straits for freedom of navigation missions.

A senior IAF official had earlier described the French proposal as a win-win for the Indian air force and France.

The Indo-Pacific is home to 1.5 million French citizens on island territories that give it an exclusive economic zone of more than 11 million sq km, the second largest in the world.

France has spoken out for India on several occasions in the context of the stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control. Back in June when 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives to repel China Peoples Liberation Army troopers in Galwan Valley, the French defence minister Parly had made it a point to write to defence minister Rajnath Singh to convey her countrys steadfast and friendly support in these difficult circumstances.

France has traditionally been the most dependable and consistent supporter of India at the United Nations and elsewhere too. Like when India carried out the 1998 nuclear tests, France was the only country among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council that did criticise or back sanctions against India.
She began life as a rich young debutant who was presented to the Queen but she became the inspiration for Martin The General Cahill to conduct one of the most daring raids of his career.

Republican renegade Rose Dugdale was an aristocrat born into extreme wealth in Devon but she turned her back on her life of privilege to join the Irish cause and is to date the only woman to pull of a major art heist.

A new book, The Woman Who Stole Vermeer, by art detective Anthony Amore details how Dugdale planned and carried out the first major raid on Russborough House in County Wicklow stealing a number of paintings including the famed Lady Writing a Letter With Her Maid by the Dutch master Vermeer.

Amore is the Director of Security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston where he is charged with recovering 13 masterpieces stolen by a gang in 1990.

He has followed leads all over the world, including those which have led to Ireland, chasing the paintings which he believes will one day be recovered.

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Art thieves fascinate him but none more so than the one time heiress Rose Dugdale, who he claims, inspired the criminal mastermind The General and his gang when they also pilfered the collection belonging to Sir Alfred and Lady Beit.

The fact is that Rose Dugdale was an art thief who knew art. She knew what to take. Martin Cahill was a great aft thief and the same can be said of Martin The Viper Foley who robbed Russborough House later.

"These are not people who know art they just know the big names but Rose was different she knew both sides of the business, Amore says in an interview for sundayworld.com podcast Crime World.

Dugdale had earlier stolen from her own family home, Yarty Farm, in England when she ran out of her inheritance and needed more money to fund her fight for Irish freedom.

She led a gang that picked out valuable paintings, silver and antiques from the house and was later caught but because of her status was given a suspended sentence.

After moving to Ireland, in 1973, following the robbery she hooked up with the renegade republican Eddie Gallagher and took part in a failed attempt to drop bombs in Strabane from a helicopter

She had been running guns for Ireland but if you look at the timeline she gets to Ireland and very quickly takes up with Eddie Gallagher and they became very active right away, says Amore.

Eddie, Mad Eddie, as he was known was part of a renegade section of the IRA, making too rash decision to help the cause and with no strategy behind his crime which made him a perfect fit for Rose.

"Without any permission or thinking in advance the two of them came up with a plot to try to pull off a terrorist attack for lack of a better term. Rose posed as a journalist and chartered a helicopter.

"When she returned for the flight she, Eddie and two others came back and hijacked the flight and forced the pilot to head to Strabane with milk churns full of explosive.

"They missed their targets but the fact of the matter is that what they tried to do, had they pulled it off, would have been catastrophic.

"They would have killed everyone in sight with the amount of explosives they had. So while the RUC was happy to tell the press they were amused by this effort they were not.

Soon afterwards wanted posters of Rose Dugdale popped up around the border and into the Republic where she and Gallagher went on the run and plotted the robbery of Russborough House which housed a priceless collection of artwork.

Her motivation, according to Amore, was to help free the Price sisters who were jailed in the UK and being force fed.

Its an unbelievably fascinating story.

"In April 1974 there was a knock on the servants quarters door and a young 14 year old, a child of one of the workers opened the door and found a woman speaking in broken French saying her car was disabled and she needed help.

"The child opened the door and two men with guns swooped in. They were relatively gentle with the workers at the house but when they got to the drawing rom where Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine were listening to music they were very rough with them.

"They yelled at them and called them capitalist pigs. They stuck him, cut him and hog tied him on the floor and dragged his wife onto the dirt floor in the cellar.

"Then something remarkable happened in the annals of crime because these thugs are then directed by the woman and she tells them what to steal.

"They wouldnt know what but she knew and that woman was Rose Dugdale. She knew art because her mother worked in a gallery and was an artist herself, explains Anthony.

They took 19 paintings, picked out by a discerning eye, and they took a Vermeer. If you tried to sell it on the open market that would fetch hundreds of millions of dollars.

Dugdale and Gallagher made way with the collection and holed up in a safe house in West Cork where they were soon caught. This time, Rose Dugdale would be incarcerated in prison where it was discovered she was pregnant with Gallaghers child.

Later when the collection was taken again by Martin Cahill and his gang, Amore says that it was Dugdale who woke up his criminal mind to the value of the paintings that were in Russborough.

His plan was brilliant. The guy was a brilliant thief. He set off the alarms at the hosue but didnt break in and when the alarms went off a second time they thought it was a false alarm and didnt respond.

"Cahill is an exclusive class in terms of ingenuity. When Cahill stole the paintings he buried a number of them in a forest, two are still missing nobody knows where they are.

"I did get a call from a person in Ireland who said he saw him burying paintings in the woods and thought they were mine from the Gardner Museum but when he told me the timeline it was more possible they were the Russborough ones, he said.

Amore also dismissed claims that Martin Foley knows where the Gardner painting are despite a BBC documentary claiming they are in a house in West Dublin stored since the theft after the Boston mob boss Whitey Bolger gave them to the IRA.

Two thieves disguised as police officers came to the Gadener and subdued the two guards.

"They went upstairs and stole 13 pieces of art including a Vermeer and Rembrandts which are together worth half a billion dollars. It was the biggest heist in the history of mankind.

"We have a 10 million dollar reward, whoever has them just has to tell me how to get them back to claim the money. In reality these older cases like mine are solved because wives become ex wives and children become estranged and the bad guys become less scary.

Im not inclined to believe the Foley connection at all.

"I and the FBI have made it clear there had never been one iota of evidence pointing to the IRA or anyone in Ireland associated with with our crime.

"I am more than happy to be proven wrong. If two people came off Aer Lingus and gave me my paintings back I would be thrilled, he says. The truth is there are zero signs to point to Ireland. As regards Whitey Bolger we have pretty much excluded him for many reasons.

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Anthony says he has affection for Rose Dugdale who was a first in many things in her life and who has continued to be active in the Republican cause into her twilight years.

Rose is an outlier. And it is hard not to like her. I would say I abhor her crimes especially given I have dedicated 15 years of my life protecting art.

"Also the bombing of Strabane would have been horrific if it had succeeded. But I have an grudging admiration for her, for her dedication and her fervor.

"She still holds those values that motivated her at the beginning and she she never went back to the money or the luxuries she was born with, he said.

The Woman Who Stole Vermeer by Anthony M Amore is on sale in bookstores now and his interview is available on Crime World now.

Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud.

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Farmers Farmers' organisations under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, after a meeting at Singhu border, on Friday said that if the talks with the government on January 4 fail then they will intensify the protest and hold a tractor rally on January 6. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal told IANS, "The topics of the next round of talks with the government were discussed in the meeting. The government has agreed to our two demands, but two important demands are yet to be discussed on January 4. If these two demands are not negotiated during the talks with the government, then a tractor rally will be taken out on January 6." Friday marked the 37th day of the farmers' protest against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Production and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. The farmers are demanding withdrawal of all the three laws, while the government has agreed to amend the laws as per the suggestions of the farmers. The farmers will be taking up the issue during the 6th round of talks with the government. The leaders of the farmers' organisations also held talks on four issues with the government on Wednesday, of which the government has accepted two demands while the other two, withdrawal of the three laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), are still to be addressed.




Read the full article in the January 2021 digital edition. . .

The paths of two different fields of research have begun to converge: the study of the skin microbiome, and bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics to combat bacterial pathogens. Several bacteria are natural residents on the human skin, some of which contribute to its health and others that can have deleterious effects. It is often when an imbalance in species occurs that undesirable skin conditions follow.

Naturally occurring bacteriophages that uniquely target specific bacterial species (see Table 1) present a tool that could be applied to modulate the growth of certain populations of bacteriai.e., so-called phage therapy. For instance, Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) is understood to contribute to Acne vulgaris. A cluster of bacteriophages exists that only attacks and replicates inside of this particular bacterial species, which culminates in the destruction of the bacteria. Therefore, a topical formulation containing bacteriophages against C. acnes could represent a new skin care agent to combat acne. Similarly, this approach could be replicated with many other resident microbes on the skin that are responsible for a number of skin diseases and conditions.

This article offers a commentary in support of bacteriophages, or phages, in skin care therapeutics. It provides their brief evolutionary history, considers their utility as antimicrobial alternatives, and posits their application in modern skin care.

Bacteriophages

Viruses that target bacteria are collectively called bacteriophages and represent the largest domain of life on Earth. These microorganisms are ancient and have kept numerous bacterial species in check probably since the emergence of microbial life.

For reasons yet to be fully understood, as life evolved, viruses targeting multicellular organisms developed ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based genomes with cylindrical and icosahedral shaped structures. In contrast, viruses that attack bacteria predominantly have deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based genomes with structures that resemble the lunar lander modules (see Figure 1).

This schism in the shape and genetic content of viruses reinforces why bacteriophages are uniquely safe as potential antibacterial therapeutics: millions of years of evolution have made them so significantly different from multicellular life that they can no longer present a health threat to humans, animals or plantsbut they are very much a predator to bacterial life.1, 2

History and Production

In the time before DNA and RNA had been characterized, and the first viruses were identified, scientists experimented with filterable substances that appeared to have a beneficial impact on people afflicted with certain bacterial diseases. The term filterable substances was used to refer to disease-causing agents that could not be filtered from solutions due to their extremely small sizeunlike bacteria that could be removed from solutions via 0.2-micron porcelain filters. This approach allowed Russian biologist Dmitri Ivanovsky to experimentally demonstrate in 1892 that there were microscopic pathogens much smaller than bacteria. As it turns out, many of the agents found in these substances were in fact viruses.3

One of the early pioneers who used viruses to replicate inside of bacteria as antimicrobials was the French-Canadian scientist Felix dHerelle, Ph.D. Indeed, he was one of the co-discoverers of bacteriophages in 1917 and did much to advance the field of applied microbiology with his experiments into what has become known as phage therapy.4

dHerelle developed a procedure for the propagation and purification of bacteriophages, the fundamentals of which are still practiced today. First, nutrient-rich media is used to cultivate the bacterial species of interest, whose growth causes the media to become turbid.

Subsequently, the bacterial culture is inoculated with bacteriophages known to target and replicate inside of that particular species of bacteria. As the bacteriophages replicate through their lytic cycle, the bacteria are destroyed and the turbid media becomes translucent. Finally, the liquid media is filtered to retain the resulting bacterial debris but not the filterable bacteriophages.

Upon the discovery of penicillin and other antibiotics, phage therapy was largely abandoned in the Western world. However, it became the antimicrobial agent of choice for the former Soviet Union, where it continues to be employed to this day. With the rising threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the Western world has taken a fresh look at phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics.

Phage Therapy Today

Enter the modern era, with a global catastrophe brewing thanks to the advent and increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.5-7 Multiple classes of antibiotics are proving ineffective in treating bacterial pathogens that were once nullified as a public health threat, and the pace of antibiotic research and development has slowed to a crawl.

. . .Read more in the January 2021 digital edition. . .

References

Gebru, E., Lee, ... Park, S.C., et al. (2010). Effect of probiotic-, bacteriophage- or organic acid-supplemented feeds or fermented soybean meal on the growth performance, acute-phase response and bacterial shedding of grower pigs challenged with Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. J Anim Sci 88 3880-6. Jamal, M., Bukhari, S., ... Shah, S.S.A., et al. (2019). Bacteriophages: An overview of the control strategies against multiple bacterial infections in different fields. J Basic Microbiol 59 123-133. Bridger, J.C. (2008). From filterable agents to virus genes: The discovery of viruses that cause diarrhoea. Vet J 178 5-6. Abedon, S.T., Kuhl, S.J., Blasdel, B.G. and Kutter, E.M. (2011). Phage treatment of human infections. Bacteriophage 1 66-85. Aslam, B., Wang, W., ... Baloch, Z., et al. (2018). Antibiotic resistance: A rundown of a global crisis. Infect Drug Resist 11 1645-1658. Betts, J.W., Hornsey, M. and La Ragione, R.M. (2018). Novel antibacterials: Alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Adv Microb Physiol 73 123-169. Medina, E. and Pieper, D.H. (2016). Tackling threats and future problems of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 398 3-33.

a The DermaPhage line of skin care by Biocogent LLC is currently under development.
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Customers can shop online for their new Hyudai.

Local Stockton dealership, Stockton Hyundai, offers an all-online shopping experience. Customers can find new Hyundai models for sale at this local dealership and go through the car-buying experience all on their home computers. This online shopping experience is not exclusive to the new models at this dealership. Rather, all customers who are searching for a new, used or Certified Pre-Owned vehicle can take advantage of this convenient way of shopping as they step into the new year.

This online shopping experience includes figuring out the vehicle payments, vehicle terms, trade-in values and even credit through an online tool used by this dealership. Stockton Hyundai also has contactless delivery test drives for their models as well.

There are a variety of models available at Stockton Hyundai, including the ever-popular Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Palisade and even all-electric models such as the Hyundai Ioniq and hybrid models like the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Each of these models can also be found on the inventory page at Stockton Hyundai.

Shoppers who are interested in learning more about the available models at Stockton Hyundai are encouraged to visit the dealerships website at http://www.stocktonhyundai.com. The dealership also has many knowledgeable sales representatives who would be more than happy to answer any automotive questions. These sales representatives can be contacted by calling 209-227-1081.
Older Australians are likely to be the worst hit as unemployment benefits are scaled back by $100 a fortnight for more than 1.3 million people.

JobSeeker recipients have been receiving a $250 coronavirus supplement on top of their welfare payments every two weeks since September 25.

Though the Federal Government shaved the supplement down to $150 on Friday with the scheme flagged to end on March 31.

The Department of Social Services released new figures showing how many people from each age group relied on welfare payments in October and November.

Fewer people aged 55-years and older were shown to have come off welfare compared to their younger counterparts, indicating they were more dependent on the scheme.

Older Australians are likely to be the worst hit as unemployment benefits are scaled back by $100 a fortnight for more than 1.3 million people (stock image)

JobSeeker recipients have been receiving a $250 coronavirus supplement on top of their welfare every two weeks since September 25 (pictured, long queues seen outside a Gold Coast Centrelink)

Around 12,800 people aged between 25 and 34 came off welfare - a 3.8 per cent dip.

Meanwhile, only 5,000 Australians aged 55 and over left - only a 0.8 per cent drop.

Financial Counselling Australia's chief executive officer Fiona Guthrie told Daily Telegraph it was 'cruel' to curb the payments.

'People don't have enough money to live on, it's impossible,' she said.

'This is almost the worst time to be trying to manage on less money because you have Christmas bills coming in and children going back to school.'

Small Business Australia founder Amanda Rose admitted it was more difficult for older people to get a job.

She said she had known many older workers who had a 'better work ethic' but aren't landing any interviews.

National Seniors Australias spokesman Ian Henschke claimed the industry had become 'ageist'.

Across the board, the figures for JobSeeker and Youth Allowance dropped from 1.498 million in October to 1.454 million in November.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston took it as a positive sign more recipients were finding work.

'It is pleasing that we are seeing Australians moving off of social security payments and back into the workforce as economic confidence builds and the labour market outlook improves.'

JobSeeker recipients used to receive a $550 a fortnight coronavirus supplement from April 27 to September 24 before it was reduced to $250.

Fewer people aged 55-years and older were shown to have come off welfare compared to their younger counterparts, indicating they were more reliant on the scheme

Across the board, the figures for JobSeeker and Youth Allowance dropped from 1.498 million in October to 1.454 million in November

JobKeeper wage subsidies are also falling in the New Year, with the fortnightly benefit dropping to $1,000 a fortnight from $1,200, starting on January 4 for those who work 20 or more hours a week.

Part-time workers putting in fewer hours will see their subsidies drop to $650 every two weeks from $750 a fortnight.

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten said the end of JobKeeper in March 2021 would coincide with more businesses closing, particularly in regional areas.

'We're going to see more insolvencies next year in 2021,' he said.

'For the young people living out of home, maybe their family live in the country, and they're in the city trying to make a living, these cuts are just too tough so I think the government should reconsider it because we're not out of the woods yet with this pandemic.'
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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump vetoed a bill Friday that would have gradually ended the use of large-mesh drift gillnets deployed exclusively in federal waters off the coast of California, saying such legislation would increase reliance on imported seafood and worsen a multibillion-dollar seafood trade deficit.

Trump also said in his veto message to the Senate that the legislation sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will not achieve its purported conservation benefits.

Feinstein issued a statement late Friday saying Trump's veto has ensured that more whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine species will be needlessly killed, even as we have a proven alternative available.

Trump vetoed the fishing bill as the Republican-controlled Senate followed the Democratic-led House and voted to overturn his earlier veto of the annual defense policy bill, enacting it into law despite Trump's objections.

The fishing bill's sponsors said large-mesh drift gillnets, which measure between 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) and 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long and can extend 200 feet (60.9 meters) below the surface of the ocean, are left in the waters overnight to catch swordfish and thresher sharks. But they said at least 60 other marine species  including whales, dolphins and sea lions  can also become entangled in the nets, where they are injured or die.

It is illegal to use these nets in U.S. territorial waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and off the coasts of Washington state, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii. They remain legal in federal waters off California's coast.

In 2018, California passed a four-year phaseout of large-mesh drift gillnets in state waters to protect marine life.

The bill Trump vetoed would have extended similar protections to federal waters off California's shoreline within five years and authorized the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help the commercial fishing industry switch to more sustainable types of gear.

Story continues

Trump said the West Coast drift gillnet fishery is subject to robust legal and regulatory requirements for environmental protection that equal or go beyond environmental protections applied to foreign fisheries.

He said Americans will import more swordfish and other species from foreign sources without this fishery.

Feinstein vowed to reintroduce this bill on the first day of the new Congress and said she will push for quick enactment once President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 19:56:47|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- As the countdown is ticking for the beginning of the New Year, the outgoing 2020 bears witness to the growing cooperation between Egypt and China in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the whole world over the past 12 months.

Hours before the New Year begins, China and Egypt signed a letter of intent for cooperation on anti-coronavirus vaccines, after the North African country received a batch of COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese giant drugmaker Sinopharm in December, 2020.

The letter was signed in Cairo by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang on behalf of the National Health Commission of China, and Egyptian Assistant Health Minister for Public Health Initiatives Mohamed Hassani, in the presence of Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed.

"Egypt-China relations are particularly friendly, and their cooperation in health field has been further expanded," Zayed said on Thursday.

The Egyptian minister added that "the Phase III clinical trial of Sinopharm's vaccine in Egypt is progressing smoothly, and its safety and effectiveness have been scientifically certified."

For his part, Liao said that "China and Egypt have helped each other amid the menacing epidemic," stressing that the signing of the letter of intent is embodied cooperation between the two countries to build a healthy community.

The vaccine is not the only aspect of medical cooperation between the two countries in fighting the viral disease, for their exchange of medical aid and expertise demonstrated a new dimension of their friendship throughout 2020.

In the beginning of the crisis and in the middle of China's fierce battle against the novel coronavirus, Egypt expressed wholehearted support for the Asian friend, donated tons of medical supplies to China in late January, 2020 and sent the Egyptian health minister to visit China in last March as a sign of solidarity.

While the Egyptian minister was flying to Beijing, Egypt simultaneously lit up three of its famous historical sites, including ancient temples in Luxor and Aswan, in red and golden stars to resemble the national flag of China, expressing solidarity with the Chinese people during their battle against the pandemic.

In response, after it managed to curb the spread of the virus, China returned favor by sending three batches of medical aid to Egypt, the latest of which was delivered in mid-May, 2020.

In last April, a joint Egyptian-Chinese plant for producing high-quality surgical face masks was inaugurated in an industrial zone in Cairo. The joint venture between Egypt's Euromed for Medical Industries and China's Ningbo A Plus Import and Export Co., Ltd targets a production capacity of 1.5 million masks per day.

The Sino-Egyptian cooperation was not restricted to medical aid and expertise, but went on to reach joint cultural activities.

In last mid-May, Egyptian and Chinese musicians staged a virtual performance of the Triumphal March from the world-famous opera Aida to inspire people in such difficult times.

Later in last June, musicians from China's Liaoning Symphony Orchestra and Cairo Symphony Orchestra staged an online concert of classical music to mark the 64th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Enditem
Wakatakakage, a wrestler in sumo's elite makuuchi division, has become infected with the novel coronavirus, the Japan Sumo Association announced Thursday.

The 26-year-old was examined at a medical facility after feeling unwell Thursday morning. The process of identifying those having had close contact with the No. 2 maegashira is now going forward under the guidance of health officials.

"He had a temperature of over 38 C and a sore throat," said sumo elder Shibatayama, the JSA's communications director. "Everyone in the (Arashio) stable, and (Wakatakakage's) family, will be tested."
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress celebrated its 23rd foundation day on Friday amid fresh setbacks in two of its prestigious citadels in poll-bound West Bengal.

Soumendu Adhikari, former chairman of Kanthi municipality and brother of Suvendu Adhikari, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday. Suvendu, the partys former MLA from Nandigram in East Midnapore, had defected to the BJP on December 20. Rabindranath Bhattacharya, TMC MLA from Singur, skipped the partys foundation day celebration in his constituency. It was attended by an MLA from an adjacent constituency.

Singur and Nandigram are prestigious constituencies for the party because mass movements against land acquisition in these two areas during 2006-08 paved the way for Mamata Banerjeess political resurrection.

On #TMCFoundationDay, I extend my sincere gratitude to our Maa-Mati-Manush and all our workers who continue to fight with us in making Bengal better and stronger each day. The Trinamool family will carry on with this resolve for times to come! As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998. Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people, Banerjee tweeted on Friday.

Earlier this week, Suvendu Adhikari had hinted at a BJP rally that all his family members would be joining the saffron party soon.

Let me tell you that the lotus will bloom in my home. Wait for Ram Navami and Basanti Puja, Adhikari said on December 29.

Three days later, his brother Soumendu joined the BJP at a rally addressed by Suvendu at Kanthi in East Midnapore. Earlier, Soumendu was removed as the civic board chief by the TMC. He moved the high court against that decision.

Those who want to leave the party are free to go. Mamata Banerjee had successfully uprooted the 34-year-old Left Front regime. We are not concerned. We would win the polls again fighting under Mamata Banerjee, said Sheikh Sufian, senior TMC leader and deputy chairman of the East Midnapore zilla parishad.

Rabindranath Bhattacharya, a party old-timer and Singur MLA, had attacked party colleague Becharam Manna, the party MLA from Haripal in the same district. Though Bhattacharya could not be contacted after he skipped Fridays function, Manna said: Invitation had been sent to everyone for Fridays foundation day program. He might have some other commitments. It wont be right to see such things in bad light especially on the foundation day.

The TMC faced its first setback in Singur when the opposition BJP got a lead in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Buoyed by its impressive gains in those polls where the party won 18 of 42 seats, the BJP has set a target of winning more than 200 seats in the 294-member legislative assembly.
We can only hope Trump did not serve Allan the same version of the burger on sale at his own Trump Tower Grille restaurant in New York City. In 2016 Vanity Fair writer Tina Nguyen described it as a sad little meat thing, sitting in the centre of a massive, rapidly staling brioche bun, hiding its shame under a slice of melted orange cheese, though given all the whining coming out of the Oval Office in the dying days of his presidency, she could have been writing about Trump himself, metaphorically speaking of course. In November The New York Times revealed Allan, the Australian tabloid wizard who was once seen in the Post newsroom wearing a Make America Great Again cap, was calling an end to his career of more than 40 years at Murdoch papers in New York and Sydney. Allan, who was the Posts editor in chief from 2001-2016, rejoined the paper as an adviser in January 2019, just as the presidential campaign was under way, though its blatantly pro-Trump tone has abruptly changed direction since the Biden victory. The Post is not perfect, Allan told the NYT. But it articulates a view that is not obedient to liberal orthodoxy. Therefore it is dangerous. I know where I would rather be.

Allan also worked closely with former Sydney columnist Miranda Devine, who joined the Post in time for the 2020 campaign. Devine has been a zealous supporter of Trump, likening him to an invincible hero. Her secondment to the Big Apple has been extended until May, after which she is likely to return to Sydney  unless she lands a gig flipping burgers at Trump Grille. SAM'S SECRET FARM WEDDING There was no tizzy pumpkin carriages or fancy limos for Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage on her wedding day last Thursday. After getting hitched at her millionaire Southern Highlands' husband Richard Lavender's farm, "the Lavs" arrived at their wedding reception at nearby Centennial Vineyards in a taxi. Taxi! Samantha Armytage and Richard Lavender tie the knot. Credit:Instagram

PS hears the low-key wedding was kept secret right up to the 11th hour, with none of Armytage's on-air "Sunrise family" attending, or her former bestie, the show's executive producer Michael Pell. However, Armytage did manage to extend an invitation to socialite Skye Leckie, the woman who inadvertently played cupid at her 60th birthday in 2019 after a teary Armytage, who had just broken up from her previous boyfriend, fell head over heels for "Berrima Bushie" Lavender. KAK SHOWS OFF HER BATTLE SCARS It will take a long time for those in the audience at Pippin to forget the shocking thud Kerri-Anne Kennerley made when she slipped out of the arms of her strong man and crashed into the stage, breaking her collarbone midway through her show-stopping performance. Kerri-Anne Kennerley's X-Ray reveals the broken collarbone after last week's fall. Credit:Instagram

KAK's manager Sean Anderson shared the shocking X-Ray revealing the fracture on Instagram on New Year's Eve, while KAK has returned home from hospital on Thursday and is yet to learn the full extent of what lay ahead of her and if it will require surgery. "What happened is just a random misstep in the trapeze and circus world. Ive always felt safe in their hands but accidents just happen. I was trained well and loved getting stronger and the routine smoother," Kennerley said. Her role will be taken over by an understudy for the remainder of Pippin's Sydney run. PACKERS MYSTERY BOAT BUDDY The thing about those ginormous superyachts favoured by the likes of billionaires such as James Packer is they are pretty hard not to notice.

James Packer and his superyacht. Packers huge $200 million-plus boat IJE was parked right alongside another gleaming floating gin palace called Queen Miri in the lead up to New Year in the French Caribbean. Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Credit:AP PS has learnt Queen Miri belongs to Las Vegas casino king Sheldon Adelson, the CEO and chairman of Las Vegas Sands, who also owns casinos in Macau and Singapore. In September Adelson was listed by Forbes as having a fortune of $US33.5 billion  about 10 times Packers estimated worth. Packer is under considerable pressure over his new $2 billion casino in Sydney which has not been allowed to open by authorities investigating its licence.

Racing scion Tom Waterhouse and his "family", minus wife Hoda, mother Gai and sister Kate. There is mounting speculation Packer could sell his stake, having already courted an ill-fated deal with Lawrence Ho, son of the late billionaire Stanley Ho. Ho senior was suspected of having links to organised crime in Macau by other casino authorities and banned from holding a licence here. Packer and Adelson share a close friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu, with Adelson one of Israels biggest benefactors. Was it a coincidence their boats happened to be parked next to each other, with tenders between both vessels going back and forth, or is something else afoot? YOUVE GOT TO BE KIDDING

Sheila Chisholm and second husband Sir John 'Buffles' Milbanke at Ascot. Credit:Rosslyn Collection Tom Waterhouse says he just wanted to do something different that would stand out from all the vanilla posts on social media to promote his betting app. However even his most loyal supporters are questioning the merits of his latest campaign featuring bikini-clad women in seemingly inexplicable situations alongside the suited racing scion. In one scene Waterhouse is wishing his followers a Merry Christmas from my family to yours, surrounded by the young women in their tiny swimwear, though clearly none of his more famous relatives  mother Gai Waterhouse or fashionista sister Kate  appear to be among the bevvy of beauties. Were just trying to mix things up a bit, its a pun on a joke ... taking the piss, he told PS this week, though judging by the reaction on social media since the promos first appeared, not everyone is in agreement. SHEILAS TIME TO SHINE ON BIG SCREEN

Sheila Chisholm with her Princes, Edward and Albert. Credit:Carl Court If all goes to plan, in about two years time the life of Australian socialite Sheila Chisholm and her romance with Prince Albert, who would later become King George VI, will finally be immortalised on film. A draft screenplay for the planned film, adapted from former Herald journalist Robert Wainwrights 2014 biography Sheila, by Samantha Strauss (who recently worked on Nicole Kidmans Nine Perfect Strangers series) and Tilda Cobham-Herve (who played Helen Reddy in I Am Woman), has now been completed. Early in the new year, producer Martha Coleman, who has been developing the project with Transmission Films Rosemary Blight and Screen Australia, is hoping to have financing, a director and casting all locked in for production in 2022. Coleman told PS there had been a lot of market interest in the film, which would focus on Chisholms relationship with Prince Albert, who was then known as Bertie.

Sheila Chisholms story is perfect for film ... she was a beautiful, intelligent and sharp-witted 18-year-old elegant tomboy, who left her rural homestead in NSW and sailed to London looking for a bigger life, Coleman enthused. Chisholm was eventually trapped in Europe by the outbreak of the great war and enlisted as a nurse in Egypt, where she impetuously married a devastatingly handsome but hopelessly drunk, gambling-addicted aristocrat named Francis St Clair-Erskine, or Lord Loughborough. Glamour: Sheila in 1935. Credit:Madame Yevonde As a distraction from her unhappy marriage Sheila took London society by storm and embarked on an intense affair with gentle Prince Albert  Bertie  the stuttering younger brother of handsome socialite Prince Edward. Knowing it could not last, Sheila and Bertie nonetheless fell deeply in love. Sheila influenced Bertie to emerge from the shadow of his charismatic brother and dominant father, helping him to embrace his own nobility and unwittingly giving him the confidence to become the king he did not know he would be.

Workers from China and Russia shake hands after the two ends of the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe highway bridge were joined together on May 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Jian)

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that he stands ready to maintain close contact with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in various forms in a bid to lead their countries towards deeper comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields.

Xi made the remarks when exchanging New Year congratulations with Putin, adding that in doing so, greater benefits will be brought to the two peoples and more positive energy injected into the turbulent and changing world.

Chinese medical experts pose for a photo before boarding a plane at an airport in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 11, 2020. (Photo by Xu Xu/Xinhua)

Noting that 2020 is an extraordinary year, Xi said the Chinese and Russian people have helped each other and worked together in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, writing a new chapter of good-neighborliness and friendship between the two countries.

In 2020, Xi said, the two sides launched the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation program, promoted the steady development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation under the condition of regular COVID-19 prevention and control, and achieved new progress in aligning the construction of the Belt and Road with the Eurasian Economic Union.

China and Russia also jointly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, demonstrating their firm determination to safeguard international fairness and justice, and making new contributions to building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added.

Photo taken on April 2, 2020 shows Chinese government's humanitarian aid at the Chkalovsky military airport in Moscow region, Russia. (Xinhua)

Xi said he and Putin in the past year have had several telephone conversations, jointly attended a series of multilateral summits via video link, had in-depth exchange of views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues, and reached new and important consensus, which the Chinese president speaks highly of.

Noting that the upcoming year is of special significance to bilateral relations, Xi said the two sides, centering on the theme of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, will vigorously promote the idea of a lasting friendship between the two countries, and envisage and enrich the development of China-Russia relations in the new era.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 17, 2020 shows a China-Europe freight train fully loaded with auto parts, mechanical facilities and garments bound for Moscow of Russia and Minsk of Belarus waiting for departure at Xiangtang railway port in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)

For his part, Putin extended his sincere New Year greetings to Xi, and wished the Chinese people happiness and good health.

In the past year, the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has been rapidly developing, Putin said, adding that the governments, legislatures and various departments of the two countries have maintained close communication.

The two countries, he noted, have also smoothly launched the large-scale program of the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation and maintained high-level development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the two sides have maintained close coordination and cooperation to jointly promote the settlement of regional and international hotspot issues, and work together within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, Putin said.

Noting that the next year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Putin said he believes that the two sides will continue to uphold the spirit of the treaty and jointly achieve fresh outcomes in Russia-China relations.

A crane loads containers at the Manzhouli Railway Station in Manzhouli, a land port on the China-Russia border, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Yu Jia)

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also exchanged New Year greetings.

In his message, Li said that China and Russia have made great efforts to overcome the impact of the pandemic and external challenges over the past year, and maintained the positive momentum in the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two countries also successfully held the 25th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian prime ministers and reached many important consensus, Li said.

Li said he is ready to further strengthen communication and cooperation with Mishustin, give full play to the coordinating role of the regular meeting mechanism with his Russian counterpart and promote a sustainable, sound and stable development of practical bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Mishustin said he believes that the regular meeting mechanism will further help implement the goals and tasks set by the two sides and push the bilateral cooperation to a higher level in the new year.

In his message, Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extended sincere greetings and best wishes to Putin and the Russian people.
COLUMBUS, OhioAs coronavirus cases once again rise in Ohio prisons, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that his administration is still working out when inmates and staff will be able to get vaccinated for the disease.

Thats a work in progress, the governor said during a televised coronavirus briefing, though he said prison staff are certainly going to be a high priority when we look at the next ranking for eligibility for the vaccine, which began being deployed around Ohio this week.

The eligibility rankings for the vaccine in general will be determined by considering how many lives can be saved and how effectively it would stop community spread, DeWine said, adding, Were open to people coming forward with ideas and suggestions.

During the first weeks of the coronavirus crisis this spring, the virus spread quickly through Ohio prisons. At one point in April, the Marion Correctional Institution was the number-one COVID-19 hotspot in the nation. The DeWine administration prioritized testing at prisons with outbreaks, revealing that many inmates who tested positive showed no symptoms.

While cases dipped in late summer, they spiked again in the fall at the states 28 prison facilities and throughout Ohio.

As of Tuesday, 3,092 Ohio prison employees in all have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to data from the state. Thats an increase of more than 80% from Nov. 8, when 1,700 staffers had positive test results, according to SEIU District 1199, the union representing many of the workers.

Coronavirus cases among inmates are also up, rising from 481 during the entire month of September to 500 during the first half of December, state statistics show.

As of Tuesday, 109 inmates have died of the coronavirus, as well as seven staffers.

The states prisons agency has taken a long list of steps to protect inmates and workers, from encouraging employees to work remotely if they can do so to deploying sanitation crews to regularly disinfect surfaces, said agency spokeswoman JoEllen Smith in an email.

Staff are tested at locations where positive cases have been identified, and wastewater is monitored weekly to detect signs of the virus, Smith stated. All inmates entering an Ohio prison undergo a health screening, including those returning from a court hearing.

The individuals who are still working inside of our prisons are essential for the safe operations of those facilities, and we appreciate the hard work they are doing every day, Smith said in a statement.

State prisons director Annette Chambers-Smith and other agency leaders are currently in discussions about vaccines for staff and inmates, Smith stated.

Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio sent DeWine a letter urging him to prioritize inmates to receive a coronavirus vaccine, noting theyre often unable to socially distance and share dining and bathroom facilities.

It is not only morally and legally imperative to prioritize the inoculation of prisoners, it is also pragmatic, ACLU of Ohio leaders wrote in the letter. The spread of disease in prisons, as in other incubator settings such as nursing homes, is a significant vector of disease to surrounding communities.

Read more Ohio coronavirus stories:

By Christmas, Ohio expected to have received over 400,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine: Gov. Mike DeWine

8,766 new coronavirus cases reported in Ohio, 103 more deaths: Tuesday update

Two Ohio lawmakers hospitalized with coronavirus

Evidence suggests Ohios feared post-Thanksgiving spike of coronavirus cases has not occurred, instead cases leveled off

Mapping Ohios 570,602 coronavirus cases as deaths reach historic highs, but hospitalizations level off
The Mumbai crime branch on Tuesday arrested a 21-year-old man and recovered a carbine, three pistols, three magazines and 15 live cartridges from him. Police said the accused, Pravin Borde, a native of Madhya Pradesh was sent by a person who deals in weapons, to deliver the firearms in Mumbai.

Inspector Sanjiv Gavade of unit 8 of the crime branch acted on a tip-off about a person coming to Mumbai to deliver weapons in Nirmal Nagar area of Bandra (East).

A trap was laid by police, and accused was nabbed near Bandra Terminus, on Thursday evening. He was carrying a bag, containing a Japanese carbine, three magazines, three pistols and 15 live cartridges. Value of the weapons is around 3.75 lakh, said deputy commissioner of police (crime branch) Akbar Pathan.

Borde was brought to the unit office in Andheri and placed under arrest. During interrogation, police claim to have obtained the name of the sender. A police team will soon visit Madhya Pradesh to nab him, said a crime branch officer.

A further inquiry is going on to check Bordes record. Borde was produced before a magistrate and has been remanded to police custody till January 4, added the officer.

Police are inquiring with Borde to trace the buyer and also trying to find out the purpose for which the consignment was brought to Mumbai.
This time last year I took my son to watch A Christmas Carol at the Gate Theatre. We see it every year either on stage or in the cinema, followed by volunteering at a soup run. As someone who grew up in a neighbourhood where Dobermann pinschers doubled up as a fashion accessory and personal security, this tradition has been my way of keeping Christmas real for my son who is fortunate enough never to have known hunger.

This year we switched the lights off, curled up with a bowl of popcorn on the sofa and watched the black-and-white version of the Dickens classic on DVD.

The impact of the scene where the charity collectors attempt to extract money from Scrooge never diminishes however many times I watch it. Affronted that the poor would shun workhouses, for which he paid his taxes, Scrooge admonished them  if they would rather die, theyd better do it, and decrease the surplus population.

Charles Dickenss words never felt so real, echoes of which prevail in political discourse that depicts poverty, homelessness and asylum as life choices. Equally, the Governments Living with Covid-19 strategy feels uncomfortably reminiscent of the free-market mantra survival of the fittest, compounded by the fact that it is our most vulnerable who have been hardest hit by Covid-19.

Its our elderly, Travellers, disabled, black and ethnic minorities, people in direct provision and those on the lowest wages, or no income  especially women  who are bearing the biggest burden of this pandemic. Its a fact that the WHOs Mike Ryan passionately flagged this week when he said Covid had ripped the bandages from an old wound exposing a deeply unfair, inequitable world.

Choices about allocation of resources, particularly during a time of crisis, are an indicator of Government priorities and serve to either deepen or alleviate social inequalities.

Some children thrown into poverty during the previous recession remain destitute and are struggling to cope with another crisis. One of them is Aisling, who my son and I met at last years soup run.

Having been mistreated for years, she left home at 16 and after a few failed foster-home placements ended up on the streets. That was 10 years ago. The last time she slept in a homeless hostel she was attacked and her only pair of shoes was stolen. A warm bed in a safe place is all Aisling wants. We couldnt give her that so we gave her a hot meal and a hug instead. There were no hugs this year.

Children like Aisling didnt cause the recession but over a decade later, theyre still paying the price for it whilst its architects, such as former politicians and bank regulators, had their pensions reinstated before Christmas.

This is a time when some parents had to choose between cold and hunger and around 2,642 children woke up homeless on Christmas day.

The taxpayer bailed out banks to the tune of 42bn (Micheal Martin didnt get that memo) for self-inflicted bankruptcy, but many show no mercy when customers face bankruptcy through no fault of their own. Family homes were, and continue to be, sold to vulture funds with no protections for distressed mortgage-holders. It was a choice to sink taxpayers money into the 1.7bn (and counting) childrens hospital and to fight Apple not to hand over 13bn in tax.

Yet in the middle of a health crisis, the choice was made to deny student nurses 14 an hour, not to adequately resource our public health doctors who are now so overwhelmed that theyre planning to strike. Instead of paying the living wage to the essential workers who keep our shelves stacked and our hospitals clean, our Government chose to award judges and themselves a pay increase of 2pc.

In A Christmas Carol, Dickens contrasts the greed and indifference of the rich with the powerlessness and deprivation of the poor. The emergence of the ragged emaciated children from beneath the ghost of Christmas Presents robe is an arresting scene. Called Ignorance and Want, Dickenss wrath was directed at the politicians and affluent of the day for wilfully ignoring the abject poverty in their midst.

Despite being the 14th richest country in the world and having the worlds fifth-highest concentration of super-wealthy residents, more than 689,000 people are living in poverty in Ireland, of whom more than 200,000 are children. On Christmas day, the charity Muslim Sisters of Eire served 350 hot meals and handed out survival kits in Dublin. They, like many more volunteers throughout the country, are there every week providing a safety net that the State has failed to deliver.

Charity, though vital, is not a sustainable solution to systemic inequalities caused by bad political choices. In 2020, almost 60 homeless people died in Dublin.

Dickens believed ignorance and want were the two social evils that posed the biggest threat to society and 173 years later, the fact that soup runs, survival kits and homelessness exist in Ireland suggests that were still haunted by their presence.
A group of up to 150 people have protested for the second consecutive day following the fatal shooting of George Nkencho.

Mr Nkencho 27, was shot multiple times by gardai outside his home in Clonee, west Dublin, on Wednesday.

Mr Nkencho was allegedly brandishing a knife and threatened gardai before he was shot by members of Blanchardstown Garda Armed Support Unit.

In a statement on Twitter, Mr Nkenchos sister Gloria said he was suffering from serious mental illness and those who knew him know the type of person he was, he was not a thug nor a criminal.

On Friday, a group of approximately 150 people held a candlelit vigil before marching from the Spire on Dublins OConnell street to Pearse street Garda station.

Protesters chanted no justice, no peace, say his name, George Nkencho and later, five shots killed him and f*** the police.

Expand Close People at a candlelit vigil in Dublin for George Nkencho, who was shot multiple times by gardai outside his home in Clonee, west Dublin, on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp People at a candlelit vigil in Dublin for George Nkencho, who was shot multiple times by gardai outside his home in Clonee, west Dublin, on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA)

Those gathered were dressed in black, wore face masks and largely adhered to social distancing measures.

Placards were held up with the words black lives matter and thug is not a synonym for black.

A range of people spoke at the gathering, most of them young people in their early 20s.

They were critical of gardai and also spoke out against Irelands direct provision system.

Expand Close Protesters hold placards saying no justice, no peace in protest at the killing of Mr Nkencho (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters hold placards saying no justice, no peace in protest at the killing of Mr Nkencho (Niall Carson/PA)

Approximately a dozen uniformed gardai were in attendance but kept their distance from the protesters, who remained peaceful throughout.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she understood the concern and upset the incident had caused.

She told RTE: I think everybody, including the guards, understand the concern and the upset that is currently there. So they are actively engaging with the community.

It is extremely important that we allow the process to take its course. GSOC (Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission) have already begun that investigation and obviously we need to ascertain all of the facts as to what happened.

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Whatsapp People protest outside Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin for Mr Nkencho (Niall Carson/PA)

Writing on Twitter, Ms McEntee said: Gardai are engaging with the local community and I know they understand their concerns and anguish.

We are fortunate to have very few fatalities related to policing in Ireland, but all are fully and independently investigated by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission.

GSOC is headed by a High Court judge, and their independent investigation has already begun into the events in Hartstown.

Gardai were called to a business premises in Hartstown on the Co Meath/Dublin border at 12.15pm on Wednesday.

In a statement, Garda said there was a chase on foot and the man threatened officers with a knife.

Expand Close Protesters gathered outside Pearse St Garda station (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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Members of the Armed Support Unit arrived at a scene in Manorfields Drive, Dublin 15, the statement said.

The Armed Support Unit were also threatened with a knife and implemented a graduated policing response where the use of less-than-lethal force options was initially administered in an effort to resolve the incident.

The less-than-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful, and a number of shots were discharged from an official Garda firearm at approximately 12.35pm.

It is understood that gardai unsuccessfully used a taser and pepper spray before the shots were fired.

Mr Nkencho was treated at the scene before being transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where he was pronounced dead.

The GSOC was notified of the incident and attended the scene. Investigations are continuing.

PA Media
US to oppose China's effort to impose its own Dalai Lama on Tibetans

Amidst warning by China, Tibetans to cast vote in January 3 elections

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: India will allow the Tibetan refugees to cast votes to elect the new political leader of the exiled community. This move comes in the wake of China warning the Indian media against playing the Tibet Card.

Thousands of Tibetans living in exile in India (TGiE), the United States, Europe and other countries will cast their votes on Sunday and on April 11 and this would send out a strong message to China.

Seven candidates who are keen to take over as the next Sikyong or President of the Tibetan Government in Exile based in India concluded a hectic round of campaigning on Thursday. The two candidates who will secure a maximum number of votes in the primary election will contest the final polling on April 11. The winner of the April 11 poll will take over as the political leader fo the exiled Tibetans for a period of 5 years.

Tibetan govt-in-exile lauds US President Donald Trump for new Tibet policy

The polling for the primary and final elections to the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE) will also take place simultaneously with that to elect the next president.

These elections are significant and they come in the wake of an endorsement by the United States.

US President Donald Trump had signed into law a bill that reaffirms the right of Tibetans to choose a successor to the Dalai Lama and calls for establishing an American consulate in Tibet, prompting China to warn that the act will seriously disrupt and hurt bilateral relations.

The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 modifies and re-authorises various programmes and provisions related to Tibet.

Trump signed the act last week as part of the massive $2.3 trillion package for the year-end bill to provide long-delayed coronavirus relief and fund the federal government.

China on Wednesday had warned the Indian media from playing the Tibet card, while terming it as an internal affair.

The Chinese Embassy here in a statement said that it is in the fundamental interests of China and India, as two neighbouring countries and emerging economies to enhance political mutual trust, properly manage differences and strive to return China-India relations to the track of healthy and stable development.

A strong message to China? Ram Madhav attends Tibetan soldiers funeral in Ladakh

"We hope some Indian media take an objective and fair stance on issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, grasp the highly sensitive nature of Xizang (Tibet) -related issues, look at Xizang's economic and social progress objectively, do more to help China-India bilateral ties move forward instead of advocating playing Tibet card to meddle in China's internal affairs," the spokesperson of the embassy said in the statement.

The embassy. also said the US Act interferes in China's internal affairs and violates the fundamental principles of international laws and basic norms governing international ties. China firmly opposes any country, organisation or individual supporting the anti-China separatist activities of the Tibetan independence forces in any form and under any pretext.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  After four decades of grinding combat in Afghanistan, peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban have raised at least a possibility that the long cycle of violence might someday end.

But that milestone is a long way off. The most recent round of discussions, which began in September, were riddled with bureaucratic hangups and monthslong debates over minor issues.

And though those talks resulted in an agreement on the principles and procedures that will guide the next round of peace negotiations, they came with a price. While the two sides met in Doha, Qatar, bloodletting on battlefields and in Afghan cities surged.

The talks resumed in early January, after a brief recess, but they have been stalled by a diplomatic stalemate amid escalating violence. Both sides are waiting for President Biden to decide whether to keep the remaining 2,500 U.S. forces in Afghanistan beyond the May 1 withdrawal deadline outlined in the February 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement.
Frances government has cast a favourable light on a reported bid by the father of Britains Prime Minister to take up French nationality, saying it shows how attached Britons are to the European Union that they are no longer part of.

Reports that Stanley Johnson, the father of Boris Johnson, is seeking to keep a foot in Europe by taking up French citizenship made headlines just as his son led Britains split on Thursday from the EU.

Britain left the European blocs vast single market for people, goods and services at 11pm UK time on New Years Eve.

Visiting Calais on Friday to inspect how the French port is adjusting post-Brexit, Frances minister for European affairs Clement Beaune described the citizenship application as emblematic of enduring British sentiment for Europe.

Expand Close Prime Minister Boris Johnson with his father Stanley (Stefan Rousseau/PA) / Facebook

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If Mr Johnsons father has a right to French nationality, wants to remain a European citizen and become a French citizen, then we will examine that, he said.

To me, this is a wink, or a sign, that lots of British people, in different ways, still love Europe.

There are many people in the United Kingdom for whom this is also a sad day, Mr Beaune added.

The elder Johnson, 80, is a former member of the European Parliament who backed remaining in the EU in Britains 2016 membership referendum.

He has since expressed support for his son as the Prime Minister led the UK out of the bloc.

French nationality would give the elder Johnson the automatic rights that other Britons have now lost, including being able to travel and live freely in all of the 27 EU countries.

Stanley Johnson told broadcaster RTL on Thursday that he was in the process of reclaiming his French identity.

It is not a question of becoming French. If I understand correctly, I am French. My mother was born in France. Her mother was completely French, as was her grandfather, he said.

So for me it is a question of reclaiming what I already have.

He added: I will always be European. That is certain.

You cannot tell the English: You are not European. Europe is always more than the common market, more than the European Union.

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While many are getting ready to pop champagne to ring in the new year, Rumer Willis is celebrating four years being clean and sober.

The 32-year-old actress and daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore took to Instagram on Thursday, sharing some new smiling snaps.

Willis, rocking a black retro Pink Floyd t-shirt and a gold nose ring, held up four fingers, each signifying a year of sobriety to date, while sending a heartfelt message to her 858K followers.

Four years: While many are getting ready to pop champagne to ring in the new year, Rumer Willis is celebrating four years being clean and sober

'4 Years Sober Today!!! So grateful for choosing myself above any need to distract or numb out,' Willis began.

'Especially this past year when so much has come up for not just myself but the world,' she added.

She added that she felt, 'immense gratitude that even when I have no escape from the feelings that come up no matter hard or painful they may be, I try my best to live through them and come out the other side.'

Grateful: '4 Years Sober Today!!! So grateful for choosing myself above any need to distract or numb out,' Willis began

Willis also admitted that 2020 brought, 'so many challenges,' though with each one, she chose to, 'rise to the challenge each and every time.'

'I am loving myself and showing myself that I am capable of getting through anything,' she continued.

Willis then reached out to her followers, especially those who are trying to get sober themselves, offering them some advice.

Challenge: Willis also admitted that 2020 brought, 'so many challenges,' though with each one, she chose to, 'rise to the challenge each and every time'

'For anyone and everyone who is struggling or has a desire to get sober know that it is not a one size fits all process but its one day at a time,' she said.

'I dont have all the answers, I know what has worked for me but always here to lend support or just listen.

Willis received supportive comments from friends like wardrobe stylist Maeve Reilly, actress Kathryn Gallagher and hairstylist Violet Teriti.

Support: Willis received supportive comments from friends like wardrobe stylist Maeve Reilly, actress Kathryn Gallagher and hairstylist Violet Teriti

Earlier this month, Willis expressed her anger after she was exposed to COVID-19 by someone not wearing a mask.

''It's not up for discussion anymore!' she posted to her Instagram Story. 'I don't really care what you want to do for yourself but for others WEAR A DAMN MASK!'

'I'm gonna be honest I'm pretty freaked out and angry. It's not that difficult to be a decent human being and protect yourself and others,' she added.
Ukraine's President gave his take on the country's most significant moments of the year in a stylized video released hours before 2021.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy touched on several key events, including the downing of the Ukrainian jetliner in Iran, the coronavirus pandemic and the release of Ukrainian soldier Vitaly Markiv from Italy.

He also noted meetings with foreign leaders, including U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"There were tears of pain and tears of pride. It was something we were ashamed of and something we were proud of," he told a group of children at the presidential palace.

Zelenskiy also invited people in Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea who follow Moscow time to "turn the clock back" and "be with us" for the New Year's celebrations.

"It's been almost an hour since you were told on TV that the New Year has come," he said.

"But I know it's been almost an hour since you've been waiting for us to celebrate the New Year together. As one family. As one citizenry. As one country."

(Image credit: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
After the recent confirmation of bird flu in Jhalawad district, around 50 birds including peacocks have been found dead in Kalwa village of Makrana sub-block in Nagaur district of Rajasthan.

A medical team is trying to cure around 50 peacocks while a post mortem was being conducted on 2 peacocks till the time of filing this report.

Kalwa sarpanch Dilip Singh confirmed that many peacocks were found dead under a banyan tree and the matter was reported to the authorities.

Didwana Ranger Arjun Ram said that one crow, five pigeons and a few more birds have been found dead. Also a few birds were found injured who are being treated.

Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal demanded that the state forest minister look into the issue and order a probe into the matter.

"Received the heart wrenching report on peacocks and birds being found dead in Makrana area of Nagaur district. Forest minister should look into the issue," he said in a tweet.

Mohanlal Meena, Chief Wildlife Warden told IANS, "I am unaware of the issue. Will collect information in this matter."

Bird flu was confirmed on Wednesday in a Jhalawad area where around 100 crows were found dead. The district administration has declared a zero mobility zone within one kilometre of the area to ensure the infection does not spread to other birds.

The virus was also detected in around 50 crows whose carcasses were found in Madhya Pradesh's Indore three days ago, putting the authorities on alert, a civic health official said on Friday. The authorities have now launched a drive to identify those with suspected flu symptoms in the area.

"Nearly fifty crows were found dead on the campus of Daly College on Tuesday. Some of the carcasses were sent for tests to Bhopal. They were found to be carrying the H5N8 virus," Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer Poornima Gadaria told PTI. A survey is being conducted to trace those with cold, cough and fever in the radius of five kilometers in the plush Residency Area where the college is situated, she said.

Suspected patients' swab samples will be tested, she added. Pramod Sharma, deputy director of Indore veterinary service, said that on Friday 20 more crows were found dead on Daly College's premises. The test results of these carcasses were awaited.

Indore district has already been affected worst by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Madhya Pradesh.
SPRINGFIELD -- As investigators continue to sift through the ashes of a fire that heavily damaged the Martin Luther King Jr. Presbyterian Church, the minister of the church announced a suspect in the fire is in police custody.

Fire investigators continue to say they have not determined if the blaze at the historic Black church was intentionally set. In the hours after the Monday morning fire, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi said the fire was highly suspicious.

But in a statement released by Sarnos office Thursday night, Rev. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery, pastor of the church on 14 Concord Terrace, said a suspect has been arrested.

The leaders of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Presbyterian Church (MLK Church) and I have been informed that an individual has been arrested in connection with the burning of the church. We understand that the investigation is ongoing, she said.

A few hours before Curry Averys statement was released, Sarno confirmed a person of interest was in custody, but said he had not been charged with setting the church on fire.

I have just been informed by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi that during the course of this investigation an individual has been arrested for unrelated crimes and other charges could be pending depending on the outcome of this investigation, he said.

The man, whose name was not immediately available, was arrested by another department Thursday. Springfield police had a warrant out for his arrest on multiple charges including attempted arson, malicious damage and other crimes, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman.

As I have stated previously there is zero tolerance with regards to any crimes of this nature. Further information will follow in this ongoing investigation. Again, in these situations, special attention will be given to houses of worship, Sarno said in writing.

Curry Avery thanked Sarno for keeping her informed daily about the progress of the investigation and for his promise to help rebuild the church. She also thanked local and federal law enforcement and the fire department for their work in the investigation.

Although we have suffered a tremendous loss and certainly believe that whoever committed this atrocity should be held accountable for their actions, we also recognize that the person is clearly a wounded soul. As such, we offer forgiveness, along with our prayers for his spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing, she said.

The fire, which was reported at about 5 a.m. heavily damaged the interior of the church. Preliminary estimates set the damage at $100,000, Fire Capt. Drew Piemonte said.

I want to thank community leaders and my fellow faith leaders who have expressed their concern for, and support of, our members and about the impact that this burning has on a community that is already besieged. I thank everyone else who has offered prayers, kind words, and support to the members of MLK Church, Curry Avery said.

The fire is being investigated by the city Arson and Bomb Squad and state troopers assigned to the state Fire Marshal. Within hours after the fire, federal agents with the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined the investigation, Calvi said.
A difficult year comes to a muted end

Most places in the world, from a virtually coronavirus-free New Zealand to an Ireland in lockdown, have now greeted the arrival of 2021.

In Auckland, a fireworks show and parties went on as usual. The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, enjoyed boisterous festivities. But in general, celebrations were muted  or virtual  as the world bade good riddance to a difficult year. In most cities, there were no roaring crowds, no gatherings for fireworks shows and, lets hope, no strangers kissing at midnight.

Though Madrid eased its curfew for the night from midnight to 1:30 a.m., people were told to stay at home as much as possible, to eat the traditional New Years Eve grapes while watching events on TV (and gathering in groups of no more than six). Londons Big Ben, largely silent in recent years as its clock tower underwent renovations, rang 12 times at midnight. And in Paris, the only people roaming the Champs-Elysees were some of the 100,000 police officers deployed around the country to prevent crowds from gathering.

Quote: In a televised address from the Elysee Palace, President Emmanuel Macron of France  recovering from his own bout of the virus  said that the year 2020 ends as it unfolded: with efforts and restrictions.
The United States marked the New Year on Friday by passing the extraordinary milestone of 20 million Covid-19 cases, after global celebrations welcoming in 2021 were largely muted by the pandemic.

The US has floundered in its efforts to quell the virus, which is spreading rapidly across the country and has already caused more than 347,000 deaths -- by far the highest national death toll.

Worldwide hopes that Covid-19 vaccines will bring a rapid end to the pandemic in 2021 have been shaken by the slow start to the US vaccination program, which has been beset by logistical problems and overstretched hospitals.

Nearly 2.8 million people in the US have already received their first jabs, but the figure fell well behind the 20 million inoculations that President Donald Trump's administration promised by the end of 2020.

The desperate race to vaccinate is set to dominate the coming year, with the coronavirus already having killed at least 1.8 million people since emerging in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

German firm BioNTech said Friday it was racing to ramp up production of its Covid-19 jab to fill a shortage left by the lack of other approved vaccines in Europe.

Countries including Britain, Canada and the United States approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine earlier, and have since also greenlighted jabs by US firm Moderna or Oxford-AstraZeneca.

"The current situation is not rosy, there's a hole because there's an absence of other approved vaccines and we have to fill this gap," BioNTech co-founder Ugur Sahin told Der Spiegel weekly.

- Waiting for the vaccine -

Criticism of the slow pace of the vaccine rollout has grown louder in recent days.

In Germany, senior doctors have complained that hospital staff are left waiting for vaccines despite being in a priority group.

France has seen similar complaints, prompting the government to announce that health workers aged over 50 could get the shot from Monday -- sooner than originally planned.

Story continues

The French government on Friday also announced that a nationwide nighttime curfew would be lengthened in 15 regions where infections are high. The curfew will begin at 6:00 pm rather than 8:00 pm, including in the Mediterranean city of Nice.

"The virus is continuing to spread... but with a disparity between regions," said a French government spokesman, confirming that theaters, cinemas and concert halls would not be able to reopen on January 7, the most recent earliest date given.

Also in France, some 2,500 partygoers attended an illegal New Year rave near Rennes, clashing with police who tried to stop it, authorities said.

But worldwide, normally extravagant midnight celebrations in cities such as Sydney, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Edinburgh were scaled back or cancelled, and crowds banned from attending.

Rio saw one upside: 89 percent less garbage on Copacabana beach, which is left clogged with trash each year after its New Year party.

"We were ready for any scenario. But congratulations to the people of Rio, who listened to the authorities' calls to avoid large crowds and stay home," said municipal sanitation chief Flavio Lopes.

- Post-holiday surge -

Travelers braving trains between London and Paris on the first day after Britain's exit from the EU customs union experienced additional checks but appeared more worried by the extra rules required for travel due to Covid-19.

"I wasn't supposed to be home for the holidays but there was an emergency. I bought my ticket at the last minute, with a test (for Covid-19) costing 200 pounds (225 euros, US$270)," said Stephanie Bapes, a 35-year-old Frenchwoman who lives in London.

Britain said Thursday that it had vaccinated almost 950,000 people, as a surge in coronavirus cases prompted the reopening of field hospitals.

Norway, which has one of the lowest infection rates in Europe, on Saturday will begin requiring Covid-19 tests upon arrival into the country.

Travelers from abroad must quarantine for seven days and test negative twice as part of the new restrictions, imposed after Norway recorded five cases of the new coronavirus variant that first emerged in Britain.

Experts believe the worst is yet to come globally, predicting a sharp rise in cases and deaths after weeks of holiday gatherings.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the US hit a record number of daily deaths on Wednesday when more than 3,900 people died of Covid-19.

President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on January 20, has criticized the troubled vaccine rollout and implored Americans to wear masks.

Under Trump, US authorities have given often mixed messages on mask-wearing, social distancing and shutdowns, and the outgoing president has repeatedly downplayed the risks.

But in his New Year's Eve message, Trump hailed his administration's response, saying, "Our most vulnerable citizens are already receiving the vaccine, and millions of doses are quickly being shipped all across our country."

The World Health Organization on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution.

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The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday that at least 971 children (nearly 1,000 babies) would be born in Cambodia on New Years Day.

Foroogh Foyouzat, UNICEF representative in Cambodia, who said this in a statement, added that the children would be among a cohort of 371,504 babies to be born around the world the same day.

According to the fund, the Cambodian babies are predicted to have a higher life expectancy than the previous generations, at 81.2 years.

We are excited that we will welcome a thousand beautiful new babies into Cambodia this New Years Day, Ms Foyouzat said.

2020 has been a challenging year for all, especially children.

Yet, Cambodia was successful in containing the pandemic and keeping Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases lower than most countries.

We are hopeful that the same trend can be maintained.

UNICEF will continue to re-imagine a better world for Cambodian children to grow up in.

Each of them deserves the chance to fulfil their potential in life, she added.

She said UNICEF had worked to advance the rights and wellbeing of children in Cambodia since 1952.

Throughout 2020, it said, UNICEF had supported the Cambodian government and partners to respond to the COVID-19 crisis by enabling distance learning for hundreds of thousands of students.

UNICEF also supported the safe re-opening of schools for 3.2 million children, and ensured COVID-19 safety messages reached more than 10 million people.

It also provided crucial sanitation and hygiene supplies to 4 million people, the statement said.

In 2021, UNICEFs response to the COVID-19 pandemic will move to the next stage of working with the government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on providing COVID-19 vaccines in Cambodia.

This, according to the statement, will be done through the WHOs COVAX facility.

(Xinhua/NAN)
New Delhi: The Government of India (GoI) has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the demolition of a Hindu Temple in Pakistans northwestern province Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.

The protest was lodged on Thursday with Islamabad via diplomatic channels. It may be noted that a Hindu temple was vandalised and set ablaze by a mob in Karak in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.

The incident sparked protests and drew strong condemnation from the human rights activists and the minority Hindu community in Pakistan. Pakistans Hindu community also staged protests in the aftermath of the demolishment of the temple which was over 100 years old.

Many arrests have been made by local authorities in connection to the incident. The Pakistani Supreme Court has also taken note of the development and take up the case next week.

Interestingly, the provincial government is ruled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is also the ruling Party of the country. The temple has been the target of radical Islamists in the past as well. It was demolished in 1997 and later reconstructed again in 2015.

The demolishing of the temple comes even as the situation of the minorities in the country continue to deteriorate. Multiple cases of abduction of Hindu, Sikh and Christian girls have dominated the headlines throughout the Year 2020.
Trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would begin on January 1st 2021, with a market of 1.



2 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion would usher in a new era of development.



So far more than thirty countries of the 54 who have signed the AfCFTA agreement and have thus far ratified it and are full state parties to the agreement.



The AfCFTA should be made to work as it is the continents only path to sustainable development, David Luke, Coordinator of the Economic Commission for Africas (ECA) African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) has said in a webinar.



He said all societies only developed when their productive capacities, productivity and competitiveness were expanded, driven by trade, and Africa could not be an exception.



Lets not underestimate the importance of this AfCFTA initiative, Mr. Luke said, adding that Theres no plan B, we have to make this AfCFTA work.



Revenues from trade were in multiples of receipts from sources like investments, remittances, foreign direct investment and foreign aid, he said.



The AfCFTA aims to create the world's largest free trade area with the potential that brings together more than 1.2 billion people with a GDP of over $2.5 trillion.



It has the potential to generate a range of benefits through economy of scale, trade creation, structural transformation, productive employment, and poverty reduction.



The agreement entered into force on 30 May 2019 after the treaty was ratified by 22 countries  the minimum number required by the treaty. To date, 34 countries have submitted their instrument of ratification to the African Union Commission (AUC).



Trading is due to commence on January 1st, next year after the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to be postponed from July 1st, this year.



Yinka Adeyemi, ATPC Senior Adviser appealed to journalists not to allow external forces to take control of the AfCFTA narrative by amplifying disputes that would arise from the agreement rather than emphasising the opportunities the agreement would bring.



AfCFTA is our own story to tell; we must not allow others to take control of the narrative, he said.



The ATPC, the ECA has been working with the AUC and member states to deepen Africa's trade integration and effectively implement the agreement through policy advocacy and national strategy development.



The ECA also works closely with the International Trade Centre (ITC), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and a selection of independent trade experts with the financial support of the European Union (EU) to support its implementation across the continent.



The AfCFTA is anchored on the philosophical and intellectual foundation of a Pan-Africanism and a good sense of advancing the imperatives.



Africa is on the cusp of a historic milestone, which started when the AfCFTA was signed in Kigali, Rwanda in March 2018.



Today, 41 countries/customs unions have submitted their tariff offers, including the EAC and ECOWAS who submitted their offers in the last few days. This positions the AfCFTA for a truly commercially meaningful start of trading on January 1.



Glowing tribute must be paid to the unwavering leadership and commitment of President Mahamadou Issoufou, the Champion and Leader of the AfCFTA.



Africa continues to be trapped in a colonial economic model, which requires that we aggressively implement the AfCFTA as one of the tools for effecting a fundamental structural transformation of Africas economy and placing Africa on a path of long term industrial development.



Now is the time to take action to dismantle this colonial economic model by accelerating our industrial development objectives.



For the AfCFTA to be inclusive and to ensure shared growth across the continent; women, young Africans and SMEs have to be at the heart of its implementation.



AfCFTA is partnering with the UNDP to ensure that the Agreement contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2030. The Afro-Champions deployment of a digitally enabled platforms to connect SMEs, women in trade and young entrepreneurs to new markets on the African continent, is another plus.



In revitalising Africas economy, particularly the services sector  AVRIVA  the Africa CDC Trusted Travel Initiative is critical. Indisputably, Afreximbank has been a strong strategic partner to the AfCFTA.



A Pan-African Payments and Settlement Platform has been launched in 2019 in Niamey, with the additional development of an Adjustment Facility, which are both instruments that would support the implementation of the AfCFTA puts Africa in readiness to roll.



Again, fruitful discussions held with Zenith Bank about a trade portal and Standard Bank about the establishment of a US$1 billion Trade Finance Facility, which would be aimed at expanding partnerships among SMEs primarily have been assured.



The exploration of the possibility of this Trade Finance Facility being jointly underwritten by governments, African banks and African multilateral development institutions. As much progress as was made, integrating 55 markets would be difficult, it is a daunting task but collective Africa will succeed as Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The trial was conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital which is a part of the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN), funded by the National Institutes of Health. The principal investigator for the study and lead author of the paper was Lindsey Baden, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at the Brigham and an expert in vaccine development for viral diseases.Baden said,The study enrolled over 600 participants enrolled at the Brigham and 30,420 adult participants at 99 U.S. sites. Only those participants who were 18 years old or older and had no known history of COVID-19 infection but whose locations or circumstances put them at appreciable risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or high risk of severe COVID-19 were eligible for the study.Between July 27 and Oct. 23, 2020, the participants received their first injection which was followed by a second injection 28 days later.The secondary analyses showed that the vaccine's efficacy was similar across groups of key interest like those who already had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at the time of enrollment (indicating previous infection with COVID-19) and among those who were 65 years of age or older. In the placebo group, thirty patients developed severe COVID-19.Following the administration of dose, the participants were monitored closely for adverse events in the weeks following their injection and the data will be collected on any serious adverse events or adverse events that require medical attention through two years post-injection.Mild reactions to the vaccine were seen in half of the recipients which included fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, and headaches, more often seen after the second dose. These started about 15 hours after the vaccine administration and resolved after two days without any consequences. The number of adverse events reported in the placebo and vaccine groups were similar.Baden said,Source: Medindia
"In Bermagui [NSW] people were just packing up and getting out when they could. "Our friends who left last night told us it took them six hours to get across, they were 30 kilometres from the border and slowly crawled. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "We were a little bit confused as to when the cut-off point was to come back without having to quarantine. It was just crazy because we were really only given seven hours' notice, that's why everyone panicked." The border closure has even split up some Victorian families who chose to return at different times.

Rachelle Connor, from Surrey Hills, drove back to Victoria from regional NSW with her three sons on New Year's Eve after the announcement that the border would be closing. But her husband, Peter, and daughter Genevieve stayed behind as they had been in Sydney on December 19, which meant they were not able to get a permit to come home. They now face an uncertain wait for the border to reopen, even though they had been in areas previously considered a green zone. "We're thinking potentially weeks [until they can return]," she said. "Making things worse was the confusion of how the closure was announced, with DHHS struggling to deal with phone calls asking for clarification.

Loading "We thought if they elected to go into hotel quarantine that they could come back," she said. "I guess its just the unknown, feeling like you can't trust the information you're getting. You stick to the rules then they slap this thing at you." The announcement of the border closure on Thursday afternoon prompted thousands of Victorians on summer trips to NSW to rush home, causing bottlenecks at checkpoints that had been set up across the border. Travellers reported being stuck for hours trying to cross. Police officers resorted to waving cars with Victorian number plates through border checkpoints to alleviate the traffic crush.

Deputy Police Commissioner Rick Nugent said public health authorities deemed it the safest method to deal with the dangers of leaving children and elderly people waiting in cars for hours. "When its really clear it's a holidaymaker, Victorian plates, a whole family, the risk is low," he said. A photograph from the town of Eden, about 40km north of the NSW-Victorian border, at 8pm on New Year's Eve. He said every car with NSW or non-Victorian license plates was checked. By lunchtime on Friday, Victorian police said the average wait time at border crossings was 15 minutes.

Readers who wrote to The Age and Sydney Morning Herald overnight said they moved at snail's pace as cars rushed to the border en masse, sometimes on single-lane highways. Social media posts from holidaymakers returning to Victoria reported delays of up to six hours. Mark Bernhard wrote: "Took six hours last night, from joining the queue at 10pm to get through crossing at Genoa. Absolute debacle, but police doing an exceptional job. Who signed off on the logistics and have they learned any lessons? Do they care about the inconvenience and ruined holidays with hours' notice?" Andrew Grange said he "joined the traffic on the Cobb highway three kilometres from the Echuca bridge and moved 100 metres in an hour. A number of people are out [of their cars] walking their dogs." Chelsea Dabner said: "A friend of mine is 20 kilometres from Genoa border and the line is not moving. They are trying to get across by midnight."

Loading Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said anyone waiting in line at 11.59pm on Friday evening would be allowed to pass through. "If you're in NSW and you want to be back in Victoria you need to leave now," he said. "Please prepare for a lengthy wait at the border so make sure you have fuel, water, food and whatever you need to isolate safely when you get home." Victorians will be turned away at the border if they arrive in queues after midnight and will not be allowed to enter hotel quarantine unless they had exceptional circumstances, Mr Weimar said.

"We need to close the border because we do not wish to continue to import high-risk COVID cases back into Victoria  We do not think that would be right or fair for the Victorian community," Mr Weimar said. "[This] is a very challenging thing to do and we do not ask it lightly." "Let's be very clear  we do not have capacity to put hundreds of people into hotel quarantine because they elected to come home late. "If youre going to come home, come home today. If youre not, thats fine, but were not planning to provide alternative accommodation for you.

Loading "If there are people whove gone to NSW, we did not design and set up a hotel quarantine system to enable people whove gone on holidays in NSW to come back a bit later." Were not running a hotel quarantine scheme for convenience. Weve been very clear for a number of weeks now around the risks of travelling to NSW, Mr Weimar said. On December 21, announcing the border closure to people from NSW hotspots, Premier Daniel Andrews said "as a returning Victorian [if] you arrive after midnight Monday then you will go into mandatory hotel quarantine". There are about 70 people in Victorian quarantine hotels who had returned from NSW and, for differing reasons, could not quarantine in their Victorian homes or find accommodation in NSW.

One returning traveller, Jessica, said the border controls were not what her friends expected after they drove back from NSW without being questioned about movements, having carefully avoided hotspots. "How is this going to stop people who won't tell the truth about where they have been? Another friend wasnt even stopped, just waved through at the border." The border troubles caused an influx of calls to the Victorian Health Department's hotline. The department said in a tweet late on Thursday that it understood the situation was stressful and directed people to a website. Anyone who enters Victoria from NSW must now get tested and isolate for two weeks at their home.

Health Minister Martin Foley warned on Thursday morning, before the government announced the "hard" border closure, that Victorians currently in NSW needed to return immediately if they wanted to be able to return home. The announcement came after eight cases were recorded in Victoria in two days and as 10 cases were recorded in NSW on Thursday. The Victorian outbreak is likely to have been set in motion by Victorian who had returned from NSW and dined at a Thai restaurant with others on December 21. "You do not want to be caught on the wrong side of a rapidly evolving situation," Mr Foley said.

Loading "This is a very serious situation. Victorians who have sacrificed so much are not going to go back to a situation where we faced what we did in the past winter. Rules will soon be announced by the state government to allow travel across the border by residents of border communities and arrangements for freight will remain in place. Albury councillor Murray King told Nine News on Thursday he hoped "both the Acting Premier of Victoria and the Premier of NSW realise the impact these decisions have on local people and the way they do business." Mixed messages: Victorians and hotel quarantine December 21 Premier Daniel Andrews: "If however as a returning Victorian you arrive after midnight Monday then you will go into mandatory hotel quarantine." DHHS text to Victorians in NSW: "From 00:01am Tuesday 22 December, anyone entering Victoria will be required to enter into Victoria's Hotel Quarantine Program for 14 days" December 31 Acting Premier Jacinta Allan, asked if returning Victorians who miss the deadline would need to enter hotel quarantine: Well, they are the arrangements that are currently in place for the existing red zone  so yes. January 1 Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar: "Let's be very clear - we do not have capacity to put hundreds of people into hotel quarantine because they elected to come home late  Were not running a hotel quarantine scheme for convenience. Weve been very clear for a number of weeks now around the risks of travelling to NSW.
Taiwan is ready to have "meaningful" talks with China as equals as long as they are willing to put aside confrontation, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday, offering another olive branch to Beijing in her New Year's speech.

Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which has ramped up military activity near the island.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

China says it is responding to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei, angered at growing U.S. support for the self-governed island. Beijing views this a precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence, a red line for China.

Speaking at the presidential office, Tsai said that in the past year, Chinese military activity near Taiwan has threatened peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

"I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait relations we will not advance rashly and will stick to our principles," Tsai said.

"As long as the Beijing authorities are determined to defuse antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, in line with the principles of reciprocity and dignity, we are willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue," she added, echoing comments she made in October in her national day speech.

China, which cut off a formal talks mechanism in 2016 after she first won office, has repeatedly rejected Tsai's advances, saying she has to first accept Taiwan is part of China, something Tsai has refused to do.

Tsai expressed her hope that once the COVID-19 epidemic is under control, "normal and orderly exchanges to increase understanding and reduce misunderstandings" between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can resume.

While there was no direct response from Beijing, Liu Jieyi, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in his new year's message they would stand by the "one China" principle.

"Only by eliminating the scourge of 'Taiwan independence' can there be peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Switching to English, Tsai said she was deeply grateful for the international community's continued backing for Taiwan.

"Our democracy is stronger because of your support."

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill)

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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The coronavirus is now rampant in the community, according to HSE CEO Paul Reid. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

The coronavirus is now rampant in the community, according to HSE CEO Paul Reid.

With cases likely to reach 3,000 per day and the health service on high alert, HSE CCO Colm Henry has also warned that it is out of control and that everybody you meet should be treated as if they have the disease.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1, Paul Reid said, The virus is absolutely rampant now in the community. Everybody is at extreme risk of contracting the virus.

Our health service is on what we would call now a high alert.

He said that the health system is built for managing viruses, but not a pandemic, and just cant cope with the number of tests being conducted each day.

35,000 swabs were taken and 13,000 people were contacted for a virus test as close contacts yesterday.

Mr Reid said that the most symptomatic people are now being prioritised.

The country is headed for 3,000 cases per day.

The real picture over the last few days is most likely getting close to 3,000 cases per day and thats the extent of the virus that were dealing with.

When we get to these levels, it has a severe impact across a whole set of areas, not just our systems, the health service, and the volume that any system can cope with.

HSE CCO Colm Henry told Today with Katie Hannon on RTE Radio 1 that 15,000 people with symptoms per day are now being referred by GPs for testing.

He said that people should act as if everyone they meet has the virus.

Act as if everybody you meet has the disease. The disease prevalence rate in the community are extremely high and are increasing exponentially, he said.

We know the virus is out of control, he said.

He also said that there is data that the more transmissible UK variant of the virus has shown that there are more positive cases in children.

"Theres no suggestion to date that this new variant is more virulent in the case that is causes more severe disease in children, just that theres more cases.

"Every battle has to have some cause worth fighting for and surely education and healthcare surely are two things worth fighting for, he added.

Meanwhile, the testing system for Covid-19 is buckling under the third wave, with contacts of positive cases told they will no longer get a test.

CMO Dr Tony Holohan said symptomatic people have to be regarded as a higher priority than those who are close contacts, with demand for testing rocketing.

Close contacts of Covid-positive cases will no longer be advised to get tested themselves in a bid to take pressure off the system.

Independent.ie has also learnt GPs have been told to ensure only those who require a test are referred.

Read More

One source said there had been chaos with many people turning up at testing centres without referral.

It comes against the backdrop of rising intensive care numbers and deaths linked to the disease.

New Years Eve brought more grim figures with another 12 deaths linked to Covid-19 and an additional 1,620 confirmed cases.

However, health officials believe the number of confirmed cases in recent days has been under-reported by an estimated 4,000. The time lag is being linked to a surge in tests after a quieter few days over Christmas.

Nphets Dr Philip Nolan said the tests were not necessarily cases and still have to be validated: Many of them will turn into cases. We estimate that there is somewhere in the region of 4,000 positive cases in the last two to three days which have yet to be formally confirmed.

Amid the alarming rise, people who are close contacts of positive cases are being asked to restrict their movements for 14 days. The HSE has asked people to stay at home and behave as if they have the virus and are contagious.

In a letter sent on Wednesday to GPs in Dublin and nearby counties, the HSE said: Since December 23 there has been a notable increase in the number of service users attending the Covid test centre without a referral.

This is putting significant pressure on the efficient operations of the testing services and is subsequently leading to long delays and poor user experience.

I am writing to you to request your support and assistance to ensure that only people who require a test are referred by you and advised that only they should present themselves at a test centre.

Yesterday, Dr Holohan said: Given the extent of transmission of the disease we have is very, very large it must be regarded as a higher priority than the testing of contacts.

So its simply about selecting that as the higher priority for the individuals, and the people who are then identified as close contacts of any cases that are identified will be advised to subject themselves to restriction of movement for a full 14 days.

We wont be in a position to offer them a test at this point in time.

He said the lack of information from testing close contacts will not impede Nphet.

Dr Nolan, chairman of the Nphet Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, warned that if transmission of the virus is not suppressed, Ireland could face 3,000 cases a day by January 23.

The Irish Independent revealed two-thirds of Covid-19 deaths in December were related to outbreaks of the virus in hospitals and nursing homes. There were 101 deaths from coronavirus, 33 associated with outbreaks in hospitals and the same number linked to nursing homes.

Dr Nolan said: If we fail to suppress the virus, we would face an intolerable situation where numbers in hospital could increase as high as 1,500 to 2,000 people by the end of January. Thats simply untenable. Failure to supress transmission leaves us in far too stark a scenario to be acceptable.

The HSE has confirmed plans to vaccinate 20,000 people next week, including healthcare workers and nursing home residents across all seven hospital groups. The public are being asked to remain at home, apart from travel for work, education or other essential purposes.

The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), the countrys largest medical virology lab which normally operates from 8am to 6pm, closed on Christmas Day and will reopen on Tuesday. An on-call service has been in operation since December 25. The HSE said the lab normally processes around 700 swabs per day.

In a statement, the HSE said: The HSE processes between 10,000 and 20,000 tests per day based on demand. Different laboratories are used to varying levels based on projected demand each day. The HSE operates a modelling system that looks at demand on a daily basis and adjusts capacity accordingly.

It added: The NVRL were not required from Friday 25 to Tuesday 29. This has no negative impact on testing responses as we are still working within our available capacity.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has warned it may be necessary to extend Level 5 restrictions past the end of January.

The Fine Gael minister described the challenge ahead of trying to tackle the latest wave as a "significant one".

"We have taken the decision in a way that's consistent with Nphet to move to a full Level 5 set of restrictions until the end of January and it may be necessary to go even beyond that," he said.

He rejected claims that the reopening of hospitality and allowing home visits in December was a mistake and caused the surge in Covid-19 cases.

He said it was a "misreading" of the situation to suggest there was a divide between the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) and the Government.

"The pace of the third wave of the spread of this virus has taken everybody by surprise," he told RTE Radio 1's Morning Ireland.

He said the relationship between Government and Nphet, and the decisions that have been made on the back of that relationship, by and large, have saved many many lives and have kept the spread of the virus under control where possible.

"Of course, there have been some mistakes made, but we are now in the teeth of a third wave and Nphet and Government are working together, but Government must make decisions," Mr Coveney said, adding Nphet's advice is taken "very seriously".

Read More

Irish Independent
Pro Australian surfer Mikey Wright has been caught on camera saving a person swept away in a strong current and rough waves in Hawaii.

Wright was sitting on the beachfront, believed to be at Oahu's North Shore, when he witnessed a beachgoer being swept away after a set cleaned up the beach. They were quickly overwhelmed in the current.

Fellow beachgoers could be seen attempting to reach the person when Wright is heard to say "He's gonna need to get saved".

"You can't save him," a woman said back to Wright, before the Aussie hands over his phone, which is still filming, jumps the fence to the sand and runs into the surf.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
I really hope that this year, people will be kinder to themselves when it comes to the idea of, like, creating a fresh start, Warrington says. And rather than feeling the need to punish themselves for doing the wrong thing, being bad, overindulging and all that stuff, I hope that people might come to this kind of like a fresh start with asking, How can I be kind to myself and look after myself better in the coming year?
Some constituents in Ledzokuku constituency, it may be recalled gave reasons why they voted against their Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye.



According to some of them, the MP was not attending functions like naming ceremonies and funerals in the constituency, and even when he did, his envelop was not fat enough.



In an interaction on Peace FM, Dr Okoe Boye who doubles as the Deputy Health Minister reacted to these claims.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Huawei has pulled Tencent games like Arena of Valor from its app store because of a big change Tencent made in how the companies work together, according to a Bloomberg report. Huawei dominates the Chinese mobile market, accounting for 43 percent of smartphone shipments last quarter. Tencent, meanwhile owns the companies behind League of Legends and Clash of Clans, while operating local versions of games like PUBG and Monster Hunter: World. As such, the dispute could impact a lot of mobile gamers in the nation.

Huawei told Bloomberg that its legal department recommended the decision because Tencent was asking to halt cooperation. Tencent, meanwhile, said that an agreement between the companies expired before a new one could be struck. All its titles disappeared from Huaweis Chinese store early this morning (January 1st).

Mobile gamers in China have seen a lot of games disappear recently for multiple reasons. For instance, Apple just pulled 39,000 games in its App Store because they lacked an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) from the Chinese government. Many Western titles were included in the purge, including Assassins Creed Identity and NBA 2K20, leaving just 74 of the top 1,500 paid games.

As usual in cases like this, its the users who end up suffering. We are communicating and negotiating with Huaweis mobile game platform for a solution, and hope to resume our services soonest possible, Tencent said in a statement.

Update (11:30 AM ET): Reuters reports that the Tencent games have been restored after further negotiations, with a statement from the company that both sides will continue to work together to bring better experiences and services to consumers.
The Very Reverend Solomon Bruce, Superintendent Minister-in-charge of the Old Tafo Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana (MCG), has advised Ghanaians to strive to cultivate a positive attitude towards national development.



That, he noted, was necessary since pessimism and lukewarm attitude to work served as obstacles to realizing the development potentials of any society.



We need to be optimistic and serious in whatever we do as people, because our destiny lies in our hands, he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), on the sidelines of an end-of-year service by the Church at Old Tafo in the Ashanti Region.



According to the Superintendent Minister, the focus should be on working together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those relating to the environment since the very survival of mankind was dependent on it.



The way we treat our environment is critical to our life, he observed.



He cautioned the citizenry, therefore, to nip in the bud practices that tend to pollute the air and water bodies as well as other natural resources.



The service was to usher in the New Year (2021), and pray for the nation and her leaders, the citizenry, the vulnerable, and the poor.



The congregation also prayed for peaceful co-existence, unity and tolerance amongst the people.



Very Rev. Bruce indicated that the New Year had its own challenges, reminding the people that there has never been a problem-free year in the annals of mankind.



However, the onus lied on the people to resolve to work together to surmount these challenges by finding solutions to the prevailing conditions, he stated.



He stressed the need for the leadership of the nation to foster good development policies and programmes to help alleviate poverty while creating wealth amongst the citizenry.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A shocking spike in Queensland's annual road toll has left police vowing to do everything possible to stop more deaths in 2021.

Fifty-seven more people lost their lives in 2020 than in 2019, a year with a record low death toll of 217 deaths. Across 2020, 276 people died on Queensland roads.

About 40 per cent of Queensland's fatal crashes across 2020 involved people not using seat belts. Credit:Joe Armao

The results came as two people were killed on the roads over New Year's night, one a 35-year-old woman in a single-vehicle crash near Bundaberg and the other a 21-year-old Sunshine Coast man in a suspected hit-and-run.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Ray Rohweder said people not using seatbelts, speeding, driving under the influence or using mobile phones, and driving at speed on regional roads were key contributors to the annual death toll.
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Less than two days before 2021 was ushered in, another business in north Alabama closed its doors permanently due to the pandemic.

Gigi's Cupcakes in Huntsville was among the latest business casualties of the pandemic.

Several people wait in line outside of Gigi's Cupcakes on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. The bakery closed permanently due to impacts from the ongoing pandemic. Several people wait in line outside of Gigi's Cupcakes on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. The bakery closed permanently due to impacts from the ongoing pandemic.

News of the closure brought dozens of people to the bakery on Wednesday, including Jeffrey Dobbs, whose wife told him about it that morning.

"It's just a shame to see all of these businesses that are having to suffer because of the pandemic now," Dobbs said.

He has fond memories of the shop and its cupcakes, including using them to celebrate his 15-month-old son's first birthday.

"We actually got him Gigi's Cupcakes for his birthday and we let him smash it on our kitchen table and make a big mess. So, it's sad to see this place go. We were looking forward to that for his second birthday," Dobbs said.

Gigi's operated in Huntsville since 2009, but was one of several small businesses that was forced to close in 2020.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau published its latest data set from Phase Three of its Small Business Pulse Survey. In Alabama, the most recent week shows that 29.7 percent of businesses surveyed reported a large negative effect due to the pandemic.

That number has increased since late November and is the highest it's been since late June.

This most recent week of data also show that 44.9 percent of surveyed businesses are seeing a moderate negative effect and 21 percent are seeing little or no effect.

For some folks like Stephanie Steele, the closure of Gigi's was sad, but not shocking given how difficult the year has been for small businesses, especially many in the food industry.

"We've actually been doing what we can to support them, to try and keep them open, but it takes more than just one family to come and keep them alive," Steele said.

While most businesses have been able to stay afloat during the pandemic, many like The Wine Cellar have also endured their share of hardships.

Owner Annette Birchfield said they had to reduce their stock and eliminate close interactions like wine tastings and their in-person Wine 101 classes.

"I have so many regulars who want to come back and they want to be here, but we just don't feel comfortable. I want to just make sure everyone stays safe, but yeah...it's been tough," Birchfield said.

She said Christmas was helpful since they were able to see gift baskets and bottles of wine, but she said small businesses are being hurt now by people getting a lot of their goods through large market competitors, like Costco and Amazon.

Birchfield said that makes it all the more painful to see small businesses, like Gigi's, shutter at times like these.

"It broke my heart when you told me that because we used to go there all the time and that was my dad's favorite place. He's sick and so I went and got him a dozen cupcakes just about a month ago for his birthday. So yeah, it's hard, it's so sad to watch these small businesses just not be able to make it," Birchfield said.

She added that the best way to ensure that small businesses survive the pandemic is to find creative ways to support them and to shop locally as much as possible instead of relying on large chains.

Back at Gigi's Dobb's order was among the last in the store's final hours before closing. He believes that everyone needs to step up their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 so that local businesses can come back more efficiently.

"I believe that not a lot of people are taking it seriously, as I was before until, like I said, I looked out the window and there it was: shutting places down and taking lives," Dobbs said.

"I think that the masks are helping, social distancing is helping and better sanitation methods are helping, but I feel like we still have a long way to go, even with the vaccine coming."
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The United Kingdom formally left the European Union's after 48 years as the transition period ended on Thursday night. Brexit, which has dominated politics on both sides of the Channel since 2016, became a reality as Big Ben struck 11:00 pm in London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described it as an 'amazing moment' for the country and said that the country now has their freedom in their own hands. A free trade agreement sealed on Christmas Eve after months of tense negotiations ensures that Britain and the 27-nation EU can continue to buy and sell goods without tariffs or quotas. Watch the full video for all the details.
Taiji health center opens in Barcelona

By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-12-31 17:12

To further promote traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) overseas, the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine has opened a branch of its Taiji (Tai Chi) Health Center in Barcelona. The licensing ceremony was held online through Zoom.

Jointly established by the university and the European Foundation for Chinese Medicine, the branch, following the first overseas center in Greece, is to bring traditional Chinese health practices to a wider range of people in the post-pandemic era.

Over the past two years, the two sides have cooperated closely: for example, the Taiji Health Center launched a Chinese-English version of video courses on traditional Chinese health practices when the world was severely engulfed by the raging pandemic.

After the licensing ceremony, Chinese and foreign medical experts held a discussion on the effects of TCM and Taiji on stress control and pandemic prevention.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 04:55:22|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang (L), Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed (C) and Egyptian Assistant Minister of Health for Public Health Initiatives Mohamed Hassani attend the signing ceremony of a letter of intent in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 31, 2020. China and Egypt signed on Thursday a letter of intent for mutual cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

CAIRO, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China and Egypt signed on Thursday a letter of intent for mutual cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang signed the letter, on behalf of the National Health Commission of China, with Mohamed Hassani, Egyptian assistant minister of health for public health initiatives, said the Chinese embassy in Cairo in a statement.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed, the statement said.

Liao said that the signing of the letter will strongly promote the cooperation on research, development, production and use of coronavirus vaccines between the two countries' relevant institutions.

China and Egypt have helped each other amid the menacing pandemic, the ambassador said, adding that the signing of the letter of intent is the embodiment of the joint efforts by China and Egypt to build a health community.

He stressed that people of all countries have the right to obtain vaccines and medicines, pointing out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

"Chinese vaccines are undergoing phase III clinical trials in many countries, and they are progressing smoothly. China has approved the emergency use of the vaccines in the country, and there have been no serious adverse reactions," Liao said.

The ambassador emphasized that China has made a firm commitment that it will serve the vaccines as a global public product and supply them to the world at a fair and reasonable price, contributing to the realization of the availability and affordability of the vaccines in developing countries.

For her part, the Egyptian health minister said that the Egypt-China relations are particularly friendly, and cooperation in the health field has been further expanded.

"China has given full play to the joint efforts of the government and enterprises to firmly support and assist Egypt during the fight against the epidemic, and Egypt highly appreciates that," Zayed said.

"As a country with a large population in the region, Egypt has a very sincere desire to carry out anti-epidemic cooperation with China, including vaccines," she said, noting that Egypt looks forward to China's continued support.

On Dec. 10, Egypt received the first batch of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine to help fight the COVID-19 epidemic.

The batch of the vaccine, developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group, or Sinopharm, came from the United Arab Emirates. Enditem
City approves first reading of temporary medical marijuana ordinance

With state officials still putting together the oversight rules for medical marijuana establishments, local governments need temporary ordinances.
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A shopper has divided the internet after being left scratching her head over an Aldi cashier's 'ridiculous' request.

The Australian mother, who has been a regular customer at her local store for a year, was confused when the checkout operator asked her to unpack her groceries halfway down the conveyor belt instead of at the top.

She said this made no sense and put customers at risk of violating social distancing, because they would need to step closer to those queuing behind to fill space at the start of the belt.

'Ok I've got a question for all you Aldi lovelies - when you get to the checkout do you start to unpack your trolley at the start of the conveyor belt or halfway down?' she wrote in Aldi Mums Facebook group.

Scroll down for video

A mother was shopping at an Aldi supermarket in Australia when the checkout operator asked her to unpack her groceries halfway down the conveyor belt instead of at the top (file image)

Poll Where do you unload your shopping trolley? At the start Halfway down Where do you unload your shopping trolley? At the start 594 votes

Halfway down 245 votes Now share your opinion





Daily Mail Australia has contacted Aldi for comment.

The mum said she was surprised by the cashier's request and had never been asked to unload halfway before, arguing this 'makes it hard to put groceries down the belt, then have to move backwards to finish off unloading the trolley'.

'It means I would also have to make people behind me move back which is just ridiculous to expect of shoppers, especially with the social distancing thing as well,' she added.

The mother's post has drawn varied responses over the past 24 hours after she asked the group's 157,000 members their opinion on the issue, with some criticising the cashier - even a fellow checkout operator.

'Always unpack at the start. As a checkout person I don't understand why that would make much of a difference,' she said.

The Australian mother, who had been shopping at her local store, was confused when the checkout operator asked her to unpack her groceries halfway down the conveyor belt instead of at the top (file image)

But others saw things from the cashier's perspective, with many arguing that unloading a trolley at the top of the belt was more likely to violate social distancing by causing delays at the checkout.

'It's worse when you start from the top - then the next customer gets right up behind you with their stuff and you have no room left for your own!' one woman said.

'I always leave a 'buffer' at the top end now for this exact reason.'

Another agreed, saying she always unpacks groceries directly behind the customer ahead irrespective of the point on the conveyor belt.

'If there is no one in front of you, start unpacking as close to the cashier as possible,' she added.

A third said she 'always' starts half way down, then moves backwards to fill empty space.

And it's not the first time shoppers have slammed employees of the German-owned supermarket chain.

In July, a disgruntled shopper was left 'irritated' after an operator told her to use a trolley the next time she visits the store to 'make it faster' for other customers.

The woman, from Melbourne, claimed she was loading up her shopping bag with 10 items at the checkout when she was told about the little-known trolley rule.

'Feeling really, really annoyed. Just went into Aldi's to grab a few items for dinner - a total of 10 items,' she wrote in Aldi Mums Facebook group.

'When the cashier starts scanning them through and I place them into a bag, he said to me "next time you come into the store bring a trolley to load your groceries into". 'I said "ok".'

Clearly confused by his remark, she then questioned him about the trolley.

'As I was preparing to pay, I said "sorry, why do I need to bring a trolley?", he said "to load your groceries into, to make it faster for the other customers". I was so irritated by this. I have 10 items mate,' she claimed.

A disgruntled shopper claimed an Aldi employee suggested she should bring a trolley the next time she does her groceries despite her grabbing just 10 small items (pictured)

She also shared a picture of her grocery showing 10 items, including Greek yoghurt, bananas, frozen baby peas, potato gratin, pies and marinated chicken pieces.

An Aldi spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia at the time: 'While using a trolley to shop at our stores isnt a policy, we recommend customers use one when purchasing multiple products as it saves time at the register.

'We currently have no plans to trial stores with self-service checkouts. Feedback has told us that our shoppers prefer face-to-face interactions at registers, and that they are an important part of their in-store experience.

'Our current store format enables us to focus on creating the best possible in-store experience, while continuing to deliver high-quality products at permanently low prices.'

In the woman's post, she called on the German supermarket to 'open more registers, have an express lane for less items and have self-serve registers' if 'you want to make things faster for your customers'.

Her post quickly sparked a heated debate among customers, with many people suggesting the woman didn't need a trolley for 10 items.
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said the #EndSARS protests embarked upon by young Nigerians last October is understandable. He also restated the commitment of his administration to fulfilling the five demands of our youths.

Mr Buhari stated this in his New Year message to Nigerians early Friday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on the #EndSARS protests during which thousands of youth marched across Nigeria and abroad to demand an end to police brutality, the scrapping of a notorious police unit, SARS, and comprehensive police reforms.

The unit, SARS, has since been disbanded while over 20 state governments have set up judicial panels to invest human rights abuses the police.

Dozens of protesters and other Nigerians were also killed by security forces during the protests while many police officers were also killed, especially after the protests were hijacked by hoodlums following a government crackdown.

PREMIUM TIMES has also reported several other cases of police brutality after the #EndSARS protests ended. The government has also gone after key players in the protest, arresting some, freezing the bank accounts of many and preventing at least one of them from travelling abroad.

The clampdown on the protesters has been condemned by many Nigerians and civic groups including SERAP and Amnesty International with many saying the government was being hypocritical by clamping down on protesters while claiming to meet their demands.

On Friday, however, Mr Buhari restated his promise that his administration would meet the demands of the protesters.

2020 indeed came with a lot of challenges ranging from security and economic issues across the regions to understandable protests that were mainly led by our youths and served notice to the demand for police reforms and accountability.

This government heard, this government listened and this government is committed to fulfilling the five demands of our youths, fully understanding that we all wish well for Nigeria, he said.
New Delhi: Paddy procurement has increased 25 per cent so far in the ongoing kharif marketing season to 487.92 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs 92,121 crore, an official statement said. The kharif marketing season (KMS) starts from October.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies have purchased 487.92 lakh tonnes of paddy till December 31 as against 390.56 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. "About 62.28 lakh farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement operations with MSP value of Rs 92,120.85 crore," the statement added.

Out of the total purchase of 487.92 lakh tonnes, Punjab has contributed 202.77 lakh tonnes, which is 41.55 per cent of the total procurement. The government procures wheat and paddy at the minimum support price (MSP) from farmers to meet its requirement under the food law and other welfare schemes. Till December 31, 2020, a quantity of 75,03,914 cotton bales valued at Rs 21,989.94 crore have been procured, benefitting 14,69,704 farmers, the statement further said.
When she ran for office, her slogan was Congress has never heard a voice like mine. Now the person with that voice could soon be overseeing one-fifth of the land in the United States.

As interior secretary, her portfolio would include national parks, wildlife refuges, the United States Geological Survey and the vast acreage of the Bureau of Land Management. Interior, for good reason, is known as the Department of Everything Else.

As such, she would also be overseeing millions of acres taken from Indians in treaties broken over the past several centuries, and would be the top government liaison with 574 federally recognized tribes  the nations within a nation.

This is quite the compass  from a deep slot in the earth near the Grand Canyon, wherein dwell the Havasupai, to the rain forest of the Olympic Peninsula, home of the Makah Nation, to urban neighborhoods that house Indians struggling with health care access.

I wish we could right some wrongs, she said of the centuries-old saga of sorrow. But going into the new year, she seems content to try to right the many wrongs that Donald Trumps administration has inflicted on the land.

Trumps first interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, literally rode into office on a horse named Tonto, and then promptly launched a campaign to make it easier to drill on public land. The current secretary, David L. Bernhardt, was an oil and gas lobbyist whose public service on behalf of his former clients was warmly received by his old friends.

Biden has pledged to end all new oil and gas drilling on these rangelands, forests and plains  an enormous change that will be fought fiercely by those who profit from land owned by all Americans. He has also promised to restore Bears Ears National Monument, a marvel of sandstone, mountains and Native sacred sites in the Southwest that was gutted by Trump, who reduced the size of the protected area by 85 percent.
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Kohima/Imphal, Jan 1 : The Nagaland government on Friday asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to deploy at least three more helicopters to control the raging wildfire in the famed Dzukou Valley on its border with Manipur, officials said.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who had conducted an aerial survey to take stock of the wildfire that has caused huge damage since it broke out on Tuesday, on Friday tweeted that he had received a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assess and discuss the situation.

"Amit Shah Ji has assured all the necessary assistance from the Home Ministry to contain the situation at the earliest," he said.

Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority's Officer on Special Duty, Johnny Ruangmei said that the heavy gusty winds affected the efforts to douse the fire.

"We have requested the IAF to deploy at least three more helicopters to tame the inferno," Ruangmei told IANS over phone.

He said that the army, state police, state and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Forest Department, volunteers of Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), accompanied by the local people and NGOs, are jointly making fire lines in the Valley to break off the link between the blaze and the forest.

IAF spokesman Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said that following a requisition by Nagaland, the Eastern Air Command in Shillong has deployed a Mi-17V5 helicopter to check the wildfire.

"The helicopter is equipped with a Bambi Bucket for fire fighting," Wing Commander Singh told IANS over phone from Shillong.

The Manipur government has also requested the NDRF and the army to help control the wildfire that has spread to its Senapati district.

In a series of tweets, tagged to the Prime Minister's Office, the Manipur Chief Minister said: "The wildfire that broke out at Dzukou valley has spread quite extensively and caused serious damage on this part of mountain range.

"Taking a serious view of the wildfire at Dzukou Valley, having a personal aerial survey of the situation, sending more personnel to the spot and seeking help from the concerned authorities to prevent the spread of the blaze and save the deep forest portion of the Valley." "The fire has already crossed Mount Iso, the highest peak of Manipur. If the wind direction is going to the southern side, there is a high possibility of entering in the thickest forest called Koziirii in Manipur. Need help." Nagaland Governor R. N. Ravi, accompanied by Kohima district officials including Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police as well as members of the local NGOs, had visited the Dzukou Valley on Wednesday for a first hand assessment of the intensity of the fire and the destruction being caused by it.

According to the statement, the Governor urged the state government to immediately frame appropriate SOPs including Satellite Based Real Time Early Warning System to prevent recurrence of such a disaster.

The Dzukou valley, 30 km from Kohima, also is a sanctuary for the endangered Blyth's tragopan - Nagaland's State Bird - and other species of birds and animals.

The iconic valley, situated at an altitude of 2,452 metres above the sea level, is a popular tourist spot and also famous for its seasonal flowers and biodiversity. Often caught in a boundary dispute between Manipur and Nagaland, it also has been prone to wildfires.

Members of the SAYO, which run an adventure-based conservation programme, tackled such fires in many cases earlier. In 2006, the wildfire affected a 20-km stretch of the southern part of Dzukou valley.
Representative image

China has detected its first imported case of the new coronavirus variant that is spreading rapidly around Britain, according to a publication run by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Countries around the world have cut off travel links to Britain to stop the spread of the new variant, which scientists have said is 40-70% more transmissible than the original virus.

The variant was detected in a 23-year-old female student returning to China from Britain, who was tested in Shanghai on Dec. 14, according to the latest edition of China CDC Weekly published on Wednesday.

The case poses a great potential threat to the prevention and control of COVID-19 in China, the publication said.

Researchers ran gene-sequencing on the patients sample on Dec. 24 and found the strain is a variant known as VUI202012/01, the publication said.

The variant includes a genetic mutation that, in theory, could result in COVID-19 spreading more easily between people.

China will suspend direct flights to and from Britain indefinitely, a foreign ministry spokesman said last week.

The patient in Shanghai has been transferred to a designated medical institution for quarantine, and investigation into her close contacts has started, according to the publication.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-31 21:57:23|Editor: huaxia

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File photo shows the headquarters of the People's Bank of China in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank said on Thursday that this year's target that the country's financial institutions save enterprises 1.5 trillion yuan (about 229.9 billion U.S. dollars) was achieved.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) said that in 2020 it deferred payments of principals and interests for loans worth more than 6 trillion yuan. It granted inclusive loans worth more than 3 trillion yuan for small and micro companies, benefitting more than 30 million business entities.

Yi Gang, governor of the PBOC, said the central bank employed multiple tools to reduce the real economy's financing costs amid the COVID-19 epidemic. He cited an increase of the re-lending and re-discount quota by 1 trillion yuan and two new monetary policy instrument introductions to channel funds into the real economy.

In 2021, the first year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, the central bank will provide practical financial support for China's new development paradigm, Yi said.

China unveiled moves earlier this year to pursue a new development paradigm of a "dual circulation," which allows the domestic and overseas markets to reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. 




(Newser)  The Senate wrapped up a defeat for President Trump on Friday, voting to override his veto of the defense authorization bill. Despite Republicans controlling the Senate, the vote wasn't close: 81-13, the Hill reports. The House had agreed, 322-87, earlier in the week. A veto override requires a two-thirds vote in each chamber. This was the first of Trump's presidency. The move reflects difference on national security and defense policies between Trump and Republicans in Congress. "It's a serious responsibility," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said before the vote on Friday. "But it's also a tremendous opportunity: to direct our national security priorities to reflect the resolve of the American people and the evolving threats to their safety, at home and abroad."

story continues below

The rebuke of Trump is not just in general; the bill contains a series of specific rejections of his policies, per the Washington Post. There are limits on the president's ability to tap the Pentagon's constrution budget, a response to Trump's taking money to build a border wall. There also are limits on the president's leeway to cut troop levels in Germany, South Korea, and Afghanistan, which Trump cited in his veto message. The bill calls for renaming military installations honoring Confederate leaders, which Trump opposes, and still does not include provisions Trump wanted to remove some liability protections from tech companies. Despite Trump's insistence the veto not be overriden, several GOP senators said he and his aides had not lobbied them recently on the vote. "I think it was more about making a statement than anything else," said Sen. John Cornyn. (Read more veto override stories.)
 A bloggy review of the sentencing year that was 2020 | Main | Reviewing CJUTF Recommendations: when and how might Biden Administration create an independent clemency board? 

January 1, 2021

Chief Justice's "2020 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary" provides pandemic perspectives (and pictures)

The Chief Justice of the United States always closes out a calendar year by releasing a year-end report on the federal judiciary, and nobody will be surprised to hear that the 2020 version of this report from Chief Justice John Roberts is focused on how the judiciary has responded, past and present, to pandemics. The full 2020 year-end report can be found at this link, and it is worth checking out in full (in part for the pictures showing outdoor court activities in 1918 and 2020). Here are a few passages that capture the report's substantive spirit:

[J]udges who serve on the Judicial Conference of the United States and its committees  in particular, the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure  sprang into action to make possible video and audio conferencing in certain criminal proceedings, with help from Congress through authorization in the CARES Act. By April, judges around the country were guiding critical court functions from their home offices  or their kitchen tables. Hearings of all sorts went virtual. Judges quickly (or at least eventually) learned to use a wide range of available audio and video conferencing tools.... Courts have used every available avenue to prepare for resumption of jury trials, the bedrock of fairness in our system of justice. Judges and court staff have reconfigured spaces in courtrooms around the country. Many courts have repurposed their largest courtrooms for physical distancing and reconfigured jury boxes to extend into public gallery areas.... All this is a credit to judges and court staff, but also to the citizens who serve as jurors. Judges from around the country report that, where jury trials have resumed, responses to jury summonses have met or exceeded their high hopes for the publics willingness to participate in the legal system during these very challenging times.... None of this would be achievable without unsung heroes in the judicial branch and throughout government.

Because I had the honor of working within the federal judiciary for a couple of years way back when, and especially because I have an inkling for how challenging judicial work can be even under the very best of circumstances, I am keenly appreciative of all the work being done by federal and state courts nationwide. It is thus nice to see the Chief Justice conclude his substantive remarks by saying that he is "privileged and honored to thank all of the judges, court staff, and other judicial branch personnel throughout the Nation for their outstanding service." It is also nice to see the report includes an Appendix on the "Workload of the Courts" with these notable federal criminal justice caseload data:

In the regional courts of appeals, filings fell less than one percent from 48,486 to 48,190.... Criminal appeals fell three percent. Cases with the United States as defendant grew 16 percent, primarily reflecting increases in social security cases and prisoner petitions.... Criminal defendant filings (including those for defendants transferred from other districts) dropped 20 percent to 73,879. Defendants charged with immigration offenses, who accounted for 32 percent of total filings, were 25 percent fewer, largely in response to a 70 percent reduction in defendants accused of improper entry by an alien. The southwestern border districts received 84 percent of 23,618 national immigration crime defendant filings. Drug crime defendants, who accounted for 29 percent of total filings, fell 17 percent. Defendants prosecuted for firearms and explosives offenses declined 13 percent. Filings for defendants accused of fraud decreased 27 percent. Reductions also occurred in filings related to traffic offenses, property offenses, sex offenses, general offenses, regulatory offenses, justice system offenses, and violent offenses. A total of 126,970 persons were under post-conviction supervision on September 30, 2020, a reduction of two percent from the total one year earlier. Of that number, 112,849 persons were serving terms of supervised release after leaving correctional institutions, a decrease of less than one percent. Cases activated in the pretrial services system, including pretrial diversion cases, decreased 26 percent to 80,603.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 22:37:38|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran will not rest until to bring to justice the perpetrators of assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Iranian Foreign Ministry wrote in its Twitter account on Friday.

"The United States violated international law and the United Nations' Charter in clear violation of Iraq's sovereignty," it said.

"Iran will not give up until the authorities bring this action to justice," it added.

A U.S. airstrike on January 3, 2020 killed Soleimani along with an Iraqi militia commander near Baghdad International Airport.

On Friday, Brigadier General Esmail Qa'ani, the incumbent Commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, described Soleimani as a hero of the Islamic nations who defeated the hegemonic powers through his resistance, according to official IRNA news agency.

Qa'ani said that the Quds Force will support any act seeking to punish the culprits of the assassination of Soleimani.

He also said that "the United States has failed to influence the objectives of the resistance front" by assassinating Soleimani.

The path of IRGC Quds Force and the resistance front will not change with the U.S. "acts of mischief," he was quoted as saying by Press TV on Friday.

Also, Iranian Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi said Friday that the "the perpetrators of the assassination won't be safe anywhere in the world," according to Press TV. Enditem
India needs to learn South Koreas Saemaul Model for Rural Development: Prof MM Goel

Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Dec 31 (UNI) We need overhauling of the entire system of rural development full of inefficiencies, unhealthy practices and misuse of the provisions in schemes with polluted mindsets of the nexus of politicians and corrupt officials, opined Prof Madan Mohan Goel, former Vice-Chancellor of Janan Nath University, Jaipur.

While delivering guest lecture virtually on Relevance of Needonomics for Atmanirbharta in Rural India being organised by Tirupati-based Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI), Prof Goel said that we need to learn from Saemaul Model of rural development and palli palli culture of South Korea involving all with only eleven per cent contribution of the government through training and material instead of money in cash to villages.

Elucidating the historical background behind the New Community Movement in South Korea, he said that Korea has been successful in implementing integrated rural community development programmes comprising of top-down and bottom-up approaches that were widely recognised as being at the centre of the development of the rural sector and the overall economic development in the country since the beginning of the 1970s. Diligence, self-help and collaboration were the slogans to encourage community members to participate in the development process.

New Delhi:

A teary-eyed Uzma Ahmed hailed India as the best country in the world after she was repatriated on Thursday after a harrowing time in Pakistan.



Uzma wiped the tears from her eyes as she hugged her mother. And then, as her eyes welled up again, she bent down to pick up her three-year-old daughter.



Delhi resident Uzma broke down several times at an interaction with the media in the Capital.



Forced to marry a Pakistani national identified as Tahir Ali, she managed to return to India after the Islamabad high court allowed her to leave Pakistan, forcing Ali, who had taken away her immigration papers, to return them to her.

Read | Indian woman Uzma, who was forced to marry in Pakistan, returns home; Sushma Swaraj welcomes her

She recounted a tale of horror, of being forced to live in a "Taliban-like region" in Pakistan, which she described as a "well of death".

Questions were not asked at the conference organised by the ministry of external affairs, so the details of her story were often hazy. She had met Ali in Malaysia, and the two had fallen in love. She left for Pakistan with him sometime in the beginning of May, she said.

"My plan of going to Pakistan was for leisure. I had planned to return by May 10 or 12. But, it wasn't like that at all when I reached there. You can call it a kidnapping situation," she said.

"After we crossed the Wagah Border, nothing felt right," she said.

At some point of time, she said, she had been given a sleeping pill by Ali and taken to "an unusual village" called Buner.

Uzma, it seemed, had been taken to the remote Buner district in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where she was married to Ali on May 3, allegedly at gunpoint.

"The language was totally different there and the people were unusual, too. I was kept there, and I was beaten up," she said. There were "big guns" in the house where she was put up, and Ali carried a pistol with him, she said. She could hear sounds of firing every day.

"I realised I may not have been alone there. There were other girls, perhaps not Indian nationals, maybe from the Philippines. Many of girls there have not been able to leave the place," she said.

Emotionally overwhelmed, she often cried while narrating her story at the briefing, in which minister Swaraj was also present.

Uzma said she was an "adopted child" but the government made her feel she was "India's daughter". She thanked Swaraj, her ministry and officials of the Indian high commission in Islamabad for ensuring her safe return. "I am here today only because of Sushma Ma'am, who kept track of me all through this episode. She told me that I was 'Hindustan ki Beti', her daughter, and that I need not worry. These words gave me strength when I was totally torn inside," she said.

It was not clear how she reached Islamabad from Buner. But once there, she took refuge at the Indian high commission, which took up her case, providing her with legal aid.

"She (Swaraj) told me that I could stay at the high commission for even 2-3 years but she would not let me go back to that man (Tahir). I had never expected that the government would do so much for me," Uzma added.

Swaraj, while recalling the episode, said Uzma was so distressed that she told high commission officials she would commit suicide if she was not rescued.

"She came to the mission counter, and she had such a terrified look on her face that we immediately took her inside and gave her all support," India's deputy high commissioner in Pakistan JP Singh said.

The Islamabad high court on Wednesday allowed her to return to India after she appealed to the court to direct Ali to return her documents.

Soon after crossing the Wagah Border into India, she kissed the ground and touched the soil to her forehead -- a gesture that Swaraj said "indeed made her India's daughter". "You sent out a powerful message with that gesture. And, for us at the MEA, it was a compliment, as you reposed faith in our mission in a foreign land," Swaraj said.

"Your identity as an Indian national was enough for us to help you," the minister asserted. Uzma called Pakistan a place which was easy to go to but difficult to return from. "It is a well of death ('maut ka kuan')," she said. "Touching the soil of my homeland, I heaved a sigh of relief. I could breathe the air of freedom. There is no place in the world like India."

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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A total of 11,265 illegal migrants were brought back to Libya by the Libyan Coast Guard under the Government of National Accord (GNA) in 113 operations to rescue or intercept illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean Sea during 2020, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday
KABUL, Afghanistan  The Trump administration is working to verify intelligence that shows China offered to pay militants in Afghanistan to kill American troops, a U.S. news website has reported, citing anonymous high-level sources.

Administration officials across multiple agencies are currently working to corroborate the initial intelligence reports, which is in the process of being declassified, the Axios news website, which broke the story, reported Wednesday.

National security adviser Robert OBrien briefed President Donald Trump on the reports earlier this month, Axios reported.

But the intelligence the administration claims to have was thinner even than reports that Russia offered payments to the Taliban to target U.S. and coalition troops, which were never corroborated, another news website said, citing an unnamed government official.

A report in The New York Times in June claimed a Russian military spy unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to attack coalition forces in Afghanistan, including U.S. and British troops.

Days after that report was released, Trump dismissed it as possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax and said the information wasn't credible. In July, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told House lawmakers that Pentagon intelligence agencies had not corroborated the reports.

But now that Beijing faces the same accusations as Moscow did six months ago, the outgoing administration is handling the allegations very differently, wrote Politico reporter Lara Seligman.

In addition to briefing the president on the matter, OBrien convened a National Security Council Policy Coordination Committee to discuss it on Dec. 22, Seligman wrote, citing an unnamed administration official.

The U.S. treats this intelligence with caution, but any intelligence or reports relating to the safety of U.S. forces is something we take very seriously, the official was quoted as saying.

The allegations, which were made just three weeks before Trump leaves office, were out-of-character for China, which has long played a quiet diplomatic role in Afghanistan, Axios reporters Jonathan Swan and Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian said.

If this intelligence were to be confirmed, it would represent a dramatic strategic shift for China, and sharply escalate tensions between China and the U.S., they wrote. If the intelligence does not prove accurate, it raises questions about the motivations of the sources behind it as well as the decision to declassify it.

Beijing made the alleged offer to pay bounties for attacks on U.S. troops some time after late February when the U.S. struck its deal with the Taliban, Axios cited a senior U.S. official as saying.

There have been no U.S. combat deaths in Afghanistan since the Feb. 29 deal was signed.
Despite constantly stressing that she is a writer first and then a director, Sai Paranjpye, known for films like 'Sparsh, 'Katha, 'Chasme Buddoor' and 'Disha' says that ideas and stories come naturally to her, which she then moulds according to the medium she wants them for -- films, tele-films, theatre etc. "I have never been known as a writer and scriptwriter, which does bother me. That is why I never lose an opportunity to assert the writer's part. Maybe the word director has a more glamorous quotient to it -- the reason people mostly prefer to associate me with that vocation. But believe me, I am a first rate writer and a second rate director."

Paranjpye, recipient of the Padma Bhushan honour, whose book 'A Patchwork Quilt' (HarperCollins India) recently hit the stand chronicles her creative journey, experiences with fellow artists and working relationships. "A time comes when you find yourself in the departure lounge, waiting for your flight to be called. I have done a lot of creative work-- theatre, television, cinema and documentary and always felt a need to put down my experiences. As a writer, a deadline always works -- and in this case there was none. Then, a few years back, the newspaper Loksatta commissioned me to write a weekly column on my experiences. It was a pleasant surprise as that was something I had been wanting to do. Suddenly, offers from Marathi publishers started pouring in, and I selected Raj Hans of Pune to publish the Marathi book which came out around five years back."

She adds, "Considering I am bi-lingual, I translated it into English, which is not a word by word copy of the Marathi version but has a lot of extra material. 'Patchwork Quilt' is an account of my creative journey, not personal. It has been a lovely experience as it allowed me to relive those times. My mother used to be annoyed that I flitted from one medium to another and would always ask me to focus on one. I remember her getting bugged and saying -- "Not one thing whole, but a pile of rags, you don't do anything completely'. I have lovingly gathered all the rags together and stitched them to form a warm quilt."

Boasting of making films as diverse as 'Sparsh' and 'Chasme Buddoor', the three-time National Award winning writer-director says that there was no apprehension in entering the comedy space after 'Sparsh'. " I was working with Doordarshan and had mounted quite a few teleplays which were very popular. Sparsh was originally a tele play called 'Raina Beet Jaye'. Another one, an out and out comedy was called 'Dhuan Dhuan'. I narrated the story to producer Gul Anand in Tashkent who asked me to make a few changes and write the script for a film."

Though she got several film offers post that, Paranjpye feels that people in the Hindi film industry could not really figure her out. " They expected me to work for peanuts. There were times when we were just not on the same wavelength. With actor Dharmendra, I made three reels of a film titled 'Bichhu'. But after sometime we both realised it wasn't working and parted without bitterness."

Talking about 'Disha' and 'Papeeha', which she produced herself, Paranjpye says that the subjects she chose were not mainstream enough for other producers to touch. "Nobody wanted to make a film on labourers and farm workers. By the way, 'Disha' got two awards at the Cannes."

Stressing that it is impossible to pinpoint which medium gives her the most satisfaction, the writer-director feels that the influx of directors from small-town India in the past 15 years has brought a breath of fresh air. "They are doing such excellent work. One is getting to see a different slice of life from the done to death family feuds and tensions between generations that most films dealt with."

Adding that she has some stories for cinema ready including one revolving around a Catholic family in Goa where everybody gets together to celebrate the 90th birthday of a member, Paranjpye says, "Another is a film about Ayurveda, a love story which blossoms in a forest, in an aashram which makes natural medication. It's almost like a fairy tale."
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Dec. 31, 1898: Israel Museum Founder Is Born

Eliyahu Dobkin, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who founds the Israel Museum, is born in Bobruysk, Belarus. He immigrates to Palestine in 1932. He works with the Jewish Agencys immigration department from the 1930s to the 1950s, increases the organizations fundraising and helps organize illegal immigration after World War II. After founding the museum in 1965, he serves on the advisory board until his death in 1976.

Jan. 1, 1995: Full Agranat Report Is Released

The full, 1,500-page Agranat Report, the official assessment of the Israel Defense Forces performance during the October 1973 war, is released, with the exception of 48 pages containing classified information. Shimon Agranats commission released a preliminary report in April 1974, leading to Prime Minister Golda Meirs resignation, but the full report was not scheduled for release until 2004. The Maariv newspaper petitioned for early publication.

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Jan. 2, 1927: Cultural Zionist Leader Ahad Haam Dies

Ahad Haam, the leader of the movement for cultural Zionism, dies in Palestine at age 70. Born Asher Zvi Hirsch Ginsberg in Ukraine, he adopted the pen name Ahad Haam (One of the People) amid his advocacy for a Zionism focusing on cultural efforts, including the revival of Hebrew. He supported the political goals of Zionism but thought the purpose of a Jewish state was to revitalize Jewish society and culture worldwide, not merely to serve as a refuge.

Jan. 3, 1919: Faisal-Weizmann Agreement Is Signed

Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and Emir Faisal, son of Sharif Husayn of Mecca, sign an agreement pledging mutual respect and cooperation between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. At the suggestion of the British, the two men met in Aqaba in the spring of 1918, then crafted their accord after a second meeting in London in December 1918. The League of Nations creation of British and French mandates in the Middle East blocks the execution of the accord.

Jan. 4, 2006: Sharon Suffers Massive Stroke

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 77, has a devastating stroke en route to Hadassah Hospital at Ein Kerem after feeling ill at his home in the Negev. Surgeons save his life, but he slips into a coma from which he never recovers. A cerebral hemorrhage is the immediate cause of the stroke, but blood thinners he began taking after a minor stroke Dec. 18, 2005, may have played a part. Ehud Olmert succeeds Sharon as Kadima party leader and prime minister.

Jan. 5, 1996: Phone Bomb Kills Terrorist Yahya Ayyash

Hamas bomb maker Yahya The Engineer Ayyash is killed in Gaza City when his cellphone explodes during his weekly call to his father in the West Bank. The Shin Bet, Israels internal security service, intercepts the call and confirms Ayyashs identity before detonating the explosives it had planted in his phone. Ayyashs bombs killed more than 80 Israelis and maimed 400 others after he joined a wing of Hamas in 1992.

Jan. 6, 1909: Moshe Sneh Is Born

Moshe Sneh, a doctor known for his left-wing politics and resistance to British rule in Palestine, is born in Radyzn, Poland. A former World Zionist Congress delegate, he makes aliyah in 1940 and leads the Haganah general staff from 1941 to 1946. He is elected to the Knesset in 1949 and 1951 with Mapam, then forms the Left Faction in 1953. For all but four years from 1954 until his death in 1972, he represents the Communist Maki party in the Knesset.

Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.
Tezpur (Assam):

The Defence sources on Thursday said that the search operations continued for the third day on Thursday for the missing Sukhoi-30 fighter jet that went missing on May 23 after taking off from Salonibari airbase in Tezpur on a routine training sortie.

Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Sombit Ghosh told PTI that search operations were resumed on Thursday from dawn to dusk and it would continue till the plane is located.

As the weather was marginally better today than yesterday, intensive air efforts could be put in to the ongoing operation tasking C-130 aircraft with electro-optical payload, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Chetak helicopters of IAF for this mission, he said.

Apart from the aerial assets, four ground parties of IAF personnel, nine parties of Indian Army and two parties of state administration have been deployed at different locations to search the area for the aircraft, he added.

Till now, however, no breakthrough has been made in locating the aircraft and its pilot, the Defence spokesman said.

The fighter plane had lost radar and radio contact with Tezpur Salonibari Air Force station an hour after taking off from there at 10.30 am with the last contact approximately 60 km north of Tezpur, Ghosh said.

At present Tezpur has a strength of two squadrons of SU-30 aircraft with one squadron comprising 12 to 16 aircraft, IAF sources said.

Chabua IAF airbase in upper Assam in the eastern sector has one squadron at present, the sources said.

Also read: Search for Indian Air Forces Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet hit by rough weather

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Congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies of COVID-19, seat to remain vacant

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A newly elected member of Congress has died after contracting the coronavirus just days before he was set to be sworn into office.

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, R-La., died Tuesday, 11 days after announcing that he tested positive for coronavirus. According to the most recent update from Letlows Twitter account, posted on Dec. 23, the Congressman-elect had been transferred from St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center in Shreveport, LA.

Dr. G.E. Ghali of LSU Health Shreveport attributed Letlows death to a cardiac event this evening that was refractory to all resuscitation efforts. Ghali contended that his death was all COVID related.

Letlow, 41, was elected to represent Louisianas 5th Congressional District in a Dec. 5 runoff election, where he faced fellow Republican Lance Harris. Letlow and Harris finished first and second, respectively, in the Nov. 3 general election, where all candidates ran together on the same ticket regardless of partisan affiliation. Louisiana law requires a runoff election to take place if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the jungle primary that takes place concurrently with the general election.

Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have expressed condolences to Letlows family following his passing. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise issued a statement on behalf of the entire Louisiana congressional delegation, of which he is a part: We are devastated to hear of Luke Letlows passing. Luke had such a positive spirit, and a tremendously bright future ahead of him.

Devastated to hear of my friend Congressman-elect Luke Letlows passing. Luke had such a positive spirit and a tremendously bright future. Join me in praying for his young family during this incredibly difficult time.



Statement from the Louisiana Congressional Delegation: pic.twitter.com/cB5RNd6uew  Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) December 30, 2020

He was looking forward to serving the people of Louisiana in Congress, and we were excited to welcome him to our delegation where he was ready to make an even greater impact on our state and our Nation. More than anything, Luke was a loving husband, father, brother, and son, and his family  like so many others who have been affected by this evil disease  needs our prayers. We all join in sending our strongest support to Lukes wife Julia and their young family, and are keeping them in our prayers, they added.

The United States House of Representatives sadly mourns the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in a statement. As the House grieves Congressman-elect Letlows passing, our sorrow is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives cut short by this terrible virus. May it be a comfort to Lukes wife Julia and their children Jeremiah and Jacqueline that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.

Describing himself as a 9th generation Louisianan from Richland Parish, Louisiana, Letlow served as chief of staff to Rep. Ralph Abraham during his entire tenure in Congress. Abraham elected not to run for reelection in 2020 following an unsuccessful effort to become Louisiana governor and Letlow successfully won the race to replace his boss.

While Letlow is the first elected official at the national level to die from COVID-19, politicians at the state level have also succumbed to the virus. Three weeks ago, the newly elected speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Republican Dick Hinch, was found dead in his home. An autopsy revealed coronavirus as his cause of death.

Letlows seat in the House of Representatives will remain vacant until a special election can take place. Republicans will likely hold onto the seat following a special election because President Donald Trump won Louisianas 5th Congressional District with 63.5% of the vote in 2016, according to Daily Kos Elections.

When the 117th Congress is sworn in next week, two seats will be vacant: Letlows seat and the seat for New Yorks 22nd Congressional District, where the outcome of the 2020 election remains in dispute. The number of vacancies is expected to grow as three members of the House of Representatives have been tapped for roles in a Joe Biden administration.

Democrats will have a slim majority in the House of Representatives in the 117th Congress but any additional vacancies will cause their majority to shrink even further until special elections can take place. In the 2020 elections, Democrats won 222 House seats while Republicans won 212. Letlows death will reduce the GOPs number of seats to 211 until a special election is held.

Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., has announced that he will resign to become a senior adviser to President-elect Joe Biden while Reps. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, and Deb Haaland, D-N.M., have been selected for cabinet positions in a Biden administration, subject to Senate confirmation.

Although Richmond, Fudge and Haaland represent districts that voted for Biden by a wide margin in the 2020 presidential election, it is not unprecedented for the party out of power to win special elections in seats that favor the other party in presidential elections.

Democrats won two special elections in seats previously held by Republicans during the Trump administration. Democrats won a special Senate election in the overwhelmingly Republican state of Alabama in 2017 and emerged victorious in a special election in Pennsylvanias 18th Congressional District, a Republican stronghold, in 2018.

With a week remaining before the new Congress is sworn in, the balance of power on Capitol Hill remains undecided but the results are reflective of the partisan divide in the country.

Democrats will narrowly retain control of the House of Representatives while control of the Senate will come down to two Senate runoff elections taking place in Georgia on Tuesday. Should Republicans win one or both races, they will maintain control of the Senate while Democrats will need to win both races to take control of the upper chamber.
Tosham MLA Kiran Choudhry on Thursday joined the farmers agitation at Kitlana toll plaza in Dadri and extended her support to the protesters agitating against the Centres three farm laws.

The Congress legislator said she joined the stir to express solidarity with farmers as a daughter of a soldier and not an MLA.

The Union government has agreed to two of four demands, but there was no agreement on the major remaining demands  legal guarantee on the minimum support price for procurement and repeal of the farm laws. Without delaying, the government should accept the farmers remaining demands and end this deadlock, she added.

Hitting out at the BJP, Choudhry alleged the ruling party was making all attempts to divide people on the issue of SYL amid farm agitation.

Who had stopped the BJP from bringing SYL water in Haryana in the last six years of their rule? she questioned.

Meanwhile, a group of farmers agitating on Delhi-Jaipur highway on Thursday removed two-layer barricading at Shahjahanpur-Khera border in Rajasthan to move towards the capital.

The police tried using tear gas to deter them. Rewari SP Abhishek Jorwal said they stopped the farmers near Bhudla village, about 12km away from the border.

Elaborate arrangements have been made to stop them from moving ahead, he added.
Los Angeles county has begun issuing digital proof to those who are vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to a report from Bloomberg on Monday.

Health officials hope that vaccination receipts - which can be stored on smartphones - will act as a reminder to people who have received the first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to return for their second dose. Those who have been vaccinated will be sent a notification to their iPhone, or Android equivalent.

Claire Jarasow, director of vaccine-preventable disease control at LA's Department of Public Health, told Bloomberg that giving out residents' public health information could be seen as an invasion of privacy.

Its as safe as we can make it. Personally, I would feel comfortable using it, so I hope thats reassuring," she added.

The vaccination receipts have the potential to be used as so-called immunity passports, a pass proving that you are immune to Covid-19 in order to enter movie theaters and concerts or board planes, as businesses begin to figure out to how to open safely as the threat of the pandemic recedes.

However there are concerns that companies could benefit from the apparent data grab.

There are also fears of a two-tier society, with those who have been vaccinated living a normal life while those who are unable to be vaccinated will be faced with restrictions.

The American Civil Liberties Union wrote in May that "immunity passports are not the answer" and that they "threaten to exacerbate racial disparities and harm the civil liberties of all".

The ACLU wrote that immunity passports could create economic incentives, leading to low-income individuals to attempt to become infected with Covid. "These incentives will be especially hard to counteract if immune workers are given preferential treatment in hiring or higher wages," the non-profit wrote.

The UK-based charity Privacy International, which works to protect privacy globally, also said that a vaccine passport would create inequality.

"Until everyone has access to an effective vaccine, any system requiring a passport for entry or service will be unfair," the group said.

LA has become a Covid hotspot with over 750,000 cases and 10, 000 deaths from the virus.

The digital vaccination receipts have been created by startup Healthvana to help ensure that vaccine doses dont go to waste and that patients get both of the required doses to achieve immunity.

Healthvana CEO, Ramin Bastani, told Bloomberg that vaccine digital passports would not become ubiquitous.

Its not going to be like one credit card you can use across the U.S. Sometimes you can pay cash, sometimes you can use your Apple Wallet, he said.

Paper cards are also given to those who are vaccinated to track what vaccine they received.

Los Angeles county is the most densely populated in the US with over ten million residents.

Iceland and Hungary have already instituted policies that require visitors to show both a positive and negative Covid test within the last six months, CNN reported, a de-facto immunity passport.

Icelandair wrote that "travellers with a certificate of previous COVID-19 infection that meets the government criteria," are exempt from quarantining when arriving in Iceland.

With vaccinations already behind schedule in the US, businesses hope that immunity passports could provide a path to opening up society before everyone has been inoculated.

The Independent reported that it could take ten years to vaccinate all Americans if the pace does not improve.
The body of a 30-year-old-man, who went swimming in the sea on Christmas Day and got drowned at Aboadze has been found.



The deceased, identified as Roger Anabah got drowned after attempts to rescue him failed on Friday, December 25 at about 1300 hours.



The incident was reported to the Assembly Member as well as the Unit Committee and the youth in the area to mount a search to retrieve the body but they were unsuccessful.



Friends of the deceased continued the search till they saw the body washed ashore on Sunday, December 28, at about 1700 hours.



The Criminal Intelligence Department of Ghana Police (CID) at Aboadze went to the scene to retrieve the body.



The chief fisherman, his elders, and the assembly member in the community collectively commended the youth and the friends who volunteered to search for the body of the deceased.



They, however, attributed the washing ashore of the body of the deceased to rigorous performance of customary rites by the chief priestess and linguist in the community.



The chief fisherman and the assembly member cautioned the general public who were planning to swim in the sea during the yuletide to be extra careful.



The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the mortuary pending post-mortem.

Source: GNA









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People react when Argentina's Senate votes to legalize abortion, backing the government proposal to allow terminations through the 14th week of pregnancy, in Buenos Aires, Dec. 30, 2020. Reuters



Pro-choice activists celebrated on the streets on Wednesday as Argentina joined a handful of South American nations to legalize abortion, a landmark decision in a country where the Catholic Church has long held sway.



Senate president Cristina Kirchner confirmed the vote after more than twelve hours of debate that began Tuesday, sparking scenes of jubilation in the capital Buenos Aires.



"Safe, legal and free abortion is law ... Now we're a better society that is increasing women's rights and safeguarding public health," President Alberto Fernandez, who sponsored the original bill, wrote on Twitter.



Hundreds of thousands of illegal terminations are carried out every year in Argentina with at least 3,000 women dying after backstreet abortions since the 1980s, said Fernandez, who is Catholic.



Before the vote he said the law was necessary "to legislate for everyone."



"After so many attempts and years of struggle that cost us blood and lives, today we finally made history," protester Sandra Lujan, a 41-year-old psychologist, said after the vote in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday.



"Today we leave a better place for our sons and daughters."



The bill in the country of 44 million succeeded despite strong opposition from Evangelical Christians and traditional Roman Catholics  with Pope Francis tweeting his tacit disapproval of change ahead of the vote.



Human Rights Watch Americas Director Jose Miguel Vivanco hailed the decision as historic, and hoped it would energize other governments in the region to follow in the footsteps of one of Latin America's largest nations.



"The criminalization of abortion has failed. It's time to end it," he tweeted.



However the far-right leader of neighboring Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, quickly signalled his disapproval.



"I deeply regret the lives of Argentine children, now exposed to being cut from the wombs of their mothers with the consent of the state," tweeted the head of the world's biggest Catholic country, where abortion remains illegal.



The new Argentine legislation will allow voluntary terminations up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, and was approved 38 to 29 with one abstention.



The vote overturns a similar one in 2018 which  although also passed the lower house  ultimately foundered in the Senate by 38 votes to 31.



Only Uruguay, Cuba and Guyana allow voluntary terminations in South America, which has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world.



In El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, it is banned, and women can be sentenced to jail even for having a miscarriage.



In Argentina, terminations were previously allowed in only two instances: rape, and danger to the mother's life.



- 'Gift of life' -



The bill passed the Chamber of Deputies on December 11.



Francis, who is Argentine, has not commented directly on the vote but many felt he indirectly addressed the issue in a speech on Wednesday morning.



"Christians, as all believers, bless God for the gift of life. To live is above all to have received," he said in his last speech before the New Year.



"All of us are born because someone wanted us to have life."



More than 60 percent of Argentines call themselves Catholic, according to a 2019 survey by the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet).



Another Conicet survey this year found more than half of Argentina's Catholics supported abortion only in limited circumstances  with around 22 percent supporting it, and roughly 17 percent rejecting it in all cases.



"The interruption of a pregnancy is a tragedy. It abruptly ends another developing life," said Ines Blas, a senator from the ruling coalition.



However, Senator Silvina Garcia Larraburu, from the same coalition, had said she would vote for the bill this time despite being against it in 2018.



- 'Centuries of regression' -



Despite measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of pro-choice and anti-abortion demonstrators had gathered outside parliament ahead of the vote, following the debate on giant screens.



Pro-choice activists have campaigned for years to change the abortion laws that date from 1921, adopting a green scarf as their symbol.



Anti-abortion activists, who recently started wearing light blue scarves, expressed sadness after the vote passed.



The alliance of evangelical churches issued a statement calling it "a sad day."



"Today Argentina regressed centuries in terms of civilization and respect for the supreme right to life," said the alliance.



Social law changes have always been slow in Argentina: divorce was legalized only in 1987, sex education introduced in 2006, gay marriage approved in 2010 and a gender identity law passed in 2012. (AFP)


We can only hope Trump did not serve Allan the same version of the burger on sale at his own Trump Tower Grille restaurant in New York City. In 2016 Vanity Fair writer Tina Nguyen described it as a sad little meat thing, sitting in the centre of a massive, rapidly staling brioche bun, hiding its shame under a slice of melted orange cheese, though given all the whining coming out of the Oval Office in the dying days of his presidency, she could have been writing about Trump himself, metaphorically speaking of course. In November The New York Times revealed Allan, the Australian tabloid wizard who was once seen in the Post newsroom wearing a Make America Great Again cap, was calling an end to his career of more than 40 years at Murdoch papers in New York and Sydney. Allan, who was the Posts editor in chief from 2001-2016, rejoined the paper as an adviser in January 2019, just as the presidential campaign was under way, though its blatantly pro-Trump tone has abruptly changed direction since the Biden victory. The Post is not perfect, Allan told the NYT. But it articulates a view that is not obedient to liberal orthodoxy. Therefore it is dangerous. I know where I would rather be.

Allan also worked closely with former Sydney columnist Miranda Devine, who joined the Post in time for the 2020 campaign. Devine has been a zealous supporter of Trump, likening him to an invincible hero. Her secondment to the Big Apple has been extended until May, after which she is likely to return to Sydney  unless she lands a gig flipping burgers at Trump Grille. SAM'S SECRET FARM WEDDING There was no tizzy pumpkin carriages or fancy limos for Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage on her wedding day last Thursday. After getting hitched at her millionaire Southern Highlands' husband Richard Lavender's farm, "the Lavs" arrived at their wedding reception at nearby Centennial Vineyards in a taxi. Taxi! Samantha Armytage and Richard Lavender tie the knot. Credit:Instagram

PS hears the low-key wedding was kept secret right up to the 11th hour, with none of Armytage's on-air "Sunrise family" attending, or her former bestie, the show's executive producer Michael Pell. However, Armytage did manage to extend an invitation to socialite Skye Leckie, the woman who inadvertently played cupid at her 60th birthday in 2019 after a teary Armytage, who had just broken up from her previous boyfriend, fell head over heels for "Berrima Bushie" Lavender. KAK SHOWS OFF HER BATTLE SCARS It will take a long time for those in the audience at Pippin to forget the shocking thud Kerri-Anne Kennerley made when she slipped out of the arms of her strong man and crashed into the stage, breaking her collarbone midway through her show-stopping performance. Kerri-Anne Kennerley's X-Ray reveals the broken collarbone after last week's fall. Credit:Instagram

KAK's manager Sean Anderson shared the shocking X-Ray revealing the fracture on Instagram on New Year's Eve, while KAK has returned home from hospital on Thursday and is yet to learn the full extent of what lay ahead of her and if it will require surgery. "What happened is just a random misstep in the trapeze and circus world. Ive always felt safe in their hands but accidents just happen. I was trained well and loved getting stronger and the routine smoother," Kennerley said. Her role will be taken over by an understudy for the remainder of Pippin's Sydney run. PACKERS MYSTERY BOAT BUDDY The thing about those ginormous superyachts favoured by the likes of billionaires such as James Packer is they are pretty hard not to notice.

James Packer and his superyacht. Packers huge $200 million-plus boat IJE was parked right alongside another gleaming floating gin palace called Queen Miri in the lead up to New Year in the French Caribbean. Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Credit:AP PS has learnt Queen Miri belongs to Las Vegas casino king Sheldon Adelson, the CEO and chairman of Las Vegas Sands, who also owns casinos in Macau and Singapore. In September Adelson was listed by Forbes as having a fortune of $US33.5 billion  about 10 times Packers estimated worth. Packer is under considerable pressure over his new $2 billion casino in Sydney which has not been allowed to open by authorities investigating its licence.

Racing scion Tom Waterhouse and his "family", minus wife Hoda, mother Gai and sister Kate. There is mounting speculation Packer could sell his stake, having already courted an ill-fated deal with Lawrence Ho, son of the late billionaire Stanley Ho. Ho senior was suspected of having links to organised crime in Macau by other casino authorities and banned from holding a licence here. Packer and Adelson share a close friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu, with Adelson one of Israels biggest benefactors. Was it a coincidence their boats happened to be parked next to each other, with tenders between both vessels going back and forth, or is something else afoot? YOUVE GOT TO BE KIDDING

Sheila Chisholm and second husband Sir John 'Buffles' Milbanke at Ascot. Credit:Rosslyn Collection Tom Waterhouse says he just wanted to do something different that would stand out from all the vanilla posts on social media to promote his betting app. However even his most loyal supporters are questioning the merits of his latest campaign featuring bikini-clad women in seemingly inexplicable situations alongside the suited racing scion. In one scene Waterhouse is wishing his followers a Merry Christmas from my family to yours, surrounded by the young women in their tiny swimwear, though clearly none of his more famous relatives  mother Gai Waterhouse or fashionista sister Kate  appear to be among the bevvy of beauties. Were just trying to mix things up a bit, its a pun on a joke ... taking the piss, he told PS this week, though judging by the reaction on social media since the promos first appeared, not everyone is in agreement. SHEILAS TIME TO SHINE ON BIG SCREEN

Sheila Chisholm with her Princes, Edward and Albert. Credit:Carl Court If all goes to plan, in about two years time the life of Australian socialite Sheila Chisholm and her romance with Prince Albert, who would later become King George VI, will finally be immortalised on film. A draft screenplay for the planned film, adapted from former Herald journalist Robert Wainwrights 2014 biography Sheila, by Samantha Strauss (who recently worked on Nicole Kidmans Nine Perfect Strangers series) and Tilda Cobham-Herve (who played Helen Reddy in I Am Woman), has now been completed. Early in the new year, producer Martha Coleman, who has been developing the project with Transmission Films Rosemary Blight and Screen Australia, is hoping to have financing, a director and casting all locked in for production in 2022. Coleman told PS there had been a lot of market interest in the film, which would focus on Chisholms relationship with Prince Albert, who was then known as Bertie.

Sheila Chisholms story is perfect for film ... she was a beautiful, intelligent and sharp-witted 18-year-old elegant tomboy, who left her rural homestead in NSW and sailed to London looking for a bigger life, Coleman enthused. Chisholm was eventually trapped in Europe by the outbreak of the great war and enlisted as a nurse in Egypt, where she impetuously married a devastatingly handsome but hopelessly drunk, gambling-addicted aristocrat named Francis St Clair-Erskine, or Lord Loughborough. Glamour: Sheila in 1935. Credit:Madame Yevonde As a distraction from her unhappy marriage Sheila took London society by storm and embarked on an intense affair with gentle Prince Albert  Bertie  the stuttering younger brother of handsome socialite Prince Edward. Knowing it could not last, Sheila and Bertie nonetheless fell deeply in love. Sheila influenced Bertie to emerge from the shadow of his charismatic brother and dominant father, helping him to embrace his own nobility and unwittingly giving him the confidence to become the king he did not know he would be.
At 3:15 every weekday morning, Richard Burnett leaves his house in Vallejo for the 45-minute walk to the downtown bus station. Two buses and a train later  all run by different agencies, with different schedules and different fares racking up  hes at his job in San Francisco an hour before clocking in.

Eight working hours later, he turns around and does the whole thing over again. He gets home by 7:30 p.m., eats and goes straight to bed.

If you live that far, you have to do that sacrifice to make it work, said Burnett, a customer service representative for a tech company who endures the six-hour commute because he cant afford both a car and rent. Theres no time to do anything else.

Burnett, who advises the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Areas transit coordinating agency, on policies affecting low-income and disabled riders, dreams of express buses to main job centers and fares based on zones that would make traveling cheaper. But that would require what Burnett calls the fiefdoms of Bay Areas 27 transit agencies  encompassing buses, cable cars, trains and ferries that stretch across nine counties  to agree on changes.

The pandemic, which created an existential crisis for Bay Area public transportation, has reignited a long-running debate over how to make the system better and who should control it. Each of the agencies now sets its own fares and schedules. Few other U.S. metropolitan areas have such vast and disjointed transit: Los Angeles County, smaller in size but larger in population, has nearly the same number of agencies, but only one county transportation authority.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

The result is that getting from one side of the Bay Area to another can be complicated, slow and expensive, especially for low-income people who live farther away. Many people who can just drive, adding to congestion and emissions. Before the pandemic, only 3% of trips in the Bay Area were made on public transit, advocates say.

With the pandemic draining even that ridership, transit operators are collaborating to offer service and smoother connections. Advocates and elected officials are seizing the moment to push their plans to create synchronized schedules, maps and fares across the Bay Area. But some transit operators can bristle at the idea of fare integration, which could affect their unique agencies and the fares many depend heavily on.

For example, said Muni chief Jeffrey Tumlin, the agencys equity discounts, which are more generous than some other agencies, wouldnt be guaranteed under a standardized fare system, and without more funding, could be slashed.

We all firmly believe in a seamless, integrated transit system for the entire Bay Area, Tumlin said.

But he added there are dire unintended negative consequences of getting the details wrong.

Leaders of five of the Bay Areas largest transit agencies recently told The Chronicle theyre meeting weekly and working together more than ever as the existential crisis were dealing with has forced all of us to think very differently, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority General Manager Nuria Fernandez said.

Caltrain changed its schedule so a commuter to Millbrae wont wait forever or just miss a departing BART train into San Francisco. Muni riders have been able to take certain Golden Gate Transit bus lines in the city to make up for curtailed service. Operators are piloting a program at El Cerrito del Norte BART Station, where five major bus operators come together, to coordinate schedules, share rider data and improve seating and safety, with a plan to replicate it at 65 other transit hubs. Six smaller agencies in the North Bay already have standard fare and transfer policies.

Weve always done a lot of coordination, but with the pandemic, its on steroids, said Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District General Manager Denis Mulligan. It forces new ways of thinking and all of us have embraced it.

Transit advocates say those are steps in the right direction, but more could be done.

Its good work, but not 50 years worth of good work, Nick Josefowitz, chief policy officer at SPUR, told operators at a recent Metropolitan Transportation Commission meeting.

Theyre feeling an enormous amount of pressure right now to do this because of how advocates and regional leaders on MTC have really highlighted how uncoordinated the system is right now, Josefowitz told The Chronicle.

That pressure comes as MTC is studying how to integrate fares and who would be responsible for running a new system. Seamless Bay Area has rolled out a detailed plan where riders would pay based on distance, with no transfer penalties and a cap after a certain number of rides. SPUR, which pumped out its most recent report on the subject in December, also advocates for bus-only express lanes on highways. Assemblyman David Chiu, a Democrat from San Francisco, introduced a bill to coordinate transit in 2020: It never got to a vote, but he plans to push it again in 2021.

Josefowitz said the main challenges to integrating transit are political will to overcome our parochialism and funding, with a regional system stoking fear of individual operators missing out on revenue or not being able to increase fares during a budget crisis. Some operators depend more on fares than others  for BART, they make up 66% of the systems operating revenue.

The managers of VTA, BART and Golden Gate Transit told The Chronicle its part of their mission to make transit faster and more connected and that means considering if or how to integrate fares and transfers.

Tumlin trumpeted the same goal, but criticized Seamless Bay Areas strategy on Twitter earlier in December, arguing their lack of transit operations and finance understanding means their solutions would harm not help transit. He questioned to what degree fare integration should be prioritized over other efforts to improve transit.

We have limited resources and our challenge is how to use those resources for the highest public good, he said.

Adina Levin, advocacy director with Seamless Bay Area, said analyses have shown that a changed system would generate about the same amount of revenue pre-COVID. A study by San Jose State University found that integrating fares increased ridership in some other countries.

Any plan would include a network manager to make sure each agency was compensated fairly, as well as transition funding, Levin said. Its not clear yet where that would come from, although a regional ballot measure has been batted around.

Tumlin said the priority now is survival. But those whove been pushing for change for years say theres no better time than the present to shake up the system.

Its an opportunity to help make transit operators stronger as we come out of this, said Jim Spering, a Solano County supervisor on the MTC whos been leading a task force for transit recovery during the pandemic. Were not going back to normal, were going back to different, and the sooner people expect that, the sooner we will be able to deliver a world-class transit system in the Bay Area.

The recent push for integration follows 50 years of similar efforts. Spering said all the major operators resisted when the Clipper card was rolled out, but now riders can use it on nearly every method of transit.

The operators are going to feel very threatened by this whole process, he said. If theyre not willing to do it, the Legislature needs to help compel them to.

The still unanswered question is who would run the new system. MTC has limited authority: It cant set fares, but it can recommend consolidation to improve transit service, adopt rules to govern transfers and withhold funding from agencies. Its powers could be changed by the state Legislature.

MTC Executive Director Therese McMillan said at a recent meeting that a seamless transit system could require giving up local control for the greater good of a better transit system overall.

The MTC is studying four options for how integrating transit could be controlled and will revisit them at the next task force meeting in February. The study is scheduled to conclude next summer.

Many transit-dependent Bay Area residents said they wanted more frequent and faster connections and fares based either on zones or set regardless of distance to not penalize people for being poor, Oakland resident Liam Cain said.

It definitely hurts low-income people the most, said Darrell Owens, a Berkeley resident and member of the East Bay Transit Riders Union started this summer, which now has about 200 members. Youre paying all this extra fare and it starts racking up ... It discourages people from riding transit.

San Francisco residents Di and Taylor Sun, who ditched their car when they moved from Indianapolis in October, said even going to visit friends in Alameda is complicated. Di Sun grew up in Jinan, a city in China with around the same population as the Bay Area, where transit is integrated and payment made simple by cell phone, and he wants to see the same here.

Fremont resident Tawney Warren has low vision and isnt comfortable driving long distances. Unemployed for six months, she applied for a new job that would require what she called a nightmare five-hour daily commute on multiple buses and trains to South San Francisco. Fortunately she got an offer in San Mateo that would take three hours a day to commute instead, starting Monday. She wants to see better connections to cut down commutes and priority given to public transit.

We have to think post-pandemic, she said. If we havent already looked at how to solve some of those issues, were still struggling.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain on Friday welcomed Indias new stint at United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a period of two years.

France welcomes India as it joins UNSC for next 2 yrs. We are eager to work side by side to uphold international law, fight terrorism & defend multilateralism, tweeted Lenain.

The Council is composed of 15 members. Five permanent members (P-5) are China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with the end of term year).

On January 1, 2021, India will start its eighth term as a non-permanent, voting member of the UNSC. The last stint of India in UNSC was in the year 2011-2012.

India and France both share the same vision for a new balanced multipolar world, which must be based on the rule of law. They also share the same vision on the main challenges of the times, be the security developments in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, or combating international terrorism.

To this end, we also need a UNSC reform that gives India a permanent seat! added Lenain.

France welcomes India as it joins #UNSC for the next 2 years. We are eager to work side by side to uphold international law, fight terrorism and defend #multilateralism. To this end, we also need a UNSC reform that gives India a permanent seat! pic.twitter.com/v1j6rGAkqb  Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia) January 1, 2021

Co-incidentally, France was the first P-5 country to support Indias claim for a permanent seat in an expanded and reformed UNSC. India and France in past had jointly called for reform of the UNSC that would enable India to gain a permanent seat on it.
MAHANOY CITY  A man who ran back into his burning home in the 300 block of West South Street on Thursday was rescued by a Mahanoy City firefighter.

The blaze destroyed two homes, damaged three others and left seven people homeless, two of those temporarily.

Andrew Golub, of Parker Street, Staten Island, New York, was inside his house when the fire started in an adjoining home at 309 W. South St.

Golub exited his home, called 911 to report the fire and then, for some reason, went back inside.

The man was found in the middle of the first floor of his home by Humane Fire Company Capt. William Killian III.

Killian said he got water and was able to knock down the exterior fire, and advanced a hose into the 307 property.

I heard someone inside, proceeded into the house and into the kitchen where I found the gentleman, Killian said.

He said Golub was worried about his house and resisted all the way through while being escorted outside, possibly from being disoriented due to the heavy smoke.

Despite a heavy smoke condition, Killian said, Golub was able to walk on his own and get out with little help.

He was still conscious enough that I was able to get him out, Killian said.

Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said the fire started in the front living room area of 309 W. South St.

The home was occupied by Frank Mummey, who rents the property from Anthony Bowers, of Mahanoy City, he said.

Mummey was able to get out of his house during the early stages of the fire and was not injured.

Markiewicz said a state police fire marshal from Reading will be assisting in trying to determine how the fire started.

Its not suspicious but its still under investigation, the chief said.

In addition to 307 and 309 W. South St., homes at 311 and 313 W. South St. sustained lesser amounts of damage.

David Truskowsky, fire department public information officer, said 311 W. South St. appeared to be unoccupied, while the home at 313 W. South St. was owned by Shawn McGuire, of Mahanoy City, and occupied by Justice Swartz, Ryan Bohr and their son, Jaron Bohr, 1 1/2 years old.

A fifth home at 315 W. South St., occupied by Devon Fritz and Kora Khloe, sustained minor smoke and water damage, Truskowsky said.

Patty Daley, disaster captain with the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter, said the organization will be helping anyone needing assistance with food, clothing and shelter.

She did not know the exact number of people affected by the fire who will need Red Cross services.

Standing on the charred front porch of his home after the fire, Golub said as long as no one was injured, property can be replaced.

Nobody got hurt. I guess thats all that counts, he said.

Golub said he retired, purchased the house in Mahanoy City and was in the process of doing renovations.

Its a shame. I liked the quiet here. I loved the town, he said.

As a result of the fire, the man said he will move on and possibly buy a single home in the future, taking the experience with him.

Some of the worst things in life turn into some of the best things in life, Golub said.

Markiewicz credited firefighters from keeping the fire contained as much as they did considering the amount of flames blowing out of the front when they arrived.

He said William Killian Jr., assistant fire chief with the Humane Fire Company, lives on West South Street, just three blocks from the fire.

He (Killian) saw the fire when he left his house and immediately called for a second alarm, Markiewicz said.

Mahanoy City Police Cpl. Charles Kovalewski was one of the first to arrive at the scene.

He said fire was blowing out of the windows of 309 W. South St. and spreading east to 307 W. South St.

There was fire into the street. I could feel the heat on my skin, the officer said.

The fact that the fire happened on a holiday allowed for more firefighters to be home from work to respond quickly.

The fact people were off work helped our manpower pool tremendously, the chief said. If this had been a normal day we would have been in trouble.
Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines largest national flag carrier, has launched affordable Covid-19 testing options to boost confidence in air travel.

Passengers traveling from Dubai to Manila with connecting or transfer flights to select provinces in the Philippines, can now avail of antigen tests through the airlines Test Before Boarding (TBB) initiative for only AED54 ($14.7).

The antigen tests, which provide results within 30 minutes, are accepted for travel to General Santos City, Butuan, Dipolog, and Pagadian.

For these destinations, passengers can head directly to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 just a few hours before their estimated time of departure to get the test. Passengers will just have to register onsite and pay the fee to CEBs diagnostic partner, Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory (PADL). Only those holding negative test results will be allowed to board the flight.

The airlines price for the antigen test is considered the lowest in the industry, with its TBB testing facility at the NAIA Terminal 3 now open for walk-ins from 2 AM to 2 PM daily.

Affordable RT-PCR tests

Meanwhile, all of its other domestic and international flights, including travel between Manila and Dubai maintain the requirement of a negative RT-PCR test result.

CEB has ensured this need is fully covered with RT-PCR tests for only AED255 ($69.4) via its three partner laboratories, namely: PADL, Health Metrics, Inc. (HMI), and Safeguard DNA Diagnostics Inc. (SDDI).

Candice Iyog, CEB Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience, said: We remain committed to making flights affordable for everyone and seeing that testing is required by a number of destinations at the moment, we have partnered with accredited laboratories that may offer affordable testing options. We look forward to the day trust and confidence in air travel have been restored, but until then, let us all work together towards that.

Passengers booked on Cebu Pacific and Cebgo can easily choose and book appointments via https://bit.ly/CEBFlightRemindersAE. One will simply have to click on the Testing Options tab and choose from any of those in the list. From there, they will be redirected to each laboratorys page to finalise their schedule online.

CEB has been rated 7/7 stars by airlineratings.com for its Covid-19 compliance, as it continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, in accordance with global aviation standards. These include daily extensive cleaning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities, antigen testing before duty for all frontliners and crew members, and contactless flight procedures. These are all in accordance with global best practises and the highest safety standards. Aircraft are equipped with hospital grade HEPA air filters, which make inflight transmission of Covid-19 low or virtually non-existent. - TradeArabia News Service
President-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. ((AP Photo/Andrew Harnik))

The Trump administrations budget director is allegedly keeping key staff from meeting with the Biden transition team, preventing the incoming administration from fully preparing its long-term plans on issues like health care, climate change, and taxes. Its the latest flare-up in a chaotic transition process. The White House denies its holding up the process.

Earlier this week, the president-elect complained he was being stymied by uncooperative officials at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as the Pentagon.

Right now we just arent getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas, Mr Biden said. Its nothing short, in my view, of irresponsibility.

His campaign has argued that delays are interfering with the Biden administrations crucial task of responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

OMBs refusal to cooperate impairs our ability to identify opportunities to maximize the relief going out to Americans during the pandemic, and it leaves us in the dark as it relates to Covid expenditures and other gaps, Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the Biden transition team, told Bloomberg, which reported the alleged delays.

The official at the heart of the alleged delays is OMB director Russ Vought, who unnamed sources told Bloomberg has argued the administration needs to focus on finishing the Trump administrations final planned regulations before leaving office in three weeks. Mr Vought strongly denied he was putting up any roadblocks in front of the Biden transition team (BTT) in a letter and a series of tweets.

As the record shows, OMB has fully participated in appropriate transition efforts, Mr Vought wrote Biden transition team chief Ted Kaufman in a letter dated Thursday. What we have not done and will not do is use current OMB staff to write the BTTs legislative policy proposals to dismantle this administrations work.

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He also said that the OMB apportioned $9.9 million for the transition process, had briefed the transition team on Covid, and had taken more than 45 meetings with Biden staff to discuss specific issues, operational questions, and more," plus provided all requested information.

Story continues

Congress ultimately decides what money the federal government is spending, but the incoming president often begins preparing their budgetary recommendations before even taking office, as they are important statements of priorities. Any attempt to jam up that process would be unprecedented, William Hoagland, a former top Republican Senate budget aide, told Bloomberg.

Not having access to OMB and preparing their budget will further delay any actions they want to pursue, he said. There will be a serious delay in the incoming Biden administrations ability to put forward their budget.

The transition process has been the exact opposite of a peaceful transfer of power. President Trump still hasnt conceded the election, even though its been definitive for weeks, instead daily spouting false accusations of mass voter fraud and illegitimacy.

The federal government agency that handles the transition process, the General Services Administration (GSA) also didnt acknowledge Mr Biden as the winner until three weeks after election day, keeping funds and logistical support from the incoming administration in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic killing scores of Americans every day.

Mr Biden also didnt receive the presidential intelligence briefing for weeks, hampering national security preparedness, according to officials like former Trump chief of staff and Homeland Security secretary John Kelly.

The Trump administrations own transition process into the White House was just as acrimonious.

After Mr Trump won the election, president Obama said he dedicated himself to his successors success.

My number one priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our president-elect is successful, Mr Obama said at the time. The two men had a meeting in the Oval Office the day after Hillary Clinton conceded.

The process soon devolved, with president blasting Mr Obama on Twitter for unspecified inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.

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The Trump transition team also reportedly ignored help from outgoing White House officials, as well as briefing books and preloaded iPads the Obama team had spent days preparing, leaving them unable at first to even correctly operate the White House intercom.

Much of the planning the Trump team did do was cast aside with the firing of Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, who was head of the Trump transition team until personal feuds with Jared Kushner boiled over. During his time as a US attorney, Mr Christie prosecuted Jared father Charles Kushner, recently pardoned by the Trump administration, for various financial crimes.

Mr Christie wrote in a recent autobiography that the Trump team discarded 30 binders worth of material, which got rid of guidance that would have made their candidate an immensely more effective president and stole from the man theyd just helped elect the launch he so richly deserved.

Read More

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White House blocked Biden transition team from intelligence meetings
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
While millions around the world celebrated the New Year from the comfort of their own sofas in lockdown, thousands of revellers in Wuhan were partying together with no social distancing in sight.

In what is sure to spark envy in many countries still subject to strict measures, party-goers were seen crowding into a live music event in the former Covid epicentre.

Many opted to go mask-free inside the venue where people danced just inches from each other.

Thousands of revellers in Wuhan celebrated the New Year together with no social distancing in sight

Party-goers were seen crowding into a live music event with dancers on stage in the former Covid epicentre

Many opted to go mask-free inside the venue where people danced just inches from each other

The festivities come 12 months after the virus was first discovered in the Chinese city

Balloons were released into the sky in an incredible display in Wuhan. Huge crowds gathered in the city which was the Covid-19 epicentre less than a year ago

Amazed locals took photos of balloons being released into the sky to bring in 2021. The crowds weren't socially distanced but many opted to wear face masks

As per tradition, hundreds gathered in front of the old Hankow Customs House building, one of the city's more popular New Year's Eve spots.

When the building's old clock struck midnight balloons were released and people hugged and cheered in the joyous scenes.

The festivities come 12 months after the virus was first discovered in the Chinese city, sparking a deadly pandemic which has so far killed more than a million people across the world.

Wuhan has been largely virus free for months, and in recent days it has been vaccinating some specific groups of the local population.

Hundreds gathered in front of the old Hankow Customs House building, one of the city's more popular New Year's Eve spots

Wuhan has been largely virus free for months, and in recent days it has been vaccinating some specific groups of the local population

The city of 11 million was shut off from the rest of China in a surprise overnight lockdown beginning January 23

In what is sure to spark envy in many countries still subject to strict lockdown measures, party-goers were filmed crowding into a live music event in the former-Covid epicentre

The city hasn't reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10, after undergoing one of the strictest lockdowns worldwide.

The city of 11 million was shut off from the rest of China in a surprise overnight lockdown beginning January 23, with road blocks erected and planes, trains and buses barred from entering the city. Almost 3,900 of China's 4,634 recorded Covid-19 deaths occurred in the industrial city.

Wuhan's lockdown only lasted 76 days, ending in early April when most of the world was in the darkest days of the pandemic.

Although China has been criticised for allegedly covering up the virus as it took hold at the end of 2019, it has also won plaudits for the way it has since managed the pandemic.

The city hasn't reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10, after undergoing one of the strictest lockdowns worldwide

Wuhan's lockdown only lasted 76 days, ending in early April when most of the world was in the darkest days of the pandemic

People with and without protective masks on their faces walk in a street on New Year's Eve

Life in Wuhan, a Chinese city of more than 11 million, which nearly a year ago became the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak is returning to normal

The country was well placed to tackle a disease, with a centralised epidemic response system on the back of the SARS outbreak in 2002.

It implemented a very harsh lockdown, with Wuhan residents forced to stay at home from January and all non-essential shops closed for months.

The state also used facial recognition and CCTV cameras to identify people leaving home, and even used loudspeakers to shout at people who were disobeying the rules.

Another crucial factor was that only three per cent of elderly people in China live in care homes.

The facilities have been a hotbed for the virus in many countries across the world, but ageing parents normally living with their families in China, meaning less transmission between vulnerable people.

Although China has been criticised for allegedly covering up the virus as it took hold at the end of 2019, it has also won plaudits for the way it has since managed the pandemic

China implemented a very harsh lockdown, with Wuhan residents forced to stay at home from January and all non-essential shops closed for months

Partygoers, mostly wearing protective face masks, gathered in the streets of Wuhan to welcome 2021

Revellers posed for a selfie in front of buildings lit up in bright colours. Wuhan had a more-normal New Year's Eve than many others across the globe

China was quick to enforce its draconian measures, imposing a lockdown which suspended all public transport in Wuhan, setting up 14,000 health checkpoints at transport stations across the country, closing schools and minimising movement.

The government also put up physical barricades to enclose the epicentre of the virus in Wuhan.

Its track and trace system was also set up within weeks, with the government claiming that the entire population of 11million people in Wuhan were tested by May. This was in part achieved by the government warning of possible detention for those who refused to be tested.

Mass testing has been heralded as the key to controlling the virus, but many countries have struggled to replicate China's success.

A fireworks display delighted the huge crowds gathered in the former virus hotspot to see in the New Year

Vast crowds were seen gathered on the streets of Wuhan as a new year countdown ushers in 2021

The country also implemented a traffic light-style health code in February, with a green code allowing someone to travel freely, and orange or red indicating someone has to quarantine for up to two weeks.

The QR based system uses location tracking to show if a user has been near a confirmed case of the coronavirus.

Also key to the country's response was its ability to deliver PPE to healthcare workers, being the world's largest manufacturer of the equipment.

The fact that Chinese people are more accustomed to wearing face masks also eased the introduction of the new laws, whereas many in the West remain averse to the measures which they deem an infringement of civil liberties.

In February, Wuhan opened 16 new hospitals in public venues where people who had only experienced mild symptoms were ordered to self-isolate.

Huge crowds were seen on the streets of Wuhan on New Year's Eve. Once the virus epicentre, lockdown rules have since been significantly relaxed in the city

Mass testing has been heralded as the key to controlling the virus, but many countries have struggled to replicate China's success

In Wuhan, where the virus first surfaced at the very end of 2019 before spiralling catastrophically around the globe, revellers partied to welcome the new year in

If they started showing more serious symptoms, they were then moved to established hospitals.

These measures helped guarantee the isolation of those suffering from the virus, whereas other countries have relied on their citizens to isolate at home.

China also closed off its borders and tested and quarantined the few who did enter the country or moved between its states from early on in the pandemic, another measure which wasn't adopted until much later by other countries.

Gregory Poland, director of the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic, told The Lancet: 'In China, you have a combination of a population that takes respiratory infections seriously and is willing to adopt non-pharmaceutical interventions, with a government that can put bigger constraints on individual freedoms than would be considered acceptable in most Western countries.

'China does not have the kind of raucous anti-vaccine, anti-science movement that is trying to derail the fight against Covid-19 in the USA.'
Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno thanked the Massachusetts State Trooper that was injured and the quick response from the Springfield officer who came to his aid on Nursery Street. Now, he said, he wants the courts and judges to do their jobs.

The trooper, whose name has not been disclosed, was injured after a bullet pierced through his cruiser and struck him on his left leg. His injuries were non-life-threatening and he was discharged from Baystate Medical Center earlier Friday morning, according to state police spokesman David Procopio.

He was responding to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire just before 11:20 p.m. in the area of 195 Nursery St. He was struck just as he arrived at the scene.

I am also extremely grateful to the Springfield officer who cared for our injured Trooper at the scene, said Col. Christopher S. Mason, superintendent of the state police in a statement on Friday. To the EMTs who treated him and took him to the hospital, and to the medical professionals who cared for him there.

A Springfield officer provided first aid to the trooper. An unoccupied Springfield police cruiser was also hit in the firefight, but luckily no else one was injured. A second Trooper, Richard Caron, arrived at the scene moments later and transported the wounded Trooper to Baystate Medical Center.

Christopher Gardner, 31, was arrested and held at the State Police-Springfield Barracks overnight. He was transferred to the House of Correction in Ludlow on Friday morning.

This once again underscores the dangerousness that our brave men and women in blue face day-in and day-out to keep all of our Springfield residents safe and sound, Sarno stated on New Years Day. I must also point out, the restraint that was shown by our [Springfield Police Officers] and state troopers in not returning fire, and making an arrest utilizing one of our K9 officers.

Blue did their job, the mayor added.

Gardner is being held on cash bail set at $150,000 and is currently waiting to be arraigned Monday in Springfield District Court.

Sarno addressed the courts and its judges directly and asked that they not let the individual back into society to party and perpetuate mayhem to one of our residents or police officers [or]state troopers.

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New Delhi: The year 2021 will bring new hopes for the youth who are looking forward to getting into government jobs.

There is very good news for the youth of Uttar Pradesh that in the new year, there are going to be recruitment for more than 50 thousand posts. For this, preparations have also started from Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC).

In different media reports, it has been said that UPSSSC has also received proposals to recruit around 40 thousand vacant posts, while revised proposals have been sought from some departments for more than 10 thousand posts.

Selection Process:

The Subordinate Services Selection Commission will conduct the preliminary qualifying examination first in the new year and after this, the advertisement will be taken out in relation to the recruitment. Preparations are being made to conduct the preliminary examination in April 2021, while the main examination will be conducted by May and successful candidates will be given appointment letters.

Scheme of Application:

Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC Recruitment 2021) will announce the application for this recruitment soon. The qualification will be determined according to the posts. It is being planned to invite Group Wise applications for technical qualification posts including Graduates, Professional Courses and Intermediate. For this, the commission will separate the recruitment proposals from different departments on the basis of merit.

It is being said that this process will make it easier for both the candidates who take the exam and those who take the exam. Exam Syllabus will be available online. It will be released by the commission. A team of three members has been formed to draft the course.

Online Syllabus:

The syllabus will be available online for the preliminary qualifying examination of Subordinate Service commission. It will be released by the Commission, a team of three members has been formed to draft the course, which will be given to the chairman after the drafting, after which it will be released online. It will be facilitated to the candidates.

Details of the posts:

Family welfare: 9222

Lekhpal: 7882

Clerks in various departments: 7000

Child Development Nutrition: 3448

Rural development: 1658

Auditor: 1303

Basic education: 1055

Secondary education: 500

Civic body: 383

Apart from this, the Commission is also going to organize a webinar in February to make the recruitment examinations foolproof.

In this, experts will be invited along with those who conduct online and offline exams with SIT, STF. In this, the format of the recruitment examination will be decided on the basis of their experiences and the suggestions given by them, so that the rigging can be stopped and the recruitment can be done on time.
Image: Eva Darron/Unsplash

I am a frequent flyer.

Technically, I used to be a frequent flyerbefore the pandemic.

I used to get on these things called airplanes at places called airports to go to things called meetings. But when I do or did fly, I actually have a fear of flying. So, because I think this way, I did some research and discovered that when you're on a plane, turbulence is generally only dangerous on takeoff and landing. So, those are the time when I'm most stressed. I don't drink, but if I did, that would be the time I would!

What happens on an airplane facing turbulence is short lived.

Once I was on a plane when the pilot was trying to land in Phoenix during a storm. He came down once and at the last minute pulled up. Everyone gasped. After a second attempt was aborted, he said we didn't have enough fuel to divert, so he was going to try a third time.

I have never been in a more tense moment, but the whole event was over in probably 20 minutes.

Our bodies are designed to have certain responses like flight or fight in sudden moments of upheaval or danger. The challenge for us now is that turbulence has become a regular part of life involving multiple facets over a period of months. It's no understatement to say that turbulence has produced stress in us. Long term stress is not good for us personally, interpersonally, or physiologically; nevertheless, here we are.

Turbulence produces stress

There are four things related to turbulence.

First, turbulence produces stress.

A certain amount of stress is good for us. We stress our bodies when we exercise, for instance.

There are actually two kinds of stress. There is distress. That's what we normally think of, and that kind of stress over the long haul is not healthy.

But there is also eustress, or good stress.

That's the stress an athlete feels just before playing a ball game or I feel just before I preach. It's a good stress that gives us focus for the matter at hand. But too much of a good thing can also be bad. If we constantly live in a state of stress, good or bad, it will bring a negative impact to our lives.

The stress that has become a part of our life creates challenges long-term. We have to find ways to create a rhythm of life that is new in COVID-19 time. It is also multifaceted because of the various ways states, churches, and individuals have responded to it and the varied and still somewhat misundertood ways the virus works.

We can add to this the concerns in our culture right now and the deep division we see. We're concerned about racial divisions and how that might impact people who are on the margins. We're concerned about our political divisions.

We're concerned about finances. Weve watched the Dow, or we see our personal finances, and we're concerned about our future. We're concerned about our families. I have two daughters who were both planning to go physically to school this fall but are currently going to school online in our basement. The stress is real. We can't wave a magic wand and make that stress go away. I think we all feel it and to manage our new level of ongoing stress has to be something that is prioritized and managed.

Turbulence produces tension

Second, turbulence actually produces tension.

Like stress, some tension is good. Belts on a car and rubber bands work well with some tension. But too much tension and they snap.

Let me just be transparent.

I've been married for 33 years this summer, and we are blessed with a really good marriage. Donna is an introvert, while I'm an extrovert. When President Trump shut down the country in March and then extended it into April, I said to her, "So is this a good thing for an introvert? You get like another month and you get to hang out at home." I was trying to be funny. Her response to me was, "Are you going to be here the whole month?"

She was being funny, too. It was gracious and loving.

Yet, until we got in a new rythm, those were a couple of tough months.

More broadly, I've been shocked by the tension created by the turbulence in the culture in a very strong and stable relationship. I want to encourage us to speak softly and turn away from wrath, to have the attitude we see in Christ Jesus, as Paul describes in Philippians 2. He tells us to consider others more highly than ourselves.

Turbulence produces innovation

A third thing turbulence produces is innovation. There are things that we've started to do now that will become significant for us in two years that we started only because of the turbulence we face and the questions it raises.

We don't need to come up with new 50 new ideas, but now is the time to ask the question: what should we still be addressing or doing so that we can successfully walk through this difficult time now and moving forward?

Turbulence can produce trust

That statement may surprise you.

The good thing about that turbulence in the airplane landing in Phoenix is that we landed safely; otherwise the focus would have been on a black box after a crash.

Within three months of that Phoenix trip I experienced an actual mayday landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It didn't help my fear of flying. But one of the things I've learned is there are people up front who know much more than I do about aeronautics. Planes are built to withstand turbulence. When I am nervous in a situation like that, I remember I can trust the Lord and I can trust my pilot.

In times of turbulence we have to trust people who have earned some level of trust from us.

Turbulence is here.

It's real. It's not ending anytime soon.

We have to acknowledge the stress and address the tension it creates. I'm still looking for opportunities for innovation and seeking to grow trust with people who are walking through this.

Ultimately, we have to ask the question, Lord, what are you going to do in the midst of this turbulence?

And, move forward in faith.
Israel has vaccinated 41 per cent of its over-60s and more than ten per cent of its population as it drives ahead in the global vaccine race despite fears over shortages.





One million Israelis have received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine since the rollout began on December 20 with the milestone jab administered in the city of Umm al-Fahm today.





The country has now vaccinated 11.56 per cent of its 8.7 million population. It is hooped that high proportion of over-60s who have received the dose could soon start to bring the country's hospitalisation and death rate down.





The infection fatality rate (IFR) of coronavirus for under-65s is estimated at 0.5%, dropping to almost 0% for under-44ss.





But for the over-65s it is 3.1%, rising to 11% for the over-75s. That means that incoulating all of the older generation will make much greater reductions in a country's hospitalisation and death rates than vaccinating the younger population.





After two national lockdowns, Israel began its mass vaccination programme with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu becoming the first citizen to get the jab.





Mr Netanyahu said he aimed to get 2.25 million of the population vaccinated by the end of January amid 426,000 cases and 3,338 deaths since the start of the pandemic.





It comes as the health minister said the country will pause the drive for three weeks in January over fears that the Pfizer vaccine would run out within 10 days at its current rate as Israel has the highest proportion of its population vaccinated.

Israel is set to run out of Pfizer/BioNTech doses amid fears that the slow pace of the vaccination programme and supply shortages will sabotage the global recovery

The infection fatality ratio of the 45 to 64 bracket is 0.5 per cent while 65 to 74 is 3.1 per cent and for over-75s it is 11%. The over-60s are at most risk of hospitalisation of the virus which is likely to bring the death rate down in Israel after they announced 41 per cent of over-60s have been vaccinated

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in the UK has set out figures which shows that the estimated number of infections of over-65s is 347,121.

The confirmed number of deaths of over-65s, who are most at risk of hospitalisation from the virus, is 24,993 while 524 deaths are noted for the age bracket of 15 to 44 from February to July 2020.

The rapid rollout in a country that prides itself on self-reliance comes after Israel's health minister ordered a 24/7 vaccination drive, hundreds of military medics were drafted in to help with the effort and the country ordered shots from all three of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca in advance.

However, while vaccinations continue at a rate of more than 100,000 per day, Israel's health minister has announced first doses will be paused between January 10 and 31 to ensure people who have already received the first dose will get their second jab, according to The Telegraph.

Meanwhile Israel is expected to launch a so-called 'green passport' scheme in January which means people immunised against Covid-19 will avoid having to quarantine if they travel from abroad or come into contact with a virus patient.

The country had aimed to open the vaccination programme to the public within a week however the pause may push it back by up to six weeks, according to Channel 12 news.

The US has given out the second most vaccines outright after injecting more than 2.79million people, but president-elect Joe Biden has criticised delays in the rollout

An Israeli military medic prepares to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a medical centre in Rishion LeZion on Monday

Chinese firm says its vaccine is 79 per cent effective Chinese pharma giant Sinopharm said today that its Covid-19 vaccine was 79 per cent effective in Phase III trials. China has already given out over a million vaccines under an emergency use programme, but Sinopharm's announcement is the first data on the efficacy of a Chinese vaccine. But China, where the coronavirus first surfaced last year, has struggled to gain international trust for its vaccine candidates, hindered by a lack of transparency on test results. It has also been slow to complete Phase III trials, which had to be conducted abroad due to China's success at curbing the spread of Covid-19 within its own borders. But Bahrain and the UAE have both approved Sinopharm vaccines, with Beijing vowing to share its products at a relatively low cost to poorer Asian countries. Sinopharm has applied to China's drug regulator for approval of the vaccine, a statement said. China plans to vaccinate millions this winter in the run-up to Lunar New Year, and officials have vowed to ramp up vaccine production capacity to more than one billion doses next year. While the 79 per cent figure is lower than the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna jabs, the Sinopharm product does not require the -70C temperatures needed to store the Pfizer jab, a near-impossible logistical challenge in many developing countries. It gives China a diplomatic tool after facing widespread criticism led by the US and Australia over its handling of the initial outbreak in Wuhan. Chinese health authorities this week said data from antibodies circulating in Wuhan suggests the number of cases in the epicentre of the pandemic may be 10 times higher than previously reported. Advertisement

The US has given out the second most vaccines outright after injecting more than 2.79million people, but president-elect Joe Biden has criticised delays in the rollout.

Britain is third after handing out 944,539 doses in barely two weeks by December 30 - with the UK set to ramp up its vaccine drive after the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

Meanwhile Bahrain is using the Sinopharm vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical giant of the same name, which says the jab is 79 per cent effective.

Europe started its own programme at the weekend after an EU regulator finally approved the Pfizer jab, with Portugal and Denmark making the fastest progress on the continent so far.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has self-isolated three times after being exposed to Covid carriers, has called for more than two million people to be vaccinated within a month.

'This is the critical stage, the first stage, because here is the population at risk, all the medical teams, all of the people over 60,' he said.

'As soon as we are done with this stage, within 30 days we can emerge from the coronavirus, open the economy and do things that no country can do.'

While only the Pfizer jab has been used so far, Israel also has shipments of the Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines on order.

Israel's justice ministry also announced it had asked Facebook to take down false anti-vaccine content as the government tries to drum up support for the programme.

Four Hebrew-language groups were removed for publishing texts, photographs and videos with 'deliberately mendacious content designed to mislead about coronavirus vaccines'.

The fake news included spurious claims that vaccines would be used to plant government tracking chips in recipients' bodies, poison them or subject them to medical experimentation.

In Germany 131,626 people had been vaccinated out of a population of 83million by Thursday evening.

China has struggled to gain trust for its vaccine candidates, hindered by a lack of transparency on test results, but it has been approved in Bahrain and the UAE.

It has also been slow to complete Phase 3 trials, which had to be conducted abroad due to China's success at curbing the spread of Covid-19 within its own borders.

However, 4.5 million people have already been given vaccine doses in China under its emergency use programme.

They include frontline health workers, state-owned enterprise employees and workers planning to travel abroad.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first Israeli to get the vaccine on December 19, rolling up his sleeves at a medical centre in Ramat Gan

China plans to vaccinate millions more this winter in the run-up to Lunar New Year, and officials have vowed to ramp up capacity to more than one billion doses.

Beijing has pledged to share its vaccines at a relatively low cost - a potential boost for poorer Asian countries who are otherwise reliant on limited distribution offered by a global scheme.

Third in the global vaccine race is Britain, which approved the Pfizer jab before its EU neighbours or the United States.

Today the UK became the first to approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, which unlike the Pfizer jab can be stored at normal fridge temperatures.

This means the Oxford vaccine is easier to roll out to places such as care homes and GP surgeries, paving the way for an even larger vaccination programme.

AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot told BBC Radio 4's Today programme deliveries will be ramped up 'very rapidly' in the first and second week of January.

He added: 'We will start delivering this week - maybe today or tomorrow we will be shipping our first doses.

'The vaccination will start next week and we will get to one million a week and beyond that very rapidly.

'We can go to two million. In January we will already possibly be vaccinating several million people and by the end of the first quarter we are going to be in the tens of millions already.'

Bahrain, where a woman is pictured receiving a vaccine in Manama last week, has approved both the Pfizer jab and another shot developed by Chinese firm Sinopharm

Asked whether two million vaccinations per week is possible, health secretary Matt Hancock told Times Radio: 'That's absolutely deliverable by the NHS.'

In the US, the 2.79million people vaccinated so far are well short of a Trump administration target to immunise 20million people before the end of 2020.

President-elect Joe Biden criticised Trump's vaccine rollout on Tuesday, warning it would take years at the current rate to deliver the necessary shots.

'As I long feared and warned, the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should,' Biden said.

Biden's goal of ensuring that 100 million shots are administered by the end of his 100th day in office would mean 'ramping up five to six times the current pace to one million shots a day,' he added.

Earlier in the day, Biden's vice president-elect Kamala Harris received her Moderna vaccine live on television in a bid to boost confidence.

Biden, 78, received his first dose of the vaccine last week and has vowed to make the pandemic his top priority when he takes office on January 20.

But Dr Atul Gawande, a member of Biden's Covid-19 advisory board, told CBS News the transition team still did not have all the information it needed to understand the bottlenecks hampering vaccine distribution.

'The realistic picture is to expect it could be fall before ... enough people are being vaccinated that we're getting back to normal and that it might be summer before the general public is really accessing the vaccine,' he said.
McCLELLANVILLE  A Citadel student recently discovered new populations of Carolina birds-in-a-nest, a relative of the mint plant with a showy pink flower that had never before been recorded in Charleston County.

The plant, which grows a few feet off the ground and can be hard to spot when it's not in bloom, prefers a wet, sunny environment.

Celie Dailey, who is pursing a master's degree in biology, stumbled on several thickets of the plant in bloom this summer at a conservation site on the Black River in southern Georgetown County.

The rare wildflower lives in a limited range in the coastal plains from Georgia to North Carolina. The federal government considers it an "at-risk" plant, and will decide whether it should be listed as threatened or endangered in 2023. Dailey reported the sighting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"They were really excited to find it," Dailey said. "It turned out, it was kind of a monster population."

But shortly after, Dailey spotted this rare plant again in an unexpected place  a roadside ditch in McClellanville. It was the first recorded population ever found in Charleston County.

Joel Gramling, a Citadel professor and Dailey's adviser, said the discoveries are important in part because the plant, with the Latin name Macbridea caroliniana, is hard to keep track of. A 2016 survey couldn't find about 45 percent of the Macbridea population at previously discovered locations in South Carolina, Gramling said.

"We see this trend where we aren't able to find these populations, and now, all of a sudden, heres (Dailey) in several different counties, finding new populations," he said.

It's possible that the plant has been hard to detect because it blends in with other flora when it's not blooming. If previously sunny areas become shaded by new trees or shrubs, it may also recede into simple green stems.

Thriving populations are found in "disturbed" areas, which may have been cleared of larger plants by natural causes, such as a forest fire, or man-made ones, such mowing in a drainage ditch.

One of its main habitats  the edges of a swamp or inside a bog  can also be hard to access when the telltale blooms are out. Dailey said that in trips to the Black River site, she had to push through thickets of grass taller than she was, and was showered with ticks in the process.

"Nobody wants to be in a swamp in July," Dailey said. "Its just nasty."

But she said that the plant, though unassuming, is not just rare, it's special to the state. South Carolina has the biggest population of the plant among the three states in which it's been found.

It's just one of several overlooked plants that make up the state's biodiversity, she said.

"I just love these wild places because they are just so diverse," Dailey said. "Roadside places where you have so-called 'weedy' plants growing wild, people just want to cut these areas down  those types of areas are so cool to me, to see the abundance of life there."

Residents who spot Carolina birds-in-a-nest can report it to the Fish and Wildlife Service office in Charleston at (843) 727-4707.
Fears are growing for the safety of a missing young woman, who hasn't been seen since leaving her family home in a Surrey village five days ago without her medication.

Beth Sharp, 22, told relatives on Sunday that she was going out for a walk but she never returned and police were called in to investigate and launch a search for her.

Officers said that Beth's disappearance from her home in Hersham, near Walton-on-Thames, was totally out of character.

Beth Sharp, 22, told relatives on Sunday that she was going out for a walk but she never returned and police were called in to investigate and launch a search for her

She does not have access to a car and did not have many clothes with her when she disappeared. Concerns grew at the freezing weather set in and friends said they had not heard from her.

There were also health concerns for Beth as she did not take her medication with her - although police have not disclosed what condition she suffers from.

Worries about her disappearance were fuelled by the fact that she has made no contact with anyone, even her family over the New Year celebrations.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: 'We are appealing for the public's help to locate a woman missing from Hersham, near Walton-on-Thames.

'Beth Sharp, aged 22 years, was last seen at around 4.30pm on Sunday December 27 after she told her family she was going out for a walk. She has not been in contact since.

'We are growing increasingly concerned as it is out of character for her to be out of contact for this long and she does not have vital medication with her.

'Beth is described as white, around 5ft 6ins tall and of slim to average build. She has long blonde hair with darker roots and a tattoo behind her left heel of the letter 'J'.

'When she went missing she was wearing a blue Puffa jacket, blue jeans, a grey jumper and boots and is not believed to have many clothes with her. She does not have access to a car so is likely to be using trains or buses. She is believed to have connections to the Croydon, Epsom and Redhill areas.

'Anyone who has been in contact with Beth, or believes they have seen someone matching her photo and description since last Sunday, is asked to make contact with Surrey Police on 101 or using the 'live Chat' function on the Surrey Police website (surrey.police.uk) which will connect you direct to a call handler.

'Anyone who knows where Beth currently is, should call 999 so that officers can attend and ensure she is safe.'
New York, Jan. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the Brewers Association, the popularity of craft beer has soared over the years, and analysis attributes this to a potential 'beer bubble.' The United States alone has one to two new breweries opening per day. To meet this increasing demand, beer companies are returning to old-school delivery methods like cans. Canned beer tastes fresher and better because it prevents light damage, among other benefits.

However, if you cannot see nor appreciate the aroma of your drink, how can you enjoy it properly? This American made draft top tool gives you a chance to safely cut the head's aluminum top to make them topless and allows you to grab the soda seltzer you like straight from the can.

The beauty of removing the entire top is that you can enjoy your drink's aroma without feeling the aluminum top rim, as is the case with other splitters. Additionally, the draft top gives you a chance to play drinking games, spice up your soda seltzer with a cocktail or a slice of lime that you like in Cerveza.

What Is A Draft Top?

A draft top tool is a pocket-size bar tool designed to safely remove the top of an aluminum can and open it to enable you to drink topless. Unlike other splitters, this has blades designed to use pressure to efficiently remove the center without leaving any sharp edges or damaging the can's rim. Using any other device to open a can top can leave a dangerously sharp edge that could leave you with an injury on your lips.

The enhanced stainless mechanism works by spreading four splitters from the center towards the can's rim, separating the top and folding over itself to ensure a smooth surface for comfortable and safe for drinking topless.

The use of this product is simple, place it on top of your can and squeeze it while rotating the can. It has four slitters that sit inside to help slit and fold the lid as it turns to ensure no sharp edge is left on the can. Once this is done, you can conveniently store the top in a safe place or safely play your 'beverage games'. Further info and a discount can be found here on the official website!

Draft Top Specifications

Dimension: 4.5H x 3L x 0.5W

Colors: Available in black and grey

Four rotating blades

Made stainless steel and high impact ABS

Panted design

Four rotating blades

Easy to care and maintain - Hand wash only

Fit 52mm to 57 mm cans

It comes with a 3-month warranty.

How A Draft Top Works

Using this product is simple and does not require any expertise; if you have some beverage cans with you, here is a procedure to illustrate how to put this product to work.

Keep in mind that it's also ideal for people who love to play drinking games.

Step 1: Release the Handle

First, rinse the tool's handle to avoid contamination since there is a high chance it will come in contact with your beverage. Once done, push the draft top's upper left corner or take out the handle's end in the tool's lower right. From there, you can see that everything is out as the handle is locking into position.

Step 2: Place the Tool on the can

Position the product on the drink you need to open and check to ensure the can is balanced. Softly push the device downwards as you grip the handles gently to ensure the can stands still.

Step 3: Hold the can

As you hold the draft top, use the opposite hand to pick the top or bottom of the aluminum can, depending on where you feel it is easier to handle.

Step 4: Compress the grip as you turn the can

Continue compressing the grip gently until you notice it starting to stretch, and then start turning the can. Although this sounds like it requires a lot of energy, it doesn't. With a little power, you can rotate the can with ease. If you have any difficulties or feel the can may crush, ensure you hold it in the right position, and avoid squeezing the knob too tightly.

Step 5: Keep rotating

Keep rotating the can until you hear a cracking and a sound to confirm that the splitters are removing the center. In most cases, you will experience straight cans are relatively easier to open than bevel cans, which require a little more effort.

Step 6: Remove The Top

Release the grip to detach the device to avoid the blades touching your drink. While rolling the lid, locate the weakest parts when you feel it is not moving as fast as you want. Using one of the screws, stand at the bottom of the can and steadily move the lid. You can choose to remove the whole lid or leave it partially connected to the can.

--- Visit the official website here! ---

Use Draft Top To Drink Topless

Why would you want to miss the full drinking experience by transferring the drink to the glass when you can pop the whole top with this product? Some drinks are known to lose their intended taste when moved from the original can to glass, and that's what a draft top does. The tool helps you take your favorite canned drink in its original state.

The draft top leaves a soft edge that leaves no chance for you to hurt yourself while enjoying the taste and aroma of your drink. Using any other device to open your beverage can leave sharp edges that can leave you with injuries on your lips or tongue.

If you are going somewhere that you think they will offer you canned drinks, the draft top tool is small enough to perfectly fit your pocket. Furthermore, frequently borrowing your friends or colleagues Draft top to remove the top of your beverage cans is embarrassing. The can opener works with millions of cans and has proved not to leave any serrated edge and not build up rust after a long time.

It is cleverly designed with creators pointing to various other uses to attract hardcore beer nerds, including Micheladas, Bloody Marys, Beer Sangrias and, Mimosas. Visit the official website here to find a discounted price!

Bar Tool Designed - Is Draft Top Useful for All Cans?

Although this product was explicitly developed for Crawlers, Sam Can, soup tallboys, it is a bar tool designed to open the top 8-16oz aluminum beer and 19oz beverage cans. Generally, cans with diameters between 52mm and 57mm. Although the lid can be taken out by hand by pressing the lid, the draft top is specifically built to make your work easier by removing the upper part of the can with ease to help you drink topless. The Draft Top should work in most 12 and 19-ounce can and most other can types.

The Draft Top Tool allows you to remove the tops of most aluminum cans by turning them right into standalone cans. Even if you prefer drinking from the glass, using this great product gives you a smoother pour by removing the blub sound associated with small openings. Additionally, removing the entire top helps to garnish your beverages from the can. One thing to note is that it has sharp edges on the top and is safe to drink topless.

The Benefits of Using Draft Top

Your favorite canned drinks begin with a perfect pour, and last till the bottom. Whether you are looking at your guests or customers, you have to make sure they enjoy fresher, tastier beverages by ensuring that the top is smooth. Some of the primary benefits of using a draft top bar tool to take different drinks and drink topless include:

Happier customers

As more people continue to like beverages, customers' innovation surrounding brewer intended equipment continues to increase. The modern customer can now differentiate between a fresh and a well-poured drink from others. Using a Draft Top bar tool allows you to remove the top of a beverage product in the right way and serve a fresh and best-poured drink. That way, you will never disappoint your customers, and they will not cease from being available at your premises to take the drinks they like.

More Revenue for Business Owners

The bar and restaurant industry are increasingly growing popular, and entrepreneurs have to get to work and develop innovative ways to beat their available competitors. One of these ways is offering their available customers equipment for removing the top of their cans for them to drink topless. If the customers are happy with your service, they will want to visit your premises full time and grab more drinks.

Turns Cans into Cups

If you are going out for an adventure with some beverages, you will not need to carry cups with you since the draft top tool may be used to turn cans into cups. Through this device, you can drink topless from cans filled with bubbly beverages. That way, pouring will be made easier, and the perceived tinniness of drinking out of the glass will be removed.

Easy to use

There is indeed no learning when it comes to cleaning this product. With two or three tries, you should grasp all the steps to rotate this product and drink topless. If you look into most reviews, you will notice that most available customers appreciate that the device can be easily cleaned and small enough to carry in the pocket. Plus, cleaning it does not require a dishwasher; after use, run it through clean water, and you are good to go. However, if it is too dirty, you can use soap or detergent to clean it.

--- Get the Best Price Right Here ---

Where to Purchase A Draft Top

If you are impressed by this draft top review and want to get one for yourself, you may want to visit DraftTop com official website and check the available products. An order of this device can ship along with seven draft tops, and more orders mean less price. Here is a breakdown of the total amount to pay to get the available products:

A single draft top - $25.99 including the shipping fee

Three draft tops - $51.98, which translates to $17.33 for each

Five draft tops - $77.97, which translates to $15.59 each

Seven draft tops - $103.96, which translates to $14.85

If you explore their Facebook page, a free delivery fee is available for all packages, except the single Draft Top package. You'll also get information on how to ship, shipping dates, and refunds.

Factors to Consider When Using This Product

Note that the separated lid has sharp edges that could be dangerous, especially when available around children. Therefore, you have to squeeze them safely and, if possible, dispose of them immediately after removing them. Additionally, do not drink directly from the can until the lid is separated to avoid injuring your lips. If a metal shaving falls into the can, pour the beverage into the glass, remove it then drink topless.

Read through the available instructions carefully for proper use of this device. Additionally, you may go through the shipping instructions in case the product gets damaged. Visit the official website here!

About the Manufacturer

Draft Top is an American made product, therefore, you know that it is going to do the work it is intended for, and no matter how often it is used. The company's shipping address is PO Box 341, Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, United States.

If you have a question on the available product, shipping, or delivery, you may also reach the company through its official website https://getdrafttop.io/.

E-Mail: support@giddyup.io

Conclusion

This American made product is a bar tool designed to safely remove the top of aluminum beverage cans without much effort. Using the draft top, you will experience the full aroma of your favorite beverage right from a can with an incredibly smooth edge.

The hand-held device leaves no sharp edges on the can, leaving a smoother pour and bigger opening available for an all-around better experience. Additionally, the tool provides a perfect opportunity for garnishes, people who love to play drinking games, or drink mixing lovers.

About

Mike Vaughn is a blogger from a bigger enthusiastic team which loves to review products based on personal research. His contact E-Mail is mvaughn-revs@gmail.com. Feel free to contact him every time you like.

Disclosure by content creator

This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute advice or an offer to buy.

Any purchase done from this story is done on your own risk. Consult an expert advisor / health professional before any such purchase. Any purchase done from this link is subject to final terms and conditions of the website that is selling the product. The content on this release does not take any responsibility directly or indirectly. Contact the vendor of the product directly.





This news has been published for the above source. Mike Vaughn [ID=16099]

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Linda Codoul, a Business Advisor with AIB Business Banking Kilkenny has been named as the incoming President of Network Ireland Kilkenny for 2021.

Linda, who had been vice president in 2020, joined Network Ireland Kilkenny in its founding year in 2017 and has been involved on the committee since 2018.

Network Ireland is the nationwide organisation which supports professional and personal development of women in business, both self-employed and employees. Network Ireland offers individuals the opportunity to network and build relationships with like minded people as well as supporting businesses to grow and develop to achieve their full potential. Members can avail of a mentoring service on a wide range of topics from sales and marketing to career development and many more subject areas in between. Network Ireland also hosts its annual Business Woman of the Year awards which has brought huge recognition to all regional and national winners.



The organisation has a regular newsletter/ezine, soapbox events, national blogs, feature on Network Ireland online shop and much more.

Each month there are events for members to network and learn valuable ideas and insights from a guest speaker.

The first event of the new year is on January 6, at 9.30am via Zoom. Lorraine Higgins from Digital Business Ireland will talk about Business Beyond Borders. To register click here or go to Eventbrite.com and search Network Ireland events.



If you would like to become a member visit www.NetworkIreland.ie to find out more or contact Networkirelandkilkenny@ gmail.com. Membership for 2021 is at a reduced rate of 136.50 and you can follow activities via: Facebook @NetworkIrelandKilkenny, Twitter @NetIrlKilkenny, Instagram @networkkilkenny to keep up to date.
A Commonwealth Court judge has rejected an effort by a group of restaurants to overturn Gov. Tom Wolfs ban on indoor dining implemented in response to rising COVID-19 cases.

Three Luzerne County restaurants  Tammys Kitchen in Larksville, Benny Brewing Co. in Hanover Twp. and Breaker Brewing Company in Wilkes-Barre Twp.  joined a statewide coalition of more than 20 Pennsylvania restaurants in the suit.

The lawsuit alleged Wolfs order, which went into effect Dec. 12, violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutions by unfairly treating bars and restaurants differently than other businesses that attract large groups of people.

But in an opinion issued Wednesday, Judge J. Andrew Crompton found the restaurants did not qualify for an injunction.

Because bars and restaurants are not identical to other businesses in so far as the activities of eating and drinking require the removal of masks, under rational basis scrutiny, bars and restaurants are not disproportionately discriminated against as a class as compared to other similarly situated businesses under the order, Crompton wrote. Further, as the restrictions implemented by the order are of a temporary nature, extending for a limited three-week period and expiring within five days of the filing of this opinion, their duration is not indefinite so as to require a more limited level of deference by this court.

The judge concluded his order by saying the coalition could file an application for an emergency injunction if Wolf were to extend the deadline beyond 8 a.m. Monday, when it was initially set to expire.

However, Wolf announced earlier Wednesday that he would not extend the order and would allow it to expire as initially planned.
Illinois

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West Virginia

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Connecticut

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Mississippi

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Maine and Vermont

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New Mexico

State Population Data

Most states are gaining residents, but a few have lost population in recent years. None are seeing major losses, but it looks as if some states' populations will continue to stagnate or slowly decline in the years to come.The latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates indicate that the nations overall population grew by about 2.5 million over the 12-month period ending last July.The reason some states are experiencing population loss vary. Some have weak economies and are losing workers who seek opportunities elsewhere. In others, growth is held back by an aging population.Here's a closer look at the states that lost population last year and whats behind their declines:A growing number of people are choosing to leave the Land of Lincoln. Illinois lost an estimated 22,194 residents in 2015, by far the largest decline of any state.The losses, which accelerated from 2014, are partly driven by the states economy and a labor market thats weaker than most other states. Fred Giertz, a University of Illinois economist, said he suspects some job seekers are opting to retire early and move to warmer climates. Much of the states economy, outside of the Chicago metro area, is tied to either manufacturing or agriculture -- two sectors that arent generating many jobs.Chicago has fairly good prospects, said Giertz. Downstate Illinois is more like the rest of the Midwest and is declining.Illinois net migration rate (-5.2 per 1,000 population) was lower than all other states, with the exception of Alaska.One might be tempted to link the population losses to the states fiscal woes . Giertz, however, said he doesnt think that its leading residents to move out -- at least not yet.West Virginias population has remained relatively flat for decades, and that isnt likely to change anytime soon.The state fared better economically than most of the country during the Great Recession, enjoying small population gains as a result. More recently, though, the state has recorded slight declines in each of the past three years. Last year, West Virginia suffered the largest year-over-year percentage loss (-0.25 percent) of any state.One major driver of that decline has been the states hard-hit coal mining industry. An expanding natural gas sector has helped, but job creation hasnt met expectations or offset coal mining losses, said Christiadi, a West Virginia University demographer and economist who goes by one name.Economic opportunities and wages are frequently more attractive elsewhere, prompting workers to leave, said Christiadi. A net total of more than 27,000 people (up from 17,000 in 2013) migrated out-of-state each of the past two years.Compounding matters is the fact that the states population is one of the nations oldest. West Virginia and Maine were the only two states where deaths exceeded births last year, according to Census estimates.Hoping to get more jobs from the mining and natural gas industry is just not that reliable, said Christiadi. Unless the economy picks up the pace, I expect to see gradual population losses continue.A sluggish economy has played a large role in holding back Connecticut, which experienced slight population losses each of the past two years.Domestic migration losses have accelerated, with the state losing a net total of about 27,000 residents each of the past two years -- up from 17,000 in 2013 and 19,000 in 2012.Fred Carstensen, an economics and finance professor at the University of Connecticut, attributed the uptick to a lag effect from mostly long-term unemployed workers choosing to leave the state for job opportunities. It took people a while to get their arms around the reality that things were not going back for them, he said.Many relocated workers are likely young professionals who either cant land their first jobs in Connecticut or leave the state for promotions.Downsizing in the pharmaceutical industry, along with casinos facing more out-of-state competition, have hammered parts of the state. The southwestern region has generally fared better, but General Electric announced last week that it plans to relocate its corporate headquarters from Fairfield County to Boston.Carstensen said the state has experienced practically no economic growth over the past 25 years. The best were doing is treading water, he said. Were not creating new activity.Mississippis population totals also appear to be trending in the wrong direction. The size of the states gains had been shrinking each of the past few years, before registering a slight drop in 2015.The primary cause of the states stagnant population is the growing number of residents who are moving elsewhere. Mississippi suffered the fourth steepest loss in terms of total net migration (-3.2 persons per 1,000 residents) of any state between 2014 and 2015. Natural change from childbirths offset most of the losses.By comparison, neighboring Alabama (+12,568), Arkansas (+11,369) and Louisiana (+21,734) registered annual population increases more in line with the rest of the country.Maine and Vermont face similar demographic challenges. The two northeastern states have the nations two oldest populations in terms of median age, so theyre not seeing many births. At the same time, their residents are moving to other states as well.Vermont recorded a year-over-year net loss of 2,223; Maine lost an estimated 1,718 residents to other states. And while other states offset domestic population losses with increases in international migration, Maine and Vermont havent seen the same influx of the foreign born.After growing over several decades, both states are now experiencing only slight fluctuations, with population changes of generally fewer than 1,000 residents each year. In the coming years, their population growth will likely remain stagnant.New Mexico also lost population -- an estimated 458 residents -- essentially unchanged from 2014.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 11:58:38|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday said an elite force has been deployed in the capital Kampala to stamp out criminality ahead of the Jan. 14 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Museveni in his End of Year address said the highly trained units of the military who had been on a peacekeeping mission in Somalia and fighting rebel groups in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo will man security ahead of the polls.

The deployment follows days of clashes between opposition supporters and police after Robert Kyagulanyi, a musician and a presidential candidate, was arrested in the eastern town of Luuka due to his violation of the COVID-19 prevention procedures.

Kyagulanyi's arrest on Nov. 18 sparked off riots in the capital and some other parts of the country. At least 54 people have been killed and dozens of others injured so far.

The president in the speech accused the opposition groups of "indiscipline and criminality."

Eleven candidates, including incumbent Museveni, are taking part in the presidential election. Enditem
The Archbishop of Canterbury said yesterday (Thurs) that he drew hope for the New Year from his experience of working as a junior hospital chaplain during the pandemic.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby has been volunteering as an assistant chaplain in St Thomas' hospital since the first wave of the virus struck in the spring.

He said in a New Year message: 'This year has seen tremendous pain and sadness. Many of us have lost family members or friends, often without being able to say goodbye.

'It is at St Thomas' that, alongside acknowledging this darkness, I find reasons to be hopeful for the year ahead. Because what I see here teaches me something about human beings - and about God.'

The Archbishop, who is to deliver his message in a BBC One broadcast today(Fri), has been spending time with patients, relatives and staff, and visiting Covid wards in the hospital, which neighbours Lambeth Palace.

St Thomas, which also sits a few hundred yards from the Palace of Westminster, was the hospital which treated Boris Johnson in its intensive care unit after the Prime Minister went down with the virus in April.

Archbishop Welby, who was working for the senior hospital chaplain, the Reverend Mia Hilborn, said: 'One evening, I might be with a young child, praying with him and his mother. On another I could be sharing a joke with someone - finding a moment of warmth and connection in a frightening time.

'Sometimes the most important thing we do is just sit with people, letting them know they are not alone.'

Speaking from the hospital chapel, Archbishop Welby said: 'This chapel is at the heart of Guys and St Thomas' in central London - one of Britain's largest and busiest hospitals.

'Like health workers across the country, the staff here have been on the front line of the coronavirus crisis and have responded with incredible bravery, skill and care.'

He added: 'This crisis has shown us how fragile we are. It has also shown us how to face this fragility.

'Here at the hospital, hope is there in every hand that's held, and every comforting word that's spoken. Up and down the country, it's there in every phone call. Every food parcel or thoughtful card. Every time we wear our masks.

'For anyone who is on the dark and difficult journey of grief - a path I know myself - I want to assure you that I am praying for you.'

The Archbishop suffered the death of his seven-month-old daughter Johanna in a car crash in France in 1983.

He continued: 'The Bible tells us that God rejoices in these small acts of love - because they reveal who we truly are: human beings made in God's image, deeply connected to one another.

'Such gestures speak to me of Jesus - the one who shows us what God's love looks like.

'And for this reason, we can have hope for each and every month ahead. May God bless you, and all those you love, in this coming year.'
BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday voiced resolute opposition to the sailing of two U.S. warships through the Taiwan Strait.

"The move by the U.S. warships has sent a wrong signal to separatist elements advocating 'Taiwan independence' and seriously endangered peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," said Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.

Two U.S. destroyers sailed through the Taiwan Strait in formation on Thursday. In response, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sent naval and air forces to track and monitor the warships throughout the process.

This was another act of flexing muscles and provocation by the U.S. destroyers after a U.S. warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Dec. 18, Wu noted.

"The PLA will always be on high alert and ready to deal with all threats and provocations to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wu said.
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Well, friends. Its officially 2021!!!

No, the world didnt suddenly return to normal overnight, but I am so happy that 2020 is now officially in the rear view mirror. It is a year I do not care to repeat for so many reasons.

In fact, I have so much pain and sadness and confusion and disappointment associated with 2020 that I came this close to not even posting a Year In Review at all.

But there were also unexpected blessings and precious moments that Ill treasure, and I cant imagine NOT doing this post, so here we are.

2020 Year In Review

January

January started off with a bang. There was so much going on, and I had such high hopes for 2020. Oh, the irony

I started intermittent fasting in January, and thats been a game changer for me.

On the blog, I did a 5 Ways to Wear a Grey Sweater series, which was very popular. Im thinking of doing a similar one with a camel sweater this year.

I also had my eyebrows microbladed in January, which is one of the best things I have ever done for myself.

Heres a before and after picture of my first session. Youre supposed to go back six weeks later for a touchup, but I didnt make it back until June! #thankscovid

We also started our kitchen makeover project last January. Its hard to even remember how this space looked before Heres a picture I took the day we closed on the house.

Paul and I saw Phil Phillips in concert at the end of January, and that was so much fun. He puts on a good show.

And Caroline finally got her drivers license. (On her third try, poor kid! That parallel parking got her every time.)

February

February was a little more ho-hum. I finally got around to addressing the hip/bum pain Id been having for a while.

Meanwhile, I wasnt able to run and work out like Im used to, and that was a bit of a bummer, but I used the opportunity to take up yoga. Id like to get back to that this month.

On the blog, I did a series on 5 Ways to Wear Black Cigarette Pants, and I also teamed up with Tania and Deborah for a Valentines Day Style Collab.

March

And then there was March, when terms like social distancing and shelter in place became household lingo and #stayhome was a trending hashtag.

Here in the Philly area, we went into lockdown on Friday, March 13th. I got the news as I was driving to pick up Becca from an after-school jazz band rehearsal that Thursday afternoon.

They waited to make the announcement until after schools let out, and they didnt give the kids (or parents) so much as a warning. I had a feeling it was coming, so I had warned Becca, but the lack of closure was disconcerting, and she struggled with that for the rest of the school year.

David was home from his sophomore year of college on Spring Break when everything shut down, and he never went back to his apartment after that. His room down there is still sitting empty to this day.

Caroline was the least affected of my kids since she already does online schooling, but even her cyber charter school was affected by the lockdown. The staff and teachers operate out of a brick and mortar building, so they had to shut down for a time, but they were able to get things back on track and continue teaching from home fairly quickly.

Meanwhile, she did a lot of baking and taught herself to make sourdough bread. A good friend of ours surprised her one afternoon by dropping off a 25-pound bag of flour when it was so hard to come by.

Of all the kids, I think Becca struggled the most. She missed out on so many 8th grade end of year activities and middle school rites of passage, including a trip to Quebec with her French class that had been planned for June.

But David struggled too, in his own quiet way. His newfound freedom (living in an off-campus apartment) was pulled out from under him, and a job he had lined up was also canceled.

As for Paul and me, our jobs continued on, but there was definitely a period of uncertainty as we waited to see how things would play out. He set up an office in the basement, and of course, I already have a beautiful office setup here at home.

Due to the nature of my blog, I was able to pivot pretty quickly. My content suddenly became centered around Social Distancing Outfits, What to Wear for Video Conferences, and Work At Home Tips.

We also wrapped up the kitchen makeover in March. That was a huge blessing because we could have gotten stuck with it partially finished during the lockdown.

April

April is when we got word that PA schools would be closed for in-person instruction for the rest of the school year.

That was also the month that Beccas June Quebec trip got canceled, we canceled our Easter weekend family vacation at a resort on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and Paul and I rescheduled our 25th wedding anniversary trip to Paris for May 2021but Im not holding my breath for that happening.

To give us a happy distraction, we decided to get ourselves a pandemic puppy. Becca had been begging for a second dog for a long time, and this seemed like as good a time as any.

Ozzy was supposed to be a bright spot in this crazy Covid year, and we didnt know it at the time, but our puppy venture would become one of the most heartbreaking aspects of 2020.

May

In May, some states started opening up, but we remained on strict lockdown here in Pennsylvania. I watched from afar and waited anxiously for our restaurants, salons, and retail stores to reopen.

The weather finally got nicer, and we were able to enjoy our backyard, which helped us power through. Im so thankful for this space.

The Front Porch Project became a thing during quarantine, and Alison took a picture for us to commemorate this insane year not that we will ever forget it!

(And no, David did not lose his legs it was an unfortunate oversight that he was kneeling behind us, not sitting with us on the step.)

We celebrated Mothers Day here at home (of course) and I managed to corral the kids for a picture.

By this time, I knew things werent looking good for us being able to keep Ozzy. I talked to both my family doctor and an allergist and was trying out several medicines to control my asthma, but I was still having issues, and the side effects of the meds were almost as bad as my allergy symptoms.

I didnt see any way we could manage to keep Ozzy without sacrificing my health and quality of life, but I didnt feel like talking about it publicly yet, and even the kids were still in denial at that point, so I held it all inside.

I remember being so sad on Mothers Day as I sat on the deck sipping my wine while the girls made chalk drawings by the pool with their dogs resting beside them It was a rare moment when they coexisted without fighting. (The dogs, not the girls well, both, actually!)

And if that wasnt enough stress and sadness, Pauls father was sick (not Covid-related) and declining rapidly. He passed away the Friday after Mothers Day.

We couldnt have a proper service for him at the time, and it was all very unfortunate with the way the timing worked out. I wrote more about it here.

And then the next weekend is when we decided to rehome Ozzy. I wrote about that here.

I took this picture the morning I told Becca that Id found him a new home. The grief and sadness in this picture is almost palpable, isnt it?

Telling her she had to part with her dog shattered my heart into bits and pieces, and I still cant think about it without choking back tears. In fact, if Im being totally transparent, I just sat here and had a good cry.

I do want to add, though, that she took it like a champ. She was devastated, but she never once got upset or blamed me. Of course, Ive beaten myself up enough for both of us.

I realize there are many things more devastating than losing a pet, but the way it happened and the timing of it all just added insult to injury in a very trying year.

Meanwhile, the show must go on, and I kept working and pumping out blog posts through it all. That was actually a much-needed diversion.

June

Cyndi and I decided to bring back 22 Days of Summer Fashion in June, and you guys were thrilled. We were all seeking some kind of normalcy in all of the chaos around us, I think.

We were starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel, as Covid numbers were falling and more and more states were starting to open up ours included.

The kids all finished up their respective school years, and we started making plans with small groups of friends outside, as soon as our Stay Home orders were lifted.

But our country was going through a lot of turmoil due to the murder of George Floyd and other current events. It was, well, a lot. Social media was a rough place to be. I wrote more about that here.

In light of all that, it was a relief to be doing 22 Days of Summer Fashion. Outfits posts are the easiest posts to create, and I welcomed the busy work at that point.

I spent most of June trying to spend as little time as possible online, and as much time as I could outside. I was definitely in the pool more last summer than the previous two combined.

I was also able to make some long overdue appointments, as our governor moved us into the Green phase at the end of the month. I have never been so happy to get a mani/pedi in my life!

And I took Becca to visit Ozzy in his new home. He crawled right up into her lap like he always had. Even though it broke my heart to watch, I think she was comforted to know he remembered her.

Weve visited him several times since, and it gets easier every time. Seeing him happy and thriving there is a balm to our wounded hearts. We still miss him and wish it had worked out differently, but we can look back at pictures and videos of him when he was with us, and laugh and rehash those days.

July

I turned 48 in July. Our restaurants had recently opened up for outdoor dining, so we went out to eat with some of our best friends. I even got a picture to commemorate the occasion.

And the next night, we hosted a July 4th cookout. That was so much fun.

Its weird to look back on those social gatherings now. Weve been back on a semi-lockdown again for the past few weeks, and our weather prohibits most outdoor gatherings, but Im glad we got a little reprieve there for a while.

The other major event that happened in July was the passing of my grandfather. He was 103, and while it was not unexpected, the timing just really stunk. Much like Pauls dad, he lived a long, full life and had lots of friends. He would have had a large service, and it would have been really cool to witness that.

And then on the other hand, sometimes I think the small family funeral we had instead was so appropriate. He lived a quiet life, and his family was always his #1 priority. The people who really mattered to him were there, and were able to be together, and thats what counts.

(I decided not to attend, worried about travel and Covid and all that jazz. But I watched the livestream on YouTube, and it definitely helped me feel a part of things.)

August

August brought with it the iconic Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, although in true 2020 fashion, we had a freak summer storm sweep through the area the day before, and we ended up without electricity.

At least our malls were open, and while the shopping experience was different with masks and social distancing, I was able to share it with my girls, which was fun. I thought for sure I had a selfie of the three of us, but I cant find it.

Paul and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on August 5th with a nice dinner at a French bistro  a sorry excuse for the Paris trip we had to cancel back in May, but we decided to count our blessings and enjoy being healthy and together and able to dine out again!

Also in August, Becca got her braces off and started high school marching band camp. She was beyond thrilled with both developments.

Staying true to 2020, I posted 10 Ways to Wear Joggers in addition to all my #NSale content.

September

In September, Cindy and I partnered up again for 22 Days of Fall Fashion.

And the kids all went back to school remotely, of course.

Becca was getting really sick of being at home, so we took her into Philly one Saturday in October to see the sights, and that was fun. (The older two declined to come.)

At the end of September, we finally had the memorial service for Pauls dad. It was small, and we had to wear masks, which was so weird at a funeral, but it was good to be together. It was well past time for the closure the service provided.

October

Becca turned 15 in October, and her present was to go shopping with a friend and get a 2nd ear piercing.

And we were finally allowed to see a couple of her marching band performances, once our governor expanded the number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings.

Also in October, I started really running again  with no walking intervals. There was a time when I didnt know if I would ever be able to run again, and Im so happy to be back out there!

But we also got word that Davids spring semester would be all remote, so that put a damper on things. I encouraged him to take some time off and work instead, and go back to college whenever in-person classes resume, but hes decided to keep plugging along with the remote learning.

In fact, he also told us he plans to continue living at home and commute for his senior year, assuming they are having in-person classes next fall. (We would have had to renew his apartment in November, had he decided to live there for his senior year.)

Thats not what I pictured when we moved him into his dorm as a freshman. I wanted him to have the full college experience away from home, even if though he chose one that isnt very far away, but I guess that wasnt meant to be. Im learning that theres only so much I can control as a parent, and if thats what he wants to do, so be it.

As far as the blog goes, my work really started ramping up in October. Even though 22 Days of Fall Fashion was over, I still posted a lot of fall outfits.

The general theme was casual, layered looks for outdoor dining and other socially-distanced activities. This monochromatic outfit is one of my favorites.

And I got the memo that a lot of you wanted to start your holiday shopping early, so I started rolling out my 2020 Holiday Gift Guides.

November

David turned 21 in November, and my parents came for a visit. It was so good to see them!

Also in November, Caroline and I took a trip to Boston for a college visit at my alma mater. She got an email a few weeks later that she was accepted!

And later in the month, we celebrated Thanksgiving quietly at home.

On Black Friday, the girls got up early and went shopping with friends, and then we went to a local tree farm to get our tree.

The next day, we visited Pauls mom and helped her set up her Christmas tree, and that was a nice time. I got some good pictures of Paul and the kids with her, looking through some of the ornaments my father-in-law made through the years.

December

Ahhhh, December, it was so good to see you!!!

Paul got a backgammon tournament going this month between him, David, and Becca. They play almost every night, and it has become quite the competition. I love how it gets David out of his room and brings everyone together.

And we didnt get the white Christmas we were hoping for, but we did get one good snowfall earlier in the month, so that was fun.

Our holiday celebrations were small and quiet this year, and the kids struggled with that a bit, but I was perfectly happy with this laid-back holiday season. I am busy enough with the blog and trying to play Santa to my own crew, and I kind of enjoyed not having any hosting gigs or parties to dress for.

To be honest, Im just over 2020 and wanted to see it come to an end as quickly and uneventfully as possible.

Holiday looks and winter sales dominated my blog content. This post was my favorite maybe of the whole year. I just love how these photos turned out.

And because 2020 is the year that keeps on giving, two people who at one point in our lives were close friends passed away this past week  one due to Covid, and the other after a long battle with cancer. I havent even fully processed that yet.

Meanwhile, we celebrated Carolines 18th birthday Christmas Eve with sushi takeout and a movie and chocolate cake, of course! As you can see, Im not much of a cake decorator, but it sure does taste good.

And we had our usual quiet Christmas morning celebration with cinnamon rolls for breakfast and presents afterwards.

(David is doing this new thing where he wont smile for pictures I swear, he is not as sassy as he looks.)

We had a steak dinner later on that day, and we were able to see Pauls mom, which was really nice. She and David played double solitaire, and Caroline showed off her knitting (a new skill she has taught herself  Ill have to get a picture of the cardigan she made!)

And then we rung in the New Year last night at about 9PM with chocolate fondue and champagne. We watched some of New Years Rockin Eve before giving up on that and going to bed.

I dont have any pictures of last night worth sharing here, but there are a few I can put in our family photo book whenever I get around to making that. (I do one every year.) I usually like to start that on New Years Day, but well see if that happens today

So yeah, thats that! Today we get to officially say buh-bye to 2020! For such an arduous year, I have to say, it kind of flew.

2020 Reflections

Ill just put this right out here. When people talk about how 2020 gave them time to slow down and focus more on family and reflect on whats most important, I simply cannot relate.

Its been a whirlwind for me, quite frankly, but Im not complaining. I think I would have gone stark raving mad if Id been bored in addition to the losses and disappointments of this past year.

But I have to admit, right now, I am tired. Like, really tired.

I get plenty of sleep, its not that kind of tired. But I am mentally drained and emotionally spent.

I was doing my devotions this morning, and this verse from Isaiah really hit me:

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

It was exactly what I needed to hear, and today I handed over all the stress and disappointment and pain of this year to the only One who can give us true peace and joy.

Im certainly hoping for a better and brighter 2021, but there are no guarantees in this life, so no matter what this year brings, I am putting my trust in His words: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

And finally, if you made it to the end of this post, thank you! Thank you for your comments and encouragement during this trying year, and just for being here and reading along. You are appreciated more than you know.


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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on December 31(local time) said the UK would be an open, generous, outward looking, internationalist and free trading country once it quits all EU rules at 2300 GMT. In his New Year broadcast message, Johnson also appealed for unity at home emphasizing that it was time for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to work together and express their values around the world and lead both G7 and COP26 climate change summit. His remarks came as millions of Britons, on January 1, entered not just a new year but also an identity independent of the European bloc.

This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it, he said in a New Year message.

Read: Boris Johnson Signs Post-Brexit Trade Deal After UK Lawmakers Vote To Pass Agreement

Read:'UK Would Be EU's Ally And Best Friend After Brexit', Says Boris Johnson

Pandemic rekindled new spirit

Talking about the catastrophic 2020, he lauded the contribution of frontline workers saying that they pulled out all stops to keep the country moving. He also highlighted that the pandemic rekindled a new spirit of volunteering and unity. The British leader then spelt out grounds for hope in the coronavirus crisis now that vaccines are coming on stream. Beacon of Hope was lit in laboratories of Oxford, he said pointing out at the domestically produced vaccine.

Read: 'Reclaiming What I Already Have': Boris Johnson's Father Applies For French Citizenship

Read: UK PM Boris Johnson's Father Seeks French Citizenship

Previously, Johnson had vowed that his country would work closely with the European Union (EU) after Brexit transition period ends. Addressing the parliament, Johnson asserted that the UK would be a friendly neighbour and best friend to the 27 member bloc. His remarks come hours after The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel formally signed the post-Brexit trade agreement with the UK.

As per the summary published on the UK government website of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, both sides have agreed to "unprecedented 100% tariff liberalisation". This means that all tariffs have been scrapped along with quotas on the movement of goods produced by Britain and the European Union. This is also the first time that the 27-nation-bloc has agreed to a zero tariff zero quota deal with any trading partner, starting from January 1, 2021.
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The UK is free to pursue independent trade policies for the first time in more than four decades after the Brexit transition period with the European Union came to an end.

Membership of the single market and customs expired at 11pm  four and a half years after the in-out referendum which sought to settle the issue but sparked political turmoil.

British prime minister Boris Johnson said the EU had provided the UK with a safe European home during the 1970s, but the country has now changed out of all recognition with global perspectives.

His Christmas Eve deal with Brussels, which comes into effect immediately, allows for the continuation of tariff-free trade with the EU single market  though businesses and individuals will have to follow new rules.

Boris Johnson with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (Aaron Chown/PA)

The UK has reached several agreements with non-EU countries  such as Japan  to ensure continuity of trading arrangements for British companies from January 1.

Mr Johnson, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said the great new deal honoured the most basic promises of the 2016 referendum, and added that the UK has taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters.

And yet it is also the essence of this treaty that it provides certainty for UK business and industry, because it means that we can continue to trade freely  with zero tariffs and zero quotas  with the EU.

Under the new arrangements, freedom of movement rights will end, and while UK citizens will still be able to travel for work or pleasure, there will be different rules.

Passports must be valid for more than six months, visas or permits may be needed for long stays, pets will need a health certificate and drivers will need extra documents.

The automatic right to live and work in the EU also ceases, and the UK will no longer take part in the Erasmus student exchange programme.

Hauliers will face new rules, and lorry drivers heading for the Port of Dover will have to ensure they have a Kent Access Permit before entering the county on their way to the border.

Lorries arrive at the Port of Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Travel to Ireland will not change, but the Northern Ireland Protocol governing trade between Britain and the region entered into effect at 11pm.

It means Northern Ireland will remain in the EU single market for goods, and will apply EU customs rules at its ports, even though the region is still part of the UK customs territory.

The protocol will also see Northern Ireland follow certain EU rules on state aid and VAT on goods.

Gibraltar, whose sovereignty is disputed by Spain and Britain, will remain subject to the rules of the free-travel Schengen area, keeping the border with Spain open.

Government officials insisted the necessary border systems and infrastructure in the UK are in place, and they are ready for the new start.

Big Ben chimed at 11pm, but celebrations were muted by the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Johnson is understood to have marked the occasion with his family in Downing Street.

Eurosceptic MPs, once derided as fringe eccentrics on the margins of the Conservative Party, expressed their delight that the UK was finally leaving the customs union and single market.

Sir Bill Cash (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Bill Cash said it was a victory for democracy and sovereignty that could only be compared in peacetime with the evolution of modern democracy after the end of the Stuart dynasty.

John Redwood expressed his relief that the UK had stated its wish to be self-governing, saying he looked forward to using the new freedoms and opportunities now open to global Britain.

Peter Bone, who planned to celebrate with French champagne to show that we are pro-Europe but anti-EU, said Eurosceptics had gone from being viewed as strange to getting the support of people to defeat the establishment.

Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers, said that waving goodbye to 2020 and the EU was a marvellous example of a buy one, get one free.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who played a key role in the 2016 referendum, said December 31 is a moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom.

He told the PA news agency: Its a big moment in our national story and the end of a very long road for tens of thousands of us who fought against the establishment.

We celebrated on 31 January when we left the European Union  tonight we leave the single market and the customs union.

Yes, we spare a thought for Northern Ireland and our fishermen, but this is a moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom. Its a shame the pubs arent open.

Mr Johnsons Brexit trade deal was overwhelmingly backed by MPs and peers as it cleared Parliament on Wednesday before receiving royal assent.

Labour supported the deal, despite misgivings from some pro-European MPs, but all the other opposition parties opposed the agreement, including the Brexit-backing DUP.
A soldier of the Indian Army was killed in Pak shelling along the line of control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Friday.

The soldier, Naib Subedar Ravinder, was a resident of Jhajjar, Haryana.

The Pakistani Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation on the line of control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. Our troops responded strongly to enemy fire. In the incident, Naib Subedar Ravinder was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries, said a defence spokesperson.

Naib Subedar Ravinder was a brave, highly motivated and a sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty, added the spokesman.

At about 1530 hours (3.30 PM) Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along LoC in Nowshera sector. In the evening at about 1730 hours (5.30 pm), Pakistan again initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector, prompting India to retaliate in equal measure, said.

Meanwhile, Pakistans Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)a publicity wing of Pakistans armed forces posted on its website that Indian troops initiated ceasefire violation in Khuiratta sector along LOC.

Pakistan army troops responded befittingly. Reports of heavy losses to Indian troops in men and material. During intense exchange of fire, a valiant soldier Sepoy Fazal Elahi, age 35 years embraced shahadat (died), ISPR stated on its website.

It further claimed that Indian Army troops resorted to unprovoked fire in Kotkotera Sector deliberately targeting civilian population on December 30.

Due to indiscriminate fire of automatics in Phalni Bazar, a 34-year-old male suffered critical injuries. Pakistan army responded effectively and targeted those Indian posts which initiated fire, it added.

It further stated, In Hotspring Sector, Pakistan army troops shot down an Indian Army Quad copter. Indian Quad Copter had come 100 meters inside our territory. The unprovoked act was responded befittingly wherein own troops shot down the quad-copter. In year 2020, 16 Indian quad-copters have been shot down by he Pakistan Army.
Rasheedah Phillips has learned a lot of ways of looking at time.

Time is very subjective, explained Phillips, a Philadelphia-based Afrofuturist artist and researcher whose survey questions about time and memory are included in the new anthology Black Futures, featuring the work of more than 100 esteemed Black creatives in the U.S. and abroad.

Time is very cultural, said Phillips, who is also a housing attorney at Community Legal Services, the founder of The AfroFuturist Affair community and the cofounder, with her partner Camae Ayewa, also known as the artist Moor Mother, of the collective Black Quantum Futurism.

Time is dependent on a person, Phillips said. It depends on a community. It depends on your location.

In the African Diaspora alone, she explained, there are thousands of cultures, if not more, each of them having their own cultural traditions and observations of time. The sense of time that we have in the U.S. is Western, she continued, which is cultural, too.

Phillips, of North Philadelphia, is currently researching the impacts of time zones on marginalized people as a fellow at The New Schools Vera List Center for Art and Politics. Her survey questionnaire about time in Black Futures is an ethnographic research tool shes been using since 2012. It appears among essays, fine art, interviews, social media posts, memes, lyrics, and other forms of expression in the acclaimed 544-page book, edited by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham.

Titled Time and Memory, Phillips survey includes prompts like, How do you define the concept of time? and Which ancestor would you pull back into time? Do You Know Why?

She has used different iterations of the survey here and internationally. At art installations, for example, it appears as wallpaper and visitors can write in their own answers.

Phillips said she knows she experiences time differently but didnt want to assume that her experience was the same as everyone else. That has guided her inquiry.

How do [people] experience time? How do they experience time in their community? How do they experience time down South? she asks. How do they experience time as a queer person, or as a trans person or as a Black woman vs. how a white person might experience time?

Phillips is not alone in raising questions about the inequality of time and differences in time perception.

Rutgers womens and gender studies professor Brittney Cooper, who authored the book Eloquent Rage, said this of time in a 2016 Ted Talk: Well, Ive already told you that white people own time. Those in power dictate the pace of the workday. They dictate how much money our time is actually worth.  They dictate how long it will actually take for minority groups to receive the rights that they have been fighting for.

And, of course, the pandemic has changed time for so many of us. In April, mathematician Joseph Mazur wrote that the world was beginning to be lost in time.

There is no end to guide our sense of time as it dilates, inflates, contracts, and confuses our daily routines and practices, Mazur wrote.

For the future, Phillips explained, we need to be looking at time differently. She spoke to The Inquirer this week about time, her work, and Afrofuturism. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

How does it feel, as someone who is veteran when it comes to Afrofuturism, to see Black Futures now?

Ive been engaged in Afrofuturist work for I guess over 10 years. Its really interesting to see it be evolved into more of a household term, or something that more people know and engage with, and to be something that has traveled beyond the internet and internet communities, or college and university communities and sort of those privileged spaces to be a space where you can see Afrofuturism on your TV, or you can see it in your sort of everyday life.

Not everyone uses the Gregorian calendar, and people are working with different senses of time. How do you see it?

Time has a history. And our notion of the future has a history, and its very much connected to capitalism. Its very much connected to colonialism. Its connected to slavery in very particular ways. A lot of my work and research is around clarifying and uprooting those ties and connections, because it has very present-day implications.

It has implications for people who are considered time-poor, and its connected very much to the clients I serve at Community Legal Services, who are low-income and primarily Black women, who are losing their homes  the way that their time is snatched from them, or cut off from them, or the ways that theyre cut off from the future.

[Colonization of the] African continent or the Australian continent was mediated by time, and mediated by chronometers, and things that they had to invent  then that being used as a way to either group people as civilized depending on how they spent their time and whether or not that matched the people who were coming in and terrorizing them.

Even thinking about the Jim Crow era and segregation. We tend to really spatialize things when were talking about oppression, when were talking about discrimination, but we rarely bring in the temporal in ways that time is used to oppress people.

In your research, how does perhaps gentrification and some of the current dynamics that are impacting our building stock and housing opportunities impact memory?

My partner and I opened up a yearlong community center called Community Futures Lab, where we did what we call oral futures interviews with community members who were being displaced by the [Philadelphia Housing Authority Sharswood] redevelopment project. And so I wrote a book based on that project.

I talk a lot in that book about that exact question of just how gentrification impacts memory, how it impacts time, how people are cut off from their past.

Pieces of memory were destroyed and the neighborhood has shifted, such that people dont have that visual connection anymore to certain things. I talk a lot about murals in North Philly that are being covered by luxury developments. Murals that really depict some of the only stories and narratives about local civil rights heroes.

Being able to build time as a community depends on being able to access your past. Looking at how these narratives about North Philly  as it being poor and bad and full of crime became a justification for why the community was then redeveloped  that [story] also left out this narrative how the community came to be this way.

All the beautiful things that exist there now, thats also left out of the narrative. The people who live there now, the artists who live there now, the community leaders who live there now, the people who are working to make the community better now. When a community is being moved into the future of the governments vision, they get left out of that vision or that ability to shape what that future looks like for that community or for themselves.

You had mentioned that now, with the pandemic, its a good time be thinking about time and labor. What are you hoping that people reevaluate about time, and about working towards a better future?

I know people are already doing this. Theyre reevaluating the fluidity of time, the objectiveness of time, the connection to time as labor, time as money, in everyday conversation. These Zoom calls and folks having to be at home and grapple with the fact that the work-life balance is obliterated  if there ever was a work-life balance  and that your work time is flowing into your home time.

Maybe these things all didnt always have such neat categories in the first place. If, under these circumstances, those things can become intermeshed, then maybe they always could have. And then maybe theres other configurations of how we can do these things.

Time is used to punish people. Time is used to oppress people. Time is used to create severe inequities.

I think if we did not take this moment to understand that and to, in some of our industries  like, its not gon be possible everywhere, but I think in some places, right?  really work to shift that or undo that.
Google welcomed the New Year with a new doodle. The company that is known for its awe-generating animations went all-out for their New Years Day doodle. Google first shared the doodle of an analogue cuckoo bird clock on New Years Eve while all the countries were a few hours away from welcoming 2021.

The doodle showed an analogue clock about to strike 12 and it was adorned with twinkling lights. The doodle also consisted of the other alphabets that make the word Google. After the entire world welcomed 2021 with open arms, the time on the clock changed to 12 and whenever one clicks on the doodle, the cuckoo bird comes out of its house to wish people a Happy New Year.

You can see the bird coming out of its house with confetti, then going back in and coming out to wish everyone a Happy New Year. If you hover your mouse over the doodle, its text on it reads, New Years Day 2021.

Google shares new doodle (Google.com)

While explaining the doodle and the thought behind it, Google wrote, The time has come to welcome the new, the clock strikes midnight and out comes the cuckoo! All the best for the new year, the cuckoo bird chirps for all to hear! Happy New Years Day! (sic). That was not all, to bring in the new year with a little extra flair, Google also arranged for a confetti popper.

Confetti poppers for New Years day (Google.com)

Once you click on the doodle, it takes you to a different search page which is filled with colourful confetti. You can also click on the confetti popper to see the magic happen again. Small Pacific Islands of Samoa, Kiribati and Tonga were the first places to welcome in the New Year. After that, it was New Zealand and Australia with the rest of the world followed.

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Demonstrators hold the Portuguese messages: "Vaccine now!" and "Get out Bolsonaro" to protest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the coronavirus, at a bus station in Brazilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil, a nation proud of its role as a regional leader in science, technology and medicine, finds itself falling behind its neighbors in the global race for immunization against a pandemic that has already killed nearly 200,000 of its people.

Latin America's largest nation, long heralded for its domestic vaccine development programs, appears to be at least three or four weeks away from launching any formal immunization campaign against COVID-19. In contrast, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica and other countries in the region have already begun giving shots to their populations.

The Brazilian government has not approved a single vaccine and has stumbled in attempts to acquire even syringes and needles for an immunization effort that, as of the new year, still had no definite rollout date.

Meanwhile, the number of new coronavirus infections in the country reached a new high in Decemberpeaking with more than 70,000 cases on Dec. 16.

The lightning rod in Brazil's vaccine debate is President Jair Bolsonaro, who has cast skepticism on all of the vaccines being developed even as his government negotiates to obtain them. He has said he doesn't plan to get a shot himself and joked at one point that side effects might turn people into crocodiles or bearded ladies.

Such talk has left Brazil's image abroad "very damaged," Margareth Dalcolmo, a professor in respiratory medicine at the state-funded Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, also known as Fiocruz, told The Associated Press.

"No one is saying that Bolsonaro really believes this, but he is discrediting the vaccine," said Walter Cintra, a professor in health management at the Getulio Vargas Foundation university in Sao Paulo. "When the government behaves like this, it loses credibility. And these are million-dollar contracts."

One of the earliest vaccines on the horizon appears to be one developed by China's Sinovac company, which has contracted with the government of Brazil's largest state, Sao Paulo, for distribution and production.

in this July 24, 2020 file photo, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who is infected with COVID-19, wears a protective face mask as he talks with supporters during a Brazilian flag retreat ceremony outside his official residence the Alvorada Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil. The South American nation proud of its role as a regional leader in science, technology and medicine, finds itself falling behind its neighbors in the global race for immunization against a pandemic that has already killed nearly 200,000 of its people. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

Sao Paulo Gov. Joao Doria announced plans to start distributing shots on Jan. 25 if federal health authorities approve the vaccine. Doria is a vocal critic and likely challenger in the 2022 presidential election, and his announcement added pressure on the Bolsonaro administration to come up with its own federal immunization plan.

The president initially sneered at the Chinese vaccine, saying its origins don't inspire trust, but other states quickly showed interest in acquiring some.

Another contender for early release nationwide is likely to be the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, which could be available by early February once regulators approve it, according to Brazil's state laboratory Fiocruz, which is producing it in Brazil.

Fiocruz is one of Brazil's largest public laboratories for vaccine production, including measles, polio and yellow fever. Relying on advanced technology and Fiocruz' ability to produce at a low price, Brazil is the world's biggest manufacturer of yellow fever vaccines, exporting millions of doses to dozens of countries worldwide, according to Fiocruz information.

Fiocruz said it expects to have 100 million of domestically produced COVID-19 doses by the end of July. Two doses are needed.

The government also expects an additional 42 million doses from the global vaccine partnership known as COVAX, with no set date, and has signed a memorandum with Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, for 38 million doses of its single-shot vaccine when it becomes available.

The government has struggled to reach a deal for the first vaccine approved globally, the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. Pfizer complained in late December of Brazil's regulatory hurdles, while Bolsonaro expressed surprise that pharmaceutical companies did not show more eagerness to sell to a nation of roughly 210 million people.

Tensions seemed to wane in a meeting between regulators and Pfizer on Dec. 30, during which officials said they would simplify protocols and Pfizer said it would consider applying for emergency use approval. The Brazilian government and Pfizer earlier signed a memorandum of understanding for 70 million doses, according to information from the health ministry.

A demonstrator wears a face shield with a red handprint, mimicking blood, to protest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. Protesters also called for the immediate start of COVID-19 vaccinations. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

For Cintra, the professor in health management, the confusion over the COVID-19 vaccine approval is symptomatic of this administration's chaotic handling of the pandemic, during which Bolsonaro has repeatedly denounced local officials' efforts to impose social distancing rules and described the virus as a "small flu".

"This is not about Anvisa (the regulator), or excessive regulation. It's about the federal government systematically sabotaging the fight against the pandemic, or completely destroying the Brazilian health system," he said.

Cintra noted that a public tender to acquire over 330 million syringes and needles for the government's COVID-19 vaccination campaign resulted this week in bids for only 8 million units within the acceptable price rangeless than 3% of what was required.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement that it would keep the tender open.

"There is a real risk of having a vaccine but not enough needles and syringes," warned Carlos Eduardo Lula, president of a council of state health secretaries.

The head of Brazil's bar association, Felipe Santa Cruz, told the newspaper Valor that further delays in the vaccination program could lead the association to draft an impeachment request against Bolsonaro.

For physics teacher Francisco Ferreira, 55, hope for a vaccine any time soon is fading.

"Brazil is getting a mix of bad faith and incompetence on the vaccine issue," Ferreira said as he walked through the Sao Paulo international airport. "There are serious administrations around the world giving out the shots, but this isn't our case."

Explore further Brazil drug agency questions 'transparency' of China vaccine

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Singapore would, starting January 4, block entry of all travellers who had recently visited South Africa, countrys health ministry said. The move that is aimed at curbing the spread of 501.V2 comes after a few parts of the country reported cases of the coronavirus variant. Meanwhile, the mutant virus has spread to countries as far as the UK and Japan since its initial discovery on the African continent in mid-December.

"There have been recent reports of a potentially more contagious strain of the COVID-19 virus circulating in South Africa. To reduce the risks of spread to Singapore, we are putting in place new border restrictions for travellers from South Africa for further precaution. From 03 January 2021, 2359 hours, until further notice," the ministry stated.

In a statement, the ministry stated that all long term pass holders and short term visitors with travel history to South Africa within the last 14 days would not be allowed to enter or even transit through it. Long Term pass holders include foreign workers and people in non-essential businesses. However, in an exception, all returning Singapore citizens and permanent residents would be allowed but require to undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival at the start of a 14-day quarantine.

There have been recent reports of a potentially more contagious strain of the COVID-19 virus circulating in South Africa. To reduce the risk of spread to Singapore, we will be tightening border measures for travellers from South Africa. https://t.co/QWNzr9GIXH  Ministry of Health (@sporeMOH) January 1, 2021

Read: French Ambassador Welcomes India's Return To UNSC, Supports 'permanent Membership'

Read: COVID-19: France Detects First Case Of South Africa's COVID-19 Variant

France discovers mutant virus

Recently, France detected its first case of the South African variant of coronavirus, health ministry confirmed on December 31. The mutant virus named 501.V2, was detected on the African continent in mid-December and since then has spread to countries as far as the UK and Japan. France, one of the most affected European nation has reported over 26,77,666 cases and over 64,759 fatalities till now.

Read: Singapore Starts COVID-19 Vaccination For Healthcare Workers

As per a statement by the health ministry, the infection was found in a man who had returned after a brief stay in South Africa. The unidentified man is reported to be a resident of Haut-Rhin region which borders Switzerland. Upon, his return, the man had undergone the RT-PCR test following symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.

Read: Bina Modi's Plea Against Son Lalit's Singapore Arbitration Proceedings Maintainable: Delhi HC

Image: AP
The cabinet on Friday recommended the convening of the 22nd session of the 14th state Assembly from January 8 to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.

Earlier on Monday, the Governor gave his assent for convening a special session of the state Legislative Assembly on December 31 to discuss and pass a resolution against the new agricultural laws brought by the central government against which farmers are agitating at the Delhi borders.

The resolution stated that the genuine concerns of the farmers should be addressed and the Centre should withdraw all the three laws. It was moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the special session.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 09:18:22|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan has confirmed the second case infected with a new variant of the COVID-19 virus, according to the island's epidemic monitoring agency.

The patient, a Taiwan resident in his 20s returning from Britain on Dec. 22, began to have a fever and muscle ache on Dec. 26 and tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 28, the agency said at a press conference Thursday.

The first such case, confirmed on Wednesday, had also been to Britain for study and returned to Taiwan on Dec. 27.

They were identified after the epidemic control agency analyzed samples of COVID-19 virus from 21 patients who traveled from Europe and the United States and had a high level of virus, the agency said.

The agency also announced that two people tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday, one from Britain and the other from India.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan had risen to 799 as of Thursday. Among them, seven died, 671 had recovered and 121 remained hospitalized, according to the agency. Enditem
One suspect is said to be in custody after an hour-long standoff Friday afternoon in Pueblo West.
Epidemiologists are optimistic that Victorias public health teams are better placed to tackle the new coronavirus outbreak than during the states devastating second wave that began in June.

Melbourne University mathematical epidemiologist James McCaw also said Victorians themselves were ready to tackle the outbreak head-on.

Michael Glen from Cheltenham with his boys Nate, 6, and Rocky, 4, play chasey while waiting for a COVID test in Parkdale. Credit:Penny Stephens

The Victorian public is also more prepared. Anecdotally, I can see that peoples mask usage has already changed, said Professor McCaw, also a member of the Australian Health Principal Protection Committee that advises the national cabinet. Victorians know how to respond to this, and I think we will.

More than 70 people were in isolation after eight new coronavirus cases were recorded on Wednesday and Thursday. All eight were linked to a likely transmission event at the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock on December 21, where a person dined after returning from NSW.
US Senator David Perdue is going into quarantine just days ahead of the Georgia election after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19

A Republican candidate for the US Senate announced on Thursday that he was going into quarantine after coming into contact with someone with Covid-19, just days ahead of a pair of crucial runoff elections in Georgia.

Senator David Perdue is locked in a tight race with Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff for one of two Senate seats for Georgia up for grabs on Tuesday.

Perdue's campaign said he was notified on Thursday that the senator had come into contact with someone on the campaign who tested positive for coronavirus.

"Senator Perdue and his wife tested negative today, but following his doctor's recommendations... they will quarantine," it said.

The elections in Georgia on Tuesday for the southern state's two Senate seats are closely watched as they will determine which party controls the body.

The other Senate race -- between Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler and Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock -- is also extremely close, according to the polls.

President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden are scheduled to visit Georgia on Monday to campaign for their party's candidates.

Republicans currently hold 50 seats in the Senate, and a victory in just one of the Georgia races will give them a majority and the ability to hamstring Biden's agenda after he takes office on January 20.

If Democrats win the two Senate seats they will also have 50 seats but will have a majority because the vice president, Kamala Harris, can cast tie-breaking votes.

Georgia has been reliably Republican but Biden narrowly defeated Trump there in the November 3 election, becoming the first Democrat to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1992.
Tina Glasco, 56, of Paragould, Arkansas, was charged with attempted murder

Police said she was heard on tape talking about poisoning her husband

Glasco 'poured Visine eye drops into his drinks for over four days,' it is alleged

Bond for Glasco was set at $100,000 by the Greene County Sheriffs Office

Visine eye drops contain tetrahydrozoline, which is safe in small doses

But when taken orally at excessive doses, it can have adverse effect on the heart

Tina Glasco, 56, of Paragould, Arkansas, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted murder in the first degree after she was said to have been recorded talking about poisoning her husband with eye drops

An Arkansas woman was recorded on tape talking about poisoning her husband to death by putting Visine eye drops in his drink for at least four days straight, police said.

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Tina Glasco, 56, of Paragould, Arkansas, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted murder in the first degree.

Local investigators first learned of Glascos alleged attempt to poison her husband on Tuesday, KAIT-TV reported.

Officers collected an audio recording of Tina making statements about poisoning her husband with Visine eye drops with the purpose to cause serious physical injury and death, according to the police affidavit.

In the recording, Tina stated she had been putting a large amount of Visine drops in her husbands drinks for over four days.

Authorities have also charged Glasco with conduct constituting attempt.

Bond for Glasco was set at $100,000 by the Greene County Sheriffs Office. She is scheduled to appear in court on January 4.

Visine is a nonprescription medication used to treat redness in the eyes and other minor irritations.

Visine is a nonprescription medication used to treat redness in the eyes and other minor irritations. The active ingredient in Visine is tetrahydrozoline. In small doses, tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant, is considered safe when applied to the eye. But large doses taken orally could put one at risk of slow heartbeat, hypothermia, a coma, or even death

The active ingredient in Visine is tetrahydrozoline, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1954.

The chemical is part of a family of drugs called imidazoles. It can be found in other over-the-counter medications such as Murine Plus, Altazine, and Clarine.

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In small doses, tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant, is considered safe when applied to the eye.

But large doses taken orally could put one at risk of slow heartbeat, hypothermia, a coma, or even death.

In December 2019, Joshua Lee Hunsucker, 36, of Gaston County, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with fatally poisoning his wife, Stacy Robinson Hunsucker, 32, using Visine eye drops.

A test on a sample of Stacy's blood found massively elevated levels of tetrahydrozoline.

The amount found was roughly 30 to 40 times higher than the therapeutic level, which investigators said would have had a 'dramatic effect on her heart, which would cause heart stoppage in a short amount of time.'

In December 2019, Joshua Lee Hunsucker (right), 36, of Gaston County, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with fatally poisoning his wife, Stacy Robinson Hunsucker (left), 32, using Visine eye drops

Authorities alleged that in September 2018, Hunsucker killed his wife, who was born with a heart defect, in order to collect $250,000 from two life insurance policies.

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Hunsucker also allegedly began dating another woman prior to his wifes death, raising suspicions of family members.

Hunsucker is free on bail, though is under a state-mandated curfew. His case is currently in pre-trial stage.

He also faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his former mother-in-law.
Home Search ICH Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: Biden & CIA Death Squads By Finian Cunningham December 31, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - CIA-backed death squads are running amok in Afghanistan, murdering civilians and terrorizing the population. When Joe Biden becomes president in three weeks, he should prioritize ending this Murder Inc. A newly published investigative report has uncovered a systematic assassination program conducted by the CIA in several provinces across Afghanistan. In just one six-month period during 2019, it was found that over 50 civilians, including women and children, were murdered in 10 separate massacres studied, according to author Andrew Quilty. That was merely a sample of killings in one province, Wardak. The death squad, known as Unit 01, comprises locally recruited Afghans but they are trained, equipped and directed by American operatives. There is no doubt that the clandestine CIA operation would have top-level clearance from the White House. It is carried out under so-called Title 50 military code which shields the operatives from prosecution of war crimes. Only the president can sign off on that level of clearance. Joe Biden, the incoming Democrat president-elect, has complained that the incumbent Trump administration has denied him access to classified national security briefings. Well, Biden will soon get full access after his inauguration on January 20. In that case, the new president will inevitably be apprised of the Afghan counter-terror operations and its death squads. He faces a choice on whether to terminate the program. No Advertising - No Government Grants - No Algorithm - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter The evidence for the CIA murder operations is overwhelming. Afghan community leaders and security officials testified that Unit 01 and its counterparts in other provinces are run by shadowy American officers who accompany the death squads during their raids on villages and farms. Dozens of Afghan residents and survivors of the attacks also describe US-led operations. Furthermore, the death squads are supported with US Chinook transport helicopters, fighter planes, gunships and drones. The official American position is that its military forces are tasked with defeating the Taliban militants who oppose the US-backed regime in Kabul. But the killings carried out by the CIA-led squads target civilians in what appears to be a bludgeoning policy of terrorism and intimidation. In most of the atrocities investigated there were no links between the victims and the Taliban. Under Donald Trump and then head of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, who later became Secretary of State, the US military operations in Afghanistan underwent a shift in late 2017. There was more emphasis on clandestine operations and a loosening of rules of engagement. During Trumps term in office, there has been a huge surge in civilian deaths in Afghanistan, partly from increased airstrikes, but also from the CIA death squads running amok. At the same time, however, Trump has crowed about withdrawing conventional troops from Afghanistan under a supposed peace deal with the Taliban. This has allowed the Republican president to claim that he is delivering on election promises to wind down overseas wars like Afghanistan  which at two decades duration is the longest foreign war ever waged by the United States. What Joe Biden does about this remains to be seen, but the signals are not good. For a start, almost every American president has signed off on CIA murder programs, from Guatemala and Iran in the 1950s, to Cuba and Vietnam in the 1960s, to El Salvador and Nicaragua in the 1970s and 80s, and many, many more besides. Its a routine part of the dirty business of being an American president. Thats why it is so contemptible and absurd for Biden and others to have lambasted Trump over unsubstantiated US media reports of Russia allegedly running bounty-hunter schemes in Afghanistan to kill American troops. There was never any evidence for such a fable, which even the Pentagon was obliged to dismiss as unfounded. And as usual, the media furore evaporated as quickly as it erupted, belying its credibility. Meanwhile, it emerges that under Trumps watch the Americans have been carrying out systematic assassinations of Afghan civilians with CIA death squads. Where are Bidens condemnations? Biden is associated with urging former President Barack Obama to take a more aggressive military line in Afghanistan when he was vice president (2008-2016). Biden favoured kick-the-door-down night raids by special forces. It is therefore very unlikely that he will repudiate the Murder Inc which Trump has unleashed in Afghanistan. What Biden brings to the new White House regime is an extra layer of moral corruption and hypocrisy under the guise of being a liberal Democrat. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. - - " Source " - Post your comment below Registration is necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also In case you missed it: HRW: CIA-Trained 'Death Squads' Behind Afghan War Crimes Watchdog: CIA Trained Death Squads in Afghanistan Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues have made public the information about their personal assets. As per the public disclosure, many members of Nitish's cabinet are way richer than him. Nitish Kumar's son Nishant is also richer than his father.

In 2010, the Nitish government had made it mandatory for all cabinet ministers to disclose their asset details on the first day of every year.

According to the details given by the ministers on the website of the Cabinet Secretariat department, Chief Minister has Rs 35,885 in cash and nearly Rs 34,000 deposited in the bank while his son Nishant has Rs 28,297 in cash and Rs 1 crore in Fixed Deposit (FD) or deposits in various banks.

While the Chief Minister owns jewellery worth Rs 98,000, his son Nishant owns jewellery worth more than Rs 20 lakh. Nitish also owns a 1000 sq ft flat in Delhi's Dwarka while his son owns agricultural and non-arable land in Kalyan Bigha village in as well as residential complexes in Bakhtiyarpur and Patna.

Nitish's cabinet colleagues are also richer than the Chief Minister. Mukesh Sahani, founder of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), which is part of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar, comes in the list of the richest ministers in the CM's cabinet.

Minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department, Mukesh Sahani has deposits of Rs 23 lakh in banks. Sahani owns three plush properties in Mumbai worth more than Rs seven crore. He and his wife also own a flat each.

Transport Minister Sheela Kumari does not own any vehicle, but she and her husband own 30 acres of cultivable land. They also own non-cultivable land worth more than Rs three crore and two flats.

Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad is quite fond of luxury vehicles and owns four cars. Prasad has Rs 54,000 in cash while his wife has Rs 4,000 in cash. Prasad has jewellery worth Rs 2.5 lakh while his wife is the owner of jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi is also fond of jewellery. She has 150 gm of gold and silver worth Rs 70,000. She also owns a pistol and a rifle.

--IANS

mnp/skp/khz/bg

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twenty-five babies were born on the New Year's Day from six hospitals in Kigali city according to the mini-survey conducted by The New Times around the city.

Worth noting is that deliveries on New Year were fewer than those recorded on Christmas Day that was celebrated a week ago.

At least two hospitals; Baho International Hospital and Kibagabaga Hospital had recorded no deliveries on New Year's day by press time.

Rwanda Military Hospital had only one parent who delivered on New Year's Eve while Hopital La Croix du Sud which is mostly known for providing gynaecological services in the country had three baby girls who were born during the night.

Hospitals that had a big number of births were Kacyiru Police Hospital and Muhima Maternity Hospital which had 12 and 19 babies respectively.

Meanwhile attempts to get the number of children born at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) were futile as the person on duty asked The New Times to send a written letter to the head of the institution and wait for the response later.

Mothers who were interviewed expressed joy of giving birth on a memorable day like New Year's.

Joselyne Uwamahoro is a 36-year-old mother who delivered a few hours after Kigali ushered in 2021. We found her at Rwanda Military Hospital.

Speaking In a low voice yet filled seemingly with joy, Uwamahoro said it was pain worth enduring.

"I did not even think I would survive, but thank God it happened, and it happened on this special day".

She said this was her fourth child and took time to thank the staff at Rwanda Military Hospital who worked relentlessly to ensure both her and the baby survive the delivery.

Mathilde Uwimbabazi, in charge of Maternity services at Muhima Hospital, also explained that she was delighted with the number of babies that were born on the first day of 2021.

She said she was also glad to be working on the first day of the year, stressing that it's her duty and calling to help mothers give birth.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com

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The Times Union is providing free access to this developing coverage to provide critical information to our community. To support our journalists work, consider a digital subscription.

The chart shows daily new cases of COVID-19 in the eight counties of the Capital Region. Graphics by Cathleen F. Crowley and Bethany Bump/Times Union (About the data)

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Warren County reported 44 new coronavirus cases on Friday. The county reported 11 were hospitalized, the highest number its recorded since the pandemic started early last year. County officials said all of those hospitalized had moderate cases of the virus.

One of the new cases involves a person who'd been on the Hadley-Luzerne Central Schools campus, forcing the district to scrap plans to bring back high school students for in-person classes on Monday. Instead, the district said it was asking his high school and junior high students to continue remote learning until Jan. 19.

Read more

11:14 a.m.: New coronavirus cases top 300 for first time in Albany County

The county set a new record to end 2020 with 346 new coronavirus cases overnight.

County Executive Dan McCoy said there were also three deaths overnight, a woman in her 70's and a man and a woman in their 60's. Read more.

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6:50 a.m.: The lost: Capital Region lives ended by COVID-19

543. That's the minimum count of how many people, as of this writing, have succumbed to COVID-19 in the greater Capital Region. In less than 10 months. Read more.

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Thursday: Underage drinking party that led to outbreak was at teachers' home, officials say

The coronavirus super-spreader party in Wilton that infected 17 people and forced the Glens Falls City School District to go fully remote for the next two weeks was held at the home of two area teachers  one from the Glens Falls school district and the other from Ballston Spa, officials said. Read more.

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Thursday: Albany Med seeks volunteers to staff COVID-19 vaccine clinics

Albany Medical Center has issued a call for volunteers to help staff COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the coming months as they prepare to vaccinate roughly 1 million New Yorkers across the Capital Region.

The hospital system  one of 10 regional vaccination hubs statewide in charge of coordinating vaccine distribution  launched a website this week, CapitalRegionVax.org, where people can find information about the regions vaccination plan and answers to frequently asked questions, including who can get the vaccine and in what order. It also contains links where interested volunteers can sign up to help. Read more.

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Thursday: 5 more deaths, 256 new virus cases end dire year in Albany County

COVID-19 has killed five more residents in Albany County, cementing December as the deadliest month in the county since the start of the pandemic 10 months ago, County Executive Dan McCoy said at the final coronavirus briefing of the year.

The five residents who died include two women and a man in their 90s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s. During the month of December, 63 people died from coronavirus compared to 55 in May. Read more.

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Thursday: Capital Region residents await vaccine and chance to 'move on'

Earlier this month, images of healthcare workers receiving their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine jolted many pandemic-weary residents with a renewed sense of optimism. Undercutting that, however, was the reality that the road to normalcy and widespread immunization is still months away. And for Santacruz, that wait could mean an even more- prolonged stretch of business struggles.

Read more

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Wednesday: In devastating year, essential workers got us through

Few people experienced the COVID-19 pandemic like essential workers experienced it.

The health care workers, grocery clerks, convenience store cashiers, gas station attendants and public transportation workers could not perform their jobs from home. Remote work was not an option for janitors, waste collectors, delivery drivers and mail carriers. Those who kept our schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters and social services up and running saw precious few breaks in the year 2020.

For essential workers, coronavirus was not an abstract phenomenon, or a hoax, or a problem that other people had to deal with. The prospect of getting sick and possibly dying from an infection was all too real for many of those who worked on the front lines this year, especially in the early days as employers scrambled to find personal protective equipment. And many of them did fall ill and die.

As 2020 comes to a close, the Times Union is highlighting the work of five essential workers who helped carry the Capital Region through the past nine months and who will continue to shoulder the weight of this pandemic for months to come.

Read more

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Tuesday: Coronavirus deaths shifting to younger victims in Albany County

Albany County saw two more deaths from the coronavirus overnight, bringing the death toll to 210.

County Executive McCoy said both of the victims were men in their 50s, part of a growing trend in the county of younger victims dying from the disease.

It's the eighth day in a row the county has had deaths from the virus. In October, 24 percent of the county's deaths were residents between the ages of 50 to 74. That has since risen to 30 percent of the county's deaths.

Read more

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Tuesday: Eviction moratorium bill becomes law after special session

The two chambers of the state Legislature met concurrently Monday for a rare special session, passing a bill banning evictions and foreclosures until May for anyone who attests that theyve financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure extends a halt on evictions until the beginning of May. It passed the state Senate 40 to 21, along party lines. The Assembly passed the bill Monday evening, and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed it into law.

Our goal here is to create a system where people have to attest under penalty of law that they have experienced a hardship and that that hardship is causing them to be unable to meet their rental obligations, and in that situation we want to protect them from eviction as an emergency public health measure, Sen. Brian Kavanagh, a New York City Democrat and the sponsor of the bill, said during the debate.

A Cuomo executive order had stated that tenants who could prove their financial hardship in court could evade eviction. The new law tweaks that process so anyone willing to attest under penalty of perjury to their tenuous financial standing in a legal document called a standardized hardship declaration form" can access the protections. It does not cancel rent, but merely pushes the debt forward.

Read more

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Tuesday: Stimulus dollars are headed to New York schools, but will it be enough?

The new stimulus package President Donald Trump signed into law Sunday does not include the financial bailout New York hoped would go to the state and local government.

But it includes extra aid for school districts.The $900 billion pandemic relief package includes $5.8 billion for New York schools and universities and $465 million in grants for day care organizations.

Schools and colleges in the Capital Region face a difficult financial recovery that will hinge greatly on the actions of the federal government and the 2021-22 state budget, which is expected to pass in April 2021.

Read more

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Tuesday: Local officials fear New Year's Eve house parties could fuel surge

Nine more Capital Region residents have died due to complications from COVID-19 and over 1,000 more were confirmed to have the disease Monday as officials urged people to stay home on New Year's Eve.

The urging comes as caseloads, hospitalizations and deaths are rising rapidly in the region. On Monday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo singled out the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley as regions of the state with dangerously high COVID-19 positivity rates  at 8.48 percent and 9.26 percent, respectively  saying residents need to change their behavior to stem the spread of the virus.

While Thanksgiving gatherings have been blamed in part for the current surge, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy and Albany County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen said Monday that they fear an even larger spike in January as more people are apparently traveling during the Christmas holiday than the Thanksgiving one.

"We continue to see high numbers and given the trends of increases it is unlikely that December is the worst month that we will have," Whalen said. "It is likely that January will be worse."

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said he feared people would gather maskless at house party's for Thursday's New Year's Eve celebration. Such a scenario, he said, could fuel outbreaks in January.

Read more

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Tuesday: No corner of economy spared by COVID-19

There wasn't a corner of the economy that was spared by COVID-19 in 2020.

Borders closed. Travel ground to a halt. Workers lost their jobs. Business owners lost their livelihoods. And nearly a third of a million Americans lost their lives, including more than 500 Capital Region residents. Thousands more locally lost their jobs as well.

Although Congress quickly approved $2.8 trillion in economic aid for consumers and businesses early on during the pandemic  including extra unemployment benefits, direct cash payments to households and business loans to maintain payrolls  much of it was exhausted within months.

But as infection rates have crept up again threatening to force a new wave of lockdowns and business closures, local business leaders like Mark Eagan, CEO of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, said that another round of stimulus was "desperately needed" before even more businesses are forced to close.

Read more

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Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the commander of the Special Forces, started an offensive on Twitter against National Unity Platform (NUP) party presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, promising to defeat him in the 2021 General Election.

Gen Muhoozi, the First Son and a serving military officer, first accused Bobi Wine of wearing red attire, saying he was trying to be a soldier with absolutely no training.

"Someone tell this young brother of mine that we are going to beat him very badly in the polls," Gen Muhoozi tweeted at 6.40pm on Wednesday.

He was responding to journalist Andrew Mwenda's comment about the manner in which security agencies arrested Bobi Wine in Kalangala District where he had gone to campaign and flew him back to Kampala on Wednesday.

In another tweet, Gen Muhoozi shared a photograph of Bobi Wine seated on a stool with a spear.

He then fired: "Ngu 'Musinguzi'? Mbwenu ogu akasingura ki? (meaning: The so-called winner? What has he ever won/ accomplished?) This is an insult not only against Banyankole but against all the tribes of western Uganda."

Bobi Wine was given the name Musinguzi while campaigning in Mbarara District in western Uganda last month.

Gen Muhoozi's tweet sparked angry responses on social media, with some people accusing him of promoting tribalism and being a partisan army officer.

By nightfall, Gen Muhoozi had retreated and deleted the tweets.

However, screen shots of his comments had been taken and were shared all over the internet, triggering further debate on tribalism.

Yesterday, a hashtag #SayNoToTribalism was also established. The hashtag, which condemns tribalism, has since been trending on social media platforms.

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Hours later, Bobi Wine described the First Son's comments as an embarrassment to men and women in uniform.

"One more thing, the Banyankole did not just give me the name Musinguzi, they gave me their daughter (Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi), my wife, and that means I am their son. They are not as hateful and as tribalistic as you are. Stop misrepresenting my in-laws," Bobi Wine tweeted back.

When Bobi Wine announced that he would run for president, Gen Muhoozi said he was still an amateur and claimed he could help the Opposition leader learn politics.

Army and politics

In 2013, Gen Henry Tumukunde was convicted and sentenced to a warning for flouting the army code of conduct after he commented about President Museveni's long stay in power.
Srinagar, January 01: In a rare protest, the families of two teenage boys and a young man, killed in Indian-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday by government forces during an alleged firefight, have denied they were fighters.

Police said the trio were killed in a 20-hour gun battle on the outskirts of the regions main city of Srinagar after they were cornered inside a home on Tuesday.

Repeated announcements were made to the hiding terrorists to lay down their illegal weapons and surrender, police said in a statement.

Instead, the hiding terrorists fired continuously upon the searching party.But relatives of the trio disputed the story and protested outside a police building in Srinagar where the bodies were being kept.

Yesterday at 10 in the morning, he had tea with me, Bashir Ahmad Ganai, the grandfather of one of the slain youths, Aijaz Maqbool, told reporters.

We dont know where he was picked up from and later killed. What is going on in Kashmir? Ganai said.

The families of the other two  high school student Athar Mushtaq and carpenter Zubair  also insisted they were innocent.

Parents of the students said they had been on their way to receive private tutoring in Srinagar. But police insisted two of them were hardcore associates of terrorists and the third might have recently joined fighter ranks. Even then, Kashmir Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar admitted the names of the trio killed in the encounter were not in the list of terrorists, according to The Indian Express.

The exact ages of the three killed were not released.

The case bears similarities to a July incident in which three labourers were killed, sparking an outcry in the region.

The army had claimed that those three men were killed in a gun battle in the village of Amshipora, and that weapons were found on them.

But on Sunday, an Indian army officer and two associates were charged with planting weapons on the bodies to make it look as though they were militants.

Source: Dawn/AP
GREENWICH  When the feds indicted a 64-year-old Greenwich man in an alleged investment fraud scheme last month, it was not the first time he has faced legal action and scrutiny.

Samuel Klein was charged with interstate transportation of property taken by fraud and money laundering on Dec. 9 in U.S. District Court. According to the federal complaint, Klein accepted $200,000 from an investor for a proposed business deal, and a portion of those funds were then utilized by Klein for personal and other expenditures.

Klein told the investor, who was identified in court papers only as J.B., that he would more than double the investment when deal was worked out in August 2018.

He pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons and was released on $500,000 bond.

And Klein has been the subject of numerous civil lawsuits in state Superior Court, claiming he had failed to pay for services or did not fulfill contracts, according to court records.

In 2016, Key Air, a charter airplane business based in Oxford, Conn., sued Klein to recover $69,542 that the company said he owes them for services. A judgment was later issued in the companys favor.

Earlier this year, L.H. Gault of Westport, a heating oil company, sued Klein for $7,008 for heating oil and equipment that it provided, claiming it never received payment. A judgment was granted in favor of Gault.

The state Banking Department has also been seeking documentation and files from a firm run by Klein, Visual Group LLC, according to Superior Court records. That litigation is ongoing.

The Bank of America began foreclosure proceedings on his primary Greenwich residence in 2019, according to Superior Court records.

A message left with Klein was not returned this week.

He was also involved in a civil lawsuit in Delaware in 2018 over an investment deal involving a couple from Wyoming. He was detained by Greenwich police that year on a warrant from Delaware authorities. But the warrant stemmed from a civil lawsuit, and a Superior Court judge later determined that Klein should not have been the subject of local law enforcement.

Klein was also the subject of civil litigation in Maryland that resulted in a multimillion-dollar judgment against him, according to court records and media reports.

According to civil court papers, Klein has a background in real estate and commercial property development focusing on hotels and healthcare facilities.

In the early 2000s, he pleaded guilty to a criminal misdemeanor for failing to maintain adequate nursing staff at a nursing home he operated in Ossining, N.Y. The charge he pleaded guilty to was a count of willful violation of public health laws, a misdemeanor, and the case was adjudicated in Ossining Village Court. The nursing home closed in 2002.

On the federal charges filed in December, Klein, a resident of Pecksland Road, faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the charges.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
Sage Advocacy wants 2021 to be the year when older people in Ireland are given the opportunity to choose where they want to be cared for and supported.

The national organisation, which is a support and advocacy service for vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, is calling for a radical transformation of the current systems of health and social care for older people in Ireland and a shift away from the nursing home model in 2021.

Sage Advocacy believes Covid-19 has exposed the weaknesses of Irelands current health and social care systems.

Sarah Lennon, Executive Director of Sage Advocacy, said: The system needs to radically change, we need a new vision and if we have learned anything from Covid 19 it is that Irelands long term health and social system is flawed  it does not allow for the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Our latest discussion document, Choice Matters, highlights that because our current system is biased towards congregated settings, primarily the nursing home model, it was not well equipped to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.

Ms Lennon said 2021 should be the year that older people get the opportunity to choose where they want to be supported and cared for and she says for the majority of people, this will be in their homes.

We know from our work that there are some people in nursing homes, not because they need to be there, but because the supports they need to live at home are not there. As well as the lack of choice for older people we also work with people who are under 65 years of age and are receiving care in a nursing home because of a lack of alternative options.

We need strong political leadership to shift the balance of care away from the nursing home model and towards other alternative potentially cost-effective approaches  lets help people live well and age well in their own homes, Ms Lennon added.

Sage Advocacy said among its key priorities for 2021 will be to support the

new Commission on Care for older people, which was outlined in the Programme for Government.

Ms Lennon said: We would hope to see this new Commission established as soon as possible. We need to start building a new long term and support and care system because the reality is that with our ageing society all of us need to act together in

2021 to make change happen. We also believe that in 2021 the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the Decision Support Service should be fast tracked.

But for now, we welcome that nursing home residents have been given the opportunity to consent to receiving the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine and will be among the first people in the country to receive the vaccine. We know from our work with nursing home residents and their families how difficult and distressing the last year has been and that many people are still mourning the loss of loved ones. We are very aware that the move to Level 5 restrictions has caused further anxiety for residents and their families.

Throughout 2021 Sage Advocacy will continue to support and advocate for people who are facing challenges in their lives, who may be vulnerable, who may have a

disability and for whatever reason may have to depend on others at a particular time in their lives. We will continue to ensure that peoples voices are heard and that their rights, freedoms and dignity are protected.
The 2021 Prius Prime is the most popular PHEV option currently available at Toyota of Lancaster. With a fully charged battery, most PHEV models, especially those from Toyota, can handle relatively short drives solely on electric power.

Plug-in hybrids or PHEVs are becoming popular options among new car buyers, especially in the Los Angeles area. Toyota of Lancaster has added new Toyota PHEV options into its inventory. Hybrid car shoppers looking for a plug-in option can find a solution at Toyota of Lancaster.

The advantages of a PHEV over a traditional hybrid comes down to their plug-in nature. They have extended battery capacity over their traditional hybrid counterparts. Additionally, this battery can be charged by plugging the PHEV in through a traditional 120-volt power port in a garage.

With a fully charged battery, most PHEV models, especially those from Toyota, can handle relatively short drives solely on electric power. When the battery runs dry, the gas engine kicks on, and the PHEV continues to drive like a normal hybrid.

PHEV models from Toyota are denoted by including Prime in the name. Currently, the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime is the most popular PHEV model in the Toyota of Lancaster inventory and drivers in the Los Angeles area will be pleased to learn that the 2021 Prius Prime has efficiency ratings of 55-city mpg and 53-highway mpg. This model has a total estimated driving range of 640 miles, and off a full charge, it can go up to 25 miles on electricity alone. There are over 30 new Prius Prime options currently in stock at Toyota of Lancaster.

The 2021 RAV4 Prime is another new PHEV model available at Toyota of Lancaster. It has 40-city mpg and 36-highway mpg. These figures are with the standard all-wheel-drive feature. On a full charge, the 2021 RAV4 Prime can drive up to 42 miles on just electricity.

Both the 2021 RAV4 Prime and the 2021 Prius Prime can be found in inventory at Toyota of Lancaster. Curious shoppers can visit the dealerships website at http://www.toyotaoflancaster.com. The dealership can also be reached via phone at 661-948-0731. Toyota of Lancaster is located at 43301 12th St. W, Lancaster, California 93534.
Kourtney Kardashian is clear on what 'really matters' in 2021.

The 41-year-old looked impossibly fresh faced on January 1st in a makeup-free morning selfie with her two youngest children Penelope and Reign, which she shared to Instagram on Friday.

In the caption the mother of three reflected on lessons she learned during a difficult year and her gratitude for quality time spent with her family.

New year! Kourtney Kardashian looked impossibly fresh faced on January 1st with her two youngest children Penelope and Reign, which she shared to Instagram on Friday

Not quite ready to let go of the holiday season, Kourtney smiled broadly in the snap all decked out in Christmas PJs snuggled up with her two kids.

Reign, six, pulled a goofy face in the selfie wearing some tie-dye olive and white jammies.

Big sister Penelope, eight, meanwhile looked a little less enthused to be posing for early photos.

'Feeling extra grateful this morning that I get to wake up with these cuties, for all of the special time we got together this last year, for all of the reminders about what really matters, for slowing down,' Kourtney penned in the caption.

'Feeling extra grateful this morning that I get to wake up with these cuties, for all of the special time we got together this last year, for all of the reminders about what really matters, for slowing down,' Kourtney penned in the caption.

She added: 'I learned so much this past year! Sending prayers of health and happiness to all. Happy New Year! (And yes, still in Christmas pajamas)'

Kourtney shares her two children, along with her first born, 11-year-old Mason, with her ex-boyfriend Scott Disick.

Scott, a KUWTK mainstay, started dating Kourtney in 2006 after being introduced by Joe Francis.

They were hot and cold for years, breaking things off for the first time in 2009 but rekindled things after Mason was born.

Co-parenting: Kourtney shares 11-year-old Mason, eight-year-old Penelope and six-year-old Reign with her ex-boyfriend Scott Disick

Things didn't stay copacetic for long though and by the following year Scott's hard partying ways caused a second split.

The ended for good in 2015 after they welcomed two other children into the mix and have been co-parenting together ever since.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star looked far more glam the night before as she rang in the New Year with tequila and leather.

Kourtney rocked a plunging patent leather party dress with high heels and a high ponytail at her home in Calabasas, California.

Making it work: Kourtney and Scott's romance ended for good in 2015 after they welcomed two other children into the mix and have been co-parenting together ever since (Pictured with Reign in December)

She posed for some festive social media snaps in front of her swanky bar while shaking up some tequila cocktails. The Kardashian/Jenner favorite is a simple mix of tequila over ice with lime.

This year, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe kept their NYE low key and stayed home in Southern California with their respective families.

Meanwhile younger sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner spent their holiday hitting the slopes in Aspen, Colorado along with Kylie's daughter Stormi, her on/off again beau Travis Scott, Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble and some friends.
The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) O Rajagopal, who had supported the unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala legislative assembly against the Centres three farm laws, has now said he had argued that the central government was always ready for the talks.

Rajagopal, the BJPs only member in Kerala, issued a statement later on Thursday, saying he opposed the resolution adopted by the assembly. I have strongly opposed the resolution against farm laws today in the assembly. I did not oppose the central government. I said that the farm laws were very beneficial to the farmers. When ruling and opposition MLAs alleged that the Prime Minister was not negotiating with the farmers, I argued that the central government was always ready for the talks, Rajagopal said in a statement, according to news agency ANI.

Also read | Kerala passes resolution against farm laws

I said that farmer unions stand that they would engage in dialogue only after withdrawing the farm laws is the reason for the protests to continue in a prolonged manner. The statements that I am against the central government are baseless, he added.

Rajagopal, who represents the Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram, had spoken against the resolution in the House initially but when it was put to voice vote he did not stage a walkout and supported it. After the session, when reporters asked him about it, he said he supported the resolution in accordance with the democratic spirit of the house. I raised my disagreement in clear terms. But I supported the substance of the resolution in accordance with the democratic spirit. Nothing big about it, in a democracy such compromises are common, he had said.

Also read | In New Year greetings, Rahul Gandhi takes a veiled dig at Centre over farm laws

The BJP leader said that Congress had earlier included similar farm laws in its manifesto. I have made it clear that Congress in their election manifesto had included similar farm laws and that the CPI(M) too has demanded it through a resolution. The speaker did not ask during voting about those who support the resolution and those who oppose it. It was reduced to a single question without being asked separately, which is a violation of the norms, Rajagopal said.

Also read Farmers protest: Delhis Chilla, Ghazipur borders remain closed; traffic diverted

K Surendran, the BJPs state unit president, had said he will talk to Rajagopal after he supported the farm laws. There is no difference of opinion in the party. He is a senior leader and we dont think he will support the resolution. I will talk to him about this, Surendran said.

The Kerala assembly passed the resolution, which was introduced by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, unanimously against the three farm laws during the special session. The Centre wants to corporatise the farm sector. It must come forward to allay farmers fears. The entire country is with them. It should recognise public sentiment and withdraw the new laws, Vijayan had said.

The resolution in the Kerala assembly came a day after the protesting farmers and the government held the fifth round of talks on Wednesday. They reached consensus on two of four issues on the agenda. Farmer leaders have been protesting on borders of Delhi since November 26 against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Social distancing measures in commercial and industrial stores in the Kingdom should continue for another two more months, the Health Minister announced yesterday.

Citizens and residents should continue social distancing measures for two more months until 28 February 2021 to help Bahrain contain the deadly outbreak, Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh said.

The move is as per a decision of the Coordinating Committee headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, regarding the health conditions and procedures that must be followed in commercial and industrial shops to contain and prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus (19 - COVID).

The ministry said it was extending Decision No. 62 of 2020 to continue the social distancing measures for two months.

The ministry also said it is extending the suspension of health service fees for foreigners in health centres, amounting to BD7 for another two months. The suspension is as per decision No. (63) of 2020 regarding stopping the collection of fees for general medical consultations for non-Bahrainis.

The ministry stressed the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures and instructions issued by the concerned authorities at all times and places. The ministry also called on all to wear face masks and avoid gatherings - especially New Year celebrations- to limit the spread of the virus.

Following preventive measures strictly is necessary to achieve the desired goal, the ministry said urging all to adhere to preventive measures to preserve public health. On the measures to be followed by shops, the ministry said shops should allocate its first hours to the elderly and pregnant woman, and should not allow people exceeding its capacity. Shop keepers should place signs at the entrance of the shops indicating the maximum number of people permitted inside, the minister said.

Other requirements include placing hand sanitisers at the entry and exit points for shop-goers to sterilise their hands before and after shopping. Entry should be denied to all those who do not wear protective face masks.

The ministry also calls for commercial and industrial shops to properly activate workers dressing rooms and provide personal protective equipment for all workers, including masks, gloves, sterilisers, hand and surface disinfectants, and necessary cleaning materials and tools adequately.

Workers should leave a distance of one meter between them, customers or visitors to the shop. Health status of workers should be checked daily, which includes measuring their body temperature before entering work sites, as well as that of customers.

The ministry emphasised the need to sterilise hands at every stage of work before preparing food, and after touching raw meat and poultry, after using the bathroom, after touching the mouth or nose, and before and after handling foodstuffs to customers.

The ministry also calls for cleaning and sterilising shopping carts before and after use by customers, as well as sterilise surfaces constantly before, after and during work.
Olivia Fox sings the national anthem during the 2020 Tri-Nations match between the Australian Wallabies and the Argentina Pumas at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Australia on Dec. 5, 2020. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

One and Free: Australia Changes One Word in National to Be More Inclusive

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on New Years Day announced a change to the national anthem in an effort to reflect a spirit of unity by acknowledging Indigenous peoples history and togetherness through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor-General David Hurley confirmed the amendment to Advance Australia Fair on Thursday, the government said in a statement.

Effective from New Years Day the second line in the national anthem will read for we are one and free, changed from for we are young and free.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 17, 2020. (Reuters/Issei Kato)

Morrison said the alteration was in recognition of First Nations peoples who have lived on the continent for thousands of years and the nations united efforts enduring the pandemic throughout the last year.

We are a nation that prevails. We are making our own Australian way through this crisis. A way guided by our enduring principles and values, Morrison wrote in an op-ed published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday.

He said, Australia as a modern nation may be relatively young, but our countrys story is ancient, as are the stories of the many First Nations peoples whose stewardship we rightly acknowledge and respect.

In the spirit of unity, it is only right that we also now acknowledge this and ensure our national anthem reflects this truth and shared appreciation, he said.

Queensland Liberal National Party Senator Matt Canavan took to Twitter to voice his disagreement with the amendment.

I disagree with the decision to remove the word young from our national anthem. We are a young nation that doesnt have the same historical hang-ups of older cultures. Thats why people overseas want to move here because we offer a fresh, young start. Happy new year to all, he wrote on Twitter on Jan. 1.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at a press conference on in Sydney, Australia Dec. 18, 2020. (Janie Barrett  Pool/Getty Images)

The change to the national anthem comes after the 2020 National Rugby League match between the Indigenous All-Stars and Maori All-Stars scrapped the pre-game national anthem. On October 2o20, the NRL State of Origin was also on the brink of also dropping the anthem before Morrison stepped in.

According to a report by the ABC on Feb. 6, 2020, several players raised concerns that the words of the anthem do not represent them or their families and does not include an acknowledgement of First Nations people, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Vlandys said.

This was followed by a call in November by New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian to change young and free to one and free to be more inclusive of Indigenous peoples.

Peter Dodds McCormick composed Advance Australia Fair and first performed it in 1878. In 1984, then Prime Minister Bob Hawke replaced God Save the Queen with McCormicks anthem.
Actor Kriti Sanon has vowed to give her feelings a proper outlet this year and will record them in a journal. She said that it is quite messed up that people are taught to suppress emotions and showing them is considered a sign of weakness.

Sharing a picture of her thought journal, Kriti wrote on Instagram, Humans are often conditioned to suppress emotions. Showing Vulnerability, sadness, fear, anger, frustration, insecurity is considered a sign of weakness.. As kids we cry loudly, we scream, laugh on innocent things, speak without thinking.. we keep it Simple! But as we grow up, we learn to behave and mask.. We feel something, we say something else.. And i feel thats kinda messed up.

Never been a new year resolution person.. but this year, i choose to express in my own way.. Declutter and write down my thoughts.. my kinda meditation! Whats that one habit youd like to have in 2021? #Uncomplicate, she added.

Kriti also gave a peek of how her year began. My morning dose of happiness. Happy New Year everyone! Wishing all of you lots of love, happiness, good health, positivity and peace of mind!, she captioned a picture of her room decked up with balloons. Her dogs, Disco and Phoebe, could also be seen in the photo.

Also see | Kareena Kapoor-Saif Ali Khan welcome 2021 with a lavish family feast, Sara Ali Khan-Ibrahim celebrate sibling love. See pics

In the last few months, Kriti has been giving her fans a glimpse of her poetic side. She often shares her thoughts and musings on social media with the hashtags #SanonScribbles and #PoetryWithKriti.

Kriti recently recovered from Covid-19. On Thursday, she shared a video of herself at the gym and said that she was getting (her) strength back. She wrote, Hang in there.. 2020 is finally about to end! This year has been hard in every way, but it has only made me realise that I am much stronger than I thought I was! Getting my strength back post Covid! Had to end the year with my fav form of workout: Pilates with my favvvv person @yasminkarachiwala #PilatesIsLove.

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In a rather evident warning to US President Donald Trump, who had directed the airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani, Irans judiciary chief on January 1 said that people behind the assassination of Irans top general will not be safe on Earth. Following the US strike in the first week of 2020 that sent shock waves across Iran, Ebrahim Raisi reportedly said at an event in Tehran, paying tribute to Soleimani that not even the president of United States is immune from justice and severe revenge. As per reports, Raisi told the gathering at the Tehran University that What has come so far has only been glimpses.

"Do not presume that someone, as the president of America, who appeared as a murderer or ordered a murder, may be immune from justice being carried out. Never," he said. "Those who had a role in this in this assassination and crime will not be safe on Earth."

The event was reportedly attended by several Iranian officials and speakers were representatives from other allied states such as Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. Further, a separate event is set to take place reportedly in Soleimanis hometown where he was buried in Kerman.

The unprecedented killing of IRGC commander General Soleimani on the directives of Trump marked a new low in the already strenuous, US-Iran relations. As the White House and the Pentagon confirmed the death of Iran's powerful military head, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed "harsh vengeance, the news triggered the concerns of a dramatic escalation of conflict between the two countries, on social media, netizens shared memes to make the light of the situation--making the phrase 'World War 3' trend on Twitter.

Read - US To Move Aircraft Carrier Out Of Mideast Amid Iran Tension

Read - Iran Alleges Trump Trying To Fabricate Reason To Start War, Says Tehran Will Not Surrender

Iran 'doesn't seek war' with US

Just recently, Iran has even accused US of attempting to fabricate a reason to attack the Islamic nation and said that Washington is sending B-52 bombers to Tehran instead of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at home. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on December 31 said that "Donald Trump and his cohorts" are wasting billions to send B-52s and entire fleet to Iran at a time when they should be focusing on fighting the COVID-19 disease in the US. Zarif, citing intelligence from Iraq, said that the US is trying to fabricate a pretext to attack Iran, adding Tehran would defend itself "openly and directly".

Instead of fighting Covid in US, @realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to OUR region



Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war.



Iran doesn't seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests.  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 31, 2020

Read - Ukraine Plane Crash: Iran To Pay $1,50,000 Each To Families Of 176 Victims

Read - Iran Allocates Payment To Families Of Ukraine Crash Victims
As we embark on the new year, I have never been more proud of our country. Confronted with the greatest challenge Australians have faced since the Second World War, we have proved once again that we are a nation of people who overcome.

We are a nation that prevails. We are making our own Australian way through this crisis. A way guided by our enduring principles and values. Together, we have done so much better than almost any other country in the world.

"This change is for all Australians": Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

And we will continue to do so, whatever 2021 now throws at us.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I said that we had always thought ourselves to be a strong people but we were about to find out just how strong we really were.
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Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed during the early Holocene. The caldera cuts the south side of the Pleistocene Dvor volcano and is located outside the north margin of the large mid-Pleistocene Polovinka caldera, which contains the smaller Akademia Nauk and Odnoboky calderas. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, which is located immediately south of Karymsky volcano. The caldera enclosing Karymsky volcano formed about 7600-7700 radiocarbon years ago; construction of the Karymsky stratovolcano began about 2000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been vulcanian or vulcanian-strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater.

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Seeking normalcy in short order: With new restrictions on their plate, how are Berkshire restaurants coping?
English Lithuanian

AB Ignitis grupe (hereinafter  Ignitis Group or the Company) informs that on 30 December 2020 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter  the Government) made a resolution to amend the Government Resolution of 7 November 2012 No 1354 On the Order of Natural Gas supply diversification approval (hereinafter  the Resolution).

The Resolution determined the mandatory supply volume of 3,867,500,000 kWh (5 per cent) for the liquefied natural gas (hereinafter  LNG) terminal for 2021, which equates to the currently effective mandatory LNG supply volume, ie four standard size LNG shipments. The role of designated supplier of LNG is performed by UAB Ignitis, a subsidiary of Ignitis Group.

The Resolution also specified the procedure for determining the mandatory supply volume for the LNG terminal and determined that the mandatory supply volume for the LNG terminal may be adjusted during the current year. Also, the decision was made that the mandatory supply for the LNG terminal will be coordinated in the future with all parties of interest according to the procedure established in the Resolution, including the National Energy Regulatory Council and the designated supplier  UAB Ignitis.

Following this decision of the Government, the previous Resolution amendment project of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania submitted to the Government and which suggested that the number of annual standard LNG shipments be reduced from four to two in 2021 and about which The Company announced on 9 December 2020 in a notice regarding the designated supply activities of liquefied natural gas ( link ), is no longer relevant.

Also, the Resolution amendment project of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania submitted to the Government at the beginning of December 2020 on the Paragraph 11 of the Law on Liquefied Natural Gas (hereinafter  LLNG) No XI-2053, with the intention to regulate that, starting from 1 January 2021, the reasonable designated suppliers costs will tantamount to not more than 10 per cent price difference between the price paid of the designated supplier for the mandatory supply volume for the LNG terminal and the average price of imported liquefied natural gas to Republic of Lithuania, was returned to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.

The aforementioned LLNG amendment project was not submitted before the Government, and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania may suggest to amend the LLNG to the Government only after the additional analysis of cost reducing alternatives for mandatory supply activities for the LNG terminal is performed, which is estimated to be completed by 31 March 2021.

For more information please contact:

Arturas Ketlerius, Head of Public Relations

Tel. +370 620 76076

E-mail arturas.ketlerius@ignitis.lt




Kylie and Kendall Jenner spent the end of 2020 together on a sisters ski trip to Aspen, Colorado.

It wasn't all fun and games, however, for the 23-year-old billionaire who was pictured tumbling down a snow covered mountain on Wednesday.

She seemed to shake off her spill and was spotted on Friday hitting the slopes once more with her daughter Stormi and on-again-off-again beau Travis Scott.

Snow no! Kylie Jenner was pictured tumbling down a snow covered mountain on Wednesday while snowboarding in Aspen, Colorado with her sister Kendall Jenner

As longtime snowboarders, Kendall and Kylie navigated the Rocky Mountains like professionals for most of the day.

Kylie stood out against the winter white wearing perennially chic head-to-toe black with a black helmet and black tinted goggles.

Meanwhile, catwalker Kendall made a fashion statement in a metallic teal puffer coat by Prada and black ski pants. She took safety seriously and donned goggles and a helmet.

Wipe out! As longtime snowboarders, Kendall and Kylie navigated the Rocky Mountains like professionals for most of the day with the exception of a snafu when the 23-year-old lost her footing and face planted

Yikes: As Kylie sped down the icy terrain she appeared to try to turn on her board but hit a rough patch and appeared to lose her footing

She's down: The tumble looked brutal as snow sprayed out in the air while the Kylie Cosmetics mogul fell to her knees and slid

It is a good thing that the girls both had on safety equipment as it likely protected Kylie's head from injury when she wiped out during one particular run down the mountain.

As Kylie sped down the icy terrain she appeared to try to turn on her board but hit a rough patch.

As the E! star attempted to right herself, she ended up spinning slightly to face the mountain and lost her footing.

A good thing: Both Kendall and Kylie were smart to wear protective helmets and goggles

Making a statement: When she was down on the snow, the underside of her snowboard was visible revealing the word 'b*tch' emblazoned on the bottom

Jenner was seen throwing her gloved hands down to catch her fall but ended up face planting into the snow.

The tumble looked brutal as snow sprayed out in the air while the Kylie Cosmetics mogul fell to her knees and slid.

When she was down on the snow, the underside of her snowboard was visible revealing the word 'b*tch' emblazoned on the bottom.

Cruising: Her 25-year-old big sister didn't seem to notice Kylie's snowboarding snafu and expertly cruised down the mountain ahead of her

Like a pro: Kylie didn't let her fall ruin her fun and she popped right back up and boarded down the rest of the slope

What happened? Kendall was far ahead of Kylie when the tumble occurred

Her 25-year-old big sister didn't seem to notice Kylie's snowboarding snafu and expertly cruised down the mountain ahead of her.

Thankfully Kylie looked no worse for the wear and was able to ride out the day in the Colorado winter sun.

She was seen gliding down the slopes with ease at one point and flashing a grin afterwards under a layered black scarf.

That night the duo was spotted out in the picturesque city to grab a bite of dinner with their momager Kris Jenner and her beau Corey Gamble.

Snow bunny: Kylie stood out against the winter white wearing perennially chic head-to-toe black with a black helmet and black tinted goggles

Happy place: She was seen gliding down the slopes with ease at one point and flashing a grin afterwards under a layered black scarf

Despite the raging pandemic - and the Kardashian/Jenner family's cancelled Christmas Eve soiree - it appears a group was still able to get together to celebrate the New Year.

Along with Kendall, Kylie, Kris and Corey, friend of the family and fellow model Fai Khadra was spotted in Aspen with the reality stars, as well as rapper Travis Scott.

On New Year's Eve the youngest Keeping Up With the Kardashians stars slipped into some curve-hugging cold weather gear and posed together for an impromptu New Year Instagram shoot.

Kendall and Kylie showcased their enviable physiques in matching turtlenecks, leggings and puffer coats in black and putty colors, respectively.

Family affair: Along with Kendall, Kylie, Kris and Corey, friend of the family and fellow model Fai Khadra was spotted in Aspen with the reality stars, as well as rapper Travis Scott

Looking good: Catwalker Kendall made a fashion statement in a metallic teal puffer coat by Prada and black ski pants. She took safety seriously and donned goggles and a helmet

They each looked sleek in the snow at dusk with their raven hair slicked back in low buns and polarized sunglasses.

Older sisters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian appeared to stay home with their children in Southern California rather then embracing their inner snow bunny with the rest of the family.

The Poosh founder sizzled as she shared a shot of herself modeling a plunging patent leather dress and toasting to 2021 with some tequila.

Meanwhile, sister Khloe Kardashian seemed to be home in Calabasas, posting a shot from her home gym on Thursday.

Staying home: Older sisters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian appeared to stay home with their children in Southern California rather then embracing their inner snow bunny with the rest of the family

Can't get enough: On New Year's Day Kylie was back on the slopes again but this time with her daughter Stormi Webster and Stormi's dad Travis Scott

And Kim also appeared like she was nestled in her mansion while posting her favorite pieces of her closet and modeling the latest Skims collection on her Instagram Story.

On New Year's Day Kylie was back on the slopes again but this time with her daughter Stormi Webster and Stormi's dad Travis Scott.

The on-again-off-again couple co-parent their beloved toddler together who is set to turn three-years-old on February 1st.
Santa was welcomed into care home of 150 residents in town of Mol, Antwerp

Three days after he tested positive for Covid-19, sparking fears at the care home

Santa is said to be filled with remorse, mayor calls home 'totally irresponsible'

The death toll of a coronavirus outbreak in a care home linked to a Father Christmas party for the elderly last month has reached 27.

The Mol care centre in northern Belgium had organised a December 4 visit of the beloved figure who usually spreads mirth and presents, but there is a possibility the actor who played him could have been a super spreader of Covid-19 unbeknownst to himself.

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The municipality said on New Year's Eve that a 27th person had died but the outbreak was finally stabilising.

Belgium, a nation of 11.5 million, has been badly hit by the pandemic with 19,441 deaths so far, many of them in care homes.

The volunteer dressed as Sinterklaas was welcomed in to spread Christmas cheer among the 150 residents of the Hemelrijck care home in Mol, Antwerp (pictured: residents enjoying mulled wine and oranges as Santa and his Zwarte Piet ('Black Pete') helpers visit the home)

The Mol municipality said two weeks ago the party would have been barred had the local crisis cell known about it. At the last count, the care home had 88 infections, including 42 among the staff.

Initially, the actor had been pinpointed as the source of the outbreak, but subsequent scientific research has not been fully conclusive.

Sinterklaas and his helpers in black face known as Zwarte Piet ('Black Pete') infected residents and staff at the Hemelrijck care home in Mol, Antwerp, earlier this month.

Pictures of the man dressed as St Nicholas emerged to two weeks ago and the 'superspreader' has been blamed for the home's rising death toll since.

Five more elderly residents died over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and at least one was treated with oxygen.

The Father Christmas fell ill and tested positive for Covid-19 three days after visiting, prompting health officials to start testing at the home.

The home had claimed that social-distancing was observed, but the Sinterklaas was pictured standing very close to the elderly residents

Santa and his helpers chat with residents of the care home. His helpers are in black face and dressed as Zwarte Piet ('Black Pete'), a controversial traditional character in the Netherlands and parts of Belgium

Mayor of Mol Wim Caeyers told local media: 'We're expecting up to ten difficult days. It has been a very black day for the care home.

Who is 'Black Pete'? The Santa's helper character first appeared in an 1850 book by Amsterdam schoolteacher Jan Schenkman. Those portraying Zwarte Piet typically put on blackface make-up and colourful Renaissance attire, in addition to curly wigs, red lipstick, and earrings. Opponents say such depictions promote racist stereotypes, while supporters defend the helper of Sinterklaas, the white-bearded, red-robed Dutch version of St. Nicholas, as a traditional children's character.

'It is a very great mental strain to bear for the man that played St Nicholas, as well as for the organisers and the staff.'

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But pictures of the event showed that not all residents wore masks and that Santa and his little helpers stood within two metres of the elderly.

Mr Caeyers said: 'Initially [the care home] said that the rules had been followed, but then straight away you receive photos from the families of residents where you can see that this wasn't the case.'

His administration has called the care home 'a totally irresponsible organization.'

The mayor said that it will be 'all hands on deck' to bring the virus under control, with local health workers, the Red Cross and the Governor of Antwerp helping, following crisis talks on Sunday.

A spokesman for Armonea, the firm which manages the home, said: 'The team is very shocked by what happened, but that also makes them very motivated to get the virus out again.'

One of Belgium's top virologists, however, has expressed his doubts that the Santa Claus volunteer could have caused so many infections.

Marc Van Ranst, of KU Leuven university, said: 'Even for a super-spreader, these are too many infections at once.'

Father Christmas speaks to an elderly resident. He and his helper appear to be standing closer than two metres away from her

Click here to resize this module

Hemelrijck care home in Mol, Antwerp, which is run by the firm Armonea

In recent days Belgium has recorded an increase in the number of daily infections, 2,762 on Saturday and another 4,978 on Sunday

He believes that poor ventilation is much more likely the cause and that CO2 measurements should be taken by the local health officials.

Nonetheless, he added that having Santa visit during the pandemic was a 'stupid idea.'

Belgium has the worst coronavirus deaths per million of its population in the world.

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The country recorded 2,342 new coronavirus cases on Christmas day, with 51 dying from the
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  Doctors and health workers caught administering unregistered coronavirus vaccines will be banned from professional practice, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

In a joint statement, the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration warned anew against the use of COVID-19 vaccines without regulatory approval.

We will investigate the illegal administration of unauthorized smuggled vaccines, specifically doctors and other medical professionals who administer them. We will have their medical licenses revoked," Duque said in a statement issued late Thursday. "We doctors have an oath: do no harm. In a pandemic, we need to be more circumspect."

Apart from the early vaccination of members of President Rodrigo Duterte's security detail weeks ago, there are also unconfirmed reports of lawmakers allegedly receiving vaccine doses in makeshift clinics inside luxury hotel rooms.

Im not buying the explanation that the doctors administering the shots are being pressured by lawmakers. Someone is peddling the service and it is unacceptable," the Health chief added.

Duque deems the early vaccinations illegal, contrary to claims made by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that the Presidential Security Group acted in the name of "national security" and did not violate any laws for accepting and inoculating the donated doses. Details of these vaccinations have been hazy and are given piecemeal, with Cabinet officials including Duque saying they were not aware of the scheme.

RELATED: Roque justifies PSG receiving donated unregistered vaccines: 'It's just a token, not much value'

Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and China have started mass vaccinations against COVID-19  beginning with hospital workers  after approving select foreign-made vaccines for emergency use. The Philippines has yet to approve any coronavirus vaccine, with the FDA expecting the earliest approval within January.

On Friday morning (Manila time), US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer secured clearance from the World Health Organization for emergency use, which should fast-track its approval among state regulators.

Pfizer applied for emergency use approval from the FDA in December, but the vaccine is still under evaluation to take into account "possible risks to the public," Director General Eric Domingo said in the joint statement.

READ: PH diplomats working to get smaller batch of Pfizer vaccines after botched initial talks

The DOH and FDA are working with the Bureau of Customs to block shipments of unauthorized vaccines and other medical products. The agencies are also probing the incident involving the PSG, with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirming that the vaccine doses were smuggled into the country.

The National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are carrying out separate investigations on the vaccination of the PSG, including reports also implicating select members of the military.

Our frontlines have been struggling with the rising cases from the beginning. This will only make the situation worse. The risks cannot be denied and may even prove fatal to some, Duque said.

The Philippines had 474,064 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 2020, with 25,024 active infections and 9,244 deaths.
Vatican City: The Vatican and the Australian Catholic Church have both denied knowledge of transfers worth US$1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) which Australia's financial watchdog says have been sent from Rome to Australia in the past seven years.

"That amount of money and that number of transfers did not leave the Vatican City," a senior Vatican official with knowledge of the city-state's finances said on Wednesday, local time.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Vatican would be seeking details from Australian authorities on the specific origin and destination of the money.

Also "science fiction"- themed: the nativity scene at St Peter's Square in December. Credit:AP

"It's not our money because we don't have that kind of money," he said. "I am absolutely stunned."
Please note The Sun Chronicle is providing this story and all of our local coronavirus coverage for free so that all readers have access to this important information about the pandemic. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus coverage page for more stories. If you'd like to support our mission, please subscribe.
President Donald Trump walks to the Oval Office while arriving back at the White House in Washington on Dec. 31, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Massive Amounts of Evidence Will Be Presented on Jan. 6: Trump

President Donald Trump announced that evidence of alleged election fraud will be presented on Jan. 6 during the Joint Session of Congress.

Massive amounts of evidence will be presented on the 6th. We won, BIG! Trump wrote on Twitter.

It comes as Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and about 40 House GOP lawmakers have announced they would challenge the Electoral College votes during the Jan. 6 Joint Session of Congress due to alleged fraud and irregularities during the Nov. 3 election. The challenge could lead to several hours of debate during the session.

The challenge is supported by Trump, who, in recent weeks, has met with House lawmakers, including its chief sponsor Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), at the White House.

Trumps adviser, Jason Miller, told Newsmax earlier in the week that the team is aiming to present more evidence.

We will have a chance in front of the American people, next week to present these cases, all these evidences of fraud, Miller said, pointing to a lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) against Vice President Mike Pence earlier this week to prevent him from confirming Joe Bidens electoral victory. Pences lawyers with the Department of Justice later said Pence isnt the person who should face a lawsuit, arguing that Gohmert should have sued Congress.

If Hawley and the other lawmakers challenge a states Electoral College votes, Trumps campaign will make their presentation. The challenge requires a senator and a representative to carry out.

Miller pointed to law changes regarding mail-in ballots in Wisconsin and other states, suitcases of ballots in Georgia being wheeled out late at night on Nov. 3 in Atlantas State Farm Center, and officials in Michigan and Arizona allegedly blocking them from inspecting voting systems. State election officials in those states have denied claims from the Trump team and third-parties about voter fraud and irregularities.

These are the specific types of evidence we want to present to the American people on the national stage and not allow local politicians to sweep it under the rug, Miller said on the program.

Miller and Trump did not elaborate on how they would present that information to Congress, or whether they will be able to do so.

The president, in making his announcement for Jan. 6, retweeted Hawleys post where he said that millions of Americans are concerned about election integrity and deserve to be heard.

Somebody has to stand up. 74 million Americans are not going to be told their voices dont matter, Hawley also stated.

Trump has also suggested that his supporters attend rallies and events on Jan. 6, including one in Washington D.C. at 11 a.m.
2021 brings with it the promise of a vaccine on the horizon, and a sense of freedom and adventure as the world is eager and hopeful of travelling and returning to normalcy once again. After a year of staying home, travellers are looking to stretch their limbs and embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

South Africa, with over 3,000 adventure activities, is undoubtedly the adventure capital of the world. The country has options across shark-cage diving, zip lining, bungee jumping, quad-biking, horseback safaris, mountain biking, river rafting -- and just about any other extreme sport you can name, all supported by dedicated and authorised operators.

In addition, attractive currency exchange rates make South Africa a lucrative, value for money long-haul destination -- especially when it comes to adventure activities.

Must Do Adventure Activities

Big Rush Big Swing, KwaZulu-Natal

It has been officially named the world's tallest swing by the Guinness Book of Records since May 2011. Not your average swing, the aptly named Big Swing allows you to take the thrilling leap swinging out into a massive 220m arc where you soar into the centre of the stadium.

Bloukrans Bridge Bungee, Eastern Cape

The highest commercial bridge bungee jump in the world at the Bloukrans Bridge has a 216 meter gorge below. It is one of the ultimate activities to feature on any adrenaline seeker's bucket-list while visiting South Africa. The growing popularity is evident by the fact that 12,000 Indians jumped off the Bloukrans Bridge in 2017, making Indians the 3rd highest participating nationality for the activity

Abseiling from Table Mountain, Western Cape

The 7th Natural Wonder of the World offers a spectacular view of the Mother City with its bustling city life and the blue ocean. Abseiling from the top of Table Mountain gives you a view of the city that you will never see without indulging in the activity. One can also opt for cable car or trek.

Shark-cage diving

Great White Shark spotting is one of the biggest draws to South Africa. A trip to Rainbow Nation is incomplete without attempting the hair-raising shark-cage dive. In fact, Indians are the top 3rd nationality to undertake Shark-cage diving in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal is often credited as a hub for shark-cage diving, with shark cage-diving outfits operating out of Durban and from the stunning coral reef -- Aliwal Shoal. You could also explore options at Simon's Town, Mossel Bay, Dyer Island, Seal Island, and Port Elizabeth, among other places.

Gorge Swing, KwaZulu-Natal

The highest gorge swing in the world is located on a waterfall cliff in the Oribi Gorge in southern KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Lowveld is full of adventure highs and Graskop's gorge swing takes the cake. Prepare to freefall 68 m, plummeting 0 -160km/h in 3 seconds, swinging out like a human pendulum across the gorge -- the views are spectacular and so is the after-rush.

Helicopter Ride, Western Cape

South Africa also offers luxurious helicopter rides. Helicopter flips in Cape Town allow travelers the joy of a bird's eye-view of the beauty that the Mother City in South Africa is. Take a helicopter flip for a change of scenery and enjoy a view of the entire countryside in a single trip before choosing your drive-to destination, or swoop low over the ocean on a coastal flip and watch the dolphins at play in the breakers below.

Helicopter tours with a destination beyond Cape Town might include wine tasting or whale watching, while a similar trip in KwaZulu-Natal offers a visit to the scenic midlands or a Drakensberg helicopter tour to visit exotic and breathtaking destinations like Cathkin Peak, Vultures' Retreat, Cleft Peak and the Organ Pipes.

(CNN)  In an effort to stem the tide of the coronavirus, Thailand has banned food, drink and any printed materials other than safety information cards on board domestic flights. The airlines will have to follow the regulations or could face possible penalty from their regulator, Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.

This is the second time that such a move has been taken. Thailand previously banned in-flight food and drink service on April 26, 2020, but than ban was lifted on August 31.

Chula Sukmanop, Director General to Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), confirmed the measure to CNN.

"Cleaning time after each stop of domestic flight is extremely short, since operators tend to do the quickest turnaround as possible and I think it is unlikely operators would be able to thoroughly clean all of these items. Therefore, having non-essential reading materials on-board would create more risk of virus exposure," he said.

That doesn't mean that passengers will have to find a way to kill time during the flight with no reading material. They are allowed to bring their own magazines or newspapers on board, but they will likely be asked to take those items with them when they deplane. The CAA ban applies to anything that would be handed out on board, like menus, duty-free catalogs (not an issue for domestic travel) or in-flight magazines.

The consumption of food or drink is also prohibited on domestic flights, even if passengers bring it on board, as masks must be worn at all times.

According to a release from the CAAT, cabin crew will be allowed to give out water if passengers ask for it, which can happen in situations where, for example, someone needs water to take medicine.

Domestic air travel in Thailand is currently at about 40% of the usual capacity.

The ruling went into effect on December 31.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Thailand bans food, drink, newspapers and magazines on domestic flights."
Wines and spirits imported to the U.S. from France and Germany will be hit with tariff hikes starting Jan. 12, making New Years Eve toasts among the last opportunities to raise a glass at current prices.

In a notice on Wednesday, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a 25% hike for certain wines and spirits from France and Germany, and a 15% hike for certain plane parts from the two countries. The tariffs will almost certainly be passed on to U.S. consumers, who have reliably been purchasing alcohol even amid a pandemic-induced recession.

Consumers can expect a roughly $1 increase on each 750 mL bottle of wine subject to the additional tariffs, says Adam Sager, co-president of Winesellers, Ltd., one of the nations largest wine wholesalers.

The measure will increase prices for individuals, restaurants, bars, and event venues that are already struggling due to the pandemic, according to Sager, who said its unclear whether the 25% figure represents a final determination of the percentage increase.

Winesellers Ltd. has already ditched plans to launch a French rose in a 3-liter bag-and-box format because of the tariffs. The cost really pushes the retail price over where we want to be, Sager said.

A much wider net than previous tariffs

The duties  which apply to certain non-sparkling wines, cognac, and other grape brandies along with the aircraft parts  cast a much wider net than previous tariffs, Sager said. The alcohol tariffs apply to a broader range of format or container sizes, and a broader range of alcohol content levels.

The previous tariff covered 375 mL, 750 mL, and 1.5 L formats, Sager said. Now the tariff covers, for French wines and German wines, anything shipped in 2 L formats and above.

Both patrons and venues will have to pay more for some alcohol this year. Image: Getty

The change, unlike the prior tariff, includes bulk wine, he said, which will impact bag in the box style wines popular among US consumers. Grape-derived beverages with alcohol content exceeding 14.1% are also targeted in the latest measure, whereas the prior duties applied only to wines below that threshold.

Sparkling wines, such as Champagnes, were excluded from the latest tariff, but effervescent wines such as frizzante and spritz are subject to the duties.

What a lot of producers tried to do, where they could, was increase the alcohol content of the wine over 14.1% to avoid the tariff. You can't do that in every region because it could really affect the quality of the wine and the style of the wine, Sager said. It's not even possible in some regions like Germany, which is known for Riesling.

The latest weapon in an ongoing trade dispute

The measure is part of an ongoing, 16-year trade dispute between Boeing (BA) and Airbus (AIR.BE) over aerospace subsidies. Boeing has pursued litigation for years fighting European loans and subsidies that it says give its European rival an unfair trade advantage.

As a countermeasure, the U.S. received a green light from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose $7.5 billion in annual tariffs on EU goods. The aerospace giants pursuit won favor from the Trump administration. In turn, this past September in the midst of the pandemic, the World Trade Organization authorized EU tariffs on $4 billion in U.S. goods. The USTR says that the EU used a method to calculate its tariffs on U.S. goods that relied on artificially low COVID-era trade volumes, which imposed tariffs on more products than it should have. The latest U.S. tariffs, the agency said, were meant to hit back with tariffs that mirror the EUs method.

For Sager, he hopes the new Biden administration will renegotiate how the tariffs are handled.

It's pretty unfair to industries unaffiliated with the airline industry, he said.

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance and former litigation attorney. Follow Alexis Keenan on Twitter @alexiskweed.

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Fishermen from the EU have been banned from 'pulse trawling' in British waters following the end of the Brexit transition period on New Year's Eve.

The controversial technique uses electrical signals to drive flat fish, such as sole, from the seabed into nets.

There are concerns it harms the marine environment and larger species such as cod, haddock and whiting by causing their spines to break.

Using an electric current to fish was banned by the EU in 1998 but since 2006 exemptions were allowed for some pulse trawling.

Fishermen from the EU have been banned from 'pulse trawling' in British waters. Pictured: Fishing boats at the fishing port at Bridlington Harbour in Yorkshire

These included for around 80 Dutch vessels which had been using the method in the southern North Sea.

Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith said: 'It is fantastic news we have been able to end pulse trawling in UK waters by EU and English vessels. This is just one of the good things we can do now.'

A department spokesman added: 'This will help to safeguard our marine environment.'

Watch Keepers at the fishing port at Bridlington Harbour in Yorkshire as the UK leaves the single market and customs union and the Brexit transition period comes to an end

Olivier Lepretre, head of the regional fisheries group in northern France, praised the move, saying: 'At least Boris had the courage to do it.'

A Defra spokesman said: 'As the transition period has now ended, pulse trawling by EU and English-registered vessels will no longer be permitted in UK waters.

'This will help to safeguard our marine environment and keep our seas sustainable for future generations.'

The EU is set to ban much of its pulse fishing in July this year, but a handful of vessels will be allowed to continue under an exemption.
Ireland takes up seat on UN Security Council for 2021-2022 term

Press release

Ireland took up its seat today, 1 January 2021, as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term.



Support for the United Nations is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy. Over the coming two years, Ireland will have the opportunity to make a contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. The agenda of the Security Council is broad, covering over thirty country-specific issues, including some long established conflicts and peace processes, and over twenty thematic agenda items. As a member, Ireland will engage actively across the full agenda of the Councils work.



Speaking earlier, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said:



This is a great honour and a great responsibility for Ireland. The members of the UN have entrusted this country with the task of supporting and promoting international peace and security. We will act fairly and independently.







By its very nature, the agenda of the Security Council includes many critical, complex, and disputed issues. We will bring careful judgement, our core values and our lived experience of overcoming conflict on our island to our work and to our decision-making on the Security Council.







The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., said:



The United Nations is at the heart of Irish foreign policy. Whether it is through our unbroken record of UN peacekeeping since 1958 or our leading roles in disarmament and non-proliferation, we know what can be achieved when countries work together. We take our seat on the Council at a very challenging time but we are determined to play our part to build the trust and political will necessary to achieve progress in even the most intractable conflicts.







Membership of the UN Security Council is an opportunity for Ireland to make a significant international contribution, to strengthen our relations with key partners, and to project our values on the global stage. It is in keeping with our long-standing tradition of an independent and principled foreign policy and support for the UN.







Ireland will engage constructively across the full range of issues discussed by the Council on the basis of three principles: Building Peace, Strengthening Conflict Prevention, and Ensuring Accountability.



Under Building Peace, Ireland will contribute to shaping the mandates under which peacekeepers serve, informed by our longstanding and proud record as a troop contributor. In doing so, Ireland will seek to ensure that the peace we foster is inclusive of civil society, women and young people.



Under Strengthening Conflict Prevention, Ireland will work to address the underlying factors that contribute to conflict, including hunger and food insecurity, climate change, violations of human rights, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.



In respect of Ensuring Accountability, Ireland will promote international humanitarian and human rights law, including providing support to those who promote and defend human rights. Ireland will stand firmly in support of the International Criminal Court and the principles enshrined in the Rome Statute, to ensure that those responsible for the most serious crimes of international concern cannot act with impunity.



Ireland will serve as Presidency of the Council in September 2021.



Our engagement on the Council will be a Government-wide effort, informed too by the extensive expertise available within Irish civil society and academia.

The opportunity to hold a seat on the Security Council occurs once-in-a-generation. Ireland is ready to take this opportunity to engage the Council membership and wider international community on critical aspects of international peace and security, in line with Irelands principled, consistent and independent foreign policy.



ENDS

Press Office

01 January 2021

Ireland takes up its seat on the Security Council on 1 January 2021, for a two-year term (2021-2022). It joins newly elected members Kenya, India, Mexico and Norway alongside existing elected members Estonia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Niger, Tunisia and Vietnam. The Permanent Five members of the Security Council are: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States. This will be Irelands fourth time to serve on the UN Security Council, having previously served in 1960, 1980-81 and 2001-2002. Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955. The UN Security Council, which is in permanent session in New York, has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has a current agenda of 31 country and regional issues and 22 thematic files, as well as 19 subsidiary committees and working groups. Elected Council members also take on a number of leadership roles during their terms, including chairing Sanctions Committees and thematic Working Groups and acting as primary drafters (Penholders) of some Security Council Resolutions. Ireland expects to be responsible for negotiating, with Norway, Council outcomes on the Syria humanitarian access file, and with Niger, on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). We also expect to assume leadership roles in relation to Women, Peace and Security; Climate and Security; Iran and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); and Somalia. These roles reflect Irelands existing foreign policy priorities and strengths.

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Ford Motor Co. is reversing plans to cede most of its Indian operations to Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd ., deciding to pull out of a proposed joint venture and continue its standalone business in the country.

The two companies agreed to terminate the venture after reassessing in part due to the global coronavirus pandemic, they said Thursday. The decision ends a deal reached more than a year ago under which Ford was expected to fold its local operations, including two factories, into a JV majority-controlled by Mahindra, a leading Indian manufacturer of sport utility vehicles.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

The future of Fords business in India is unclear as it has struggled for more than two decades to grow in the worlds fourth-largest auto market. The company is actively evaluating its businesses around the world, including in India," Ford said a statement.

Mahindra said in its own statement the ventures termination wouldnt affect its product plans.

The decision came as a Dec. 31 deadline loomed for formalizing the planned partnership. Jim Farley, who became the U.S. automakers chief executive officer in Oct., said last year the JV with Mahindra could allow Ford to double its revenue from India.

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As BJP attacked the Congress party over Rahul Gandhi's sudden Italy visit amid the ongoing farmers' protest, several explanations of his visit have surfaced from the Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi's visit has come under the scanner because it comes at a time when the Congress party is facing a leadership vacuum and is all set to elect its next president.

Amid attack from BJP, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that Rahul Gandhi has gone for a "short personal visit" and will be back soon. Whereas senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad while speaking to reporters on 136th Foundation day of the Congress said that the party has been celebrating the day irrespective of "someone's presence or absence."

On the other hand, in what came as a surprise, former union minister and former PCC president Kanti Lal Bhuria said that Rahul Gandhi has gone for party work. "Rahul Gandhi has gone to Italy for party work. Here interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi ji is present, Kamal Nath ji is present. He has prior commitments, he has party work there also, so he has gone," Bhuria said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader KC Venugopal said that everyone has the right to undertake personal visits and slammed BJP. "Rahul Gandhi has gone to see his grandmother. Is it wrong? Everybody has the right to undertake personal visits. BJP is indulging in low-level politics. They are targeting Rahul Gandhi because they want to target only one leader," KC Venugopal said.

READ | Rahul Gandhi flies to Bangkok?: Leaves India ahead of two state polls

Rahul's abroad trips

After the initial source-based report, Congress clarified that Gandhi has gone abroad on a 'short personal trip' for a few days. Gandhi who recently met President Kovind, was part of two separate Opposition delegations, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. But both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi has missed the parliamentary debate for the three laws, due to Sonia Gandhi's ill-health- necessitating her visit to the US. His absence from India comes at a critical juncture for Congress as it prepares for party presidential elections. Moreover, sources have reported that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar will replace Sonia Gandhi as UPA (United Progressive Alliance) chairperson soon, after Rahul Gandhi refused the post - stating that initial talks have already happened in this regard, but NCP has refuted such reports. Shiv Sena too has backed Sharad Pawar's candidacy for UPA chairperson.

READ | BJP's Khushbu Sundar Slams Rahul Gandhi For Flying Off To Italy Amid Farmers' Protest

Gandhi had conspicuously flown off to Bangkok in October 2019, in the wake of the Congress being split into two camps - Sonia Gandhi's supporters and Rahul Gandhi's supporters ahead of the Maharashtra and Haryana state Assembly polls. Prior to Gandhi's Bangkok trip, on the same day, former Haryana chief Ashok Tanwar resigned from the party amid reports of a tussle between Tanwar and Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He had also left for abroad on a 'meditational visit' when Congress was scheduled to hold 35 press conferences and protests between November 1 and November 15, 2019 against the anti-economic policies and decisions of PM Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.

READ | Shivraj Chouhan fires '9 2 11' jibe as Rahul Gandhi flies off ahead of Cong foundation day

READ | Congress Leaders Miffed As Rahul Gandhi Flies Off To Italy Ahead Of Party's Foundation Day
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Appointments for all 200 of the COVID-19 vaccine doses the Midland Health Department received were booked on the first day they were available.

A post on the city of Midlands Facebook page updated at 5:23 p.m. Wednesday stated that all slots had been filled. The health department received the vaccine Tuesday night and began scheduling appointments Wednesday morning.

Those whod like to be added to the queue for when the next shipment arrives can fill out a form at midlandtexas.gov/forms.aspx?FID=159.

The online form was created after the health department received an influx of calls regarding scheduling appointments for the vaccine. Whitney Craig with the health department said in an interview Wednesday that the phone lines were going in and out because of the high call volume.

The health department received 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine as part of Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout, which includes individuals 65 and older or those with certain chronic health conditions.

Qualifying medical conditions include, but are not limited to, cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies, solid organ transplantation, obesity, sickle cell disease and type 2 diabetes. Pregnant women also are eligible to receive the vaccine during the Phase 1B distribution.

The health department is expecting to receive an additional 200 doses but its unknown when the next shipment will arrive.

Those who were able to book appointments for the first 200 doses will begin receiving the vaccine on Monday.
ARCHIVED - Spain and the United Kingdom reach agreement for Gibraltar to be included in Schengen area



This removes the need for a hard border between the British colony and Spanish mainland

One of the outstanding issues unresolved in the Brexit trade deal related to the question of the border between Spain and Gibraltar, and how the frontier controls would operate once the UK left the EU on 31st December.

This was finally cleared up at the twelfth hour on Thursday when a temporary agreement between Spain and the UK was announced, under which the British colony will become part of the Schengen area and will have border controls only at the airport and the port.



Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, explained that the practical result of the outline agreement is that "the border fence will be demolished" and mobility with the colony will be "enormously" facilitated, the 271,000 inhabitants of the eight municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar ( Tarifa, Jimena de la Frontera, San Martin del Tesorillo, Castellar de la Frontera, San Roque, Los Barrios, La Linea de la Concepcion and Algeciras) and the 33,000 of Gibraltar, permitted free movement between the British colony and Spanish mainland.



The principle of agreement, which will allow other policies and programs of the European Union to be applied to Gibraltar, such as those of fair competition in tax matters, assumes that Spain is the "ultimate responsible and guarantor" for the application of the Schengen border in Gibraltar, since The United Kingdom is not part of this free transit area. "Were breaking down barriers to build an area of shared prosperity," said the minister, who considers that "it is a good agreement" that meets the aspirations of citizens because "it manages our interdependence and does so through shared responsibility", without resigning "to our inalienable principles" on sovereignty.



By this she is referring to the aspirations of the Spanish Government that the colony, which has been under British control for the last 300 years, should return to the control of Spain.



Agreement is for a transition period of four years

For an initial four-year period Gibraltar will have Schengen controls at the port and at the airport only with agents from the European agency Frontex assisting in these controls. The minister did not want to give more details about the principle of agreement, including whether Spanish agents would be part of these controls at the Schengen borders of Gibraltar.

After reaching this agreement, Spain will request the European Union to consolidate a treaty which Gonzalez Laya expects to be ready within a period of six months. Meanwhile, "Schengen modalities will be used to make the controls at the gate more flexible.



Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, said on Twitter that the principle of agreement "will allow us to eliminate barriers and move towards an area of prosperity." "We are starting a new stage", he wrote. British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, also said on Twitter that he received "with enthusiasm" the principle of agreement reached with Spain on the future relationship of Gibraltar. Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, called it a "success" that will open up "a rainbow of opportunities" in the colony and the Campo de Gibraltar and that "will restart our relationship with Spain" to "project it in a more positive light in the future. " He stressed that negotiators have heard "the call of the 21st century" to seek benefits for generations for "decades if not centuries."



Satisfaction in the Campo de Gibraltar

For the president of the Commonwealth of Municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar, Juan Lozano, this Thursday has been "a historic day, which we will remember just like the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion (Cadiz), Juan Franco, a municipality that shares a border with Gibraltar, has celebrated it as a "historic" day because the residents on both sides of the Gate will have "the fluidity we have been asking for."



It had been feared that without an agreement, the thousands of day workers who live in the campo de Gibraltar but work in the many financial and gaming businesses based in the colony, would have been forced to endure long queues at border controls once the UK left the EU.



The BJP will chalk out its strategy for the coming panchayat in during a meeting on Sunday which will be attended by national vice president and in-charge of the state affairs in the party, Radha Mohan Singh.

Various important issues will be taken up in the meeting including the coming panchayat elections, vice president of the state unit and member of Legislative Council Vijay Bahadur Pathak said on Friday.

Besides, the meeting will also discuss a work plan for taking the achievements of the government, which is completing four years in office on March 19, among the people , Pathak said.

The party will work out a work plan to apprise the people of how the Adityanath government "successfully turned the pandemic into an opportunity and provided relief to the people", Pathak said, adding that people will also be told about the various welfare and development schemes with a special thrust on the works done for improving the law and order situation.

The state government has appointed assistant development officers of districts as panchayat administrators of their districts, vesting in them the powers of panchayat committees and village panchayat heads following the expiry of the terms of village panchayats on December25.

The dates for the are yet to be announced.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Babies born in Ireland on New Years Day have an average life expectancy of 105.6 years.

An estimated 157 babies will be born in Ireland today, according to data from Unicef, with 371,504 babies born in total around the world.

Irish babies will account for only 0.0004pc of all babies born around the world today.

Read More

Fiji in the Pacific welcomed 2021s first baby, while the United States will welcome its last.

Around the world, over half all births which took place yesterday were in 10 countries, with 59,995 born in India being the most babies born in any country.

35,615 babies were born in China and 21,439 in Nigeria.

Pakistan will see 14,161 babies being born, 12,336 will be born in Indonesia, 12,006 in Ethiopia.

The United States is set to welcome 10,312 babies on New Years Day, Egypt 9,455, Bangladesh 9,236 and 8,640 babies will be born in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This has been a difficult year for all of us, and there is perhaps no better way to turn the page than to welcome new young lives into the world, said Unicef Ireland Executive Director Peter Power.

He said that todays world will be inherited by the children born today.

With the challenges of 2020 behind us, and the opportunities of 2021 before us, now is the time to begin to build a better world. Children born today will inherit the world we begin to build for themtoday.

This year, Unicef celebrates its 75th anniversary. The organisation is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.

Read More

Online Editors
6,978 speeding fines and 6,128 infringement notices have also been issued

A female motorist was allegedly caught driving five times over the legal alcohol limit without her headlights within hours of the New Year beginning.

The 29-year old woman returned a positive roadside breath test and was taken to Burwood Police station in Sydney's inner-west for a breath analysis about 1.20am on Friday.

She allegedly returned a reading of 0.267 before being charged with high-range drink driving and having her licence suspended.

File image of NSW Police officers. The force has charged 340 drink drivers in New South Wales since Christmas Eve

The 29-year old woman was arrested and taken to Burwood Police station (pictured) for a breath analysis

Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb, is appealing to all road users to make a safe start to 2021 and remember that nobody is exempt from driving under the influence.

'Experience has shown that alcohol, exceeding the speed limit and driving whilst fatigued are major factors in fatal and serious injury crashes, not just in regional NSW, but across Metropolitan Sydney as well', Assistant Commissioner Webb said.

Ms Web is reminding drivers to be aware that alcohol remains in their system for some time, making them unfit to drive.

'Many drivers are caught out driving the next day after a big night, thinking they are OK to drive despite not drinking for a number of hours', she said.

Drivers are being warned to avoid being caught out as alcohol remains in the system for sometime (pictured: stock photo)

Since Christmas Eve, police have charged 340 drink drivers across New South Wales.

In another incident, an 18-year-old man was driving north of Coffs Harbour, when the car crashed into a pole on Thursday.

Police attended the scene and took the man to the station for a break analysis where he returned a positive reading of 0.183.

The man was charged with high range drink driving and has his licence suspended.

But 2021 has not only seen a multitude of drink drivers charged, but 6978 speeding fines and 6128 infringement notices for other driving offences have been issued by police.

Police charged an 18-year-old driver who returned a reading of 0.183 on Thursday (pictured: stock image)

Police stopped a stolen Toyota Landcruiser using a tyre deflation device after it was caught speeding around 11pm on Thursday at Coffs Harbour.

The driver continued the pursuit before colliding with a parked van and began to run away on foot with the two other occupants in the car.

Police arrested an 18-year-old passenger and are continuing investigations into the location of the two other males.

Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said the last 24 hours have shown how some drivers believe they are above the law.

NSW Police have also issued 6978 speeding fines and 6128 infringement notices for other driving offences

'Clearly from some of the examples detected in the last 24 hours, some drivers believe the law doesn't apply to them, and such driving behaviour puts not only their own lives at risk, but also the lives of other road users', Ms Webb said.

'The message is simple  observe the road rules and don't become another statistic on our roads'.

Double-demerit points are in force from December 24 to January 3 for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
India stood up Chinas disruptive use of technology and my way or no way attitude: CDS

India-China working on mechanism to hold crucial military level talks

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: China and India are in consultations to hold the ninth round of military level talks, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Sr. Colonel Tan Kefei said.

Tan said that the two sides have maintained consultations on disengagement of frontline troops and also strengthened the management of the border troops. China is willing to maintain communication with India through military and diplomatic channels he also said. He also added that the border area is generally stable.

This round of talks is extremely crucial as both sides are likely to work out written disengagement and de-escalation agreement. When asked as to what could be delaying the talks, officials familiar with the developments said that it could be due to the change in guard on the Chinese side with a newly appointed PLA Western Theatre Commander General Zhang Xudong. He took over from General Zhao Zongqi on December 21. General Zhao is said to be the architect of the 2017 Doklam standoff and also the one in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020.

China, India in talks to hold 9th round of Commander-level meet on Ladakh standoff: Def Ministry

The official cited above said that General Zhang, who has never served on the Indian border would give the green signal for the talks once his military familiarisation along the Line of Actual Control is complete.

General Zhao took over the Western Theatre Command in 2016. He was already on an extended term that year after reaching the retirement age of 65. He was however allowed to continue in the post by President Xi Jinping. General Zhao a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee is said to have been eyeing for a seat on the Central Military Commission that would allow him to serve up to the age of 72.

Zhang on the other hand would be serving along the Indian border for the first time. He is not a member of the Central Committee or the National People's Congress and neither does have any political exposure.

Resuming diplomatic talks on their military standoff, India and China had on December 21 agreed to continue working towards ensuring complete disengagement of troops in all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at the earliest.

At the virtual talks, the two sides agreed that the next round of military dialogue should be held at an early date so that they can work towards an early and complete disengagement of troops in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols, the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) said.

The talks were held under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs.

China expanding its military bases in its quest to end global dominance of US: IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria

The MEA said the two sides reviewed the developments along the LAC since the last round of the WMCC talks held on September 30. The military standoff erupted in early May.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

'The two sides agreed that based on the guidance provided by senior leaders and the agreements reached between the two Foreign Ministers and Special Representatives, they would continue to work towards ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western sector at the earliest,' it said in a statement.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 9:18 [IST]
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

View Results
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Amid freezing temperatures in Delhi and adjoining areas, a farmer from Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh died near Ghazipur border on Friday while protesting against new agricultural laws enacted by the central government.

The farmer, Galtan Singh (57) was a resident of Bhagwanpur Nagal village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, said Saurav, an associate of Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who is leading the farmers from Uttar Pradesh demonstrating at the Ghazipur Border.

Saurav told IANS: "Galtan Singh was in good health and fit and but he suddenly felt uneasy with complaint of chest pains and was taken to the hospital but he died on the way. The body has been sent to his village." Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader from Uttar Pradesh Sachin Chaudhary, who has been protesting against the three farm laws at Ghazipur border, said, "Sacrifice of Galtan Singh will not go in vain." Several farmers have died during the protest to severe cold weather, he added.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said, "The farmers have been protesting at the bordering areas of the national Capital since November 26, 2020 and the death toll of farmers has reached to 43 since then." The government should listen to those who are ready to sacrifice their lives and repeal the agricultural laws which are anti-farmers, he added.

The farmers protesting under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha have been demanding the withdrawal of the three laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) which is declared every year by the Centre for 23 crops while the government has assured them that it will accept their two more demands related to stubble burning and electricity subsidies.

Farmers' protest is going on at Singhu border, Tikri border and Ghazipur border amid severe cold condition in Delhi and NCR as the mercury plummeted to 1.1 degree Celsius on the New Year's day on Friday.
The National Climate Assessment, Americas premier contribution to climate knowledge, stands out for many reasons: Hundreds of scientists across the federal government and academia join forces to compile the best insights available on climate change. The results, released just twice a decade or so, shape years of government decisions.

Now, as the clock runs down on President Trumps time in office, the climate assessment has gained a new distinction: It is one of the few major U.S. climate initiatives that his administration tried, yet largely failed, to undermine.

How the Trump White House attempted to put its mark on the report, and why those efforts stumbled, demonstrates the resilience of federal climate science despite the administrations haphazard efforts to impede it. This article is based on interviews with nearly a dozen current and former government officials and others familiar with the process.

In November, the administration removed the person responsible for the next edition of the report and replaced him with someone who has downplayed climate science, though at this point it seems to be too little, too late. But the efforts started back in 2018, when officials pushed out a top official and leaned on scientists to soften their conclusions  the scientists refused  and then later tried to bury the report, which didnt work either.
Representational Image

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a United Nations body, has warned of crop losses and food insecurity in Asia, particularly India's neighbours such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, besides South-East Asian nations due to the potential impact of the La Nina weather event.

Countries in the Pacific and the Great Horn of Africa would also be affected due to La Nina, which can cause heavy rain and flooding in some parts of the world and drought in others.

India may, however, be unaffected by La Nina, a recurring global atmospheric-oceanic phenomenon associated with a decrease in sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean, the FAO said in its latest advisory.

New Delhi stands to gain from the losses of cereal crops in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and the Philippines by exporting rice, maize, and wheat.

The World Meteorological Organization had in October 2020 declared the development of the La Nina event and said it would affect temperatures, precipitation and storm patterns in many parts of the world, the advisory said.

The Columbia Universitys International Research Institute for Climate has pointed to a 95 percent chance of La Nina continuing till March 2021 and a 65 percent chance for the event extending till May.

The FAO advisory said that it was including Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the list of countries of additional concern.

Countries of concern

The FAO said that since October, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan have been experiencing below normal rainfall and it could extend to the first quarter of 2021. The conditions could prolong even till June, it warned.

La Nina could hit Pakistans wheat production, while winter crops such as wheat and barley could be affected in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

For Pakistan, the weather phenomenon could result in reduced snowfall and thus reduce irrigation supplies during spring (after March).

Wheat flour prices in Pakistan hit a record high in October and the La Nina event could drive them up further and constrain peoples access to food, the FAO said.

Iran and Iran were grappling with an economic downturn due to low crude oil prices, the novel coronavirus pandemic and US sanctions on Tehran. La Nina could result in food insecurity in both the countries.

In Afghanistan, below normal rainfall could even affect livestock, thus aggravating the situation and food security.

Rain trouble for ASEAN region

On the other hand, above-normal rainfall in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region between November and January could impact the Philippines and Indonesia, besides a few islands in the Pacific region.

Indonesia could see flooding and landslides, which could affect paddy and maize planting. Productivity may also be affected due to lower sunshine and temperatures.

The Philippines could suffer a loss of stored crops, while its livestock could be affected, as in the past La Nina had led to frequent rains. Its fishing, infrastructure, and housing sectors may also be affected by the weather event, the FAO said.

North Koreas early winter crops such as barley, wheat, and potato that are harvested during June-July might be affected by the La Nina event. Though these make only 10 percent of the total cereal output, they hold the key to food security during the lean May-September period.

Outlook for Great Horn of Africa

For the Great Horn of Africa nations such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, October-December is an important rainfall season.

During this period, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia faced localised rainfall deficits, the FAO said.

But the danger for them arises from the outlook for the longer rainfall period from March to May when dry-to-average conditions have been predicted for Kenya, northwestern Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, northwestern Uganda, southern and northwestern Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

If the predictions turn true as feared, then rangeland, livestock, and crops might be affected in Kenya, Somalia, and south-eastern Ethiopia.

On the other hand, the southern part of the African continent, especially countries such as Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Mozambique may receive above-normal rainfall and increased cyclone activity until April.

This could cause problems for cereal crops that would be planted in January, while stored crops could also face danger.

Opportunities for India in the export market

India stands to gain from the La Nina event in the neighbourhood, despite its bilateral relations with Pakistan being strained.

India has been exporting wheat to Afghanistan and in the event of further damage to Kabuls crop, New Delhi has ample stocks to help it. Similarly, it can help Iran and Iraq, too, with its surplus stocks of wheat and rice.

As on October 1, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had 22.19 million tonnes of rice in its warehouses, while it also had 10.94 million tonnes of paddy stocks that could yield 7.3 million tonnes of rice. In addition, the FCI had 47.83 million tonnes of wheat.

The FCI had procured 47.93 million tonnes of paddy that has the potential to yield 33.64 million tonnes of rice from October 1 to December 31 last.

Besides, rice production during the just-ended Kharif season has been estimated at 102.36 million tonnes against 101.98 million tonnes last year.

India has taken advantage of its huge stocks exporting over 10 million tonnes of rice last year, while exports of other cereals such as wheat and maize registered impressive gains.

Indian wheat and rice can find their way into the Pakistan market through Dubai or other Gulf destinations.

In addition, if Kenya faces drought as predicted, the Indian tea sector could stand to gain in terms of exports and price.

(Subramani Ra Mancombu is a journalist based in Chennai who writes on commodities and agriculture)

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
The Bay, which is owned by New York real estate magnate Richard A. Baker, hasnt fallen into the same state of those two companies or many other smaller Canadian retailers. But it has been embroiled in litigation with landlords over unpaid rent in provinces where there have been shutdowns. Mr. Baker recently pulled the Bay from the stock market. An assessment of its real estate holdings was particularly grim when it came to the downtown Winnipeg store. It was valued at $0.

Unusually, it also has pushed back against closing orders. Its downtown Toronto store, which succeeded Winnipeg as the corporate flagship, briefly stayed open in late November defying shutdown orders for that city. The company claimed that it contained a grocery store, but the Ontario government didnt buy it.

A court then dismissed the companys request to have Ontarios lockdown rules modified to eliminate the requirement that it must sell groceries to stay open or to clarify why Walmart and Costco, which both offer a wide array of food, are not required to close their doors.

The store that followed two other Bay outlets in Winnipeg when it opened in 1926 has been in a long slow decline. Its restaurants, once local institutions, shut seven years ago. A grocery store in the basement was closed long ago, and just two of its six floors remained in use with ample space between the merchandise and displays.

It wasnt a matter of if the building was going to close, it was a matter of when, said Cindy Tugwell, the executive director of Heritage Winnipeg. About six years ago, she began informally working with a group to explore potential interest among developers and possible uses for the vast building.




Haiti - North Miami : Virtual invitation to the second celebration of the joumou soup (TV broadcast)





This Friday, January 1, in honor of Haiti's Independence Day, Mary Estime-Irvin, Councilor for District 3 of the city of North Miami, invites the community to the Virtual Edition of the second annual celebration of the North Miami's "joumou" soup, which will be broadcasted on social media and NoMi TV at 11:00 am this Friday.



"Gathering with family, friends and neighbors is a part of the Haitian Independence Day Celebration that I, and others with Haitian ancestry look forward to each year," said Estime-Irvin adding "While the COVID-19 pandemic prevents us from gathering to feast in-person, I am very excited to leverage modern technology to share the history, traditions and the recipe tied to this Haitian custom and expression of cultural pride."



In the United States, North Miami is home to one of the largest populations of Haitian descent and of the Diaspora.



Mary Estime-Irvin, recalls "In the present day, Haitians across the globe pridefully reflect on January 1, 1804, as the day their ancestors claimed the Republic of Haitis independence from France, making Haiti the first free black republic in the western hemisphere.



On that day, 217 years ago, Haitians residing in the newly freed republic celebrated with a fest of hot soup joumou.



In the same fashion, modern Haitian households, maintain the tradition of gathering as families, friends and neighbors to reflect on this momentous feat, still over a homemade bowl of soup joumou."



For the sake of safety and social distancing, Estime-Irvin, who is organizing this event, will virtually welcome the community to the 2021 celebration.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Stenaline has said that the majority of freight has successfully accessed their ports in Ireland and the UK on the first day post-Brexit.

In a statement, the company said that present freight volumes are markedly down on pre-Christmas/Brexit stockpiling levels so it was too soon to reach any conclusions about the impact.

It said the occasional vehicle had been turned away due to not having the correct customs references, but most have returned later with everything in order and been shipped.

The company is urging people to check and check again that the correct documentation has been filed.

Read More Johnson promises to turbocharge UK outside the European Union

Simon Coveney: No-deal Brexit disruption avoided but things 'changing dramatically'

Trucks at Dublin Port as the Brexit transition period ends and new Irish Sea trading arrangements come into operation. Picture: PA

While Britain and the European union's success in reaching a trade deal is good for Ireland, companies trading with the UK face a new reality, Simon Coveney has warned.

"We have avoided the dramatic disruption of a no-deal Brexit but that doesn't mean things aren't changing, which they are," the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

"Make no mistake - from today on, any company doing business with, through or to the UK is going to face a very new reality."

He said the deal reached between the EU and the UK is one of the most complex future relations deal ever put together as it includes more than just trade but also energy, data security as well as provisions for fair competition provided by a mechanism for dispute resolution as part of the 'level playing field'.

The agreement providing an extension of the Single Market to goods in Northern Ireland is a significant achievement for Ireland and EU negotiator Michel Barnier, Mr Coveney told Morning Ireland. He said it protects the All-Ireland economy and prevents the need for customs checks and a hard border.

Mr Coveney said it is a shame Britain has taken the decision to leave the Single Market as it represented a significant achievement for the UK. The Foreign Affairs Minister said part of the reason it works so well is due to British participation in designing the regulations.

"The irony is that the single market operates as well as it does because of the UK's input [...]unfortunately that's what they're leaving," he said.

The Foreign Minister's comments come as the first ferry has arrived at Dublin Port under new trade rules following the end of the Brexit transition period.

Read More Irish companies must be ready for added responsibilities as importers

Heavy good vehicles wait to be loaded onto the Stena Superfast VIII at Loch Ryan Port ahead of its departure to Belfast as the UK leaves the single market and customs union and the Brexit transition period comes to an end. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Irish Ferries ship Ulysses docked at 5.55am with about a dozen trucks on board, having travelled from Holyhead in Wales.

There were no delays as the freight trailers cleared customs checks for the first time under the new rules.

After 47 years as an EU member state, the UK has become a third country for trade purposes and customs declarations.

New documentation and red tape is now required between EU member states and Britain, which is anticipated to cause massive delays at ports in the coming weeks.

A small number of ships arrived on Thursday night, but they were covered by the previous arrangements.

This morning, the ferry group Stena Line tweeted warning hauliers to have the right documentation for the new regulations after six freight loads were turned away in Wales.

"While it has been quiet in Holyhead so far today, the port authority indicate that six freight loads bound for Ireland have had to be turned away due to not have the correct references. Hauliers please ensure you have your PBNs ready for check-in," the tweet said.

While it has been quiet in Holyhead so far today, the port authority indicate that six freight loads bound for Ireland have had to be turned away due to not have the correct references. Hauliers please ensure you have your PBNs ready for check-in. @WGEconTransport @TrafficWalesN https://t.co/ae7KmPwPxb  Stena Line (@StenaLine) January 1, 2021

Ireland takes its UN Security Council seat

Meanwhile, Ireland begins its two-year term on the United Nations security council, some 20 years after it last sat on the UN's most powerful body.

Mr Coveney said in normal circumstances without Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic "this would be good news in Ireland" and represents a tremendous opportunity for a small country to influence international affairs.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said Ireland has good relations in the polarised UN between the US, China and Russia, and "speaks to power well".

"A small country like Ireland can actually influence huge decisions globally which affect millions of people around the world," he said.

Mr Coveney said it is a challenging time for Irish diplomats given the issues involved from providing humanitarian aid in Syria to restoring the Iran-nuclear agreement.

Its a really exciting opportunity and I intend on taking it, he said.

Nphet vs Government

As Ireland enters its third lockdown in response to growing Covid-19 case numbers, Mr Coveney said it is a "misreading" to say there is a divide between the National Public Health Emergency Team and the government. "The Government must make decisions [...] we take NPHET's advice very seriously and we act on it."

Mr Coveney said the government must balance a wide variety of factors in its decision making and receives advice from various sources but admitted the pace of the third wave of the coronavirus has been exceptional. I think the pace of this third wave of the virus has taken everyone by surprise, he said.

-With reporting from Press Association
KYODO NEWS - Jan 1, 2021 - 10:19 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday said the government will do everything in its power to bring the novel coronavirus under control and pledged to push forward with preparations for this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

"The Suga Cabinet firmly promises to protect citizens' lives and livelihoods, continuing to put all of our energy into preventing the spread of infections and reviving the economy," the prime minister said in his New Year's address.

Calling the pandemic an "unprecedented national crisis," Suga thanked frontline health care workers for working "day and night" to fight the coronavirus.

Suga, who took office in September after his predecessor Shinzo Abe abruptly resigned for health reasons, has been criticized for failing to contain a third wave of infections across the country.

The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, postponed last summer for the first time in their 124-year modern history, will be "safe and secure" and serve as a "symbol of global solidarity," he said.

Turning to Japan's growth strategy in a post-pandemic world, Suga said his administration will support investment in green technology, part of his push to make the country carbon neutral by 2050, and digitalization.

"We will concentrate all of our policy resources and take decisive action for all kinds of reform," he said, vowing to boost regional economies by working on agricultural reform and promoting tourism.

Suga said Japan's security alliance with the United States will remain the foundation of its foreign policy, and that he will continue efforts to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific" while maintaining stable relations with neighboring countries.

Related coverage:

Tokyo reports over 1,300 daily COVID cases, topping 1,000 for 1st time

Japan halts new entries from around world over new virus variant

Japan PM Suga dodges question about next term amid pandemic
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Former NY city mayor Rudy Giuliani testifies before the Georgia Senate subcommittee hearing on election issues at the state capitol in Atlanta on Dec. 30, 2020. (Screenshot)

Do You Have the Courage to Stand Up for US Constitution, Giuliani Asks Georgia Senate Hearing

President Donald Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani urged the Georgia state legislature to stand up to the obligation the Constitution of the United States put on you to save our people from fraud during a spirited testimony to a Senate subcommittee hearing on Wednesday.

Giuliani, New York Citys former mayor who is known for his tough policies against crime during the 90s, started his testimony by saying that Fulton County vote-counting staff had been instructed not to look at signatures, adding that there are people who testified to it and even film of people counting votes at a speed that would not allow signature verification.

He asserted that the crucial problem surrounding the alleged fraud in the state is the unlawful unconstitutional consent decree that the secretary of state entered into.

The former mayor said that this decree usurps the powers bestowed on the state legislature by the Constitution, adding that the founding fathers had perhaps miraculously envisioned the occurrence of cheating in a future election. Thus, the Constitution extends the power to challenge the validity of an election to the last moment of the counting of the electoral votes in Congress.

[Our Founding Fathers] made a choice of where to put the responsibility in a difficult situation like that. Article One, Section Two of the Constitution puts that responsibility right here in the legislatures of the several states. You are responsible for the selection of the electors, not the governor, not your secretary of state, Giuliani said.

He said that the state secretary is stopping a forensic examination of Georgias ballots, which renders a recount of unverified ballots a joke and an insult.

There are 10 ways to demonstrate that this election was stolen, that the votes were phony, that there were a lot of them: Dead people, felons, phony mail-in ballots, he said. Giuliani proceeded to point out that 2,560 felons were counted in the voting, along with 10,315 dead people identified through obituaries, 15,700 people who changed their address before the election, plus 40,000 people who didnt re-register before they voted.

Trumps legal representative accused the secretary of state to be engaged in an unlawful coverup.

He added that the truth will ultimately become clear over time, and that it was in the legislatures hands to save the reputation of the state of Georgia in the record of history.

Its ultimately a question of courage, he said. Do you have the courage to stand up to the obligation the Constitution of the United States put on you to save our people from fraud?

He acknowledged that any legislators who step forward to challenge the certification will most likely be attacked and smeared. However, he added, public office is about doing the right thing instead of worrying about what people will say about you.

Your decision will stand the test of history, because this is going to prove to be even worse than it is now. And its pretty bad. So I implore you, hold the session, take a vote, do the right thing, and forget the criticism. You know what the right thing to do is. Youve seen the evidence, you know what the law is, he said.

Giuliani emphasized that this is not only for his clients sake but for the American people, warning that the situation could get a lot worse if questions surrounding the integrity of the 2020 election are allowed to go unanswered.

It really had become much bigger than that for the American people. And so this stops right now. No more of this stuff in America. This is the stuff you do in a third world country. We let them get away with this and itll get much worse. And I cant say enough about your courageyou, Mr. Chairman, and the other members of your committee, in doing what a lot of others are afraid to do, Giuliani said in conclusion.
Israel has today given dose of the vaccine to one million of its 8.7million people

UK today became the first in the world to approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot

Israel began its mass vaccination programme on December 20 with their PM

Israel has vaccinated 41 per cent of its over-60s and more than ten per cent of its population as it drives ahead in the global vaccine race despite fears over shortages. One million Israelis have received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine since the rollout began on December 20 with the milestone jab administered in the city of Umm al-Fahm today. The country has now vaccinated 11.56 per cent of its 8.7 million population. It is hooped that high proportion of over-60s who have received the dose could soon start to bring the country's hospitalisation and death rate down. The infection fatality rate (IFR) of coronavirus for under-65s is estimated at 0.5%, dropping to almost 0% for under-44ss. But for the over-65s it is 3.1%, rising to 11% for the over-75s. That means that incoulating all of the older generation will make much greater reductions in a country's hospitalisation and death rates than vaccinating the younger population. After two national lockdowns, Israel began its mass vaccination programme with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu becoming the first citizen to get the jab. Mr Netanyahu said he aimed to get 2.25 million of the population vaccinated by the end of January amid 426,000 cases and 3,338 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

It comes as the health minister said the country will pause the drive for three weeks in January over fears that the Pfizer vaccine would run out within 10 days at its current rate as Israel has the highest proportion of its population vaccinated.

The infection fatality ratio of the 45 to 64 bracket is 0.5 per cent while 65 to 74 is 3.1 per cent and for over-75s it is 11%. The over-60s are at most risk of hospitalisation of the virus which is likely to bring the death rate down in Israel after they announced 41 per cent of over-60s have been vaccinated

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in the UK has set out figures which shows that the estimated number of infections of over-65s is 347,121.

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The confirmed number of deaths of over-65s, who are most at risk of hospitalisation from the virus, is 24,993 while 524 deaths are noted for the age bracket of 15 to 44 from February to July 2020.

The rapid rollout in a country that prides itself on self-reliance comes after Israel's health minister ordered a 24/7 vaccination drive, hundreds of military medics were drafted in to help with the effort and the country ordered shots from all three of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca in advance.

However, while vaccinations continue at a rate of more than 100,000 per day, Israel's health minister has announced first doses will be paused between January 10 and 31 to ensure people who have already received the first dose will get their second jab, according to The Telegraph.

Meanwhile Israel is expected to launch a so-called 'green passport' scheme in January which means people immunised against Covid-19 will avoid having to quarantine if they travel from abroad or come into contact with a virus patient.

The country had aimed to open the vaccination programme to the public within a week however the pause may push it back by up to six weeks, according to Channel 12 news.

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An Israeli military medic prepares to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a medical centre in Rishion LeZion on Monday

Chinese firm says its vaccine is 79 per cent effective Chinese pharma giant Sinopharm said today that its Covid-19 vaccine was 79 per cent effective in Phase III trials. China has already given out over a million vaccines under an emergency use programme, but Sinopharm's announcement is the first data on the efficacy of a Chinese vaccine. But China, where the coronavirus first surfaced last year, has struggled to gain international trust for its vaccine candidates, hindered by a lack of transparency on test results. It has also been slow to complete Phase III trials, which had to be conducted abroad due to China's success at curbing the spread of Covid-19 within its own borders. But Bahrain and the UAE have both approved Sinopharm vaccines, with Beijing vowing to share its products at a relatively low cost to poorer Asian countries. Sinopharm has applied to China's drug regulator for approval of the vaccine, a statement said. China plans to vaccinate millions this winter in the run-up to Lunar New Year, and officials have vowed to ramp up vaccine production capacity to more than one billion doses next year. While the 79 per cent figure is lower than the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna jabs, the Sinopharm product does not require the -70C temperatures needed to store the Pfizer jab, a near-impossible logistical challenge in many developing countries. It gives China a diplomatic tool after facing widespread criticism led by the US and Australia over its handling of the initial outbreak in Wuhan. Chinese health authorities this week said data from antibodies circulating in Wuhan suggests the number of cases in the epicentre of the pandemic may be 10 times higher than previously reported.

The US has given out the second most vaccines outright after injecting more than 2.79million people, but president-elect Joe Biden has criticised delays in the rollout.

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Britain is third after handing out 944,539 doses in barely two weeks by December 30 - with the UK set to ramp up its vaccine drive after the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

Meanwhile Bahrain is using the Sinopharm vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical giant of the same name, which says the jab is 79 per cent effective.

Europe started its own programme at the weekend after an EU regulator finally approved the Pfizer jab, with Portugal and Denmark making the fastest progress on the continent so far.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has self-isolated three times after being exposed to Covid carriers, has called for more than two million people to be vaccinated within a month.

'This is the critical stage, the first stage, because here is the population at risk, all the medical teams, all of the people over 60,' he said.

'As soon as we are done with this stage, within 30 days we can emerge from the coronavirus, open the economy and do things that no country can do.'

While only the Pfizer jab has been used so far, Israel also has shipments of the Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines on order.

Israel's justice ministry also announced it had asked Facebook to take down false anti-vaccine content as the government tries to drum up support for the programme.

Four Hebrew-language groups were removed for publishing texts, photographs and videos with 'deliberately mendacious content designed to mislead about coronavirus vaccines'.

The fake news included spurious claims that vaccines would be used to plant government tracking chips in recipients' bodies, poison them or subject them to medical experimentation.

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In Germany 131,626 people had been vaccinated out of a population of 83million by Thursday evening.

China has struggled to gain trust for its vaccine candidates, hindered by a lack of transparency on test results, but it has been approved in Bahrain and the UAE.

It has also been slow to complete Phase 3 trials, which had to be conducted abroad due to China's success at curbing the spread of Covid-19 within its own borders.

However, 4.5 million people have already been given vaccine doses in China under its emergency use programme.

They include frontline health workers, state-owned enterprise employees and workers planning to travel abroad.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first Israeli to get the vaccine on December 19, rolling up his sleeves at a medical centre in Ramat Gan

China plans to vaccinate millions more this winter in the run-up to Lunar New Year, and officials have vowed to ramp up capacity to more than one billion doses.

Beijing has pledged to share its vaccines at a relatively low cost - a potential boost for poorer Asian countries who are otherwise reliant on limited distribution offered by a global scheme.

Third in the global vaccine race is Britain, which approved the Pfizer jab before its EU neighbours or the United States.

Today the UK became the first to approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, which unlike the Pfizer jab can be stored at normal fridge temperatures.

This means the Oxford vaccine is easier to roll out to places such as care homes and GP surgeries, paving the way for an even larger vaccination programme.

AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot told BBC Radio 4's Today programme deliveries will be ramped up 'very rapidly' in the first and second week of January.

He added: 'We will start delivering this week - maybe today or tomorrow we will be shipping our first doses.

'The vaccination will start next week and we will get to one million a week and beyond that very rapidly.

'We can go to two million. In January we will already possibly be vaccinating several million people and by the end of the first quarter we are going to be in the tens of millions already.'

Bahrain, where a woman is pictured receiving a vaccine in Manama last week, has approved both the Pfizer jab and another shot developed by Chinese firm Sinopharm

Asked whether two million vaccinations per week is possible, health secretary Matt Hancock told Times Radio: 'That's absolutely deliverable by the NHS.'

In the US, the 2.79million people vaccinated so far are well short of a Trump administration target to immunise 20million people before the end of 2020.

President-elect Joe Biden criticised Trump's vaccine rollout on Tuesday, warning it would take years at the current rate to deliver the necessary shots.

'As I long feared and warned, the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should,' Biden said.

Biden's goal of ensuring that 100 million shots are administered by the end of his 100th day in office would mean 'ramping up five to six times the current pace to one million shots a day,' he added.

Earlier in the day, Biden's vice president-elect Kamala Harris received her Moderna vaccine live on television in a bid to boost confidence.

Biden, 78, received his first dose of the vaccine last week and has vowed to make the pandemic his top priority when he takes office on January 20.

But Dr Atul Gawande, a member of Biden's Covid-19 advisory board, told CBS News the transition team still did not have all the information it needed to understand the bottlenecks hampering vaccine distribution.

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'The realistic picture is to expect it could be fall before ... enough people are being vaccinated that we're getting back to normal and that it might be summer before the general public is really accessing the vaccine,' he said.
Ooredoo Group and CK Hutchinson announced both have entered into an exclusive non-legally binding memorandum of understanding, to merge their Indonesian units, a move to ramp up competition in the market.

In a statement, Qatar operator Ooredoo said the potential merger is in the early stages as it assesses the merits of a potential tie-up.

The exclusivity period to merge its brand Indosat with Hutchison 3 Indonesia is valid until April 30.

As part of our corporate strategy, we regularly review our strategic priorities and market position across all of our operations and their contribution to the Ooredoo Group, said Ooredoo.

Hong Kong-based CK Hutchinson said in a separate statement: The potential transaction remains subject to, amongst others, satisfactory due diligence, agreement on terms, signing of definitive agreements and obtaining of all required corporate and regulatory approvals.

The announcement comes after the Indonesian government passed a law enabling operators to share spectrum, a move to spur consolidation in the market, reported Reuters.

Johnny Plate, communications minister, said before the announcement, consolidation is needed for companies to prepare investments to kick start 5G deployment in Indonesia.

State-owned Telkomsel leads the Indonesia market followed by Axiata, Smartfren Telecom, and then Hutchinson 3 Indonesia, noted the news agency.
EDWARDSVILLE  The latest COVID-19 numbers for Madison County offer a mix of good news and bad news, but county public health officials are hopeful that the overall trends are heading in the right direction.

The bad news included three more COVID-related deaths on Wednesday  one female in her 70s and two females in their 90s  bringing the overall death total to 362 since the pandemic started.

A total of 206 new cases (132 confirmed and 74 probable) were reported on Wednesday. The seven-day average case positivity rate was 11.6 percent, down from 12.56 percent on Christmas day.

We are very much still experiencing people testing positive for COVID, said Toni Corona, director of public health for Madison County. We have seen slight decreases, but I dont want anybody to get the wrong idea and think we dont need to continue our diligence as far as wearing masks and distancing.

The case positivity rate and the hospitalization and ICU rates have gone down slightly, which is good, but St. Louis reported (Thursday) that they have seen an increase in hospitalizations. We are still very much in the thick of this.

The number of people tested on Wednesday was 1,118, bringing the total to 190,256.

Im pleased that we are continuing to see good numbers as far as total tests being conducted by week, Corona said. While the vaccine is becoming available, testing, along with moving into quarantine and isolation if necessary, is still critical.

I want to make sure that we have ample facilities and testing sites available to our residents that need to continue to seek those testing services.

The first batches of COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered to the county and have been distributed, but Corona cautions that it will probably be a few months before most of the general public receives the vaccine.

The initial Pfizer vaccine was received the week before Christmas and all five of our hospitals played a primary role in getting those vaccines into our healthcare workers arms, Corona said.

We are in Phase 1A and we anticipate being in that phase for the next four weeks or so, but a lot depends on how fast the allotments of vaccine come into us. We will be coming up soon on some of those initial recipients getting the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

On Thursday, the Madison County Health Department conducted drive-through vaccinations at its parking lot, by appointment only, for healthcare workers.

It was kind of a soft opening clinic run, said Corona, who expected about 120 healthcare workers to get vaccinated. Its a day to be very critical of the operation and to discuss and implement necessary improvements and increase efficiency to get that vaccine into peoples arms.

Things are kind of slow right now as the vaccine trickles in, but were working with so many great community providers. Our hospitals have been fantastic in helping us get the vaccine out to the healthcare workers and other individuals in category 1A so we can move on to the other categories and start vaccinating the general public. We want to make sure that the folks who want the vaccine have access to it.

While 2020 will be remembered as the year of the pandemic, Corona urges people not to let their guard down as they head into a new year.

I wouldnt say Im seeing the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but we needed a piece of good news and the vaccine distribution process has certainly been uplifting, Corona said. Seeing the numbers trend down a bit is great, but we want to hold our own. Please wear your masks and practice distancing and stay safe, especially we bring in 2021.
President Donald Trump was briefed this month about intelligence reports that China had offered to pay bounties to fighters in Afghanistan who attacked US soldiers there, but the information was uncorroborated and comes months after Trump dismissed as a hoax a CIA assessment that Russia had paid for such attacks.

It is unclear whether the intelligence on China shows that any bounties were paid or whether any attacks on US personnel were even attempted. US intelligence agencies collect enormous amounts of information, much of which turns out to be false or misleading.

The information, included in the presidents written briefing December 17 and relayed verbally by the national security adviser, Robert OBrien  was earlier reported Wednesday night by Axios and confirmed by US officials.

It comes at a time when Trump administration officials, including the director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, have sought to put more pressure on China, partly in the hope of limiting any plans by the incoming Biden administration to ease tensions with Beijing.

Trump, Ratcliffe and other officials have also sought to direct attention toward Chinese misbehavior in areas where other US officials consider Russia to be a greater threat, including computer hacking and the use of disinformation to disrupt American politics.

After the disclosure this month that the US government had been subjected to a huge cyberbreach that US officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, confidently attributed to Russia, Trump angrily cast doubt on that notion and sought to implicate Beijing. Russia, Russia, Russia is the priority chant when anything happens, Trump wrote on Twitter, charging that the news media avoids discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!).

The Axios report said Wednesday that the underlying intelligence on the bounties, about which it obtained no further details, would be declassified, although it was unclear why or for whom. White House officials would not elaborate but did not dispute that the intelligence was uncorroborated.

Although tensions between the United States and China have escalated significantly during the Trump era, Beijing is not known to provide substantial support to anti-American proxies in combat zones like Afghanistan, and some national security experts were initially skeptical that Beijing would support attacks on Americans. By contrast, many considered similar reports about Russian bounties to be credible.

If confirmed, and particularly if traced to political leaders in Beijing, such an action by China would constitute a grave provocation that might demand a response by President-elect Joe Biden after he takes office in January.

A Biden transition official would not say Wednesday night whether Biden, who now receives official daily intelligence briefings, had been presented with the same information as the president.

But the official said that the Biden team would seek to learn more about it from the Trump administration and that it underscored the importance of a fully cooperative transition process, including with the Defense Department, which Biden on Monday accused of obstruction.

Right now, Biden said in Wilmington, Delaware, we just arent getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas.

Months before the report involving China, the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies were investigating reports collected this year, and first reported by The New York Times, that Russian military intelligence agents had offered to pay Taliban-linked fighters in Afghanistan for the killing of US soldiers there.

The CIA assessed with medium confidence that Russia had covertly offered and paid the bounties to a network of Afghan militants and criminals. The National Security Agency placed lower confidence in the intelligence. But Pompeo, for one, took the reports seriously enough to issue a stern face-to-face warning this summer to his Russian counterpart.

Trump was similarly provided with a written briefing on that intelligence, but publicly he dismissed it as fake news and an extension of what he called the Russia hoax, including the investigation into his 2016 campaigns ties to the Kremlin. At the same time, the president suggested that subordinates had not done enough to draw the report about Russia to his attention.

If it reached my desk, I would have done something about it, Trump said in July. US officials have said that the assessment regarding Russia was included in his written intelligence brief in February but that he rarely reads that document.

In multiple subsequent conversations with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Trump did not raise the matter.

Many questions are outstanding about the unverified intelligence regarding China, including when such bounties were said to be offered, by whom and to whom. The United States and its coalition partners in Afghanistan are fighting not only the Taliban but also al-Qaida, the Islamic State and various other militant and criminal groups.

The reportedly planned release of more information comes at a time when Democrats and many career intelligence officials are concerned that Trump officials like Ratcliffe have sought to selectively declassify intelligence for political purposes, like the Russia investigation and election interference.

Michael Crowley c.2020 The New York Times Company
Chinese President Xi Jinping and EU leaders announced on Dec. 30 that the two sides have completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled.

The announcement was made on a meeting between Xi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link.

The balanced, high-standard and mutually beneficial deal reached between the world's largest developing country and major developed economies demonstrates China's determination and confidence to push high-level opening up, and will provide greater market access, higher level of business environment, stronger institutional guarantees and brighter cooperation prospects for mutual investment.

It will also greatly boost world economic recovery in the post-pandemic era and enhance the international community's confidence in economic globalization and free trade, making significant contributions to the building of an open world economy.

The China-EU talks on the investment pact were launched seven years ago, and have gone through 35 rounds of official negotiations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2020. They announced that China and the EU have completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled. (Photo by Li Xueren/Xinhua News Agency)

China has always attached great importance on the pact talks. On multiple occasions Xi has urged to accelerate the negotiations, including the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo and the G20 summits, and has exchanged views with leaders of the EU and its member states for multiple times. The Chinese and EU leaders have always kept an eye on the long-term development of China-EU relations and constantly paid high attention to the pact talks, which provided basic guarantee for today's achievements.

The investment agreement between the two sides is in favor of China.

To accelerate the negotiations is a major measure of China taken at its own pace to promote high-level opening up on the premise of safeguarding its security and development interests. The investment treaty matches high-level international economic and trade rules and focuses on institutional opening-up. Both sides have promised to lower market access, made balanced, comprehensive and fair competition rules, and for the first time introduced chapters on sustainable development.

The high-level negotiation results will help China build a higher-level new open economy, establish a "dual circulation" development pattern in which domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement, and build a business environment that is law-based, internationalized and business-friendly.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2020. They announced that China and the EU have completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled. (Photo by Li Xueren/Xinhua News Agency)

The investment agreement between the two sides is in favor of both China and the EU.

China is the EU's largest trading partner, while the EU is China's second largest trading partner, third largest source of investment and third largest investment destination. The two sides have a stock of outbound direct investment of over $200 billion. They have received constant benefits from investment cooperation over the years, and enjoy huge potential of further expanding the cooperation.

The investment deal will further expand market access between the two sides, from which the enterprises from China and the EU will have better investment protection and reap fruitful results from more investment opportunities. The flow of commodities, technologies, services, capital and personnel will also be better facilitated and consolidated, which is conducive to the long-term healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

The investment agreement between the two sides is in also favor of the world.

The economic globalization has run up against headwinds; protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise; and the world economy has been severely impacted by COVID-19. As two of the world's stabilizers and major economies, China and the EU have jointly released a positive signal to safeguard multilateralism and the rule-based open world economy by finishing the investment pact talks. This will better strengthen the "dual engines" driving the global economy and inject more certainty and development impetus.

Train X8020/19 departs Jinhua, east China's Zhejiang province, for Dourges, France on Nov. 26, carrying 82 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargos. (Photo by Shi Bufa/People's Daily Online)

The investment deal between China and the EU is a hard-won result. Next, the two parties shall launch follow-up work such as text review, as soon as possible to form legal text, and accelerate their approval procedures, so as to strive for an early signing and implementation for the benefits of both the enterprises and people from the two sides.

China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world, nor can the world as a whole maintain prosperity without China. Standing at a new point of history, it is expected that China and the EU can meet each other halfway and ride the tide, bring bilateral trade and economic ties onto a new level, build a strong power for global cooperation, and make an example of win-win cooperation, so as to jointly promote the recovery and prosperity of the world economy.
Pune, Jan 1 : Pune residents, seeking police help, were in for a surprise when they called up the Police Control Room on Friday.

A gentle voice greeted them: "Hello! This is Home Minister Anil Deshmukh speaking. How can I help you?" As the caller blurted out their complaints, Deshmukh noted down the details and then passed them onto the police station concerned for followup action.

On New Year Day, the Minister visited the Pune Police Commissionerate and interacted with the officers and staff, and lauded their hard work, and sacrifices during the pandemic and lockdown to keep the people of the bustling city - which ranks highest in terms of Covid-19 cases in India - safe.

He visited the Police Control Room and attended to a few phone calls from a police terminal, leaving the staffers bemused as he politely attended to public grievances.

As one caller complained of how someone in the neighbourhood was playing music at full blast, Deshmukh heard him patiently, noted down his details and passed them onto the local police station which swung into action.

After some more similar calls, Deshmukh appreciated the efforts of the police for the tremendous amount of work and long hours they dedicated to the public cause during the last 10 months of 2020 at great sacrifices.

Later, he visited one of the oldest and biggest prisons in the state - the Yerawada Central Jail and went around interacting with the staff and inmates there to know their problems and issues and seek suggestions.

Deshmukh also viewed some of the workshops where the inmates make different types of consumer articles, woodwork, garments, footwear and other stuff which are sold outside, and whose proceeds helps for the inmates' rehabilitation after they are released.

Talking to the media, the minister expressed concerns at the overcrowding in the jail and said the government plans to build around half a dozen modern multi-storied prisons at different places in the state including Mumbai and Pune.

"Last week we have submitted two proposals to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for a police staff housing project and augmenting the capacity of various jails. We plan to build modern and multi-storied prisons at multiple locations and some jails already have excess space available which can be utilised for this," Deshmukh said.

The state currently has more than 30,000 inmates housed in 45-odd jails which have a capacity of around 20,000, and the move to release around 11,000 inmates on parole or furlough has temporarily helped solve the crisis during the pandemic.
A woman yelled the n-word at passengers who were forced to deboard a plane after she and her friend refused to wear masks.

In video shared on TikTok by Alex Barkley, the women were on a Frontier Airlines flight from Seattle to Denver last month.

The pilot is heard over the intercom saying that, because the ladies had refused to leave the aircraft, everyone would be forced to deplane.

As the other passengers are exiting the plane, the woman in the red hat can be heard saying; 'Have a good day, n****r.'

When police finally arrive to lead the the women away, it's to the claps and cheers of those around her.

Video was posted to TikTok of an incident onboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Seattle to Denver last month

Two women, wearing Trump hats and shirts (left and right), had reportedly refused to wear masks or leave the plane. The pilot tells passengers over the intercom that because of this, everyone on the aircraft will be forced to deplane

The video, which was from recorded several rows behind the women, show them arguing with other passengers while their masks hang below their chins.

However, it is unclear what they are saying to each other.

'Ladies and gentleman, I'm sorry. I've got to take this a step further,' the pilot announces over the intercom.

Meanwhile, a few passengers can be heard yelling at the women to get off the plane.

The pilot continues: 'The two passengers who we need to remove from the airplane are refusing to do that. We can resolve this easily but at this point I have to ask everyone to leave the airplane.'

Upon this news, the other passengers groan and sigh.

'Take your IDs and your boarding passes,' the pilot says.

'You can leave your personal belongings if you're gonna reboard. Please do not get involved in the altercation or you will not reboard.'

As the passengers are forced to exit the plane, the women remain in their seats, flashing smiles and even the peace sign.

'Have a good day, n****r,' the woman in the red hat can be told telling one person.

As the passengers exit the plane, the women in the red hat (above) can be heard telling one person: 'Have a good day, n****r'

After police arrive to escort the ladies from the plane and the gate area (left and right), the other passengers cheer and applaud. The user who uploaded the video says he was told the women have been banned from flying with Frontier

After all the passengers deboarded, Seattle police officers arrived to escort the women off the plane and away from the gate to applause and cheers.

Barkley, who uploaded the video, said he was told the women were banned from the airline.

'The pilot told me they both are being added to the do not fly list. [T]hey have to take a bus instead now,' he wrote.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Frontier, but did not receive a request for comment in time for publication.

According to the airline's website, Frontier requires customers to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth throughout the flight and at ticket counters and gate areas.

'This level of protection is important for everyone's well-being and if you don't wear an approved face covering, you may lose future travel privileges on Frontier,' a statement on the website reads.
Education Minister Norma Foley is beefing up resources to cope with expected rise in Covid cases. Photo: Frank McGrath

Education Minister Norma Foley is braced for a wave of Covid cases in schools when they reopen.

The minister is beefing up the resources that her department provides to the dedicated HSE school-support teams to ensure there is a timely response where a positive case is detected.

School inspectors have been working with the HSE teams since the end of October, but more are being assigned to the task and they will also put in longer hours.

Overall, the plan is to increase the capacity of teams by 70pc in the fortnight around the reopening and the weeks immediately afterwards.

Read More

The Government has extended the Christmas break to Monday, January 11, to allow more time for the effects of stricter public health restrictions to kick in.

But there is clearly a worry that, even with a delayed return, schools will face greater challenges than they have to date in terms of the number of cases presenting and managing the fallout when an outbreak occurs.

As Covid infection rates rose in the weeks before Christmas, schools were under increasing pressure and the confirmation of the arrival of the new and more transmissible variant, which some scientists also believe spreads more easily among children, has compounded concerns.

Teaching unions have called for a review of all safety measures ahead of the reopening.

The unions and other education partners will meet Department of Education officials early next week to discuss unfolding events.

Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) CEO Pairic Clerkin said the reopening date must be kept under constant review and, if necessary, postponed for another few days, if it meant that schools were going to be safer when they returned.

Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) general secretary Michael Gillespie said that, based on calls they were receiving, there was an increased level of anxiety among its members.

Schools will get a further round of funding this month to support school safety measures, but the department has denied it has cut the money for PPE.

While the headline rates per pupil are down, from 25 to 15 for primary schools and from 40 to 24 in post-primary, a department spokesperson said the upcoming term was shorter, while the grants paid in September also reflected once-off costs.

The rate of the PPE grant provided to schools for the forthcoming term is fully in line with the rate of grant funding provided in the first term. There is absolutely no question of a reduction in the rate of PPE grant funding to cover any schools recurring PPE costs, the spokesperson said.

Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Boyle said adequate funding for PPE, sanitising and enhanced cleaning was essential and in light of the deteriorating public health landscape, we expect Government to increase rather than reduce funding and to regularly review the effectiveness of school Covid-19 budgets.

A spokesperson for the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said it would continue to monitor the situation and it expected the department to fill any emerging gaps in Covid-safety resources should they arise.

Read More

Irish Independent
If there's one thing that 2020 taught humanity, it was the importance of wearing face masks in the ongoing pandemic that has claimed the lives of millions of citizens across the globe.

However, a man in Peshawar, Pakistan had to pay the price for masking up while venturing out on New Year's Eve of 2021. What's wrong you ask? The mask, in itself, wasn't a protective covering but a costume mask to scare off people. Yep.

The man in question was covered in a wolf mask when he planned to "prank" people on the last day of 2020 following which he was detained by the authorities.

Sharing the incident on microblogging site Twitter, Pakistani journalist Omar R Quraishi posted a photo in which the man, donning the mask, can be seen handcuffed along with the cops in the frame, posing for the photograph.

Police in the Pakistani city of Peshawar arrest a young man on New Years eve - for wearing a costume mask to scare people pic.twitter.com/sU9f1NDcAf omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 1, 2021

The bizarre incident didn't go unnoticed on social media and netizens were left in splits. Many "lauded" him albeit sarcastically for being "responsible" for at least wearing a mask in times of coronavirus.

Full video of transformation here. pic.twitter.com/w3q6tXiBlb Desi Gooner (@Sahil_Adhikaari) January 1, 2021

At least he is wearing a mask in covid times. Doga (@antiherodoga) January 1, 2021

WTH.. arrested for wearing a mask and enjoying new year.. this is too much Habib Shabbir (@HabibShabbir) January 1, 2021

Haha omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 1, 2021

Jokes on them. Thats a werewolf. war on tristmas (@fkatristan) January 1, 2021

This is Wodehouse level comedy Sridhar Shelat (@SridharShelat) January 1, 2021

Many others wondered why the man was arrested for wearing a mask while the cop in the photograph wasn't sporting any.

I can't get this out of my head that the policeman is not wearing a mask but you arrest the guy for wearing a mask. https://t.co/ayZWHHDI8Y 6.02310 (@AnmolLoonia) January 1, 2021

Still less scary than the policeman who is not wearing a mask.  https://t.co/FNK36XLaLY Godot (@OddieBirdie) January 1, 2021

 why didnt they unmask him?  https://t.co/VJqV4FAB0Z Divya Singh (  ) (@Divyasingh04) January 1, 2021

They said always wear a mask. They didn't say which one.. https://t.co/Ku7rcSBWmg Manan Puri (@mananpuri04) January 1, 2021

The difference is he wear the mask and and other Pak people don't.....but Do same actions as costumes mask.... https://t.co/7GjHaflGw3  (@Imanoop89) January 1, 2021

That mask saves from COVID. https://t.co/4Mkjf4Rbz7 Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 1, 2021

Calls for freeing the wolfman were made by amused netizens.

Because he's the hero Peshawar deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So they'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dank Fright. https://t.co/8CLAZZ5gtb southern roller (@melika_sa) January 1, 2021

FREE WOLF BOY the 'no buncombe' man (@flubby) January 1, 2021

Will the "wolfman" be freed? Stay tuned!
Democrat Who Objected to Electoral Votes in 2005: No Regret, But This Time Is Different

The former senator who while in office objected to electoral votes in 2005 said Thursday she doesnt regret what she did while insisting this time is different.

I do not regret it for one half a second, former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said during an appearance on CNN.

Boxer teamed with Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) to challenge Ohios electoral votes during the Jan. 6, 2005, joint session of Congress that convened to count votes from the 2004 presidential election.

The Congressmembers objected to draw attention to alleged election irregularities, which they alleged led to the disenfranchisement of voters, particularly in Ohio.

I, thank God, have a senator joining me in this objection, and I appreciate Senator Boxers willingness to listen to the plight of hundreds, and even thousands of Ohio voters, that for a variety of reasons were denied the right to vote, Tubbs Jones, who is no longer in office, said during the joint session.

A number of Democrats voiced support for the challenge, which fell short.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and some 39 members of the House of Representatives plan similar challenges on Jan. 6.

This time is different because unlike John Kerry, President Donald Trump has not conceded, Boxer contended.

We have a president here whos orchestrating kind of an overthrow of the election, Boxer said, asserting she and Tubbs Jones said up front, we had no interest in overturning the election.

All we wanted was to focus on voter suppression that we saw in Ohio, she added. Theres no comparison between 2005 and 2021, she said. And maybe this is a moment for people to really look at different ways we can use the laws that we have, she said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), left, and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) walk to a press conference to announce their objection to the certification of Ohio electoral votes, in Washington on Jan. 6, 2005. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Boxer retired in early 2017 after not seeking reeelection. She was succeeded by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). Tubbs Jones died in 2008 while still in office.

Republicans say they will challenge votes because states didnt follow their own election laws in the 2020 presidential election. Some allege election fraud occurred.

Hawley has challenged Democrats who criticized his plans to file an objection, noting many supported the 2005 challenge.

A group of Missouri Republicans said in a statement Thursday that Georgia failed to verify signatures while Pennsylvania accepted mail ballots after the legal deadline set by its state legislature.

The right to freely cast your vote in elections is a sacred privilege afforded to us as Americans because of the sacrifices of the patriots who fought for that right. When that process is spoiled and abused by officials not following their own state law, it violates that right and jeopardizes the entire integrity and foundation of free and fair elections. In such instances, where voting process changes are made without the consent of the voter, we know it is our duty and our obligation to serve as a backstop to protect the power of one person, one voteto protect your vote as a Missourian, Republican Reps. Jason Smith, Billy Long, Sam Graves, and Vicky Hartzler said.

Officials in Pennsylvania say the election is over and certified, and any changes to the results would disenfranchise voters. Officials in Georgia have claimed no widespread fraud occurred and that ample verification was carried out, along with several recounts.

A signature audit in Cobb County found no fraudulent mail ballots and found that the countys elections department had a 99.99 [percent] accuracy rate in performing correct signature verification procedures, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said in a statement.

We conducted a statewide hand recount that reaffirmed the initial tally, and a machine recount at the request of the Trump campaign that also reaffirmed the original tally. This audit disproves the only credible allegations the Trump campaign had against the strength of Georgias signature match processes.
UTICA, NY  On Monday, Xavier Harris was his usual happy self. The 4-year-old couldnt sit still, running around the house and teasing his older brothers. He was a flurry of motion, his mom said.

But Xavier - who was called Xavy by his family - spiked a fever that day, said his mom, Chantel Brooks. Like any kid, hed had fevers before and it wasnt too high, so his mom gave him some Tylenol.

On Tuesday, Brooks learned her mom had tested positive for Covid-19. Xavier had spent a night over the weekend at his grandmothers. They had worn masks, but Brooks was still worried.

She called his pediatrician, who said not to bring him to urgent care, but to monitor his symptoms.

Six days after he first got sick, the spunky, wiry, super-active, 40-pound Xavier was dead. Brooks said doctors told her he died of cardiac arrest as a complication of Covid.

I miss my little guy calling my name 57 times a day just to tell me hi,' she said Thursday. I miss him crawling into bed with me. Now I look and hes not there. I cant sleep.

Covid deaths among children are very rare.

In New York state, only nine children 9 years old or younger have died of Covid, according to the state Health Department.

Children make up 0.07% of all Covid-19 deaths, according to a report this month by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association based on data from 42 states. In all, 172 children nationwide have died of Covid, the report said.

Xavier, who was in pre-K in Utica, had been very healthy, his mother said.

He wasnt a sick child at all. He didnt have any underlying conditions, she said. Im the one who had cancer and am diabetic. Everyone was afraid Id get it, which is why we wore our masks all the time and used Instacart.

When Xavier didnt get better and his fever rose to 104, Brooks drove him to the St. Lukes Hospital emergency room in Utica Wednesday morning. She told them about her mom testing positive for Covid, so they tested Xavier but he was negative.

They did a chest X-ray, she said, and found two white spots on his lungs. They put in an IV, as he couldnt keep anything down, including liquids, she said.

Brooks said she asked if he could have another Covid test. This time, Xavier tested positive.

On Christmas, Xavier was still in the hospital but his fever broke and he started asking for something to drink. He was talking, smiling and telling the doctors he just wanted to watch his Toy Story 4 movie and go home. Doctors said if he continued to make progress, hed be released the next day.

Brooks called her two other sons, Darell, 12, and Jeremiah, 10. They said they wanted to wait for their little brother to come home Saturday before opening gifts.

All of a sudden on Friday, Xavier began struggling to breathe, Brooks said. Another chest X-ray showed the spots on his lungs had increased. Early Saturday morning, they rushed him to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, she said.

In Upstates emergency room, he was surrounded by doctors and nurses, who Brooks said were wonderful to him. Xavier was conscious, talking and asking for his mom.

He didnt seem that sick,' she said. He would smile at the doctor, but then didnt want to be touched by anyone. He told me he wanted to go home.

The doctors attending to Xavier let his mom hold his hand.

Dont leave me,' his mom recalls her son saying. She assured him she wasnt going anywhere until he went with her.

Suddenly, Brooks said she heard the machine stop beeping next to his bed.

They rushed me out of the room to work on him, but I saw his face and I knew he was gone,' she said. I knew it was bad, but I hoped they could do something to get him back.

Xavier passed away at 7:20 a.m. the day after Christmas. Brooks said she was told he went into cardiac arrest a result of Covid.

The doctors let her into the room to see her son, and she sat for some time holding his hand and telling him how much she loved him.

I love you and Im so sorry,' Brooks recalled saying to him over and over.

Xavier Harris (second from left) poses for a holiday photos with his mom, Chantel Brooks, and his brothers, Jeremiah, 10 and Darell, 12.Provided photo

Brooks, a 32-year-old single mom, is left with a giant hole in her heart, and a lot of questions. Why her son? Why did this happen?

Xavier was a welcome surprise, she said, born after shed suffered a miscarriage and wasnt sure she could have any more children.

I lost my miracle baby,' she said. I dont feel normal anymore. I feel like Im not complete.

Reeling from Xaivers death and his funeral Wednesday, Brooks said she is comforted by the support from her family, friends, colleagues from the Utica City School District where she is a teaching assistant, and also from strangers. People have sent cards, brought food and contributed to a fundraiser to pay funeral expenses.

The obituary

More than 150 people watched the funeral on Zoom or walked through the calling hours a few people at a time, she said. It helps, but Brooks said it wont bring her son back.

Brooks and her two sons have tested negative for Covid. Her mothers only symptoms were a cold and cough. Shes recovered now.

Brooks wants people to know getting sick from the coronavirus can happen to you, young or old. No one is safe, no one can be sure they will recover.

We followed the guidelines,' she said. How can it spread so rapidly? To me, its just crazy. I dont want anyone else to experience what I have just been through.'

Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime at 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com
The US blocked $ 63 million in funds of designated terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based outfits, in 2019 as part of its crackdown on foreign terrorist organisations, according to an annual report by the treasury department. The report released by the US Department of Treasury on Thursday states the US blocked $ 342,000 in funds of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), $ 1,725 of the Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) and $ 45,798 of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-al-Islami.

All the three groups are Pakistan-based terror outfits. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-al-Islami is a Islamic jihad group operating primarily in Kashmir. Another Pakistan-based Kashmir centric terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has $ 4,321 blocked by the US in 2019 as against $ 2,287 the previous year, the report said.

For the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the US blocked $ 5,067 in 2019 as against a paltry $ 318 in 2018. The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is the leading US Government agency responsible for implementing sanctions against the assets of international terrorist organisations and terrorism-supporting countries.

The federal body implements these sanctions as part of its general mission to administer and enforce economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals. According to the report, in 2019 the US blocked $ 63 million in funds of nearly 70 designated terrorist organisations, with the highest being $ 3.9 million of the al-Qaeda group. While the total blocked funds in 2018 was $ 46 million, that of the al-Qaeda was $ 6.4 million that year.

The list includes the Haqqani network ($ 26,546). It is a significant increase from $ 3,626 in 2018. The US continues to block $ 580,811 in funds of the Sri Lanka-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has remained the same for two years -- 2018 and 2019.

The report indicated a significant drop in Taliban funds being blocked by the US from $ 296,805 in 2018 to $ 59,065 in 2019. According to the report, the combination of sanctions programmes targeting international terrorists and terrorist organisations with those targeting terrorism-supporting governments constitute a wide-ranging assault on international terrorism and its supporters and financiers.

The US also blocked $ 200.19 million in funds of countries designated as sponsors of terrorism -- Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea.
The development of a domestic security force in East Timor was a matter of "fundamental importance" to Australia's strategic interests, newly declassified documents released for the first time on Friday reveal.

Cabinet papers from 2000 outlined post-independence security scenarios in documents marked AUSTEO - "for Australian Eyes Only" - which were considered by the Howard government's national security committee in August of that year.

Cabinet papers from 2000 have been released by the National Archives of Australia. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The passage of East Timor to independent statehood had formally begun a year earlier when the United Nations took over the territory's administration from Indonesia.

Heavily redacted on the grounds it could damage Australia's standing with foreign governments to this year, the submission from Alexander Downer, then Foreign Minister, revealed the government wanted a "substantial strategic relationship" with its northern neighbour.
Prime Minister on Friday laid the foundation stone of the Light House Projects (LHP) under the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC-India) and said the worldwide challenge of Covid-19 has given the scope to innovate and incubate with new technology.

The six LHP has been conceptualised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The project aims to identify and mainstream several innovative technologies from across the world which are sustainable and disaster-resilient.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi said: "This global challenge of Covid-19 has given us the scope to innovate and incubate with new technology. From today, work is starting on six Light House Projects at different locations. These projects will be completed by modern technology and innovative processes."

The Prime Minister said at one time, housing schemes were not the priority for the Central governments as much as it should have been.

"However, we know that transformation is impossible without all-around development. The country has adopted a new approach and a different road ahead," he said.

He also said that these six projects are really like lighthouses. These six projects will show a new direction to the housing construction in the country.

"These projects are incubation centres for our planners, engineers, architects and students to learn from. They will also be able to experiment on new technology," Modi said.

The Prime MInister said to promote research and innovation, we're running the ASHA India project. Through this, we're developing new and cheap technology to build houses for the 21st century.

Citing examples of the use of new technology in construction, Modi said that in Ranchi, we are using 3D construction system from Germany. In this pattern, every room will be built separately and then the entire structure will be connected like lego blocks.

"In Agartala, we are building homes using steel frame technology from New Zealand. This is to prevent the houses from the perpetual risk of earthquakes," he said, adding, "In Lucknow, we are using technology from Canada. Plaster and paint would not be needed in this and pre-built walls will be used."

Earlier in the day, Modi tweeted, "On the first day of 2021, will be taking part in a programme aimed at transforming India's urban landscape. Will lay the foundation stone of Light House Projects and distribute PMAY (Urban) and ASHA-India Awards."

Under the project, LHPs will be constructed in Agartala, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, Chennai and Ranchi, with each location getting more than 1,000 houses for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

The period of construction is maximum 12 months from the date these sites are handed over to the construction agency after all statutory approvals.

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, and Chief Ministers of Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh respectively, also addressed the gathering. --IANS

aks/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TOKYO: Nissan Motor is planning to further reduce its presence in Europe and outsource the sales and manufacturing of its cars to alliance partner Renault, the daily Yomiuri newspaper reported on Friday.

As part of its global turnaround plan, which is reversing a rapid expansion led by the ousted former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, Nissan will cut its distribution channels in thirty countries, mainly in East Europe. It is also planning to close its Avila plant in Spain and convert it into a warehouse, the report said.

The report didn't provide details of the scale of the outsourcing. Calls to Nissan's public relations office went unanswered on Friday, a public holiday in Japan.

The Japanese motor company is currently moving its operations away from Europe and shifting its focus to China, the United States, and Japan.

Nissan, which expects to post a record operating loss of 340 billion yen ($3.25 billion) in the year to March 31, is cutting production capacity and model numbers by a fifth and aims to slash operating expenses by 300 billion yen over three years.

The company's three-way alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motor was plunged into uncertainty in 2018, when Ghosn was arrested on financial misconduct charges, which he denies. He later fled Japan while being monitored by law enforcement and awaiting trial at his residence.

(Reporting by Sakura Murakami: Editing by Neil Fullick)

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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A video of people without masks dancing in a conga line at a Republican clubs holiday party in Queens drew swift condemnation after it was posted on social media last week.

At the time, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said that Covid conga lines are not smart, and the State Liquor Authority launched an investigation into Il Bacco, the Italian restaurant in Little Neck where the party was held.

Now at least one person who attended the party has been hospitalized with the coronavirus, and the restaurants liquor license has been suspended indefinitely.

The party was thrown by the Whitestone Republican Club on Dec. 9, days before Mr. Cuomo closed indoor dining, and was attended by several dozen people. Most of them did not appear to be wearing masks in the video, despite weeks of official warnings about the danger of holiday gatherings as coronavirus hospitalizations soared in New York.
Schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) across the city have welcomed the board exam schedule for classes 10 and 12 that was announced on Thursday. Most schools said that the schedule will allow them to hold practical sessions for students and they will also get sufficient time to prepare for the exams.

Schools have been holding online classes since last March, when they were closed amid the coronavirus disease.

Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Thursday announced that CBSE class 10 and 12 board exams will be conducted between May 4, 2021, and June 10, 2021. The practical examinations will begin on March 1 and the results will be announced by July 15, 2021.

Routinely, CBSE board examinations are conducted between February and March every year. However, this year, due to the closure of schools in view of the pandemic, the examination schedule has been delayed. Schools across the country were closed last March and classes are being held remotely to contain the spread of Covid-19.

While schools in Haryana reopened for physical classroom sessions in October, some states are yet to restart schools for in-person sessions.

Ramanjit Khinda, school headmistress, Kunskapsskolan International, said that while the school had been preparing students keeping in view the routine exam schedule, it was more comfortably placed now. We were not lagging behind earlier either. However, practical sessions were a concern. Now, we think we will be getting enough time to take things forward comfortably with the students, said Khinda.

She added that the school is currently amid a winter break and decisions pertaining to the practical sessions would be taken before the school reopens. We are on a break right now. We will discuss and take decisions in view of the board schedule that has been announced. We will be thinking about giving some practical hands-on learning to students even though we have been conducting virtual sessions till now, she said.

Nidhi Kapoor, the principal of Euro International School, said that the board had given sufficient time and children were happy with the examination schedule. Students are happy since there is clarity on the schedule now and they will get a bit more time to prepare. We will also be starting physical classroom sessions for board classes from January 15, thrice a week, so that they are able to clarify doubts and get writing practice, said Kapoor. She said that students who were lagging behind would get additional support through these classes.

Aditi Misra, principal, Delhi Public School, Sector 45, said that the school had not conducted pre-board exams so far and would be able to plan the same now that a timeline for the board exams has been announced. We were waiting for the board to declare the timeline for the exams. We will be able to plan our pre-board exams while taking cognisance of the timeline. Until now, we were only having tests, said Misra.

Yash Handa, a class 12 student at KR Mangalam World School, South City-1, said that while some students are apprehensive over holding exams in a pandemic year, most were happy with the schedule since they would get sufficient time to prepare.

Some students are happy because the schedule gives plenty of time to prepare for exams. Others are worried that the exams might get delayed again due to a new wave of Covid-19. Largely, we are satisfied since there is sufficient time to prepare. However, since exams are happening late, we might have issues applying to colleges since entrances start early, said Handa.


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Denton, TX (76205)

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Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Charleston police early Thursday night released information on the five officers involved in a deadly shootout with an armed suspect at Bridgeview Village apartments earlier this week.

The five officers are all White men; the suspect is a Black man. One was a nine-year veteran of the force. The others had four, three and two years. The remaining officer has been employed by Charleston Police Department for one year, only about a month of which has included full patrol duties, Police Chief Luther Reynolds told The Post and Courier on Thursday night.

Reynolds called the officers "courageous" and said they did their jobs under the immense pressure of being fired upon by a suspect with a violent criminal history wielding a rifle.

The Post and Courier has filed public-records requests for 911 calls, dash-cam video and body cam video. So far, none of these public records have been provided.

The chief said he was limited in what he was able to say due to the ongoing investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division.

Andy Savage, an attorney representing the officers, confirmed several details to The Post and Courier, including that the officer who was shot was the first to arrive and was the officer with about a month of patrol experience.

On the night of the shooting, he was about to stop to assist other officers in an unmarked unit who had made a traffic stop when he heard a second call for service for a domestic violence incident, Savage said.

As soon as the officer arrived and stepped out of his vehicle, he was struck by gunfire, including on the name tag worn on his chest, the attorney said. Other officers, the same ones in the unmarked unit who'd made the traffic stop earlier, arrived shortly after as backup.

Investigators later found that the suspect had multiple magazines of ammunition on him, Savage said.

On Wednesday, the Charleston County Coroner's Office confirmed the suspect, 28-year-old North Charleston resident Jason Cooper, died of a gunshot wound to the head.

The incident began after a woman living at the North Romney Street apartment complex called 911 about 3:15 a.m. Tuesday with a domestic violence complaint involving a weapon. Children were present, authorities said.

When officers arrived, they said they encountered Cooper, who was armed with a gun, police said. He initiated the shootout, and was declared dead at the scene.

One officer was shot in the chest but was protected by a ballistic vest and released from the hospital, police said. No one else was injured.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting. Following normal procedures after such incidents, all five officers have been placed on administrative duty, police said.
At the end of the tunnel is light, and standing at the cusp of 2021, the future looks optimistic. Covid-19 may have secretly wound up in our lives, giving us no time to think or act, but it did prepare us for a dynamic future. Who would have ever imagined a school going completely online and succeeding to make every person involved, be it, teachers, parents, grandparents and students, technologically sound? Whoever imagined our comfortable homes serving as an office and networking area?

Barring the physical transformations, what the year helped manifest was our humanness. We once again put family before work, savings before expenditure, we took stock of our vicinity, time invested in caring for all around us  be it our family and friends, neighbours, the community or even the nation.

So, today, with the vaccinations happening worldwide and India leading in their manufacture, the year 2021 reconfirms the saying, Change is the only constant, and we need to gear up for a blending of the physical and virtual worlds, which will give rise to new jobs and opportunities. We will need to create a new formula for all our tasks, such that it supports maximum utilisation of digital tools, physical and human resources, and at the same time ensure the emotional, social and mental well-being of every individual. We are diamonds, and we have become more polished in the past year, to shine more profusely in the next year.

When we rang in 2020, it promised anticipation and excitement. Our first batch of Don Bosco International Schools Class 10 students was to appear for the IGCSE examination, and appear they did for the March series and were even bid adieu at a festive farewell, with the promise that This is not goodbye. Little did we realise then that on their farewell day, we would be bidding adieu to physical school for all, for an indefinite period.

Nine months of a new normal  masked, using hand wash or sanitiser repeatedly and being socially distanced  was something unheard. Where earlier, students were admonished for spending long hours before a screen, now they were encouraged to do just that. It was novel and fascinating at the start, and they did as they were bid, much to the comfort and satisfaction of their teachers, who were themselves entering a new phase of teaching. Though our return to school still hangs in the balance, depending on government directives, we plan to have a virtual student council election in January 2021 to appoint our student leaders.

Lets not be overwhelmed by the present scenario, for as long as there is a glimmer of hope for the future, we, as a people, will always prevail.

The Covid-19 pandemic which came in without a warning, brings to light the importance of preparedness education. It recalibrated the smooth transition from traditional classroom learning to blended virtual learning.

The need to learn the skills of virtual teaching became an absolute necessity.

The school had to equip with infrastructure that would facilitate online teaching, virtual learning and blended learning. Wireless network access were strengthened with licensed software and antiviruses.

The students were constructively engaged but have also developed their creative and analytical skills. The students were extremely enamored by the novelty of the methodology of teaching and were actively participating in the lessons.

The novel methodology has triggered their creative juices and is making them successful learners.

In 2021, what may be sustainable is a hybrid model which encapsulates the merits of face-to-face teaching with the economy and convenience offered by virtual classes.

Traditional curriculum, course structure and evaluation methods would have to be redesigned to cater to such disruptions keeping the learning outcomes intact.

This year has been special as it has driven humanity across the globe. History will remember 2020 for the Covid-19 pandemic and the effects it had, both negative and positive.

Governments across the globe declared lockdowns in their respective states and laid restriction on the movement of people. Educational institutions were closed, making students, teachers and competent authorities oblivious of the next course of action.

As it is rightly said, Necessity is the mother of all inventions, the Covid-19 outbreak gave rise to the work from home model. So far, this concept was prevalent in the information technology industry. Schools were one among the first to grab this opportunity and replace their physical school with a virtual one. Though virtual schooling cannot be compared with physical schooling, there was no other better option available. Many schools opted for video conferencing apps for online teaching.

Educators initially faced enormous challenges for virtual schooling as they were not trained for online teaching.Gradually, through various online training programmes, webinars, standard operating procedures, etc., they were equipped to face all the challenges of online teaching.

The year 2021 is going to be unique for teachers and students.

With the advent of artificial intelligence, imparting and acquiring knowledge rests on the click of a button. The traditional concept of schools will disappear soon.
Visitors wearing face masks walk near a New Year banner at a shopping district in Seoul, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. AP



South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose above 1,000 again Friday as health authorities are expected to extend the current social distancing rules amid no signs of the winter wave of the virus abating.



The country added 1,029 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,004 local infections, raising the total caseload to 61,769, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



The tally marked a rise from 967 cases Thursday, 1,050 cases Wednesday, 1,045 cases Tuesday and 807 cases Monday. Over the past seven days, the nation's daily virus cases have hovered around 1,000.



Seventeen people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 917.



Despite the winter wave of the virus, health authorities have shied away from raising the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme. Instead of applying measures that would deal a severe blow to millions of small merchants, health authorities have deployed "targeted" virus curbs.



Since the middle of last month, the greater Seoul area has banned gatherings of five or more people. Restaurants in the greater Seoul area face a fine if they allow groups of more than four people. The strongest measures here to date have been applied nationwide as well.






The Spanish government has ordered an extension to the limitations on direct flights and passenger ships from the UK in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus variant.

The order was published on January 1 and extends the initial period, which was until 18.00 on January 5. The cabinet approved this "exceptional measure" on December 22, the text of the order having established that only flights carrying exclusively Spanish or Andorran citizens and residents of Spain and Andorra may land in Spain, with or without intermediate stops.

The health ministry may, for "justified reasons", lift the restriction and occasionally authorise flights or sailings.

Given that "some uncertainties remain about the scope of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 and the need for more information regarding the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the United Kingdom, in line with the position maintained by most of the countries of the European Union", the government has chosen to extend the limitations until 18.00 on January 19.
The merchandise featured in Sen. Kelly Loefflers online campaign store includes T-shirts and bumper stickers bearing Donald Trumps name and the message: Still my president.

The Georgia Republican is running television ads ahead of Tuesdays Senate runoff elections that lambastes her opponent, the Rev. Raphael Warnock, as dangerous and radical.

Loefflers colleague, Sen. David Perdue, meanwhile, is warning Georgians that Democrats will enact a socialist agenda if his challenger, Jon Ossoff, wins on Tuesday.

In the final days of campaigns that will decide control of the US Senate, the Republican incumbents are appealing to the most conservative part of the electorate. Their steady embrace of the hard-right, Trump wing of the GOP  even repeatedly refusing to acknowledge Trumps defeat  and their caricatures of the Democratic challengers may seem like a risky approach in a state that narrowly voted for Democrat Joe Biden for president in November after years of steady Democratic gains.

Yet the strategy reflects prevailing GOP wisdom in the Trump era: Republicans clearest path to victory, even in swing states, is to drive up support among a GOP base motivated by allegiance to the president and fear of Democrats. Still, the approach comes at the expense of a once-broader Republican coalition that included more urban and suburban moderates and GOP-leaning independents who have rejected the Republican brand under Trump.

The president resonates with a lot of people, and so do the buzzwords, so you hear Trump and socialism a lot, said Michael McNeely, a former vice chair of the Georgia Republican Party. I wish we lived in a society where people talked about ideas, but thats just not where we are.

Trump may have complicated Perdues and Loefflers gamble even more with how hes handled his defeat to Biden.

The president has spread unfounded assertions of voter fraud and blasted Georgia Republican officials, including Gov. Brian Kemp, who have defended the elections process. When Trump allies, including Perdue and Loeffler, backed up the claims, some Republicans expressed concern it could discourage some Trump loyalists from voting in the runoff. Now, other Republicans are worried that GOP candidates have instead turned off the more moderate voters repelled by Trump.

No Republican is really happy with the situation we find ourselves in, said Chip Lake, a longtime GOP consultant and top adviser to Loefflers vanquished rival, Rep. Doug Collins. But sometimes when you play poker, you have to play the hand youre dealt, and for us that starts with the president.

Trump will visit Georgia for a final rally with Loeffler on Monday evening, hours before polls open. It is unclear whether Perdue will attend. The senator said Thursday he was quarantining after being exposed to an aide who tested positive for coronavirus.

Democrats are fine with the GOP senators decision to run as Trump Republicans and use exaggerated attacks. Opposition to the president has been a unifying force among their core supporters, and Democrats believe Republicans overall tenor falls flat with voters in the middle.

We talk about something like expanding Medicaid. We talk about expanding Pell Grants for low-income college students, Ossoff said at a recent stop in Marietta, north of Atlanta. David Perdue denounces those things as socialism?

Ossoff noted Perdues claims that a Democratic-run Senate would abolish private insurance; Ossoff and Warnock, in fact, back Bidens proposal to add a federal insurance plan to private insurance exchanges, not abolish private insurance. I just want people to have the choice, Ossoff said.

November returns demonstrate the GOP snare. Biden beat Trump by about 12,000 votes out of 5 million cast in Georgia, making him the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1992. Bidens record vote total for a Democrat in the state was fueled by racially and ethnically diversifying metro areas but also shifts in key Atlanta suburbs where white voters have historically leaned Republican.

Yet Perdue landed within a few thousand votes of Trumps total and led Ossoff by about 88,000 votes. Republican turnout also surged in small towns and rural areas, while Georgia Democrats had a disappointing general election down-ballot, failing to make expected gains in legislative races.

Weve won this race once already, Perdue says at some of his runoff campaign stops, echoing his advisers belief that their top priority is maintaining enthusiasm from Trumps base. They add that they can corral the narrow slice of swing voters with arguments that warn against handing Democrats control of the House, Senate and White House.

Lake and McNeely, however, predicted that hard-right attacks and Trump-centric appeals wont deliver votes beyond the base, particularly amid a crush of advertising in a runoff campaign whose total expense could top $500 million.

We reached the point of diminishing returns a long time ago, Lake said.

They also bemoaned Trumps continued grievances about his defeat even after his own attorney general said there was no evidence the election was marred by fraud and courts across the country rejected challenges to the outcome.

If, for some reason, the Republican candidates lose, Lake said, its going to be hard to write a post-mortem on this runoff and not look directly at all the chaos that has been created on voter fraud.

Early voting ended Thursday with just more than 3 million Georgians casting absentee or in-person ballots. That trails the final early vote count of 3.65 million ahead of the general election. But the early vote already has set a statewide Georgia runoff turnout record.

Jen Jordan, a Democratic state senator who in 2017 won a suburban Atlanta district long held by Republicans, acknowledges her party, too, has moved to base strategy. But Jordan argued that Democrats still root their pitch more in policy ideas, especially on health care access and public education, that she said has wide appeal. She said Perdue and Loeffler undermined their socialism warnings by splitting from most congressional Republicans to support the presidents call for $2,000 pandemic aid payments to individual Americans.

Ive never heard the word socialism so much in my life, and then theyre both like, yeah, lets give everybody $2,000 checks, Jordan said.

McNeely, the former state GOP leader, lamented that even if Perdue and Loeffler win, their campaigns move Georgia further away from a more centrist tradition. He cited Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, whose retirement opened the way for Kemp to appoint Loeffler.

Unlike many Southern Republicans of his generation, Isakson was never a Democrat. But he rose through the Georgia General Assembly in an era when Democrats dominated the state. In Washington, Isakson was a reliable Republican vote but shunned partisan jousting and intently avoided talking about Trump whenever possible.

Sen. Isakson learned to see things from a different perspective, McNeely said, adding that Republican politicians should think beyond campaigns and what the president is thinking and that more voters should decide that it doesnt make you a bad guy or gal because you compromise.
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Get out ... (really): First Week Hikes encouraged at state parks
Actor Sonam Kapoor took to Instagram to share a picture with husband Anand Ahuja to wish fans on the New Year. Sonam has been based at her Notting Hill home in London for a while now.

Sharing it, she wrote: 2021 Im ready to take you on with the love of my life. This year is going to be filled with love, family, friends, work, travel, spiritual growth and much much more. Im only looking forward to having the best f***ing time of our life. We will work hard and live life to the fullest and we arent looking back at all... The picture showed Sonam and Anand sharing a kiss together.

After spending a major part of year in Delhi and Mumbai, Sonam left for her London home in mid July last year. They had come to India in March, when the coronavirus pandemic was raging around the world to be with their parents. Speaking to film critic Anupama Chopra via a video chat, she had cited the reasons for returning to India and had said: I decided to come back to India right before the travel ban was imposed just because my father (actor Anil Kapoor) is 63. Hed hate to say this but he is 63, my mother is 63 as well. We all stay with Anands grandmother who is also around 80 years old. There was no one actually in my husbands house just in case something happened to be there and take care of everything. So Anand and I did the responsible thing to fly back even though we were so scared to fly.

In July though they left for the UK. She had celebrated her birthday in India, but was in London for Anands birthday. Sonam often posts about missing her family. Posting pictures with her family for Diwali, she had written: Diwali is about family. And my family really loves celebrating it with all our friends and family. Next year itll be that again, I know it. I miss them with all my heart . And I hope I see them soon together. Posting a similar family picture with her in-laws, she had written: Happy Diwali from the Ahujas. I miss home, I miss the food and I miss Delhi. But all will be well again ,its a new year and a new beginning.

Also read: Vidya Balan wasnt first choice for Hum Paanch, said she was an awkward teenager when she was cast

Posting a picture with her dad Anil Kapoor and sister Rhea, she had written: Majorly missing them. Sharing another throwback picture with her siblings, she had written: I miss this thanks @boney.kapoor chachu for the photo.. love you.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

ott:10
Since she married Prince Harry two years ago Meghan Markle has worn a parade of designer outfits from brands such as Dior, Givenchy, Prada and Chanel and an array of expensive accessories.

But after quitting the royal family in March and moving to California, the Duchess has taken a decidedly different approach to her wardrobe.

Meghan has slashed the value of the new items she has worn this year, with Femail calculating the royal has won new items of clothing and jewellery worth 44,188 in 2020.

It is a drastic reduction on last year, when her wardrobe was valued at more than 211,693.

Her most expensive outfit came during her farewell tour in March, when she stepped out for lunch at The Goring in an high fashion ensemble worth 14,000.

While a working member of the royal family, the cost of Meghan's clothes for work engagements was covered by Prince Charles through the budget he gave the couple from the Duchy of Cornwall.

But after the couple said they wanted to be financially independent, it is not clear who is picking up the bill for Meghan's clothes, or whether the Duchess always pays full price for her clothing, or receives discounts from designers.

Here FEMAIL calculates the value of Meghan's 2020 wardrobe, only taking into account the cost of items once and not counting recycled pieces.

Meghan Markle, 39, slashed the value of her wardrobe in 2020 after quitting the royal family and moving to California - wearing 44,188 worth of new items. Pictured: In a Topshop shirt and Roland Mouret skirt at The National Theatre in January

The Duchess of Sussex opted for an array of designer outfits during her time as a senior working royal (pictured, at her final royal duty in March)
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
President Donald Trump is unhappy that the Department of Justice responded on behalf of Vice President Mike Pence in a lawsuit filed by Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert that aims to give Pence the power to overturn the presidential election.

The New York Times reported that Trump called Pence Friday morning to express surprise at the development. The president was more vocal to others about his displeasure, sources told the paper's Maggie Haberman.

Gohmert and Arizona's slate of GOP 'alternate' electors have sued Pence to expand his powers, so that he can solely determine which Electoral College votes to count when he presides over the January 6 session of Congress to make President-elect Joe Biden's win official.

In a fresh filing Friday afternoon, Gohmert argued that Pence is more powerful than a 'glorified envelope-opener in chief.'

'Under the Constitution, he has the authority to conduct that proceeding as he sees fit,' Gohmert wrote. 'He may count elector votes certified by a states executive, or he can prefer a competing slate of duly qualified electors. He may ignore all electors from a certain state. That is the power bestowed upon him by the Constitution.'

Legal experts have strongly disagreed with Gohmert's assessment.

In the Thursday night DOJ filing, Pence's lawyer, Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Coghlan, pointed out a basic fallacy in this case - in order to sue, the plaintiff and the defendant must be in opposition.

President Donald Trump (left), pictured returning to the White House Thursday with first lady Melania Trump (right), is unhappy the Justice Department stepped in on behalf of Vice President Mike Pence to crush a lawsuit aimed at giving Pence the power to overturn the election

Vice President Mike Pence's Justice Department lawyer wants a judge to toss out a case being spearheaded by Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert that seeks to expand Pence's powers so that he can choose which Electoral College votes count

Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas, filed a federal lawsuit in Texas alongside Arizona's 'alternate' Electoral College electors - and now some of Michigan's too - that seeks to allow Vice President Mike Pence to choose Trump electors over Biden electors on January 6

In this case, Gohmert and Pence's interests are aligned.

'The Vice President is not the proper defendant in this lawsuit,' Coghlan wrote. 'The Vice President - the only defendant in this case - is ironically the very person whose power they seek to promote.'

'A suit to establish that the vice president has discretion over the count, filed against the vice president, is a walking legal contradition,' Coghlan noted in a Thursday night filing.

Still, on Friday, a number of Michigan's 'alternate' electors filed a brief in the case.

If Trump had won Michigan, these individuals would have been the state's members of the Electoral College.

However, because Trump didn't win Michigan, the state's electors are Democrats - and cast their votes in favor of Biden in Lansing on December 14.

In court documents the rogue electors say that 'with the permission and endorsement of the Michigan Legislature' they cast votes in favor of President Donald Trump 'at the time, place, and manner required under Michigan state law and the Electoral Count Act.'

'At the same time, Michigans Governor and Secretary of State appointed a separate and competing slate of electors who cast Michigans electoral votes for former Vice-President Joseph R. Biden, despite the evidence of massive multi-state electoral fraud committed on Bidens behalf that changed electoral results in Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states that have also put forward competing slates of Presidential Electors,' the court document reads.

The group did not have the permission of the Michigan legislature - with Michigan State Police blocking their access to the capitol - but they did have approval from the White House.

On December 14, White House aide Stephen Miller revealed a plot to have separate Republican electors cast votes for Trump in key swing states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

'As we speak, today, an alternate slate of electors in the contested states is going to vote and we're going to send those results up to Congress,' Miller said on 'Fox & Friends.' 'This will ensure that all of our legal remedies remain open. That means if we win these cases in the courts, we can direct that these alternate electors be certified.'

This is where the Gohmert lawsuit comes in.

The suit argues that the Electoral Count Act, which was passed in 1887, violates the 12th Amendment, which outlines the procedure for electing the president and vice president.

The amendment, which was ratified in 1804, says that the 'President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall be counted.'

On Friday, Trump continued to push his supporters to come to Washington, D.C. to protest on the day Pence will oversee a Congressional session in which the Electoral College votes are tallied

Trump's White House backed the effort to have 'alternate' electors show up in state capitols to vote on December 14, so that those votes could be used to challenge the actual Electoral College results when Congress meets on January 6

While the lawsuit aims to give Pence unprecedented power to choose from slates of electors, lawmakers have the ability to challenge the count, with Sen. Josh Hawley saying he would object to some states' results

The lawsuit argues that the 'President of the Senate,' which is Pence, has the sole authority to determine which votes to count.

'That, with respect to competing slates of electors from the State of Arizona or other Contested States, the Twelfth Amendment contains the exclusive dispute resolution mechanisms, namely, that (i) Vice-President Pence determines which slate of electors' votes count, or neither, for that State,' the lawsuit says.

Legal experts called the reasoning laughable.

Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe tweeted that Gohmert effort 'may be the dumbest law suit of all' adding that it's 'jaw-droppingly stupid.'

'The idea that the Vice President has sole authority to determine whether or not to count electoral votes submitted by a state, or which of competing submissions to count, is inconsistent with a proper understanding of the Constitution,' Ohio State University law professor Edward Foley told The Hill.

Gohmert will also be joining the effort backed by more than 140 House Republicans to object to state vote counts during the Congressional session.

Congress has the power to toss out Electoral College votes - though has never done so.

If a House member and a senator both sign on to an objection, lawmakers debate the merits of that objection for two hours and then vote.

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has said he will file objections, but he hasn't said how many states' votes he will protest.

That effort, which could drag out the January 6 session for hours, even days, is doomed to fail, as only a simple majority is needed to knock down an objection.

With Democrats in control of the House and enough Republicans objecting to the plot in the Senate, Biden's win will get the Congressional seal of approval.
Homicides in unincorporated Jefferson Parish surged 12.5% in 2020, fueled by an increase in deadly domestic and family violence, authorities say.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office investigated 54 homicides in 2020, compared with 48 in 2019, according to Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesman.

The numbers cover most of the parish, but do not include the municipalities of Gretna, Kenner, Harahan, Westwego, Grand Isle and Jean Lafitte, which have their own police forces. Homicides numbers for those jurisdictions were not immediately available.

The tally marks the second consecutive year the murder rate in unincorporated Jefferson Parish has risen since 2018, when the Sheriffs Office reported a record-low of 24 homicides.

Over the past decade or so, unincorporated Jefferson Parish has averaged around 41 homicides annually, with the worst year being 2006, with 66 homicides.

Domestic violence homicides have doubled in Jefferson Parish. Did coronavirus pandemic contribute? This has been an unusually deadly year in Jefferson Parish for victims of domestic and family violence.

While we have seen an uptick in homicide cases year-over-year, the increase (in 2020) can be attributed primarily to domestic violence homicides, Rivarde said.

In 2020, Sheriffs Office deputies responded to 17 killings linked to domestic or family violence, compared to six in 2019. The count this year does not include at least one case from Gretna, the April 2 beating death of Carlos Ginorio, 69, allegedly at the hands of his son, Miker Ginorio, 37.

Fatal domestic violence

The Sheriffs Offices 2020 count of domestic violence homicides includes only 15 cases. But The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate has included two other homicides that fit the definition of a domestic violence fatality used by the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

The Jan. 18 death of Albert Bourgeois, 38, allegedly shot by Keith Johnson, 38, after Johnsons girlfriend, Daronica Lumar, 28, called Bourgeois to help her during an argument between the couple. The homicide is counted by the coalition because it occurred within the context of domestic violence, according to the agency. Johnson was charged with second-degree murder, while Lumar was charged as an accessory after the fact, because she allegedly refused to identify her boyfriend to authorities. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The April 14 death of Naim Shakir, 35, shot during a struggle over a pistol during an argument with his girlfriend, Chanel Galle, 42. Galle was arrested and booked with negligent homicide, a charge that means the case is not included in the Sheriffs Office overall homicide count. But because Shakir and Galle were dating partners, it is counted by the coalition as a domestic violence fatality. Galle has not been charged by the Jefferson Parish District Attorneys Office.

The years tragic tally of deadly domestic violence in Jefferson Parish also includes two murder-suicides, both involving husbands who authorities say took the lives of their wives before killing themselves. In one case, Walter Schroeder, 56, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Nadine, 55, and her brother, Warren Bordelon, 53, before he died by suicide, a suspected drug overdose.

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The Sheriff's Office also investigated a number of cases of familial violence, a stepfather accused of killing his stepson, a son accused of fatally shooting his father and a man accused of stabbing his grandfather and a roommate to death. Most recently, John McMillan, 55, was booked with manslaughter on Nov. 20 for allegedly beating his brother, Kenneth McMillan, 63, to death at the Harvey home they shared.

Pandemic to blame?

The Sheriffs Office is still hesitant to directly blame the pandemic and resulting conditions for the rise in fatal domestic violence in 2020. It speaks more the volatility of the relationships to begin with, Rivarde said. But authorities concede the prolonged quarantine, the financial concerns and other restrictions were likely aggravating factors.

The pandemic created conditions favorable for domestic violence, said Mariah Wineski, executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Domestic abusers use isolation to maintain control over their victims. So, in many ways, this pandemic has done the abusers work for them, Wineski said.

The coalition saw significant increases in domestic violence across Louisiana in 2020. Calls to the agencys statewide hotline were up 13% between April and November of this year when compared to the same time period in 2019, she said.

Its been especially difficult to pinpoint an exact cause for the increase, this year, because, in addition to COVID, there have been many other natural disasters, which typically lead to an increase in violence, Wineski said.

Multiple deaths

In addition to domestic and family violence killings, the Sheriffs Office investigated six cases that had more than one victim. On Dec. 23, Kendell Shelly, 21, and his girlfriend, Kandace Jones-Webb, 22, were shot and killed in the parking lot of a Metairie apartment building. No arrests have been made.

Jessica Troulliet, 35, and her father, Robert Templet, 56, were fatally shot Oct. 3, in Marrero, authorities say. The man accused of shooting them, Jamal Harris, 36, had met Troulliet a few days earlier on the Internet. And on Dec. 10, 16-year-old Josiah Pujols, and Melvin Francis, 22, were shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire during a drug deal gone awry in Metairie, the Sheriffs Office said.

Pujols was one of three juveniles killed in homicides in 2020. Ivan Wheeler, 16, was fatally shot Oct. 11 outside Oakwood Center shopping mall in Terrytown. And 3-month-old Maddalynn Sellars died of drug toxicity, authorities say, after her mother used methamphetamine and then breast-fed the infant.

Three juveniles have been arrested in homicides investigated by the Sheriffs Office, this year. A 17-year-old boy was booked with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Pujols and Francis.

A 15-year-old boy was booked with second-degree murder in the June 4 death of Keron Guy, 18, in Avondale. And Shane Kerner, 16, was charged as an adult with second-degree murder and three counts of attempted second-degree murder in the May 28 shooting death of Timothy Cushing, 38, in Bridge City. He has pleaded not guilty.
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA  Just north of Manhattan Beach, Dockweiler State Beach offers visitors plenty of activities, though COVID-19 restrictions have put a damper on several of them. Under normal conditions, visitors would have fire pits to use, volleyball courts, the Dockweiler Youth Center and the Dockweiler RV Park. Still available for use is the ocean, sand, bike path, restrooms and showers.

Jetties at the north end of the beach offer ideal fishing opportunities and shore fishing is also popular. The beach is also home to a fenced enclosure for the western snowy plover, a federally protected shore bird, according to the Los Angeles County website on Dockweiler.

Brentwood resident Mark Galasso shot his first landscape photos at Dockweiler just last month. Galasso has long photographed school bands, at no charge, and says doing so "is just a hobby for me! My kids, who are now 25 and 22, were in the music programs at Palisades Charter and I became the 'band photographer' and I never stopped! I no longer photograph Pali as I followed the band director who got a new job at Riverside Poly... and through all the contacts I have made over the years I also photograph other high school and middle schools as well as the world division drumline groups which are among the best in the nation! All my photos are always free as I do this for the kids and also for the schools to use in yearbooks and websites, etc. I love to support kids however I can!"

Due to the pandemic and associated "shutdown, I just take an evening or afternoon drive and end up wherever" and takes photos, he told Manhattan Beach Patch.



Thanks, Mark, for sharing your photos with us.

If you have an awesome photo of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we'd love to feature it on Patch.

We're looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is California, and that show off your unique talents.

Story continues

Send your photos to liz.spear@patch.com.









This article originally appeared on the Manhattan Beach Patch
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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday appreciated the role of health care workers and front line workers in the ongoing fight against Covid-19 ,in his New Year video message posted on social media, even as he urged residents of the city to follow all necessary precautions until vaccines are available.

This year has been a difficult time not only for India but for the entire world. The whole world had to fight Covid-19  the biggest pandemic faced by humankind. I take this chance to salute and honour our Corona-warriors, doctors, nurses, medical staff, policemen, sanitation workers, and all socio-religious institutions. You continued to serve the public even in such a difficult time, said Kejriwal.

Kejriwal further said, During these testing times, our strong health care system has set countless examples before the world. Delhi showed that we are on par with other developed countries of the world. During this pandemic, several initiatives of Delhi were replicated by many countries and governments across the world, he added.

This year may have come to an end but Covid-19 still persists. We must take all precautions and follow the guidelines to keep ourselves safe. We hope that a vaccine arrives in India soon, so that things return to normal. Until then, please take care of yourselves and your family, Kejriwal said.

In Delhi, as on December 31, 625,369 people had been infected by the virus, since the first case was reported on March 2. Even though 609,322 of them have recovered, 10,536 succumbed to the virus, said government records.
ABC/Matt StroshaneSting and Ricky Martin will both take part in the first-ever International Peace Honors ceremony, which will recognize "prominent world leaders and change-agents of our time" who "inspire hope for a brighter future."

Sting will perform at the ceremony and will present an award to Chief Raoni, an Indigenous Brazilian leader with whom Sting has worked with for decades to protect to the Amazon rain forest, via his Rainforest Foundation.

"Through his incredible courage, wisdom and dedication, Raoni is a shining example of how we can all adapt our lives to work more deliberately for peace," says Sting in a statement.

Other honorees include Dr. Anthony Fauci, Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi. and Martin, who's being honored for his activism. In 2020, among other ventures, he started a campaign to help health care workers get the equipment they needed to battle COVID-19. Eva Longoria will present Ricky with his award.

The ceremony will take place on January 17 at 8 p.m. ET. To register to watch for free, go to InternationalPeaceHonors.org.

By Andrea Dresdale

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
New Delhi:

With the deadline to apply for Election Commissions challenge to try and tamper with the electronic voting machines to end on Friday, no political parties have so far applied for it.

On Saturday last, the Commission had announced that the challenge to hack and tamper with the electronic voting machines (EVMs) would take place on June 3 and the seven recognised national and 49 state parties can apply by May 26, 5 pm, to participate in the challenge.

But till Thursday, nobody has applied, Commission sources said.

After the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the BSP and the AAP had questioned the reliability of the machines.

Later, several opposition parties, except the AAP, had urged the EC to revert to paper ballot, saying the faith of the people in EVMs has eroded.

A demand of the AAP to tamper with the motherboard of the machine was rejected by the Commission on Thursday.

It said change in circuits would mean the EVM is no longer the one used by the Commission.

Also read: EVM Hackathon: Election Commission rejects Aam Aadmi Partys demand to change motherboard

Also read: EVM challenge: EC awaits entrants; Congress, AAP, BSP keep mum as deadline looms

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
India has lodged a strong protest over demolishing of a Hindu temple in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources said on Friday. The protest has been lodged via diplomatic channels, they said. India conveyed serious concerns to Pakistan High Commission at repeated instances of similar nature, of atrocities against the members of the minority community. Centre has demanded that the Pakistan government should investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible for vandalisation and demolition of the temple.

This comes two days after an attack on a Hindu temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district on Wednesday which drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and Hindu community leaders.

Govt orders the temple's reconstruction

According to Pakistani officials, over 30 people, mostly members of a radical Islamist party, have been arrested after the temple was vandalised and set on fire by a mob protesting against its expansion work. On Thursday, the provincial government ordered authorities to reconstruct the damaged temple as it vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

The temple was attacked by the mob after members of the Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate its decades-old building, according to witnesses. The mob, led by a local cleric and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman group), demolished the newly constructed work alongside the old structure, news agency PTI quoting witnesses said.

According to local police, they arrested more than 30 people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Rehmat Salam Khattak, in overnight raids. Over 350 people have been named in the FIR, Provincial Police Chief KPK Sanaullah Abbasi has said.

Abbasi said all the sections of law relating to terrorism have been included in the FIR against the accused. The police will ensure protection to worship places of minorities in the province, he added. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday took notice of the attack and ordered the local authorities to appear before the court on January 5.

Leader of Hindu Community Peshawar Haroon Sarab Diyal said that a samadhi of a Hindu religious leader exists at the temple site and Hindu families from across the country do visit the samadhi on every Thursday. The Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj is considered sacred by the Hindu community. It was built where he died in 1919 in Teri village of Karak.

READ | Pakistan's SC takes suo moto cognizance over razing of Hindu temple; 26 persons arrested

READ | Suvendu Adhikari slams Prashant Kishor's I-PAC, CM Mamata & nephew sidelining TMC netas

The incident in the town of Karak drew condemnation from Pakistan's minister for human rights, Shireen Mazari. Mazari on Wednesday took to Twitter to condemn the burning of the temple and urged law enforcement officials to ensure the arrest of those involved.

Strongly condemn the burning of a Hindu temple by a mob in Karak Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. KP govt must ensure culprits brought to justice. MOHR also moving on this. We as a govt have a responsibility to ensure safety & security of all our citizens & their places of worship.  Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 30, 2020

Activists slam Imran Khan's PTI govt

The act against the Hindu minority community is widely condemned by human rights activists based in Pakistan and other parts of the world.

A hindu temple was demolished by religious extremists in karak today. It is very shameful moment for us because it reflects the way of how we treat minorities in our country.

You can't run a federation unless and until the rights of minorities are protected. Strongly condemnable. pic.twitter.com/PJOKZA3a1l  Ihtesham Afghan (@IhteshamAfghan) December 30, 2020

2020 in Pakistan: Hindu temple in Karak, KP brutally vandalized and demolished by a violent mob. While the Pakistan government is fixated on the rise of hindutva in India, the fascists at home continue attacking non Muslim Pakistanis with impunity. https://t.co/xlikXXlKny  Rabia Mehmood -  (@Rabail26) December 30, 2020

This is new Pakistan!



A Hindu Temple was destroyed today in Karak, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, governed by PTI Govt.

Police or forces didnt stop the mob because they were chanting Allah-o-Akbar.



A shameful day, Beyond condemnation indeed!

pic.twitter.com/ZIzmCnoGUX  Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) December 30, 2020

#BREAKING...A mob led by local clerics destroyed Hindu temple in Karak district of KP. Hindus obtained permission from the administration to extend the temple but local clerics arranged a mob to destroy the temple. Police & administration remained silent spectators @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/fL6J13YSGN  Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) December 30, 2020

READ | Nawaz Sharif's Passport To Be Cancelled; Pak PM Imran Khan Accused For Ex-FM Asif's Arrest

READ | Violent Pakistan mob razes Hindu temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; shocking visuals on camera

(With PTI inputs)
Two female police officers have been taken to hospital after colliding with a woman driving a Volvo.

Emergency services were called to Brunker Road, Newcastle, 162km north east of Sydney, at 1.30am on New Year's Day.

Officers allege a marked police vehicle travelling south and a Volvo travelling north collided in the southbound lanes.

Emergency services were called to Brunker Road (pictured), Newcastle, 162km north-east of Sydney, at 1.30am on New Year's Day

A female constable and her passenger - a senior constable - had bruising and arm injuries.

They were taken to John Hunter Hospital but have since been released.

Two civilians were also in the police car when it crashed, but they did not require hospital treatment.

The driver of the Ford Volvo, 56, was trapped in her vehicle for some time.

She was eventually released and taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries and mandatory testing.

Inquiries are continuing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.
Another 1,754 cases of Covid-19 have been reported as of midnight on New Years Eve, according to the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

The stark numbers, including 11 additional deaths related to Covid-19, come amid dire warnings from the Health Department that the number of new cases could surge to 9,000 in the coming days amid an alarming rate of people being hospitalised as a result of the virus which now stands at up to 70 a day.

There has been a total of 2,248 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland and there are now 93,532 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

Read More

Of the new cases reported today, 900 are women and 846 are men. The majority of people testing positive for the virus are under the age of 45 with the median age being 35.

The bulk of cases are in Dublin, which reported 523 new cases, followed by 296 in Cork, 180 in Galway, 104 in Mayo, 94 in Kerry and the remaining 557 cases are spread across all other counties.

As of 2pm today, 504 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 47 are in ICU. There were an additional 46 hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: The most concerning trend at present is the rapidly increasing number of people being admitted to hospital - we are now admitting between 50  70 people a day to our hospital system. Unfortunately, we expect this to get worse before it gets better. Our health system will not continue to cope with this level of impact.

And he warned that todays figures are just the tip of the iceberg of the actual number of people who have tested positive over the Christmas period.

We have also seen a significant increase in positive laboratory tests in recent days reflecting a true increase in the incidence of the disease as well as the delay in people coming forward for testing over the Christmas period. As our systems catch up with these effects it places significant pressure on our reporting system.

We have always understood that numbers of positive tests or confirmed cases would be a less reliable indicator over the Christmas period. This is typical of infectious disease reporting annually over the two weeks of Christmas and New Year, he said.

He urged everyone to stay at home to avoid being infected.

What is clear are the measures that the Government has now mandated and the behaviours that we as individuals need to observe. Everyone needs to stay at home other than for essential work or care, he said.

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: Tests processed and reported on a given day will normally be validated and confirmed by the HPSC the following day. Positive tests detected in laboratories require validation (to remove duplicates and other tests that do not create new cases) and transfer to the HPSC database before confirmation and reporting.

A very large volume of positive tests in recent days means there is a delay in formal reporting. In excess of 9,000 additional new cases will be reported over the coming days. The reporting delay does not affect case management or contact tracing or our overall monitoring and modelling of the pandemic."

The figures come amid a stark warning from HSE chief executive Paul Reid who said the virus is now rampant in the community.

With cases likely to reach 3,000 per day and the health service on high alert, HSE CCO Colm Henry has also warned that it is out of control and that everybody you meet should be treated as if they have the disease.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1, Paul Reid said, The virus is absolutely rampant now in the community. Everybody is at extreme risk of contracting the virus.

Our health service is on what we would call now a high alert.

He said that the health system is built for managing viruses, but not a pandemic, and just cant cope with the number of tests being conducted each day.

35,000 swabs were taken and 13,000 people were contacted for a virus test as close contacts yesterday.

Mr Reid said that the most symptomatic people are now being prioritised.

The country is headed for 3,000 cases per day.

The real picture over the last few days is most likely getting close to 3,000 cases per day and thats the extent of the virus that were dealing with.

When we get to these levels, it has a severe impact across a whole set of areas, not just our systems, the health service, and the volume that any system can cope with.

HSE CCO Colm Henry told Today with Katie Hannon on RTE Radio 1 that 15,000 people with symptoms per day are now being referred by GPs for testing.

He said that people should act as if everyone they meet has the virus.

Act as if everybody you meet has the disease. The disease prevalence rate in the community are extremely high and are increasing exponentially, he said.

We know the virus is out of control, he said.

Read More

Online Editors
Indias top passenger vehicle makers posted double-digit growth in wholesales, or factory dispatches, in December following a sustained recovery in demand for compact cars and utility vehicles.

Most moved to replenish dealer stocks after a good festive season and in anticipation of increased demand during the month when automakers offer various discounts to clear year-end stocks. A low base also helped as sales in 2019 were impacted by a slowing economy and an increase in vehicle prices due to a change in emission and safety norms.

Market leader Maruti Suzuki India reported a 17.8% increase from a year earlier in domestic sales at 146,480 vehicles in December amid continued demand for its affordable hatchbacks on the back of a gradual recovery in economic activity and growing preference for personal mobility during the pandemic.

Sales of Marutis small cars and hatchbacks grew 14.5% from the year earlier to 102,568 units last month, while those of utility vehicles rose 8% to 25,701 units.

No. 2 Hyundai Motor India recorded a 24.9% jump to 47,400 units with the Korean firm continuing to see strong demand for its Venue and Creta sport-utility vehicles.

S.S. Kim, president and MD, Hyundai Motor India, said the world has seen multiple challenges in 2020 and that Hyundai has emerged stronger out of the crisis as seen from its market share expansion for the second straight year.

Looking towards the future, we are proceeding with cautious optimism and positively anticipate green shoots of recovery in 2021," Kim said. Hyundai produced a record 71,178 vehicles in December.

Sales at Tata Motors soared 84% from a year earlier in December to 23,545 units amid strong demand for Altroz and Tiago cars. Mahindra and Mahindra also grew its sales by 3% to 16,182 units largely due to demand for its Thar SUV.

The passenger vehicle industry continued to grow robustly in Q3FY21, owing to pent-up demand, strong festive season and shift towards personal mobility," said Shailesh Chandra, president, PV business unit, Tata Motors.

Despite a decline in sales, commercial vehicles continued to show signs of a revival, due to a low base and improvement in economic activity. Sales of Tata Motors commercial vehicles fell 5% to 29,885 units, though Ashok Leyland saw a 14.2% rise to 11,857 units in December. Sales at Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles fell 7.7% to 4,069 vehicles.

Automakers delivered better than expected volume performance in December with the continuation of a positive growth trajectory for most segments. Decent retail sales, coupled with inventory refilling, supported overall performance. Moreover, the commercial segment has been exhibiting good improvement since the past two months. We expect volume traction to continue in coming months," said Mitul Shah, vice president, research, Reliance Securities.

Due to softening demand of entry-level motorcycles in rural and semi-urban areas, domestic sales of Hero MotoCorp, Indias largest two-wheeler maker, increased by just 3.16% to 447,335 units.

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January 01, 2021 / 08:54 PM IST

Farmers protest LIVE updates | Agitating farmers greet 2021 with bonfires, folk songs & 'kheer'

Farmers camping at Delhi-Noida border in protest against the three central farm laws on Friday greeted the new year with bonfires, folk songs, 'kheer' and health check-up for themselves. Members of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) have been staying put here at the Chilla border and the Dalit Prerna Sthal respectively since the first week of December.

The two outfits with a considerable influence in Uttar Pradesh are not part of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farmers unions which are leading the charge at Delhi's border points in Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, but have extended their support to the cause. Scores of farmers affiliated to BKU (Lok Shakti) rang in the new year at the Dalit Prerna Sthal and had bonfires to brave the chilling cold of the night and early morning and regaled to the tunes of folk songs.

During the day, we had arranged for health check-up of our supporters and members, some of whom had complained of uneasiness and facing difficulties. Then there was a treat of 'kheer' for all of us to mark the new year, the faction's spokesperson Shailesh Kumar Giri said. At the Chilla border, 11 members of the BKU (Bhanu) observed a fast in protest against the new laws even as several others, including faction chief Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh, stayed put at the site.

he Noida-Delhi Link Road via Chilla remained partially closed for commuters. Traffic from Delhi to Noida was allowed but closed on the other side, a police official said. Thousands of farmers are currently staying put at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in protest against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The protesting farmers have been expressing apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations. However, the government has been maintaining that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.

(PTI)
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
Lagos States N1.163 trillion 2021 appropriation bill ratified, last Monday, by the House of Assembly has now become a law.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed the financial document into law on Thursday at a simple ceremony held at the State House in Marina, ushering Lagos residents into the New Year with reassuring hopes and heightened expectations.

The governor assented to the bill, christened Budget of Rekindled Hope, at the event attended by cabinet members, Assembly members and chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Rotimi Olowo, who also represented the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

After signing the bill, Mr Sanwo-Olu remarked that the speedy consideration and passage of the budget reflected the dedication to the progress and prosperity of the state by both the executive and legislature.

Describing the past year as a peculiar era in the annals of the state, the governor said the economic paralysis caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and destruction wreaked in the wake of the hijacked EndSARS protests drew Lagos development back in no small measures.

With the signing of the budget, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the state walked into 2021 with strong will and high determination to rebuild lost assets of the state, advance its economic growth, and expand opportunities for residents to flourish despite the economic challenges caused by the disastrous events.

He said: With the passage of the 2021 Appropriation Bill, and the signing of the document into law today, our will to rebuild Lagos, advance the States economic growth, and expand opportunities for Lagosians to flourish despite the economic challenges caused by the coronavirus, has now been reinforced.

As we already know, 2020 will go down in history as a peculiar year largely defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ENDSARS protests, which were recklessly hijacked by those who destroyed some of our public assets and private businesses. We are fortunate to be going into the New Year with an already passed budget, which will help to expedite our recovery process.

Significant parts of the states 2021 spending, Mr Sanwo-Olu said, are committed to human capital development, youth engagement, social intervention initiatives, while chunk of the spendings is reserved for the completion of ongoing projects critical to achieving the objectives of his administrations T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

The governor reassured residents that the budget would rekindle their hopes and deliver substantial economic growth. He said tough choices would be made where necessary and leverage opportunities required to engender sustainable and inclusive growth.

Mr Sanwo-Olu promised that the budget would be prudently implemented, with the focus on provision of the right economic environment for people to thrive.

He said: With the enormous challenges of the outgoing year, we are conscious of the fact that in order to efficiently and successfully implement the 2021 Budget, we must be selfless and dedicated. We are up to the task; with our collective resilience, we will achieve our key goals in all sectors, and nothing will stop us from justifying the trust of the people in this Government.

I assure you that the 2021 budget will be prudently implemented with the people as our focus, as we are determined to provide the right economic environment for Lagosians to thrive. As the world combats COVID-19, we will make the necessary sacrifices to further place our State on the path of abundance and economic recovery. We are going into 2021 with the unwavering determination to engender sustainable and inclusive growth.

The governor urged stakeholders, especially the private sector, artisans as well as small and medium-sized business owners not to relent in supporting the government by voluntarily discharging their civic responsibilities.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, hailed the process of ratification of the appropriation bill, describing the procedure as strenuous but thorough.

He promised that the implementation of the budget would be driven to greater performance, while also assuring the public of intimating them with the full details and breakdown of the budget in due course.

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About N703 billion, representing 60 per cent of 2021 budget, is earmarked for capital expenditure, while N460.5 billion will go for recurrent expenditure.
Israel says it has vaccinated 1 million people against COVID-19, more than a tenth of its population, as it rolls out one of the world's earliest and most rapid inoculation campaigns.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on hand when the millionth Israeli received a vaccination in the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm.

He called it a moment of "great excitement."

Arabs, who make up around 20% of Israel's population, have been slow to embrace the vaccination campaign.

They have Israeli citizenship and the right to vote but face discrimination in housing and other areas, contributing to widespread mistrust of authorities.

Netanyahu said "it's important for me that the Arab population in Israel will get vaccinated quickly," because "it's saving lives."

He delivered the same message at a vaccination center in Tira, another Arab town, on New Year's Eve.

Our World in Data, a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oxford and the non-profit group Global Change Data Lab, shows Israel leading the world in per capita vaccinations.

Israel is currently in its third nationwide lockdown to contain the outbreak.

It currently has more than 40,000 active cases and has reported 3,338 deaths since the pandemic began.

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Over 2,300 people in UK infected with Covid-19 strain found in India; How worrying is the variant?

Explained: How UP's new film city, Noida airport brought change amid COVID-19 pandemic

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Noida, Jan 01: Development work on India's biggest airport and a new film city made sure Gautam Buddh Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh stayed in the limelight in a year headlined by a pandemic and lockdown.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in his multiple visits to the district in 2020, dubbed Noida and Greater Noida "show window" of the state. Infamous for crime, the district switched to the commissionerate system of policing in January, a move that appeared to have bore good results as number of street and heinous crimes went down in 2020 over the previous year.

India lodges formal protest with Pakistan against vandalisation of Hindu temple

Police Commissioner Alok Singh, while presenting the crime data for the year on December 30, said the crime graph had gone down in the district and remarked that his force had been on an "aggressive" mode of policing to keep citizens safe.

The major switchover, however, preceded a controversial end to the erstwhile SSP-led police system when IPS officer Vaibhav Krishna was suspended from the post by the state government for "leaking" a "confidential" communication, days after he raised the issue of alleged corruption within the police system.

In the first week of March, Noida reported its first coronavirus case, bringing to test the efficiency of the medical and administration to the hilt in what was evolving to be a pandemic. The situation resulted in a spate of transfers, including District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh -- bringing to an abrupt end his nearly three-year-long illustrious stint here -- and two chief medical officers.

India, Pak exchange list of nuclear installations

The IAS officer was shunted out over his alleged mishandling of the pandemic situation and an inquiry initiated despite the number of cases being 38 at the end of March which stood close to 25,000 and 90 deaths on December 31.

Soon after his appointment, Suhas LY, the new district magistrate, went cracking on the situation in April and announced a ban on movement to and fro Delhi except for the frontline workers.

However the move, which caused inconvenience to commuters, paid off and the infection rate came down. By end of the year, Gautam Buddh Nagar had the among the lowest COVID-19 mortality rate of 0.36 per cent in the state and a recovery rate close to 98 per cent, according to official data.

2021 Ahead: India Inc seeks single income tax structure instead of dual structure

"As 2020 ends, numbers look better than before, vaccination process is around the corner. We hope to come out of this pandemic completely very soon," Suhas said in a letter on New Year's Eve. The Noida International Airport, which had got an in-principle approval of the Centre in 2018, only got its official name, logo and key agreement signed in 2020 that allows Swiss firm Zurich Airport International AG to start construction work in 2021.

"The project, so far, is coming up as per schedule and the first flight from the airport is expected to take off in 2023. It would be either December 2023 or January 2024," Noida International Airport Limited CEO Arun Vir Singh told PTI in December. Work on the detailed project report (DPR) for the film city, an ambitious project of Adityanath, is underway and likely to be ready by March, according to officials.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

If the pandemic was not enough, the lockdown came as a double whammy -- hitting trade and businesses, ordinary citizens, salaried and migrant workers, and the poor.

Thousands of workers and daily wage earners in Noida and Greater Noida were rendered jobless ever since the lockdown came into force in March to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission. Lakhs of people living hand-to-mouth in the slums and villages here were left to fend for themselves while thousands, who managed to leave for their hometowns, did.

But humanity rose to the occasion when it was needed the most, as individuals and voluntary groups - like the 'Roti Bank' in Noida and 'Active Citizens Group' in Greater Noida took charge of the situation, augmenting the relief work done by government agencies.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 15:10 [IST]
Washington: The Republican-controlled Senate voted to ignore Donald Trump's objections and back a $961 billion defence authorisation bill into law, delivering the first successful veto override of his presidency.

The 81 to 13 vote in the Senate came just days after the House also voted in overwhelming numbers to back the legislation, despite Trump's repeated protests. It takes two-thirds of each chamber to override a presidential veto.

The strong bipartisan majorities supporting the defence bill in both chambers represent a a significant rebuke of the president, as it contains several repudiations of his policies.

US President Donald Trump visits a section of the border wall in April 2019. Credit:AP

The bill contains new restrictions on how much of the military's construction budget the President may move by emergency order - a direct response to Trump's efforts to divert billions of the Pentagon's dollars toward the border wall. It also limits the President's ability to draw down troop levels in Germany, South Korea and Afghanistan - a move Trump had planned over the objections of members of his own party.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
(CNN)  As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the US, some states are already offering shots to people other than health care workers and nursing home residents.

West Virginia recently announced it would start vaccinating some of its elderly population, joining states such as Tennessee, Nevada and Florida in expanding vaccine distribution.

Federal recommendations advise that the first round of vaccines be allocated to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, followed by adults aged 75 and older and "frontline essential workers." But, in reality, states are free to make their own decisions on who gets vaccinated when.

Leaders in some states have argued that focusing on vaccinating elderly people rather than younger essential workers could help reduce the burdens on their health care systems.

Still, though some governors have expanded who can receive the vaccine at this time, when exactly those people get a shot depends on supplies and how localities administer them.

Here's how the effort to vaccinate the most vulnerable residents is going in some places.

West Virginia

Residents aged 80 and older became eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine beginning on Wednesday, Gov. Jim Justice announced.

Doses for people in that age group were being delivered to 82 organizations, including primary care physicians, health clinics and local health departments, Justice said at a news briefing.

The state is planning several vaccination clinics for people aged 80 and older at National Guard armories and other selected sites around the state, though the clinics have not yet been scheduled.

But though some elderly people in the state are now eligible for the vaccine, it could be some time before they actually get one -- at the moment, demand is high and supplies are limited. The number of vaccines available depends on how many West Virginia receives each week from the federal government, according to the governor's office.

"... Patience is urged while the West Virginia National Guard's Joint Interagency Task Force finalizes plans for the widespread distribution of vaccines for West Virginians in this age category," Justice's office said in the news release.

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which serves the state's most populous county, said it was flooded with eligible residents eager to get a shot after the governor's announcement. By the end of Wednesday, it had run out of its allotted appointment times for the following day.

The department has since announced that it expects to receive 500 doses for those 80 and older on Saturday. Eligible residents who wish to be vaccinated should call for an appointment starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, the department said.

Staff at the Berkeley County Health Department pulled a 12-hour shift to coordinate vaccine shipments, schedule appointments and administer doses to eligible members of the community.

Appointments were given on a first-come, first-serve basis and soon, the department announced that it had run out of doses -- with no word yet on when it would receive the next shipment as of Thursday morning.

"We understand the desire to get our loved ones vaccinated as soon as possible and are doing our best to ensure we get the vaccines out, based on the priority groups given, as quickly as possible," the department wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, residents aged 75 years and older are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

Wednesday's announcement came as part of an update to Tennessee's current vaccination plan, which the health department said was based on new recommendations from the federal government's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and several other groups.

As a part of that update, K-12 teachers and child care workers also moved ahead in the line to receive the vaccine, putting them right behind frontline health care workers.

"COVID-19 vaccines remain limited at this time, and Tennessee's allocation plan prioritizes those most at risk of illness and death from COVID-19," Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said in a statement.

Piercey said that some counties had already started vaccinating elderly residents.

In Hamilton County, lines of cars with people seeking vaccines stretched for miles on Thursday morning.

Wait times were longer than two hours, and at around 10 a.m., the county health department advised people to exit the line and come back at another time. More vaccination slots for eligible residents would likely open up starting January 5, the department said later.

Georgia

Georgians 65 and older, along with law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders, will soon be among those eligible for the vaccine.

State officials announced on Wednesday that those groups could get the vaccine within the next two weeks, as long as the state had enough supplies.

This latest wave of individuals will now be included in the state's Phase 1A, joining health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities, who have already started getting the vaccine.

The state health department didn't offer much detail on how it would roll out vaccines to elderly people and first responders. But it appears that when those populations will get a shot will depend on where they live and the availability of vaccines in their area.

Different parts of the state are completing the state's Phase 1A at different times, based on the number of health care workers and long-term care residents and staff they have to vaccinate, according to Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey.

"This expansion of 1a eligible vaccination criteria will allow vaccine to be administered as quickly as possible to our most at-risk populations in terms of exposure, transmission and severity," Toomey said in a statement.

Nevada

Nevada recently updated its distribution plan to prioritize people 75 and older.

Individuals in that age group are now included in Tier 2, meaning that they'll be vaccinated at the same time as the state's frontline essential workers. Other people in the Tier 2 category include those who work in the education, agriculture and transportation sectors.

Residents between 65 and 74 years of age and people with underlying health conditions will be part of the Tier 3 group, along with a second group of essential workers.

"It's important for Nevadans to know that during the time period when COVID vaccines are limited, the allocation is based on scientific data, key ethical principles, federal recommendations, and our unique implementation challenges," Gov. Steve Sisolak tweeted on Wednesday.

But it's still unclear how exactly those vaccines would be administered to those newly eligible.

Immunization program manager Shannon Bennett said during a news briefing that the state's vaccine distribution plan "continues to be fluid."

"As more doses of the vaccine are received in Nevada and distributed to counties, some regions of the state may move into the next tier sooner than others, based on factors such as population size and vaccine demand and the tier group," Bennett said.

As of Tuesday, more than 25,000 doses have been administered and reported across the state, Sisolak said.

Vaccination at assisted living facilities will start next week, the governor said.

Florida

Florida, which has among the highest proportion of residents over the age of 65, is prioritizing vaccinating the elderly over essential workers.

But in practice, getting shots in the arms of those residents has been more complicated.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has left it up to each county health department to decide how it administers the vaccines. The approach has created a mass scramble for a limited number of doses, with hourslong wait times at vaccination sites and overburdened county hotlines and websites.

In southwest Florida, huge lines formed overnight Tuesday after the Lee County Department of Health announced that anyone 65 and older and high-risk frontline health care workers could receive a vaccine on a first-come, first serve basis.

Each of the county's seven vaccination sites had just 300 doses, leading people to camp out on lawn chairs and wait for hours.

Other counties have tried to set up vaccination appointments for those who sign up online or through a hotline.

In Orange County, the department of health set up an online portal to make vaccination appointments, and 30,000 appointments were scheduled in the last 24 hours. The county then said it reached capacity and closed its online portal on Wednesday.

In Palm Beach County, the department of health directed people 65 and older to call an appointment hotline to get their vaccine. But the hotline can only handle 150 calls at a time and was being overwhelmed, the county said.

And in South Florida, Broward Health said all of its appointments are booked until February.

Some vaccine recipients said that though they considered themselves lucky, the process of distributing the shots could be improved.

"Although I'm grateful to get the vaccine, I feel that there's got to be a better way to distribute this," Bruce Scott, who received the vaccine at a site in Fort Myers, told CNN.

"For people that really need it, elderly that might be disabled in some way, they can't endure this process, so there's got to be a better way to manage this."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "How the effort to vaccinate the elderly is going in some states."
New Years resolutions starter pack

New Years resolutions can be difficult to keep. Most people abandon theirs by February, studies show. So heres some advice if youre determined to set  and meet  a goal in 2021.

Make it specific and realistic. Resolutions tend to be too big without any thought about whether they are practical or even possible, says our colleague Tara Parker-Pope. Resolving to exercise more is vague, but resolving to add five or 10 minutes to each workout is measurable.

If you find yourself recycling a goal from years past, consider why it didnt stick. The resolution Im going to lose weight doesnt address the underlying issue of why your diet isnt as healthful as you want it to be, Tara says. Maybe the resolution should be: Im going to stop buying packaged snack foods and snack on fruits and vegetables instead.

Go easy on yourself. If the thought of setting ambitious resolutions feels overwhelming, downsize them into smaller but still satisfying goals. Its still important to celebrate that youre working toward making a positive change, writes The Timess Christina Caron.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 23:26:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- China will cut subsidies on new energy vehicles (NEVs) starting Friday to promote the healthy development of the industry, said a circular posted on the official website of the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Subsidies for NEVs in public transportation, environmental sanitation, postal services and logistics, and civil aviation airports, among others, will be cut by 10 percent compared to that of 2020, said the circular.

Subsidies on other NEVs will be cut by 20 percent, according to the circular jointly released by the MOF, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Development and Reform Commission.

China will also strengthen regulations on the blind investment and manufacturing of NEVs to prevent over expansion in the sector, the circular said.

In November last year, China unveiled a development plan for its NEV industry in 2021-2035 that aims to accelerate the country's transition into an automotive powerhouse.

The proportion of new NEVs in the sales of new vehicles is expected to rise to 20 percent by 2025, and vehicles used in public transportation will be completely electrified by 2035, according to the plan.

Boasting the world's largest inventory of NEVs, China accounts for 55 percent of global NEV sales. Enditem
Virus detectives are searching for the source of a concerning COVID-19 cluster in Sydneys west as northern beaches residents wait to hear what relief from restrictions Premier Gladys Berejiklian will grant them on Saturday.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the results of genomic sequencing for three new western Sydney cases expected on Sunday will reveal whether they are linked to the Avalon cluster.

Gladys Berejiklian will likely announce a relaxation of some northern beaches restrictions on Saturday. Credit:Sam Mooy

At this point the western Sydney cases are not linked [to the Avalon cluster]. Well be interested whether that sequence matches the Avalon cluster, Dr Chant said, though there were other possibilities, such as the patient transport worker living in western Sydney who caught the virus from the overseas returned travellers he had shuttled.

The new cases - a man in his 40s and two men in their 20s - set off public health alerts for several new venues where people may have been exposed to the virus. Dr Chant urged people to check NSW Healths website regularly for its updated venue list.
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A total of 1.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech arrived in on Thursday, according to Indonesian government officials.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said this is the second batch of the Sinovac vaccine delivery for Indonesia, and the first batch of 1.2 million doses arrived on December 6, the Xinhua news agency reported.

"With this arrival, it means that there are already 3 million doses of Sinovac vaccine in Indonesia," Marsudi told a virtual press conference.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said vaccination is one of Indonesia's main strategies to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, adding, "It would take more than 12 months to complete the vaccination program, so we always keep up to health protocols."

is planning to vaccinate 181.5 million of its population in 2021 in order to achieve herd immunity and break the chain of coronavirus transmissions.

The first period of vaccination will be from January to April 2021, for inoculating 1.3 million medical workers, 17.4 million public workers, and 21.5 million elderly people.

The second period will run from April 2021 to March 2022 for vaccination of 63.9 million vulnerable people and 77.4 million people of other groups.

--IANS

int/rs

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The woman has been asymptomatic ever since she was admitted to the isolation ward at the government hospital in Rajahmahendravaram on December 24 (Representational Image)

Vijayawada: The woman infected with the UK strain of the Coronavirus continues to be asymptomatic and may undergo genome sequencing test if shes tested Covid-19 positive in RTPCR test.

This is subject to advice from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, or any other virology lab.

The woman has been asymptomatic ever since she was admitted to the isolation ward at the government hospital in Rajahmahendravaram on December 24. She was having mild cough and had tested Covid-19 positive in an RT-PCR test at a hospital in Delhi.

On completion of 14 days, another RT-PCR test would be done on her in the first week of January. If she turns Covid-19 negative, she would continue in the isolation ward for a few more days; and if positive, her swab samples may be sent for genome sequencing. A health official said, If she turns negative to Covid-19, there is no need for sequencing of her genome.

The hospital is functioning normally with only one case of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the woman son tested Covid-19 negative twice in tests was discharged from the isolation ward on Thursday and was advised home isolation for now.
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The leaders of San Antonios hospitals issued an urgent warning on New Years Eve, telling people to stay home to avoid a potential catastrophe.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in local hospitals is growing at an alarming rate and on track to surpass the July surge in a matter of days, the eight hospital presidents wrote.

Without action to reduce the spread of the virus in this community, we will reach capacity, and our ability to save lives and care for the sick and injured will be in serious jeopardy.

Hospitals took in 159 new coronavirus patients Wednesday, bringing the total COVID-19 patient count to 1,136.

During the July surge, coronavirus hospitalizations reached a peak of 1,267 on July 13.

Echoing the near-daily refrain of Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the hospital leaders urged the public to:

Cover noses and mouths with a mask while in public.

Stay home whenever possible.

Wash hands frequently.

Only gather with people in ones immediate household.

Stay physically distanced at least 6 feet from others.

We know some of these things are easy to do, the letter stated. Others are hard, especially after such a long time.

We are a social community, and we know its difficult to stay apart, they said. But we must do it until the COVID-19 vaccine is widely distributed. That day will come but until it does, we must remain vigilant to avoid a crisis in our hospitals and further tragic losses of friends and loved ones.

Since the pandemic began in March, 1,538 San Antonians have died from the virus.

Many residents have thanked nurses and doctors for their tedious overtime, but the best way to demonstrate gratitude today is a collective commitment to do the things we all know can help prevent an even greater crisis, the hospital leaders wrote.

These people have dedicated their lives to caring for your family members as they would their own. Without your help, they will face an extremely challenging surge of patients. No one wants that to happen, they added.

Hospital leaders who signed the letter include Matthew Stone, president and CEO of Baptist Health System; Dean Alexander, president and CEO of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa; Allen Harrison, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare; Jonathan Turton, president and CEO of Southwest General Hospital; Eric Epley, CEO of STRAC; George B. Hernandez Jr., president and CEO of University Health System; Dr. William L. Henrich, president and CEO of UT Health San Antonio; and Christopher R. Sandles, medical center director and CEO of South Texas Veterans Health Care.

Weve lost too many people already; so lets do our part and slow the spread, they added near the end of the letter. We can do it, San Antonio.
India will test its Covid-19 vaccine delivery system with a nationwide trial on Saturday as the South Asian nation prepares to roll-out an inoculation program to stem the worlds second-worst outbreak.

The federal health ministry has reviewed preparedness and asked state governments to ensure the effectiveness of the program, the government said in a statement Thursday.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech on Thursday the country was preparing to give indigenously manufactured shots to high-risk people quickly.

The government plans to inoculate 300 million people in the first phase by August, including health care and front line workers, police and military troops and those with co-morbidities and above the age of 50. Its a daunting task for a country of more than 1.3 billion people with limited infrastructure and patchy health networks.

India is expected to initially lean on the two-dose vaccines manufactured by Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India. Serum has partnered with AstraZeneca Plc. to make at least one billion doses of their shot, half of which have been earmarked for India. Both manufacturers, along with Pfizer Inc., are seeking emergency use permission for their coronavirus shots in India.

An expert committee of Indias Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation is scheduled to meet Friday to consider these approvals after examining safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity data from Bharat and Serum. Pfizer has asked for time to present its data, a government statement said Wednesday.

The objective of the daylong vaccine dry run is to test the links between planning and implementation and identify any challenges along the way, the government said in its statement.

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Photo: Pexels

UPDATED 10:21 a.m.

The Provincial Health Services Authority says that British Columbia's New Year's baby is a girl. She still has yet to be named.

The parents, Catherine Harrison and Darcy Doberstein, say mother and baby are doing well.

ORIGINAL 8:05 a.m.



If you had your money on the B.C. Women's Hospital in Vancouver welcoming the first baby of 2021 - it's time to cash in!

The province announced the first baby of B.C. arrived at 12:21 a.m. today, weighing 7 lbs and 4 oz.

PlayNow.com was taking bets on where the first B.C. baby of 2021 would be born, and odds were in favour of the B.C. Women's Hospital, which homed the first baby of the province in 2017.
Vietnam remains one of the top 10 exporters of textiles and apparel.

However, with the harsh impact of the pandemic on the industry and strict rules of origins following transnational trade agreements, the sectors supply of raw materials faces a difficult start into the new year.

Vietnamese businesses are being urged to take advantage of free trade agreements to help solve raw material issues, photo Le Toan

The shortage of raw materials for the garment and footwear industries could be offset by foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), but it may not be easy for them to sell their products to domestic manufacturers.

The year 2021 will be difficult for sure, commented Alessandro di Palma, CEO at DWS Co., Ltd., when talking about exports to Europe. Especially, the German market continues to face difficulties, with the impact on DWS possibly being worse in the new year. Our sales have dropped more than 20 per cent since the pandemic broke out, continuing to fall in November by around 30 per cent, said Palma.

Despite the current peak season for the yarn industry, orders for 2021 have decreased by about 20 per cent compared to the same period last year. DWS previously expected its output for 2020 to reach 1,000 tonnes, but as the factory is currently not running at full capacity, inventories have exceeded the permitted thresholds.

The company has had to reduce its output, while its cash flow was affected by slow orders and payments.

Weakest link

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has confirmed that in the first 11 months of 2020, production of woven fabrics from natural fibres was estimated at 612.6 million square metres, up 6.3 per cent on-year, while the output of synthetic and artificial fibres was estimated at 855.7 million sq.m, down 9.4 per cent over the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Cotton and Spinning Association forecasts that to meet the growing demand by 2025, the spinning industry must produce at least 17.9 million spindles and 12 billion sq.m of fabric. However, only 2.8 billion sq.m of cloth are produced domestically, while the current demand lies at 8.9 billion sq.m, meaning that Vietnam has to import over six billion sq.m of fabric, accounting for more than 60 per cent.

As the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and its associated rules of origin have come into effect, manufacturers have to be more careful about where and how to order raw materials to enjoy the preferential tariffs. The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) has more than once called for foreign investment in raw materials. However, so far investors were not very interested due to the tightened environmental regulations by localities.

Lam Dan My, sales manager of Taiwanese Sunrise Chemical Supply Co., Ltd. came to Hanoi last week to expand the companys business to the north instead of focusing on customers in the southern market. However, the expansion plans of Sunrise are stagnating as Lam has yet to find a suitable partner.

Pressure on input materials was partly reduced as Vietnam and South Korea signed an agreement in December to implement the accumulation of origin of textiles between the two nations.

The move also promises to redirect large funds to manufacturers using raw materials imported from South Korea to produce textiles for exports to Europe, with the rate of meeting the rules of origin possibly staying at up to 50 per cent.

Quality for export

Hong Sun, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam, realised that the proactive preparation and signing of an agreement between Vietnam and South Korea on origin accumulation for textile and garment materials right after the EVFTA came into effect was vital and well-timed. Vietnamese businesses can immediately solve the problem of high-quality raw materials and take advantage of the export opportunities to the EU market, Sun said.

Vitas data shows that in the past five years, South Korea was the second-largest exporter of fabrics to Vietnam, only behind China, with an import value of about $2 billion per year, accounting for 17-18 per cent of total fabric imports into Vietnam.

While the exports of textiles and garments amounted to $39 billion in 2019, the local textile industry only sourced 30 per cent of the fabric domestically.

Thus, the EVFTAs Fabric-Forward rule of origin does not present a challenge in the short term, as Vietnam even lacks high-quality fabrics to produce for exports to the EU. The import of raw and auxiliary materials from countries with FTAs with the EU, such as South Korea, also has other limitations, as high raw material prices reduce Vietnams competitiveness, while the benefits of the tariff reductions are not enough to compensate for this and compete against other countries exporting to the EU.

As the EU-Japan FTA took effect from January 2019, Vitas recommends that, following South Korea, the Vietnamese government should continue to negotiate with the Japanese side to implement aggregated rules of origin for textile materials between the two countries.

According to Vitas calculations, if both sides can agree on exchange terms, each year, Vietnams garment and textile sector could receive additional fabrics worth nearly $1 billion which are eligible for the tariff exemptions of the EVFTA.

Than Duc Viet, general director of Garment 10 JSC, said that every year, his company needs 30 million metres of fabric to produce about 18 million shirts and 1.5 million suits. However, the high cost is the main reason why the company does not always use domestic fabrics. Strengthening the connection between domestic companies and FIEs to supply raw materials, Viet believed, will contribute to reducing the dependence on imports, thus increasing the competitiveness of Vietnams garments and textiles.

According to the General Statistics Office, only 16 per cent of factories are currently running at full capacity, which means the remainder operates below capacity. On the bright side, the current situation may be an opportunity to establish networks and step by step develop autonomous sources for raw materials.

Phan Van Chinh - General director, Agency of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Industry and Trade With the EVFTA, Vietnamese textiles and garments have a competitive advantage over Chinese products, as well as equal chances like Cambodia and Bangladesh which also currently enjoy zero trade tariffs. Moreover, the textile industry can currently still profit from the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, (GSP) which will continue for another two years. Footwear products cannot use raw materials that do not originate within the agreements area, except for combining parts of toe caps and soles. These rules of origin are stricter than those in some other FTAs but are nothing new for the leather and footwear industry, as enterprises also previously exported to the EU with similar criteria under the GSP. On the flip side, the EVFTA is expected to create great competitive advantages in the short- and medium-term for Vietnam, especially compared to other ASEAN countries. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan - General secretary, Vietnam Leather, Footwear, and Handbag Association Until now, Vietnam has been the second-largest supplier to the EU. But the outlook is not too optimistic. Firstly, most of our key markets have not yet controlled the pandemic, while Vietnams leather and footwear heavily rely on the purchasing power of these markets. Secondly, the cost of export activities is increasing. Thirdly, the aggregated demand has decreased by 22 per cent, and brands have cut 40-50 per cent of orders globally, with the remaining orders being restructured in manufacturing countries. Thus, the new year seems unpredictable. While the pandemics development is not clear, there is now also the possibility of high tariffs in the US market  a huge challenge for the footwear industry. Therefore, we will continue to support businesses to take advantage of opportunities from Vietnams many FTAs, organise trade promotion activities, and improve manufacturers capacity to comply with the agreements and environmental regulations. Vu Duc Giang - Chairman, Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association We have come up with possible solutions to tackle current challenges. Firstly, it is necessary to develop a strategy for the 2021-2025 period. Secondly, tech solutions need to be clearly formulated, which provide a vision for the spinning and dyeing industry with a focus on automation to create a platform for the fast-changing trends of the market. Thirdly, orientations should be given concerning environmental efforts, such as energy saving, efficient use of water resources, and sustainable development for factories and workers. Fourthly, supply chains for raw materials should be further established to enable Vietnamese textile and garment brands to reach out to global markets. Lastly, networks among domestic and international distributors should be fostered to bring Vietnamese textile and apparel brands into global retail chains. Facing slow orders in 2021, we will update information related to market developments and orders so that businesses can adapt and find solutions. VIR

Hai Anh

Multi-billion US dollar deals kick off new investment wave More and more investment deals are still being been made despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wherever you are, Marie-Louise and I bring you warm greetings from our capital city Philipsburg on this New Years Day.

As the New Year 2021 begins, let us thank God for bringing us this far. Let us thank him for watching over our country and ask him for his continued guidance going forward.

We are living through extraordinary global health and economic crisis. The coronavirus pandemic has presented us, with a serious and urgent challenge; the challenge to overcome and rebuild A Stronger Sint Maarten. Our challenge is as such a clarion call to secure our future wellbeing.

My fellow Sint Maarteners,

Looking back, 2020 marked the 10th anniversary of Sint Maartens journey as a country within the Kingdom of Netherlands. A Sint Maarten journey rooted in our pursuit to improve our wellbeing as a people. In my speech to commemorate the anniversary, I stated that the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, coupled with the impact of hurricane Irma in 2017, have wiped out years of socio-economic gains in terms of economic growth and employment.

2020 is as a result best characterized as a year of unprecedented disruption to our lives:

a) The virus has affected the health of over 1400 persons and taken too many lives;

b) It has placed a heavy strain on our health care workers and disrupted access to primary care;

c) It has disrupted the education of our children;

d) The required guidelines, such as social distancing, to contain its spread are affecting our social interactions, our traditions, and our way of life;

e) It has resulted in a major fallout in international travel causing our tourism-based economy to shrink by almost 25% and businesses to cut back or close;

f) It has as a result caused many among us to take pay cuts, to lose jobs, and to seek assistance from government or food banks;

g) It has caused the existing budget deficits to increase further, resulting in the government having to cut expenses and borrow money from the Netherlands;

h) And the response to these challenges has resulted in tensions between social partners and caused a further strain in our relations with the Netherlands.

More than ever we were reminded of how much we depend on each other. On how much our actions influence one another. The coronavirus is therefore clarion call for the world as a whole and for us a people.

As we begin this new year, we are all aware that the disruption to our lives is not over. In addition to social distancing, many among us are struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, the liquidity of many businesses, as well as government, have dwindled and dried up. We as such face an uphill climb in the year ahead. Difficult as that climb maybe, I am convinced that we will make it to the top.

As we continue to respond to our clarion call, I encourage you to reflect on one of my favorite gospel songs: we shall overcome. I encourage you to do so because I am confident that we, like generation of Sint Maarteners before us, will find inspiration in the driving force and promise of the words: we shall overcome.

During the past year we have seen that driving force at work through our men and women on the frontline. Courageous men and women who continue to risk their own lives to protect our life and livelihood. Courageous health care professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, other frontline employees, and volunteers, who remind us every day that the protection of our wellbeing and our country is our common purpose. Throughout the year I was inspired by their sense of responsibility and duty. I therefore thank each of you for your invaluable service to the people of Sint Maarten and for answering our clarion call.

Going about our daily lives, I see most of you, as good citizens, looking out for each other, practicing social distancing, and wearing masks. I therefore salute you for doing your share in responding to our clarion call.

Reflecting on the past year I trust that we will learn from our good and not so good experiences; and that we will continue to build and improve on the progress we have made thus far. As we continue our journey this year, let us therefore as one people rally to answer our clarion call:

1. Let us build on the knowledge that we are better prepared to contain the spread of the coronavirus;

2. Let us draw from the positive results of the cooperation between health care professionals and organizations at home and within the Kingdom;

3. Let us build on the lessons learned in the process of securing financing to provide liquidity to households, businesses, and government services.

At this critical moment in our journey I encourage you, as individuals, corporations, civil society, and government, to join forces to recalibrate our social economic development. This with an emphasis on public and private sector initiatives:

a. To strengthen the financial resilience of our country;

b. To upgrade existing safety net for the vulnerable among us;

c. To expand investments in public health and health care;

d. To allocate resources to develop and retain our scarce human capital;

e. To foster investments in the upgrading of our tourism infrastructure and in new types of jobs and businesses such as in the digital economy; and

f. To secure investments to upgrade our critical infrastructures such as telecommunications, water and electricity, the airport, and the harbor to support and facilitate future growth.

A socio-economic recalibration aimed at rebuilding a sustainable economic base, securing our place in the rapidly evolving digital economy, and restoring Sint Maartens position as a premier tourist destination and regional commercial center.

To achieve this we, all of us, must come together and work together today, tomorrow, and each day thereafter. We can do so with the knowledge and resolve that we have climbed difficult hills before, and we overcame together. I, therefore, believe that we shall overcome this challenge stronger together again. This by walking hand in hand at home and by constructive cooperation with Kingdom and international partners. And for that I am, as always, counting on my trust in the boundless strength and resilience of We the People of Sint Maarten.

My fellow Sint Maarteners,

In closing, as the New Year 2021 begins, let us once again thank God for bringing us this far and ask him for his continued guidance. Thus as we look back on a year of unprecedented disruption, and forward with hope to the next and beyond, let us individually and collectively take up our responsibility to answer our clarion call to overcome and rebuild a stronger Sint Maarten, for ourselves and future generations. As your Governor I hereby pledge to continue to work with government and other stakeholders towards the answering of our clarion call for the rebuilding of our beloved country, St. Maarten.

With that pledge, I hereby on behalf of Marie-Louise and myself, wish you a year of health, happiness, and growth.

Thank you, God bless you, and May God bless Sint Maarten and protect its coast.

The Governor of Sint Maarten

drs. Eugene B. Holiday
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At $24,795 excluding destination charge, its pretty good value if you remember that all-wheel drive comes standard. The entry-level specification isnt bad in terms of safety eighter thanks to EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. Better still, the Starlink touchscreen multimedia system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.Hybrid assistance is obviously missing from the range, and thats a bit curious if you look at direct competitors such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4. Even more curious, Subaru sells the Forester e-Boxer in the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, and at home in Japan.This could change for the 2022 model year when the mid-cycle refresh is scheduled to roll out, but so far, Subaru of America is keeping quiet about the e-Boxer or a plug-in hybrid powertrain like that of the Crosstrek Hybrid. Coming courtesy of Kolesa.ru , the rendering before your eyes doesnt look half bad even though the redesigned grille doesnt contrast well with Jasper Green Metallic. Magnetite Gray, Ice Silver, or Crystal White would be more appropriate, but as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.The Russian motoring publication has also worked its magic on the rear bumper of the mid-cycle refresh, and its safe to assume that Subaru will do the same in order to keep the compact crossover relevant in this highly competitive segment. Looking at the bigger picture, dont expect any major changes because the Japanese automaker isnt known for major facelifts.If you ask me, something that I would like to see on the 2022 model is the tablet-style touchscreen from the Legacy and Outback . The 11.6-inch unit isnt only larger than the largest infotainment system available in the Forester right now, but its more configurable as well, thanks to movable app icons.
US First Lady Melania Trump has finally broken silence over not appearing in 'any magazine' saying that 'I don't care about any magazine'. Melania's views were revealed in an audio recording released by her former senior adviser and friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff.

It is to be noted that Wolkoff is the author of book titled 'Melania and Me. The audio recording shared by Wolkoff was recorded in 2018 and Melania can be heard saying that she has "no interest" in appearing on magazine covers  specifically Vogue.

"When Vogue said like 'oh, we want you to do a profile.' Profile? F you profile. I don't need profile," Melania says in the leaked recording.

"What I need another profile? 'It might be a cover', I'm like it might be a cover? I don't need, I don't give a damn about Vogue and any magazine."

Melania, who was once a popular model, also raised question over the need for "another photoshoot", saying the publication can go to "Getty Images and get the pictures."

Melania also talked about the chances appearing on the magazine's coveted "September Issue", saying it is not going to happen because people are jealous of her.

"They would never do it. No way. No way. All these people are so mad.Some people they say like, well, they're jealous they want to be you," she said.

"I'm doing so much more important stuff," she adds, confirming: "Do I care? I don't."

Melania's audio recording emerged days after President Trump took to Twitter to slam the media for not featuring Melania during their stint in the White House.

Trump retweeted a comment from Breitbart that slammed the "elitist snobs in the fashion press" with Trump adding that Melania is "the greatest of all time."

"Fake News!" he added.

Trump fans have frequently raised objetions over Melania's absence from front page cover and have often accused the US press of favouring liberals by granting Michelle Obama, former president Barack Obama wife, 12 magazine covers in her two terms as First Lady.

In an April 2019 interview with CNN, Vogue editor Anna Wintour said: "You have to stand up for what you believe in and you have to take a point of view."
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri breaks with Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, in declaring he would contest the certification of electoral vote - AP

A Republican senator on Wednesday announced that he would object next week when Congress convenes to certify the electoral college vote, in a doomed attempt to upend Joe Bidens victory.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri broke with Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, and other prominent Republicans in declaring he would contest the certification of electoral college vote, following calls to do so from President Donald Trump.

The challenge, which would prompt a floor debate and force senators to go on the record as to whether they believe there were voting irregularities in the November 3 election, means there will be at least a short delay in Mr Bidens confirmation.

Mr Trump will inevitably lose that vote, as Democrats control the House and a number of Senate Republicans have publicly recognised Mr Bidens victory, including Senator Mitt Romney, who has called the presidents refusal to accept the election dangerous.

Even in the unlikely event that Mr Trump were to prevail in the Senate, where Mike Pence, Vice President, would be in position to cast a tie-breaking vote if needed, the challenge still would fail given the House vote.

Mr McConnell and other senior Republicans had sought to avoid a vote that will see Republicans forced to take sides either with or against the president.

Mr Hawley, a constitutional lawyer, said he felt compelled to highlight purported election irregularities despite there being no evidence of any.

Millions of voters concerned about election integrity deserve to be heard, he wrote on Twitter. I will object on January 6 on their behalf.

At the very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections. But Congress has so far failed to act, Mr Hawley said.

The 40-year-old senator is rumoured to be positioning himself as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, and his move could be designed to appeal to the tens of millions of loyal Trump supporters.

Story continues

The Department of Justice, the Department for Homeland Security, election boards, judges, and other authorities have found no evidence of election malfeasance that impacted the President-elect Bidens decisive win. The US Supreme Court has also declined to intervene.

Any member of the House or Senate can contest the electoral votes on January 6.

On Wednesday, Mr Pence refused to sign on to a plan that would upend Congress certifying the election for Mr Biden.

Representative Louie Gohmert and Arizona's slate of Republican Electoral College electors filed a federal lawsuit to get a judge to say Mr Pence has the power to pick pro-Trump electors when he presides over the January Congressional session.
What is your plan to lead Trinidad and Tobago out of the Covid-19 pandemic?

This was the question Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar repeatedly asked Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday.
The leader of the United Georgia party, ex-speaker of the parliament Nino Burjanadze said that a snap election is a way out of the political crisis in any democratic country.

She commented on the political situation that emerged after the parliamentary elections on October 31. The opposition announced the elections were falsified and refused to enter parliament, demanding snap elections. Then the opposition began to prepare for permanent protests in the spring.
Over a period of nine months, 17 judges in Colorado rejected appeals from those convicted of driving under the influence for the same reason: the law does not require prior DUIs to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Before John F Kennedy took that fateful trip to Dallas in November 1963, the President and the First Lady ordered 500 Christmas cards - cards that would never be sent.

The cards, which were ordered from Hallmark, featured a colour photograph of an 18th century Neapolitan creche that had been displayed in the East Room of the White House, a religious image had never before been put on a White House Christmas card.

Inside the cards was an embossed seal of an American Eagle with an olive branch in one talon and arrows in the other and the message: With our wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year."

Before leaving for Dallas that November, the couple had managed to sign about 30 cards. The cards, of course, were never sent.

So what happened to them? Unsigned cards have been sold through Kennedy memorabilia sites for almost $1,000 each. By 2007, less than two dozen of the signed cards were known to exist.

In 2006, one of the cards, from the estate of Kennedys personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, sold at auction for $45,000. Lincoln was reported to have destroyed the majority of Kennedys cards after the assassination. They are the rarest pieces of presidential Christmas memorabilia today, Mary Seeley, author of Seasons Greetings From the White House.
Posted Thursday, December 31, 2020 12:34 pm

A Thurston County Superior Court judge set bail Tuesday at $100,000 each for two men accused of robbing the Olympia Target with a gun Sunday night.

Trenale L. Belton, 44, and Mowlid Abdi Hersi, 31, are accused of first-degree robbery while armed with a deadly weapon. Hersi also is accused of second-degree kidnapping and first-degree theft.

Judge John Skinder set the bail amount citing a risk to the community. He also barred the two men from contacting each other, Target stores or the Target employee they allegedly threatened.

Police arrested Belton early Monday morning in the South Capitol neighborhood after pursuing the U-Haul van witnesses said they fled in. They abandoned the vehicle and went their separate ways on foot. Police later arrested Hersi near the Safeway on Cleveland Avenue in Tumwater.

Probable cause statements offer the following account of law enforcement's investigation into robbery:

Olympia police responded to a reported robbery with a gun at the Target on Harrison Avenue in west Olympia at 10:09 p.m. Sunday.

Officers interviewed a Target employee who told them that two men approached him in the electronics department, one in a red shirt, allegedly Hersi, showing the employee a gun in his waistband.

"It's cool, it's cool, just open the case and put the watches in the bag," the man in the red shirt reportedly said to the employee.

The employee then filled a cart with smartwatches and headphones, according to the statement.

Afterwards, the man in the red shirt reportedly forced the employee to walk with him to the front exit while the other man dressed in gray, allegedly Belton, fled through a back exit with the electronics, triggering the alarm.

The walk to the front door formed the basis for the second-degree kidnapping accusation against Hersi, said deputy prosecuting attorney Scott Jackson at the preliminary appearance Tuesday.

A witness and security footage corroborated the employee's story, the statement read, and the footage also showed the two men fleeing in a U-Haul van outside.

Another officer pursed the van all the way to Olympia's South Capitol neighborhood and saw a passenger run away from the vehicle when he got close, according to the statement.

The responding officer found a wallet that the passenger dropped as he ran away, the statement read. The wallet reportedly contained a Washington driver's license belonging to Trenale L. Belton.

Police also found a cell phone less than 3 feet from the opened driver's side door of the van, according to the statement. The phone, which did not require a security code or fingerprint to access, reportedly rang just after midnight. An officer answered.

"Where you at?" said a man's voice, according to the statement.

"I'm in the neighborhood. I'm on 18th (Avenue Southeast). I'm in someone's yard, inside of their car. I'm trying to steal it, but I don't have my keys. Hello? Are they still patrolling? Where you at?"

The phone rang two more times and each time the person on the other end reconfirmed they were on 18th Avenue hiding in an alley, the statement read. A K9 from Thurston County Sheriff's Office helped police locate and arrest Belton on that street.

Later that day, Intercity Transit called dispatch and notified them that a man matching the description of the person in red was on a bus, according to the statement. Police contacted the man and identified him as Hersi with a fingerprint scanner.

After searching the U-Haul van, police recovered stolen items worth $6,368 and returned them to Target, the statement read.

___

(c)2020 The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)

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Thousands of farmers dug in their heels at protest venues outside several Delhi gateways, undeterred by the biting cold and firm in their resolve to not return home till their demands are met, as the New Year dawned with the minimum temperature dipping to 1.1 degrees Celsius.

The government and the farm unions had reached some common ground on Wednesday to resolve the protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

After the sixth round of negotiations between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands of farmers protesting on Delhi borders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4.

Security remained tight at the national capital's borders with hundreds of personnel deployed at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri border points, where the farmers have been camping for more than a month now, braving the severe Delhi winter.

The city recorded a minimum temperature of 1.1 degrees Celsius on Friday, the lowest in 15 years for the month of January.

Meanwhile, the Samkyukt Kisan Morcha is likely to meet during the day to discuss its next course of action. There is, however, no question of withdrawing from the two issues which are legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) and repealing of the farm laws, senior farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has said.

"The government has addressed our demands to drop penal provisions against farmers in an ordinance relating to stubble burning and to put on hold a proposed electricity amendment law," he said.

"But, we want to make it clear that there is no alternative to our two remaining demands which include repeal of the three agriculture laws and legal guarantee for MSP," Chaduni added.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, one of the protesting farm unions, has issued a statement saying the Centre's appeal to farmer leaders to suggest an alternative to repeal of the laws is impossible.

"The new laws will hand over control of agriculture markets, farmers' land and food chain to corporates," it added.

The sixth round of talks was originally scheduled for December 9 but it was called off after an informal meeting of Home Minister Amit Shah with some union leaders failed to reach any breakthrough

The protests have also led to traffic congestions, forcing the police to divert vehicular movement.

Taking to Twitter on Friday, the Delhi Traffic Police alerted commuters about the routes that remained closed owing to the agitation and suggested them to take alternative roads.

"Tikri, Dhansa Borders are closed for any Traffic Movement. Jhatikara Borders is open only for LMV (Cars/ Light Motor Vehicles), two wheelers and pedestrian movement," it tweeted.

"The Chilla and Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Apsara, Bhopra & Loni Borders.

"Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed. Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders.Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44," it said in a series of tweets.

"Available Open Borders to Haryana are Jharoda (Only Single Carriageway/Road), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera Borders," the Delhi Traffic Police said in another tweet.

Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middleman and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

The government has repeatedly asserted that the MSP and mandi systems will stay and has accused the Opposition of misleading the farmers.
One sincerely hopes that the United Nations is wrong, and that what it has predicted for the coming year doesnt come true. After a disastrous 2020, the world truly needs a break. Yet the facts cant be ignored. The UNs World Food Programme, based in Rome, has already warned that after facing the trauma of the Wuhan-origin Covid-19 virus in 2020, things arent going to get any better. 2021 is literally going to be catastrophic (with) global famine knocking on the door, it said.

The early warning signs are already there, with Australia and New Zealand likely to be adversely affected. Out-of-season foods have become scarce on supermarket shelves as labour is disrupted and crops are at risk of rotting in the fields. Covid-19 has put brakes on labour movement and deployment. The situation is even more dire in Africa and South America, which could trigger global shortages and economic shockwaves. The WFP says this could be the worst humanitarian crisis since the beginning of the UN in 1945, as multiple famines are looming.

What makes the WFPs assessment even more alarming is that today 690 million people dont have enough to eat while 130 million additional people face imminent risk of being pushed to starvation.

That could potentially be fatal for mankind. Although India doesnt figure in any of gloomy official assessments yet, its 1.3 billion people need to look back at its own history of food crises due to agrarian distress. This is vital to thwart any future famine across its 32.88 lakh sq km mass, 54 per cent of which are arable fields. Given the growing agrarian turbulence over the past few years, the emerging scenario looks hazy and blurred. A look at the past is in order, such as when the British traders had looted India.

Around 420 years ago, on December 31, 1600, was born the East India Company, headquartered in London. Subsequently, this private company directly ruled over a large portion of India for 93 years, from 1765 to 1858. Thanks to a generous grant of diwani (sovereign power to administer) bestowed on the foreign English traders by tottering Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, in one stroke the most fertile lands of India producing food -- the Bengal Subah (province), comprising todays Bangladesh and Indias West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, were handed on a platter to profit-seeking foreign traders. Was it a prelude to the 21st century privatisation spree by New Delhi of prime state assets?

This marked the beginning of direct rule by a British multinational company over clueless, helpless Indians as their 1765 Delhi ruler was totally inefficient, incompetent and cowardly. Expectedly, the private company of profiteering merchants ruined India, and after creating a complete monetary and military mess, handed over the baton to its countrys monarch in 1858 which managed to rule by force for another 89 years, till 1947.

Coincidentally, both the mercantile and imperial rule by the British began and ended with catastrophic famine, killing millions in India. While the London merchants saw the unprecedented Bengal famine after only five years of rule in 1770, the wartime government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill was singularly culpable for the manmade famine of 1943, four years before the British finally left India, killing over three million Bengalis in their homeland.

In between these two mega disasters, however, were several more famines in India in which the British rulers in India cut a sorry figure over their inbuilt indifference, ineptitude and incompetence. The mass death of non-whites seemed to matter little, except to a few conscientious Englishmen.

The real nature of the English traders ruling India was aptly described by a later-day English historian: It took five years (1765-1770) for the full effects of the regime of unregulated plunder to become apparent; but when it did so, the results were unparalleled in their horror. The was stage set for the great 1770 Bengal famine. This killed over 1.2 million people, around one-fifth of Bengals population. The starvation death of millions generated millions of rupees in profits, particularly for the traders of the East India Company.

Fast forward to 1866-1867. In Odisha, known for its fertile river basin, the entire coastline up to (then) Madras was in grip of a severe famine, with a high toll in human lives. Next were the 1868-1869 local famines in United Provinces (now UP), Punjab and Rajputana (now Rajasthan) and fertile North Bihar in 1873. Then came two terrible years (1876-1877) of famine across a large swathe of Madras, Mysore, Hyderabad, Bombay and United Provinces.

At the turn of the nineteenth century, in the twilight years of Queen-Empress Victorias rule, the terrible famines of 1896-1897 and 1899-1900 ruined the countryside further; from UP to Bihar, Central Provinces (MP-Chhattisgarh), Punjab, Baroda, Madras and Bombay.

But what outperformed and outclassed them all was the 1943 king of all famines in Bengal thereby turning the adage, to an empty stomach, food is God, into a joke. The cynical template now was: Farmers and food are for business and profits. The racist and India-hating Winston Churchill, the incumbent British PM, ensured the death of three million Bengalis in their own land. By completely choking all transport, communications, distribution and assistance, the 1943 famine exposed the true face of the British rulers, brazenly supporting the private traders, making fortunes over the starving, emaciated bodies of dead Indians, scattered all over their own villages, fields, roads and backyards.

The perennial alibi, justification and defence, was that Britains war effort had to be ensured at all costs. In a macabre, Faustian repeat of Indian history, after almost 700 years, it was a rerun of Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khaljis rule (1296-1316), ensuring feeding of his rampaging troops around the countryside at the cost of the farmers producing the food. Understandably, thus, was the historians poignant, yet pertinent, comment: While the capital was fed, the country at large was allowed to be bled.

For the 1943 killing of Bengals three million people, the then British government should have been charged before an international tribunal with criminal mass murder, akin to Hitlers murder of the Jews. One can only hope history will not repeat itself in India, given the ominous warnings coming from the UN for the year 2021.
Congress successfully slapped down President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act with a Senate vote Friday afternoon

Senators voted 81 to 13 to override Trump's veto of the defense package, after the House's 322 to 87 vote to slap down the president's veto Monday

The New Year's Day vote ends a six-month long saga that started when Trump objected to the renaming of military bases named for Confederate figures

He later wanted Congress to nix section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which Trump says gives 'big tech' too much protection

Trump reacted to the vote with a tweet calling it 'Pathetic!!!' calling out Republican senators for the missed opportunity to revamp section 230

President Donald Trump slammed the Senate for voting to override his veto of a defense bill after he objected to renaming military bases that honor Confederate generals.

He called the vote 'Pathetic!!!' in a Friday afternoon tweet.

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Earlier, Congress successfully slapped down Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act when the Senate voted 81 to 13 in favor of the move.

The Senate's New Year's Day vote ends a six-month long saga that started when Trump started talking about retaining bases named for Confederate figures in late June.

More recently, Trump threatened to veto the large piece of legislation if Congress didn't retool section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which the president argued gives 'big tech' companies like Facebook and Twitter too much legal protection.

The U.S. Senate voted 81 to 13 in favor of slapping down President Donald Trump's veto of a large defense bill - marking the first time Congress overruled a Trump veto in his nearly four years in office

Trump (right), with first lady Melania Trump (left) arriving back in Washington Thursday, originally threatened to veto the legislation over a plan to rename bases named after Confederate figures. Later he said he wanted section 230 revised

Military bases like Fort Lee are set to be renamed now that the Senate has overruled President Donald Trump's veto of a giant defense bill

Trump responded to the Senate overriding his veto with a tweeting calling lawmakers 'Pathetic!!!' He also shamed Senate Republicans for refusing to allow a vote on a bill that woud up stimulus checks to $2,000

But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle didn't cave to the president's demands.

The bill gives U.S. troops a pay raise and provides money for cybersecurity.

On Monday, the House of Representatives voted to override his veto 322 to 87.

A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress is needed to overrule a president's veto.

With just 20 days left of his presidency, the House and Senate votes marked the first time Congress overruled a Trump veto in his nearly four years in the White House.

'Our Republican Senate just missed the opportunity to get rid of Section 230, which gives unlimited power to Big Tech companies,' Trump tweeted Friday afternoon in response. 'Pathetic!!!'

'Now they want to give people ravaged by the China Virus $600, rather than the $2,000 they desperately need. Not fair, or smart!' Trump added.

He was referring to a move made by Senate Republicans to block a Democratic effort to get a vote on the House-passed bill that increases stimulus checks to $2,000.

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That move was made in the hours preceding the veto vote.

Lawmakers had planned to override Trump's veto for months.

Trump had leaned in to culture war themes after the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, which reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter movement.

The president caught wind of a plan to rename military bases like Fort Lee and Fort Bragg and on June 10 tweeted out a statement and then had White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany come out to the podium to read it.

'These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,' Trump said. 'The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars.'

'Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations,' Trump said.

Black Lives Matter activists encouraged the removal of Confederate statues and relics, because those southerners tried to keep black people enslaved and fought the Civil War over it.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy had told Politico he was 'open' to renaming the 10 bases named for Confederate figures. Floyd's death and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests, motivated McCarthy's change of heart, one Army official told Politico.

On June 30, Trump made his first veto threat after Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who ran for the 2020 Democratic nomination, inserted a provision in the defense bill that was coming together to rename the bases.

It passed with bipartisan consensus, but with a voice vote - meaning there's no record of which Republicans defected from Trump's position.

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Trump angrily tweeted about it then.

'I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren (of all people!) Amendment, which will lead to the renaming (plus other bad things!) of Fort Bragg, Fort Robert E. Lee, and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars, is in the Bill!' Trump wrote.

After the election, Trump continued to say he would veto the bill over the Confederate base provision.

NBC News reported in late November that Trump told Republican lawmakers that he planned to keep his campaign promise to supporters and veto the bill.

'He's said that,' a senior administration official told NBC News, confirming the conversations.

While some Republicans argued that the provision should be stripped to avoid the veto, Democrats held firm.

Thirty-seven Democratic senators penned a letter to Sen. James Inhofe, the Armed Services chair, and other GOP leaders on November 10.

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'Millions of servicemembers of color have lived on, trained at, and deployed from installations named to honor traitors that killed Americans in defense of chattel slavery,' they wrote.

'Renaming these bases does not disrespect our military  it honors the sacrifices and contributions of our servicemembers in a way that better reflects our nations diversity and values,' the Democrats argued. 'We know who these bases were named for and why they were named.'

'It is long past the time to correct this longstanding, historic injustice,' they added. 'We must not shrink from our solemn duty in his moment.'

Ex-Defense Secretary Mark Esper was quietly working with Congress to rename the bases.

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He was sacked by Trump six days after the election, marking the president's first major firing after his loss.
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Happy New Year From iBerkshires.com

We are hoping all of our readers have had a happy holiday season. Thank you for making iBerkshires your go-to source for local news. We appreciate your support and will continue to provide you with the relevant information you need in your daily lives as we enter 2021.

From all of us at iBerkshires, Happy New Year!
Thousands of health care and frontline workers across the US are refusing to get COVID-19 vaccines as the rollout of the shots in America continues to sputter.

Up to half of health care workers in on California county and a Texas hospital say they will not get the shot, 60 percent of nursing home staff in Ohio are turning down the jab and 40 percent of frontline workers in Los Angeles won't get it either, polls reveal.

Respondents to a number of surveys cite fears of dangerous side effects, health care worker forum posters say they feel they are being used as guinea pigs and experts blame misinformation.

Although life-threatening side effects are rare, examples of them cropped up in the first days of the vaccine rollout with two health care workers in Alaska - one of whom had no history of allergies - suffering anaphylactic shock minutes after getting the first dose of Pfizer's vaccine.

The problem isn't unique to the US. American and Dutch health care workers alike have complained they are being used as guinea pigs.

But it's a dire issue in the US, where 3,000 people are routinely dying within periods of just 24 hours, and vaccine rollout is proceeding at a snail's pace with only about 14 percent of the 20 million people Operation Warp Speed promised to vaccinate by the end of 2020 receiving their first doses before New Year's Day.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said Thursday that 60% of nursing home workers are refusing vaccine. Up to 40% of health care workers in Los Angeles and 50% in Riverside County are refusing shots, according to the Los Angeles Times

In Ohio, 60 percent of nursing home workers are turning down coronavirus vaccines, as are half of health care workers in Riverside County, California, despite facing high COVID-19 risks and being offered the jabs first (file)

Millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines are available in much of the US, but going unused

Health care workers have been offered the first spot in line to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in all states, following CDC recommendations to prioritize inoculating them.

Granting them early access was aimed at protecting nurses, doctors and hospital staff exposed over and over again to COVID-19 patients.

Public health experts hoped that vaccinating health care worker first would not only protect them from infection but reduce the risk that they spread the virus and prevent hospitals rom running out of staff.

But the assumption that health care workers would want the shots has not panned out.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said Thursday that roughly 60 percent of nurses there are refusing the shot.

'We not going to make them, but we wish we had a higher compliance,' he said.

'And our message today is: The train may not be coming back for awhile. Were going to make it available to everyone eventually, but this is the opportunity for you, and you should really think about getting it.'

Health care workers took to Twitter to express their concerns over having too little data on vaccine safety

A new Jersey health worker said she felt sure that she and her colleagues are being vaccinated first to serve as 'guinea pigs' for COVID-19 shots before they are given to the general public

In Los Angeles County, between 20 and 40 percent of front line workers are refusing the COVID-19 shot, the Los Angeles Times reported.

In nearby Riverside County, refusal is even more common, with half of frontline workers turning down coronavirus vaccines.

'Im choosing the risk  the risk of having COVID, or the risk of the unknown of the vaccine,' April Lu, a 31-year-old nurse in California, told the LA times.

'I think Im choosing the risk of COVID. I can control that and prevent it a little by wearing masks, although not 100 percent for sure.'

Refusal from nurses should not have come entirely as a surprise to health officials - particularly in California.

A Kaiser Family Health Foundation survey published on December 15 - just as the US was starting to distribute vaccines - found that 29 percent of people working in health care settings did not want the shot.

A national COVID-19 vaccine mandate would be unprecedented and is unlikely, even under the incoming Biden administration.

Individual institutions, however, could mandate shots.

For example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requires all clinically practicing staff to get flu shots in order to come to work.

Dr Anthony Fauci said he is 'sure' that some institutions and companies will require vaccination and that 'everything will be on the table' in terms of how to get more people vaccinated and end the pandemic, according to News Week.
Do Thanh Lam from Ba Ria  Vung Tau tried to apply for work at the world's leading tech firms, even though her English was not very good and she had studied only in Vietnam.

After two failures, she finally got the nod from Facebook and Google just after she graduated from a university in Vietnam.

Do Thanh Lam

My path to Facebook was very tough, but extremely memorable. It was not just the days of preparing for interviews, but also the process of self-improvement to become better, she recalled.

Lam, who loved information technology (IT), decided to take the entrance exam to the informatics majoring class for the gifted of the Le Quy Don High School in Ba Ria  Vung Tau province after finishing secondary school.

The decision was not applauded by teachers and her parents.

A teacher came to meet Lam and advised her not to study informatics, because this is not suitable for women. They said workers in the industry have to work hard and women wont have time to care of their families.

But she still took the exam and passed, becoming one of six schoolgirls in the class to do so

They told me that men are always better than women in sciences, especially computer science, she said.

That was why Lam was not chosen when teachers wavered between choosing Lam and a male student for an important exam.

You are a girl, the teacher explained.

Lam vowed to prove that women can do many things, and in many fields, they are even better.

After that, she realized that one needs to prepare well for anything. And after a lot of failures, she understood that if you don't try, you will never have opportunities.

At the end of the 10th grade, Lam became the only female student attending the national informatics competition for youth. The achievement caught the attention from teachers at the school.

After that, she passed the exams for the class for talented students in the Information Technology Faculty of the HCM City University of Natural Sciences, a member of the HCM City National University.

Two times refused before gaining success

Becoming a first-year university student, Lam met seniors with super profiles, or great achievements. They had been admitted to large technology firms though they were just fourth-year students.

This encouraged Lam to apply for jobs at large technology firms.

I thought that others can do that and so can I, she said. She began building a plan for herself.

The biggest barrier for Lam at that moment was language. She felt it would be more difficult to apply for famous corporations if she had only studied in Vietnam. Therefore, she needed advice from the seniors.

When she was a second-year student, Lam decided to apply for Google. The reply came one minute later. Lam was refused because her CV was too weak and she could not meet the requirements.

Lam began looking for internships, doing more personal projects, participating in international online competitions, and improving algorithms, English skills, communication skills and other soft skills. She also created her own profile on LinkedIn.

In third year, she continued seeking internship opportunities at Facebook, Google and Amazon. Her CV entered the second round of Facebook and she failed once again. Google and Amazon also refused her.

But she succeeded in the third attempt and got the nod from Google and Facebook.

Before becoming an official officer, Lam spent time on an internship at Facebook.

After 10 months of working in London, Lam said what she learned the most from colleagues was being proactive: taking the initiative in doing work, raising questions and solving problems, and developing the skills in which she was the weakest.

Lam said she not only faced difficulties on the way to Facebook, but many other troubles as well.

In order to obtain a visa to the US to attend an international event for female workers in IT, she had to apply for a visa twice.

After that, she realized that one needs to prepare well for anything. And after a lot of failures, she understood that if you don't try, you will never have opportunities.

The people in the UK and the US have to make great efforts to obtain opportunities in leading companies, and I needed to make a 200 percent effort to get this, she said.

Le Hanh

Vietnamese students win five gold medals at Intl Olympiad of Metropolises All eight Vietnamese students from Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted have claimed medals, including five golds, one silver, and two bronzes, at the fifth International Olympiad of Metropolises (IOM).
New Delhi:

A special CBI court on Thursday deferred till May 30 the framing of charges against six accused in one of the two Babri Masjid demolition cases, after five of them sought exemption from appearance.



Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti, Baikunth Lal Sharma alias Prem Ji, Champat Rai Bansal, Dharma Das and Satish Pradhan are the accused in the case. Pradhan, a Shiv Sena leader, was present in the court.



But special CBI court judge SK Yadav said that since the other five accused had sought exemption, it would not be possible to frame charges against him alone.



Postponing the matter till May 30, the court said no further adjournment would be allowed. The special court is likely to frame charges on Friday against BJP leader LK Advani, Union minister Uma Bharti, party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi and others in the second case which has been transferred here from Raebareli on the direction of the Supreme Court.



The apex court had on April 19 restored the serious criminal conspiracy offence against Advani and the other accused in the case and directed the court frame charges. Besides the BJP three leaders, the conspiracy charge would now be invoked against Vinay Katiar, Sadhvi Ritambara and Vishnu Hari Dalmia.

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As investigations continued into the massive data breach linked to Austin-based software company SolarWinds, experts say the attack could lead to long-term changes in cybersecurity policies and procedures for government entities and private companies alike.

News of the cyberattack broke on Dec. 13, with Reuters news service reporting that a sophisticated hacking group backed by a foreign government might have stolen information from U.S. government agencies, including email traffic. The breach appears to have affected nearly every level of government, as well as potentially hundreds of private companies.

As many as 18,000 SolarWinds customers  out of a total of 300,000  might have been running SolarWinds software containing a vulnerability that allowed hackers to penetrate various networks.

The Homeland Security Departments Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has called the hack a grave risk to government and private networks, and experts say the damage will be difficult to detect and undo.

So far, the investigation has revealed a number of high-profile targets of the attack, including the Department of Treasury, Homeland Security, the Department of Energy and Microsoft.

While federal government officials have yet to say who they believe is responsible, The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, reported that the attack was carried out by Russian government hackers who go by the nicknames APT29 or Cozy Bear and are part of that nations foreign intelligence service.

Daniel Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, said the attack is the among the largest breaches in U.S history, and that it could take years to fully understand the full extent of the attack, which has broad ramifications going forward, he said.

This scale, the scope of this attack is jaw-dropping, Ives said. I think how pervasive potentially (the hackers) got within the confines of the government and enterprises is a major wakeup call.

SolarWinds finds itself caught in the middle of an escalating cyberwar and a broader scale of supply chain attacks, in which another company could have just as likely ended up the target, Ives said. SolarWinds, which makes network and IT management software, has more than 3,000 global employees. It was founded in 1999 and moved to Central Texas in 2006.

The hackers are believed to have made their way into a number of systems by tampering with an update server of the SolarWinds network management systems. Through it, the hackers were able to gain remote access and insert malicious code that hitched a ride on a software update.

SolarWinds has released a number of software updates to patch the problem. Reuters also reported a possible second breach around the same time in the SolarWinds system, which also has since been patched.

In a written statement, the company said it is working closely with federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the attack and whether it was backed by a foreign government. The company said it is also working with third-party cybersecurity experts.

We are solely focused on helping the industry and our customers understand and mitigate this attack, and quickly released hotfix updates to customers that we believe will close the vulnerability. While our investigation is ongoing, we are committed to being transparent with our customers and will continue taking all appropriate steps to protect them, the company said.

Widespread implications

The attack could have widespread implications for the cybersecurity industry at large, as companies and the government have become increasingly reliant on online and cloud systems. Gartner, an organization that researches technology industry trends, predicted cybersecurity spending would reach about $123.8 billion this year.

Ives said the number of cyberattacks are growing, as is their level of sophistication.

It speaks to a cyberwar, cyberespionage, thats been going on for a number of years but its continuing to get ratcheted up, Ives said.

Ives said this particular breach is a concern for both the amount of time it might have gone undetected and its pervasiveness. Its a nightmare situation, he said.

SolarWinds was the target of this attack. The next attack it could be another software, Ives said. " As much as this is a black eye for the industry, I think its more the fear of what this means in terms of a supply chain attack, going through the front door versus the back door.

Ives said he also thinks SolarWinds has the ability to bounce back and recover its reputation after the attack. He said the company has worked fast and been transparent throughout the aftermath of the attack.

This is going to be a chapter in history in terms of the supply chain book, Ives said. But SolarWinds didnt get to where they are today by not being aggressive and a global brand in terms of IT management software. Its a dark chapter, but its how they navigate that chapter.

Like bed bugs

Cybersecurity experts said its not possible to fully know yet if all the hackers access points have been removed from the systems they breached, on both the government and business level.

Its a little bit like bed bugs, said David Springer, an Austin-based lawyer for Bracewell LLP who specializes in securities litigation including cybersecurity counseling and policy. You can do a lot to try to eradicate them, but sometimes the problem gets so bad, and theyre just so into everything you kind of have to just burn your mattress. And thats kind of where we find ourselves here.

Springer said it has become clear that once in these systems, the hackers moved around the network and breached a number of systems.

Fixing SolarWinds is preventing another attack to get in that way, but it doesnt do anything to take the hackers off the network. Theyre already there, and now have enabled multiple other entry and exit points, Springer said.

Springer said the breach has renewed conversations about cybersecurity and better steps for transparency, security and securing networks. That includes supply chain security and making sure that when the government or large corporations acquire software or updates, there is increased transparency about whats in that software package, and having the ability to audit whats in there to ensure it hasnt been altered, he said. Theres also a renewed focus on internal security programs.

A lot of times, historically, you view securing a network as a perimeter defense. The vast majority of defending you do is at the perimeter. Youre just trying to keep that guy out of your network. But then once something is happening inside your network, its kind of presumed to be OK, Springer said. Within a network, theres not a ton of security internally. Theres definitely a renewed focus on within network.

From a government perspective, Springer said he expects there to be stricter security mandates considered for the vendors that government agencies use.

There needs to be a maintained focus on ensuring ... that the private companies are doing the right things from a security point of view, that it doesnt become the way that attackers are going to constantly get into government networks, just by penetrating these people were supplying software to it, Springer said.

The same applies to private companies. Ives predicted the average company will be spending more on cybersecurity in the next year, a pattern that has only been sped up by the breach.

Security has to stay one step ahead of the bad actors, Ives said. In this case, it didnt. I think the industry learns from it, adjusts and just gets further blockades going forward, both within the confines of an organization as well as within the cloud.

Kara Carlson of the Austin American-Statesman wrote this story.

2020 Gannett Co., Inc.

Visit at statesman.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Independent)

Senate Republicans continued a rare streak of breaking with Donald Trump when most joined with Democrats to override his veto of a yearly Pentagon policy bill considered sacred to most conservative members.

The upper chamber joined the House in sending the outgoing commander-in-chief a clear message with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote on New Years Day to reject the massive package and make it law. It was a stinging rebuke to Mr Trump, who had pleaded with Republicans in both chambers to join his calls for the $740b legislation to be amended and sent back to his desk. It marked the first time Congress has successfully overturned a Trump veto, days before his term expires.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pushed the override vote, again bucking the GOP president as he recently took to the chamber floor to urge all senators to vote for the National Defense Authorization Act, even as he called it "far from perfect." The majority leader kept up his advocacy for a veto override on Tuesday morning.

"Yesterday, a bipartisan supermajority in the House voted to reapprove the conference report of this must-pass legislation," the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor on Tuesday. "President Trump has rightly noted this year's defense bill doesn't contain every provision that we Republicans would have wanted. I'm confident our Democratic colleagues feel the same way. But that is the case every year."

He then provided the president what amounted to a history lesson.

"And yet, for 59 consecutive years and counting, Washington has put our differences aside, found common ground, and passed the annual defense bill," Mr McConnell said. "Not once in six decades has a Congress let its differences prevent it from completing this work for our national security and our men and women who wear the uniform."

The GOP Senate leader and others have pointed to a paradox hanging over Mr Trump's threat: the bill codifies and expands on his plans to buy new combat equipment. He campaigned for a second term, in part, on having "rebuilt our military." The override by both chambers unlocks a 3 per cent pay raise for military troops.

Story continues

The votes came after some more holiday season drama, with Senator Rand Paul just before the Christmas holiday holding up passage of the bipartisan measure over language that places strings on a president's ability to bring home deployed troops.

The Senate's vote ended some end-of-year drama surrounding what is considered by members of both parties a "must-pass" item.

But the president vetoed the bill because it does not contain language repealing or dramatically altering unrelated legal liability protections for social media firms he claims  without proof  are censoring conservatives. He also objected to a provision that sets up a process to rename US military facilities named for Confederate leaders.

Congressional leaders and the heads of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, after six months of work to hammer out a compromise version, opted to move to final votes earlier this month on the measure without adding Mr Trump's demanded language on the protections in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Mr Trump is contending social media giants like Twitter, Facebook and others suppressed right-leaning content in an attempt to help Joe Biden defeat him in last month's presidential election.

The outgoing president earlier this month issued a clear veto threat of the NDAA.

He said: "I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I will VETO. Must include a termination of Section 230 (for National Security purposes), preserve our National Monuments, & allow for 5G & troop reductions in foreign lands!"

The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a formal and detailed veto threat, saying in a memo to Congress it concluded the measure "fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military's history, and contradicts efforts by this administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions."

OMB also pointed to Mr Trump's stances on Section 230 and renaming US military bases named for Confederate leaders. Both became deal-breakers for him in recent weeks. "Numerous provisions," the budget office told lawmakers, "directly contradict" Mr Trump's national security and foreign policy stances, and his advisers would recommend a veto if it lands on his desk in its House-passed form.

House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornerry, a retiring Texas Republican, sent the president a message before his chamber approved the compromise bill, saying it should not be put on a chopping block due to "an excuse about what's not in it."

While he did not directly refer to Mr Trump by name, the Republican said: "Our troops should not be punished because [the bill] does not fix everything that needs to be fixed."

Nebraska GOP Congressman Don Bacon spoke a few minutes later, saying he is "in agreement with the president's concerns on Section 230  however ... it falls outside the jurisdiction of this vote ... and deserves its own bill."

"Do you think you'll get a better bill in two months?" he asked "The answer is no."

Read More

How Biden could fundamentally change the way the internet works

Trump blames states amid claims it could take 10 years to vaccinate US

Senate will hold vote on overriding Trumps veto on defence bill
New Delhi :

The Barabanki police on Friday said that a 15-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and gangraped at a village. The police also said that the accused men also filmed the act on their mobile phone.

The girl had gone to her agriculture field on Wednesday when three men of her village, identified as Pravesh, Ramu and Pankaj, abducted and raped her, police said.

The village comes under Ramnagar police station area of Barabanki, adjoining the state capital Lucknow.

The accused are said to have also made a video clip of the crime and threatened the victim of dire consequences in case she informed anyone about the incident, police said.

The victims family has alleged that police did not take their initial complaint seriously and registered their named FIR only yesterday evening when the matter was brought to the notice of senior officials.

Circle Officer Sripal Yadav, who visited the scene of the crime, said a case has been registered and efforts were on to nab the culprits.

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Happy birthday Sonali Bendre! She came up as a fighter in her battle against metastatic cancer. The beautiful actress is truly an inspiration for many. The actress who made her short golden locks her new style had been one of the most successful actresses of 90s. Sonali keeps learning new things in her life and often shares her experience on social media. Sonali is also a book lover and often posts about it. As she turned 46 years old on January 1, we scrolled her social media handle and found some of the stunning pictures of her that will leave you awestruck.

1. Happy Holidays

The actress is currently holidaying in Seychelles with her family as she shared happy pictures with her Insta fam. In one of the pictures, Sonali can be seen posing with husband Goldie Behl and their son Ranveer. The caption of the picture reads, Star gazing on the runway (turned out to be cloudy skies but so beautifully put together) #magicalnights @goldiebehl @rockbehl.

2. Good Hair Day

The actress seems to be in love with her short golden locks as flaunted in this selfie of her. In the picture, Sonali looks amazing as she posed in a black tee with a perfect quote which reads, My Mood Depends on How Good My Hair Looks.

3. How do I look?

The actress, who has been quite active on social media, often treats her fans with stunning pictures. recently Recently, Sonali gave her fans a glimpse of from her messy hair day.

4. Pool Time

Sonali is flashing her brightest smile as she is enjoying pool time with Goldie, Ranveer and their furry friend.

5. Bookworm

The actress, who is a voracious reader, keeps sharing pictures from her reading time. In this one, Sonali informed her online family that she accepted the challenge to read all the books in her library.
Wilkes University, Luzerne County Community College and Kings College are each pushing back the first day of spring semester classes one week, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Misericordia University will delay the start of the upcoming semesters classes from Jan. 19 to Jan. 25. The Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees approved the revised semester schedule during a Tuesday night meeting on the virtual Zoom platform.

In December, the state departments of health and education urged colleges and universities to increase the use of virtual instruction and delay students returning to campuses to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Penn State will start the spring semester with remote instruction Jan. 19 and continue remotely through Feb. 12 at all campus locations.

Wilkes is planning classes that start Feb. 1 in face-to-face, online and blended formats, and all undergraduate students must present negative results from COVID-19 tests taken within 72 hours of their return, university spokeswoman Gabrielle DAmico said.

In November, Gov. Tom Wolf recommended testing for students returning to college campuses. Misericordia students who live on the Dallas campus will likely return in a staggered format over several days, which was done in August for the fall semester, university President Kathleen Owens said.

Misericordia students will be expected to be tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to campus and share those results with the university. Employees will also be included in testing protocols.

Kings will have both a return-to-campus protocol and an ongoing surveillance testing program for the upcoming semester, and exact details are being worked out, Kings President the Rev. John Ryan said, noting it will require periodic testing of the entire college community.

Misericordia will hold classes during what was going to be Spring/Easter recess between March 29 and April 1. Kings will now hold classes on April 1 and May 6 and 7.

Wilkes will hold classes during the first week of March, which typically is spring break. Commencement ceremonies recognizing 2020 and 2021 graduates at Wilkes was initially planned for May 22 and 23 and now will be Memorial Day weekend.

Luzerne County Community College will offer students a choice by providing both online and in-person classes in the spring. The community college is not required to test on campus because it does not have residence halls.

Penn State students are being discouraged from returning to campus and off-campus residences during the four-week remote period.
The regents of the University of California have purchased the San Francisco Art Institutes $19.7 million debt, becoming its landlord and saving the financially faltering school from foreclosure.

The art institute was notified by Boston Private Bank & Trust Co. in July that it was foreclosing on a $19 million loan used to fund construction and operations of the Fort Mason campus because the institute had violated the loans terms of agreement.

The UC Board of Regents intervened in October and was designated as a trustee to art institute properties by Boston Private, according to documents obtained by Mission Local. Another document, signed by UC and art institute officials, states that the regents will serve as the schools landlord.

The lease will expire in October 2023, and the institute will have the option to buy back the property for up to six years, art institute spokeswoman Nina Sazevich said.

SFAI and UC have a more than a century old relationship, Sazevich said in an email Thursday. The two worked together on the recent financial challenges since they had a shared interest in protecting the campus from a predatory bank.

The UC regents and other officials were not available for comment.

According to school officials, the art institute never missed the monthly payment of $100,000 on the mortgage to Boston Private, but it did not have the funds to pay off the annual $3 million line of credit needed to renew the loan. The school had been given 90 days to either raise the money or pay off the loan balance in full.

Institute officials have not decided whether the famed Diego Rivera mural The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City in the schools gallery will be sold or endowed. Sazevich said board members will discuss the issue with the broader institute community.

The school has been scrambling to make ends meet in the wake of its 150th anniversary.

The institute decided in 2020 to focus more on fundraising and less on student tuition to bring money in after a steep decline in enrollment. The school was also in talks to merge with the University of San Francisco, but plans fizzled out once the coronavirus pandemic hit.

In March, it considered canceling the fall 2020 semester and laying off staff and faculty amid financial strains, but was able to continue offering degree programs after an infusion of government pandemic aid, a successful fundraiser and budget cuts.

Like many educational and arts organizations worldwide, SFAI has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sazevich said. The pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of its operations, and the school had to take painful steps to cut costs and preserve resources.

The art school had about 300 students enrolled at the beginning of the year, but most were forced to transfer after it announced plans to close for fall. It was founded in 1871 and is one of the nations oldest schools specializing in contemporary art.

Vanessa Arredondo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @v_anana
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Emmanuel Macron sparked fury today by claiming Brexit was the product of 'lies and false promises' in a bitter broadside at Britain's departure from the EU.

The French president lashed out at the UK's decision to quit the block on the night it finally took place, more than four years after the Brexit referendum.

He used his New Year address to his nation to castigate the UK's decision to go it alone after agreeing a trade deal which could damage the French fishing fleet - and his grip on power.

In the address delivered from the Elysee Palace, Paris, Mr Macron questioned the strength of Britain's sovereignty following its departure from the European Union.

'A few days ago, we reached an agreement to organise our future relations, defending our interests, our industries, our fishermen and our unity, he said in a video address,' he said.

'The United Kingdom remains our neighbour but also our friend and ally. This choice of leaving Europe, this Brexit, was the child of European malaise and lots of lies and false promises.'

The video address came after his father, Jean-Michel Macron, 70, spoke publicly about his son for the first time since he entered office in 2017 and denounced him as a 'self-serving' politician.

Mr Macron's outburst came as a new era of trading with the European Union began smoothly as lorries rolled into Dover and Dublin ports, ferries set off for France and Eurotunnel officials welcomed the first truck into the UK just after midnight.

Drivers with the correct paperwork - and a negative Covid test - were waved on to Eurotunnel trains with little delay after 11pm GMT as freight travelled seamlessly between the UK and France after four years of preparations.

Traffic is expected to be light over the Bank Holiday weekend before ratcheting up on Monday.

Brexiteer Tory MP Peter Bone criticised the French president's remarks, telling MailOnline: 'The greatest democratic event in my lifetime, the EU referendum, saw more people vote in the UK than ever before.

'There was genuine debate on a particular issue, it wasn't party political, it was across-parties and the people spoke. I guess president Macron doesnt like democracy.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson attempted to begin 2021 in an upbeat mood today, insisting it can be 'a year of change and hope' following the horror show that was 2020.

He said that Brexit meant that good times could be on the horizon, along with hopes that new vaccines will put paid to coronavirus.

He even claimed that the EU departure more than four years after the referendum meant 'the end of the rancorous bickering about ''Europe'' that has bedevilled our politics for so long'.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson attempted to begin 2021 in an upbeat mood today, insisting it can be 'a year of change and hope' following the horror show that was 2020

This is the historic moment the first truck to leave Britain post-Brexit trade deal arrived in Calais at just after midnight UK time

French president Emmanuel Macron has told how Brexit is the product of 'lies and false promises' in an annual address delivered hours after his father denounced him

What they said: Tory Brexiteers and Nigel Farage react to the transition period ending Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage: 'It's a big moment in our national story and the end of a very long road for tens of thousands of us who fought against the establishment. 'We celebrated on 31 January when we left the European Union - tonight we leave the single market and the customs union. 'Yes, we spare a thought for Northern Ireland and our fishermen, but this is a moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom. It's a shame the pubs aren't open.' Sir Bill Cash: 'The victory is one for democracy and for sovereignty and it is a momentous moment which, by any historic standards, can only be compared in peacetime to what happened in the late 1680s and '90s. 'Which was the removal of the Stuarts, but followed by the new parliamentary constitutional arrangements which were enacted through the Act of Succession with the Hanoverians going on the throne. 'But followed by evolution of modern democracy which was only ruptured, apart from war, in terms of potential dangers of conquest, but was actually only disrupted by our entry into the European Community on the false prospectus in 1972.' Sir John Redwood: 'I never doubted we would win the referendum. I argued that we were being good Europeans by stepping aside from their mighty task to create a United States of Europe. 'We should wish them well and be friends with them, but the fact that the UK had refused to join the euro showed where our hearts resided - with the wider world and with national democracy. 'Today I feel much relief that our country has been open with our friends in Europe and stated clearly we wish to be self-governing, whilst good friends and allies of theirs. 'I look forward to 2021 as a year of strong economic recovery, where we can start to use the new freedoms and opportunities now open to global Britain.' Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers: 'Tonight we get a chance to wave both 2020 and the EU goodbye, within an hour of each other. 'After a truly terrible year and a great struggle for our liberty, it's a marvellous example of a buy one, get one free.' Peter Bone: 'It has been a very long campaign and we've gone from being looked on as being strange people that wanted to leave this wonderful European Union by the establishment who have always held that view, to being able to campaign and get the support of people to defeat the establishment. Advertisement

Mr Macron, who has grand ambitions for greater EU integration, launched the attack days after being blamed for holding up a Brexit deal with fishing demands.

The French president was accused of using a ban on British freight, designed to stop the mutated Kent strain of coronavirus reaching France, to ratchet up the tensions in the Brexit negotiations.

He used his address to defend France's glacially slow rollout of coronavirus vaccine shots, pledging to pick up the pace with quicker inoculation to a broader array of health care workers starting next week.

Only a few hundred French people have received vaccines in France after the EU regulator was slower to approve the German-made Pfizer Biontech shot than US and UK regulators. Almost a million people have received the Pfizer shot in the UK.

Mr Macron assured that France is 'first of all in Europe' and added: 'I will do everything to ensure we remain the masters of our destiny and our lives.

'But this sovereignty also acts through the stronger, more autonomous and more united EU that we have built in 2020.'

Commentators have suggested that Mr Macron's father has become irritated by how the French head of state has portrayed his maternal grandmother, school teacher Germaine Nogues, as the woman who developed his intellect rather than his parents.

Jean-Michel is a professor of neurology at the University of Picardy, and is divorced from Macron's mother Francoise Nogues who is also a doctor.

Ms Nogues and Macron's wife Brigitte, 67, are also known to be friendly but the French president rarely talks about his parents.

In the interview with Le Monde, Jean Michel condemned the 'narcisissm' of French politics and criticised Emmanuel for allowing himself to be photographed in glossy magazines.

He said 'Emmanuel is a great actor, a seducer. That is useful in politics.

'Emmanuel is capable of drawing from everyone who might be of service to him.'

Britain left the EU at 11pm last night, four-and-a-half years after Britons voted by a margin of 52 to 48 per cent in the June 2016 referendum which was called by the then Prime Minister David Cameron.

The chimes of Big Ben rang out at 11pm  midnight on the Continent  marking the UK's departure from the EU's single market and customs union.

In his New Year message, Boris Johnson - who played a decisive role in the Leave campaign's victory in the referendum - hailed Britain's departure, calling it 'an amazing moment'. He added the UK now had 'freedom in our hands' and 'it is up to us to make the most of it'.

Referencing the end of the Brexit transition period, the Prime Minister said the UK would be 'free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU' in 2021.

Mr Johnson declared in his message: 'This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it.'

Under the post-Brexit agreement struck on Christmas Eve, the EU will give up only 25 per cent of the value of fish caught in UK waters  with a five-and-a-half-year transition period rather than 80 per cent over three years initially demanded by the UK.

French fishing bosses welcomed the deal after they had feared No Deal because they would have been locked out of British waters.

Drivers smiled and waved to customs officials who checked their documents digitally before allowing them to cross the 31 miles between Folkestone and Calais by rail last night. In France the first trucks were met by the Mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart.

In his New Year video address from the Elysee Palace, Paris, Mr Macron questioned the strength of Britain's sovereignty following its departure from the European Union

Jean-Michel Macron (pictured in 2017 with his ex-wife and Macron's mother Francoise Nogues-Macron) spoke publicly about his son for the first time since he entered office in 2017 and denounced him as a 'self-serving' politician

Economy to rebound at fastest rate since WW2 to rise 8% in 2021 Britain's economy will grow at its fastest rate since the Second World War this year as it bounces back from Covid, experts predict today. National income is set to rise by 8 per cent in 2021  fuelled by billions in savings that Britons are itching to spend. And the Brexit deal is expected to further boost the economy in the coming months. The upbeat forecast comes on the day Britain embarks on a new trading relationship with the EU. The Centre for Economics and Business Research said the economy would benefit from vaccines, the Brexit deal and Donald Trump's departure from the White House. Signs of optimism have been evident since the Christmas Eve Brexit deal and were bolstered this week by the approval of the Oxford vaccine.The pound ended 2020 on a high, hitting its strongest level of the year against the dollar. And the FTSE 100 finished the year 23 per cent ahead of its low point in March  although it is still 14 per cent lower than 12 months ago. Advertisement

The first ferries between Calais and Dover and the UK and Ireland also arrived with no delays as Britain finally broke free from EU rules at 11pm on Thursday, just a day after MPs voted through the last-minute deal Boris Johnson secured with the Bloc to avoid a No Deal Brexit.

The UK's ambassador to France, Lord Llewellyn, said things were 'running smoothly' as the post-Brexit arrangements entered into force.

He visited the port at Calais and the Eurotunnel terminal 'to see the situation on the ground'.

However there were reports of a small number of lorries being unable to board at Holyhead bound for Ireland because they did not have the correct paperwork.

The seismic breakaway came nearly four-and-a-half years after Britons voted by a margin of 52 to 48 per cent in the June 2016 referendum which was called by the then Prime Minister David Cameron.

Big Ben chimed at 11pm, when the Prime Minister is understood to have marked the occasion with his family in Downing Street.

Celebrations were muted by the coronavirus pandemic but Eurosceptic MPs, once derided as fringe eccentrics on the margins of the Conservative Party, expressed their delight.

Sir Bill Cash said it was a 'victory for democracy and sovereignty', while Sir John Redwood said he looked forward to using the 'new freedoms and opportunities now open to global Britain'.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who played a key role in the 2016 referendum, said: 'Yes, we spare a thought for Northern Ireland and our fishermen, but this is a moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom. It's a shame the pubs aren't open.'

In his New Year message, Mr Johnson - who played a decisive role in the Leave campaign's victory in the referendum - hailed Britain's departure, calling it 'an amazing moment'. He added the UK now had 'freedom in our hands' and 'it is up to us to make the most of it'.

Referencing the end of the Brexit transition period, the Prime Minister said the UK would be 'free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU' in 2021.

The breakaway came as the port of Dover was pictured completely devoid of traffic amid fears of immediate post-Brexit queues, with the traffic expected to pick up on Monday.

Boris Johnson signed his Brexit trade deal with the EU as he brought the curtain down on four years of wrangling over the UK's split from Brussels

The first cross channel ferry departs the Port of Dover heading for France, following the end of the Brexit transition period, from Dover

A police officers staffs the entrance to the Port of Dover, southeast England, on January 1 where they are checking drivers have documentation showing a negative Covid-19 test

Nicola Sturgeon urges the EU to 'keep the light on' and says Scotland will be 'back soon' as the Brexit transition period comes to an end

Nicola Sturgeon defiantly urged the European Union to 'keep the light on' for an independent Scotland as Brexit finally took place.

The Scottish First Minister - who wants a new independence referendum - said her nation would be 'back soon' as the UK quit the bloc after more than 40 years.

Membership of the single market and customs union expired at 11pm - four and a half years after the in-out referendum which sought to settle the issue but sparked political turmoil.

The bells of Big Ben were rung as the UK left both the EU's single market and the customs union.

The chimes of Big Ben rang out at 11pm  midnight on the Continent  marking the UK's departure from the EU's single market and customs union.

But the SNP leader Ms Sturgeon, who is strongly opposed to Brexit, wrote on Twitter: 'Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.'

It came as hardcore Remainers insisted that the campaign to rejoin the EU would begin immediately.

Nicola Sturgeon urged the European Union to 'keep the light on' and said Scotland would be 'back soon' as the Brexit transition period came to an end on Thursday.

Scottish first minister Miss Sturgeon, who is strongly opposed to Brexit, wrote on Twitter on Thursday: 'Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on'

Labour peer and former minister Lord Adonis tweeted: 'The campaign to rejoin Europe starts today.'

Ms Sturgeon heads into Holyrood elections in May expecting to win an overwhelming majority for the SNP, which will increase the pressure on Boris Johnson to allow a new independence referendum, something he is refusing to do.

The nation voted 45-55 in favour of staying part of the UK in 2014, but the latest opinion polls show a majority in favour of a split.

In contrast to her paean to Brussels, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross issued an upbeat New Year message.

'As the bells ring out at midnight to mark the start of 2021, we should look forward with hope,' he said.

'If we pull together as a country, instead of trying to reopen old constitutional wounds, we can rebuild a better, brighter future.'

Ms Sturgeon's latest hint at her urge to press ahead with making Scotland and independent country came after she savaged Boris Johnson's Brexit deal on Christmas Day.

Hitting out at the agreement reached on Christmas Eve, Miss Sturgeon said the deal showed it was time for Scotland to 'chart our own future as an independent, European nation'.

She said Britain's departure was happening against her will and accused the PM of 'cultural vandalism' for ending the Erasmus programme, which allows students to study in Europe.

'Scotland did not vote for any of this and our position is clearer than ever,' she said.

'Scotland now has the right to choose its own future as an independent country and once more regain the benefits of EU membership.

'It beggars belief that in the midst of a pandemic and economic recession, Scotland has been forced out of the EU single market and customs union with all the damage to jobs that will bring.

In contrast to her paean to Brussels, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross issued an upbeat New Year message

The bells of Big Ben were rung the UK left both the EU's single market and the customs union

'A deal is better than No Deal. But, just because, at the 11th hour, the UK Government has decided to abandon the idea of a No Deal outcome, it should not distract from the fact that they have chosen a hard Brexit, stripping away so many of the benefits of EU membership.

'And while we do not yet have full details on the nature of the deal, it appears major promises made by the UK Government on fisheries have been broken and the extent of these broken promises will become apparent to all very soon.'

She said people in Scotland had voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, 'but their views have been ignored'.

The historic post-Brexit deal with the EU on Christmas Eve came four years after 62 per cent of Scots backed remain in the 2016 referendum.

Miss Sturgeon added: 'This is a far harder Brexit than could have been imagined when the EU referendum took place, damaging and disrupting this nation's economy and society at the worst possible time.

'We are doing everything we can to mitigate against the consequences of the UK Government's actions  but we cannot avert every negative outcome.

Her latest hint at her urge to press ahead with making Scotland and independent country came after she savaged Boris Johnson's Brexit deal on Christmas Day

'We know that businesses are already struggling under the burden of Covid-19, and are now faced with the need to prepare for this hard Brexit in little more than a week's time.

'We will do all we can to help them and are issuing updated information and advice and urge those most affected, including businesses, to prepare.'

Writing on Twitter about the Erasmus programme, Miss Sturgeon said: 'There will be lots of focus, rightly, on the economic costs of Brexit.

'But ending UK participation in Erasmus, an initiative that has expanded opportunities and horizons for so many young people, is cultural vandalism by the UK Government.'

Miss Sturgeon's Scottish Nationalist Party plans to go into next year's Holyrood elections aiming for a fresh mandate from voters for a second independence referendum.

The first minister has previously said that if Scotland opted for independence she would try to re-join the EU.

However, questions remain about whether an independent Scotland would be allowed to become a member of the bloc.

The SNP's existing currency policy - it seeks to keep the pound - conflicts with the EU's diktat that all new members must adopt the Euro.

Membership would also mean giving up control of swathes of policy areas such as over fisheries and possible trade barriers with England.

It could also mean a hard border is imposed between England and Scotland.

In his New Year message, Mr Johnson - who played a decisive role in the Leave campaign's victory in the referendum - said: 'This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it'

It remains to be seen if the Brexit deal will increase support for independence among Scots.

In his New Year message, Mr Johnson - who played a decisive role in the Leave campaign's victory in the referendum - said: 'This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it.'

Referencing the end of the Brexit transition period, the Prime Minister said the UK would be 'free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU' in 2021.

He said Britain will 'work with partners around the world, not just to tackle climate change but to create the millions of high-skilled jobs this country will need not just this year  2021  as we bounce back from Covid, but in the years to come'.

The PM added: 'I think it will be the overwhelming instinct of the people of this country to come together as one United Kingdom  England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working together to express our values around the world.'

He concluded: 'I believe 2021 is above all the year when we will eventually do those everyday things that now seem lost in the past. Bathed in a rosy glow of nostalgia, going to the pub, concerts, theatres, restaurants, or simply holding hands with our loved ones in the normal way.

'We are still a way off from that  there are tough weeks and months ahead. But we can see that illuminated sign that marks the end of the journey, and even more important, we can see with growing clarity how we are going to get there. And that is what gives me such confidence about 2021.'

Under the new arrangements, freedom of movement rights will end, and while UK citizens will still be able to travel for work or pleasure, there will be different rules.

Passports must be valid for more than six months, visas or permits may be needed for long stays, pets will need a health certificate and drivers will need extra documents.

The automatic right to live and work in the EU also ceases, and the UK will no longer take part in the Erasmus student exchange programme.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 20:50:41|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on April 29, 2020 shows a view of a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao People in Nandan County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

-- As the new year kicks off, the very "danger" from 2020 has largely departed China, where the extraordinary year ended with a newly-approved vaccine -- a further step to tame the pandemic -- and the completion of investment agreement negotiations with the European Union -- a boost to world economic recovery.

-- Despite the unpredictable outbreak of the coronavirus, the unprecedented recession worldwide, and the unhinged bully from the outside, China became the first major economy in the world to register positive growth, laying solid ground to embark on a new journey of modernization in a new year that marks the centennial of the governing Communist Party of China (CPC).

-- The eventful year has also been a reminder of the importance of a community with a shared future for humanity - people's lives and prosperity depend on unknown strangers in far-off corners of the world.

BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese word for "crisis" (wei ji) is composed of two characters: "danger" (wei) and "opportunity" (ji), and the wisdom to avert a crisis is always somewhere in between.

As the new year kicks off, the very "danger" from 2020 has largely departed China, where the extraordinary year ended with a newly-approved vaccine -- a further step to tame the pandemic -- and the completion of investment agreement negotiations with the European Union -- a boost to world economic recovery.

A staff member checks a COVID-19 inactivated vaccine product at a packaging plant of the Beijing Biological Products Institute Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

Despite the unpredictable outbreak of the coronavirus, the unprecedented recession worldwide, and the unhinged bully from the outside, China became the first major economy in the world to register positive growth, and its GDP is expected to exceed 100 trillion yuan (about 15.38 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2020, a solid ground to embark on a new journey of modernization in a new year that marks the centennial of the governing Communist Party of China (CPC).

But it was quite an unintended story at the beginning of 2020, as an unknown pathogen, whose exact origin and jump to humans have yet to be scientifically concluded, was in circulation.

It was the annual peak travel season for hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens. People fell sick and many tragically succumbed to what later became known as the COVID-19 pandemic. Those were confusing and agonizing days for everyone and led to sleepless nights for the Chinese leadership.

Resolute action followed. In an unprecedented but crucial move, Wuhan, a megacity of 11 million, cut off outbound flights and trains. Residents across China voluntarily complied with social distancing requirements. The world's second-largest economy nearly came to a halt -- a loss of 150 billion yuan in economic output every day, but a price worth paying as human lives are of the utmost importance. Medical workers, scientists, community workers, volunteers, construction workers and many others jumped to action.

"Greatness is forged in the ordinary, and heroes come from the people. Every single person is remarkable," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a televised New Year speech on Thursday.

Under decisive leadership from Beijing, China prevailed in the battle against the epidemic. The local transmission of coronavirus all but vanished, to the extent that a domestic vaccine trial is now infeasible as there are insufficient numbers of patients. The trials are well underway in cooperation with some foreign countries.

The industrial output was the first to rebound from the shock. Its manufacturing proved reliable for not only China but also other countries, particularly when the need for masks and ventilators presented itself. Nearly 300 million Chinese students returned to campus in September, free from fear.

Employees produce ventilators at Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., a medical device manufacturer based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

That does not come easily. Beijing used extraordinary policy tools, including an additional one trillion yuan in deficit spending, one trillion yuan in special treasury bonds and 2.5 trillion yuan in tax and fee cuts. The government rolled out incentives and long-term plans to unleash the potential of its domestic demand, with 400 million middle-income earners, an anchor for the economy to offset downward pressure. China has also acted more forcefully to stabilize employment -- keeping the world's biggest population in work is vital for stability, socially and economically.

The epidemic was not the only battle that China fought in 2020.

The country was also racing against the clock to reach the historical feat of eradicating absolute poverty. In 2020, all of China's nearly 100 million impoverished rural residents living below the current poverty line have shaken off poverty after eight years' efforts.

China is still the largest developing country in the world. The decisive victory against poverty is the beginning of an even more challenging and promising drive: socialist modernization.

Externally, the year 2020 has witnessed the U.S. administration's increased hysteria toward China, piling one unreasonable sanction on another, targeting Chinese companies and officials and daydreaming about a decoupling.

Beijing responded with a firm and commensurate counteractions, and, most conspicuously, with greater reforms and openness to the outside world.

China has become European Union's largest trading partner, while Beijing and Brussels ushered a "balanced, high-standard and mutually beneficial" --- in the words of President Xi -- bilateral investment treaty in the year's end. China's business environment, as measured by the World Bank's Doing Business reports, has risen sharply for two consecutive years.

The more blockades and suppression China faces, the more it must insist on open cooperation, Beijing reasons.

More evidence of China's unrelenting promise to participate includes the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade deal, bringing 15 economies and 2.2 billion people into the world's largest trading partnerships.

The signing ceremony of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement is held via video conference in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Nov. 15, 2020. (VNA via Xinhua)

However, a bumpy ride is ahead. Han Wenxiu, a senior economic official, said while economic growth for 2020 and 2021 would average around 5 percent annually, the numbers are good but the days aren't necessarily so; on the micro-level, many small and medium enterprises still need supports; and some of provincial-level regions have a current shortfall in the basic pension fund.

Thinking ahead and playing the long game has been characteristics with Beijing. In late October, a key CPC meeting proposed key outlines for China's next five years and its vision for 2035, mapping out critical targets identified by leadership.

Among them are the upgrading of manufacturing, breakthroughs in core technologies, coping with an aging population, and resolving systemic financial risks. "Stay vigilant in times of peace," a Chinese saying teaches.

The Chernobyl moment predicted for China at the beginning of 2020 did not materialize. Extraordinary hardship had allowed the Chinese people to demonstrate their resilience with more confidence in their way of life and the country's governance model.

2021 is also the year that will see China formulate and begin to implement the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development -- "embark on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country," Xi said on Thursday.

China, a country of 1.4 billion -- one-fifth of the world's population -- has seen light in the tunnel through the pandemic. And its peaceful development by putting overwhelming emphasis on improving the living standards and happiness of its own people -- rather than looting, colonization, or wars -- stands as a promising alternative path to others in the world.

The eventful year has also been a reminder of the importance of a community with a shared future for humanity. It has become clear that people's lives and prosperity depend on unknown strangers in far-off corners of the world.

In the words of British poet John Donne, "No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."
US Congress handed Donald Trump a major, bipartisan defeat in the waning days of his presidency, as the Republican-led Senate voted to override his veto of a $740.5 billion defense policy bill.

Its the first time one of Trumps vetoes has been surmounted. On Twitter, in his first response to the override, Trump said the Senate missed an opportunity, terming the effort Pathetic!!

The final tally was 81 to 13, easily exceeding the two-thirds threshold needed to override a veto, with support coming from both Republicans and Democrats as it did earlier in the House. The massive annual defense authorization measure now will become law.

Trump had sought to intimidate GOP senators into voting to sustain his veto, unleashing a bitter attack on fellow Republicans as the chamber prepared to begin the override process.

Weak and tired Republican leadership will allow the bad Defense Bill to pass, Trump tweeted Dec. 29. Negotiate a better Bill, or get better leaders, NOW! he added. On Saturday, Trump attacked Senator John Thune for a second time, suggesting that Governor Kristin Noem run again the Senates No. 2 Republican in a 2022 South Dakota primary.

Friday, before the final vote, Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, urged all of our colleagues to override Trumps veto. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jim Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma and typically a Trump ally, called the annual defense bill the most significant vote we have and praised the bipartisan spirit that went into it.

The Senate vote followed the Houses 322-87 vote on Dec. 28. Senate leaders had to overcome procedural hurdles after several senators, led by Bernie Sanders of Vermont, refused to give unanimous consent to proceed to the override vote -- part of their effort to increase pandemic aid to $2,000 a person from $600. In the tangled politics of the moment, that increase has been championed by Trump and opposed by many Republicans.

The votes to override Trumps veto reflects a widening rift between the president and some congressional Republicans, who stood by him through previous conflicts, as his influence ebbs. More GOP lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in recent weeks recognized Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election.

Not an Option

Not once in six decades has a Congress let its differences prevent it from completing this work for our national security and our men and women who wear the uniform, McConnell said Tuesday on the Senate floor in backing the veto override. For the brave men and women of the United States armed forces, failure is simply not an option. So when its our turn in Congress to have their backs, failure is not an option either.

Although many of Trumps voters remain loyal to the president, a number of Republican lawmakers share concerns over his recent behavior. The split comes at a dangerous time politically for the GOP -- just days before two runoff races in Georgia that will determine control of the Senate.

Trump vetoed the annual defense measure, in part, because he wanted to attach an unrelated provision to eliminate Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects technology companies from liability for most content published by their users. He cited Section 230 in Saturdays Twitter post, saying it gives unlimited power to Big Tech companies.

Trump also took issue with the bill because it contains a provision for renaming military installations that honor Confederate generals. And in his veto message, Trump called the bill a gift to China and Russia, without clearly articulating his reasoning.

Troop Benefits

The defense bill, H.R. 6395, is considered must-pass legislation because it authorizes not only billions of dollars for weapons systems, but also benefits for U.S. troops. The measure would increase hazardous duty pay to $275 from $250 per month.

Its a point of bipartisan pride for members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees that the annual defense policy bill has now been enacted without fail for 60 consecutive years.

The president and others on the right have long accused social media platforms of censoring conservatives, something that the technology giants deny. While lawmakers from both parties have called for modifying or even eliminating Section 230, even Trump allies said it was the wrong place and the wrong time to wage that battle.

The defense bill authorizes $732 billion in discretionary spending for national defense, including $69 billion for overseas contingency operations. It also authorizes funding for 93 F-35 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp., the No. 1 defense contractor.

The legislation also establishes a commission to study and provide recommendations, within three years, on the removal of names, symbols, displays and monuments that honor or commemorate the Confederacy. It addresses diversity in the military ranks by requiring the removal of personal identifiers in promotion and selection pitches, a step backed by Democratic Representatives Jackie Speier of California and Anthony Brown of Maryland.

The defense measure establishes a Pacific deterrence initiative intended to counter Chinas influence in the region. Congress plans to authorize $2.2 billion for the new effort designed to bolster the U.S. defense posture and weapons and alliances in the region.

Lawmakers took aim at Russia with provisions including additional sanctions on Turkey for purchasing a Russian made missile defense system, as well as penalties on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.
Pennsylvania State Police ask residents to remain vigilant about scams attempting to take advantage of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to police, a number of scams regarding the vaccine are circulating including:

 Emails claiming to offer a vaccine waiting list, early access or doses shipped to your home. These emails might have poor grammar and links that may contain malware that can steal information.

 Texts, robocalls or messages that contain links to websites that promise vaccinations but solicit personal information such as addresses, banking or credit card information.

The sites may claim to belong to manufacturers, medical providers or public health organizations and may be difficult to spot as fake.

 Social media posts with misinformation about the vaccines origins. These posts may be selling worthless or harmful products.

Police advise against giving money or personal information to anyone who requests it in exchange for special access to the vaccine, and noted that public health agencies will give guidance on vaccine availability.

They also recommend the latest updates for computers, including antivirus programs.

Users should delete emails from people they do not recognize and should not open any attachments.

Anyone who falls victim to a scam should contact their local police.
A 3-year-old boy was killed and his two siblings and father were injured in a fast-moving fire in western Pennsylvania Thursday.

The fire broke out around 12 p.m. at the home on Knox Avenue in Butler, WTAE is reporting.

Firefighters found the home fully engulfed in flames. The father and two of the children made it out of the house, but the 3-year-old did not, WPXI is reporting.

Firefighters found the boy on the second floor of the home, reports indicate. His 1-year-old brother suffered burns to his back and was airlifted for treatment, while his father and 4-year-old sister were treated for smoke inhalation, according to reports.

The childrens mother was at work when the fire broke out, according to reports.

This is just so horrible. I knew the parents, and just two days ago, I saw the three children. Theyre wonderful kids, theyre so well behaved and this is horrible, family friend Kassidy Curry told WTAE.

No firefighters were injured, but Butler City fire Chief Chris Switala told reporters the death of a child on New Years Eve is taking a heavy emotional toll on the firefighters.

The home is considered to be a total loss, and the cause of the fast-moving fire remains under investigation.
Dear Reader,

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Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
When 13-year-old Sabir first landed in the indifferent lane my parents live on, the shut windows and empty balconies in houses made his stomach turn. How was he going to sell the fish he had lugged around since four in the morning?

The elderly residents of the quiet lane in south Kolkata, meanwhile, were grappling with a deluge of information that had arrived on their WhatsApp about the coronavirus. Most of them couldnt google and even if they did, it was difficult to tell which source to believe over the other. Over calls with their children, they were mostly shouted at: they were wearing their masks wrong, apparently not washing their hands enough, first they had to wash the vegetables with soap water, then they were forbidden from washing them with soap water, they couldnt see a doctor, they should ideally not go near medicine shops if possible. It seemed like wed catch the virus if we even looked out of the window, my mother told me, months later, when I managed to fly back home.

Sabir, however, couldnt afford the luxury of fear. It had been a year since his father, a fish seller, was knocked down by a tempo and couldnt move without help. So Sabir dropped out of the government school he attended and started selling fish in the local market, a longish walk away from their house in a crowded slum on the fringes of Kolkata. As the government shut down everything in late March to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, all Sabir understood was that there was a dangerous disease lurking around. But Sabir had a bigger worry  hunger. A month into the lockdown, most of his neighbours were fighting over the smallest odd jobs and the rest were going off to wealthier settlements on cycles to go from door to door to look for work, if they made it past the police that is.

So when Sabir came to know from locals that a small lorry will be ferrying people to the city so that they can sell vegetables and fish, he borrowed 1000 rupees from two acquaintances, bought some fish from a local fishermens gathering, squeezed into the vehicle with 8 other vendors and landed in the city.

By the time my mother made it to the balcony hearing the doorbell ringing through the 8 am quiet in the lane, Sabir was sulking away, as a middle-aged man next door shouted expletives at him for disturbing his sleep. Sabirs slight frame wobbled under a huge aluminium vessel filled with fish that he carried on his head. Hearing the man shouting, a few women  now left to do most of the housework and hence up early like my mother  peered out of their balconies. One of them stopped him. Why are you ringing the bells so many times? one of them asked, somewhat amused.

I was hoping someone would buy fish, the boy said, slightly shaken.

In a year ravaged by organised hatred, unemployment, distance, death and disease, hope may have felt like an indulgence. A word as weightless as your Instagram hashtags, a word that floated on every screen you looked at yet a word you couldnt feel in your mouth.

Six months since he showed up in our lane, I watched Sabir impatiently round off his bill to a lesser amount, only to have a middle-aged aunty who sells fruits scold him and do the math for him. Is this how you are going to do business? Might as well throw the fish in the drain, she said, shouting the exact amount to his customer. We often award hope with the biggest, grandest of our moments (no thank you Christmas movies!). Yet, watching Sabir and the unlikely friend he had made in our indifferent lane, it occurred to me how hope had often been the catalyst for the most unglamorous events of my life last year  like waking up in the morning.

It is perhaps difficult to imagine that wed place our faith in humanity to show up and see us through the day, the next and a few more, but that was all we had. Daljeet Singh, an anaesthetist at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, said that despite years of being a medical professional dealing with critically ill patients, he shuddered at the swift, cold dimming of hope in hospitalised coronavirus patients.

In the first few weeks of the coronavirus outbreak, when hospitals and doctors themselves were grappling with lack of information about the virus, a mother and her newly-married son were admitted in Singhs hospital. The son had come back from his honeymoon abroad and had contracted the virus there, and his mother got it from them. They were admitted in the hospital and were put in beds next to each other, Singh said. The son was getting better, and his mother kept deteriorating and one evening, she collapsed. We drew the curtain between her and her son and tried to revive her. Doctors were shouting, nurses were running in and out and trying to revive her. Her son was just a couple of feet away but couldnt leave his bed and could hear all the noise. He perhaps understood that his mother was dying. He frantically asked what was happening, but no one had the time to answer him. To this day, I think what he must have gone through, Singh said, explaining, doctors and nurses spoke gently to him in the following days, trying to give him hope as he recovered.

This was the first time that I realised just how much hope the mere sight of a human face gives, Singh said. Talking to patients and nurses, he realised that a majority of coronavirus patients grappled with extreme anxiety as all they could see were the masked faces of other patients. We go in with a full PPE and so do the nurses. The patients are interacting with are voices buried under this unfamiliar, scary costume. Sometimes all they wanted was to see just a human face, Singh said.

In May, when the doctors in the hospital had gotten somewhat used to the dynamics of dealing with the disease, a new mother was admitted with COVID-19. She left her five-month-old baby back home and suffered from the anxieties of the disease, of being a new mother and being separated from the baby.

Her case was serious, not critical, but quite seriously ill, Singh recollected. Nurses and doctors who were attending to her often discussed among themselves how she seemed to have given up the hope of living. She barely spoke and was terrified, even when she was getting better, Singh said. Then one day, a woman doctor who was taking care of her took permission from the authorities, went to the dormitory she was admitted in and played a Daler Mehndi classic. My colleague danced, right down to the hook steps of Ho Gayi To Balle Balle in the form. While the other patients were taken aback at first, they laughed and some sang with her later. And the new mother smiled for the first time in the 10 days she had been in the hospital, Singh said.

We usually tell patients to keep hope. And what if they cant? This pandemic taught us that sometimes, we have to hold their hand through it.

We dont fight for hope. In fact, for most of us, the idea probably sounds like something thatd be a great caption to put on an Instagram post of a cup of tea sitting beside a Bukowski book. But scooping hope in humanity out of the trash that humans quite relentlessly throw at each other, is a bit of a task.

When Raashi Thakran set out to get the Indian government to create a helpline after her brother died by suicide, it was the easiest to give up hope. I wrote the first petition in July 2019, the Kiran helpline came about in September 2020. I would write emails, and there would be kind responses, but no real work would get done. It was frustrating and terrifying, knowing, someone was going through what my brother was, and was getting no help, Thakran said.

She fought for hope. I used to constantly remind myself of why I was doing this. I thought about Raghav, and he was my biggest strength through all this. As the pandemic clawed through our lives, Thakran suffered a relapse of PTSD and anxiety. After months of constant emailing, calling and writing petitions, suddenly NITI Ayog had stopped corresponding with Thakran (they would resume talks later). Soon, the unfamiliar sanctions of the pandemic also arrived in her life. In the midst of that, I was constantly writing to students and professionals, trying to collaborate with people to create safe spaces, giving online talks. And yet, I felt like I was stuck, I was going in circles and was headed nowhere, Thakran said. It wasnt easy crawling out of that pit, except for the knowledge that giving up hope could mean there was one person less fighting for people whose struggles with hope were bigger, more difficult and visceral.

When I feel overwhelmed, and I have been feeling that a lot of late, I talk to my mother. The helpline is in place, but I keep asking, what next, is that enough and sometimes, I have no answers. And my mother understands the place my pain is rooted in and sometimes just venting helps, Thakran said.

Late in the afternoon a few days ago, Sabir knocked on the doors of his now-familiar customers in this neighbourhood. He had brought along a much older man, whose fish had gone unsold. He went from door to door, laughing and talking, till his regulars bought some of the mans produce. The older man stood tongue-tied, his hair ruffled, and his face sullen. One eager aunty asked, You are selling his fish now? How will you sell yours then, we will be stocked for days! How silly of you.

Kakima, he has been roaming around for four hours and barely sold anything. He is tired, and hungry. Its okay, I will come a few days later after your stock is over. Please help him out today, he said. The boy kept his word.

The author is a journalist who writes on culture, gender, society and politics.
Back on April 29, 2010, Apple's late CEO Steve Job published an open letter simply titled "Thoughts on Flash." The letter criticized Adobe Systems' Flash platform and outlined reasons why the technology would not be allowed on the company's iOS hardware products, specifically iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

The video below presents Steve Jobs discussing the topic of dropping Adobe Flash on Apple devices with Walt Mossberg and Karen Swisher in June 2010.

Microsoft announced in September 2019 that they would officially end of support for Adobe Flash on December 31, 2020.

Google announced the end of Flash in July 2017 in an announcement simply titled "Saying Goodbye to Flash in Chrome."
Thousands of farmers continued their protest against the three farm laws on the first day of 2021 on Friday outside several border points of Delhi in the biting cold as they remained firm in their demands amid a deadlock with the government over two issues. Hundreds of police personnel have been deployed at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri border points, where the farmers have been camping since November 26, even as the minimum temperature dipped to 1.1 degrees Celsius.

The Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, according to news agency PTI, is likely to meet during the day to discuss its next course of action. Senior farmers leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has said there is, however, no question of withdrawing from the two issues which are a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) and repealing of the farm laws, PTI reported.

The government has addressed our demands to drop penal provisions against farmers in an ordinance relating to stubble burning and to put on hold a proposed electricity amendment law, Chaduni said. But, we want to make it clear that there is no alternative to our two remaining demands which include repeal of the three agriculture laws and legal guarantee for MSP, he added.

Also read | Farmers protest: Delhis Chilla, Ghazipur borders remain closed; traffic diverted

PTI reported that the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, one of the protesting farm unions, has issued a statement saying the Centres appeal to farmer leaders to suggest an alternative to repeal of the laws is impossible. The new laws will hand over control of agriculture markets, farmers land and food chain to corporates, the committee said in the statement.

Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said, after the sixth round of talks between ministers and a 41-member representative, on Wednesday that consensus has been reached on two of the four issues. Tomar had also said that the next meeting with farmers representatives will be held on January 4. Tomar said the union leaders kept insisting on the repeal of the three farm laws, but the government side tried to explain to them the benefits of the acts and sought to know specific problems faced by the farmers. The minister said the government has already said that it is ready to give a written assurance as he talked about the farmers demand for a legal guarantee for procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Also read | Indias protesting farmers hold key to self-reliance in edible oils

Traffic issues

As the farmers protests continued, Delhi Traffic Police alerted commuters about the routes that remained closed due to the agitation and suggested alternate roads. Tikri, Dhansa Borders are closed for any Traffic Movement. Jhatikara Borders is open only for LMV (Cars/ Light Motor Vehicles), two wheelers and pedestrian movement, they said in a series of tweets. The Chilla and Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Apsara, Bhopra & Loni Borders, they added.

Also read | Kerala passes resolution against farm laws

Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed. Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders.Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44, they said. Available Open Borders to Haryana are Jharoda (Only Single Carriageway/Road), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera Borders, the Delhi Traffic Police said in another tweet.

The government has said that the three farm laws, which were brought in September last year, have are major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middleman and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. The protesting farmers, however, have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. On its part, the Centre has reiterated the MSP and mandi systems will stay and has accused the opposition of misleading the farmers.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the Centre over the farm laws in his New Years message on Friday. As the New Year begins, we remember those who we lost and thank all those who protect and sacrifice for us. My heart is with the farmers and labourers fighting unjust forces with dignity and honour. Happy New Year to all, he tweeted.

(With PTI inputs)
Shares of Rain Industries surged 15 per cent on Friday to hit a 52-week high of Rs 146 on the BSE after the company announced that its arm had completed sale of non-strategic subsidiaries for Rs 637 crore. The company said the consideration received from the sale of two subsidiaries will be utilized for repayment of debt and other general corporate needs. Rain CII Carbon LLC., a wholly owned step down subsidiary of the Company has completed the sale of its wholly owned subsidiaries namely RUTGERS Polymers Limited, Canada and Handy Chemicals (U.

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New Delhi, Jan 1 : BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday thanked AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and his team for their support after he and his family members fully recovered from Covid-19.

"I thank everyone for their wishes, prayers and moral support during my illness. My family members and I have now fully recovered from the Covid-19. We wholeheartedly thank Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of AIIMS and his team for their dedication and continued support in these challenging times," the BJP Chief tweeted.

Nadda tested positive for coronavirus on December 13, soon after his visit to West Bengal. He was under the treatment in AIIMS.
Mitch McConnell reportedly had a conference call with GOP Senators Thursday, during which time he pressured Senator Hawley about Hawleys decision to challenge the Electoral College votes on January 6 (here and here).

After asking Hawley to explain his rationale, there was silence. Apparently, Hawley was not on the call. He later sent an email to his colleagues explaining his reasoning for objecting to certification of the votes.

Some are making the case that McConnell is trying to be strategic as he looks ahead to 2022 and fears alienating moderate voters if any in the GOP ranks rock the boat.

I dont care what Mitch is thinking. Its disgusting that hes trying to silence voices that will shine a light on this fraud. As the Senate majority leader, he should be the one leading the charge. Instead, hes cowardly, clueless, complicit, and/or corrupt.

I also think that anyone whos chattering away about 2022 is completely out of touch with what is happening NOW.

Mitch presumably has concerns about 2022? Spare me.

Poor Mitch. Hes still thinking and playing by the old rules. He doesnt realize (or perhaps he doesnt care) theres a new playbook that goes by many names, all with the same result: progressivism, democratic socialism, communism, Marxism, and totalitarianism, all of which are interchangeable with the familiar, tried-and-true Democrat party which probably has a nice familiar ring in Mitchs head.

Ah, the Democrats. Lets work with them.

Hey Mitch McConnell, do you realize the left has myriad ways to make sure we never win an election again?

In fact, theyre in the process of pulling off another steal in Georgia because, apparently, our party is too stupid and feckless to learn a single thing from November and apply it to the Georgia run-off election.

And hey, Mitch! Do you think your friends, the Democrats, will make the same mistake they made in 2020 when they focused the theft on the top of the ticket and neglected many (though probably not all) down ballot races?

2022? Really Mitch?

Your friends from across the aisle, as they say, have plans  big plans  to keep a lock on power once they have it, from elimination of the Electoral College (that alone will seal our fate) to adding states to ending the filibuster to expanding the Supreme Court to flooding the country with illegal aliens and invaders (aka refugees) from countries that hate us, and on and on and on.

Then theres 2024, which brings me around to Hawley.

Some are saying hes using this as a chance to build his credentials as a conservative fighter and that hes fundraising off of it. As such, one could say its a bit of a political stunt.

I cant say what Hawleys motivations are, but if I had to venture a guess, Id pin him somewhere between a genuine conservative who cares about the Constitution and an ambitious politician with eyes on the White House. (Good luck to any Republican whove set their sights on the White House. As already noted, thats old school thinking that well win the White House again after this depraved election where anything goes and nobody with any power to do anything about it cares.)

In sum, only one Senator has gone on record to commit to objecting to the fraudulent votes and Mitch McConnell is compelled to pillory even that one.

May God give us strength and show us a path through the destruction of America that unfolds before our eyes every hour of every day.

Caricature by Donkey Hotey (cropped) CC BY-SA 2.0 license
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Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on January 1 said it has constructed a composite Digital Payments Index (DPI) to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country. This is a significant development given the sharp pick-up in digital transactions seen in the recent past.

The RBI-DPI comprises five broad parameters that enable the measurement of deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods. These parameters are Payment Enablers, Payment Infrastructure  Demand-side factors, Payment Infrastructure  Supply-side factors, Payment Performance and Consumer Centricity, the RBI said.

Each of these parameters has sub-parameters which, in turn, consist of various measurable indicators. The major sub-parameters under each parameter is available here. The RBI-DPI has been constructed with March 2018 as the base period, the central bank said.

DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100. The DPI for March 2019 and March 2020 work out to 153.47 and 207.84 respectively, indicating appreciable growth. Going forward, RBI-DPI will be published on the RBIs website on a semi-annual basis from March 2021 onwards with a lag of four months, the central bank said. In February this year, the RBI had first announced the plan to launch the DPI.

The RBI and government have been pushing for digital transactions over the years to bring in more transparency and efficiency in the financial system. In that sense, the launch of DPI is a significant step.

In recent months, digital transactions have picked up significantly.

Digital transactions pick up

According to the latest RBI data, digital transactions exhibited a sustained recovery and momentum picked up in November 2020, supported by both wholesale and retail transactions.

In the retail segment, national electronic funds transfer (NEFT) transactions volume grew 24.6 percent y-o-y in November 2020, much higher than the growth (13.9 percent) recorded a month ago. The growth in the value of NEFT transactions in November 2020 (27.9 percent) was higher than that recorded in October 2020 (20.1 percent), the RBI data showed.

In value terms, UPI transactions to the tune of Rs 3.9 lakh crore happened while IMPS transactions worth Rs 2.76 lakh crore happened. Also, RTGS transactions worth Rs 79.8 lakh crore and NEFT worth Rs 22.18 lakh crore were reported, the data showed.

UPI transactions surged to approximately 2.2 billion in November 2020, maintaining momentum in both volume and value terms. Among other digital transaction modes, national electronic toll collection (NETC) held on to a buoyant growth trajectory and immediate payment service (IMPS) showed stronger growth in November 2020 than in the previous month.

In the wholesale segment, real-time gross settlement (RTGS) transactions recorded acceleration in volume terms. Recently, the RBI had made RTGS available round the clock on all days from 12.30 AM December 14.
Suriya, the versatile actor is on a high with the rave reviews her received for his latest release, Soorarai Pottru. Now, the reports published by a leading daily suggest that the actor has hiked his remuneration. If the reports are to be believed, Suriya is all set to receive a massive paycheck for his next project, Vaadivasal.

The talented actor, who is back on the success track with the critical and commercial success of Soorarai Pottru, is reportedly charging a whopping Rs. 35 Crores for Vaadivasal. Well, the Sudha Kongara directorial was an excellent comeback for the actor who has been going through a down phase in his career for quite a long time.

Vaadivasal, which marks Suriya's first collaboration with the National award-winning director Vetrimaaran, is expected to start rolling by mid-2021. As per the reports, the actor is planning for a change of track in his career, and has decided to be choosy with the films he picks.

Coming to Vaadivasal, the highly anticipated project which is based on CS Chellappa's bestseller novel of the same name revolves around the story of a son who is on a mission to suppress a bull that killed his father during the Jallikattu race. The reports suggest that Suriya might play the roles of both the father and son in the movie.

Apart from Vaadivasal, Suriya has some highly promising projects in the pipeline including the Netflix anthology Navarasa, for which he once again teams up with the renowned filmmaker Gautham Menon. The actor is also planning to team up with director Pandiraj and popular banner Sun Pictures for an upcoming family entertainer, that is expected to start rolling soon.

Also Read:

RUMOUR HAS IT: Suriya-Hari Duo's Aruvaa Shelved?



Bharathiraja Calls Rajinikanth's Decision Sensible; Says, 'For The Fans You Are Important'
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 1 (ANI): Dozens of Dogra Front activists on Friday protested against Pakistan here, following the demolition of a Hindu temple in the Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.



"Yet again they have destroyed a Hindu temple. A blast took place outside a temple near Heera Nagar. They(Pakistan) are trying to put Hindu and Muslims against each other. But we will stay together at any cost. They are always conspiring against us," Dogra Front president Ashok Gupta told ANI.

"There is no democracy in that country...We should teach them a lesson by conducting multiple Balakot like airstrikes," he added.

This comes after India on Friday lodged a formal protest with Pakistan via diplomatic channels against the vandalisation of a Hindu temple there, reported a source.

On December 30, a mob of over a hundred people led by local Muslim clerics had destroyed and set on fire a Hindu temple in the Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

A viral video clip on social media showed a violent mob destroying the walls and roof of the temple.

This act against the Hindu minority community has been widely condemned by human rights activists based in Pakistan and other parts of the world.

The mob incited by a local cleric was part of a rally organised by Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a Sunni Deobandi political party in Pakistan. In the rally, speakers delivered inflammatory speeches after which the mob stormed the temple, set it ablaze, and razed it to the ground. (ANI)


A New South Wales couple have handed themselves into police after allegedly flying into Victoria and fleeing the airport after they were told they would need to quarantine.

A 26-year-old man and 24-year-old woman caught a flight from Canberra before landing at Melbourne Airport just before 11am on Friday.

An officer allegedly approached the pair, advising them they would have to quarantine for 14 days.

Though now police are accusing the pair of running from the officer and fleeing the airport in a van.

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia the pair have since handed themselves into Goulburn Police Station, in regional New South Wales, at 10am on Saturday.

They have been told to self-isolate in their southern New South Wales home while officers work with NSW Health and Victorian Police.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley said the couple were facing fines of at least $19,000 each.

A New South Wales couple allegedly flew into Victoria and fled the airport in a van after they were told they would need to quarantine for 14 days (pictured, police are looking for this 24-year-old woman)

A 26-year-old man (pictured) and 24-year-old woman caught a flight from Canberra before landing at Melbourne Airport just before 11am on Friday

'I did want to make particular mention of two people who absconded from discussions with authorised officers yesterday who have now apparently returned to Goulburn in New South Wales,' Mr Foley said.

'Upon the advice of the public health team, those people have breached numerous orders of the public-health state of emergency in Victoria and they will each be fined at least $19,000 for their breaching of those arrangements.

'This is a very serious matter.'

The couple allegedly arrived just before Victoria introduced its hard border closure to all NSW residents at 11.59pm on New Years Day.

Any NSW residents who arrived in Victoria before that time was ordered to self-isolate for 14 days regardless of test results for Covid-19.

Thousands of Victorians also had to cut short their NSW holidays and joined a mad rush to get home ahead of the coronavirus border shutdown.

The southern state's border decision on Thursday prompted traffic bottlenecks as people raced to beat the Friday midnight closure.

Once in Victoria, Covid-19 testing sites saw long queues as travellers lined up for mandatory testing.

Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania have all hardened their borders as a result of fresh cases in recent days.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he respects the decisions of state and territory leaders to shut their borders but understands why people have been left frustrated.

'As much as we would like there to be greater consistency across all of these things, we must respect the states' jurisdictional authority,' Mr Morrison told reporters on Friday.

'They are ultimately responsible for what would happen in their state if there were to be an outbreak in their state.

Police say the pair from New South Wales ran from the authorised officer and fled the airport in a van

Thousands of Victorians cut short their NSW holidays and joined a mad rush to get home ahead of the coronavirus border shutdown (pictured, a border checkpoint in Mallacoota)

'As prime minister, I do respect that.'

Western Australia has re-established its hard border with Victoria, which recorded two new cases on Friday reportedly linked to an 10-strong outbreak.

The rise in Sydney cases prompted the Northern Territory to revise its public health orders on Thursday and bar entry for all Greater Sydney residents.

South Australia also re-established its hard border with NSW, along with a 100km buffer for border communities.

Tasmania has declared Greater Sydney and the Wollongong area as medium-risk zones requiring travellers from there to quarantine for 14 days on arrival, while those from Sydney's Northern Beaches are barred from entering.

Mr Morrison urged states to balance the risks of Covid-19 transmission with disruptions caused to people.

He has previously hit out at some states for their border management, criticising WA's decision to shut last year as 'economic protectionism'.

Victoria's border decision on Thursday prompted traffic bottlenecks as people raced to beat the Friday midnight closure (pictured, a border checkpoint at Mallacoota on New Year Eve when the hard borders were announced)
Mumbai, Jan 1 : Actress Bipasha Basu says New Year, for her, will not begin till her actor husband Karan Singh Grover is back home safely. Karan is currently travelling on work.

Bipasha posted a romantic picture on Instagram where she cosies up with Karan in a pool.

"The new year for me won't begin till you are back home safely. I love you and I miss you like crazy. #monkeylove," the actress wrote as caption.

Bipasha and Karan got married in April 2016 after they worked together in the film "Alone" the year before.

The couple recently co-starred in the thriller web series "Dangerous", co-starring Suyyash Rai, Natasha Suri, Sonali Raut, and Nitin Arora.
GREENWICH  Sweetgreen, a fast-casual salad restaurant, has opened its first location in Connecticut near the top of Greenwich Avenue.

Sweetgreen, which says it operates a seasonal restaurant with the mission of connecting people to real food, now operates in a dozen states plus the District of Columbia.

The restaurant said it offers simple, seasonal, healthy salads and grain bowls made in-house from scratch, using whole produce delivered that morning.

The design of 2,727-square-foot location was inspired by the charming scene along Greenwich Avenue. The store maintained the original building facade, which features large windows overlooking the street and a small park, according to Sweetgreen.

A dining room was anchored around the storefront windows to create a welcoming and light-filled space for customers, according to Sweetgreen. The dining room features custom tile, along with exposed brick.

The Greenwich location also includes a designated courier pickup window to separate customer and courier traffic during the pandemic.

Sweetgreen also said it is working with local artist Naomi Clark to create custom artwork for the Greenwich restaurant, using bold coloration, fragmented forms, and gestural brushstrokes.

The restaurant opened in compliance with the states social distancing guidelines for eateries, and follows Sweetgreens own safety standards, which it said includes mandatory face masks, advanced sanitation schedules, dedicated staff to ensure safety compliance and more.

Sweetgreen signed a long-term 10-year lease to operate from 98-102 Greenwich Ave., according to the property owner, Marx Realty.

Lacoste vacated the space at 98 Greenwich Avenue in early 2018.

Sweetgreen was founded in 2007 as producer of seasonal and healthy food. It currently operates in over 100 locations. The chain aims to foster community health and support small and mid-size growers that farm sustainably. As with all their locations, Sweetgreen preserved and honored the look and feel of the building in Greenwich.

Sweetgreen operates a number of locations in New York City, featuring chalk-board menus and works by local artists. Marx Realty and Sweetgreen had previously signed a 3,500-square-foot lease in January for a new location at 10 Grand Central, a 35-story Ely Jacques-Kahn designed office tower in Manhattan.

For every meal sold on its opening day, Sweetgreen said it donated a meal via its Impact Outpost program to the Carver Center in support of food-insecure children and families in Port Chester, N.Y. In solidarity with the movement for Black Lives, Sweetgreen said it will also be donating meals to the NAACP in Port Chester.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jan, 2021 ) :President of Djibouti National Parliament, Mohamed Ali Houmed and Commander Djibouti Navy, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Daher Djama along with delegation visited Naval Headquarters here on Friday.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi welcomed the visiting dignitaries upon arrival at Naval Headquarters, said a Pakistan Navy press release.

Later, during separate Call-ons with Naval Chief, both dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest and cooperation.

A briefing session was also held in which the visiting Commander Djibouti Navy was apprised of Pakistan Navy's contribution to regional maritime security.

Various aspects of collaboration between the two navies and avenues of further enhancing bilateral relationship were also discussed. Both sides agreed on the need to improve bilateral naval cooperation.

It was expected that the significant interactions with political and military leadership would open new vistas of mutual cooperation between the two countries in general and the navies in particular.
EDITOR'S NOTE: In the year of Sahir Ludhianvi's 100th birth anniversary, Mehfil-e-Sahir is Firstpost's ode to "the people's poet", through a collection of video tributes by seven leading Hindi film lyricists  from Varun Grover to Kausar Munir, Irshad Kamil, Shellee, Raj Shekhar, Mayur Puri and Hussain Haidry. Each of these lyricists has picked the verses that speak most to them, explaining why Sahir's words resonate even three decades after his death. View the complete Mehfil-e-Sahir series here. In this essay, Surinder Deol examines and puts into context Sahir Ludhianvi's life and legacy. *** MY FATHER had a great fondness for Mirza Ghalib. He would often read a couplet and provide an interpretation, which for a high schooler like me at that time was difficult to comprehend as Urdu had not been a part of my curriculum. By the time I entered college, Sahir was everywhere. His songs were heard on the radio, his movies attracted large audiences, and his poetry was the topic of conversations among friends. I was drawn to Sahirs work in a way that I hadnt been to Ghalibs. One day I walked into a bookstore and bought Sahirs masterpiece Talkhiyan for the grand sum of a rupee. I had the book, but I couldnt read the Urdu script. My next task, therefore, was to get an Urdu primer and a dictionary. Sahir was the reason that I learned Urdu. I can say that the Urdu language and Sahirs poetry have been some of the greatest joys of my life. 2021 is a notable year because it marks Sahirs hundredth birth anniversary. It is understandable that there is a renewed interest in his life and work. Social media posts display an undying appetite for accounts of his love affairs, especially his fondness for Amrita Pritam, one of the pioneerng Punjabi literary figures and someone who had the persona of a goddess carved into a piece of white marble. The Sahir-Amrita romance is no ordinary thing; it has become a cultural phenomenon, a meme that is divorced from facts, and it goes on multiplying in the imaginations of Sahirs fans. The facts, however, do not support a great romantic tale.

Above: Sahir and Amrita Pritam: A relationship which was defined largely by silence. Image courtesy: Imroz. (Reproduced from Sahir Ludhianvi: The Peoples Poet by Akshay Manwani, published by HarperCollins) Sahir got to know Amrita when they lived in Lahore. Amrita was already married with a young daughter, and she was expecting her second child. They developed a great liking for each other, but given the circumstances, Sahir could not have done anything without destroying an existing marriage. Also, Sahir was an impoverished poet trying to make a living. For him to marry someone like Amrita, who was used to all the luxuries of life, was beyond the range of possibility. Then Partition happened, and they had to rebuild their homes and lives. Amrita didnt divorce her husband until the early 60s, and by then, Sahir had moved on with his life in a different direction. There is no doubt that Amrita fell in love with Sahir. Her autobiography Rasiidi Ticket accounts for her lifelong obsession with Sahir, who never openly admitted that he was in love with her. If he loved her, it was a silent emotion that never showed up anywhere. What is the secret behind Sahirs everlasting appeal? To answer this question, we have to go back several decades to Sahirs student days in Ludhiana. He was raised by a single mother who suffered significant financial hardships due to her estranged husband's nasty and antagonistic attitude. She wanted Sahir to get a good education and become a government official, unlike his father, a semi-literate jagirdar. Sahir watched his mothers struggles, and the idea of the ill-treatment of women in our society became strongly entrenched in his mind. This is one theme in Sahirs work that has not lost relevance even after great [social] progress has been made. Although a large number of women and girls are getting education and employment, the evidence of domestic violence aimed against women, rape, physical violence, and trafficking is found on a daily basis. Sahirs words do not stop echoing in our ears. aurat ne janam diya mardon ko mardon ne use baazaar diya The woman gave birth to men, and they gave her the place to sell herself. maddad chahti hai y havva ki beti yashodha ki ham-jins raadha ki beti payambar ki ummat zulekha ki beti sana-khwaan-e taqdis-e mashriq kahaan hain Eves daughter is asking for help. Someone like Yashodha, Radhas daughter. One of the Prophets followers, and Zulekhas daughter. Defenders of the sanctity of the East where are they?

Above: Sahir reciting at a mushaira. Choosing his attire for such an event would often be a hair-splitting experience for Sahir. Image courtesy: Sajjad Zaheers Estate represented by Najma Zaheer Baquer. (Reproduced from Sahir Ludhianvi: The Peoples Poet by Akshay Manwani, published by HarperCollins) Sahir had great confidence in his writing ability, but a poets life in India is a life of impoverishment. While he lived in Lahore, he was nothing more than a pauper. The issues of wealth inequality were not concepts to him; they were part of his daily living. Sahir wrote about it in several of his poems. Still, the poem that comes to my mind is Sub-he Nauroz (The New Year Morning), in which he talks about people getting ready to celebrate the New Year by exchanging gifts and partying while hungry and naked kids of the poor were running after cars. bhuuke zard gadaagar bachche kaar ke piichhe bhaag rahe hain vaqt se pehle jaag uthe hain piip bhari aankhein sahlaate sar ke phoron ko khujlaate voh dekho kuchh aur bhi nikle jashn manaao saal-e nau ke Hungry, beggarly kids, running after an automobile. Hurt by awareness that came before time. Rubbing their pus-laden eyes, scratching boils in their heads. Lo, some more appeared on the scene. Celebrate the New Year! India is a much wealthier country today than when Sahir wrote about it. But isn't it a fact that few business families control most of the wealth, and hungry and naked children can still be seen running after cars around the time of any festival? * Sahir was a great lover of natural beauty. But because he spent most of his early life in Ludhiana and Lahore, what he could see was a flatland, no hills, and no valleys. Yet, it didnt stop him from imagining places of incredible beauty and describing them in enchanting words. Sahirs depiction of natural beauty is not separate from the beauty of his beloved, a talent he shares with another great Urdu poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz. In a short poem titled Ek Manzar (A View) Sahir describes the natural beauty of a rural landscape, but notice a hint of the beloveds appearance in the last two lines. ufaq ke dariiche se kirnon ne jhaanka faza tan gaayi raaste muskaraaye simatne lagi narm kohre ki chaadar javaan shaakhsaaron ne ghonghat uthaaye parindon ki aavaaz se khet chaunke pur asraar lae mein reht gunganaaye hasein shabnam aaluuda pagdandiyon se lipatne lage sabz peron ke saaye vuh duur ek tiiley p aanchal sa jhalka tassavur mein laakhon diye jhilmilaaye Rays stealthily peeked through the window of the horizon. Spaces opened up in sheer indulgence and pathways revealed their joyfulness. The soft layer of fog that had fallen started to dwindle. The young foliage lifted veils that had covered its visage. The fields were startled by the chirpings of the birds. The Persian wheel started to sing in mysterious tones. The beautiful dew-laden pathways started to embrace shadows of the green trees. At a distant mound there was a flicker of a hem of a veil. In imagination, millions of lamps twinkled and shimmered. Who can forget the beautiful song chaand madham hai aasmaan chup hai that has breath-taking symmetry between romance and nature? chaand maddham hai aasmaan chup hai niind ki god mein jahaan chup hai in bahaaron ke saaye mein aa ja phir mohabbat javaan rahe na rahe zindagi tere na muraadon par kal talak mehrbaan rahe na rahe The moon is at peace with itself. Resting in the bosom of sleep the whole world is silent. Come to the shadows of these springs. Who knows how long the vivacity of my love would last! I cant say how long life will show kindness towards unfortunate ones like myself! And let us not forget. y vaadiyaan y fazaaein bula rahi hain tumhein khamoshiyon ki sadaaein bula rahi hain tumhein These valleys and these environs  they are calling you. Voices tucked away in these silences are calling you.

Above: Sahir (second from right in the third row with name given as AH Sahir) as a member of Government College Ludhiana photography club. Image courtesy: Anupama Sharma. | The entrance to the Sahir Auditorium at Government College, Ludhiana. Image courtesy: Aniruddh Kaushal. (Reproduced from Sahir Ludhianvi: The Peoples Poet by Akshay Manwani, published by HarperCollins) Sahir got a book on Socialism as a gift from one of his friends. This made a great impression on him. Convinced that socialist principles could provide a way forward for a poor country like India after its independence, he joined the Progressive Writers Association, which was established in the 30s. There was no socialist party apart from the Communist Party of India (CPI) that strictly followed the Moscow Agenda at that time. Also, the differences between Socialism and Communism were not apparent to most people. Sahir joined that wave, but he didn't become a CPI member, unlike Majrooh, Sardar Jafry, and some others, who were committed communists. Although we talk about humanistic values championed by these poets, make no mistake that if CPI had won Indias first election, these people would have taken no time in supporting a Soviet-style regime in India, causing great suffering to the masses. Sahir saw in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru someone who understood the humanistic values ingrained in socialist principles. Nehru was a staunch secularist; he wanted to build a modern India and nurture a parliamentary system in which all voices were heard. It is not surprising that Nehrus death in 1964 was an immense personal loss to Sahir  the loss of a mentor and a guide. Nehru got many compliments after his death, but the lines which Sahir wrote stand out for their philosophic depth and they superbly represent the anguish felt by millions of people around the country. jism ki maut koi maut nahien hoti hai jism mit jaane se insaan nahien mar jaate dharkanein rukne se armaan nahien mar jaate saans tham jaane se alaan nahien mar jaate hont jam jaane se farmaan nahien mar jaate jism ki maut koi maut nahien hoti hai When physical form disappears, it is not the end of our being. When we lose our flesh and bones, we arent completely effaced. When the heart stops beating, it is not the death of our aspirations. When breathing climaxes, it is not the end of our proclamations. When lips freeze, it is not the end of our affirmations. When physical form disappears, it is not the end of our being.

Above: Kishore Kumar, Dev Anand, Sahir, Yash Chopra and RD Burman at the recording for Joshila (1973). Image courtesy: SMM Ausaja. (Reproduced from Sahir Ludhianvi: The Peoples Poet by Akshay Manwani, published by HarperCollins) Today we are witnessing new threats to democracy and the ideals of secularism. The boundaries between the spheres of the state and religion are being redefined. This is a time for reflection on our priorities as citizens and members of a global community and who we are as human beings. In this context, Sahirs voice is essential because there is a timeless quality to it. Sahir was not a pal do pal ka shaayir (a poet of the moment). The values he championed  womens rights, protection of natural beauty, wealth inequalities, regional and global peace  are here to stay for the better part of this century. * A life in images 

Above: Clippings of Guru Dutt's 1957 film Pyaasa in Hindustan Times. Pyaasas advertising reflected the importance of Sahirs contribution to the film. From initially being advertised with images of Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman, it undergoes a change, highlighting the importance of the films songs like Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par and Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye. Image courtesy: Mr Arun Dutt on behalf of Guru Dutt Films and Hindustan Times. (Reproduced from Sahir Ludhianvi: The Peoples Poet by Akshay Manwani, published by HarperCollins)

Above: Talkhiyan, Sahirs first collection of poems published in 1944, has appeared in dozens of edition, and it is one of the most sought after Urdu poetry books after Divan-e Ghalib. Image courtesy: Surinder Deol.

Above: Sahir back in Ludhiana for the golden jubilee celebrations of Government College, Ludhiana, in 1970 where he was even awarded a gold medal. Sahir is standing fourth from left, with Ajiab Chitrakar to his immediate right. On Sahirs left are noted Punjabi painter Harkishan Lall, Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Jan Nisar Akhtar and Krishan Adeeb (extreme right). Keeping himself surrounded by friends was a part of Sahirs personality. Image courtesy: Ajaib Chitrakar | From L to R: Sardar Jafri, Sahir, Khayyam, Ramesh Saigal. It was Sahir who recommended Khayyam to Saigal for Phir Subah Hogi (1958). Image courtesy: Trinetra Bajpayi | Sahir Ludhianvi (extreme left ) and music director Ravi (second from left ). Outside of their association with the Chopras, Sahir and Ravi continued their good work in films like Aaj Aur Kal (1963), Kaajal (1965) and Neel Kamal (1968). Image courtesy: Manohar Iyer. (Reproduced from Sahir Ludhianvi: The Peoples Poet by Akshay Manwani, published by HarperCollins) * Surinder Deol is the author of SAHIR: A Literary Portrait, published by the Oxford University Press (OUP) in 2019. His translated works include Ghalib: Innovative Meanings and the Ingenious Mind (OUP 2017), The Urdu Ghazal: A Gift of Indias Composite Culture (OUP 2020); and The Hidden Garden: Mir Taqi Mir (Penguin 2021). He lives in Potomac, Maryland.  Banner illustration by Satwik Gade for Firstpost
The rate of 10 gram 22-carat gold in Mumbai was Rs 46,073 plus 3 percent GST, while 24-carat 10 gram was Rs 50,298 plus GST.

Gold prices rose for the second straight day by Rs 96 to Rs 50,298 per 10 gram in the Mumbai retail market on rupee depreciation as trading in the overseas market was closed due to the New Year's Eve. The yellow metal surged Rs 161, or 0.32 percent, during the week in the domestic market.

The bullion metal ended 2020 as the best year in a decade with a gain of 27.94 percent.

The rate of 10 gram 22-carat gold in Mumbai was Rs 46,073 plus 3 percent GST, while 24-carat 10 gram was Rs 50,298 plus GST. The 18-carat gold quoted at Rs 37,724 plus GST in the retail market.

The US dollar settled modestly higher at 89.89, or up 0.28 percent, on December 31 against a basket of six currencies.

Gold holdings in SPDR Gold Trust, the worlds largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund increased by 0.9 tonne to 1,170.73 tonnes.

Spot gold settled with a gain of $3.12 at $1,896.49 an ounce on December 31 in London trading.

MCX Bulldesk was slightly up 22 points, or 0.14 percent, at 15,690 at 17:45. The index tracks the real-time performance of MCX Gold and MCX Silver futures.

Navneet Damani, Vice President, Motilal Oswal, said, Gold prices continued to trade higher on the last day of 2020, amidst the rising number of a new variant of the coronavirus and optimism regarding the COVID relief bill, even though it has hit one more hurdle market participants are positive regarding the same. Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has postponed the voting on the same until further notice this has put pressure on the market sentiment, although market participants remain optimistic regarding the bill to pass.

On the other hand, COVID-19 cases and the deaths due to same are continuously on the rise, with that new strain of the coronavirus that was found in the UK is also increasing the distress in the market. Vaccine news infidelity put pressure on the market initially although we are witnessing few delays on that front as well, hence boosting the overall safe-haven appeal, he said.

The broader trend domestic front could be in the range of Rs 50,050- 50,450.

The gold/silver ratio currently stands at 75.11 to 1, which means the amount of silver required to buy one ounce of gold.

Silver prices fell Rs 420 to Rs 66,963 per kg from its closing on December 31.

Also read: Gold prices surge over 20% for second year in a row to settle above Rs 50,000 per 10 gram

In the futures market, the gold rate touched an intraday high of Rs 50,280 and an intraday low of Rs 50,128 on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX). For the February series, the yellow metal touched a low of Rs 41,560 and a high of Rs 57,100.

Gold futures for February delivery gained Rs 84, or 0.17 percent, at Rs 50,235 per 10 gram in evening trade on a business turnover of 9,961 lots. The same for April edged higher Rs 136, or 0.27 percent, at Rs 50,319 on a business turnover of 3,388 lots.

The value of the February and Aprils contracts traded so far is Rs 619.54 crore and Rs 18.10 crore, respectively.

Similarly, Gold Mini contract for February increased Rs 92, or 0.18 percent, at Rs 50,280 on a business turnover of 11,686 lots.

Trading Strategy

Tapan Patel- Senior Analyst (Commodities), HDFC Securities

Gold prices traded flat with COMEX spot gold prices kept narrow trading range near $1,895 in the electronic trade as global markets are closed due to New Year holiday.

Gold prices have kept range-bound trading during the week on lack of important economic data and mixed global cues. The lower volumes due to holiday weekend may keep bullion trades choppy for the day.

We expect gold prices to trade sideways with COMEX gold resistance at $1,910, support at $1,880. MCX Gold February support lies at Rs 49,800 with resistance at Rs 50,400.

For all commodities-related news, click here

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
THE Candlelight Movement yesterday condemned the Prime Ministers reprehensible, vile and callous statement on vigils held for murdered Andrea Bharatt and linking it with the current Covid-19 spread.

The organisation, which coordinated the vigils, said in a statement yesterday signed by its PRO Kandace Bharath that the gatherings were not to blame and urged the PM to desist from politicising Bharatts killing.
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A lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that a San Antonio police officer used excessive force when she threw a woman to the ground last year, breaking several of the womans teeth.

Its the fourth time Officer Misty Floyd, a 10-year veteran of the force, has been accused of excessive force while on the job, according to news reports and federal court records.

In 2015, Brian David Ricks filed a similar lawsuit against Floyd and the San Antonio Police Department, alleging that Floyd threw him to the ground after he refused to go inside his home

According to the lawsuit, Floyd told Ricks  who had called 911 to report that his daughter was missing  that he was drunk in public and a threat to himself. She advised him to go inside, or that she would arrest him for public intoxication.

At that point Floyd, who later became a spokeswoman for the department, threw him to the ground. Several officers, who were also named in the lawsuit, proceeded to punch him in the face, the lawsuit stated.

On ExpressNews.com: SAPD spokeswoman, other officers named in lawsuit

Ricks  whose sternum was fractured during the altercation  dropped the lawsuit in 2018 as part of a $165,000 settlement with the City of San Antonio, records show.

According to the new lawsuit filed in December, Melanie Whitley, 43, called 911 on March 11, 2019, in an attempt to get help for her mother.

Floyd arrived at Whitleys home and approached her on the porch. She placed Whitley in handcuffs, the lawsuit states, but later removed them.

Floyd told Whitley that she could be arrested for public intoxication, as Whitley had apparently been drinking alcohol, the lawsuit states.

Whitley attempted to go back inside, at which point Floyd violently seized her from behind and threw her onto the ground, causing several severe and debilitating bodily injuries, the lawsuit states.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio mulls settlement of lawsuit alleging police detective illegally searched woman in public

The lawsuit also alleges that the San Antonio Police Department failed to properly train Floyd in safe and proper methods of restraint.

According to the lawsuit, the city had knowledge that numerous people had filed complaints of excessive force against various police officers on the force, yet the department failed to take any meaningful action.

Whitley is seeking $3.5 million to cover medical expenses, loss of wages and other damages. She has demanded a trial by jury.

A spokeswoman for the City of San Antonio declined to comment on pending litigation.

Floyd has been accused of using excessive force on at least two other occasions, according to news reports.

In January 2012, a woman filed an Internal Affairs complaint against Floyd, alleging that Floyd injured the womans shoulder while the woman was being detained as a possible witness, according to a news report by KENS-5.

Another time, the news report states, Floyd was accused of repeatedly punching a woman during an altercation at a boarding home.

Both times, Floyd was cleared of wrongdoing.

eeaton@express-news.net
Queensland authorities remained tight-lipped on Friday over any further changes to border restrictions, while the state reported no new COVID-19 cases, and Victorians rushing to get back across the NSW border endured lengthy delays.

A spike in demand from skittish Queensland-bound travellers also led one domestic airline to add a last-minute flight between Melbourne and Brisbane, amid calls for people to be given enough notice of any hotspot expansions.

While the Queensland-Victoria border remains open, enough people making last-minute bookings led Qantas to schedule an extra flight at 5.35pm on Friday. Credit:

While no new cases were detected in Queensland on Friday, NSW health authorities confirmed three new locally acquired infections with unknown sources in Sydney's west.

In Victoria, two new cases have been linked to a cluster in south-east Melbourne.
Happy New Year!

This dog-size lizard is spreading through the southeastern U.S. National Geographic

News Feature: To understand the plight of insects, entomologists look to the past PNAS

Solar is now cheapest electricity in history, confirms IEA World Economic Forum

The tiny forests designed by feng shui BBC (DL).

Without Clearing Any New Farmland, We Could Feed Two Earths Worth of People Bloomberg

Commentary: The rising tide of alternative meat is here and we are the better for it Channel News Asia

SPACtacular: Blank-check firms hit the jackpot in 2020 Reuters

U.S. Homebuyers Face Worst Affordability Squeeze in 12 Years Bloomberg

US to tax fuselage, wings, tail imported for Airbus Mobile A320 assembly line Leeham News and Analysis

#COVID19

China?

How tiny Timor-Leste kept the coronavirus at bay Al Jazeera

Delays and missteps: how Dutertes Philippines struggled against the coronavirus South China Morning Post

Vietnams Communists Sort Out Leadership Asia Sentinel

Americas Asian Allies Need Their Own Nukes Foreign Policy

India

Syraqistan

Possible Mine Found on the Hull of Tanker Anchored in Iraqi Waters Maritime Executive

EU/UK

Brexit

Biden Transition

2020

Trump Transition

Monopoly Versus Democracy (no paywall) Zephyr Teachout, Foreign Affairs

Class Warfare

Year in Review

Pretty thin on the gound this year. 2020: the year the elites failed upwards Unherd 2020 was an economic lesson about insurance Fresh Economic Thinking Episode 179: Partys Over (podcast) Trillbilly Workers Party. A recap of the year 2020, in historical narrative form.

The pleasure of the crowd will survive the pandemic FT

Antidote du jour (via):

Bonus antidote:

When I talk about how it's so much better to watch wildlife documentaries with your kids vs going to the zoo, this is a perfect example. Your kids could NEVER learn about this dynamic in a zoo. It's so fascinating to watch these rascal macaque monkeys trick the squirrels. pic.twitter.com/hFg5f3GKAP  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) December 27, 2020

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"I would not exclude the possibility that we have other transmission that we haven't spotted," he said. "The sooner we can identify those, the better we will be and we have work to do to run this through, but at this point in time we have made a strong start. "Let's be clear, we have work to do to make sure we get to the full range and depth of this outbreak. The job for all of us within the health services as well as across the state is to maintain that momentum over the next few days." There were 18,337 COVID-19 tests completed on Friday. Victoria closed its border to all of NSW from 11.59pm on Friday, with the whole of NSW becoming a "red zone", meaning residents cannot enter Victoria and will not be allowed to enter hotel quarantine unless they have exceptional circumstances. The ban now applies to people across regional NSW. Those who have been to Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains had already been barred from entering Victoria.

Mr Foley said the state made no apologies for closing its border to NSW though he acknowledged the move had caused significant disruption for returning Victorians and border communities. "We need to make sure that we stay ahead of this cluster and we take all the necessary measures we can to make sure that we bring it under control as soon as possible," he said. "We've been quite consistent for some time now, in fact for two weeks, that the deteriorating position in NSW was of significant concern ... We make no apologies for closing the border." He said people could still travel in cross-border communities for education and medical needs by using their driver's licences.

Mr Foley said he was confident Victoria could get on top of the outbreak, but with almost 30 active cases, the problem had become serious for the state. "Now that we are seeing a total number of some 29 active cases across all of Victoria, including in hotel quarantine, this is a very significant issue for Victoria as we head into 2021," he said. Long queues have formed at Victoria's testing sites and Mr Foley said staff were being recalled to provide additional capacity. Mr Weimar apologised for the delays at the testing sites and encouraged people to still get tested even as several locations were turning people away.

"They will be busy again today, we have had people queueing up from 7am this morning," he said, adding Victorias testing capacity increased by 20 to 50 per cent on Friday. Loading People were being turned away from the Northern Hospital just minutes after it opened at 8am. Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital was also at capacity at 9.30. There are now 220 close contacts of the 29 active cases in Victoria, but Mr Weimar said he was "positive" that all the new cases have been linked to the current cluster. Many of the cases were connected to the infection incident at the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock on December 21. There are now 18 cases connected to the cluster.
In view of government's directive to extend the suspension of flights to and from UK, till 7th January, Air India is offering one-time free rescheduling, rerouting for travel to be completed within 31st Dec '21 for ticketed itinerary between 1st & 7th January, 2021.

India's Civil Aviation Minister on Wednesday said that the ban on international flights to and from UK has been extended till January 7. He further mentioned that the flights thereafter January 7 will be strictly regulated, details for which will be announced shortly. "Decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till 7 January 2021.

#FlyAI : In view of GoI directive on extension of suspension of flights to and from UK, till 7th January, Air India is offering one-time free rescheduling, rerouting for travel to be completed within 31st Dec '21 for ticketed itinerary between 1st & 7th January, 2021.  Air India (@airindiain) December 31, 2020

HS Puri, in a press conference held yesterday, said that the government is planning to extend the ban on flights to and from from UK in a bid to contain a new strain of the coronavirus. "I foresee a slight extension of the temporary suspension. I don't expect that extension to be a long or indefinite extension," Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters.

Ministry of Civil Aviation, last week, announced to temporarily suspend all flights originating from UK to India starting December 23. The flight ban will be in place till December 31, 11.59 PM. An official statement by Ministry of Civil Aviation said - "Considering the prevailing situation in the UK, Indian govt has decided that all flights originating from the UK to India shall be temporarily suspended till 11:59 pm, 31st December. This suspension to start w.e.f. 11.59 pm, 22nd December: Ministry of Civil Aviation."

In an exclusive interview given to CNN-News18, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that all passengers coming to India from UK will be subject to RT-PCR tests and will have to undergo mandatory 7 days quarantine. He further stated that the temporary suspension will be up for review at a later date.

Also Watch:

Earlier yesterday, Pakistan also extended the ban on flights from the UK for another week over fears of a new variant of the coronavirus which is reportedly spreading at a much faster rate. The extension was announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after the government decided that the threat level regarding the virus from the UK had not reduced.
Even seasoned enthusiasts find the experience grueling.

At its peak (or is it nadir?), subjects can find themselves projectile vomiting into plastic buckets for 15 to 40 minutes, or running to the bathroom with gastric distress. After the worst passes, they often peer into their buckets and analyze the color of the discharge to gauge the treatments effectiveness.

In my last session I released some sticky yellow bile, as opposed to bile in a clear liquid, and it was really rough on my stomach, said Jena la Flamme, 42, a sexual empowerment coach in Mill Valley, Calif., who has used kambo numerous times. Ive seen people turn sheet-white in their face during the ceremony.

Emily Collins, 33, an operations manager at a robotics company in San Francisco, recalls feeling an overwhelming sense of I dont want to be here, I dont want to do this, during her first kambo treatment two years ago.

It was 15 minutes that felt like four hours, Ms. Collins, added.

But afterward?

I feel like its a warrior medicine, said Ms. la Flamme, who credits kambo with helping purge internalized anger from her divorce. I feel like kambo is one of those things that give you superpower immunity. You kind of feel invincible from it.

Ms. Collins recalls being skeptical when she first heard about kambo. At first, my science brain thought this was hippie nonsense, she said. But unable to overcome crippling migraines with conventional treatments, she went to a kambo practitioner named Steve Dumain in San Pablo, Calif. two years ago. Her kambo treatments with Mr. Dumain, a former fashion executive in New York, helped, she said: I was up to about three migraines a month by the time I took kambo. After kambo, they went down to less than one.

Another of Mr. Dumains clients, Andrew Styer, 42, a product developer for a Silicon Valley tech giant, used kambo to treat psychological pain.
First Lady Michelle Obama's "eat healthy" White House garden ignited a battle in the divisive "culture war. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)

Andrew Breitbart, who founded the far-right website Breitbart and who died in 2012, coined an aphorism: Politics is downstream from culture. In other words, cultural commitments come first, political ones second.

If this is a useful maxim, its high time we asked: Why do we keep drinking the dirty downstream water? American politics in 2020 has been a filthy swill, suffused with corruption, madness and soulless cruelty. For the new year, lets resolve to savor culture as beauty and intelligence, and call an end to culture war follies.

But first we have to understand Breitbarts maxim. However odious the man was, the line resonates.

Even trivial-seeming cultural preferences can lay the groundwork for politicking  look no further than the Disco Sucks phenomenon of the 1970s. This was the ragtag movement in which white rock music fans in the heartland rose up, sometimes violently, against the new dance music, which was associated with cities, queer culture and people of color. At heart, Disco Sucks was a hazy form of what has hardened over the decades into contemporary white nationalism.

Likewise, the obsession with healthy, unprocessed food that gripped coastal residents in this century, and found an evangelist in former First Lady Michelle Obama, came across to some in red states as nanny-state condescension that required reaction. When Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) ran for president, he swore that his wife as first lady would bring French fries back to school lunches.

As for clothing and cars, opportunities for showdowns abound. People who drive hybrids and wear hemp, the cliche goes, vote left; in the reciprocal stereotype, people in tactical athleisure-wear piloting jacked-up pickups vote Trump.

Or say you like the chic, practical wardrobe of Rachel Maddow of MSNBC: thats a lefty style. If you prefer short, tight dresses in candy colors (think Ainsley Earhardt of Fox News), youre on the right.

And after years of having the meaning of such choices supercharged by social media, standup comics and especially the ideologues of the far right, people now get far more incensed about cultural artifacts  ATVs, veganism, the national anthem, avocado toast, etc.  than they do about public policy.

Story continues

Pundits, scholars and the unfake media insist that whats needed to cool off the passions and divisions of Trumptimes is better political reporting and civics education. But what if what we need instead is a richer culture?

I watch cable news and use social media, but, come on  as culture, these things are pretty thin gruel. To the extent they can be considered theater or literature, they have a limited range of characters, predictable costuming, unsubtle dialogue, minimal emotional range and palette, and near-zero musical or visual artistry.

If were scrounging for morsels of sensory-emotional experience on CNN and Twitter, were not getting fed. Were being culturally underserved.

The internet destabilized the arts in thousands of ways, and beginning about 15 years ago social media, including YouTube, rolled in to supplant film, novels, and even music and fashion as central to identity-formation.

But YouTube tutorials and social media brush fires are not poignant, robust creations. Viewed via Instagram or a Twitter thread, a campaign or a crisis might have the outlines of something interesting, even operatic, but it cant slake our thirst for the complete narrative. It inevitably lacks the unity, coherence and emphasis that make art different from, more telling than, life.

It seems fair to say we are starving for what the 19th century British cultural critic Matthew Arnold called sweetness and light  the beauty and enlightenment that can only be found in literature, theater, music and art.

Though Arnold would disagree, high culture does not have a monopoly on sweetness and light. Bob Dylans latest ballad, Key West (Philosopher Pirate), seems to do it for me these days. And Joshua Redman, the Pretenders and the Weeknd also released powerful and surprising tracks in 2020.

Culture as culture, rather than a lever in a political war, can be found everywhere. Chess, the books of John le Carre or old zombie flicks can also help crystallize who you are and ignite your curiosity or promote your well-being. Last week in this space I recommended the Hallmark Channel, with its soothing and moving stories that play cherished American memes in major chords.

Weve had to make a meal out of politics-as-culture for way too long. But that doesnt work forever. As the nations white whale, Donald Trump, leaves his place of prominence, heres to an America with more nuanced heroes and villains. Lord, do we ever need wilder soundtracks, bigger canvases. Paintings, poetry, a dance craze or two. When theaters and stadiums open up again and we get concerts, museums and plays back, I hope well recognize how deprived weve all been by both the pandemic and the phony culture war, and fill them all up.

In the very last weeks of an extraordinarily demoralizing political period in American history, its time to give other quarters of the brain and heart some attention. How hard can it be? Its not homework. Art gives pleasure and expands perspective. If politics are indeed downstream from culture, the water is bound to be clearer, cleaner and crisper at the rivers source  and thats where we should drink.

@page88





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Maharashtra entered the new year on Friday with a huge drop in Covid-19 cases and fatalities compared to the previous three months.

In December , Maharashtra recorded a total of 103,286 Covid-19 cases, which is a 26% decrease from the number of cases recorded in November (140,121), and a 62% decrease from the number of cases recorded in October (277,484).

Moreover, Decembers total tally saw a whopping 82% decrease from the number of cases recorded in September, which has by far been the worst month for the state in terms of number of case. September recorded the highest number of cases in a single month since March 576,140. Authorities had partly attributed this to the unlock plans in the city, which began from June 5, along with Ganesh Chaturthi.

Also Read: Only 35 drunk drivers arrested in Mumbai on New Years Eve

This was followed by Augusts tally, which has been the second-highest so far, with 360,882 cases. While December witnessed a total of 2,275 deaths due to Covid-19 with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 2.2%, November recorded 3,127 deaths and a CFR of 2.2%, October recorded 6,855 deaths and a CFR of 2.4%, September recorded 11,759 deaths and a CFR of 2.01%, and August recorded 9,267 deaths with a CFR of 2.5%.

In July, Maharashtra had recorded a total of 241,820 cases and 6,941 deaths with a CFR of 2.8%; in June, the state recorded 104,748 cases and 5,493 deaths with a CFR of over 5%; in May, the state recorded 56,149 cases and 1,827 deaths with a CFR of 3.2%. While April saw 10,163 cases and 445 deaths, and March saw 301 cases and 13 deaths.

Maharashtra recorded 3,509 new Covid-19 cases and 58 deaths on Thursday, the last day of 2020, taking the total number of cases recorded in the state to 1,932,112, and the death toll to 49,521, with a case fatality rate of 2.56%. Presently, the state has 52,902 active Covid-19 cases, with a recovery rate of 94.64%.

Maharashtra has been recording fewer than 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily for the past 27 consecutive days, and officials from the government believe the situation is under control.

Dr Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer, said on Thursday, The situation in the state is under control, despite our expectations that cases will surge. Strengthened surveillance, public participation, and herd immunity have helped the state bring down its numbers considerably in the past three months. Maharashtra has conducted 12,747,633 tests so far.

Maharashtra recorded its first Covid-19 case on March 9, 2020, in Pune, wherein a couple returning from Dubai had tested positive. Following this, Maharashtra crossed the 10,000 cases mark on April 30, the 100,000 cases mark on June 12, the 1,000,000 cases mark on September 11, and the 1,500,000 cases mark on October 9.

On Thursday, Awate said, At its peak in mid-September, Maharashtras positivity rate was 24.6% on an average day, which means every 4th sample that we tested was positive. Now, the positivity rate is about 7% per day. Positivity per cent is the total number of cases that have tested positive for Covid-19, as a percent of the total tests done. Maharashtras positivity rate as of Thursday is 15.16%, in comparison to December 1, when it was 16.75%. In November, Maharashtras positivity rate hovered around 18%, in October and September it was around 20%, in August it was 18%, and in July it was 19.6%.

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Massachusetts has administered 32,590 first doses of the coronavirus vaccine over the last seven days, health officials said Thursday.

In total, 78,643 of the shots have been administered in Massachusetts, according to a dashboard tracking the distribution of the vaccines.

Immunizations from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, both two-dose shots, were approved earlier this month. No second doses have been administered in Massachusetts yet.

A total of 285,050 vaccines have been shipped to Massachusetts to date, including 138,450 from Pfizer-BioNTech and 146,600 from Cambridge-based Moderna. Over the last seven days, 78,975 Pfizer-BioNTech doses and 59,500 Moderna doses have been shipped to the state.

The state expected 287,000 doses of the vaccine to arrive by the end of 2020.

Earlier today we shared an update on #COVID19MA vaccine distribution:



 We expect over 287K doses to arrive by the end of 2020

 Long-term care facilities are vaccinating all this week

 As of yesterday, 75K doses had been administered



 MORE: https://t.co/aqwpmg2e60 pic.twitter.com/v9mMizBEHN  Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) December 30, 2020

Health care providers received the first doses of the vaccine this month. This week, doses started going to residents of long-term care facilities, and officials are gearing up to vaccinate emergency personnel and first responders next week.

Broken down by race and ethnicity, 53% of those whove been vaccinated are white residents, 20% are Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native or of an unknown race, 15% are multi-racial, 5% are Asian, 4% are Latinx and 3% are Black, data shows.

Here are the number of vaccines delivered to Massachusetts providers by county:

Barnstable County: 9,450

Berkshire County: 7,050

Bristol County: 13,725

Dukes County: 600

Essex County: 15,475

Franklin County: 800

Hampden County: 16,600

Hampshire County: 2,200

Middlesex County: 38,125

Nantucket County: 200

Norfolk County: 11,725

Plymouth County: 11,750

Suffolk County: 126,800

Worcester County: 30,200

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Daylight was just beginning to wash over the Tenderloin on a late March day in 2017 when an assailant in a white jacket approached Robert Matthews, stabbed the 47-year-old homeless man in the neck, head and face, and left him bleeding to death on the Golden Gate Avenue sidewalk. Within 10 hours, police believed they had their man.

The evidence against Federico Freeman seemed strong. Surveillance footage, eyewitnesses and Freemans own admission placed him at the scene of the crime, officials said  a rare windfall for homicide investigators often faced with circumstantial cases.

But for more than three years, Freemans case languished in court with no trial date in sight. Its now one of the more than 1,200 cases in San Francisco that have been open for more than two years, according to prosecutors. Its a backlog that has for years choked the citys trial system and delayed justice for victims and their families as well as defendants.

But the case picked up momentum in November, after Freeman became the first person since 2018 to be indicted by a San Francisco grand jury. The prosecutor who handled the grand jury proceeding  used to determine if enough evidence exists to warrant an indictment  was District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

Criminal grand juries have been convened in San Francisco Superior Court only a handful of times in recent years, with prosecutors instead choosing to file charges directly. Boudin has recently begun embracing faster-paced grand jury proceedings in an effort to clear a backlog of cases thats only grown longer since the pandemic began.

Its unacceptable that we have so many cases that are so old, especially cases that are so serious, Boudin said in a recent interview. As soon as we found out that the court would agree to convene a grand jury for us, I told my team we need to prioritize serious and old cases.

But Boudins policy shift toward grand juries  a marked change from previous district attorney administrations  is raising concerns among defense attorneys, who, along with their clients, are shut out of grand jury proceedings.

There were 5,593 open cases on Boudins desk when he took office last January, 1,127 of which were more than two years old since they were filed, according to the District Attorneys Office. As of last week, the office had 5,048 open cases, 1,283 of which were older than two years.

In one extreme example, a homicide suspect has been awaiting trial for more than 10 years, Boudin said.

In grand jury proceedings, a panel of civilians hears evidence from prosecutors  but not from defense attorneys  and decides whether theres enough probable cause to indict the person accused of a crime. Preliminary hearings, where defense attorneys get to cross-examine witnesses, can take longer.

Older cases present challenges for prosecutors. Witnesses memories fade, some move out of state or die.

The longer we wait to move cases forward, the harder it becomes for us, Boudin said. So its also unfair to victims and families of victims who want some closure.

To encourage his staff to bring more cases to grand juries, Boudin took on the first one himself. A former public defender, Boudin had never litigated as a prosecutor until arguing the Freeman case before a three-day grand jury hearing in November.

It was also the first time in recent history that the citys top prosecutor argued a case in a courtroom, according to the District Attorneys Office. Neither of Boudins most recent predecessors, Kamala Harris and George Gascon, did so during their time in office.

I thought it would be good for morale, Boudin said, noting that most attorneys in his office have never taken a case to a grand jury. I really want to ... make sure that (were) using all the resources and procedures available to us to help move old cases forward.

There are several reasons cases get logjammed. Some of the most serious cases  those involving crimes such as rape and homicide  may require exhaustive research to gather and argue evidence from attorneys already overwhelmed with other cases. Other delays may stem from defendant competency questions, courtroom bandwidth and, in 2020, a pandemic that impeded nearly every government function.

In Freemans case, there was no good reason for the holdup, Boudin said. In these cases, grand jury proceedings allow prosecutors to sidestep legal hurdles that come along with preliminary hearings, and set the case on track for trial.

Freeman, who is currently representing himself, told The Chronicle that hes not guilty and accused police of tampering with the surveillance footage. Even after nearly four years in jail, Freeman said he was in no rush for trial.

I would like a very fair trial, so I have to investigate the reasons someone would do that to the victim, Freeman said. His trial is scheduled to begin March 5.

Boudins office secured six grand jury indictments last year, all obtained in the last two months of 2020, when courts allowed grand juries to convene again. San Francisco grand juries issued no indictments in 2019 and eight in 2018, according to the District Attorneys Office.

Along with Freeman, last years indictments included former San Francisco police Officer Christopher Flores and the man Flores shot, Jamaica Hampton, who are both facing assault charges from a violent encounter in the Mission District last year.

Prosecutors in all California counties can choose to pursue a criminal case in one of two ways: a direct filing or through a grand jury. A direct filing prompts a public preliminary hearing, in which a judge decides whether theres probable cause to forward the case to trial after hearing testimony from witnesses and evidence from prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Only the prosecutor argues before the private grand jury proceedings, and a pool of citizens, rather than a judge, decides whether theres probable cause for trial. Defendants and their attorneys are shut out of the hearing, though prosecutors are also required to present any evidence that favors the defense.

The secretive nature of grand jury hearings has long frustrated defense attorneys, who say prosecutors can hardly be trusted to present adequate defense evidence. Defense attorneys regularly recite an enduring adage, that a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich.

Critics of the procedure include some of Boudins former co-workers at the San Francisco Public Defenders Office. Danielle Harris, a public defender representing Hampton, said grand jury proceedings strip both parties of the ability to preview the strengths and weaknesses in their cases.

At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors can see their witnesses under cross-examination, and defense attorneys can gauge problems in their own cases.

These sort of tried-and-true abilities to get at the truth of the situation are lost in the grand jury proceeding, she said. Its why its been disfavored for decades.

Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, said that while grand jury proceedings are commonplace at the federal level, state prosecutors have traditionally reserved grand juries for the more controversial cases.

Some of the high-profile, difficult cases, where they thought thered be a public reaction, were often given to the grand jury, she said, pointing to the O.J. Simpson case.

Levenson said Boudins decision to tap grand juries to help clear a backlog is likely to be successful.

They can probably do them fairly efficiently through a grand jury, she said. You can literally run a lot of cases through a grand jury very quickly.

There are strategic reasons, efficiency reasons and political reasons to get these cases to a grand jury.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
Snajay Mandavia's Flybig plans to start operations before the end of the year.

The Indian aviation industry get its newest airline Flybig, in the first week of 2021. The airline begins operations from its Indore base today (January 3), from where the inaugural flight to Ahmedabad will take off at 2.30 in the afternoon. Duration of the inaugural flight is an hour and five minutes.

In the initial couple of weeks, the airline founded by Sanjay Mandavia - a pilot-turned-aviation entrepreneur - will operate thrice a week. "We will later scale up to have five flights a week, from mid-February," CEO Srinivas Rao told Moneycontrol.

From January 13, Flybig will add the Indore-Raipur route in its network. And from February 1, the airline will begin flying from Ahmedabad to Bhopal. By the end of March this year, the airline will have daily flights connecting all the three tier-2 cities.

Flybig has an ATR aircraft, and is in the process of getting a second one.

"We opened up bookings two days ago. The interest is good and we have seen bookings of 25 percent," Rao, added. The airline has tied up with over 15,000 agents, many of them in the tier-2 cities. Talks are also on with online travel agencies.

The airline, which organised a 'special flight' for a differently abled on December 31 in Jabalpur, will add the city in its network in the second stage.

The launch of the new airline comes even as the domestic air traffic continues to improve, having got a push during the festive season and year-end travel. While the government had hiked the cap, enabling airlines to now use 80 percent of their capacity, the hope is now that this will be eased further.

Some concerns remain. Despite the governments beginning to administer vaccines, a new strain of COVID-19 has again brought back fears, especially for international travel. As a precautionary measure, India has suspended flights to the UK, where the new strain originated, till January 7.

Read more: Sanjay Mandavia may not have got Jet Airways, but his Flybig is set to take off in January 2021

Flybig's plans

The airline, which had gotten its permit from regulator DGCA on December 14, partly began operations on December 21, when it operated a chartered flight with the aircraft taken on wet lease from SpiceJet. The airline flew from Delhi to Shillong, to coincide with the Meghalaya government's step to open up the state for tourism as domestic travel recovers gradually from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have won the tender from the state government to operate the Delhi-Shillong flight for three years," Rao had told Moneycontrol. From January, the company will operate two weekly flights on the route. Eventually, added the senior executive, the company plans to deploy its own aircraft on the route.

The airline will follow a hybrid model, by serving snacks on board, but un-bundling other services. "We don't want to sell food on-board as the flying time is less. That will prevent us from giving a proper service and could lead to frustration among fliers. Thus we opted to offer snacks as part of the ticket," he said.

Post the launch, the airline will look to serve tier 3 cities such as Bilaspur and Satna from Bhopal.
Switzerland, Italy Agree Tax Deal For Frontier Workers

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

01 January 2021

On December 23, 2020, Switzerland and Italy signed a new agreement on the taxation of cross-border commuters and an amendment to their existing double taxation agreement.

The Swiss Department of Finance said that the new agreement improves the current taxation regime for cross-border commuters and contributes to the maintenance of good bilateral relations between Switzerland and Italy. It will assign the majority of the taxing rights to the country where the worker undertakes his employment, benefitting Switzerland.

The Department of Finance said that it had not been possible to sign an agreement that was originally reached in 2015. Talks between Switzerland and Italy resumed this year and resulted in changes to the original draft agreement.

The new agreement contains a definition of the concept of cross-border commuters, which includes employees who live less than 20 kilometres from the border and who, in principle, return home every day. From the entry into force of the agreement, this definition will apply to all new cross-border commuters and to those under the current regulations. Transitional rules will apply for workers in the cantons of Graubunden, Ticino, or Valais.
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Eighteen Taliban insurgents were killed in an airstrike after Afghan security forces foiled an attack on security checkpoints in the eastern province of Nangarhar, authorities said on Friday.

Nangarhar Governor Ziaulhaq Amarkhil said the incident occurred in the Wali Naw area of Pachiragam district late on Thursday.

Eighteen Taliban insurgents were killed in an airstrike in Pachiragam district, Amarkhil said, as the Taliban attempted to attack the security posts, but their plans were thwarted by the Afghan forces airstrike.

The governor added that there were no civilian casualties during the incident.

Afghanistan continues to be mired in violence despite on-going peace talks between the government and the Taliban in Qatars capital Doha.

The peace talks began in September, 2020 but have yet to bear any significant fruit.

(ANI/Sputnik/NAN)
California has surpassed 300,000 deaths in 2020, according to an analysis of state data obtained by The Chronicle, a record mortality number that points to the brutal toll the coronavirus pandemic is taking on the state.

Within that number are a few sobering details: The Chronicles estimate of the total death count, roughly 302,000, is 32,000 higher than the three-year annual average of about 270,000 deaths in California, or a 12% increase. The size of the total death number suggests that the official COVID-19 death toll of more than 25,400 in California in 2020 could be below the actual number by more than 7,000.

This is not surprising  reported death counts from COVID-19 are considered to be below actual deaths from the virus nationwide due to a number of factors  but the new numbers from California give an idea of the scope of the undercount. The number is likely to be even larger in California and across the country. A recent UCSF study estimated 20,000 more people died in California than would be expected in a normal year just in the first six months of the pandemic.

It indicates that the U.S. death counts from COVID-19 are significantly undercounted, and that we are missing deaths that are directly attributable to the virus as well as deaths from other causes which are exacerbated by the pandemic, said Judy Melinek, a forensic pathologist who runs a San Francisco pathology company. Given what we (saw) in December following the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I wouldnt be surprised if, when we look back on the excess deaths in the United States in 2020 from COVID-19, the number approaches or exceeds half a million people.

Total COVID-19 deaths in the United States were at more than 340,000 as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Melinek said in addition to unattributed COVID deaths, people could have died from natural disease because they were afraid to go to the hospital, delayed care because of the pandemic, or killed themselves or overdosed due to pandemic stressors. In addition, coroners have not always tested postmortem for the virus if there were not obvious symptoms, she said.

The stark 2020 death numbers illustrate the somber toll the virus has left on the state.

Its a marker of how severe the COVID epidemic has been and how many lives have been cut short and families disrupted, said George Rutherford, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UCSF. This is a very serious disease and that we need to work together as a society to minimize transmission and to get vaccinated as soon as its offered to us.

And yet, the crude death rate in California  comparing total deaths to population  was much lower than the 1918 carnage attributed to the Spanish Flu, according to records from the state Department of Finance.

The Chronicle analyzed state Department of Public Health statistics showing 277,571 individuals died in California in 2020 through November. California averaged 25,233 deaths each month last year, and if December had an average number of fatalities  it likely was higher with record COVID-19 deaths  the toll for 2020 was more than 302,000 deaths. The state has not yet released its December total.

John Swartzberg, a UC Berkeley infectious disease expert, said while the grim reaper of COVID-19 has brought our state to an all-time record number of deaths, he expected the excess deaths to be higher than 12% above average. Several studies, he said, have suggested the numbers could be 20% to 50%.

I am surprised that we do not have a larger number of excess deaths, he said.

Using total deaths might be the most accurate avenue to fully comprehend the scope of the pandemic because those are firm numbers and dont rely on testing and other uncertain factors, the experts said.

We really dont know how many people have been infected, said Travis Porco, UCSF professor of epidemiology and biostatistics. However total deaths are usually reported reasonably well, although cause-of-death data is notoriously unreliable and in some ways ambiguous.

In fact, while the 300,000 number is daunting, Porco suggests the data provides a rosier picture, if thats possible. If half of Californias approximately 40 million residents had been infected, Porco said, even with a lowball infection mortality rate of a half of 1%, the state would have had 100,000 COVID-19 deaths. Under that scenario, the total deaths would have soared well past 300,000. And those deaths, in that hypothetical, would have been even higher, Porco said, if they happened during a short window, overwhelming the health system and leading to substandard care.

What strikes me the most is how well weve done compared with what might have been possible, Porco said. And yet, he added, countries like Japan and Taiwan fared much better.

Using the reported COVID death total, Porco said, about 1 in 1,300 Californians died in 2020. That puts California as the 11th best state, with New Jersey the worst with a COVID fatality rate at about 1 death for every 476 residents, Porco said. These rankings dont factor in a potential undercount.

Previously, the highest California death toll was in 2019 when 270,952 people died. As you might imagine, since 1900, deaths have generally risen as the states population climbed. However, the death rate tied to population has generally dropped during the same time period as life expectancy increased with improved sanitation, better nutrition and health care, and reduced environmental contamination, among other factors.

That California death rate has seen an ominous reversal in the long-term trend since 2008, Porco said. That recent uptick could be associated with the opioid epidemic, he said, but its not entirely clear.

The previous large anomaly on the California death rate chart before COVID-19 was in 1918, the year the Spanish Flu swept through California and the world, killing an estimated 20 million to 50 million people across the globe.

Almost 3.3 million people lived in California that year and about 58,000 died in total, or almost 1.8% of the states population  its biggest fatality rate in modern history. An average of about 40,000 people had died the three previous years before that epidemic hit the state, showing excess deaths nearing 20,000, likely associated with the flu.

Porco warned that popped champagne and the welcoming of a new calendar year will not stop the massive spread. The reproduction number that Porco and his colleagues crunch daily shows California is well above a 1.0, indicating sustained exponential growth. Dropping below 1.0 indicates when a state is starting to see a drop in infection growth.

Needless to say were far from out of the woods, he said.

Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni
Emaar celebrates togetherness with New Year's messages from all over the world screened on Burj Khalifa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Emaar, the master developer of the Burj Khalifa, has celebrated New Year's Eve with a spectacular fireworks, animation, laser and light to ring in 2021. The dazzling display celebrated the theme of 'togetherness', the UAE's success and achievements, and paid tribute to the frontline heroes of 2020.

The breathtaking fireworks display, perfectly timed to the show on the facade of the Burj Khalifa, was complemented by dazzling lights and lasers, all synchronised to The Dubai Fountain show, leaving global watchers enthralled both on and offline.

Commenting on the spectacular New Year's Eve in Downtown Dubai, Mohamed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar, said: "Emaar is proud to celebrate world class experiences and this year, despite the challenges we have all faced as a global community, was no different. In a theme that celebrated togetherness and paid tribute to the heroes of 2020, we sent a message of hope to everyone around the world. In the spirit of the UAE's courageous and wise leadership, we will continue to follow their lead and look forward to 2021 with optimism and excitement."

In an Emaar first, the Burj Khalifa shared New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world and invited global audiences to join virtually through a partnership with Zoom and live streams on YouTube and other social media channels.

Emaar and government authorities overcame huge challenges in hosting a largescale event during a pandemic. With the help of widespread disinfection measures and innovative social distancing measures to ensure the health and safety of New Year's Eve guests, the seamless event was an example of great team effort. The success of the night would not have been possible without the support of the leadership of the UAE, Dubai authorities, the Supreme Committee for COVID-19 Crisis Management, Dubai Police, all members of the Events Security Committee, Emaar contractors, suppliers and volunteers, and the Emaar team.

The experience can be re-watched online on Emaar's social media channels. Burj Khalifa will show Emaar NYE 2021 nightly until January 7 and will feature a new laser & light show until March 31st.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1393737/Emaar_New_Years_Eve_2021.jpg

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AViJKJhgr_Q
By Estelle Shirbon and Andrew MacAskill

LONDON (Reuters) - British doctors have said a government decision to delay giving a coronavirus vaccine booster shot to vulnerable patients who have already had a first dose will be distressing and disruptive, their trade union said on Thursday.

The government said on Wednesday it wanted to give a first dose to as many people as possible before starting to administer boosters at 12 weeks, in an effort to provide more people with a degree of protection more quickly.

But Dr Richard Vautrey, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) committee for local family doctors, said it was "grossly and patently unfair to tens of thousands of our most at-risk patients to now try to reschedule their appointments".

For the newly approved vaccine developed by Oxford University and made by AstraZeneca being rolled out in Britain next week, the plan is consistent with a finding that waiting 12 weeks maximises protection against the virus.

But in the case of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot that is already being given, the manufacturer said the shot had not been evaluated on dosing schedules different from the recommended 21 days.

The BMA said scores of doctors had told it that the new approach would distress vulnerable patients and create logistical problems for healthcare staff.

"The BMA believes these are patients that have already been promised ... that they will receive a second dose of Pfizer vaccination next week; they have given their consent to receive it and, quite rightly, are expecting to have it," the BMA said.

More than 944,000 people had been given the Pfizer vaccine by Dec. 27, the health ministry said on Thursday.

The BMA said it would support any doctors who decided to honour existing booster appointments, and urged the government to provide a "scientifically validated justification" for its new approach.

In a joint statement, the chief medical officers from across the United Kingdom said they recognise that the request to re-schedule appointments will be difficult and will distress patients who were looking forward to being fully immunised.

However, "in terms of protecting priority groups, a model where we can vaccinate twice the number of people in the next 2-3 months is obviously much more preferable in public health terms than one where we vaccinate half the number but with only slightly greater protection," they said.

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon and Andrew MacAskil; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
ROCHESTER, Minn. - A Missouri senator says he will challenge the results of the 2020 Presidential election next week when Congress meets to affirm President-Elect Joe Biden's victory in the November election.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley says he plans to raise objections to Bidens victory but hasnt cited any evidence of election fraud.

The move also wont change the outcome of the election since its confirmed Biden received 306 electoral votes compared to President Trumps 232.

Political analyst Rayce Hardy says Hawley has given the impression he wants to run for president in 2024 and this is a way to gain name recognition while also raising campaign funds.

That's what's happening, said Hardy. He's all over the media now and he's raising funds. He has indicated, covertly but several times, that he's interested in being president of the United States and this is great way to get his name out there because now we're talking about him and its a great way to raise funds.

Hardy says this is only the third time in history the Electoral College has been challenged since he says its common sense not to debate reality.

He added, Every election people complain but to take it to this result, to just debate reality, this is only the third time that we've debated reality in the Senate and the House.

President-Elect Bidens inauguration is now just 20 days away.
In this Monday, April 25, 2016, file photo, Chicago Tribune and other newspapers are displayed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Hedge fund Alden, Tribune's largest shareholder, has offered to buy the rest of the newspaper publisher, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at a price that values it at $520.6 million. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

Hedge fund Alden, Tribune's largest shareholder, has offered to buy the rest of the newspaper publisher at a price that values it at $520.6 million.

Alden sent a letter to Tribune on Dec. 14, according to a regulatory filing posted Thursday, offering $14.25 per share for the stock of Tribune it doesn't already own. Alden owns 31.6% of Tribune shares. The hedge fund said it had not received "any feedback" to its letter, which it described as a "preliminary inquiry."

Tribune did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Alden bought its stake in Tribune in November 2019 and has three seats on its seven-member board. Tribune publishes nine major daily papers, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun. Alden controls a major U.S. publisher whose papers include the Denver Post, Orange County Register and Boston Herald. It has a reputation for layoffs and intense cost-cutting even beyond the newspaper industry's overall turn in that direction. The unions at Tribune papers have pushed for alternative buyers for the company's papers.

The newspaper industry has been consolidating as it struggles with a digital transition and shrinking revenues. Newsroom jobs pandemic has exacerbated those stresses. Tribune's CFO said in November that the company has been "aggressively" cutting costs during the pandemic, including furloughs, pay cuts and closing its newsrooms. Tribune on Thursday cut its guidance for the current quarter and said that it expects revenue to drop about 24% this year and roughly another 10% in 2021.

In July Alden extended an agreement with Tribune not to increase its stake above one-third until June 2021 in exchange for one more board seat on Tribune's board. That prevented Alden from making a hostile bid. In the filing Thursday, Alden said a deal for all of Tribune would be conditioned upon approval by a special committee of independent directors and approval from owners of two-thirds of Tribune shares not affiliated with Alden.

Tribune shares rose $1.18, or 9.2%, to $13.97 in late morning trading. The stock had closed Wednesday nearly unchanged for the year.

Explore further Tribune closing 5 newsrooms including NY Daily News

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has given a big bonanza to around six crore EPF subscribers who have been eagerly waiting for the crediting of interest for 2019-20 in their employees' provident fund (EPF) accounts.

The EPFO has already started crediting the amount into the PF account of subscribers.

Labour and Employment minister Santosh Gangwar, announcing the decision on Thursday (December 31) had said that PF subscribers will start receivig 8.5 percent interest on their PF amount from December 31 onwards.

I am happy to inform you that a notification has been issued & for year 2019-2020, our over 6 crore subscribers will receive 8.5 percent interest on PF amount. We have made such arrangements that you'll start receiving these benefits from today, Union Minister Santosh Gangwar said yesterday.

He added, We know that circumstances in 2020 weren't favourable for us. People were surprised when in 2020 beginning, we had said that we'll try to give 8.5 percent interest on Provident Fund amount for year 2019-2020. Today, I am here to fulfill that promise.

EPFO subscribers can check their PF Balance from the comfort of home using four different ways --check PF balance using SMS, online, missed call and UMANG App.

Know how to check EPF account balance ONLINE

Log on to epfindia.gov.in

Feed in your UAN number, password and captcha code

Click on the e-Passbook

Once you file all the details, you will land up on a new page

Now open member id

Now you can see the total EPF balance in your account

How to check EPF balance through UMANG App

Open the UMANG App

Click on EPFO.

Click on Employee Centric Services

Click on the View Passbook option

Feed in your UAN number and password

You will get OTP on your registered mobile number

Now you can now check your EPF balance

How to check EPF balance through SMS

Apart from the mobile number, the members registered on the UAN portal may get their PF details by sending an SMS from their registered mobile numbers. For this, you are required to SMS EPFOHO UAN to 7738299899.

How to check EPF balance through MISSED Call

EPFO subscribers, registered on the UAN portal, may get their PF details available with the Employees Provident Fund Organisation by giving a missed call at 011-22901406 from their mobile number registered with UAN.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
12 opposition parties extend support to farmers protest call on May 26; urge Centre to hold talks with farmers

Admin gears up as Hisar farmers get set to protest today

Punjab MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu hoists black flag at his residence in support of protesting farmers

Alternate to repeal of farm laws impossible say farmers as they continue their protest

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: The farmer protests continue against the three farm laws outside the several border points in Delhi.

The Samkyukt Kisan Morcha is likely to meet during the day to discuss its next course of action. Senior farmers' leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has said there is, however, no question of withdrawing from the two issues which are a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) and repealing of the farm laws, a PTI report said.

"The government has addressed our demands to drop penal provisions against farmers in an ordinance relating to stubble burning and to put on hold a proposed electricity amendment law," Chaduni said.

Farmers protest: No headway on MSP, but common ground reached on stubble burning, power; next talks on Jan 4

"But, we want to make it clear that there is no alternative to our two remaining demands which include repeal of the three agriculture laws and legal guarantee for MSP," Singh said.

The PTI report said that the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee issued a statement saying that the Centre's appeal to the farmer leaders to suggest an alternative to repeal the laws is impossible. "The new laws will hand over control of agriculture markets, farmers' land and food chain to corporates," the statement read.

"Tikri, Dhansa Borders are closed for any Traffic Movement. Jhatikara Borders is open only for LMV (Cars/ Light Motor Vehicles), two wheelers and pedestrian movement," they said in a series of tweets.

"The Chilla and Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Apsara, Bhopra & Loni Borders," the Delhi Traffic Police said.

In another tweet, the police said, Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed.

Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders.Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44," they said.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

"Available Open Borders to Haryana are Jharoda (Only Single Carriageway/Road), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera Borders.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 15:09 [IST]
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) attends an event at the White House in Washington in a file photograph. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

House Republicans Rush to Join Electoral College Challenge

Another 16 U.S. representatives and representative-elects are supporting a plan to file objections to electoral votes during next months joint session of Congress.

Twenty-four members or members-elect were on the books as committing to challenging the votes, as of early Thursday. That number is now 40, or 41 including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in the upper chamber.

Eight Pennsylvania members of the House of Representatives said in a joint statement that they plan on objecting to electors from their state.

Unfortunately, the many unlawful actions undertaken by the Pennsylvania Governors office, the Secretary of State, and what has been described as a rogue Pennsylvania Supreme Court exceeded and circumvented the state legislatures clear constitutional authority, Republican Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, Dan Meuser, Glenn GT Thompson, Mike Kelly, Scott Perry, Lloyd Smucker, John Joyce, and Fred Keller said.

The unlawful actions include accepting ballots past 8 p.m. on Election Day, the group alleged.

The actions were taken without authority or consent from the state legislature, they added.

By definition, such unlawful, unregulated, and inconsistent activities resulted in a highly questionable and inaccurate vote total. The scope of these inaccuracies cannot be known until the legal ballots are identified and counted, and the illegal ballots are disqualified. This has not been done. Therefore, the states official certification of electors was based upon a flawed system and an inaccurate vote count. Thus, very possibly resulting in an erroneous certification, they said.

Until these unlawful practices are acknowledged and corrected, we cannot agree to support electors chosen based upon an inaccurate total vote count. The voters of Pennsylvania deserve integrity in the election process and equal protection under the law.

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) speaks in Washington on Dec. 13, 2019. (Patrick Semansky/Pool/Getty Images)

Pennsylvania officials have said attempts to change or challenge election results would disenfranchise voters.

The Commonwealth has certified the results of the election. The voters chosen electors have met and cast their votes for President-Elect Joe Biden, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, wrote in a court filing this week.

All that remains is the counting of electoral votes in Congress. There is simply no dispute as to Pennsylvanias electoral votes. But even if there were, it would be for Congress alone to resolve.

Four House members representing Missouri also issued a joint statement Thursday announcing they were joining the group planning to file objections during the Jan. 6 joint session.

We dont take this decision lightly, but we must protect the integrity of each vote cast by every law-abiding Missourian. For every instance of Georgia failing to follow its own state law in verifying signatures, of Pennsylvania accepting mail ballots after the legal deadline set by its state legislature, or folks from outside Nevada casting a ballot in that statethe value of every Missourians vote is diminished. Thats not right. And we cannot simply look the other way, Republican Reps. Jason Smith, Billy Long, Sam Graves, and Vicky Hartzler said.

The other newcomers to the effort are Reps. Clay Higgins (R-La.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), and Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), and Rep.-elect Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).
Gorakhpur: The Uttar Pradesh Health Department has cautioned people against falling prey to tricksters seeking Aadhar card numbers, one-time-passwords and bank details telephonically on the pretext of getting them registered for anti-Covid vaccination.

A Gorakhpur district health official said the state government has launched no plan as yet to get general people inoculated against Covid as the states priority is to vaccinate frontline anti-Covid workers.

Also Read | The march of 2020 in 10 key long reads

Accordingly, the phone calls being made allegedly on behalf of the state Health Department officials to the general public to get themselves registered for inoculation after sharing their Aadhar card numbers, OTP, bank details etc are sham and people must not fall prey to such calls, Gorakhpur CMO Dr Srikant Tiwari said.

"There is no need of giving any detail to anyone in the name of registration for vaccination as people could become victims of cyber crimes," he cautioned.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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After successfully concluding the coronavirus vaccination dry run in four states, a similar mega-drill will be conducted in all states and union territories on Saturday.

An expert panel of the countrys drug regulator on Friday recommended emergency use authorisation be granted to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

The approval by the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) paves the way for mass immunisation with the vaccine to begin within the next few days.

The government wants to start administering the vaccine soon, most likely by Wednesday, news agency Reuters reported, quoting unnamed government officials.

The dry run is aimed at equipping the entire administration and management of vaccine supply, storage and logistics, including cold chain management, the Union Health Ministry has said.

The activity is proposed to be conducted in all state capitals in at least three session sites. Some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support.

In Delhi, the three selected sites are Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Shahdara; Urban Primary Health Centre, Daryaganj; and Venkateshwar Hospital, Dwarka. While Maharashtra has chosen four districts -- Pune, Nagpur, Jalna and Nandurbar -- where three centres will be set up for the dry run, in Karnataka, it will be carried out in the districts of Bengaluru Urban, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Mysuru and Shivamogga. Kerala is also likely to schedule the dry-run in major cities other than their capital.

"The objective of the dry run for COVID-19 vaccine introduction is to assess operational feasibility in the use of Co-WIN application in field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide way forward prior to actual implementation," the ministry added.

For each of the three session sites, the medical officer in-charge will identify 25 test beneficiaries (healthcare workers). The states and UTs have been asked to ensure that data of these beneficiaries is uploaded in Co-WIN.

These beneficiaries will also be available at the session site for the dry run. The states and UTs have also been asked to prepare the facilities and users to be created on CoWIN application including uploading the data of Health Care Worker (HCW) beneficiaries.

The states and UTs have been directed to ensure physical verification of all proposed sites for adequacy of space, logistical arrangements, Internet connectivity, electricity, safety.

They have been asked to prepare at least three model session sites in each State for demonstration, ensure that the model sites have separate entry and exit in a 'three-room set-up' with adequate space outside for awareness generation activities, display all IEC material at these sites.

As the vaccine administrators will play an important role in the vaccination process, training of trainers and those who shall administer the vaccine has been taken up across various states. Around 96,000 vaccinators have been trained for this purpose.

About 2,360 participants have been trained in National Training of Trainers and over 57,000 participants trained in District level training in 719 districts. States are augmenting the State helpline 104, which shall be used in addition to 1075, for any vaccine and software related query.

Orientation and capacity building of the Call Centre executives has taken place in the States and UTs. States were also encouraged to use the FAQs issued by the Health Ministry proactively to address any such query.

An important focus of the dry run will be on management of any possible adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). In addition, adherence and management of infection control practices at the session site, to prevent disease transmission.

The mock drill will include concurrent monitoring and review at the block and district levels, and preparation of feedback. The State Task Force shall review the feedback and share with the Union Health Ministry.

On December 28 and 29, dry run for the Covid-19 vaccination was conducted in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, Rajkot and Gandhinagar district of Gujarat, Ludhiana and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar of Punjab and Sonitpur and Nalbari districts of Assam.

After a year which saw an unprecedented global health crisis, many are anticipating the coronavirus vaccine as India prepares for the inoculation campaign, which is likely to commence in January 2021.

The central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of drive. It will be offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with 2 crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with comorbidities.

(With inputs from agencies)
Cancun construction truck overturns leaving 15 workers injured

Cancun, Q. R.  An accident in Cancun Thursday morning left 15 workers injured and a significant amount of material damage after a unit overturned. A construction dump truck, which was transporting workers in the back, overturned near the Malecon Tajamar.

Traffic police attending to the 7:30 a.m. accident indicated that the driver of the unit, who was carrying a total of 22 workers, lost control due to a combination of speed and wet road conditions.

The heavy unit slammed into a roadway divider, taking out two metal poles one of which was a traffic light and the other, a street light, before rolling onto its side. Fifteen of the 22 workers in the bed of the unit were left with injuries. The driver was also reported as injured.

15 workers riding in the back were reported injured

Paramedics arrived on scene and transferred those who required further medical attention to Cancun hospitals.

One lane in each direction was blocked by the overturned truck and downed city poles. A tow truck was called to upright and remove the truck, which was transferred to the corral.
Ruling partners in Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Shiv Sena and Congress are again at the loggerhead over the renaming of Aurangabad city. Congress has opposed Senas proposal of renaming it after Sambhaji Maharaj, while the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has termed it as a fixed fight.

Ahead of the ensuing civic polls in Aurangabad, the Shiv Sena has raked up the old issue of the renaming of the city as Sambhaji Nagar. The original proposal was passed by the party in Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, ruled by it for more than three decades, in June 1995. The BJP too had supported the proposal and issued a notification during the Sena-BJP alliance government. The proposal was challenged by a Congress corporator in the high court and later in the Supreme Court.

Congress has said as a ruling party it will be opposed strongly. Thorat said changing the names of places was not a part of the Common Minimum Programme of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, in which Congress and NCP are partners. If any proposal about renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar comes up, the Congress will strongly oppose it. Congress does not believe in changing names as it does not benefit the common man, Thorat said and asserted that although his party is a part of the MVA alliance, it will surely oppose such a proposal. However, I am not aware of any proposal about renaming Aurangabad, he further said.

The renaming issue is seen as another flashpoint between Sena and Congress, the two ruling parties in the MVA government. Recently, Congress had hit out at its ally after Sena MP Sanjay Raut criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and expressed the need to change the leadership of United Progressive Alliance.

Mocking the Sena, leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that it remembers the renaming issue only when elections approach. The Sena raked up the issue again when the civic elections are round the corner. Fadnavis added and pointed out that Sena will forget the issue once the elections are over.

On Friday Congresss general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant questioned why Modi government has failed to approve the proposal of renaming Aurangabad airport after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj six months after MVA government sent it to the Centre.
The head of the Moscow State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, Police Colonel Yuri Droganov, was dismissed, a source in law enforcement agencies informed.

"By a presidential decree, the head of the Moscow State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, Police Colonel Yuri Droganov, was dismissed from his post," he said, adding that Police Colonel Alexei Diokin was appointed acting head of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.

Droganov headed the Moscow traffic police since November 2019. Before him, the head was Viktor Kovalenko.
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Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
Authorities continue to search for a woman kidnapped Tuesday from Liberty County by a gun-toting "acquaintance," according to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.

Erika Rios Valdez, 32, was taken around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday while parking and unhooking a food service trailer on County Road 3404 in the Plum Grove area in north Liberty County. Abel Fajardo, identified by authorities as a 38-year-old acquaintance, drove up and forced her into his pickup at gunpoint, authorities said.
Archbishop Eamon Martin has said his fondest memories of 2020 involve the kindness displayed by so many people towards their fellow humans during the pandemic. Photo: Mark Marlow/The Irish News

Church leaders have urged the public to hold on to the positives of 2020 despite the pain of the pandemic.

In his New Years message, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, said the memory he will cherish of 2020 is how the power of love and care was able to overcome isolation, loneliness, suffering, despair and negativity.

I will treasure a 2020 vision of goodness, kindness, generosity and courage shown by neighbours, volunteers, doctors, nurses, chaplains and other carers; by teachers, shop-workers, clergy and so many others who devoted themselves to keeping our essential services going, said the archbishop.

He said their amazing works of mercy were concrete expressions of the compassion, love and hope of Christ ringing out in our communities and world.

Read More

Dr Martin also expressed the hope that people will find faith, hope and love to meet what is likely to be another difficult year in tackling the coronavirus.

In a joint message, representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodists, Catholic and the Irish Council of Churches, said many people were hoping for a brighter and safer future in 2021.

The pandemic of 2020 had brought grief, anxiety and uncertainty, as well as economic loss and disruption of livelihoods.

"Many aspects of life that we had taken for granted, like visiting loved ones in nursing homes, or popping in to a see a friend, suddenly changed, they said.

The church leaders also paid tribute to the actions of frontline workers who, they said, had sacrificially gone about their business.

They praised too those who delivered groceries for neighbours self-isolating, or had sewn scrubs or kept in touch with others by phone.

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick noted that a lot of humorous WhatsApp messages have been circulating in recent days cheering the end of a year which has been one of the worst in living memory for most of us.

While there was still so much work to do in overcoming Covid there was light at the end of the tunnel, with the vaccine being rolled out, he stressed.

Read More

Irish Independent
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The marriage took place on 18 October at 4.48pm, a time fixed as auspicious by an astrologer. Collis privately thought it a social disgrace for her to marry a colonial book-maker. The occasion seemed to be strange and disturbing, he recalled. Had the rape of Mandalay ended in this? June Rose was born in 1932, the only child of the marriage, and began an idyllic childhood between the two cultures of her parents. At home we spoke Burmese  not the Burmese that ordinary Burmese speak, but court Burmese. I grew up speaking that, and English, and Hindi, she told me in 2009. I lived on one side very Buddhist. We never wore our shoes upstairs. The food for the monks was prepared first thing every morning. When it came time for the festivals, my father would disappear hunting. From his side, we had Christmas trees, we had Easter bunnies; I rode, and I shot. What Buddhist shoots? June Rose was very close to her father, who set up bamboo hurdles for her in the yard, told her yarns about his time in the Australian bush and read her Henry Lawson's poems. I can tell you everything about Kalgoorlie, the Southern Cross; I can tell you about the half-bald cockatoo in the pub in whose cup people would pour beer, and when the parrot was sloshed he'd say: Give me another feather and I'll fly. Former Burmese dictator Ne Win and June Rose Bellamy (front centre) with family members in the 1970s. When she was nine, this idyll ended. Japanese bombers hit Rangoon in February 1942 and along with most other expats the Bellamy family fled to India ahead of the invasion. They settled in Allahabad, the sleepy north Indian city at the junction of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, where an aunt, one of the Limbin princes other daughters, was living while her husband, an Indian maharajah, spent time in jail along with other pro-independence figures including Jawarharlal Nehru.

June Rose went along when her aunt visited her husband. My uncle was in one cell, and there was water on the floor with the fan blowing on the water to keep cool. Four doors down was Nehru, she recalled. When I saw the film Gandhi I had to see it again. The first time I cried all the way through. When she was 14, the family returned to a wrecked and bombed Rangoon. Her father went into semi-retirement in the British-built hill station of Maymyo (now Pyin Oo Lwin) outside Mandalay, where he ran a few horses, disappeared to his hunting lodge in the forests and collected rare orchids. June Rose grew into a noted beauty. The English travel writer Norman Lewis met the Bellamy family at a party in Maymyo, and in his 1955 book, Golden Earth, said June Rose allied to the graceful beauty of the Burmese a quite European vivacity. And she was practical: When the family were about to leave, in an elderly and ailing British car, June Rose showed much skill in locating a short in the wiring, and much tomboyish energy in winding the starting handle until the engine fired. Winning an essay competition, June Rose was given a three-month tour of the United States as a prize, and flourished on what passed for the social circuit in the fragile yet hopeful fifteen years following Burma's independence in 1946. She was a contender for a role in the war movie The Purple Plain, as the young Burmese nurse who gives a suicidal pilot (played by Gregory Peck) an interest in life, but said she pulled out during the shooting in Ceylon. It was so Hollywood, it was ridiculous; it was an insult to anything that had to do with Burma, she said. When the film did come to Burma there was a big hue and cry. Things in the pagoda, things a Buddhist would never do.

June Rose Bellamy, a princess of Burma also known as Yadana Nat Mai. In 1954 she married Mario Postiglione, a young Italian doctor working on malaria prevention with the World Health Organisation. Seven months after the birth of the first of their two sons, Mario was kidnapped by Burmese communists. They were all well-educated  former students, June Rose said. We have nothing against you or him, they said, and how is your royal mother and your son? We want the world to know the government has no control of the country. We need the money to buy the arms. Too bad it's your husband. After we got him back, the UN told us to get out of Burma. June Rose went with Mario to WHO postings in Damascus, Geneva and Manila. From the Philippines, she was able to fly back to Rangoon to be with her father when he died, in 1963. The couple eventually divorced and June Rose stayed in Italy raising their two boys, Michele and Maurizio.

In 1977 she learned that her mother Ma Lat was gravely ill after a stroke. But by then, Burma had become isolated and suspicious. The army chief, General Ne Win, had seized power in 1962, driven out the most educated civilians, and stepped up frontier wars against the many ethnic minorities. June Rose had known his wife, Katie, and cabled him for help. Ne Win helped but by then Ma Lat had died. A year later Ne Win was a widower, and got in touch on a visit to Europe. Eventually he proposed. She went to Rangoon in 1978, and they were married in a simple ceremony, she being Ne Wins fourth successive wife. Highly superstitious and fascinated by Burmas history, the general must have thought marriage to June Rose would be advantageous. I was a sort of lollipop for the people," she said. Whatever average people say about me or my Anglo half, the family name is still very important in Burma, the royalty, the Limbin. On her part, June Rose told me, she had the idea of somehow doing some good for the country. But Ne Win was barely in control of his regime by that point, she said. The marriage ended after just five months. June Rose wouldnt go into the cause of the final rupture. One rumour was that Ne Win was entertaining one of his wartime Japanese mentors, who was by then working for a trading company, when June Rose mentioned the worsening state of Burma's economy. June Rose laughed at another popular rumour, that Ne Win suspected she was a western spy.

She did confirm that it ended when Ne Win threw an ashtray at her. June Rose left the next day, seen off by Ne Win's daughter, Sanda (later jailed for corruption by Ne Win's successors), and a guard of honour as she flew out in what was then Burma's only passenger plane certified for international routes. Word of the marriage breakdown had not spread. Ne Win had gone up country. She felt lucky to get out. I left Burma with a definite feeling of failure," June Rose told me. Because I had failed my people. Because they did put their trust in me when I arrived. And this was one of the things that was not liked. But I would rather I left as a failure than to be connected with the ruling people. Those who had trusted in me, those who believed in me can say she left, but she left rather than not be able to do anything. In Italian, they say un peccato di orgoglio; in English, a sin of pride. Because I thought I could do something which others had not done. And that's a very bad sin. She settled back in Florence, into a house in an old artisanal quarter where she started the Associazione Culturale Arte e Gastronomia Orientale, teaching both Italian and Asian cooking, living in an apartment upstairs. Ne Win was deposed by the military junta after it quelled a student uprising in Rangoon in 1988 by massacring thousands of demonstrators. He spent his last years under house arrest, and when he died in 2002 he was buried the same day with no ceremony in an unmarked grave. June Rose kept up a Burma connection through a charity that put Burmese students through medical school and sent money to a village hit by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Her younger son had died in a car accident, but his son Alex was close to her. Together they went to Burma and found the grave of her grandfather, the Limbin prince, in a monastery. At 5am, when the earth's energy is said to be at its peak, they paid homage by serving the morning meal to the ten abbots and 120 monks.
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The historic Rock of Dunamase still towers over the Laois countryside from its high rocky hill, even as a ruin.

Now the 12th-century Irish fortress has been restored - at least virtually - by a talented Irish artist.

Colm Fahy has created a two-minute life like digital video that takes the viewer through fortified gates and all around the castle.

Watch it below.

Colm told the Leinster Express why he decided to spend three weeks on what was a labour of love.

"This pandemic thing is not all bad news! The pandemic slowed things down a bit and for the first the time in years I had the opportunity to see Ireland in a deeper way. Laois seemed like a good starting point, thanks to fond memories of a great Laois woman who was my boss some years back!



"I've alway had a huge love of our ancient history and of course Laois is at the heart of it all.. and it is so different from my native Achill Island. I've also had a long running interest in art, illustration and graphic art which has been slowly evolving over the years and 2020 seemed to bring things together in a special way.

"I found I had the opportunity and the tools to bring things to life that really interest me. I had done a few small projects in recent years (Castles and stately homes) but Dunamase really caught my imagination being such a wonderful site and full of the spirit of ancient Ireland. I just had to try and recreate it in some way. So I started doing a bit of research. To my surprise there is not much by way of images of how it might have looked. I did find some limited architectural papers on-line, but in the end I had to use some of my own imagination.

"I spent a few days plotting out the layout and design. After that, I used a graphics program to design the building model. This took about two weeks. After that, I worked on adding smaller assets to add the scene. Once the bulk of the modelling is done, the texturing and painting took about another week followed by the camera set ups and animation including lighting, which took about three days.

"All in all, the project took about three weeks I would say to get the model to the stage where you see it now. I'm happy with the outcome on the Rock of Dunamase - if nothing else you get some sense of the magic and majesty of this important site of national heritage.

"I would like to continue to improve its archaeological accuracy, so all those local experts don't hesitate to get in touch with your information that might help that process!

"Generally, I use my work-in-progress website ( https://templegreen.wixsite. com/templegreenstudio) and social media to show people progress on my work. I love the idea of reimagining the past in 3 dimensions. In fact, I love the idea of helping people bring their vision, whatever it is, to a sort of life in 3D or virtual reality. I am always open to trying new challenges!" Colm said.

Follow more of Colm's work on Twitter at ColmFahy and on his website https://templegreen.wixsite.com/

Below: the Rock of Dunmase as it stands today.
The world's 7.8 billion people are bidding a hearty farewell to 2020, but without the usual fanfare and public gatherings because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The start of 2021 in Russia saw most public events canceled. However, in Kaluga, considered the country's New Year's Eve capital, celebrations for tourists were set to continue even though residents wanted to see events canceled. The city is 150 kilometers southwest of Moscow.

Turkey greeted the New Year by starting a four-day lockdown, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said law enforcement would crack down on illegal hotel parties.

Dubai kicked off 2021 with its annual fireworks show near the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, but some said virus mitigation rules made the event less fun. "People come to Dubai because it's open, but there are so many rules," Bashir Shehu, 50, who was visiting from Abuja, Nigeria, with his family, told The Associated Press. "We pray that next year we can celebrate with some real freedom."

In India, celebrations to ring in 2021 were toned down because of curfews, a ban on beach parties and other travel restrictions. In major cities, hotels and bars were shut down at 11 p.m. local time, and AP reported that drones were monitoring people's movement in Mumbai, where large gatherings were prohibited.

Japan rang in the new year quietly because of rising cases. Tokyo's governor, Yuriko Koike, had asked people not to attend countdown ceremonies. "The coronavirus knows no year-end or New Year's holidays," she said.

Korea, where the government banned gatherings of more than five, saw a different New Year's Eve as a traditional bell-ringing in Seoul was canceled for the first time since 1953. Beaches where Koreans flock to watch the sun rise were closed, with some outlets announcing plans to broadcast it instead. Ski resorts and other tourist spots were closed.


RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP alerts investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("Restaurant Brands") on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Restaurant Brands common stock between April 29, 2019, and October 28, 2019, inclusive (the "Class Period").

Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Restaurant Brands common stock during the Class Period may, no later than February 19, 2021 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please click https://www.ktmc.com/restaurant-brands-international-inc-securities-class-action?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=restaurant_brands

Restaurant Brands is a Canadian corporation and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the world's largest restaurant chains with over 27,000 Tim Hortons, Burger King, and Popeyes restaurants in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. On April 24, 2018, Restaurant Brands announced a new strategy designed to improve performance within its Tim Hortons brand. Specifically, the "Winning Together Plan" would focus on three key pillars: restaurant experience; product excellence; and brand communications. Then, on March 20, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced "Tims Rewards"  a new loyalty program for Tim Hortons customers in Canada. Under the Tims Rewards program, customers would be eligible for a free hot brewed coffee, hot tea, or baked good after every seventh paid visit to a participating Tim Hortons restaurant. On April 10, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced that it was expanding the Tims Rewards program to include customers in the United States.

The Class Period commences on April 29, 2019, when Restaurant Brands filed its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 with the SEC. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported 0.5% system-wide year-over-year sales growth for Tim Hortons on system-wide sales of $1.547 billion. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants repeatedly touted the implementation and execution of Restaurant Brands' Winning Together Plan and Tims Rewards loyalty program. On the heels of Restaurant Brands touting the benefits of these initiatives, the company completed two stock offerings on or about August 12, 2019, and September 5, 2019, collectively resulting in proceeds of approximately $3 billion to insiders.

However, on October 29, 2019, the truth about Restaurant Brands' execution of its Winning Together Plan and Tims Rewards loyalty program was revealed when the company announced disappointing financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported a 0.1% system-wide year-over-year sales decline for Tim Hortonsrepresenting a 1.4% same-store sales declineon system-wide sales of $1.774 billion. Following this news, the price of Restaurant Brands common stock declined $2.59 per share, or approximately 4%, from a close of $68.45 per share on October 25, 2019, to close at $64.86 per share on October 28, 2019.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Restaurant Brands' Winning Together Plan was failing to generate substantial, sustainable improvement within the Tim Hortons brand; (2) the Tims Rewards loyalty program was not generating sustainable revenue growth as increased customer traffic was not offsetting promotional discounting; and (3) as a result, the defendants' statements about Restaurant Brands' business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis.

Restaurant Brands investors who wish to discuss this securities fraud class action lawsuit and their legal options are encouraged to contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (James Maro, Jr., Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (844) 887-9500 (toll free) or at [email protected].

Restaurant Brands investors may, no later than February 19, 2021 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

James Maro, Jr., Esq.

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

(844) 887-9500 (toll free)

(610) 667-7706

[email protected]

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

Related Links

http://www.ktmc.com


Second stimulus check: headlines

- Mitch McConnell objects to a Senate vote on the $2,000 stimulus checks for the third day running on Thursday.

- McConnell admits that the bill to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 has "no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate" on Wednesday.

- Pelosi and Gingrich press McConnell to allow vote on 'clean' bill for $2,000 stimulus checks.

- Trump extends freeze on skilled worker visas.

- Georgia Senator Perdue in isolation ahead of 5 January run-off.

- Second round of stimulus payments gets underway as Congress continues wrangle over $2,000 checks into New Year.

- Senate to vote on overriding Trump defense bill veto as president lashes out at "pathetic" Republican leaders.

- Georgia Senate run-off "too close to call" say pollsters, with control of upper house to be decided on 5 January.

- McConnell is introducing a new bill with $2,000 stimulus checks but its tied to a repeal of the social media-related Section 230 and finance for election fraud investigation.

- President Trump urges Republican senators to "get tough" and approve the $2,000 stimulus checks after McConnell blocks Senate vote.

- US House on Monday passed bill that would increase covid stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 by 275-134 vote.

Related stories:
KYODO NEWS - Jan 1, 2021 - 12:39 | All, Japan, 3/11 Fukushima

Nearly 10 years after the 2011 earthquake-tsunami and nuclear disasters in northeastern Japan, only 30 percent of Fukushima Prefecture residents say reconstruction has been sufficient, a Kyodo News survey showed Thursday.

The figure was notably lower than 80 percent in Miyagi and 66 percent in Iwate prefectures, which were also affected by the natural disasters.

The low number in Fukushima reflects how the nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and subsequent evacuation orders have slowed reconstruction work.

Face-to-face surveys were conducted in November involving 100 residents in each of the three prefectures to ask about reconstruction of the communities where they lived when the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the region March 11, 2011.

A total of 176 people, or 59 percent, across the three prefectures said reconstruction was "progressing" or "progressing to some degree," while 123 people, or 41 percent, said there had not been enough progress. One person did not answer.

"My hometown is full of vacant plots of land," said a man in his 50s who evacuated from Futaba, which hosts the Fukushima Daiichi plant, to Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture. "I cannot imagine the town becoming a place we can return to."

Many respondents appreciated the rebuilding of infrastructure, but some said it has taken too much time. Among Fukushima residents unhappy with the reconstruction progress, many said they are disappointed that they are still not allowed to return to their hometowns due to radioactive contamination and that townscapes have not been restored.

Across the three prefectures, 66 percent said their lives were back on track as they were able either to move to public housing for disaster victims or build new homes. By prefecture, the rate was 80 percent in Miyagi and 70 percent in Iwate but significantly lower at 49 percent in Fukushima.

The cost of rebuilding homes and a decrease in income have also been a burden for residents.

"To reconstruct my house, I needed to get another loan (in addition to that for the home destroyed by the disaster). I won't finish the payments until I'm 80 years old," said Toshiyuki Naganuma, 58, who runs a construction firm in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture.

The local government in Natori declared the completion of the city's recovery in March 2020. More houses have been built and tourists are returning. But Naganuma said that while "it may look like the city has recovered, reconstruction is not finished."

"Jobs are still gone. My income is unstable," said a man in his 40s who changed jobs three times after the disasters. He used to work at a restaurant in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, but sales dropped when construction workers and others engaged in work to rebuild the city left.

Yukihisa Ojima, 49, who operates a home appliance store in Rikuzentakata, worries about the city's declining population. "Public facilities were rebuilt but things are slack for businesses here," he said.

For those affected by the disasters, recovery means "getting back one's life before the disasters," said Jun Oyane, a professor at Senshu University and head of the Japan Society for Disaster Recovery and Revitalization.

"The next step after restoring infrastructure will be to focus on the varying needs of individual residents and to stand by them in rebuilding" their lives, he said.

Related coverage:

Art project encourages evacuees of nuclear disaster-hit Fukushima town

Japan court nixes approval of post-Fukushima nuclear safety steps

65% of Fukushima evacuees have no intention of returning home: survey


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INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- State Senator Eddie Melton (D-Gary) announced his aggressive legislative agenda for the 2021 legislative session.



This year, Hoosiers are dealing with an unprecedented number of issues, Sen. Melton said.

While a great deal of our residents struggles are directly tied to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, many of the struggles Hoosiers are facing predate this virus. This pandemic has merely worsened the problems of many, while exposing to others the deep cracks in several of our states institutions.

My 2021 legislative agenda is a direct response to the calls of residents who are looking for meaningful and fundamental change. We have a difficult session ahead, but Im looking forward to working on behalf of all Hoosiers in my new role as Assistant Minority Leader for the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus.

Sen. Meltons legislative agenda and focuses highlight four areas: justice reform, public health, pandemic relief and economic growth and development in Northwest Indiana.

Areas of Importance in 2021:

Protect the health and safety of workers:

There is an aggressive push by Republican legislators to protect businesses from potential COVID-19 lawsuits. This is a blow to essential workers who have risked their lives to keep our economy open, and I want to ensure that all workers are protected from employers that are negligent with their workers health and safety.

Protect public education funding:

Earlier this year public schools were threatened that they would only receive 85% of their state funding because they were forced to go virtual due to the pandemic. As the Ranking Minority Member on the Appropriations Committee, I will fight for full funding for our public schools and advocate for reforming our existing funding formula to reflect the growing need for our schools.

Justice Reform:

After the death of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor, and even deaths at the hands of police in our own state, we heard loud and clear from citizens that they demand reform in our justice system. I will be filing legislation to ban the use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants. The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus will file a series of bills to address our current system as it is today.

Public Health Reform:

Indiana has one of the worst public health rankings in the country and many Hoosiers continue to struggle with the rising cost of life saving medication like insulin. In 2009, a 30-day supply of insulin was around $93; in 2019, the average cost of a 30-day supply of insulin was $275. Its astronomical and I will fight to cap the copay of insulin to make it more affordable for Hoosiers. It will also be a priority to end implicit bias that exists in our healthcare system for women and black women in particular. The news stories of deaths of African American women in our local healthcare systems shows how much work we have to do. Thats why Im filing legislation to require implicit bias training among healthcare professionals.

Pandemic Relief for individuals and small businesses:

Individuals and small businesses everywhere have been impacted by the pandemic economically. My pandemic relief focus seeks to address several of the issues brought on and exacerbated by this virus, including livable wages and assistance for small businesses. We must acknowledge that many of our essential workers are paid low wages and that our neighbors and local businesses are struggling. This is why we must raise the minimum wage, offer renter protection and provide tax relief for small businesses.

Provide support for our local municipalities:

The new stimulus bill that congress passed provided no support for local cities and towns that have been on the front lines of addressing local crises caused by the pandemic. Through my property tax amnesty bill and other policy proposals, I will be working to provide my district with economic tools to address their fiscal shortfall due to COVID-19. In an effort to strengthen the Gary school corporation, Ill be seeking a charter school moratorium within the city limits to allow the district to address its fiscal needs and promote growth in its student population.

Related Posts

Senate Democrats Media Office

200 W. Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

FOR MORE INFORATION, CONTACT:

Taroue Brooks

Taroue.brooks@yahoo.com

202-431-1119

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a88c663-a1a3-4411-9c8e-29cf92439bde
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti writes to LG, asks bodies of the three youth killed in encounter at Lawaypora be handed over the families and fair probe be launched.

A day after families of the three men killed in a Srinagar encounter claimed they no connection with militancy and were killed in a staged encounter, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti urged jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor to launch a fair probe in the case. In a letter addressed to L-G Manoj Sinha, Mufti also asked that the bodies of the three youth be handed over to the families.

Army and J&K Police had on Wednesday described the three men killed in the encounter as 'terrorists' and 'hardcore associates', respectively.

The families, two of whom have members working with Jammu and Kashmir Police, described the claims of two forces as concocted and full of gaps. They alleged the three had no connection with militancy and were killed in a staged encounter. While two were students, aged 22 and 17, the third, a 24-year-old, was a construction worker.

Mufti had earlier demanded that the administration come clean on the allegations of the fake encounter in Parimpora area, while the National Conference had sought a time-bound inquiry into the circumstances leading to the killing of the three people.

"Worrying that in the past few months after the Shopian fake encounter other families too in J-K have alleged that their sons were innocent and killed in a staged encounter. Authorities need to come clean on this," Mufti had tweeted about the Parimpora encounter.

National Conference additional spokesperson Sarah Shah said the versions of people and family pertaining to the killing of the three at an encounter site in Srinagar suburb are contradictory.

"Therefore, the situation necessitates the constitution of a fact-finding team that could reveal the circumstances... The police version is that the three were militants who refused to surrender during the gunfight and were killed, but the version of families of the slain is contradictory to that of the police version," she said.

Shah said it is for the government to clear the ambiguity surrounding the deaths. "We have been hearing from government quarters that there would be zero tolerance for human rights violations but on ground such high-pitched claims emanating from government stand debunked in wake of such killings.

"Therefore we demand a thorough inquiry into the incident on behalf of my party. I also take this opportunity to express my unison with the bereaved families in their hour of grief and pain," she said.

On Wednesday, the three men from south Kashmir were killed in an encounter with the Army on the outskirts of Srinagar at Lawaypora on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. The police said one AK rifle, two pistols and other incriminating material were recovered from the slain.

Mohammad Maqbool Ganie, father of slain Aijaz Ganie - one of the three men killed in Wednesdays encounter - who works with Jammu and Kashmir Police, told News 18 there was no evidence that suggest his son was involved with any militant activities.
Though its remarkable that the United States finally is about to have a female vice president, lets stop calling it an unprecedented achievement. As some recent archaeological studies suggest, women have been leaders, warriors and hunters for thousands of years. This new scholarship is challenging long-held beliefs about so-called natural gender roles in ancient history, inviting us to reconsider how we think about womens work today.

In November a group of anthropologists and other researchers published a paper in the academic journal Science Advances about the remains of a 9,000-year-old big-game hunter buried in the Andes. Like other hunters of the period, this person was buried with a specialized tool kit associated with stalking large game, including projectile points, scrapers for tanning hides and a tool that looked like a knife. There was nothing particularly unusual about the body  though the leg bones seemed a little slim for an adult male hunter. But when scientists analyzed the tooth enamel using a method borrowed from forensics that reveals whether a person carries the male or female version of a protein called amelogenin, the hunter turned out to be female.

With that information in hand, the researchers re-examined evidence from 107 other graves in the Americas from roughly the same period. They were startled to discover that out of 26 graves with hunter tools, 10 belonged to women. Bonnie Pitblado, an archaeologist at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, told Science magazine that the findings indicate that women have always been able to hunt and have in fact hunted. The new data calls into question an influential dogma in the field of archaeology. Nicknamed man the hunter, this is the notion that men and women in ancient societies had strictly defined roles: Men hunted, and women gathered. Now, this theory may be crumbling.

While the Andean finding was noteworthy, this was not the first female hunter or warrior to be found by re-examining old archaeological evidence using fresh scientific techniques. Nor was this sort of discovery confined to one group, or one part of the world.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. has seen increasing indications that Iran could be planning an attack against American forces or interests in the Middle East, according to a U.S. official.

The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that reading Irans intentions was difficult and at times unpredictable.

But the indications are being taken seriously, the official said. The one-year anniversary of the U.S.' killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani is just days away.

Soleimani was killed in a U.S. dronestrike in Iraq on Jan. 3, 2020, in what the Defense Department characterized as a "defensive action" because it alleged the leader of Iran's Quds Force was developing plans to attack Americans. Iran launched missiles against U.S. forces in Iraq in response to the killing days later.

Image: IRAN-IRAQ-US-POLITICS-UNREST (Atta Kenare / AFP - Getty Images file)

This week, the U.S. flew B-52 bombers based at a Minot, North Dakota, Air Force base to the Middle East in a "deliberate appearance," U.S. Central Command said, in the second such show of force this month.

The U.S. has recently accused what it said was an Iranian-backed militia of a Dec. 20 rocket attack on Baghdad's green zone, in which 21 rockets were fired. No one was injured or killed.

Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, in a Tweet on Thursday objected to the B-52 flights and wrote: "Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war."

On Dec. 23, referring to the rocket attack that damaged the U.S. embassy in the green zone, President Donald Trump had tweeted: "Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over."

"Wed be happy with de-escalation," the U.S. official said Thursday, adding that amid the uncertainty, the situation continues to be watched closely.

Related:

The tensions come weeks before president-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in, and the Iranian regime has sent clear signals that it wants U.S. sanctions lifted  something an attack could jeopardize.

Also on Thursday, the aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz was ordered to return to its U.S homeport after a 10-month deployment to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, the Pentagon said.

We continue to watch Iran very closely, Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller told NBC News in a statement late Thursday.

While it is my hope that we enter 2021 peacefully and without conflict, the Department is at the ready to defend the American people and her interests, he said.
Jan 01, 2021 10:56 (IST)

Cold Wave Continues in Haryana, Punjab; Hisar Coldest at Minus 1.2 Degrees | There was no let-up in the cold wave sweeping through Haryana and Punjab on Friday, with Hisar reeling at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius. A thick blanket of fog enveloped the two states in the morning, reducing visibility levels, Meteorological department officials here said. The minimum temperatures continued to hover well below the normal limits, they said. Hisar in Haryana had on Thursday too recorded the same minimum temperature, eight notches below normal limits, making it the coldest place in the two states.

Cold Wave Continues in Haryana, Punjab; Hisar Coldest at Minus 1.2 Deg C
Chennai, Jan 1 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Friday said urban poor/slum families living on the banks of waterways will be allotted houses built under the central government's Global Housing Technology Challenge.

He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the central government's 'Housing for All' scheme for the Global HousingTechnology Challenge - India Project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House projects (LHPs) under Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)- at six sites across six States, through video conference.

Palaniswami said the central government, under the Global Housing Technology Challenge, has sanctioned construction of 1,152 tenements with an area of 413 sqft. at Perumbakkam, Chennai at a cost of 116.27 crore rupees.

"These tenements will be allotted to the urban poor/slum families living on the banks of waterways and other objectionable lands in Chennai city," he said.

According to him, the housing project includes social amenities like a ration shop, two Anganwadi centres, a library, a milk booth and six shops.

The project will also have a Sewage Treatment Plant and an Electrical sub-station.

This work will be completed within 15 months. This technology will ensure eco-friendly construction fit for diverse climatic quality standards and disaster-proof houses, Palaniswami said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
INDIANOLA, Iowa, Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IdRamp, a leader in decentralized identity products and services, announced today that it now provides market-ready solutions leveraging the Indicio Network, a professionally-run decentralized network for identity.

IdRamp provides enterprise and government customers with digital wallets via the Passport mobile application, and on-boarding services with the IdRamp Service Delivery Platform. The company has established itself as a market leader in decentralized identity. IdRamp selected the Indicio Network for its reliability and expert support services.

IdRamp has long recognized the complexity of an ever-growing collection of disconnected protocols, standards, regulations, and technologies. The IdRamp Service Delivery Platform offers decentralized identity that simplifies the experience, removing centralized data, allowing businesses to focus on their business rather than managing technology.

"Part of what adds value to our customers is quick and easy integration into their various legacy ecosystems," says Mike Vesey, CEO of IdRamp. "Without having to lift and shift anything, businesses and organizations of all shapes and sizes can use decentralized identity to improve user experience by eliminating any need for passwords, increasing privacy by removing the need to share personal data with 3rd party services like Twitter or Facebook and improving data protection by not storing personal data in central databases. This reduces cost by reducing investments in monolithic identity platforms. Having an enterprise grade network to deliver decentralized services for our customers is critical. We are excited to have Indicio Network providing IdRamp customers with a dependable, reliable, and robust enterprise ready network with experienced staff at the helm. Indicio provides the best-in-class distributed network that our customers need."

Indicio's fully-monitored decentralized identity network debuted in July with experienced concierge-class expert support to help companies design, build, and bring decentralized identity products to market quickly. As a Genesis Node Operator, IdRamp helped launch the Indicio Network, contributing dedicated server space, ongoing governance contributions, and community leadership.

The IdRamp platform allows for the simple management of decentralized identity verifiable credentials in one easy-to-use platform that can be linked to virtually any existing application. These credentials are tamper-proof, and with simple security reporting and flexible APIs, improving business productivity and security oversight.

"We are thrilled to see the growing Indicio community begin to run their customer workloads on our network," says Heather Dahl, CEO of Indicio. "IdRamp offers solutions that help people move from a world of centralized digital existence with a multitude of logins, passwords, and profiles in someone else's database, to one where identity is digital and decentralized, yet controlled by the individual. Decentralized identity allows us to protect our privacy and share our information at a distance - two things that are increasingly important to the efficiency of the global economy, and critically important in the context of a worldwide pandemic."

"IdRamp and Indicio are helping to grow a community focused on delivering decentralized identity solutions that will drive adoption of this empowering technology," says Karl Kneis, COO of IdRamp. "Now IdRamp can provide a suite of simple-to-use, professional grade tools and services, all connected to a state-of-the-art network. This community effort will drive our solutions to scale management of verifiable credentials at the speed our customers need. Decentralized identity is new, but it is the most secure and trustworthy means of data sharing yet devised. Now it's also easy to use."

About IdRamp

IdRamp is a service delivery platform that helps businesses manage verifiable credentials and identity integration within diverse application ecosystems. We combine verifiable credentials with well-known identity management capabilities for MFA, consents, access rules, directory integration, and analytics. Businesses use IdRamp to create trust ecosystems without complex upgrades or specialized technical skills. IdRamp is built on open standards for verifiable credentials and established identity protocols. As a founding and steering member of the Trust Over IP Foundation IdRamp is committed to delivering state of the art security, privacy and assurance for all trust ecosystems.

About Indicio.tech

Indicio.tech is a professional services firm specializing in decentralized identity architecture, engineering, and consultancy. Indicio provides expert guidance to a global community of clients on the use of verifiable credentials to build digital identity solutions. The decentralized networks and tools created by Indicio make verifiable credentials easy to adopt, simple to deploy, and reliable to use. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Indicio is committed to advancing decentralized identity as a public good that enables people to control their identities online and share their data by consent. Indicio believes in privacy and security by design, interoperability, and supports the open source goals of the decentralized identity community.

Media Contact:

Eric Vinton

Phone: +1 515-808-2822

Email: [email protected]

idramp.com

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SOURCE IdRamp
General Assignment Reporter

Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012.
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How a Stint With COVID Changed My Perspective

A common experience of COVID-19 gives reason to move forward with more hope and less fear

I was stricken with COVID last month.

You probably expect me to now explain how awful it was, how I laid around in bed, suffering in agony, and was nearly carted off to the hospital. But that would be a lie.

The real story? I had some congestion, did lots of sneezing, and was quite fatigued. I pressed through it though, continuing to work from home, and would have simply thought I had an unusual, but mild, cold had I not been alerted to potential exposure and then tested positive.

Standing on the other side of COVID, Im thankful to have had it for several reasons. As Ive mentioned these reasons to others, Ive seen them suddenly encouraged, for they are not often heard in our fearmongering news cycle.

The first reason is obvious: I had COVID and lived to tell about it.

Listening to the media, one would think that a positive COVID test is at the very least a guaranteed ticket to the hospital. But such is not the case, for as WebMD reports, 80 percent of COVID cases are mild and unlikely to end in a trip to the ER. Hospital stays also appear to be much shorter than they were in the early months of the virus.

While the virus was long-lasting, it wasnt even the worst cold Ive ever had. I find that others who have had the virus underwent similar experiences, namely, the virus wasnt fun, but it wasnt as bad as what one might expect. Unfortunately, such anecdotes are not sensational enough to be covered by the media. And the good news? I may be naturally vaccinated for up to six months with the antibodies from the virus!

The second reason Im glad I got COVID is that I learned a few interesting things about treatment options. When first diagnosed, a nurse called me up, confirmed I had the virus, and then basically told me to just sit tight and fight it out.

A doctor friend of mine, however, gave a different story. Having left the overbearing medical system to set up his own private office several years ago so he could be free to actually practice medicine, this doctor was free to try other treatment routes. He treated a relative of mine, who is in one of the higher risk categories, with a steroid and several other treatments, noting that the earlier a patient is treated for COVID symptoms, the better chance the patient has of recovering before the virus escalates to a severe level.

These treatments worked well for my relative, and apparently have worked well for other patients of this doctor. Last I heard, he had yet to lose or hospitalize a COVID patient. This revelation has me asking whether we could have saved many lives through simple treatments prescribed early on, rather than sitting around, twiddling our thumbs waiting for the vaccine, which has now arrived on the scene but may take a while to distribute.

Finally, having COVID enabled me to ditch the great fear of the unknown. As mentioned earlier, everyone seems to think that a COVID diagnosis is the kiss of death, landing them in the hospital or on the growing lists of COVID fatalities.

Yet the fatality rate really isnt all that bad for a large portion of the population. At least 99.95 percent of people under 70 survive infection; that figure is only 95 percent for 70 and older, The Wall Street Journal reports, a fact which can be seen in the CDC chart below. Why are we so afraid of this virus if the chances of survival are so high?

Fear is infecting more Americans than the virus. For months we have sat in our homes, shied away from others, and listened carefully to the diktats of experts who tell us exactly what to do to prevent the virus spread.

The trouble is, they dont have any clearer view of reality than we do, and often they seem to deliberately overlook statistics like those above. In all likelihood, they, too, are giving into fears of what the virus could do to them, not only in terms of their personal health, but also in terms of their careers.

Im not denying that the virus can be dangerousit is. I happen to know two older adults who sadly passed away from COVID just as I was forming the idea for this article, so Im not oblivious or callous to the ravages of the disease.

What I am denying, however, is the need to live in a fearful, bunker mentality. Such a mode of living is not healthy for anyone, especially not Americans, who are supposed to be living in a free, self-governing society. Thomas Paine, in The Rights of Man, described our time well when he wrote, Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.

Paines prescription for such fear, however, is truth. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks,and all it wants,is the liberty of appearing.

That is why I present you with some tidbits of truth that I learned from my stint with COVID, hoping that like me, you too will take heart and press forward into the next year with more hope and less fear.

Annie Holmquist is the editor of Intellectual Takeout. When not writing or editing, she enjoys reading, gardening, and time with family and friends.
Lisa Snowdon rang in the New Year in unforgettable style on Friday morning, when she shared a snap of herself going topless as she wore just a lace thong.

The This Morning presenter, 48, took to Instagram to share the racy black-and-white snap of herself sitting with her back to the mirror as she did her makeup.

Captioning the eye-catching snap, which featured her sitting in a luxury bathroom, the broadcaster wrote: 'Turning my back very much on 2020. Its a New Dawn. Its a New Day. Its a New Year... and Im feeling good.'

Cheeky! Lisa Snowdon rang in the New Year in unforgettable style on Friday morning, when she shared a snap of herself going topless as she wore just a lace thong

In the hours leading up to the New Year, Lisa took to Instagram to show that despite toned-down celebrations amid the Tier 4 COVID-19 lockdown, she still made an effort to look stylish for the occasion.

She shared a snap of herself looking delightful in a black-and -ed patterned top, which she teamed with skinny jeans and a pair of knee-high boots.

Posing for the mirror selfie in her living room, the star styled her brunette tresses in soft waves, while she kept her makeup light and natural.

Captioning the image, she wrote: 'Not out tonight obviously, but if I was, Id be busting this look! See ya later 2020! I welcome you with open arms 2021 Happy New Year .'

Stylish: In the hours leading up to the New Year, Lisa showed that despite toned-down celebrations amid the Tier 4 COVID-19 lockdown, she still made an effort to look stylish

Last month, Lisa hinted that she and fiance George Smart may elope after putting their wedding plans on the backburner.

The presenter revealed the 'romantic' couple may marry in London instead of Japan, where they previously hoped to tie the knot, as planning an extravagant wedding isn't top of her priorities in life.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Lisa said her relationship with George has 'thrived' this year and they're 'massively happy' after recently celebrating their fifth anniversary together.

In April, it was reported that Lisa was forced to postpone her wedding in Japan due to the pandemic.

Wedding plans: Last month, Lisa hinted that she and fiance George Smart may elope after putting their wedding plans on the backburner

But she has since told MailOnline: 'Honestly, we didn't have anything booked  that was reported incorrectly.

'I received so many messages saying "I'm so sorry, your poor wedding" but there was no wedding  we hadn't booked anything.

'We are very happy and it's definitely something we will do one but when George proposed to me it was more about that commitment to each other. It was never about "okay, so the year 2020 we're going to do this"  we never really planned it.'

The presenter, who's been engaged since 2016, said instead of spending hours planning a trip overseas, she's happy to spontaneously wed George, and this year has shown her the couple's love for each other means more than hosting a big day.

Options: The TV presenter revealed the couple may marry in London instead of Japan, where they previously hoped to tie the knot, as planning a wedding isn't top of her priorities

She continued: 'I don't know where, I don't know when, I don't know anything about it really.

'It might be a case of, "wow we're in this great city, lets do it tomorrow"  we are quite romantic like that. Maybe that will happen or we will plan something for 30 people, we have put it on the backburner at the moment.

'This year has confirmed more than ever that we're a really good team, that we love each other, we have survived this year  not just survived, we have thrived, we have got on brilliantly and I am really proud of us.

'We just celebrated our anniversary and we're just massively happy. We are not really planning, which is really nice for the first time.

'We have thrived': Lisa said the couple have got on 'brilliantly' this year and she's really 'proud' of them after adapting to working from home together without any arguments

'I don't want to start planning, planning, planning and thinking about next year.

'The wedding is not at the top of my list, my dad is going into surgery, I am more thinking about milestones like this I need to get through, the wedding will happen when it happens.'

Lisa famously dated Hollywood actor George Clooney for five years after meeting on set of a TV advert in 2000.

She's now engaged to George Smart, an entrepreneur from Yorkshire, who popped the question with 'the most beautiful diamond ring' four years ago.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Three men are being questioned after a 15-year-old girl walked into a hotel reception in a 'distressed, semi-naked' state after she and another teenager were allegedly sexually assaulted.

The men have been questioned by police in relation to the alleged rape and sexual assault of two minors they met on New Year's Eve.

The men, all aged, 22, crossed paths with three teenage girls on the beach at Gold Coast's Surfers Paradise overnight, police allege.

The girls then allegedly attended a nearby unit where the men were staying and where two of the girls - both aged 15 - were allegedly raped and sexually assaulted.

The alleged incident was at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast (pictured above) on New Year's Eve

'A 15-year-old girl has come to the concierge in a semi naked state, in a distressed state and police were called,' Acting Chief Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said.

'Investigations into that... it turns out three girls, all (aged) 15, were on the beach and they met three young fellows.

'They went back to the room of these young fellows and it turns out they have been sexually assaulted and a complaint has been made.

'They met on the beach and the three girls came back to the unit where the three men were staying and it's allegedly basically gone downhill from there.'

Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast has long been one of Australia's premier tourist destinations (stock image)

Charges have not yet been laid against the three men as of 9pm on Friday, 7News reported.

The men were also said to have offered a version of events that lead police to make further inquires.

Investigations into the rape allegations remain ongoing.
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In Qius Becoming Inspector Chen (Severn, Mar.), Chief Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Bureau faces the possible end of his career.

Where did the character of Inspector Chen come from?

Initially, I had set out to write a novel about Chinese peoples hard time adjusting themselves to drastic changes after the ending of the Cultural Revolution, with the main character a poetry-loving intellectual who tries to do his independent thinking about the unprecedented social transformation and upheaval in China. I had written nothing but poems, so I encountered problems with the structure of the novel. It was then that the crime novels I had read came to my rescue. I found the genre conventionally came with a ready-made structure, and it served my purpose really well. To explore social problems in China, what could be more convenient than a cop who walks around the city, raises all the questions, and occasionally gains access to the secrets of the authoritarian regime?

How much has he changed since your initial conception of the character?

A lot. In the first book of the series, Chen is having a house-warming party, grateful to the Party authorities for the apartment assigned to him, and for the chief inspector position in the Shanghai Police Bureau. However, as he undertakes more investigations into the sordid politics under the authoritarian regime, he comes to see the light that all his special cases and successful conclusions are invariably controlled and manipulated by the political needs of the one-party government.

Are these books read in China?

The first three books of the Inspector Chen series have been translated into Chinese, but so many changes were done to the Chinese versions without my approval. For instance, these books are set in Shanghai, but the censorship officials declared that theres no murder happening in Shanghai; in other words, any writing about the seamy side of Chinese society is considered as negative energy, so it has to be erased. As a result, Shanghai was renamed, and they also changed the recognizable names of its streets, restaurants, and hotels. For the same reason, any details regarded as politically sensitive got deleted. My Chinese publisher could not say no to the censorship system. He once organized a full newspaper page of reviews, but at the last minute, he got a phone call from some people above, saying there should not be any publicity in socialist China. I was so frustrated, I decided not to have any more Inspector Chen books published in China.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his cabinet colleagues have made public the information about their personal assets. As per the public disclosure, many members of Nitish's cabinet are way richer than him. Nitish Kumar's son Nishant is also richer than his father.

In 2010, the Nitish government had made it mandatory for all cabinet ministers to disclose their asset details on the first day of every year.

According to the details given by the ministers on the website of the Cabinet Secretariat department, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has Rs 35,885 in cash and nearly Rs 34,000 deposited in the bank while his son Nishant has Rs 28,297 in cash and Rs 1 crore in Fixed Deposit (FD) or deposits in various banks.

While the Chief Minister owns jewellery worth Rs 98,000, his son Nishant owns jewellery worth more than Rs 20 lakh. Nitish also owns a 1000 sq ft flat in Delhi's Dwarka while his son owns agricultural and non-arable land in Kalyan Bigha village in Bihar as well as residential complexes in Bakhtiyarpur and Patna.

Nitish's cabinet colleagues are also richer than the Chief Minister. Mukesh Sahani, founder of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), which is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar, comes in the list of the richest ministers in the CM's cabinet.

Minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department, Mukesh Sahani has deposits of Rs 23 lakh in banks. Sahani owns three plush properties in Mumbai worth more than Rs seven crore. He and his wife also own a flat each.

Bihar Transport Minister Sheela Kumari does not own any vehicle, but she and her husband own 30 acres of cultivable land. They also own non-cultivable land worth more than Rs three crore and two flats.

Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad is quite fond of luxury vehicles and owns four cars. Prasad has Rs 54,000 in cash while his wife has Rs 4,000 in cash. Prasad has jewellery worth Rs 2.5 lakh while his wife is the owner of jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi is also fond of jewellery. She has 150 gm of gold and silver worth Rs 70,000. She also owns a pistol and a rifle.
NISKAYUNA  Acting Police Chief Frances Wall is turning to a California company that trains law enforcement officers to help her department prepare for a comprehensive review of its policies with an eye toward the eventual earning state accreditation.

She recognizes how important it is to have policies and procedures in place and Lexipol will aid in that initiative," Niskayuna town Supervisor Yasmine Syed said during a recent conversation about some of the changes Wall has made since becoming leader of the police department in July.

Syed said the decision to join Lexipol, which will cost Niskayuna $8,863 a year, is one of many moves Wall has made. She was appointed acting chief when then-Police Chief Dan McManus was placed on paid leave while the town investigated allegations that he and another police administrator may have violated town policies

At the time, Syed said the alleged improprieties had nothing to do with police brutality. The findings of that probe by the town's outside council have not been made public.

McManus retired in early September.

Lexipol LLC is a California-based company that provides policy manuals, training bulletins, and consulting services to law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and other public safety departments. The Schenectady Police Department also uses Lexipol.

Wall, who did not return calls seeking comment for this story, has also changed the job title of patrolman to police officer.

I think is a great first step to making law enforcement particularly in Niskayuna and our police department more open and inclusive, Syed said.

The department plans to order new uniforms and badges to reflect the name change.

Besides Wall, there are three other women on the now 29-member Niskayuna police force.

In addition to having the four female officers, we have a wide range of ethnic and racial backgrounds too, so were blessed and lucky in that sense, added Syed.

Wall, who has 36 years on the force and is the first woman to lead the department, has also instituted a wellness program. She also plans to ramp up community outreach efforts in a bid to forge a stronger bond with residents.

Syed said that the community is in the process of hammering out possible police reforms to comply with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's executive order that requires cities, towns and villages to reinvent their police departments by addressing use of force by officers, crowd management, implicit bias awareness training, and more. Municipalities face the loss of state aid if reforms are not made.

Niskayuna has formed a task force to examine racial equity and justice. It will carry out a comprehensive review of the towns programs, policies, and services to identify disparities and then devise a plan to address them.

Walls rise to the top post has not been without some controversy.

In 2009, Wall, a police sergeant at the time, sued then-Police Chief Lewis Moskowitz alleging gender bias in federal court. Wall accused Moskowitz of passing her over several times on promotions to lieutenant while less qualified male colleagues were elevated. Ultimately, a federal jury rejected her claims.

Wall graduated from Niskayuna High School in 1979 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the Marine Corps in 1985.
Is it fair or even patriotic to threaten states that do not conform to the Democratic Socialists' mandate to control the outcome of Free and Fair elections enacted by constitutionally guaranteed states' legislatures?

Yes, all elections must be federalized so that the whim of the majority political party can set the standard for all elections.

No, Our Founders purposefully decentralized elections by guaranteeing only states' legislatures the independent right to enact Free and Fair elections.
Shanghai parents welcome first babies on New Year's Day

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-01-01 11:57

Nothing is more exciting than the birth of a newborn on Day One of a new year.

Its a he! At 00:05am on January 1, 2021, a baby boy was born in a delivery room in the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital. Seven minutes later, a baby girl was given birth to.

As of 8:00am, 10 babies had been born in the hospital.

This is the happiest job in the world, said some staff members working in the delivery room and operating room. On December 31, they were on duty as usual, ready to welcome the days newborns. But when the difficult year finally concluded, the wishes and hope for newborns were imbued with a special meaning of hope for a better 2021.

Weighing 3.33kg and measuring 50cm long, the baby girl born at 00:12am was welcomed by her parents Ms Wu and Mr Cai. The couple said their first child is their best New Year present ever.

This baby finally came as we have been married for six years. So we named her a long ago, said Cai.Her childhood name is Tangtang (Sweetie). We hope her life is full of sweetness and everything goes well.








Living in the 21st century means having the opportunity to draw on an ever-expanding array of digital remedies to solve everyday problems. From simple tools like smartphone apps that track daily tasks to software suites that tackle the complex work of building businesses, online platforms have been developed to create an efficient solution to all of life's obstacles. In recent years, we have also witnessed this transformation within the mental healthcare field. Companies like Talkspace have developed online therapy platforms, making access to mental healthcare services more affordable and easier than ever before.

Now, Talkspace will combine that expertise in providing online mental health care with another popular service through the acquisition of Lasting, the leading relationship counseling app. This acquisition marks a milestone for Talkspace in their continuing mission to remove the stigma around mental wellness as they seek to build a platform that ensures quality mental health services are available to all.

Talkspace was founded in 2012 by Oren and Roni Frank who shared the vision of providing "therapy to all." Following their own bout of marital problems, Oren and Roni turned to counseling, which saved their marriage. However, following their sessions, they noticed a gap between demand for counseling and availability; they found that access to mental healthcare, for many Americans, was both unaffordable and unavailable. To bridge this gap, they founded Talkspace. Since its inception, the company has expanded tremendously, and today it offers numerous services to clients, including unlimited messaging services via text, video, and voice messaging, as well as live video sessions, all with a qualified therapist. They also offer therapy for teens, psychiatry services, and couples counseling.

Lasting, which offers a slightly different experience, was founded in late 2017 by Steve Dziedzic; it is an app dedicated to helping users build healthier, happier relationships by working through targeted exercises for just a few minutes each day. Their mission: to help people love better.

Dziedzic's path to founding Lasting began during his time working at The Knot, where he was helping the 80 percent of engaged couples who use the service when they get married. While working there, he was impressed by the capacity that technology has to reach America's couples and help them establish their relationships. Inspired by his previous work and recent revelation, in 2016, Dziedzic started to embark on a scientific plunge into marriage - he became an expert on relationship health and a certified relationship educator. In 2017, he and his wife, Rebecca, partnered with psychotherapist Liz Colizza, a seasoned clinician and the current Head of Couples Therapy at Lasting, to develop Lasting, a simple, accessible, digital product dedicated to empowering couples who want to love each other better.

Lasting helps partners nurture their emotional connection and repair relationship issues. Dziedzic and his team relied on over 125 research studies to create the app, which consists of customized assessments and exercises designed to help couples reconnect. Couples select and follow sessions on the app, which cover topics including communication, conflict, repair, emotional connection, sexual connection, sexual desire, trust, money, family culture, appreciation, and dozens more.

Talkspace's acquisition of Lasting will help them build on their existing couples counseling platform. The current couples' services offered by Talkspace are similar to the tools Talkspace offers individuals. Couples interested in therapy first complete a brief assessment, pick their therapist, and start therapy. It's that simple! Therapists for Talkspace help couples:

Identify specific issues to work on with the support of an unbiased professional

Develop a solutions-oriented approach to rediscover their relationship's strengths

Gain insight into relationship patterns and dysfunctional dynamics

Practice conflict-resolution strategies for improved empathy and problem-solving skills

Learn communication tools to increase vulnerability and restore trust

By building in the more niche specialization that Lasting brings, Talkspace's platform is expanding its tools. Talkspace will now offer couples access to the app, which can be utilized outside their communication with their therapist. The hope is that the additional resources will provide individuals and couples deeper insight into their relationship, providing more growth opportunities.

Mark Hirschhorn, Talkspace President, recently commented on the acquisition: "Lasting, like Talkspace, believes deeply in the idea that technology can be leveraged to help people live healthier, happier lives. Over the years, the Lasting team has used science and data to help couples better understand and connect with one another, leading to better marriages, stronger overall health, and improved quality of life. We're thrilled to welcome Lasting into the Talkspace family, in what will be the first of many additions to the world's leading telebehavioral health platform."

Lasting founder Steven Dziedzic also spoke glowingly of the acquisition: "We are so pleased to be joining Talkspace, a company that has consistently demonstrated the immense capacity of telebehavioral health to better lives, particularly during these challenging times...With this move, we will be able to continue providing our industry-leading service to millions of more couples, with the added support of an innovative leader like Talkspace."

This is another step forward for Talkspace, and according to Talkspace President Mark Hirschhorn, it is the "First of Many" in the company's expanding suite of services. Over the past decade, the company has worked to build partnerships with multiple insurance providers as part of their campaign to make sure every American has access to quality, affordable mental healthcare. They have also established an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to help aid in establishing a more extensive network for Americans. Today, they serve over 2 million people and cover nearly 40 million people nationwide.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
US President Donald Trump has extended the freeze on the most sought-after H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas by three months to protect American workers, saying while therapeutics and COVID-19 vaccines are recently available, their effect on the labour market and community health has not yet been fully realised.

The decision will impact a large number of Indian IT professionals and several American and Indian companies who were issued H-1B visas by the US government for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1.

The freeze on various categories of work visas was ordered by Trump through two proclamations on April 22 and June 22 last year. Hours before the freeze was set to expire on December 31, Trump issued another proclamation on Thursday to extend it until March 30.

He said that the reasons for which he had issued such a restriction has not changed.The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

They would now have to wait at least till the end of March before approaching the US diplomatic missions to get stamping. It would also impact a large number of Indian IT professionals who are seeking renewal of their H-1B visas.

President Trump said that the effects of COVID-19 on the US labour market and the health of American communities is a matter of ongoing national concern, and the considerations present in the two previous proclamations have not been eliminated.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to significantly disrupt Americans' livelihoods. While the November overall unemployment rate in the United States of 6.7 per cent reflects a marked decline from its April high, there were still 9,834,000 fewer seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in November than in February of 2020, Trump said in his proclamation.

The current number of new daily cases worldwide reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), for example, is higher than the comparable number present during June, and while therapeutics and vaccines are recently available for an increasing number of Americans, their effect on the labour market and community health has not yet been fully realised, he said.

Moreover, actions such as States' continued imposition of restrictions on businesses still affect the number of workers that can be hired as compared with February of 2020, Trump said, adding that his latest proclamation may be extended if necessary.

Also Read: UK names Tesco, Pizza Hut as biggest offenders for breaching minimum wage law

Also Read: US imposes tariffs on French, German wines, aircraft parts amid EU dispute
A student of a reputed school in Uttarakhands Rudrapur allegedly took to robbery because his father was unable to deposit the school fees after a salary cut in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, police said Friday.

The revelation came after the police arrested four persons including two students on Thursday in connection with the loot of  5.35-lakh that took place in Rudrapur area in US Nagar district on December 23.

Amit Kumar, circle officer (CO), Rudrapur, said, Four persons have been arrested for robbing an employee of a cash management company, while a fifth suspect is absconding. One of the students revealed during interrogation that he committed the crime to deposit his school fee.

Kumar said, The student revealed that his father works in a factory in Rudrapur. After his fathers salary was reduced by the management due to loss to the factory, he was not in a position to deposit the school fees so he got involved in crime.

The accused looted  5.35-lakh from Sachin Sharma, a resident of Balwant Enclave Colony and an employee of a cash management company at gunpoint, the officer said.

Kumar said Sharma was on his way to the bank to deposit the cash and cheques.
Adapting a major awards ceremony to cater to an all-virtual audience is no simple task, as the National Book Foundation team learned in 2020. It is, however, as attendees of the 2020 National Book Awards found out in November, certainly possible to get it done right.

The first step to making it happen, former National Book Foundation director Lisa Lucas said, was making sure all the materials for the ceremony were acquired digitally. As early as March, Lucas said, the NBF team pivoted to digital submissions for roughly 1,700 books , which were sent via Dropbox and organized and stored in a database. This, Lucas said, happened even before it had entirely sunk in that the ceremony would need to be entirely virtual. The next step was research.

Once we realized that it was really not going to be possible to have an in-person ceremonyrelatively early on, maybe in April, it started to seem like we needed to really start planningwe watched! Lucas said. We watched every single production, whether it was a bookstore doing a chat with an author or it was a huge award show that had pivoted, like the Emmys. We just watched what everybody was doing, with an eye on what works and what actually delivers a good show.

Once the Foundations awards team had a good idea of what, exactly, makes for a good virtual awards show, it brought on outside production and design teams and other partners to make sure the feel of the show was translated effectively from the banquet hall at Cipriani Wall Street to a computer screen. That meant everything from retooling invitations from paper to Instagram and Twitter and e-newsletters, to putting together animated shorts announcing the finalists in each category. Author Jason Reynolds was brought aboard as host for the ceremony proper, and celebrity hosts recorded audio introductions for each category.

Putting together scripted videos for the showan element of the National Book Awards since 2017, but more important than ever in 2020was similar to years past. The big change was lots of Zoom interviews, conducted with everyone from Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, to Stephen Reidy, the widower of late S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy, who was the recipient of this years Literarian Award.

For the live segments, in order to best retain the nature of the showat which authors find out in real time who won the awardsLucas said the foundation landed on a mix of live taping and taped segments. The Translated Fiction category proved the trickiest, as it featured five authors from five countries across three different continents and a handful of time zones (plus their English-language translators); that segment, Lucas said, was recorded live-to-tape two hours before the ceremony. But much of the show, from the addresses by Lucas and NBF board chairman David Steinberger to the awards announcements, was done live.

Preparing for all of that was chiefly managed by the NBFs associate director for awards, Anna Dobben. Before the event, Dobben said, Every author got a one-on-one technical session with me and my stage manager, who was essentially the host of each Zoom call. To ensure quality audio, Dobben shipped microphones to the finalists and the chairs of each categorys judging panel, who presented the awards. Medals and citations were also mailed to the finalists, Dobben said, adding: Its always striking to me how much mailing there is in publishing.

There was also some location scouting involved. Reynolds was set up in a studio in Washington, D.C., to ensure high-quality internet and video, and to provide a striking background and a professional teleprompter. (I dont know if youve ever tried to makeshift a teleprompter, Dobben said. It involves an iPad and then the grace of whatever deity you pray to.) Steinberger was set up in the New York Public Librarys Stephen A. Schwarzman Building for the evening, joined by Dobben, and Lucas Zoomed in from the Los Angeles Central Library; prior visits to those premises ensured solid internet connections and enabled the NBF team to find the best backgrounds and camera angles.

The night of the show, one author from each category met in different green roomsZoom breakout roomsboth to encourage conversation between finalists of different categories and to keep conversations from getting too competitive. Each breakout room was hosted by an NBF staff member or intern and included one screen showing the ceremony live. For that to happen, Dobben said, My producer was in a room surrounded by six laptops, and each of those six laptops was hosting one of those breakout rooms and had a program feed so the authors could watch the National Book Awards while in that green room, so I didnt have to worry about them signing in on time.

The amount of coordination involved, Lucas said, was staggering. While she and her team had to manage roughly the same number of people as they would at Cipriani, normally everyones in New Yorkyou can see people and explain things to them, she said. Imagine coordinating them all by email and never meeting face-to-face, and having everybody have their cameras angled correctly. We had to become television producers!

Then there was the matter of actually getting the recipients their awards. At a live event, thats simply a matter of handing someone an award on stage. This year, Lucas said, in addition to shipping the statues to some winners, others had a more personal touch. I hand-delivered Charles Yus statue to Irvine, Calif., where he lives, and Anna ran up to Harlem to give Tamara Payne her statue. It was wild.

It was also an eye-opening opportunity. We learned that there were elements to the show that we never thought to include, like using Henry Golding and Rosie Perez and Natasha Lyonne and Wyatt Cenac for reading citations, Lucas said, adding that going forward, such elements might be included in live iterations of the event. As difficult as pulling it all off was, We did some cool things that weve never done before, she said, which may change what the live National Book Awards might look like.
A Mercer County freeholder is under investigation by the state Attorney Generals office on accusations he delivered a general election ballot for a man who died in late October, a law enforcement source told NJ Advance Media.

The freeholder, Samuel T. Frisby, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

All registered voters in New Jersey were sent a mail-in ballot for this years general election, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Voters had the option of having a person deliver the ballot for them, called a bearer.

Frisby is under investigation for allegedly delivering the ballot of Luis Mollinedo, a friend, the source said. Mollinedo died on Oct. 25, 2020, and Frisby allegedly delivered the ballot to the Mercer County Board of Elections on Oct. 30, 2020, knowing he died.

Luis Mollinedos wife, Aubrey Mollinedo, is an investigator at the election board.

The issue was uncovered by the county Board of Elections, and forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office, which sent it to the state Attorney Generals Office since it was an allegation of an elected county official, according to the source.

Mercer County Prosecutors spokesperson Casey DeBlasio said the office neither confirms nor denies investigations. The state AGs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but also typically does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations.

A request for comment from the Mercer Board of Elections officials was not immediately returned.

Frisby, a Democrat and former Trenton city official, has been a freeholder since 2011. (The term freeholder will disappear on Jan. 1, 2021, replaced by county commissioner.)

Ileana Schirmer, a top Mercer County Republican and chair of the Hamilton Republican party, said the Frisby allegations were brought to her attention as well.

She shared some of the information sent to her, including social media posts that Aubrey Mollinedo made about her husband voting before passing away, and Frisby delivering their ballots, Schirmer said. She also has, and sent to NJ Advance Media, copies of logs that appear to show Frisby signing that he delivered Luis Mollinedos ballot.

Aubrey Mollinado was Frisbys aide at the freeholder board until she moved to the Board of Elections in August of 2018, and the two are neighbors, according to Schirmer.

Schirmer said Aubrey Mollinado, as an election investigator, should know better than to give her dead husbands ballot to a county freeholder.

The GOP leader said she spoke to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri about the matter, and he confirmed it had been moved to the state AGs office.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.
Of the two Democrats running for both Georgias seats in the US Senate  the seats that will decide how much Joe Biden can actually achieve in his first two years as president  Raphael Warnock is drawing the most sustained Republican fire.

A longtime minister, Mr Warnock serves as senior pastor at Atlantas Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. was once a co-pastor with his father. Mr Warnock also attended Kings alma mater Morehouse College, before studying for a Masters of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary.

Mr Warnock is a father of two children he shares with his ex-wife Ouleye Ndoye, to whom he was married from 2016-2020. The pairs acrimonious separation included an accusation from Ms Ndoye that Mr Warnock had run over her foot with a car during a heated argument. Mr Warnock has denied this claim, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the incident "didnt happen. Their divorce was finalised ahead of the November election.

Having polled top of a wide field in the 3 November polls, Mr Warnock is now facing down Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler in the 5 January runoff for her seat, to which she was appointed at the start of 2020.

Ms Loeffler, the wealthiest member of the US Senate, has yanked her campaign sharply to the right in the last few months, appearing alongside hardcore right-wing candidates and running a widely ridiculed ad claiming to be more conservative than Atilla the Hun.

And as she fights to strengthen her somewhat thin reputation as a hardline Trumpist, her attacks on Mr Warnock have focused on his supposed radicalism, drawing in particular on his archive of sermons and writings.

Read more: When will we know Georgia Senate runoff election results?

Among the clips the Loeffler campaign have unearthed are a moment in which Mr Warnock accuses law enforcement of holding a kind of gangster and thug mentality  in context, he was in fact describing the mindset of an officer in Ferguson, Missouri who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014.

This, and other decontextualised quotes like it, fit the law-and-order theme deployed by Donald Trump since the anti-police protests of this summer, which periodically escalated into rioting. But Ms Loefflers inexperience as a retail politician may be hampering her ability to use the line to its full potential.

At her one head-to-head debate with Mr Warnock, Ms Loeffler  appointed to the seat in January  limited herself to a handful of attack lines, which she repeated over and over. She referred to him as radical liberal Raphael Warnock no fewer than 14 times, drawing mockery even from Fox News for her robotic performance.

Nonetheless, the radical line is at the centre of her attacks on Mr Warnock, and the TV ads deploying it are not subtle. One Loeffler spot, Saving the Senate, begins with a pan across a room of mostly white schoolchildren reciting the pledge of allegiance. This is America, intones an ominous voice. But will it still be if the radical left controls the Senate?

Read more: Follow live updates on the Georgia Senate runoff election

Cut to Mr Warnocks image imposed over images of street violence, accompanied by churning music and the assortment of out-of-context quotes, while the voiceover accuses the candidate of calling police officers thugs and gangsters and praising Marxism.

Threatening again that Mr Warnock represents the radical left, the video zooms in on his face and drives its message home: Saving the Senate is about saving America from that.

Mr Warnocks campaign had prepared audiences for this approach.

An ad that lit up the internet just after the 3 November election mocked the anticipated wave of Republican attacks. Raphael Warnock eats pizza with a fork and knife! declares a voiceover. Raphael Warnock once stepped on a crack in the sidewalk! Raphael Warnock even hates puppies!

And then the candidate smiles into the camera. Get ready, Georgia! The negative ads are coming. Pointing out that Ms Loeffler would sooner attack him than defend her own record, he winds up defending himself: And by the way, I love puppies.

The dog returned in a sequel released after the bombardment of right-wing ads commenced. In this one, a cheery Mr Warnock goes further.

I think Georgians will see her ads for what they are, he said  dropping a bag of dog waste in a bin.

These upbeat efforts to shrug off a barrage of caustic, highly personal attacks have won Mr Warnock hundreds of thousands of likes on social media, and the warm, smiling pose they strike makes a stark contrast with the grim tone of the Republican campaign. He has also utilised his church and fraternity  he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha  to propel his campaign.

But Mr Warnocks case against Ms Loeffler and the Republican Party goes beyond a back-and-forth about negative TV ads. In an interview with the website The Grio, Mr Warnock gave a rather more blunt read of whats going on.

Im not going to be distracted by the politics of fear and division, he said. We know what theyre doing. These are all ways of saying that Hes something other than you.

And its really unfortunate that people are still trafficking in this kind of politics.

The claims he preached left-wing extremism to his mostly black congregation, the juxtaposition of his face over footage of riots and looting, the misleading description of him as an anti-police zealot: the portrait Ms Loefflers campaign is painting strings together various tropes from racist campaigns of old.

And as has happened in many other elections, the black candidate being targeted has responded by rising above the fray and presenting himself as unthreatening to the point of gentleness. Hence, the dog.

As political scientist Michael Tesler explained in an extended analysis, the inclusion of a dog in his ads has helped Mr Warnock deracialise himself  not only because dog ownership is less common among Black Americans, but because his pet beagle tallies with the sort of dog Americans expect a white person to own.

As Joe Biden found in November, Georgias demographics have shifted in the Democrats favour. Most of the states white voters remain Republican-leaning, but its overall population has become younger and more diverse. Massive efforts to register more Black voters, in particular young ones, have paid dividends.

Nonetheless, it will be hard for Mr Warnock to win without piecing together a coalition that includes a good tranche of Georgias white people.

And while Mr Biden was able to peel away many 2016 Trump voters in suburbs across the US, his victory in Georgia was ultra-narrow. Mr Warnock needs to mobilise every voter he can without driving turnout among hardcore Trump supporters  and as has held true in many an American election for decades, that must include crafting a winning political persona that attracts both Black and white voters.
The Tunisian authorities have detained two Egyptian fishing boats for illegal fishing into the Tunisian territorial waters, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry did not give information about the number of fishermen onboard.

The ministry, in coordination with the Egyptian embassy in Tunisia is following up on the developments related to the conditions of the detained fishermen, said Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs, Ambassador Amr Mahmoud Abbas.

He added that the ministry is communicating with the embassy also to ensure the safety of the fishermen, watch updates of the investigations on the incident and coordinate with the Tunisian authorities to bring the fishermen back to Egypt.

Abbas called on the Egyptian fishermen to respect the sovereignty of other countries by avoiding entering their territorial waters. He urged them to refrain from such practices also to protect their lives and avoid being held accountable under the laws of these countries.

Abbas added that these countries always care for the Egyptian expats residing there and take the good relations with Egypt into consideration.

The incident comes nearly a week after Tunisian authorities arrested 17 fishermen over similar practices.

Egyptian fishermen were arrested in the territorial waters of neighbouring countries like Sudan, Libya and Tunisia in the past years.

Cairo has repeatedly intervened in these cases to ensure the release of the fishermen and has warned against trespassing in foreign waters.

Short link:


(Natural News) Polands justice minister has announced the creation of a new bill that would protect freedom of speech from social media censorship.

(Article by Dorothy Cummings Mclea republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

Zbigniew Ziobro said on Thursday that the proposed new measure would permit social media users to file a complaint against social media companies if their comments do not violate Polish laws but are nevertheless erased by a companys moderators or if the social media company blocks them.

According to Polish online magazine Poland In, the justice minister wants to reassure Poles that their free speech rights will be protected.

Often the victims of tendencies for ideological censorship are also representatives of various groups operating in Poland, whose content is removed or blocked, just because they express views and refer to values that are unacceptable from the point of view of communities with an ever-stronger influence on the functioning of social media, Ziobro said.

According to Polish online media portal ONET, the justice minister said there were many examples which show the absurdity of decisions of different private authorities, international corporations, who censor comments either of politicians or of private users.

Ziobro acknowledged that it was not an easy subject, and that the internet should also have a sphere of guarantees for anyone who feels slandered and a sphere of limitation against content that works against the sphere of freedom of others.

But we would like to propose such tools that will enable both one side and the other to call for the decision of a body that will be able to adjudicate whether content appearing on such and such a social media account really violates personal rights, whether it can be eliminated, or whether there is censorship, he continued.

If this proposed tribunal were to find in favor of the censored social media user against the social media company, the latter could be fined up to 8 million Polish z?oty (approximately $2.163 million US).

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
Last night Minneapolis police officers exchanged gunfire with a suspect whom they had stopped in his vehicle, and the suspect, now identified as Dolal Idd, was killed. The incident immediately became national news. The New York Times was at first hopeful:

A Minneapolis police officer shot and killed a man during a traffic stop on Wednesday evening, the first killing by a member of the department since George Floyds death in May, a police spokesman said.https://t.co/WvyfxHo77T  The New York Times (@nytimes) December 31, 2020



Although, if you actually follow the link, the first thing you see in the Times story is that [t]he chief said witnesses indicated that the man had fired first.

It wasnt a traffic stop, either, contrary to the Times report. It has subsequently been reported that the stop was incident to a firearms investigation.

In any event, a crowd of demonstrators appeared at the scene. They blocked traffic for several blocks and started a bonfire in the middle of the street to keep warm. Authorities pleaded with them not to riot or commit arson. Eventually the crowd dissipated, but that was probably due to the temperature dipping down to an overnight low below ten degrees rather than to the fact that the decedent, a criminal, opened fire on the officers. Rioting is more fun in May and June.

A little while ago, the Minneapolis Police Department released body cam footage of the incident. Here it is:

This was no traffic stop. Multiple police vehicles converged on the suspects car. He first tried to drive away and then, blocked, started shooting at the officers. They returned fire.

Why did he do that? I dont know. Likely drugs were a factor. But the decedent, Dolal Idd, had a long history as a criminal. The Star Tribune has some of it:

In 2019, Idd was convicted of illegally possessing and firing a gun in Hennepin County. The charges say, in July 2018, Idd fired a gun in the basement shower of his parents home around 1 a.m. with two children sleeping nearby. Idds mother told Eden Prairie police that her son was not permitted in the house because he scares the children. Police arrested him later in Bloomington with a 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen in North Dakota, according to charges.

Idd, for whatever reasonperhaps because he knew he was guilty of crimes that would lead to a long prison sentence, or maybe he was just highdecided it was better to try to kill the police officers than to surrender. That decision usually proves suicidal, as it was here.

This is an example of police-perpetrator interaction that is of no use to the Left, and therefore will not be heard of again, in leftist journals like the New York Times and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. But the Star Tribune couldnt resist wrapping up its story by returning briefly to the left-wing narrative:

Without any knowledge of who had been killed, [Harold] Moses said that Wednesday night he immediately assumed the victim was Black. After George Floyd was killed he stopped allowing his 15-year-old son, who is part Filipino, from jogging in the neighborhood because of concerns about safety risks imposed by the public and police. He also has a 12-year-old daughter. Nothing seems to change  policing and peoples attitudes, he said.

That conclusion is ambiguous at best. Policing hasnt changed, in the sense that if you shoot at a police officer, he or she is likely to shoot back. The Strib obviously doesnt like that fact. But how about peoples attitudes? Does Moses mean the irrational attitude that causes demonstrators to riot, loot and commit arson, or to protest and start bonfires in support of a criminal who tried to murder police officers? Neither he nor the Strib is saying.

UPDATE: More information is coming out about Idds criminal history. These are the 2014 assaults of which he was convicted: [Update: A commenter says that there are two brothers, Dolal Bayle Idd, who was shot, and Dalal Bayle Idd, who committed the assaults and robberies described below. Having looked at the records again, I think this is correct.]

According to the charges, officers received a 911 call around 5:50 p.m. Sunday at the Life Time Fitness on 6233 Baker Road. Upon arrival, they met with the victim who was barely conscious and bleeding from injuries to his face. He had multiple lacerations and his eyes were swollen shut. He was unable to speak to officers and was transported to the hospital. He suffered a nasal fracture, among other injuries. The charges state Idd and Maqadin entered the locker room and approached the victim. Idd then repeatedly punched the man before taking his wallet and fleeing, according to the complaint. A witness was able to get the license plate off their vehicle, as the two men drove away. Police watched surveillance video from the gym and recognized Idd, from prior contacts. During the officers investigation, a second assault was reported a few blocks away. Witnesses to the second assault gave a description of the suspect that was similar to Idd. He has also been charged with burglary and assault in that case. Both suspects were located at a nearby apartment building and placed under arrest. Police say Idd was bleeding on his knuckle and there appeared to be blood on his pants. The Life Time Fitness victims wallet was also found in Idds pants pocket, according to the charges. Idd admitted to police that he went into the locker room with the intent of robbing someone and punched the victim five or six times in the face.

Idd appealed his sentences to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, unsuccessfully. The Court of Appeals opinion has more information about the second burglary and assault:

After fleeing the fitness center, Idd entered a nearby home through the garage and punched and kicked the homeowner. The homeowners wife and children were in the home at the time of the assault. Idd left the home after the homeowners wife screamed, but entered the home a second time and continued to assault the homeowner. As a result of the assault, the homeowner suffered numerous injuries, including multiple facial fractures.  The next day, while being detained at the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center following his arrest for these offenses, Idd repeatedly punched a guard in the face.

Idds case is an instance of what Paul has referred to as our under-incarceration problem. According to the Department of Corrections web site, Idd was scheduled for release on January 31, 2023. We know from the firearms case mentioned the Star Tribune report that he was out of prison and again committing crimes by mid-2018. I have seen no explanation of why he was released early, but by rights he should have been in prison. Had he been incarcerated, this incident never would have happened. [Update: I now think that this was the brother with almost the same name, who presumably is still in prison.]

FURTHER UPDATE: Here are the details on Dolal Bayle Idds 2018 firearms arrest.
Children and youth are the most precious wealth just as much as the most productive resource of a country. They are the most creative, and the most forward looking section of any community.

by Rohana R. Wasala

According to a news item carried in The Island/December 28, 2020, Russian Ambassador in Colombo Yuri Materiy forewarned Sri Lankas Minister of Public Security Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera that extremist Islamic terrorist organizations may channel funds to their Lankan counterparts on the pretext of extending COVID-19 aid. In response the Minister said that after the war a new strategy had been formulated by the then Sri Lankan government to increase the intelligence battalions from 3-7 and deported nearly 160 madrasa scholar leaders who under the guise of religious studies were spreading hate and extremist propaganda. He also told the Russian diplomat that the previous yahapalanaya dismantled that intelligence network, and that the present government is engaged in remedying the situation.

The popular Qatar newspaper Gulf Times, quoting Reuters/Islamabad, reported April 30, 2019 that Pakistan was planning to take over a network of over 30,000 madrasas as part of a drive to mainstream the Islamic schools by bringing them under state control. This information was provided by a Pakistani military spokesman. The madrasas mentioned were often accused of radicalising Pakistani youngsters. Groups of madrasa-educated young men were held responsible for terrorist attacks in India and Afghanistan.

There was global pressure on Pakistan to control this trend. But it was a complicated issue as, according to the news report, these madrasas are the only schools available for millions of poor children to obtain any education at all in the deeply conservative Muslim country. Anyway, the new government under Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to introduce reforms to madrasa education; PM Khan vowed not to tolerate extremist groups operating in his country.

The madrasa education system in Pakistan was criticised for reasons including the following: children spend most of their time memorising the Quran; it is ill equipped for the modern world; some madrasas have become nurseries for breeding militant outfits. This seems to be why, as General Asif Ghafoor said, the government had decided to mainstream the madrasa system (i.e., incorporate it into the regular state controlled school system, which is what some politicians have suggested in relation to the same problem in Sri Lanka - RRW). An Islamic education will be provided, but there will be no hate speech, Gen. Ghafoor added. Religious schools would be brought under the ministry of education and other subjects would be incorporated into their syllabuses. The benefit will be that when children grow and leave these institutions, they will have the same career opportunities that those coming from a private school have, Ghafoor said. We want to end violent extremism in Pakistan and that will only happen when our children have the same education and opportunities. So much for the Gulf Times news report about the issue of madrasa education in the Muslim majority Pakistan.

But while thus tackling the domestic issue of controversial Islamist madrasas, PM Imran Khan, had trilateral talks at UN New York with his counterparts in Turkey and Malaysia in September 2019 to jointly launch an anti-Islamophobia TV to counter misperceptions of Islam, according to the Voice of America (VOA). No doubt, these and other possibly well meaning leaders of Islamic nations have a daunting task defending their religion to the rest of the world amidst growing global concerns generated by Islamist extremism.

Incidentally, the Arabic word madrasa means any type of school, an institution of educational instruction, secular or religious. However, in Sri Lanka where the Muslims are a minority of about 9.7% of the population, the term is understood in the exclusive sense of a school for Islamic religious instruction. In the present context in Sri Lanka, the word madrasa carries connotations of religious extremism, intolerance and violence towards the vast majority of multireligious Sri Lankans including mainstream Muslims who do not subscribe to Islamic fundamentalism. It must be stressed that this negative perception is not due to any intrinsic fault of the mainstream Muslims or of the rest of the non-Muslim Sri Lankans; it is because of the relatively recent emergence (say, during the past 50 years) of unmistakeable signs of Islamic fundamentalist activity in the country.

Pakistan has always stood by Sri Lanka as a steadfast friend in critical situations. Her experience with Islamist madrasas and the unconservative leadership of prime minister Khan provide great inspiration for Sri Lankan leaders in dealing with Sri Lankas own Islamist extremism, which has grown with the connivance, and probably the cooperation of opportunistic politicians. However, the Pakistan governments policy of dealing with madrasas cannot be duplicated in Sri Lanka because there are important differences between the two mutually friendly countries that far outnumber any similarities we might think of, in terms of geography, history, total population, demographic composition, literacy rate, religio-cultural diversity, mode of governance, and the rest. With its roughly 212 million (2018 estimate) population living on its nearly 882,000 square kilometre area, and its population density of 244.4/km2, Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world and has globally the second largest Muslim population (which is 96.28% of the countrys total).

These statistics dwarf Sri Lanka in comparison: its population is only about 21.8 million (2019 estimate) with a population density of 327/km2. Very nearly 75% of the population are ethnically Sinhalese and over 70% of the population profess Buddhism (which is not actually a religion in the sense that Christianity and Islam are religions, though most ordinary Buddhists are harmlessly or innocently ignorant of the fact). In terms of access to education, children of Sri Lanka - irrespective of ethnicity, and the economic and social background of parents - have enjoyed free education provided by the state from kindergarten to university since 1944 (that is, since four years before independence). The government school system largely consists of secular unsegregated (10,000+) schools, in addition to many institutions of tertiary education including sixteen public universities. These are common to students from all racial and religious backgrounds. The pre-university school curriculum includes religious instruction according to the students specific religious identity: Buddhist students study Buddhism, Christian students Christianity, Hindu students Hinduism, and Muslim students Islam. It is likely that, at present, school children are taught, in the barest outline, the very basic doctrinal elements of other belief systems than their own.

Over the past four decades, in addition to the government school system, there has also been an expanding network of fee levying English medium international schools teaching UK and US syllabuses. No formal teaching of religion features in them, as far as I know. Local students who enroll in these schools usually belong to the monied class. They gain access to the generally much coveted English medium education provided by international schools. A larger proportion of students attending these schools are naturally children of parents who work in business and the professions (doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, etc.) Now, historically, Muslims started coming to Sri Lanka as traders at least eight hundred years ago, mainly looking for spices and later some of them settled in Sri Lanka, having got married to local Sinhalese women. Even today the Muslim community is strongly associated with commerce, and is considered economically better off than others, though the lot of ordinary Muslim citizens is the same as that of their counterparts in the other communities, who together form the common masses. (Ironically, the two brothers Imsath Ibrahim and Ilham Ibrahim who blew themselves up on Easter Sunday in 2019, respectively, at Shangrila and Cinnamon Grand hotels in Colombo, are sons of the fabulously rich spice merchant Mohamed Yusuf Ibrahim; the two young men in their early 30s were well educated, and were themselves well established in their own businesses, but deeply and dangerously radicalized by the Jihadist ideology. They had undergone the sort of ideological brainwashing that the mushrooming Islamist madrasas are accused of providing.)

There are also schools that are supposed to usually cater to children from specific religious backgrounds, namely, Buddhist, Catholic/Christian, Hindu, and Muslim. Buddhist schools, being inclusive, usually accommodate children from minority religious backgrounds as well; so do Christian schools; in some of the latter the majority of the students are Buddhists as they are in the majority. Hardly noticed divisions based on religion and language are not subjects that excite little enthusiasm among ordinary Sri Lankans but for the predatory interest that politicians take in them. Just to mention the number of Muslim schools for the purpose of this esay, there are 749 Muslim schools and 205 madrasas, with an Islamic University (the Jamiya Nalimeey at Beruwala). All this is to show that there is no need for Islamist (not Islamic) madrasas for the education of the children of the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka.

Although Sri Lankas Constitution confers the foremost place to Buddhism considering certain important historical reasons and existing ground realities that cannot be overlooked without violating the human rights of the majority community, it is by no means the official or state religion of the country (unlike Islam in Pakistan). The uniqueness of Buddhism as a practical, profoundly ethical but a-religious spiritual teaching is today taken for granted, especially among intellectuals. However, in mundane practice, it assumes the normal attributes of an ordinary religion, with a religions inherent worship element (= the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity); deity element is replaced by the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha), a kind of an impersonal Buddhist Sacred Trinity. Buddhism therefore is highly compatible with principles of modern secular democracy, which is arguably the best form of government so far evolved, provided it is followed true to its letter and spirit. Islamic fundamentalists do not believe in such things as man-made democracy (and the human rights it defines) as opposed to what is divinely decreed in their sacred book.

For Pakistan, as it appears, its madrasas can only be a problem because of their negative impact on that countrys relations with non-Muslim majority countries. Within the country itself, it can create problems for the religiously diverse 3.72% minority, which it is the duty of the government to manage, because religious freedom is constitutionally recognized in that country. However, the religiosity of the Muslim majority and the ignorance of some minority members regarding, for example, the blasphemy law that is adopted in the sharia-based Pakistan can bring trouble to the latter, as in the notorious case (BBC) of Asia Bibi, pauperised Christian mother of two daughters, who was condemned to death by hanging on blasphemy charges in 2010, but was lucky enough to be acquitted for lack of evidence, and managed to migrate to Canada with her family in 2019 after nearly ten years in prison in solitary confinement. She was held in solitary confinement allegedly to protect her from other inmates, which was sensible given that it was her bigoted Muslim neighbours who for days on end cried for her blood for committing the crime of blasphemy (by insulting the founder of their religion) and terrorised her family until she was arrested. Two politicians who were prominent among those who actively sympathised with the woman were assassinated before the Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted her in October 2018 on the basis of insufficient evidence; about six months later she was helped to migrate to Canada. The relevance of this story to the madrasa issue goes without saying. A book dealing with her ordeal titled Free at Last jointly authored by Asia Bibi and Anne-Isabelle Tollet was published just three months ago in September 2020 by Amazon.)

With the rapid emergence of increasingly sophisticated digital communications systems and the exponential growth of internet telecommunication based social media platforms, people across the globe, predominantly the young, are gaining access to all forms of knowledge including that about traditional religions, most of which have so far been regarded as infallible divine revelations beyond the human capacity to question. Free exchange of views both in support of religious beliefs and against them is the norm. Instead of blasphemy laws, which could differ from religion to religion, there are common social media guidelines that guarantee rational civilized healthy construction of various types of human knowledge and cultural expression. This is a challenge to fundamentalists of all descriptions.

Now the criticisms that the Pakistani authorities recognised concerning the madrasa education system under fire in that country are the same as or very similar to those raised by the Buddhist monk activists against the Islamist madrasas: children studying in them are subjected to a very narrowly religion based type of instruction, that is not equipped for the modern world; the children learning in them are not allowed to interact with non-Muslim children; their mode of dress is different; girls go about completely covered from head to foot in black, which is very inconvenient in hot weather that is normal in the country; their appearance in public causes fear and suspicion in others; the young madrarasa boys and girls cannot indulge in any recreational activities including listening to songs and music, or watching films. Incidentally, Abdul Razik, secretary of Ceylon Thawheed Jamaath (CTJ), told the presidential commission on Easter Sunday attacks that music and dancing and even listening to a song on the radio is contrary to the Islamic teaching. He had previously formed the Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamaath (SLTJ) organization with Zaharan Hashim who led the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks. Razik left SLTJ to form the CTJ. (The monks point out that extremist Islamist groups only pretend to break up into splinter groups as a strategy to deflect the attention of the authorities away from their central objective to which they are collectively committed and severally contribute in secret.) Abdul Raziks rejection of music and dancing as contrary to Islam is in conformity with his extremist religious ideology.

Ironically, it is already more than six years since American Muslim hip-hop artist Hisham D. Aidi started exploring the significance of music for transnational Muslim consciousness, asking his own question: What happens when American musical traditions, infused with the unique history of American Islam as a voice of resistance, find new audiences in Muslim-majority societies? The answer to this question is emerging now in some majority Muslim countries like Turkey and Indonesia where young people who are getting fed up with the restrictions imposed on them by their conservative rulers. According to Guney Akgul, a lawyer-turned-Lindy Hop teacher, Istanbul is a chaotic city [of 15 million people] and there aren't a lot of places to relax, but in Lindy Hop, you can express yourself at the fullest level. In Indonesia, recently, a Sinhala music video titled Adambarai produced by local pop musician Iraj Weeraratne went viral after being played in a pub there, and it received more than 5 million hits within a short time and dozens of young Indonesians teenagers of both sexes have turned out Tik Tok videos featuring themselves singing and dancing in various indoor and outdoor settings. With a population of over 267 million, and nearly 87% of it Muslim, Indonesia is the most populous Islamic country in the world, but Islamism is not popular in that country.

Children and youth are the most precious wealth just as much as the most productive resource of a country. They are the most creative, and the most forward looking section of any community. The hip hop or rap music craze that is sweeping across some Islamic countries is both a non-violent protest against the oppressive religious conservatism of their parents and a celebration of a life that is getting increasingly free from it. This is comparable to something that happened in our country recently. There was a spontaneous resurgence of youth creativity in two departments in Sri Lanka inspired by new hope in the wake of the election of a non-politician as president in November 2019: a wave of wall painting by volunteering young amateur artists whose central themes included celebrating the victorious assertion of national identity and unity just shown, environmental preservation, memorable moments of history, industrial development, etc.; almost paralleling this, a self-motivated cooperative movement emerged, initiated by a young man (Nalaka Senadheera of Dedigama near Kegalle, himself a dramatist, poet and writer) that started recultivating rice paddy lands lying abandoned and fallow in various parts of rural Sri Lanka; it caught the enthusiastic attention of young Sri Lankans at home as well as abroad. It is doubtful whether our jaded old politicians took sufficient notice of these manifestations of youthful patriotism.

Five or six weeks ago, media reported that Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris indicated in parliament that the madrasas would be brought under the countrys normal education system, and that he had a responsibility to bring it under his ministrys supervision. He probably didnt understand that he was biting more than he could chew. This sort of cloud cuckooland palliative response to the issue of Islamist madrasas is simply astonishing (but again, not surprising given his past record) from a senior politician in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings that caused such mayhem, for which all politicians who made it to parliament in recent times (including before 2009) up to the end of Yahapalanaya bear some responsibility. There is no doubt that madrasa type of education was responsible for the indoctrination of those young Jihadist suicide bombers. A few days later, minister Wimal Weerawansa, in an obvious allusion to his cabinet colleagues ill conceived suggestion regarding the madrasa issue, expressed the opposite view that the Islamist schools should be banned within Sri Lanka, for they are a hotbed of dangerous religious monomania and terrorism, enough evidence for which has been revealed at the commissions of inquiry appointed by the government. Wimal Weerawansas proposal is sure to go down well with the majority of ordinary mainstream Muslims who are themselves victims of Islamist extremism and who are not represented by the old time-servers that they have for politicians.
Deputy Communications Director of the ruling NPP, Mame Yaa Aboagye has implored the supporters of the party not to despair as the opposition NDC goes to court.



According to her, the NDC is heading for the embarrassment of their lives stressing they do not have full pink sheets to buttress their case at the Supreme Court.



Mame Yaa insisted that President Akufo-Addo won the 2020 elections with an overwhelming vote margin from the electorates.



"Desperate NDC is trying so hard to psych the mind of their supporters that they have a stronger case as they go to court. They want them to believe that the 2020 election was declared in favor of President Akufo-Addo only to take away the shame of deceiving them of winning the election.



But trust me they are heading for the biggest embarrassment of their lives. Even though they have every right to go to court to seek redress but trust me they have no case in either Parliamentary or Presidential election results," she said.



"We are on the winning side because Ghanaian electorate voted massively for President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, hence we should not be in despair, she asserted.

Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Dec. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities in the United States start receiving their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, Creche Innovations, along with a Covid-19 vaccine focus group comprised of physicians, nurses and pharmacists from across the country, have developed the Pandemic Mobile Command Center (PMCC) with built-in MicroCool Refrigeration to ensure the vaccine cold chain is properly maintained. The PMCC will assist retail Pharmacies, Hospitals and Satellite/Temporary/Off-Site Locations with starting and maintaining drive-thru vaccination clinics that follow the CDC's best practices which are essential for patient safety and vaccine effectiveness.

The Pandemic Mobile Command Center will assist retail Pharmacies & Hospitals with drive thru vaccine clinics in 2021. Tweet this The Pandemic Mobile Command Center in use at a drive thru vaccination clinic.

CDC guidelines state "do not store any vaccine in a dormitory-style or bar-style refrigerator under any circumstances as they pose a significant risk of freezing vaccines, even when used for temporary storage." This requirement by the CDC makes our MicroCool Refrigerator ideal for the strict requirements associated with storing pharmaceuticals such as the new Covid-19 vaccinations. The MicroCool also integrates with any Digital Data Logger (DDL) an entity may choose to use. The PMCC is fully customized by each entity to meet their vaccine drive thru needs," said Scott Norman, CEO of Creche Innovations. Pharmacies or Hospitals can add additional accessories to the PMCC addressing their specific needs, such as adding built-in tablet charging stations, vaccine record card holder, waste container, various storage drawer sizes for the organization and immediate access to the following required Covid-19 supplies: needles of various sizes (dependent on population served), syringes, alcohol prep pads, PPE's for vaccinators, Covid-19 vaccination record cards, vaccine needle and length guide, diluent and mixing supplies (based on vaccine product) and much more.

The PMCC ensures that all Covid-19 vaccination providers, participating in the U.S. Covid-19 Vaccination Program are able to:

Maintain cold chain conditions and chain of custody at all times, with one or more locking mechanisms, in accordance with the EUA/vaccine packet insert and CDC guidelines

Monitor the MicroCool  Refrigerator temperature at all times using a DDL of their choosing

Refrigerator temperature at all times using a DDL of their choosing Ensure proper vaccine and supply inventory prior to the start of each vaccination clinic day

Have immediate access to all required Covid-19 Ancillary Supplies

Per the CDC, every year vaccine storage and handling errors result in revaccination and significant financial losses to the healthcare community due to wasted vaccines. Failure to store and handle vaccines properly causes our population to lose confidence in vaccines and their providers (due to a revaccination) because the vaccines they received may have been compromised. The PMCC allows providers to properly store and handle vaccines with the built-in MicroCool Refrigerator. The all-terrain casters allow for use of the PMCC outdoors on asphalt/concrete, grass/turf type surfaces or inside a facility. The PMCC allows for every entity to address their needs while adhering to the CDC's Best Practices for a Vaccination Clinic.

Creche Innovations has commenced production in Q4 2020 and plans to launch in the United States and Canada beginning in January 2021.

About Creche Innovations

A trusted partner to hospitals with over a decade of service, and true medical device innovator, by establishing new and improved standards of care. Creche Innovations continues the quest for absolute best care for patients, and consistently achieves optimal patient outcomes with breakthrough technologies. They also lead the way with unrivaled quality and customer service, assuring clinicians and patients peace of mind.

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Wed made the necessary psychological pivot.

The online grocery order was lodged, as was the bottle shop order. A family member would drop off jigsaw puzzles to our doorstep. We'd started devising creative ways to keep our 16-month-old son occupied in our apartment. In short, we were resigned to a 14-day home quarantine.

A day earlier, like thousands of other Victorians visiting family in NSW, wed raced back to our home state after the Andrews government announced it was shutting the border to halt the spread of coronavirus from our northern neighbours.

The conditions of our return were spelt out on the travel permits we applied for as we trundled down the Hume on New Years Eve with a restless toddler in the back seat.

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I will be tested for coronavirus within 24 hours of arriving in Victoria, it read.

I will self-quarantine at home or another suitable location for 14 days.

But the next morning, a nurse at The Alfred hospitals COVID-19 screening clinic provided different advice. Consulting a sheet of paper, the nurse said that as wed arrived from Wollongong on December 31, we would be free to leave quarantine after receiving a negative test result.

We questioned this, pulling up a press release from the Department of Health and Human Services that clearly stated we needed to quarantine at home for two weeks because Wollongong was no longer within the green zone.

Better check with the DHHS, came her reply.

After receiving our negative test results later on New Years Day, we called the DHHS to clarify. When we got through, an official gave us the unexpected news  we were now free to leave our apartment.

Vehicles queue to cross the NSW-Victorian border at Albury on Friday. Credit:Jason Robins

But, confused by the inconsistency between this new information and our permits, we questioned the advice. The official conferred with a colleague and confirmed that, yes, we could leave.

Another DHHS official, apparently unaware of the previous conversation, phoned us shortly afterwards to check the details of our travel. Again, his advice was clear: as wed received a negative test result, we were free from quarantine.

Out of an abundance of caution, we read him the conditions on our travel permit and asked one more time for confirmation. The official put us on hold while he spoke to his supervisor. Finally, he conceded he had initially provided the wrong advice. We would have to spend 14 days in home quarantine.

The experience has made me empathise with people who try to do the right thing but are provided with incorrect and confusing advice from health officials.

Read the full opinion piece here.
A stunning beachside apartment owned by the inventors of legendary Tim Tam chocolates is on the market for the first time in almost three decades.

The luxury Noosa unit in Hastings Park, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, is owned by Michael Arnott, the great-great-grandson of Arnott's Biscuits founder William Arnott.

With a market value of at least $8.2million, the apartment boasts a world class view of Noosa Main Beach and also looks north to Double Island Point.

The property last sold in 1993 for less than $1million, according to the Courier Mail.

The luxury apartment in Noosa, (pictured above) on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, has an asking price of $8.2million

The split level apartment (pictured above) has three bedrooms and three bathrooms as well as world class ocean views

The living rooms (pictured above) offers breathtaking views of Noosa Main Beach and out to the Coral Sea

Tom Offermann and Luke Chen, representing Tom Offermann Real Estate, have listed the property for sale, with the pair reportedly 'flooded' with emails and phone calls as soon as the apartment went live on the website a few days ago.

The current holiday rental rate for the property is just over $550 a night.

The split level complex has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, with the master upstairs retreat having its own balcony.

Downstairs is equally impressive, with an outdoor terrace as well as breathtaking views over the nearby Coral Sea.

Founded in 1865, Arnott's Biscuits are Australia's largest producer of biscuits and the second-largest supplier of snack food.

Some of their more popular products which fly off the supermarket shelves include Tim Tams, Mint Slices, the Choc Monte, SAO cracker biscuits and Milk Arrowroots.

The balcony views (pictured above) come with an overnight rate of just over $550 a night

The Arnott family (pictured above) have elected to put their luxury retreat on the market
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
VERONA TWP, MI  Police have released the name of a Huron County man shot and killed in his home by masked intruders.

Ricky H. Bailey, 59, was found unresponsive and lying on the floor of his home at 2374 Rapson Road in Verona Township by police who responded there about 11:19 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Bailey was suffering from two gunshot wounds when Huron County Sheriffs deputies and Bad Axe police officers arrived at his house.

Bailey was taken to McLaren Thumb Region hospital, where staff pronounced him deceased. Baileys 20- and 11-year-old sons were at the home but not physically injured.

The two sons told deputies they and their father had been in different rooms of the house when the youngest heard a door opening. He went to tell his dad when two armed assailants with handguns appeared and shot the father, deputies said.

From our understanding, they yelled at the victim while he laid on the floor making reference to wanting the money, Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson said. The victim was then further physically assaulted by one of the assailants while the youngest son attempted to lock himself in a bathroom. He was then removed from the bathroom after one of the assailants kicked the door in and escorted him to another room to tell him to lay on the floor.

As this occurred, the 20-year-old son took cover in another room.

The assailants eventually left, allowing the two sons to call Huron County Central Dispatch for help.

The tragic incident took place over a matter of minutes, Hanson said. At this time, it is believed the assailants targeted the specific residence either because of past residents, or the current who apparently havent been there that long.

Hanson added that his investigators have received numerous tips on Thursday.

They are being followed up on and will continue tomorrow and the days to come, the sheriff said. Unfortunately, I have nothing more to report.

The assailants were described as wearing black ski masks, black leather coats, black gloves, and black pants. It is unknown how they came to or left the scene.

Anyone who may have seen any vehicles in the Rapson Road area during the incidents timeframe, especially near the Sullivan Road intersection, is asked to call Huron Central Dispatch at 989-269-6421.

Read more:

Intruders kill Michigan man with two sons in his home, police say

Saginaw man found shot to death is citys 26th homicide of 2020

Burton police investigate teens death in Russian roulette game

Bay City man gets probation for trying to solicit sex from undercover cop posing as minor boy
Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa says his government will work closely with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), which elected Douglas Mwonzora as the new leader of the party at an Extraordinary Congress held last Sunday.

In an address to the nation posted on his official Facebook page and monitored on state-controlled media, Mnangagwa said local people should work together for the benefit of the nation.

He said, During this time of reflection and celebration, let us all pledge to re-commit ourselves to serve and work hard for the success and prosperity of our great country. In unity, peace and harmony, we are well able to overcome any tough times or situations that may come our way. A few days ago, the opposition MDC-T party held its elective Congress in full compliance with, and fulfillment of court judgments. Let me take this opportunity to formally and personally congratulate Senator Douglas Mwonzora for prevailing at that Congress.

Mnangagwa said his government has taken note of Mwonzoras declared wish to guide and reshape the politics of opposition towards constructive engagement with the government of the day.

This is a very welcome move for our nation which is likely to put politics of rancour behind us, thus triggering collaboration, development and the harmony we solely needed for national progress. Both as the ruling ZANU PF party and as the government, we assure Senator Mwonzora and the MDC-T leadership of collaboration towards the growth and prosperity of our nation.

Once the pledge ad positive shift extended by the opposition happens a new chapter will indeed begin paving the way for consensual politics greater unity, peace harmony and accelerated development.
Reliance Infra share price rose 4.8% on Friday after the company announced the completion of the sale of its Delhi-Agra (DA) toll road to Cube Highways and Infrastructure for Rs 3,600 crore.

Stock of Anil Ambani led-Reliance Infra gained over 4.8% to hit the day's high of Rs 28.15 on BSE.

In a regulatory filing, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd said it has completed the sale of its 100 per cent stake in DA Toll Road to Cube Highways and Infrastructure III Pte Ltd for an enterprise value over Rs 3,600 crore.

Earlier in March 2019, the company had announced the signing of a definitive binding agreement between the company and Cube Highways and Infrastructure III Pte Ltd.

"The entire sale proceeds are being utilized for debt reduction. Reliance Infrastructure has reduced its total debt liabilities by around 20% from the deal proceeds," the company said in the regulatory filing.

Reliance Infra share price stands higher than 5, 20, 50, 100 and 200-day moving averages.

Market capitalisation of the firm stood at Rs 720.59 crore as of today's session. The share touched its 52-week high Rs 287.35 and 52-week low Rs 8.65, respectively.

The stock with Rs 10 face value has rose 4.65% in one week, 7% in a month and 63% in one year.

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LONDON  A steady trickle of trucks rolled off ferries and trains on both sides of the English Channel on Friday, a quiet New Years Day after a seismic overnight shift in relations between the European Union and Britain.

The busy goods route between southeast England and northwest France is on the front line of changes now that the U.K. has fully left the economic embrace of the 27-nation bloc, the final stage of Brexit.

For the majority of trucks, they wont even notice the difference, said John Keefe, spokesman for Eurotunnel, which carries vehicles under the Channel. There was always the risk that if this happened at a busy time then we could run into some difficulties, but its happening overnight on a bank holiday and a long weekend.

Britain left the European blocs vast single market for people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time on New Years Eve, in the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II. A new U.K.-EU trade deal will bring restrictions and red tape, but for British Brexit supporters, it means reclaiming national independence from the EU and its web of rules.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it an amazing moment for this country.

We have our freedom in our hands, and it is up to us to make the most of it, he said in a New Years video message.

The historic moment passed quietly, with U.K. lockdown measures against the coronavirus curtailing mass gatherings to celebrate or mourn. Brexit, which had dominated public debate in Britain for years, was even pushed off some newspaper front pages by news of the huge vaccination effort against COVID-19, which is surging across the country.

In the subdued streets of London  which voted strongly to remain in the EU in Britains 2016 referendum  there was little enthusiasm for Brexit.

I think it is a disaster, among many disasters this year, said Matt Steel, a doctor. It is a crappy deal. I dont really see any positives in it, to be honest.

But in seaside Folkestone, at the English end of the Channel Tunnel, retired bank manager David Binks said he was relieved that the tortuous Brexit saga was  just possibly  over.

Its been going on for so long now that the time is now, I think, that we move on and go from there, he said.

The break comes 11 months after a political Brexit that left the two sides in a transition period in which EU rights and rules continued to apply to Britain.

The trade agreement sealed on Christmas Eve after months of tense negotiations ensures that the two sides can continue to buy and sell goods without tariffs or quotas. But companies face sheaves of new costs and paperwork, including customs declarations and border checks.

The English Channel port of Dover and the Eurotunnel braced for delays as the new measures were introduced.

The vital supply route was snarled after France closed its border to U.K. truckers for 48 hours during Christmas week in response to a fast-spreading variant of the virus identified in England. Some 15,000 truckers needed emergency virus tests just to get into France, a process that left many stuck in their trucks for days.

But the pandemic and a holiday weekend meant cross-Channel traffic was light on Friday. Britain has also delayed imposing full customs checks for several months so that companies can adjust.

In the French port of Calais, officials said the new computer systems were working well and truckers had the right paperwork.

Brexit  is not a synonym for congestion, as we say in English, nor a synonym for traffic disruption, but everyone must do their work, said Jean-Marc Puissesseau, president of the Ports of Calais and Boulogne-Sur-Mer.

Jean Marc Thillier, director of customs for the region, warned that the border faced a trial by fire when traffic picks up after the holiday weekend.

Brexit also brought new checks across the Irish Sea. A dozen trucks rolled off the first ferry to arrive at Dublin Port from Wales before dawn, clearing the new customs inspections without delays.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said trade would change fundamentally.

Were now going to see the 80 billion euros ($97 billion) worth of trade across the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland disrupted by an awful lot more checks and declarations, and bureaucracy and paperwork, and cost and delay.

Hundreds of millions of people in Britain and the bloc also face changes to their daily lives, with new rules for work visas, travel insurance and pet paperwork.

And years of discussion and argument lie ahead, over everything from fair competition to fish quotas, as Britain and the EU settle into their new relationship as friends, neighbors and rivals.

Brexit could also have major constitutional repercussions for the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland, which shares a border with EU member Ireland, remains closely tied to the blocs economy under the divorce terms. So while goods will continue to flow freely across the Irish land border, there are new checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. Over time, that could pull Northern Ireland away from the rest of the U.K. and toward Ireland.

In Scotland, which voted strongly in 2016 to remain in the EU, Brexit has bolstered support for separation from the U.K. The countrys pro-independence First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.

___

Video journalists Jo Kearney and Jason Parkinson in Folkestone, England and Alex Turnbull in Calais, France contributed.

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Follow all AP stories on Brexit at https://apnews.com/Brexit
San Antonios University Health system announced Thursday that it would begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older and to others with chronic health conditions starting Monday.

But within hours of the announcement, all available appointments had been taken.

University Health said it would make more time slots available as soon as we get more vaccine. There was no indication when that would be.

The vaccine will be administered at Wonderland of the Americas mall on the Northwest Side.

Preregistration is required at wecandoitsa.com.

Those visiting the site now will find this message in bold-face letters:

Thank you for your interest in taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to an overwhelming response, we currently have no more appointments available. We will open up more slots as soon as we get more vaccine and let you know through our social media and local news outlets. Please continue to stay safe.

People interested in being vaccinated can check back at the website or watch University Healths Twitter feed: @UnivHealthSA.

The vaccinations are being made available to people in group 1B of the states inoculation plan  the second-highest priority group. Initially, only those in group 1A were eligible: hospital physicians and staff in direct contact with high-risk patients; residents and staff of nursing homes and assisted living centers; EMS personnel; and home health care workers, among others.

Group 1B includes people who are 65 and older or who have chronic medical conditions that put them at risk of severe illness if they contract the coronavirus.

At University Hospital, they will receive the Moderna vaccine.

The only people from group 1B not included in University Healths vaccination drive are 16-and 17-year-olds with chronic conditions; those young people should call 210-644-1960 to schedule an appointment to get the Pfizer vaccine at another location.

The expansion of vaccination to group 1B has been eagerly anticipated as the pandemic has surged in Bexar County.

I think its wonderful, and I would love to get mine, said Doris Griffin, 90, an active San Antonio advocate for elders and a member of the Silver-Haired Legislature.

Every time you listen to the television it is disturbing, and theyre dying by the thousands. We cant have that, Griffin said. If theres something we can do about it, we need to do it.

The surge has caused concern across Bexar County; Thursday, the presidents of San Antonios major hospitals issued an urgent warning that the citys health care system is in danger of overload.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in local hospitals is growing at an alarming rate and on track to surpass the July surge in a matter of days, the eight hospital presidents wrote.

Without action to reduce the spread of the virus in this community, we will reach capacity, and our ability to save lives and care for the sick and injured will be in serious jeopardy.

Echoing the near-daily refrain of Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the health care leaders  including presidents of Baptist, Christus Santa Rosa, Methodist, Southwest General, University Health, UT Health, STRAC and the VA Hospital  urged the public to stay at home, use a mask, wash hands frequently, only gather with people in ones immediate household and stay at least 6 feet away from others when out in public.

We are a social community, and we know its difficult to stay apart, they said. But we must do it until the COVID-19 vaccine is widely distributed. That day will come but until it does, we must remain vigilant to avoid a crisis in our hospitals and further tragic losses of friends and loved ones.

Hospitals took in 159 new coronavirus patients Wednesday, bringing the total COVID-19 patient count to 1,136.

During the July surge, coronavirus hospitalizations reached a peak of 1,267 on July 13.

As of Wednesday, Bexar County had seen 115,685 people test positive for coronavirus since the pandemic began in mid-March. Metro Health has confirmed 1,538 deaths in that time.

Vaccine details

University Health hopes to vaccinate 1,000 people a day. The Moderna vaccine is given in two doses, 28 days apart. Patients will schedule an appointment for their second dose at their first visit.

Chronic conditions that make someone eligible for the vaccination include cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart conditions, solid organ transplantation, obesity and severe obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

As of Wednesday, Bexar County had received 73,050 doses of coronavirus vaccine, according to state data. Metro Health officials said more than 31,000 people in Bexar County had been vaccinated as of Tuesday.

For more information about the vaccine clinic, call 210-644-1960.
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WASHINGTON: President Donald Trumps fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Friday overrode his veto for the first time in his nearly four years in office, pushing through a defense policy bill against his strong objections weeks before he leaves office.

Meeting in a rare New Years Day session, the Senate voted 81-13 to secure the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto with bipartisan support. Eight previous vetoes were upheld.

The Friday session, widely seen as the last before a new Congress is sworn in on Sunday, also appeared to end for now a push by Democrats to increase COVID-19 relief checks from $600 to $2,000 sought by Trump. Senator Bernie Sanders again joined Democrats in a bid to force a vote on higher payments, only to be blocked by Republicans.

Republican lawmakers have largely stood by the president during his turbulent White House term.

Since losing his re-election bid in November, however, Trump has lashed out at them for not fully backing his unsupported claims of voter fraud, for rejecting his demand for bigger COVID-19 relief checks, and for moving to override his veto.

The vote in the Republican-led Senate followed a similar override vote in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on Monday. A president has the power to veto a bill passed by Congress, but lawmakers can uphold the bill if two-thirds of both houses vote to override the veto.

The $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) determines everything from how many ships are bought to soldiers pay and how to address geopolitical threats.

Trump refused to sign it into law because it did not repeal certain legal protections for social media platforms and included a provision stripping the names of Confederate generals from military bases.

Weve passed this legislation 59 years in a row. And one way or another, were going to complete the 60th annual NDAA and pass it into law before this Congress concludes on Sunday," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said ahead of the vote.

Seven Republicans joined five Democrats and Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, in opposing the override.

The vote could have implications for two U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday that will decide control of the chamber under President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on Jan. 20. The senators facing a runoff, Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, strongly back both Trump and the military.

But neither Perdue nor Loeffler voted on Friday. Neither did another staunch Trump ally, Senator Lindsey Graham. Perdue entered quarantine this week after contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Spokesmen for Loeffler and Graham did not respond to requests seeking comment.

Trump, who returned to Washington on Thursday from his private club in Florida, has ramped up pressure on fellow Republicans and slammed party leadership for failing to do his bidding on the defense and COVID-19 relief measures and for not more fully joining his fight to overturn the election results.

As votes were being counted indicating Trump had lost the battle over the bill, the president took to Twitter to tout a protest rally being planned in Washington on Wednesday, the day the new Congress officially tallies the Electoral College votes certifying Democrat Joe Bidens presidential victory.

Some Trump allies in Congress have said they plan to object on Trumps behalf, including Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri who expects to be joined by as many as 140 House Republicans. The objections are expected to be dismissed by the vast majority of lawmakers.

This is my one opportunity of this process to stand and be heard," Hawley told reporters on Friday. And to speak up on behalf of my constituents."

But Hawley acknowledged that he is still undecided about how many state election results will be the targets of his objections: I havent worked out the mechanisms, correct."

Republican Senator Ben Sasse blasted the move as an effort by ambitious politicians to tap into Trumps populist base, saying in a statement on Facebook on Wednesday: Adults dont point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government."

Later on Friday, Trump tweeted about the Senates refusal to take up his call for more COVID-19 relief aid and to lift legal protections for social media platforms.

Our Republican Senate just missed the opportunity to get rid of Section 230, which gives unlimited power to Big Tech companies. Pathetic!!! Now they want to give people ravaged by the China Virus $600, rather than the $2000 which they so desperately need. Not fair, or smart!" he wrote.

Until the override, with fewer than three weeks remaining in office, Trump had been on track to be the first president since Lyndon Johnson with no vetoes overridden, according to the American Presidency Project at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
A uthorities in Belgium say a 27th elderly person has died in an outbreak at a nursing home from a super-spreading St. Nick party last month but they hope the situation is now under control.

The Hemelrijck home in the northern Belgium city of Mol had organized a Dec. 4 visit from a troupe playing the beloved saint who usually spreads mirth and presents.

But the city and families of some of the deceased have complained that the nursing home should never have organized the party when restrictive measures on events were in place throughout the country to contain the pandemic.

The Mol municipality said the event was not coordinated with the crisis cell, and if they had heard about it beforehand they would have stopped it.

The municipality said on New Years Eve that a 27th person had died.

At the Hemelrijck nursing home, no one was available for comment Friday. At last count, the home had 88 infections among residents and 42 among staff.

Lily Lenaerts, whose sister Angele, 85, was the first to die after the outbreak, is upset at how the nursing home is treating family members.

I still have not received a condolence card (from the nursing home) and I have been visiting for four years, she told the Het Laatste Nieuws.

St. Nicholas is the traditional Dec. 6 day to give presents and is much more important to children in Belgium than Santa Claus on Dec. 25, which is primarily a family gathering.

Initially, one of the actors of the St. Nick group had been thought to be the source of the outbreak, but subsequent research could not be fully conclusive.

Belgiums eminent virologist, Marc Van Ranst, said it could not be said with 100% certainty that he introduced it in the care home. He added the man was a volunteer in the care home and theoretically could have been infected by a resident or a staff member.

The city said the outbreak was finally stabilizing.

The health condition of the residents has shown a marked improvement, the city said in a statement.

Belgium, a nation of 11.5 million, has been badly hit by the pandemic with 19,528 confirmed virus deaths so far, many of them in nursing homes.
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Iraqis celebrated New Year's Eve with fireworks, songs, and dances in the celebration square in East Mosul as well as Khan Gumruk bazaar in West Mosul.The people wished for the best in 2021 despite the bitter reality on ground.

The country is going through a severe economic crisis, lack of job opportunities, and extremist activities.Since an oil price crash earlier this year, Iraq has been grappling with an unprecedented liquidity crisis.

The crude-exporting country had to borrow from the bank's dollar reserves to pay the nearly 5 billion US dollars in monthly fees for public salaries and pensions.However, some Mosul residents were looking at the bright side and wished for the best as fireworks coloured the sky above them.

People gathered at the Khan Gumruk bazaar in the Old City to celebrate and welcome 2021 in a festive atmosphere.

The bazaar reopened and street vendors were all around the celebration places in both East and West Mosul.

When Iraq's US-backed forces wrested Mosul from the Islamic State group in 2017, the cost was enormous destruction.

Three years after IS was evicted, Mosul is still struggling with basic services like electricity, water and health care.

(IMAGE CREDITS:AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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India's Covid-19 recovery rate on the rise, one of the highest globally

4 more individuals have tested positive for the new strain of Covid-19 in India, says the health ministry

Healthcare worker collects swab sample from passenger at Dadar station in Mumbai, India.

As the new year rolls in India along with several other nations are starting to roll out plans for vaccinating their masses against the coronavirus. 2021 is being touted as the year of the vaccine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on the last day of the year that India is prepared for the world's largest vaccination drive, and hours later states and union territories were asked to gear up for a vaccine dry run on January 2. The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted 'emergency validation' to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine so countries all over the world can approve its import for mass inoculation. Elsewhere in the US a nurse was arrested in the state of Wisconsin for deliberately ruining hundreds of dose of the Pfizer vaccine by removing them from refrigeration for two nights straight.





Click here for complete coverage of Covid-19





India has been witnessing a steady decline in the number of cases for a little over a month now. December witnessed the lowest count of daily new cases in 6 months and the least number of fatalities since the month of May. Indian authorities are remaining vigilant and metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru etc imposed night curfews to ensure the new variant of the virus does not spread around during New Year's Eve celebrations.





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Ahead of Jan 4 talks with govt, farmer unions threaten to shut malls, petrol pumps

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 01: Upping the ante ahead of the next round of talks, farmer unions on Friday warned that they will start shutting all malls and petrol pumps in Haryana if the government fails to resolve their main demands for the repeal of three new farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP in the January 4 meeting.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border protest site, representatives of farmer unions said that only five per cent of the issues raised by them have so far been discussed in meetings with the government.

They outlined multiple protest actions over a month if their main demands are not met, in an announcement a few days before Republic Day celebrations.

Farmer leader Yudhveer Singh said if the central government thinks the farmers'' protest will go the Shaheen Bagh way, then it is mistaken. "They (government) cannot make us leave this place like they did in Shaheen Bagh," he said.

Hundreds of protesters had camped at Shaheen Bagh for several months against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and later, the site was cleared by the Delhi Police following the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March last year.

At the press conference, farmer leaders made it clear that they will have to take firm steps if the government does not take a decision in their favour in the January 4 meeting.

Govt tells farmer leaders a committee could be formed to deliberate on the demands regarding farm laws

Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav said that the government has not moved an inch on the two main issues -- repeal of three agri laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).

He claimed that the government has denied giving in-principle commitment to the issue of legal guarantee for MSP.

Spelling out their next course of action, Yadav said that while talks with the Union government will go on, farmer unions will intensify the protest simultaneously and take it to every corner of the country.

"If the January 4 meeting with the government fails to end the deadlock, we will announce dates for shutting all malls, petrol pumps in Haryana," another farmer leader, Vikas, told reporters.

At a meeting of Samkyukt Kisan Morcha -- an umbrella body of around 40 farmer unions protesting at several Delhi border points -- several decisions were taken.

According to the unions, if the results of the talks on January 4 are not satisfactory, a tractor march will be taken out from the protest site to the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway on January 6 and a call will also be given to those farmers protesting at Shahjahanpur on the Haryana-Rajasthan border to move towards the national capital.

Rallies, dharnas, sit-ins and press conferences will be ogranised across the country from January 6 to January 20 to counter alleged government propaganda that the protest was Punjab-centric.

Farmers will celebrate Women''s Day on January 18 and the modalities will be discussed later, farmer leaders said, adding that programmes will be held on to mark birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on January 23.

After the sixth round of formal negotiations on Wednesday, the government and farm unions reached some common ground to resolve protesting farmers'' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

After the talks between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands of farmers protesting on Delhi borders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4 at 2 PM.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month against these three new laws.

The government has presented these laws as major agriculture reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations have left them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 20:47 [IST]
Boris Johnson hailed the Gibraltar agreement between the UK and Spain. Photo: Leon Neal/Pool via Reuters

Gibraltars border with Spain will remain open following the end of the Brexit transition period after the UK and European Union agreed a draft deal.

The Rocks status was not covered in the trade agreement reached on Christmas Eve, prompting concerns about what would happen when the transition period ends at 11pm on January 31.

Gibraltar, whose sovereignty is disputed by Spain and Britain, will remain subject to the rule of the free-travel Schengen area, Spains foreign minister said.

Arancha Gonzalez Laya announced the agreement in principle means people in Gibraltar can breathe a sigh of relief.

She said further details on the agreement would be published in the new year.

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: I wholeheartedly welcome todays political agreement between the UK and Spain on Gibraltars future relationship with the EU.

The UK has always been, and will remain, totally committed to the protection of the interests of Gibraltar and its British sovereignty.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added: Working side by side with the chief minister of Gibraltar, and following intensive discussions with the Spanish government, we reached agreement on a political framework to form the basis of a separate treaty between the UK and the EU regarding Gibraltar. We will now send this to the European Commission, in order to initiate negotiations on the formal treaty.

In the meantime, all sides are committed to mitigating the effects of the end of the transition period on Gibraltar and in particular ensure border fluidity, which is clearly in the best interests of the people living on both sides.

I am grateful to foreign minister Laya and her team for their positive and constructive approach."

Online Editors
Mattos claims he is getting turned away from venues because of a tattoo

A swim teacher has declared he 'feels humiliated' after being continually turned away from venues due to his distinctive body tattoo.

Felipe Mattos, 32, isn't hard to spot in a crowd thanks to his neck tattoo, which reads 'peace'.

He said he never encountered any issues when living in places like Sydney and Darwin - but it has been a very different story on the Gold Coast's party strip.

'Having tattoos doesn't make me a criminal. I work with children, I have been a government employee but yet I am treated like a trouble maker,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Felipe Mattos (pictured above) feels he is a victim of discrimination after being turned away from licenced venues due to his neck tattoo

The personal trainer, who is also a swim teacher and DJ (pictured above) said he encountered no problems with bouncers when living in places such as Sydney and Darwin

'I don't turn people away from my gym because of how they look, why is it OK in a pub?

'It deeply hurts me, I am a nice guy, it is one tattoo but I continue to be judged by it.'

In the past nine months, Mattos, who is also a club DJ, feels he has been a victim of discrimination after being denied entry to at least three licensed venues on the glitter strip due to his creative ink.

Mr Mattos said his most recent knock back was just last month.

'Security said the boss doesn't like the look (of neck tattoos). It is humiliating,' he said.

'Maybe if it said something like "f**k the police", I would understand, but it says peace.'

Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president Tim Martin said club and pub owners always have the final say about who enters their venues - but they are encouraged to show discretion.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Mr Mattos for further comment.

Mr Mattos (pictured above) said he was left 'feeling humiliated' after being shunned from the Burleigh Pavilion in December due to his neck ink
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Kangana Ranaut committed grave violations of the sanctioned plan by consolidating three flats and covering floor space index (FSI)-free areas into habitable areas for her residence at Khar, the city civil court at Dindoshi observed while rejecting the actors plea for interim restraint on Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from taking any action for demolishing all the modifications.

I find that the plaintiff (Ranaut) being an owner of three flats converted these three units into one unit, said the city civil court judge, LS Chavan, while rejecting Ranauts plea on December 17.

She has covered the sunk area, duct area, common passage as per her own convenience and included FSI-free into habitable area. These are the grave violation of the sanctioned plan for which the permission of the Competent Authority is required, the judge added in his order that became available on December 28.

Also Read: Ex-CM Fadnavis says Maharashtra DGP faced interference from state govt

FSI, or floor area ratio (FAR), is the maximum area that can be constructed on a piece of land.

The actor has filed a suit in the city civil court challenging a notice issued by BMC under section 53(1) of the MRTP Act and three orders passed by the Competent Officer of H/West ward, in May, September and December 2018. The directive was to remove the additions and alterations made at her residence, fifth floor of Orchid Breeze building at Khar west, and restore the three separate flats to their original condition, as per plans sanctioned by the civic body.

Ranaut had filed an application in the suit for interim injunction against BMC, restraining the civic body from taking any action pursuant to the notice under section 53(1).

Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee argued on her behalf that the notice and the orders were vague and did not specify the exact nature and description of the alleged unauthorised construction carried in the premises and the schedule appended to the notice, while also lacking particulars like blueprints and measurements.

Advocate Dharmesh Vyas, who represented BMC, opposed the plea. He pointed out to the court that before issuing the notice and passing the orders, a civic sub-engineer had surveyed the actors residence and delineated eight specific violations, like consolidating all three residential units on the fifth floor of the building, converting and covering FSI-free areas like common passage outside the flats, EF and planter sunks, and converting chhajjas (horizontal slabs covering windows) into closed balconies.

Vyas also pointed out that there are no specific fire ducts in the building, as the 16-storied structure is open from all four sides. However, all the sides are covered by the plaintiff (Ranaut) as per her own convenience which can cause grave threat to the lives of the other members of the society in case of any mishap, Vyas had added.

The court accepted the arguments advanced on behalf of BMC. Besides, the court also perused the floor plan annexed to copies of sale deeds of March 8, 2013 and noted that at the time of purchase, the violations alleged by BMC did not exist. Thus, it clears that the plaintiff has carried out all these changes after the final occupation plan was sanctioned, the court concluded.

Refusing to accept several electricity bills submitted on behalf of the actor as proof of authorisation of the additions and alterations, the court held that the actor had failed to show the authorisation of the notice structure. She also failed to demonstrate that the impugned notice and orders passed by the Designated Officer are bad in law. Therefore, she is not entitled for the relief of injunction against the defendants.

Ranaut has decided to move the Bombay high court challenging the December 17 order, and on Siddiquees request, the city civil court has restrained BMC from taking any action pursuant to the notice and orders for six weeks.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 20:43:20|Editor: huaxia

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MALE, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Maldives President Ibrahim Solih pledged to revive the economy and revitalize the nation in a statement delivered to mark the New Year 2021 on Friday.

According to Solih, new development projects, including the decentralization of essential services, were top on the government agenda in the new year.

The government will reduce the island country's dependency on the ailing tourism sector by developing agriculture and fisheries, he said.

Protecting the environment and the vulnerable groups of society will remain a policy objective, he added.

Solih also urged citizens to work in harmony towards the collective prosperity of the nation. Enditem
House Asks Court to Dismiss Effort to Clarify Vice Presidents Power in Electoral Counting

The House of Representatives is asking a court to reject a petition from Republicans that requests judges to say Vice President Mike Pence has the authority to reject some electoral votes.

This Court should reject plaintiffs effort to overturn Congresss centuries-old role in counting electoral votes and resolving disputes about them in the constitutionally mandated Joint Session, the House said in an amicus brief on Dec. 31.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and other Republicans this week sued Pence, asking a judge to authorize Pence to pick Republican electors over Democratic ones. They said the U.S. Constitution gives Pence the exclusive authority to decide which Electoral College votes to count, and that a portion of the Electoral Count Act of 1877 is unconstitutional.

The suit centers around the joint session of Congress thats held every four years to count electoral votes. Electors meet in each state under the Electoral College system after presidential elections and cast ballots for the candidate that won the most votes in their respective states.

In seven states this election, competing electors also cast ballots for President Donald Trump.

The Democrat-controlled House in its new filing says the vice president during counting sessions, per the 1877 Act, opens the electors certificates, but does not count the votes.

The court should reject the claim because the plaintiffs lack standing, the suit is not timely, and the constitutional challenges have no merit.

And the public interest and equities cut strongly against a first-of-its-kind injunction that would rewrite longstanding procedural rules for Congressional vote counting and create confusion just days before the required Joint Session, it added.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, left, and President Donald Trump in file photographs. (AP Photo; Getty Images)

In a statement accompanying the brief, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said: The Gohmert lawsuit has zero legal merit and is yet another sabotage of our democracy. There is no doubt that, despite this desperate unpatriotic charade, on January 6, [Democrat presidential candidate] Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.

Pence, a House member before becoming Trumps vice president, agreed with the House. He also asked U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, to reject the suit.

A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction, an attorney representing Pence argued in a separate filing.

The lawsuit could have a major impact on the election, which remains contested just five days before the joint session. A constitutional expert told The Epoch Times this week that a less-covered aspect of the case, which seeks a court determination on how Congress should vote when Republicans object to slates of electors from six states where Trump has challenged the state-certified election results, could be a big game-changer.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced Tuesday that he will challenge electoral votes during the congressional session. A quickly-rising number of representatives are also planning to file objections.

Theoretically, objections could lead to the nullification of some states electoral votes, but the likelihood of challenges being upheld is considered unlikely because that would require a majority vote in each chamber. Democrats control the House and GOP Senate leadership has repeatedly criticized plans to file the objections.

In the case neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes during the session, a secondary system would be triggered, wherein the House decides the next president by voting by state. In that scenario, Republicans hold a slight edge.

Bidens team said this week the electoral counting is merely a formality and said Biden is already the president-elect.
Publican and hotelier, Martin Keane is alleging the move by Lord Iveagh to repossess the Iveagh Market in Dublins south inner city is "illegal".

The claim was contained in new accounts for the business behind Mr Keanes Oliver St John Gogarty pub, in Dublins Temple Bar, which show the business continued to produce stellar profits before the Covid-19 enforced shutdown of the business.

The new accounts for Mr Keanes Drayton House Holdings Ltd show the group recorded pre-tax profits of 4.9m in the 12 months to the end of last February 28.

The accounts addressed the move by Lord Iveagh to re-possess the Iveagh Market.

The market, which was built in the early 20th century by the Guinness family, has been derelict for more than 20 years and the subject of a legal battle between the council and Mr Keane.

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Last month, the council confirmed that it was was notified by representatives for Lord Iveagh, a member of the Guinness family, that he had invoked the reverter clause contained in the original Deed of Conveyance dated July 1906.

The council was informed that as the Iveagh Market building has ceased to be used as a market for a considerable number of years, Lord Iveagh has, in accordance with the terms contained in the Deed of Conveyance, repossessed the property this morning and notified the Council accordingly, a spokesman for the council said at the time.

In a note attached to the Drayton House accounts, it said a subsidiary within the group entered into a contract with Dublin Corporation to redevelop the Iveagh Market site in 2008.

Expand Close The market has been derelict for more than 20 years and the subject of a legal battle between the council and Mr Keane. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The market has been derelict for more than 20 years and the subject of a legal battle between the council and Mr Keane.

The note said a number of legal title issues relating to the premises and site have been ongoing since and still have not been fully resolved.

In December 2020, action was taken by a third party attempting to take possession of the property, it said.

In the opinion of the directors, having taken legal advice, the action was illegal and the subsidiary company is seeking legal redress to correct this situation.

The note added: The directors are confident that the companys legal action will be successful and the company will be able to proceed with the proposed development of the site.

The note said the title continues to be held by Dublin Corporation, subject to the assertion of the third party noted above, and therefore legal title has not passed to the company and will not do so until such a time as the ongoing legal matters are resolved and the development is complete.

The note said in the event that Keane firm, Iveagh Markets Hotels Ltd fails to complete the development and that Dublin Corporation fails to transfer title, the deposit of 1.77m will be returned without payment of any interest costs.

Drayton operates the Oliver St John Gogarty pub and the nearby Blooms hotel in Temple Bar.

When open, the late night Oliver St John Gogarty has capacity for 100 people in each of its three bars and opens until 2.30 at weekends.

Mr Keane has operated the pub for over 28 years and revenues at the group last year declined marginally from 17.37m to 17.2m.

Higher costs resulted in pre-tax profits reducing by 15pm from 5.7m to 4.9m.

Addressing the Covid-19 impact in the group, the directors state that business for 2020 "will be significantly impacted by the effect of Covid 19.

The directors said they are confident the group has sufficient reserves and strategies in place to be able to continue operations.

At the end of February the group had a strong balance sheet with accumulated profits of 56m. The group's cash increased from 14.3m to 16.9m.

Staff numbers reduced from 104 to 91 as staff costs increased from 3m to 3.4m.

Pay to directors, Martin, Martina and Vera Keane last year increased from 319,861 to 454,000.

Read More

Online Editors
Virus detectives are searching for the source of a concerning COVID-19 cluster in Sydneys west as northern beaches residents wait to hear what relief from restrictions Premier Gladys Berejiklian will grant them on Saturday.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the results of genomic sequencing for three new western Sydney cases expected on Sunday will reveal whether they are linked to the Avalon cluster.

Gladys Berejiklian will likely announce a relaxation of some northern beaches restrictions on Saturday. Credit:Sam Mooy

At this point the western Sydney cases are not linked [to the Avalon cluster]. Well be interested whether that sequence matches the Avalon cluster, Dr Chant said, though there were other possibilities, such as the patient transport worker living in western Sydney who caught the virus from the overseas returned travellers he had shuttled.

The new cases - a man in his 40s and two men in their 20s - set off public health alerts for several new venues where people may have been exposed to the virus. Dr Chant urged people to check NSW Healths website regularly for its updated venue list.
We're using this list as more of a starting point for discussion than those pay for play awards that used to fund low-rent local magazines.



A few trends we considered the worst of Kansas City:



- Amateur Internets Epidemiologists - It was interesting to learn how many social media denizens held advance degrees virology. Sadly, just like many of the experts on cable TV, they were wrong every step of the way.



- Anybody who said there was going to be a civil war - This line from pundits emerged from "many sides" and it forgot that MOST PEOPLE DON'T VOTE and they don't care which game show host is President.



- Protesters/Rioters - Sorry. From no mask advocacy to social justice "mostly peaceful" looting. Protest in 2020 wasn't a powerful demonstration of 1st Amendment rights . . . It was mostly just staged political hot garbage.

- Mayor Quinton Lucas - He betrayed promises to his own community, he was wrong every step of the way on the pandemic. He encouraged division among council to benefit his career. The mayor's attempts to walk the line betwixt police and protesters insulted EVERYONE.

And, worst of all, his smallish team of Twitter trolls are the main driver behind the myth that he could beat anybody but former Council Lady Jolie Justice in an election.



- TKC Blog Comment Bums - Don't get it twisted, there are some comments that are insightful, funny and snarky but there's a growing number of d-bags who have a false sense of ownership over the comments. This year some of our most popular posts had comments turned off and a great many bums might not realize that this function of the Internets is quickly fading with bipartisan support. Right now this is a free speech zone. You're free to leave whatever comment you'd like and we're free to delete what we don't need . . . The reality is that this blog is now leaning toward highlighting better comments that help readers understand the local discourse.

To be fair, this blog also hates change . . . So don't expect anything dramatic any time soon.

Accordingly . . .

FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR WORST OF KANSAS CITY SUGGESTIONS!!!



Be creative, don't feel confined to this cowtown . . . We're actually eager to read some of the commets.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-31 22:35:17|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Yang Ansheng will never forget where he planted his first tree on a wood farm in northwest China's Gansu Province, which incidentally is also where he previously worked cutting down trees.

"Thinking of the trees I cut down has troubled me for years, and now I just want to protect the woods and help build a better and greener future for generations to come," Yang said.

Yang, 47, is a forest ranger at a wood farm of Tewo county in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. As a guardian of forests now, it is almost hard to believe he was a lumberjack before.

In 1990, Yang landed his job as a logger after graduation. He was responsible for cutting down trees according to the timber production plan drawn up by the local government.

In Tewo, a wooden house is a symbol of traditional Tibetan culture. To prevent excessive deforestation, local citizens needed to apply for wood quotas before building houses, and then the local forest farm would fell trees in the logging season.

After receiving instructions, loggers like Yang would locate a square area on the map first. During their logging, they were required to leave a row of "woody wall" in four directions.

"Because we would plant saplings in this area, the 'wall' was to prevent the small ones from being blown away," said Yang.

Falling trees can be dangerous, which requires group work, Yang said. When one is axing a tree, the other had to watch out in case of an accident, he said.

However, countless body wounds cannot hold a candle to the scar in Yang's mind.

"With more trees being cut down, the fairytale world of my childhood vanished," Yang said. He described that when he was a child there was a dense forest outside his home where he often indulged himself in adventures deep in the woods and rejoiced at the rustling and twittering from animals, but the felling took it all away.

High sales prices of timber often led to illegal logging, thus speeding up deforestation.

Excessive logging once made green mountains bare, with sand storms and soil erosion beginning to strike villages, he said.

From 1998, China initiated a natural forest protection project, aiming at preserving and cultivating natural forest resources for sustainable development. The project has brought a difference to Yang's job.

Yang put away his ax and shelved spades and hoes, completely devoting himself to planting trees.

The wood farm where Yang works, with over 60 workers, now plants about 150,000 trees every year.

The arid climate has led to a low survival rate of the saplings, but Yang and his colleagues were not discouraged. When he was working in mountains, a sense of satisfaction welled up in his mind.

"My green world and animal friends are coming back," Yang said.

Their efforts have paid off. Statistics show that Tewo county saw its vegetation coverage reach 87 percent and forest coverage rise over 64 percent.

The plateau county epitomizes China's efforts of afforestation. Besides government-funded projects, many citizens join in afforestation through offline planting activities or participating in it with the help of online platforms like Alibaba's Ant Forest initiative.

China has completed afforestation of about 7.07 million hectares in 2019, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

A study in 2019 using data from NASA satellites showed that China had contributed to at least 25 percent of the increase in the global green leaf area since the early 2000s, ranking first in the world.

As a forest keeper, Yang wanders in the woods every day with his colleagues, not only helping with forest fire prevention but also monitoring growth.

In the forest with diverse plants, including spruce, Chinese pine, shrub and fungus, he now can run across foxes, sika deer and other creatures on his patrol, listening to birds chirping above.

In his spare time, Yang occasionally goes to see the first tree he planted. "Though the 29-year-old spruce tree is small and short, it's still a sign of hope for a greener world," he said. Enditem
In what could be one of the last tragedies in Massachusetts of 2020, Wendy Tolley was struck and killed by a car at approximately 9:55 p.m, according to Dartmouth Police Department.

Fifty-six-year-old Tolley, a New Bedford native, was hit by a 2006 Toyota Prius driven by an unnamed 24-year-old woman from Dartmouth Thursday evening. The incident took place near 597 State Road.

Although Tolley was given emergency care, she died as a result of her injuries.

Police closed off State Road for several hours while they conducted an investigation by Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit of Bristol County, Dartmouth Police Department Investigative Services Division, and the Dartmouth Police Department Crash Reconstruction Unit.

As of Friday, no arrests have been made and Dartmouth police are not releasing any further information on the crash on New Years Day.
New Delhi:

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat Thursday met Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and briefed him about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting came a day after Jaitley said Army officers were free to take decisions in a war-like zone, in comments which appeared to justify Major Leetul Gogois action of tying a man to a jeep in Kashmir as a human shield to deter stone-pelting protesters.

Sources said it was a routine meeting during which Gen Rawat apprised Jaitley of the security situation in the troubled state besides discussing some other issues.

Well, military solutions are to be provided by military officers. How a situation is to be dealt with when you are in a war-like zone. We should allow our army officers to take a decision.

They dont have to consult members of Parliament as to what they should do under such circumstances, Jaitley had said yesterday, amid the raging controversy over Gogois action as well as the Army chiefs commendation card to him.

Also Read: Pakistan condemns commendation of Indian Army officer Major Leetul Gogoi

The Armys decision to honour Gogoi which, according to it, was for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations, has come in for criticism from some quarters.

The meeting also came two days after Indian Army said it launched punitive fire assaults on Pakistani positions across the Line of Control, inflicting some damage.

It had on Tuesday also released a video of the military action which showed some structures in a forested area crumbling in a heap under the impact of repeated shelling by the Indian Army.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons

Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

Advisor to Armenia Prosecutor General provides details about incident with Armenian soldier killed in Verin Shorzha

Banksy's painting of punk Lenin sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 960,000

CSTO Deputy Secretary-General: Escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border requires undertaking of urgent measures

Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Japan

Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

Kathimerini: US seeks to increase military presence in Greece due to doubts about Turkey's reliability

US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities promised to separate business from politics, but they're failing to fulfill promise

There will be post-election processes if authorities try to rig voting, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

CNN: Putin and Biden will meet on June 15-16 in Geneva

Latin America has the highest poverty rate in 20 years

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia applying to CSTO: No one will help you if you do nothing to solve your problems

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party presents list of first 10 candidates ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting justice minister discusses broad range of cooperation issues with top CoE official

Armenia former President Kocharyan: This guilt, this criminal article is on these authorities

Man survives after spending 17 days in desert

Azerbaijan continues course towards systematic extermination of Armenian heritage in Shushi

Armenia Syunik Province ex-governor: Azerbaijani soldiers advanced along length of border two days ago

Newly appointed Ambassador of Montenegro presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President

Its about bringing Karabakh issue back to right to self-determination, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia

Ara Aivazian and Austrian counterpart hold phone talks, focus on Azeri army's infiltration into Armenia's territory

Kocharyan: Elect todays political team if you are ready to live squatting

Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 30 million

2nd President Kocharyan on Armenia Security Council chief: Do you take that person seriously?

"Key" to settlement of Karabakh conflict cant be in one place, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Texas may permit carrying of pistols without special permission

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's high popularity rating: We will wear it down to the root

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Election bloc format must be workable in some logical sense

Attorney: Political persecution against Robert Kocharyan is becoming more noticeable during election campaign

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We must do everything so that our domestic politics is not dictated by Azerbaijan

Armenian acting defense minister meets Russian peacekeeping mission chief

Congress predicts US nuclear spending to reach $ 634 billion by 2030

Russian MP: The effectiveness of military cooperation with Armenia depends on Yerevan as well

Delimitation now may create some problems in Karabakh negotiation process, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on relations with 3rd President Sargsyan: We go our own way they go their own

Judge adjourns hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM for 3 weeks

Court hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia must show that it will not be subjected to such pressures

Kocharyan: You may find yourself in stupid situations if you come to negotiations without any baggage

Armenia Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into soldiers death

157 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

EU helps UN World Food Programme provide humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected people in Armenia

Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

Armenia legislature speaker on situation at Syunik Province: CSTO still has procedures

Blinken arrives on his first official visit to Israel

World oil prices going up

Provincial hall issues statement on Tavush section of Armenia border with Azerbaijan

MFA statement: Azerbaijan continues to use Armenian POWs as political hostages

Newspaper: There are last-minute changes on Armenia ruling party electoral list

Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

Newspaper: Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan intensively engaged in election campaign

EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

Quake hits Georgia, also felt in Armenia

2nd President Kocharyan: Process of obtaining Armenia citizenship shall be simplified, shall take only few months

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Appointments in army were not based on knowledge but on loyalty

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia must not go back to the past and stay there, just like the incumbent authorities did

Armenia 2nd President on recent Karabakh war, consequences and the signed document

Armenia 2nd President: Current authorities don't have remorse, aren't conscious and patriotic

Armenia 2nd President on black PR and management system in the country
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The final episodes of Vikings have premiered, and the series has come to a close. Amazon Prime Video released season 6B on December 30, and some fans chose to watch the series quickly. The fates of all of the remaining sons of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) were decided, and we now have answers when it comes to their outcomes.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from Vikings]

Alexander Ludwig in Vikings | Bernard Walsh/History/A+E Networks

Did Bjorn Ironside die?

In the mid-season finale of season 6 of Vikings, the Rus invade Scandinavia with Prince Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky) at the helm. Ivar (Alex Hgh Andersen) has allied himself with him, and together they attempt to take over. Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig), Ivars brother and another son of Ragnar, fights with the rest of the Vikings in Scandinavia to save their homeland. However, when Bjorn is fighting on the beach, he is stabbed by what looks like Ivar (even though Ivars supposed to be somewhere else entirely at the time).

Fans waited eagerly to find out the fate of Bjorn. Did he survive? In July, a Vikings panel called A Look Back With the Lothbroks at San Diego Comic-Con@Home 2020 held the answer. A clip was shown of season 6B, and Bjorn can be seen riding in front of the Rus army on his horse looking hurt.

Knowing Bjorn lives, at least for a little while, gave fans hope for the new season. However, Bjorn doesnt make it after that final scene on his horse in the first episode of season 6B. After being stabbed, Bjorn is taken back to Kattegat very badly wounded. However, he gets a plan in place, and has King Hakon (Mishael Lopes Cardozo) spread a rumor to the Rus that Bjorn is already dead. Although Hakon is killed, the plan works. When Bjorn rides out on his horse by himself fully clad in his armor, he scares the Rus, who think hes already dead.

Ganbataar (Andrei Claude), a captain in Olegs army, shoots Bjorn with three arrows, but he miraculously still lives. He unsheathes the Sword of Kings, and his army surrounds the Rus. After the battle that follows, the Rus retreat back to Kyiv, but Bjorn dies. Hes given a lavish burial, and his story lives on. He sacrifices himself for his people and he will always be remembered for it.

The sentimental gift Alexander Ludwig was given after his characters death

Alexander Ludwig in Vikings | Jonathan Hession/A+E Networks/History

RELATED: Vikings Season 6B: [SPOILERS] Lose Someone Very Close To Them

Bjorn died, and some may think it was a fitting end to his story. The actor who plays him, Alexander Ludwig, spoke with ET, and he was asked what he took with him to remember Bjorn Ironside. Ludwig revealed that when the actors characters die on the series, they get a shield that is signed by the entire cast and crew. But he was also given another sentimental gift as well that went along with it.

And Michael also gifted me with the producers, the Sword of Kings, Ludwig revealed, mentioning the creator, Michael Hirst. It said, Bjorn Ironside in Nordic engraved in the sword. So Ive got that, and that was such an incredible gift.

Fans will recall that the Sword of Kings is a unique sword that once belonged to King Horik (Donal Logue), but was taken on by Bjorns father when he killed Horik and became the king. Its the sword of the king, and it has a lot of significance. Its a truly sentimental gift considering how important the sword is in the series.

However, thats not all Ludwig left with before departing the set. Fans may recall antlers being used in the background of the series and on wall displays. Ludwig wanted to take one back home with him, but he received some push-back at first. But eventually he was finally allowed to take them. They were transported home from Ireland to the United States for him in a box.

And then the one thing actually I stole was, we have all these incredible antlers all over set, Ludwig said. And I had to decorate an apartment and I love that rustic feel, Im a country boy at heart. And I went to one of the props guys and I was like, Dude, I got to take this home with me. And he was like, No, you are not. And I just took it off the wall and I was like, Im taking this home with me, and I started walking off set. Im like, Guys, I really, really want to take these home with me. Weve got like, 500 of them. And they were like, OK, were going to build you a box and send them home for you. So they actually sent me home these beautiful antlers and I got those as well.

Ludwig has a lot of pieces to remember his time in Vikings. Although Bjorn Ironsides journey is over, fans can still rewatch the series and relive every moment of the King of Kattegats journey into legend.
Toluca doctor removed from position after vaccinating family with vaccines reserved for healthcare workers

Toluca, State of Mexico  The Secretary of Health of the State of Mexico says that the director of the Lic. Adolfo Lopez Mateos Medical Center has been separated from his position while under investigation.

The health secretary made the news public after the Toluca doctor was found to have vaccinated his family with Coronavirus vaccines meant for health care personnel.

The state secretary of health explained that Doctor Jose Rogel Romero was removed from his position as director while the corresponding procedures are carried out. An internal investigation by the Internal Control Body of the Institute of Health of the State of Mexico is underway.

During a morning press conference, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado said officials were investigating the case of the doctor who, through influence, had his family vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The research was done and, indeed, yes, a family that did not correspond to the application of the vaccine arrivedthey were vaccinated, said the president.

Zoe Robledo, director of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) remarked that in the first phase of the vaccination plan against COVID-19, only medical personnel who attend the pandemic are to be vaccinated.
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has delivered the following congratulatory message on the occasion of New Year and Christmas:

"Dear people, dear compatriots in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora,

It is even hard to believe that there are only a few minutes left until the end of 2020, a year of which we will keep bitter memories for a long time ahead. A war with severe consequences, the COVID-19 pandemic: 2020 will be remembered with these milestones in our peoples history.

On New Years Eve, our hearts and minds are with the families of our martyrs, our brothers and sisters who fell in the war, as well as with their children, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, brothers and sisters.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and minds are with the families of our missing soldiers - their children, mothers, fathers, wives, brothers and sisters.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and minds are with the families of our captive compatriots, their children, mothers, fathers, wives, brothers and sisters. During this time I had the opportunity to meet and communicate with many of them, and I must say that this is just the case when grief brings people closer to each other. Unfortunately, by the end of 2020 we have not yet managed to identify and find out our missing compatriots; we have not been able to repatriate all our captives, and I want to apologize to the families for this situation, without talking about the reasons.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and minds are with our soldiers, officers, generals, our army, our border guards on combat duty who are making heroic efforts to stabilize the post-war situation and reinstate the nationwide feeling of security.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and thoughts are with the police and security officers who are enforcing security and public order in the Republic of Armenia.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and minds are with our doctors and paramedics who have for a while now been fighting the coronavirus. The war opened up a second front for them, and our doctors saved thousands of lives of wounded servicemen with the same heroic drive.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and thoughts are with those servicemen and civilians who became disabled during the war, and I especially want to tell them that life is not over and you will still make your personal contribution to Homelands strengthening.



On this New Years Eve, our hearts and minds are with our brothers and sisters who are back from the battlefields, but keep reliving every minute and second that they spend on the front lines.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and thoughts are with those who lost their homes due to the war. For the same reason, I will refrain from stating the measures that the government has already implemented, is taking and will take to solve their problems. Everything necessary will be done indeed.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and minds are with our compatriots in Artsakh. Our beloved Artsakh is experiencing extremely difficult days. Of course, the presence of Russian peacekeepers provides strong security guarantees for our compatriots in Artsakh. The status of Artsakh continues to be an absolute priority for us, and political and diplomatic efforts must be made in this direction.

On this New Years Eve, our hearts and thoughts are with our compatriots in the Diaspora. Your continued love and daily affection matters even thousands of kilometers away from Artsakh and Armenia, and our unity cannot be disrupted in any way. We all know that.

On New Years Eve, however, our hearts and minds are mostly with our children, who were deprived of Christmas carols and fairy tales this year. Children and their future are the most important motivators in our national mentality, and I wonder after all what we should do for our children in such a difficult situation.

The November 9 statement called for an end to hostilities, but we still feel the aftermath of the war. These aftershocks may have a military bias; they sometimes have a moral-psychological aspect, sometimes - political, and our biggest task is to defy them if we are to ensure stability in Armenia and Artsakh and make decisions conducive to stability. Our greatest duty before our children and before the nation is to address the problems we are facing today; we should embark upon the cause of building the future as soon as possible.

What future do we see for our country, our children and our people? These issues are important not only for tomorrow but also for todays developments. We have to build Armenia in a new way; we have to build Artsakh in a new way, we have to build our optimism in a new way, and I want to start 2021 with that very mood. The environment has changed around Artsakh and around Armenia. We did everything to prevent such a change in the environment.

But today there are specific realities, and we must face those realities, because this is a necessary precondition for managing the situation. The logic of chaos, panic, fear should be overcome minute by minute; we must rule out any such factor as may lead to such realities. The very first minutes of 2021 should be the zero point for us to usher in the outset of our new national rise.

What do we need for this? First of all, we must build up a new security environment, the most important component of which is the launch of army reforms. We should further strengthen the relations with our primary security partner  Russia, and create new security guarantees in this context.

The next key point is the establishment of a credible judiciary system. This is a priority issue and an increasing challenge for the country, including in terms of security.

The introduction of modern education concepts and bringing each individuals competitiveness up to international standards is our next major task, which will ultimately lead to a significant increase in the competitiveness of our society.

And finally, the peoples power, that is, the people power to form a government must become ever stronger with each passing day, as this is an indisputable reality for all time.

Dear compatriots, dear people in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora,

2021 should come as a year of labor for us, not a year of ordinary work, but a year of striving, where working hard and creating added value should be a primary task for each of us. Our national revival should be based on the Work-Education-Work formula; our optimism should be reinstated through labor and learning; national happiness should be built against the background of work and education.

In this difficult time of sorrow and anxiety we must not forget about happiness, about the happiness of our children, of our generations, because no other goal gives us as much strength to live as the goal of our childrens happiness. And in order to be stronger, we must have more and more children, a large family with 4-5 children must become a rule in us. We must implement new state programs to promote maternity in 2021, because birth and motherhood are the undeniable symbol of our vitality and strength.

This day next year all the lights will be brighter in Armenia and Artsakh; there will be Christmas trees shining everywhere, which will be the greatest tribute of respect to our martyrs, which will be our greatest service to our commitment to building a bright future for our children.

Welcome to 2021! On the eve of Christmas, I would like to greet you with the following words of the New Testament, the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the mourners, for they shall be comforted Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Welcome to 2021, the year which should usher in a new era for us, the year of our national revival.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!"
But for others, even moderate drinkers (within the guidelines), Conigrave encourages trying to cut back. She says the reduction tactic means you can still have the perks drinking might bring you, but research shows you're also up for a medley of health benefits. Ahead, what you can expect to happen to your body and mind when you rein in your drinking, starting with the most immediate shifts to the longer term changes. And, of course, the more you reduce, the greater the below effects will be. Sleep One of the first things youll experience when you ease your alcohol intake is better shut-eye. Conigrave says its common for people to drink to destress or to sleep, without realising it can make matters worse. If youre drinking regularly, your body pushes back against [alcohol's] sedating effect by increasing the volume of your natural uppers  the NMDA receptors in your brain, Conigrave says. Its just your body reacting: I have a sedative on board, Id better fight back. So while alcohol may make you sleepy to start with, when it leaves your system the uppers are still working to keep you awake, Conigrave says. The balance of your REM and deep sleep gets disrupted.

When you cut down, Conigrave says sleep quality and duration should start to improve right away for a moderate drinker, noticeably so for a couple of weeks. People who were heavier drinkers (above the guidelines) may find their sleep is worse the first week, but then it continues to improve for up to a year. If youre making a new years resolution, particularly with something as powerful as alcohol is to our brains, it really needs to mean something to you. Professor Kate Conigrave Sex Drinking alcohol may make you feel sexier at first because it shrinks your inhibitions, but when it gets down to it, youre less likely to have satisfying sex, Lee says. Alcohol interferes with the hormones and chemicals that regulate a number of bodily functions including physical arousal, for example testosterone in men. Men who are heavy drinkers are less likely to get an erection ... For women, when heavy drinking, they can lose interest in sex ... It also has effects on lubrication and blood volume. We know from studies that orgasm takes longer and is less intense, Lee says. So when you reduce your alcohol intake, sex can become more enjoyable.

Illness and injury We know we can become quite uncoordinated when on the beers. So winding back the amount of alcohol you drink means youre less likely to injure yourself, Lee says. Not just with getting into car accidents or fights, but people are really clumsy when theyre drinking. Youre less likely to have minor or major injuries the less you drink. And of course, the hangovers the next day shouldnt be as nasty, meaning fewer sick days at work, or fewer occasions where youre working but feeling tired, unwell and unproductive. Then, over the next month, your immune system can improve, meaning you shouldn't be getting ill as often. Conigrave says if youre regularly drinking heavily, it can suppress the function of your T cells, a type of white blood cell that plays an important role in helping your body ward off infection. Withdrawal

At first, it's not always pleasant to cut down on alcohol. The more you drink the more withdrawal symptoms you're likely to experience, Lee says. If youve been a regular heavy drinker, your body has to work to readjust. Lee says you might feel restless, anxious, nauseous, sweaty, and you may experience vomiting, headaches and bad sleep. In severe cases, you need to consult a health professional. You want to be in control of your drinking so that you have the effects you want, rather than the alcohol being in control of you. Professor Nicole Lee Its usually over within seven days or so, so if you can manage to get through that period youll feel a lot better and youll start feeling the other [positive] effects, Lee says. Moderate drinkers are unlikely to experience severe withdrawal symptoms when they cut down, but thats not to say they wont battle cravings. Its about retraining your brain.

Even people who have a couple of drinks a couple of times a week can find it difficult to change [the habit], Lee says. Stomach Even a little bit of alcohol can irritate your digestive system directly and cause acid reflux. At the top of our stomachs is a sphincter that Conigrave says acts like a drawstring purse. Alcohol can relax that muscle and let the acid come up and burn the oesophagus, she says. If you cut down your drinking, your symptoms of reflux can immediately recover, but it might take inflammation about a week to settle down, Conigrave says. Liver

The process of breaking down alcohol in the liver can damage the organ. Thats because, Conigrave says, one of the key breakdown products of booze, called acetaldehyde, can cause oxidative stress and trigger the body to attack its own cells in the liver. But here were talking about six or more standard drinks a day or people who have a holiday binge, Conigrave says. Someone drinking within the guidelines shouldnt have issues with this. The good news is that if the damage isn't severe, the liver is usually quick to heal. If theres not permanent damage or scarring, even over two weeks your liver enzymes can come halfway back to normal. Weight Alcoholic drinks contain more energy than many realise. It varies, but a serving of beer or wine can contain 400-500 kilojoules. It's not insignificant when you consider the average adult should have 8700 total kilojoules in a day. So if you reduce [your drinking]  most people find they lose a little bit of weight, Lee says, adding this can be noticeable within a month.

The influence on weight is not just thought to be the energy in booze itself, but also the behavioural effects of alcohol: it can make you more impulsive and more tempted by junk food. For some people, even one or two drinks, that bit of disinhibition can cause them to take on behaviours that affect their health, from unhealthy food to illicit drugs to cigarettes. So [curbing your alcohol] also helps you live the way you want to live, Conigrave says. Not to mention, when you drink less youre more likely to engage in healthier behaviours. Saturday morning HIIT classes become less of a problem. Mental wellbeing After about a month of lightened drinking, your mood will be improved, Lee says, as should symptoms of anxiety and depression. She explains that part of that is to do with getting more sleep and generally feeling healthier, and part of it is that alcohol reduces your ability to recognise and regulate your feelings because it hampers chemical messaging in the brain.

We know that people who drink more have higher rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems, Lee says. Every time the brain releases the feel-good neurochemicals, dopamine and serotonin, it takes time to rebuild those stores. But because alcohol releases a lot more dopamine and serotonin than usual, your stores are more quickly emptied and you can be left feeling flat or depressed, Lee says. So while some people drink to relax or quieten unpleasant feelings, it can trigger a vicious cycle of exacerbated depression or anxiety and self-medicating with alcohol. [When people reduce their alcohol,] most find their thinking is much clearer, they can manage stress better, they feel less anxious and things are less likely to get them down, Lee says. Conigrave adds that the change in her patients can be quite striking.

Blood pressure Alcohol can lower your blood pressure at the time of drinking, then raise it 12 hours later. There are several factors thought to explain why, from alcohol's effects on the kidneys, the nervous system, cortisol levels and body weight. If you regularly drink heavily, it can lead to sustained high blood pressure, or hypertension, which is linked to heart attack and stroke. Thankfully, Conigrave says, this is very reversible and can improve within about a month of decreasing the booze. Other aspects of your cardiovascular system can also improve, including heart palpitations, heart rate and, in severe cases, heart muscle function. Social life We often consider drinking to be a social activity, but because its so disinhibiting, theres a risk youll say or do something you might regret. By scaling back your alcohol, your social skills improve and your bonds can strengthen.

Your social interactions are going to be much more in control and more deliberate, Lee says. Conigrave says it might at first feel strange to be catching up with a group of mates without a beer in hand, but you need to look past any simmering worry that you wont be interesting or articulate enough. Youll usually find you just ease into it and you are actually capable of more than you realise and you dont need alcohol, Conigrave says. Youll usually find you just ease into it and you are actually capable of more than you realise and you dont need alcohol. Professor Kate Conigrave Plus, Lee says, if youre drinking less, youre less tired and stressed, and therefore more tolerant of loved ones.

Conigrave says heavier drinkers who cut down often notice major changes to their relationships. [Patients] say things to me like theyre much more present for their kids, more patient, clearer thinking at work, she says. It all just comes down to becoming more successful, happier humans. Cancer risk Some of the most important health benefits from easing your alcohol intake are long-term. Your risk of getting cancer, in particular of the bowel and breast, rises with each standard drink you consume per day, Conigrave says, meaning it isnt just heavy drinkers who are at risk. Its quite dramatic, she says. Thats the chief reason for the guidelines. Other cancers frequently linked to alcohol are liver, stomach and pancreas, as well as oesophagus, mouth and throat, which are six times more common in drinkers than non-drinkers.

Loading Slip-ups Changing and maintaining a new behaviour is really difficult, Lee says. Its normal to have little slip-ups and not meet your drinks goal each week. Lees advice is to keep reminding yourself of the benefits. After you get some of the benefits and it becomes the new normal, you can forget how much weight you had on or how sluggish you felt, she says. Conigrave says peer pressure is often the biggest factor, and she recommends talking to the people around you so they dont inadvertently work against you. And dont be afraid to look to resources from SMART Recovery or Hello Sunday Morning for support. Your efforts will be well worth it.
Imperial Valley News Center

District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Shutting Down Technical-Support Fraud Scheme

Washington, DC - A federal court entered an order of permanent injunction against an individual and five companies in a case against a large-scale technical-support fraud scheme alleged to have defrauded hundreds of elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

The order bars Michael Brian Cotter, 59, of Glendale, California, and four companies  Singapore registered Global Digital Concierge Pte. Ltd., formerly known as Tech Live Connect Pte. Ltd., Nevada registered companies Sensei Ventures Incorporated and NE Labs Inc., New York registered KeviSoft LLC  from selling technical-support services or software via telemarketing or websites.

The department is committed to protecting vulnerable Americans, particularly Americas seniors, from those who seek to steal their hard earned savings, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Civil Division. The department is grateful for the cooperation of foreign law enforcement, including Indias Central Bureau of Investigation, in investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting technical-support fraud schemes and other schemes originating abroad and directed at the American public.

The Postal Inspection Service is committed to investigating all types of elder fraud, said Damon Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Fraudsters who scam the elderly and others online use fear and pressure tactics to prey on our most vulnerable Americans from the safety of a computer screen. The Inspection Service is proud of our domestic and international partners who extended the reach of our investigative efforts, shutting this scam down once and for all, and protecting American citizens.

The complaint filed in October 2020 alleged that Cotter worked with co-conspirators in India from at least 2011 to 2020 to operate a technical-support fraud scheme. The scheme allegedly contacted U.S. consumers via internet pop-up messages that falsely appeared to be security alerts from Microsoft or another well-known company. The pop-up messages fraudulently claimed that the consumers computer was infected by a virus, purported to run a scan of the consumers computer, falsely confirmed the presence of a virus and malware, and then provided a toll-free number to call for assistance. When victims called the toll-free number, they were connected to India-based call centers participating in the fraud scheme. Call center workers asked victims to give them remote access to their computers and told victims that they detected viruses or other malware on their computers. Eventually, the call center workers would falsely diagnose non-existent problems and ask victims to pay hundreds of dollars for unnecessary services and software.

The complaint asserted that Cotter worked with co-conspirators in India to operate the scheme, including registering website domains, setting up shell companies, and entering into relationships with banks and payment processors to facilitate the collection of funds from victims of the scheme. Individual victims payed hundreds to thousands of dollars to the scheme for unwanted and unnecessary technical-support services.

Under the terms of the consent decree of permanent injunction entered, the defendants agreed to be permanently barred from, among other things, offering for sale via telemarketing or website any technical-support service or software and advertising via computer pop-up messages. The consent decree also transfers ownership of 19 domain names alleged to have been used as part of the technical-support scheme to the United States, so that those domains can no longer be used as part of the fraud scheme.

The widespread fraud allegedly committed in this case was brought to the attention of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force by Microsoft, which often is impersonated by those engaged in technical-support fraud schemes.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Clark thanked the Postal Inspection Service for its investigation of the case, and the FBIs Economic Crimes Unit and Legal Attaches Office in Delhi, India, for their substantial coordination efforts. He also expressed appreciation to Microsoft for apprising the Strike Force of the alleged offenses. The U.S. case is being handled by Trial Attorney Ann Entwistle of the Civil Divisions Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Weinkle of the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Florida.

Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In January 2020, the department designated Preventing and Disrupting Transnational Elder Fraud as an Agency Priority Goal, one of its top four priorities. Later, in March 2020, the department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the act.

The departments extensive and broad-based efforts to combat elder fraud seek to halt the billions of dollars senior lose to fraud schemes, including those perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations. The best method for prevention, however, is by sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors, and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
For Southeast Texans, theres something uniquely satisfying about biting into a hot, crispy, golden filet of fried catfish.

Theres the initial flavor and fragrance of cornmeal as the outside crust shatters, followed by the soft texture of the flaky meat and a final flood of that hard-to-describe flavor thats unique to catfish - is it muddy? Bayou-y? Whatever it is, when cooked well, its essentially Southeast Texas, and something I grew up eating at seafood shacks and barbecue joints in Beaumont.

Barbecue joints, you say? Yes, theres a long history of fried catfish at Southeast Texas barbecue joints, thanks to the influence of Cajun and Creole immigrants whose Catholic faith required an offering of fish on meatless Fridays. Plentiful, cheap, and tasty - catfish fit the bill.

East Texas-style barbecue joints in Houstons barbecue wards - the Third and the Fifth - became well-known for fried catfish. Now-closed Thelmas Bar-B-Que in Third Ward became famous for the best catfish not only at a barbecue joint but in all of Houston. Today, Rays BBQ Shack continues that tradition with stellar fried catfish available on the menu every day.

During Lenten season, youll also see traditional fried catfish show up on menus at Central Texas-style barbecue joints like The Brisket House and Killens Barbecue.

More Information Gatlin's BBQ 3510 Ella Blvd, 77018 713-869-4227 Catfish served the first Friday and Saturday of every month For January 2021, it will be the second weekend (9th & 10th) due to the New Year's holiday See More Collapse

But just as smoked meats continue to evolve and spin-off in different directions of flavor and preparation, catfish is also getting the creative treatment at one of Houstons most innovative barbecue joints - Gatlins BBQ.

Owner/pitmaster Greg Gatlin and executive chef Michelle Wallace have focused their restless and creative culinary energy on the classic fried catfish fillet.

For Gatlin, it was a natural choice.

I grew up eating fish fries at home, in the backyard, says Gatlin. One side of the family cooked the barbecue, the other side fried the fish.

He had served catfish at his barbecue joint as an occasional menu item for Lent, but now seemed like a good time to branch out and get it on the menu, if only once a month, for now.

Currently, Gatlins BBQ is serving the catfish dishes on the first Friday and Saturday of every month (it will be the second week this January, due to the New Years holiday).

Of course, the menu here starts with a classic fried catfish filet. Gatlin sources American-grown catfish filets that are bigger and meatier than you might find at a typical seafood shack. He dredges them in an egg wash, then a corn-meal coating, and deep-fries them to an almost ruddy-gold color. Its a worthy version of this Southeast Texas comfort-food staple.

From there, Gatlin and Wallace spin off the catfish in myriad directions. Start with breakfast. Wallace makes a superb side of creamy grits to go with the fried catfish, with a couple of made-to-order eggs to round out this breakfast of champions.

If you need something to grab-and-go, get the breakfast tacos that feature a fragrant corn tortilla swaddling a meaty strip of fried catfish, home-style potatoes, scrambled eggs, sauteed peppers and onions, and a drizzle of Crystal-style hot sauce.

For lunch and dinner, the classic fried fillets comes with two sides. Pro--tip: Get the dirty rice and dont forget the house-made tartar and cocktail sauces. Also on the menu is a blackened catfish with a tomato-garlic beurre blanc sauce.

Gatlins has always been known for combining the best of Central Texas-style craft barbecue and the classic East Texas-style of smoked meats for which Houston is known. Adding catfish to the menu is just another way to pay tribute to the Bayou Citys love affair with its fish-fry traditions.

jcreid@jcreidtx.com

twitter.com/jcreidtx
Alia Bhatt's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' to release in 2021

India

pti-Deepika S

Mumbai, Jan 01: Alia Bhatt-starrer "Gangubai Kathiawadi", directed by celebrated filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will arrive in cinema halls this year, the makers announced on Friday. The film has been adapted from one of the chapters of noted author Hussain Zaidis book, "Mafia Queens of Mumbai".

The drama features Bhatt as Gangubai, one of the most powerful, loved and respected madams from Kamathipura during the 1960s. In an eight second video shared on Instagram, the filmmaker's banner -- Bhansali Productions -- announced that the movie will come out sometime this year.

"Brave, bold and ready to take over 2021 with fire in her eyes and fierceness as her style #GangubaiKaithiawadi awaits to reign over the coming year," the production house captioned the video.

According to a source close to film's production, the movie's shoot was resumed at Film City in suburban Mumbai from October last year and it's near completion.

"Gangubai Kathiawadi" was earlier scheduled to arrive in theatres on September 11 in 2020 but was delayed to the coronavirus pandemic. Bhansali is co-producing the film with producer Jayantilal Gada's Pen India Limited.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News
Starting Friday, acupuncture and most cancer treatments will be covered. Jurors will be paid more.

But the biggest of the new laws that go into effect on Jan. 1 are the smash of acts aimed, supporters say, at lower automobile insurance rates. They range from limiting access to the courts for individuals claiming injuries to requiring lawyers who advertise to disclose their fees.

The first day of the New Year is traditionally when many of the laws passed during the previous legislative session go into effect. After three legislative sessions, 468 bills made it through both chambers and were signed by the governor into law. Most became law immediately upon the governors signature, rather than the New Year.

Of the 25 new laws Friday, one extends the carryforward period for business inventory taxes from five years to 10. Another allows the research and development tax credit to stay on the books for four more years at a cost of about $6 million.

A third eases the ability of family members to receive the required licensing to continue their occupations when their military spouse is transferred to Louisiana. Another new law changes the rules to allow auction houses with licensed auctioneers to conduct live auctions on the internet, except for livestock.

Act 152, by state Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine

Would require state insurance cover acupuncture treatments for about 218,000 current and former state employees.

Act 161, by Oil City Republican Rep. Danny McCormick

Frees candidates from having to record social security numbers of contributors giving less than $25.

+5 Controversial bill aimed to lower Louisiana auto insurance passes: See details on changes After much negotiation and toil, the Louisiana Legislature finally approved on Tuesday legislation that changes how Louisiana courts operate i

Act 222, by state Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge

Will require all health plans to cover medically necessary drugs prescribed for cancer patients.

Act 237, by Sen. Cleo Fields, a Baton Rouge Democrat (brother is a judge)

Increases juror compensation from $25 to $50 for each day of attendance and the mileage rate from 16 cents to what state officials get paid, which currently is 58-cents per mile. The increase wont impact taxpayers or the courts as those expenses are part of the fees charged the party seeking a civil jury trial.

Act 223, by Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans

Now requires that drivers education courses discuss handicapped accessible parking spaces and tests that knowledge of drivers in tests for licenses. Carter said the effort mostly is to sensitize drivers to the issues of the handicapped and preclude more mobile drivers from grabbing the light blue painted spaces or infringing on handicapped parking.

When you obstruct those blue lines, Carter told his colleagues, and the handicapped have to get a wheelchair out or lower a lift, they cant do it  Something that becomes very simple for all of us becomes a nightmare for handicapped.

The most sweeping law, called the Civil Justice Reform Act of 2020, changes how courts will operate when considering injuries caused in car crashes.

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Act 37

Has been long sought by business and insurance communities that claim Louisianas civil justice system promoted the lawsuits that helped drive up insurance rates to some of the highest in the nation. But judges, lawyers and medical providers countered that significant harm to civil jurisprudence would be caused by the changes wanted, including stressing the resources of the courts, limiting injured individuals recoveries, and upsetting traditional procedures  all without any guarantee that insurance rates would fall.

The new law, among other things, lowers the jury threshold  the amount sought that triggers having a jury decide rather than a judge  from $50,000 for a case to $10,000; sets rules and procedures for demanding a jury trial, including requiring a cash bond for the party requesting one; forbids the mentioning of the defendant drivers insurance company and policy except at the beginning and end of the trial.

The Civil Justice Reform Act of 2020 will create a major change in how the public and business leaders across the country perceive Louisianas business climate and should help reduce the cost of insurance, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, Gonzales Republican and chief sponsor said then the legislation was signed.

In addition, Act 36 by Slidell Republican Sen. Sharon Hewitt allows failure to wear a seatbelt in a motor vehicle to be used in evidence, thereby limiting the damages paid to an injured person who didnt cause the accident that hurt them.

Act 231, by Sen. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero

Will require lawyer advertising that includes boasts from clients about how much they received from car wreck litigation to also include how much was paid in attorney fees.

Bob Kleinpeter, of Baton Rouge and the lawyer injured people on the task force that came up with the initial tort reform legislation, said much of the conversation during those meetings was complaints about lawyer advertising. The theory, though unproven with data, is that the ads promoted lawsuits. Smiling clients were portrayed with big smiles bragging about hundreds of thousands of dollars the attorney won for them, making car wrecks sound like winning the lottery.

People are frustrated with advertising and want to assign a causal reason for driving up the number of claims. Theres no information that advertising lures cases, Kleinpeter said. Its a national phenomenon.

The bigger issue down the road is whether the Legislature can pass laws governing attorneys, whose standards are set and regulated by a different branch of government, the Louisiana Supreme Court via the State Bar Association.

Connick recognized the problems when pushing his bill.

The statute applies to attorneys, true. Were hoping that the Supreme Court brings this (new law) this under their umbrella, Connick told his colleagues.

Mark Ballard: Despite new law, Louisiana's auto insurance rates won't go down next year; here's why Louisiana drivers will pay the highest prices for auto insurance in the nation next year despite having passed a sweeping tort reform law that

Still, auto insurance rates arent coming down anytime soon.

In testimony, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon predicted Louisianas legislation would lower rates by up to 25%, eventually. Last week he told Fox News Baton Rouge that rates may be headed up back up in 2021.

State Farm, Progressive, Allstate and Southern Farm Bureau are among the 19 companies that have announced rebates and rate reductions linked to the pandemic.

Circumstances have changed, more miles are being driven and more wrecks are occurring, Donelon said on television.
Sports lie at the margins of our culture, different from how it is elsewhere in the world, and from how it used to be. This is one of the reasons why criminality among youth proceeds unchecked. There is no youth labour market, and the school system ruthlessly triages youth.
A flurry of headlines this week flooded social media, documenting a seemingly concerning case of COVID-19 in a San Diego nurse who fell ill about a week after receiving his first injection of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine. But experts said the sickness is nothing unexpected: The protective effects of vaccines are known to take at least a couple of weeks to kick in. And getting sick before completing a two-dose vaccine regimen, they said, should not undermine the potency of Pfizers product, which blazed through late-stage clinical trials with flying colors.

Reporting that a half-vaccinated person has COVID-19 is really the equivalent of saying someone went outside in the middle of a rainstorm without an umbrella and got wet, said Dr. Taison Bell, a critical care physician at the University of Virginia. Bell received his first dose of Pfizers vaccine on December 15 and will be getting his second shot soon.

The California nurse, identified as Matthew W., 45, in an ABC10 News report, received his first dose of Pfizers vaccine on December 18. Six days later, according to news reports, he began to feel minor symptoms, including chills, muscle aches and fatigue. He tested positive for the virus the day after Christmas.

Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at Brown University, said this should not prompt concern. So what???? she tweeted Wednesday in response to a Reuters article on the nurses illness. Its a 2-shot vaccination. Ranney received her first dose of Pfizers vaccine on December 18.

Framing the nurses illness as news, Ranney said in an interview, implies that it was a departure from the expected  and that there should have been protection about a week after the first vaccine dose. That is not the case at all.

Vaccines take at least a few days to exert their protective effects. Pfizers recipe is designed around a molecule called messenger RNA, or mRNA, which, once injected, enters human cells and instructs them to manufacture a coronavirus protein called spike. None of these components are infectious or capable of causing COVID-19. But they act as coronavirus mimics, teaching the body to recognize the true virus and vanquish it, should it ever come around.

The production of spike is thought to occur within hours of the first shot. But the body needs at least several days to memorize the material before it can unspool its full arsenal of defensive forces against the virus. Immune cells take this time to study up on the protein, then mature, multiply and sharpen their spike-spotting reflexes.

Data from Pfizers clinical trials suggests the vaccine might start safeguarding its recipients from disease around one or two weeks after the first injection. A second jab of mRNA, delivered three weeks after the first, helps immune cells commit the viruss most prominent features to memory, clinching the protective process.

The timeline of the California nurses illness falls well within the window of post-vaccination vulnerability, Ranney said. It is also very likely he caught the virus right around the time he got the shot, perhaps even before. People can start experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 between two and 14 days after encountering the coronavirus, if they ever have symptoms at all.

A similar situation appears to have recently unfolded with Mike Harmon, the Kentucky state auditor, who this week tested positive for the virus the day after receiving his first dose of an unspecified coronavirus vaccine.

It appears that I may have been unknowingly exposed to the virus and infected either shortly before or after receiving the first dose of the vaccine on Monday, Harmon said in a statement. Harmon reaffirmed his full faith in the vaccine itself, and the need for as many people to receive it as quickly as possible.

Jerica Pitts, a spokesperson for Pfizer, noted that the vaccines protective effects are substantially boosted after the second dose, supporting the need for a two-dose vaccination series.

Individuals may have contracted disease prior to or right after vaccination, she said.

Pfizers vaccine, when administered in its full two-dose regimen, was found to be 95% effective at preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19  a figure that was hailed as very welcome news amid soaring coronavirus caseloads. Still, that leaves a small percentage of people who will not be protected after vaccination, Ranney said. Theres no vaccine thats 100% effective.

It is also unclear how well Pfizers vaccine can guard against asymptomatic infections or if it will substantially curb the coronaviruss ability to spread from person to person. That means measures like masking and distancing remain essential even after full vaccination.

Data collected by Pfizer during its late-stage clinical trials hinted that the vaccine could confer at least some protection after a single dose. But the study was not intended to specifically test how potent a one-shot regimen would be.

Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician at the Medical University of South Carolina, said a couple of her colleagues tested positive shortly after their first shots. None of this surprises me, given how rampant cases are right now, she said. Given the expected delay in the vaccines effects, this should not be thought about as vaccine failure. Kuppalli, who received her first dose of Pfizers vaccine Dec. 15, added that getting COVID-19 between vaccine doses should not dissuade someone from getting a second shot, with consultation from a health care provider.

In the past few weeks, more than 2.7 million people in the United States have received their first dose of Pfizers vaccine or a similar shot made by Moderna. Both vaccines require a second injection  and as they are rolled out to more and more people, it is important to maintain clear communication about how vaccines work and when, Bell said.

For the time being, we should stick with doses the way the trials were done, he said. Thats what will get you the maximum efficacy.

Katherine J. Wu c.2020 The New York Times Company
Yonhap



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un extended New Year's greetings in a short letter to the people Friday, apparently skipping his trademark address on the first day of the year ahead of a rare party congress expected to take place soon.



"I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people, good health. In the new year, too, I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true," Kim said in the letter carried by the Korean Central News Agency.



"I offer thanks to the people for having invariably trusted and supported our Party even in the difficult times. Pledging once again that I will always remain faithful to the great people," he added.



It was the first time for Kim to send such a letter since taking office after his father and late leader Kim Jong-il died in late 2011. It also marked the first time that a North Korean leader sent New Year Day's greetings to his people since 1995.










Haiti - 217th independence : Message and wishes from the Secretary of State Pompeo





Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State addressed a message to Haiti as part of the commemoration of the 217th anniversary of independence, this Friday, December 1, 2020.



Message from Michael R. Pompeo :



"On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I send greetings to the people of Haiti as you celebrate the 217th anniversary of Haitis independence.



Haitis long history as a nation demonstrates the resolve of the Haitian people in overcoming adversity in the hope of a brighter future. On Haitis Independence Day, we recognize the indomitable spirit that is the strength of the Haitian people, and we stand with them in the face of political, security, and economic challenges.



The United States has continued to invest in the future of Haitis citizens through humanitarian, education, and health partnerships, rooted in our shared democratic values. I hope that in 2021, all sectors of Haitian society will work together to strengthen democratic institutions, protect human rights, fight corruption, and promote economic growth to achieve a stable, prosperous, and self-reliant Haiti.



I extend best wishes for health, peace, and prosperity to the people of Haiti. Happy Independence Day and Happy New Year."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Photo: The Canadian Press A memorial set up by Susana De Leon sits near the site where Minneapolis police shot and killed a man during a traffic stop Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Police said the man died in an exchange of gunfire, and Chief Medaria Arradondo said witnesses said the man fired first. He said the officers' body cameras were turned on and promised to release the video on Thursday. Police spokesman John Elder said the incident happened about 6:15 p.m. while officers were carrying out a traffic stop with a man suspected of a felony. (

Police in Minneapolis on Thursday released body-camera video from a traffic stop one night earlier that ended with a man shot dead, an extraordinarily quick move aimed at stemming public anger over the city's first police-involved death since George Floyd died while being restrained by officers in May.

The confrontation happened about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in a gas station on the south side, about a mile from where Floyd died. Police said the man  identified by his father as Dolal Idd  was a suspect in a felony and that eyewitnesses said he had fired first.

The city released a brief clip from one officer's body-camera in two versions, one of them slowed down to make it easier to follow. The video showed the man attempting to drive away from police before his vehicle was hemmed in, and then showed him looking through his driver's side window at the officers. It was difficult to make out more detail.

The driver's window shatters, an officer is heard swearing, and at least a dozen shots are fired.

Chief Medaria Arradondo said a gun was found at the scene. A woman in the car was unhurt; no officers were hurt. At a news conference, Arradondo was asked whether officers used reasonable force, and he said they reacted to a deadly threat.

When officers are experiencing gunfire, they are trained to respond, Arradondo said. Later, when he was pressed on whether it was clear to him that the man in the car fired first, he said: When I viewed the video that everyone else is viewing, and certainly the real-time slowed-down version, certainly it appears the individual inside the vehicle fires his weapon at the officers first."

Arradondo said the man was stopped as part of a weapons investigation, but he said he had no other details.

Arradondo moved to release the video far earlier than usual, saying he wanted people to see it for themselves even as the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates.

Bayle Gelle, of Eden Prairie, told the Star Tribune on Thursday that the dead man was Idd, his son. Gelle told the newspaper that authorities haven't given him any more information about what happened. He said several officers carried out a search warrant at his home Wednesday night.

The police they are brutality, he told the Star Tribune. I want to get justice.

Online court records showed a string of minor traffic charges against Idd, but also a felony theft conviction in 2018 and a felony drug conviction in 2017. The records, which included a birthdate that would make Idd 23 years old, did not include detailed summaries of the cases.

The records also included a misdemeanour conviction in 2019 for carrying a pistol in a public place. The Star Tribune reported that charges in the case said Idd fired a gun in the basement shower of his parents' home in suburban Eden Prairie with two children sleeping nearby. The charges said Idd was later arrested with a handgun that had been reported stolen in North Dakota.

Idd was Somali American.

Arradondo said the traffic stop was carried out by members of a police community response team  long-standing units that respond to situations such as drug investigations and gun crime. He said he did not have additional details on why the man was sought.

The shooting happened less than a mile (1.6 kilometres) from the street corner where Floyd, a Black man, died in May after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for minutes, even as Floyd pleaded that he couldn't breathe. Floyd's death sparked days of sometimes violent protest that spread around the country and resonated worldwide.

In Minneapolis, Floyd's death also led to a push for radical change in the police department, long criticized by activists for what they called a brutal culture that resisted change. A push by some City Council members to replace the department with a new public safety unit failed this summer.

Mayor Jacob Frey and Arradondo, who opposed doing away with the department, have offered several policy changes since Floyd's death, including revising use-of-force policies and requiring officers to report on their attempts to de-escalate situations. Just this week, the chief and mayor unveiled a new plan to involve the city attorney's office more quickly in investigations of officers accused of misconduct.

Frey called the shooting a tragic and difficult day capping what has been a tragic and difficult year. He expressed condolences to Idd's family, and said the quick release of the body-camera video was part of the city's attempt to be more transparent.
Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home was vandalized overnight with a pig's head surrounded in a pool of red paint, as well as a spray-painted message appearing to allude to the failed $2,000 stimulus checks.

Photos of the disturbing scene shared on social media by conservative filmmaker Maggie VandenBerghe on Friday showed the House Speaker's white garage door defaced with black graffiti text reading: '$2k Cancel RENT! We want everything!'

The message appeared to be in reference Pelosi's recent efforts to increase the second round of COVID relief checks to $2,000, which have been repeatedly rejected by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The vandals also spray-painted two letter As enclosed in circles, most commonly known as the symbol for anarchism.

Underneath the disturbing message on the driveway was a pool of red paint with a pig's head placed at the center of the pavement.

Nancy Pelosi 's San Francisco home has been vandalized with red paint, a pigs head and a spray painted message about $2,000 checks, according to TMZ

Police sources told the outlet that cops were called out to reports of vandalism at the House Speaker's property in the early hours of New Year's Day. Her home as it normally looks above

San Francisco officers arrived on the scene around 3 a.m. and a police report was taken, TMZ said. Pictured Pelosi

According to TMZ, San Francisco Police had been called to the home on reports of vandalism at the property in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Officers arrived around 3am and documented the incident in a report, but it is unclear if there are any suspects. DailyMail.com has reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for comment.

VandenBerghe, a self-proclaimed patriot and independent journalist that has been featured on conservative news outlets in the past, accused police in her post of trying to cover up the incident after the city reportedly called in the vandalism.

'City called to clean up at 3am & police attempting to stop photos of scene. Media SILENT,' she tweeted.

The San Francisco mansion is located in the city's swanky Pacific Heights neighborhood and counts as one of Pelosi's several residences in California.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house has an estimated worth of $5.4million, according to property records.

Photos of the bizarre scene were shared on social media by conservative filmmaker Maggie VandenBerghe on Friday afternoon

The home was also once the site of a small protest in September, when Pelosi came under fire for getting her hair styled at a local salon that had been closed under COVID-19 restrictions.

The Speaker of the House is yet to comment on the incident as of Friday evening.

Pelosi has been calling for the second round of stimulus checks to be increased from $600 to $2,000 - an amount also proposed by Donald Trump.

But the efforts have so far fallen short with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday blocking the Democrats' standalone bill to send the checks to Americans.

McConnell told Pelosi the Senate won't be 'bullied' into passing it, dashing hopes of the higher checks being sent out to Americans.

Pelosi had urged the Republican to allow the upper chamber to vote on the bill after it passed in the House through a bipartisan vote.

'The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans,' she said Wednesday.

This isn't the first time the House Speaker's home has been targeted. Back in September, a Youtuber appeared to defecate in the driveway of her home in a livestream video

'In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship the American people are experiencing now, health wise, financially, and every way.'

But judging by the state of the garage door, some Americans are outraged with Pelosi over her efforts.

This isn't the first time the House Speaker's home has been targeted.

Back in September, a Youtuber appeared to defecate in the driveway of her home in a livestream video.

In the footage, the man was seen walking through the streets of San Francisco in search of the Democrat's home.

Once he found her home, he set up a camera across the road and walked over to her driveway.

Armando then saluted his viewers, pulled down his pants and proceeded to squat.

After a few seconds, Armando stands to his feet and wipes his buttocks before walking away and leaving behind what appeared to be feces.

'That was for President Trump,' Armando is heard telling his viewers.
They have since returned to Victoria and health authorities in both states have begun contact tracing their movements since December 21. Alerts have been issued for two places in Eden and Bermagui linked with the pair's travels in NSW. It is unclear whether the cases will be added to NSW or Victorian case numbers. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said a number of lines of inquiry were being investigated in the search for patient zero. These include a Victorian who returned from NSW before border restrictions were introduced last month and dined at the Black Rock restaurant on December 21.

Loading That person has delivered a negative result, although that may not rule them out given it is now more than 10 days since the suspected infection event. Mr Weimar said two other people were being investigated as bringing the virus from NSW and he provided limited information about them. "We know they were in Sydney for at least 24 hours a couple of weeks ago. They travelled back. Testing is undergoing for those individuals and we are doing genomic and other testing," he said. Two of the five cases announced on Thursday were also at the restaurant on the same day, sitting on a different table adjacent to the traveller, who was unknown to them.

These infections have given health authorities confidence the restaurant transmission event is the most likely source of the outbreak. Health Minister Martin Foley said genomic testing was underway to confirm the source of the outbreak. "The NSW link is still our primary line of investigation for this outbreak," Mr Foley said. "We expect genomic testing to come through very shortly and to assist us in confirming the lines of inquiry for our investigation."

Serology testing, which analyses peoples blood for coronavirus immunity, may also help to provide answers. There are now about 200 people in isolation because they are linked to positive cases or their close contacts. Authorities are using a "third-ring" approach where positive cases, their close contacts and those people's contacts are all asked to isolate. Victorian health authorities have now identified 170 close contacts linked to the eight people who have tested positive to coronavirus in the Melbourne suburbs of Mitcham, Mentone and Hallam, and in Leongatha, in South Gippsland. These close contacts are being told to isolate for 14 days, and their close contacts are also being contacted and asked to isolate and undergo testing.

Loading COVID-19 viral fragments have been picked up in a wastewater sample from Lakes Entrance, about 300 kilometres east of Melbourne. The Health Department said the traces were detected on Tuesday and anyone in the Lakes Entrance area with symptoms should get tested for COVID-19. Leongatha is about 200 kilometres west of Lakes Entrance. Another three people in hotel quarantine have been diagnosed with the virus, in the past day, Mr Weimar said.

Mr Weimar acknowledged the stress of the situation for Victorians stuck in NSW but said the hard border was necessary to keep COVID-19 out of the state. He reiterated Victorians would be turned back at the border if they were not permitted to enter, and people would not be given the option of entering Victorian hotel quarantine. "We need to close the border because we do not wish to continue to import high-risk COVID cases back into Victoria  We do not think that would be right or fair for the Victorian community," he said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "[This] is a very challenging thing to do and we do not ask it lightly." He said Victorians would be turned away at the border if they arrived after midnight and would not allow people to enter hotel quarantine unless they had exceptional circumstances.

People from red zones, including Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, have already missed their chance to renter Victoria. Loading "Let's be very clear - we do not have capacity to put 100s of people into hotel quarantine because they elected to come home late," he said. "If you're going to come home, come home today. If youre not, thats fine, but were not planning to provide alternative accommodation for you. "If there are people whove gone to NSW, we did not design and set up a hotel quarantine system to enable people whove gone on holidays in NSW to come back a bit later."
North Wales Polices special constabulary chief officer awarded MBE in the New Years Honours List

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 1st, 2021

North Wales Polices Special Constabulary Chief Officer has been awarded the honour of MBE in the New Years 2021 Honours List.

Mark Owen received the award for his services to Policing and to the community in the region, including during the Covid-19 response.

Mark, who is originally from Bangor but now lives near Denbigh, joined the force as constable in 1984 and has served across most of the force area within a wide range of roles and ranks.

His ongoing passion is road safety, in particular motorcycle related road safety, and he was heavily involved in the BikeSafe scheme locally and nationally. For many years he volunteered his time to assist as a BikeSafe observer.





He has been an active member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists for many years and until recently was the chair of the North Wales Advanced Motorcyclists.

During his service he worked on a number of national policing developments and during 2008 and 2009 he was seconded to work abroad as a command level mentor to senior police officers in post war Kosovo.

Shortly after his retirement in 2012 Mark returned to North Wales Police as a member of police staff, initially to support the modernisation of the forces response to Missing People.

Whilst in this role he additionally accepted the voluntary role of Special Constabulary Chief Officer, becoming the senior officer responsible for all the volunteer police officers within our Special Constabulary and in turn he became an active member of the forces Senior Leadership Team.

Under Marks leadership the Special Constabulary doubled in size to nearly 200 officers and their capability and ability to support the regular force and our communities has been significantly professionalised via changes made to recruiting and training.

Mark went on to manage the Citizens in Policing business area, responsible for Police Support Volunteers and Cadets in addition to the Special Constabulary.

He also has a UK wide strategic role supporting the NPCC lead for the Special Constabulary and authored the National Strategy for the Special Constabulary on behalf of the police service.

He is the co-chair of the North Wales Police LGBT+ staff support network and played a key role as part of a team drawn from all 4 Welsh Forces in delivering the UK LGBT+ conference in Cardiff.

In 2020 he played a key role in the coordination of the volunteer response to COVID-19 across North Wales in his dual role as Special Constabulary Chief Officer and as Chair of the newly formed Pan North Wales Community Resilience Group.

As chair of the Community Resilience Group he helped coordinate the wider volunteering response to the pandemic, working with representatives from across North Wales including local authorities, volunteer councils and other organisations coming together to deal with challenges.

Tasks undertaken by volunteers during the pandemic have included prescription delivery, food parcel delivery, regular phone contact with the vulnerable, leaflet delivery, shopping assistance and community reassurance.

Mark has recently been selected to start a new role for the NPCC as the National Citizens in Policing Manager. This will allow him to further develop volunteering in the police service across England and Wales at a strategic level. Mark will though remain our Special Constabulary Chief Officer.

Responding to his recognition Mark said: I am absolutely bowled over to have been nominated, and delighted to receive this honour which means a lot to me professionally and personally.

This last year has been especially difficult and challenging for so many of our communities and its been my privilege to have been able to work alongside so many inspiring people, both paid and volunteers, from a whole range of organisations who have all pulled together and worked relentlessly to support our communities.

I feel proud of what every volunteer and organisation has contributed and what we have collectively achieved here in North Wales.

Chief Constable Carl Foulkes commented: Mark has done so much for the communities of North Wales, the police force and in particular the Special Constabulary over his many years of exceptional service and this recognition is rightly deserved for someone who time and again goes above and beyond to make a real difference.

Deputy Chief Constable Richard Debicki added: Marks recognition in the Queens New Years Honours is absolutely deserved, and he has made a huge contribution to the area and its communities over many years.

Speaking as the National Police Chiefs Lead for the Special Constabulary, I can say that the contribution he has made to the Special Constabulary locally, regionally and nationally has been particularly valuable and he should feel really proud for the difference has made.
(Natural News) On Wednesday, Dec. 9, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that he isnt going to mandate a COVID-19 vaccine in New Hampshire, the live free or die state.

Sununus announcement offers relief for worried citizens

On CNBCs Squawk Box, Republican Sununu talked about why he thinks Congress should pass COVID-19 aid immediately. He shared that the pandemic is currently driving various costs, like vaccine development and distribution, and that Congress hasnt done anything to help Americans amid the eight-month-long lockdowns.

Sununu urged Congress to roll out relief efforts as the country continues to struggle during the coronavirus pandemic. He highlighted the importance of focused relief efforts that are flexible for states instead of the megalomaniac attitude that comes from Washington that tries to control all aspects of pandemic response.

New Hampshire requires pre-school and kindergarten aged children to be vaccinated against various diseases before they can be admitted to school. When asked if he would support a COVID-19 vaccine mandate because of this requirement, Sununu said no. Anyone thats going to mandate a first-trial vaccine really could be potentially asking for trouble, he added.

Sununu thinks at-risk individuals will decide to take the vaccine at an extremely high rate. However, citizens who dont want to be inoculated, wont be forced to do so.

He added, The vaccine is about knowing that other folks have that choice to protect themselves and we, as a society, can kind of get back to whatever the new normal is going to look like.

Sununu also said that the question of a vaccine mandate would be up to the New Hampshire legislature.

The governors announcements followed the submission of two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use authorization review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And, approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech candidate has just been passed.

However, while these vaccines may be good news for some, some are worried about who will get priority access. Others also want to know if vaccines will be required for some citizens.

Experts have found that numerous Americans have valid safety concerns about a COVID-19 vaccine. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in September, over 50 percent of the 10,000 respondents polled said that they would definitely or probably not get inoculated.

Can companies issue vaccine mandates?

Experts have suggested that a federal mandate is highly unlikely. But other states and some employers may require the vaccine.

Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, explained that people may be required to get vaccinated to access certain places like schools, colleges or workplaces. He also reassured people that they dont have to worry that the president, governor, or county executive will tell them what to do.

But some experts say that while private companies have the right under the law to require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, most of them cant do so because of the risks of legal and cultural backlash.

Robert Field, a law and public health professor at Drexel University, said that compared to political leaders, employers are on shakier grounds because of the emergency use authorization. Field noted that, during this phase, there was no precedent for vaccine mandates.

Ford Motor Co. has ordered a dozen ultra-cold freezers to distribute vaccines to employees. But the company said that the vaccines are going to be made available on a voluntary basis. (Related: Nebraska police will only enforce citys mask mandate if complaints are raised.)

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Kellogg Co. reported that the company was working with a medical expert and industry trade associations. In compliance with local and regional regulations, the company also aims to make vaccines available to employees on a voluntary basis.

Its up to personal choice

Peter Meyers, a law professor at George Washington University Law School, shared that while companies could theoretically issue a mandate, its unlikely because of the current political climate. He added that this is because Americans tend to shy away from mandates.

Some calls for COVID-19 vaccine mandates have gained traction in certain states. For instance, in the summer, Virginias health commissioner said that he is in favor of this requirement. Virginia law allows the commissioner to require immediate vaccination during an epidemic.

The New York State Assembly has recently introduced a bill that would, if approved, mandate a vaccine for all New Yorkers. Exceptions include people who are medically exempt if the states vaccination efforts dont grant sufficient immunity from COVID-19.

In November, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced that the states decision to get vaccinated or not will be left to personal choice, echoing Sununus sentiments.

Visit Pandemic.news for more articles about how other states are handling the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine mandates.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

CNBC.com

USAToday.com
New Delhi: Actor Arjun Rampal, in a new social media post, declared that he has never been on the wrong side of the law. In this New year post he didnt make any reference to the drugs probe currently being conducted on him.

The actor started the new year with a lengthy post on what he learnt in 2020, a year that saw him being probed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as part of the agency's investigation into the alleged Bollywood drugs nexus, after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June.

"Wishing all of you a safe, blessed, healthy and prosperous 2021. 2020 taught us a lot. My learning is attached, have a read. Happy new year," he captioned the post.

Reflecting on 2020, his note was addressed to family, work, fans, friends, his industry, media, country and God.

"So, as we head into 2021 it is concern that makes me pen down my thoughts of a year that filled millions of lives with fear, anxiety, disruption, scandals, hypocrisy, lies, truths, realisation, enlightenment, bravery, strength, courage, charity, confusion, clarity and character. Most of these emotions I have felt myself, as I silently observed each and every one of them overwhelm me with an emotion that each of the adjectives bring," he wrote.

As for family, he said that there is a tendency to take them for granted, "always thinking they are always there, till relationships just become relations". However, he thanked each one of them and expressed gratitude.

Professionally, 2020 was supposed to be a busy year for Arjun. "With 280 days of my calendar already booked, I was certain the days would fly. But no, the universe had other plans. Halt, stop, reflect, listen, appreciate, understand and learn were the emotions felt," he wrote. The "Nail Polish" actor said that he was filled with gratitude to work again amid the new normal owing to the pandemic.

He also thanked his fans in the era of social media. "2020 also exposed how dreadfully misleading, disruptive and dangerous it has been. To all my fans, I just want to thank you for being so dignified and solid through the times and through the news that surrounded me," he wrote hinting about the drugs probe.

Wishing all of you a safe, blessed, healthy and prosperous 2021. 2020 taught us a lot. My learning is attached have a read. Happy new year pic.twitter.com/R9jutbcSES  arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) January 1, 2021

"I would like to assure each and every one of you that I am well aware of my responsibility as a celebrity, a father and a citizen of a country I love dearly that I have never been on the wrong side of the law. You all have nothing to fear or speculate as I have done nothing wrong. I love you all and going forward we shall only spread love and peace together. There is no room for any negativity in our space," he added.

He also touched upon his bond with friends which changed in the past few months. "Old ones and new...many disappeared. A few remained. To all those who disappeared, I thank you. For those who stayed, I look forward to getting old with you."

Talking about the film industry, he said: "To all those who know me and believed in me I am eternally indebted and grateful. To all that I may have unintentionally hurt in any way through this time I am sorry. To all who may have done the same to me, I forgive."

As for the media, Arjun said that he learnt "how ugly it is to hunt".

Sharing his love for India, he said that the country will emerge stronger from the pandemic and tragedies.

Arjun also thanked God and said: "With you on my side. Who needs a Godfather".

Concluding his note, he wrote: "Farewell 2020, I will never see you again, but I will also never forget you."
The skies are eerily empty these days, presenting a new challenge for the worlds embattled airlines as they work to safeguard thousands of grounded planes parked wingtip to wingtip on runways and in storage facilities.

More than 16,000 passenger jets are grounded worldwide, according to industry researcher Cirium, as the coronavirus obliterates travel and puts unprecedented strain on airline finances. Finding the right space and conditions for 62% of the worlds planes and keeping them airworthy have suddenly become priorities for 2020.

Aircraft cant simply be dusted back into action. They need plenty of work and attention while in storage, from maintenance of hydraulics and flight-control systems to protection against insects and wildlife  nesting birds can be a problem. Then theres humidity, which can corrode parts and damage interiors. Even when parked on runways, planes are often loaded with fuel to keep them from rocking in the wind and to ensure tanks stay lubricated.

Nobody thought this magnitude of preservation would need to be done, said Anand Bhaskar, chief executive officer of New Delhi-based Air Works, a plane repair and maintenance company. Parking space is a problem. These are logistics nightmares which were trying to work around.

Mass Grounding

The number of passenger jets in service is the lowest in 26 years, according to Cirium. Managing such large-scale storage is a challenge for an industry already in crisis, with airlines worldwide slashing capacity to close to zero or not flying at all. The International Air Transport Association has warned that revenue from flying passengers could drop by nearly a third of a trillion dollars this year and that 25 million jobs are at risk.

Airlines are hunting for space on the ground at airports or in longer-term storage facilities in arid places such as Australias outback and the Mojave Desert in the U.S. At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, KLM Group has more than 200 aircraft at gates and on a runway, arranged according to size and type, and ensuring enough space for them to be towed if maintenance is required, according to a post on the companys website.

Schiphol is packed, KLM Community Manager Annemiek Cornielje wrote. Not with passengers, unfortunately, but with the many aircraft parked on the ramp and even on a runway. Choreographing this sad and unique sight is quite a parking-puzzle, she said, adding that Schiphol isnt charging parking fees.

Charges differ from airport to airport. In India, parking alone can cost $1,000 a day for a large aircraft, according to Mark Martin, founder of Dubai-based Martin Consulting LLC. For an airline with a fleet of more than 250 jets, even heavily discounted rates may mean expenses of $12.5 million for a six-month grounding, without taking into account maintenance costs, he said.

In its online magazine, IATA said it asked governments to cut parking fees, which usually account for less than 2% of airport revenue in a normal year. Under current circumstances, those charges could make-or-break some airlines, it said.

Shampoo and Clean

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways PJSC said its engineers are working around the clock maintaining its grounded fleet, a process that includes running engines and powering up aircraft, checking flight controls, and covering sensors and engines to protect inner workings from sand and dust. About 200 staff per shift clean plane cabins in hangars, from replacing seat covers to shampooing carpets, according to a video on the airlines official Twitter account.

Ive never seen anything like this before in my aviation career, Etihads Head of Technical Operations Gary Byrne said. The aircraft are very intricate, complex pieces of machinery  its not like parking a car.

Tires also need attention. Qantas Airways Ltd. said all planes from Boeing Co. 737s to Airbus SE A380s need to have their wheels rotated  by being towed on the tarmac or jacked into the air to be spun  every one to two weeks, while hydraulic fluid is put on landing gear to protect against rust. Giant silica moisture absorption sachets are also put inside engines to keep them dry, while all external holes on the fuselage are covered to block insects and nesting birds.

Qantas said it has more than 200 aircraft, including Jetstars Boeing 787 Dreamliners, parked at airports around Australia. The countrys climate makes it more suited for storage, especially compared with much of Asia, which has high levels of humidity as well as the threat of typhoons. Near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage Pty is holding aircraft for the likes of Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Fiji Airways.

The storage firm is expanding capacity to about 70 aircraft and considering raising that to more than 100, according to Managing Director Tom Vincent.

There is a scramble for proper storage facilities, he said. We have a large number of deliveries over the next coming weeks and months.

Asia Pacific has been a rapidly growing aviation market, with a slew of budget carriers from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, India and elsewhere ordering thousands of planes, buoyed by an emerging middle class embracing flying. That expansion came to a screeching halt because of the coronavirus, which has also hit orders for manufacturing giants Boeing and Airbus.

Finnair Oyj has parked aircraft at its Helsinki hub and has capacity if needed to use airports in Tampere and Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland province. Work includes reconnecting aircraft batteries every 14 days, the airline said on its website. One a month, a more extensive check is carried out that involves removing protective covers, starting engines and inspecting air-conditioning and anti-ice systems.

One big challenge with parked planes is brakes, which can fade within 24 hours, according to Finnair Vice President of Ground Operations Jukka Glader. Each of its jets requires 10 to 12 chocks behind the wheels to keep them in position. With so many aircraft grounded, Finnair ordered 500 wooden corona chocks from a local carpentry shop.

Parking Spots

British Airways has parked half of its fleet of 12 Airbus A380 superjumbos in Chateauroux, France, for longer storage. Tarmac Aerosave SAS, which has storage sites in France and Spain, is working to handle higher volumes of requests, while ComAv LLC is also experiencing increased demand for its facility at the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, to the northeast of Los Angeles.

At crowded airports like in New Delhi, which doesnt have spare parking spots, a runway has been converted into a temporary storage area, like at Schiphol.

Whether its the multiple control surfaces or avionics or hydraulic systems, prolonged storage effectively means an impact to airworthiness, said Satyendra Pandey, an independent consultant and former head of strategy at Go Airlines India Ltd. Long-term storage is a specialized skill and ideal in dry and hot environments. This aspect will have to be revisited as currently airplanes are parked at airports and runways across the globe.

Among other carriers, United Airlines Holdings Inc. expects to park about 400 aircraft, mostly at its hubs like Newark and Chicago, a spokeswoman said, while Delta Air Lines Inc. has sent planes to Pinal Airpark near Tucson, Arizona. American Airlines Group Inc. is using a maintenance base in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and facilities elsewhere.

It might seem a simple task, but theres some nuance to it, APASs Vincent said. It doesnt just stop, there are the continuous, periodic checks.
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Mahindra & Mahindra announced that its overall auto sales (passenger vehicles+ commercial vehicles+ exports) for the month of December 2020 stood at 35,187 vehicles, compared to 39,230 in December 2019.

In the Utility Vehicles segment, Mahindra sold 16,050 vehicles in December 2020, compared to 15,225 vehicles in December 2019, registering a growth of 5%. The Passenger Vehicles segment (which includes UVs, Cars and Vans) sold 16,182 vehicles in December 2020, a growth of 3% over same period last year.

Exports for the month of December 2020 were at 2,210 vehicles

According to Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Division, M&M, At Mahindra we have witnessed a growth of 5% in Utility Vehicles in the month of December.

Our overall sales have been affected due to the continuing supply chain challenges related to the constantly changing global environment, more specifically the supply shortage of micro-processors (semiconductors) used in Electronic Control Unit (ECUs). Demand continues to remain strong even after the festive season and as we get into the new year.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


BY ZEPHANAI UBWANI IN ARUSHA

The East African Law Society (EALS) has decried the state of rule of law in Uganda ahead of January 14th General Elections.

The regions premier bar association has criticized government security agents for the alleged widespread human rights violations.

In a statement endorsed by the presidents of EALS chapters in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda, the Arusha-based association cites freezing of accounts of several non-governmental organizations engaged in the rule of law initiatives, as other human rights violations ahead of the polls.

The others include incommunicado detention of human rights defenders and political opponents and trumped up criminal charges against advocates of rule of law.

Bernard Oundo, the president of the regional bar association which has an observer status with the EAC, has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni and his security machinery to forthwith act to forestall further human rights violations.
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What's in a name? For Pakistan, everything, as it continues to change names of terror groups to dodge bans

More to come says TRF as it targets Punjabi jeweller who got domicile few months back

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: A Jammu and Kashmir based Punjabi jeweller was shot dead in Srinagar. He was based in J&K for the past four decades and was shot dead by motor-cycle borne terrorists in the city's Sarai Bala locality.

The Pakistan backed terror group, The Resistance Front (TRF) while claiming responsibility for the killing said that the new domicile law was unacceptable and everyone other than indigenous Kashmiris would be treated as occupiers if they acquire property in J&K. More to come, the TRF also said in the statement that was circulated on the social media.

he first time that the agencies got to know about this group was in March 2020, when the police busted a module of The Resistance Front." The module was busted on April 23, 2020 at Sopore and it was found back then, it was linked to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

Cops bust terror-associate module of Jaish-e-Mohammad

A senior security official tells OneIndia that this group is the Lashkar-e-Tayiba which is operating under a new name. It is an age old trick of these groups to change names so that there is an element of surprise for the security agencies.

Satpal Nischal who was shot dead in the congested Sarai Bala area got a domicile certificate a few months back. He became the first domicile holder to be targeted by terrorists since the new law took effect. He was the owner of Nischal Jewellers in Srinagar and the police said that he took three bullets on his chest.

After getting the domicile certificate, he purchased a shot at the Hanuman Mandir in Srinagar and a house at Indira Nagar.

As per the new domicile law, non-permanent residents who have residency proof of at least 15 years in J-K are entitled to get domicile certificates.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

Prior to the nullification of Article 370 and Article 35A, only state subjects were allowed to buy land and apply for government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 8:46 [IST]
With effect from January 1, the price of non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders remained at Rs 694 per cylinder (14.2 kilograms) each in Delhi and Mumbai, according to Indian Oil Corporations (IOC) website. Commercial customers will now have to shell out an additional Rs 17 per cylinder.

According to the IOC website, the new rate of 19kg for every LPG cylinder in Delhi is now Rs 1,349 as against the previous price of Rs 1,332. In other metro cities too prices have seen an upward revision. In Kolkata, the LPG cylinder price has been increased by Rs 22.50 to Rs 1,410 from 1,387.50. In Mumbai, it has become costlier by Rs 17, from 1,280.50 to Rs 1,297.50. In Chennai, prices have increased by Rs 16.50 to Rs 1463.50 from Rs 1,446.50.

Oil marketing companies revise the prices of LPG on the first day of every month depending on the crude rates in the international markets.

Prices of non-subsidised 14kg Indane Gas cylinder was paused for five months since May 2020, after which the price went for upward revision on both December 1 and December 15. The previous price of non-subsidised 14kg Indane Gas cylinder as of December 15 was Rs 694 per LPG cylinder bottle.

The government gave out 80 million free LPG connections to poor women under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) to increase coverage of environment-friendly fuel in kitchens. Currently, the government subsidises 12 cylinders of 14.2 kilograms each per household every year. The consumer has to make any additional purchases of LPG cylinders at the market price.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
A seven-kilometre-long Nagar Kirtan attended by hundreds of farmers marked New Year at Singhu Border on Friday as protesters rung in the new year amid muted celebrations.

This is the first Nagar Kirtan  a religious procession meant to mark a special occasion  organised at the border protest site by the Sikh farmers, after they had to give the ritual a pass during Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 30.

The procession was headed by a tractor pulling a large customised trolley that was heavily decked with flowers and carried at least six people chanting hymns and distributing prasad. The tractor was followed by hundreds of devotees on foot, some Nihang Sikhs riding on horses, followed by other devotees riding modified vehicles.

If we were in Punjab, we would have had the Nagar Kirtan on the New Year day. Since we are settled here now, we thought it would be feasible to have the Nagar Kirtan on this day, said one of the organisers, Jagdeesh Singh, who is from Jaldiyala in Jalandhar district of Punjab.

The procession began around noon on Friday and slowly crawled its way through the maze of vehicles and people gathered at Singhu Border.

Among the vehicles which were a part of the procession was a Maruti Alto modified into an open-air vehicle and a 1958-make modified Villy Jeep, which carried eight devotees.

Our New Year celebrations will happen when the government agrees to our demand. Until then, we will keep any festivities limited to religious rituals and speeches, said Khushwant Singh Sidhu, who belongs to Jagraon village in Ludhiana.

Apart from the Nagar Kirtan, another smaller function included a dance performance by a Haryana farmer.

No one wanted to celebrate the New Year here. So, I decided to put up a performance for my farmer friends from Punjab and my state, said the performer Chand Singh, a farmer from Kathura village in nearby Sonepat, amid hookah puffs.

Farmers at the borders said call dropping had been a big challenge for them on Thursday night as they tried calling back home to wish their families for New Year. Paramjeet Singh, from Rampursunra village in Phagwara, said that the five Wi-Fi points arranged by the Delhi government recently were not enough to cater to the huge number of farmers present in the area.

We usually go to sleep here by 10.30-11 pm. But last night we stayed awake until 2 am just to wish our families. I could connect to them only around 2am after repeated attempts, said Singh.
New York  With the calendar flipping to 2021, UNICEF dedicates its 75th year to reimagining a better world for children.

An estimated 371,504 babies will be born around the world on New Year's Day, according to UNICEF.

As the calendar turns to 2021, UNICEF is again celebrating the new lives being brought into the world on January 1. Fiji in the Pacific will welcome 2021's first baby. The United States will welcome its last. Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in 10 countries: India (59,995), China (35,615), Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), the United States (10,312), Egypt (9,455), Bangladesh (9,236) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,640).

In total, an estimated 140 million children will be born in 2021. Their average life expectancy is expected to be 84 years.

"The children born today enter a world far different than even a year ago, and a New Year brings a new opportunity to reimagine it," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. "Children born today will inherit the world we begin to build for them--today. Let us make 2021 the year we start to build a fairer, safer, healthier world for children."

2021 will also mark the 75th anniversary of UNICEF. Over the course of the year, UNICEF and its partners will be commemorating the anniversary with events and announcements celebrating three-quarters of a century of protecting children from conflict, disease and exclusion and championing their right to survival, health and education.

Most popular baby names in select countries around the time of UNICEF's creation*

Male Female

Australia John Margaret

China Ming Shulan

Croatia Ivan Marija

Denmark Erik Kristen

France Jean Marie

Germany Hans Renate

Israel Moshe Esther

Japan Masaru Kazuko

Korea Yeong-ho Yeong-ja

Poland Jan Maria

Russia Ivan Maria

Spain Jose Maria Carmen

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Children Africa International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

United Kingdom John Margaret

United States James Mary

"Today, as the world faces a global pandemic, economic slowdown, rising poverty and deepening inequality, the need for UNICEF's work is as great as ever," said Fore. "For the last 75 years, throughout conflicts, displacements, natural disasters and crises, UNICEF has been there for the world's children. As a New Year dawns, we renew our commitment to protect children, to speak up for their rights, and to make sure their voices are heard, no matter where they live."

In response to the global pandemic, UNICEF launched the Reimagine campaign, a global effort to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from becoming a lasting crisis for children. Through the campaign, UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to governments, the public, donors and the private sector to join UNICEF as we seek to respond, recover and reimagine a better, post-pandemic world.


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Members of the Zimbabwean community in Kenya are celebrating their new status as Kenyan citizens after decades of being stateless. Brenda Mulinya takes a look at what the legal change means for them in this report from Nairobi.
A Tribute to Peter McGough from Steve Blechman

Written by Steve Blechman

31 December 2020

A Tribute to Peter McGough from Steve Blechman

I was sad to hear that legendary bodybuilding journalist and historian Peter McGough died on Tuesday, December 29th at the age of 71. He was battling metastatic cancer for seven years. He served as Senior Writer of Muscular Development from 2012 to 2017 after serving 10 years at Flex magazine. Peter was the best in the business, and I was very proud to have him as part of the MD Team. He was a tremendous asset. I considered him the best bodybuilding writer of all time.

Peter had over a 40-year involvement in bodybuilding and has spent over 30 years in bodybuilding journalism. I first learned of Peter McGough in the late 80s. He was a leading figure in bodybuilding in Britain at the time and recognized as one of the top bodybuilding writers and editors in the field.

I first met Peter in 1991 in New York when Dorian Yates won the Night of Champions. In 1991, Yates was the runner-up at the Olympia to Lee Haney, who won his eight record-setting Sandows and retired. From 1992 through 1997, Dorian won six consecutive Sandows, and dominated the sport. Dorian once told me he had much respect for Peter and considered him a great friend and mentor. Peter referred to Dorian as The Shadow, an allusion to his new light on his training methods with his brief but very high-intensity workouts. Peter also co-authored Dorians book entitled A Warriors Story. Peter developed close relationships with many of the sports top stars and Olympians such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Phil Heath.

In 1992 Peter flew to California to work for Joe Weider as senior writer for Flex magazine, and two years later became editor-in-chief. In 2005, Ben Weider proudly presented Peter with the IFBB Achievement Award at the Mr. Olympia finals for his 25 years of dedication to the bodybuilding movement.

Only after a year of working for Muscular Development in 2013, Peter was first diagnosed with colon cancer. He later learned weeks later that the colon cancer metastasized to his liver. He was devastated along with his wife and companion Anne when he received the diagnosis. Things looked very bleak for Peter, but I knew he was a fighter, and he would never give up! Peter had many challenges in life, and this was just the biggest challenge of his lifetime: to survive cancer.

I told Peter at the time, that I had a very close friend that was head of the Cancer Research Center at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York. Peter asked me if he would be able to send his medical records to my doctor friend.

I said, Of course, Peter. I was going to suggest that.

When my doctor friend from Stony Brook read the report, he told me, Things did not look good for Peter.

I asked him what he felt his prognosis was and how long Peter had to survive. He told me, Im sorry, Steve, but he might have two weeks, four weeks, but no longer than six months. And he recommended that he get treatment at Moffitt Cancer Research Center in Tampa, Florida, which is the number one ranked cancer center in the state of Florida.

I think with the excellent medical treatment Peter had over the years, combined with his desire to survive and beat cancer, and with the support of his devoted wife Anne, he surpassed all odds and survived seven years.

It was a long battle, but now its time for Peter to rest in peace. He made so many great contributions to our industry. Like I said, he was the best at what he did, and he will be dearly missed. The five years working with Peter were some of the best years of my career working in the bodybuilding industry.

Everyone at Muscular Development respected and loved Peter.

We all knew he was a great journalist, but I remember telling him, Peter, youre more than just a journalist, you should be doing commentary, interviews and contest coverage as well. Peter had a great sense of humor and a likeable personality and I said, Peter, you gotta get out there and do more for MD than just write!

I tried my best to boost his confidence during the start of digital age that he could both write on paper, but also do great reporting online!

Thanks again, Peter, for all the great work that you did for Muscular Development. I am most appreciative of all your contributions and to have the opportunity to work with you and get to know you, and Anne as well. Everyone at MD sends our condolences to his wife Anne and all of Peters followers, friends and fans.

Rest in peace, Peter. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.

All my best,

Steve

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T he parents of Madeleine McCann have said in a New Year message that their "hope, energy and determination" to find her remains steadfast.

In a message posted on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign website, Kate and Gerry McCann said their thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has suffered during 2020.

The statement, which also thanks well-wishers, reads: "Goodbye 2020. What a year! One we don't want to remember but will find it hard to forget.

"There's no doubt that 2020 has been tough for most people, and often distressing, with so much loss, worry and isolation.

"Despite losing a parent each, we are aware we have been more fortunate than many, with our family unit at home and jobs to go to."

The couple, from Rothley in Leicestershire, acknowledged the investigation to find Madeleine had understandably been forced to slow down as a result of the pandemic.

They added: "It hasn't stopped, however, and the hope, energy and determination to find her and uncover the truth remain steadfast.

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz

"We are very grateful for the continued support, especially throughout this 'rubbish' year and for all the Christmas wishes too. Thank-you.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has suffered this year. Let's hope 2021 is a brighter, more positive one."

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, on Portugal's Algarve, on May 3, 2007.

Scotland Yard last month confirmed it has no plans to end its missing person investigation, despite the belief of German prosecutors that Madeleine was murdered.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said the force is working "really, really closely" with the German authorities, but does not expect them to share all of their evidence.

A suspect in the German inquiry, Christian Brueckner, was told last November that he will remain behind bars until 2026, after losing a bid to overturn a rape conviction.

He was last year found guilty of the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in the same Portuguese resort and sentenced to seven years in jail, at a court in Brunswick, Lower Saxony.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

A state district court judge in Albuquerque has ruled that medical marijuana patients who are in custody or under the supervision of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center should not be penalized for using marijuana.

The order by 2nd Judicial District Court Judge Lucy Solimon applies specifically to MDC, but a lawyer representing a man who was thrown in jail for having medical marijuana believes all jails and prisons in the state should voluntarily comply with the ruling and provide marijuana to licensed patients.

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An MDC spokeswoman said the facility will comply with the order.

Joe Montano, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated DWI and in October 2019 was sentenced to serve 90 days in MDCs Community Custody Program, which allows people to serve their sentence on house arrest instead of in jail, followed by 12 months of supervised probation. Montano has had a valid medical marijuana card since 2015, court documents show.

In November 2019, CCP officers found marijuana in Montanos possession and forced him to serve the rest of his 90-day CCP sentence in MDC custody, according to court documents. He was released in January 2020.

In July, Montanos attorney, Jacob Candelaria, filed a motion asking a judge to prohibit MDC from penalizing inmates with a valid medical marijuana card for using cannabis.

On Tuesday, Solimon issued an order that says MDC shall comply with the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act  and shall not penalize persons in custody or under the supervision of the Metropolitan Detention Center, including those in the Community Custody Program, for conduct allowed under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.

In her ruling, Solimon cited a 2019 amendment to the act, which governs medical marijuana in New Mexico, that says, [a] person who is serving a period of probation or parole or who is in the custody or under the supervision of the state or a local government pending trial as part of a community supervision program shall not be penalized for conduct allowed under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.

Candelaria, who is also a state senator, said the ruling makes it clear that all medical marijuana patients who are in custody should be able to use marijuana.

(The order) makes no exception or distinction between persons under the custody of the state, whether or not theyre on house arrest or within a jail or prison setting, he said.

Candelaria added that he wants state and county officials to begin developing policies to allow inmates to use marijuana. He also said the government should pay for medical marijuana the same way it pays for other medications.

I absolutely do believe that jail and prison facilities have the responsibility to provide that medical care if its ordered by a physician, period, Candelaria said.

A state Department of Corrections spokesman did not return an email or phone call from the Journal on Thursday.

MDC spokeswoman Julia Rivera said in an email that the jail will follow the law, but declined to give further comment.

Bernalillo County Assistant Attorney Daniel Roberson previously argued in court filings that medical marijuana laws dont cover patients who are under post-conviction supervision.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Hollywood's favorite animal welfare activist Marc Ching has been accused by named vets and pet rescue workers of exaggerating dogs' injuries to raise more money for his shelter.

Ching, who runs the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation in Sherman Oaks, California, allegedly made several false claims including that rescued dogs had been saved from the meat trade when they were actually injured in road accidents, according to a bombshell report from the Los Angeles Times.

In another alleged incident, Ching claimed an animal that went on to become a poster dog for his firm and had an animal rights bill named after it was sodomized but vets examinations found no evidence of such an assault.

Under Californian law, charities are banned from engaging in deceptive fundraising practices.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation and its attorney Russell Selmont for comment.

Hollywood's favorite animal welfare activist Marc Ching has been accused by named vets and pet rescue workers of exaggerating dogs' injuries to raise more money for his shelter

Sedna Moseley, who became the foster owner of a rescue pit bull mix named Riley in 2017, told the Times Ching claimed in a Facebook post for the charity that as well as having his face burned with acid and being abandoned by a San Bernardino school, the dog had been sodomized.

'He was burned with acid. Sodimized. Jaw shattered and broken in separate places,' reads the Facebook post from August 2017.

The story achieved national attention and led to the introduction of animal cruelty bill 'Riley's Law' supported by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian.

Moseley, who worked as a veterinarian technician at Loma Linda Animal Hospital at the time, said examinations by two separate vets showed the sodomy claims to be false.

One of the vets, Natalia Soto, from Studio City, told the Times she had examined Riley and told the charity the sodomy claims were incorrect but it continued to push the story on social media.

'I told them I never found any evidence that that happened,' she said.

Medical records for the puppy, who died from injuries related to its abuse in January, also show no mention of rectal trauma, according to the Times.

Ching claimed Riley (above) - who went on to become a poster dog for his firm and had an animal rights bill named after him - was sodomized but vet examinations found no evidence of such an assault

Sedna Moseley, who became the foster owner of Riley in 2017, said 'he used my dog to make money'

'Marc didn't need to make up anything extra - the truth was more than horrifying,' Moseley told the Times.

'He used my dog to make money.'

Both Moseley and Lydia Savala, the owner of local rescue charity Poochmatch who first took the dog to the hospital for treatment before Ching stepped in, claimed Ching told them the violent abuse was the result of a gang initiation.

Ching's lawyer Selmont told the Times the charity had been told of the sodomy by the owner of a local animal rights group who handed Riley to the shelter.

The woman, who has not been identified, told the outlet she was told the dog had suffered rectal trauma by a vet but could not recall the name of the vet or veterinary hospital.

Selmont also said Soto had examined the 'many days or weeks' after the dog was rescued meaning Riley's injuries had healed.

Medical records seen by the Times show the examination was eight days after Riley's rescue.

The charity has also been accused of falsely claiming in a 2016 social media post that eight dogs rescued from Thailand were saved from the meat trade and that one had its limbs cut off in a slaughterhouse.

John Dalley, head of Thailand-based Soi Dog Foundation which gave Animal Hope and Wellness the animals, told the Times he had told Ching none of the animals were from the meat trade.

He said Ching was given a history of each animal with most having been injured in road traffic accidents.

The charity has also been accused of falsely claiming in a 2016 social media post that eight dogs rescued from Thailand were saved from the meat trade and that one had its limbs cut off in a slaughterhouse

The Facebook post still online shows Ching posing with eight dog cages in an airport (above) writing alongside it: 'To hope, and to healing. We are coming home. #MarcChing and eight #DogsFromTheMeatTrade'

The Facebook post still online shows Ching posing with eight dog cages in an airport writing alongside it: 'To hope, and to healing. We are coming home. #MarcChing and eight #DogsFromTheMeatTrade.'

The charity's attorney told the Times the claim about the animal with its limbs cut off was 'an unfortunate but honest mistake' by the charity's former executive director Valarie Ianniello.

Ianniello, who has previously filed a complaint to the California attorney general claiming the charity was making misleading claims in soliciting donations, told The Times she wrote the social media post based on what Ching told her.

The ex top charity exec claimed she came to realize many of Ching's stories about the rescue dogs were 'created'.

She recalled one allegedly false tale of a puppy that had been raped with a beer bottle.

Selmont told the Times the charity had been given the information from a group that handed the dog to the shelter and that the group has since maintained the details are true.

Ching has made a name for himself as an animal crusader after claiming he was attacked and had the barrel of a machine-gun put in his mouth in a series of dog rescue missions across countries including China, South Korea and Indonesia.

Ching has made a name for himself as an animal crusader after claiming he had the barrel of a machine-gun put in his mouth in a series of dog rescue missions across countries including China, South Korea and Indonesia. Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation above

He enlisted several Hollywood stars for campaigns including a 2016 campaign appeal featuring Matt Damon, Joaquin Phoenix and Minnie Driver to stop China's dog meat trade.

A separate investigation by the Times reported that Indonesia butchers featured in the video were paid by Ching to hang a dog and burn it alive for the footage.

It also raised questions about $350,000 spent by the charity on trips to different countries.

Ching has denied the allegations and a statement on the foundation's website says that the board carried out an internal review which found 'no evidence of financial wrongdoing and no evidence of Marc paying for torture that would otherwise not occur'.

The latest claims come three months after Los Angeles prosecutors charged Ching with seven counts, including practicing veterinary medicine without a license and false advertising, over allegations he convinced pet owners to give their animals products from his store the Petstaurant instead of prescribed treatments from vets.

Ching is due to appear in court on the charges in March.

This came after he reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission in July after he was accused of making false or deceptive claims that some of his products could treat COVID-19 and cancer.
-- China removed the remaining 52 counties from the poverty list as scheduled this year, despite the unprecedented impacts brought about by the COVID-19 epidemic.

-- The hard-won feat came after decades of unremitting efforts. Since the late 1970s, China has lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty.

-- The anti-poverty campaign has not only greatly improved the livelihood of poor people, but also helped induce a much-coveted sense of fulfillment and gain.

A skilled baker with seven years of experience, Abudujilil Tuhtey can make 500 to 600 pieces of naan every day. It's a staple food popular in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With his outstanding skill, Tuhtey can earn more than 5,000 yuan (about 769 U.S. dollars) a month at a naan bakery in Akto County in southern Xinjiang, which was opened this year as part of the government's efforts to alleviate poverty by developing local specialty businesses.

Thanks to better equipment and modern techniques, the bakery can make 20,000 pieces of naan every day. Some 300 poor people have benefited from the thriving business, making an average monthly salary of about 4,000 yuan, said Ajim Mamut, head of the bakery.

A worker lays freshly-made naan at a naan bakery in Akto County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Han)

The success of the bakery offered a glimpse into how targeted anti-poverty measures work in China, and how remote and less developed regions can capitalize on their strengths to shake off poverty.

In November, Akto, one of the westernmost counties in China where a large ethnic minority population lives, was delisted from the national poverty list along with nine other counties in Xinjiang.

Nationwide, China removed the remaining 52 counties from the poverty list as scheduled this year, despite the unprecedented impacts brought about by the COVID-19 epidemic. The counties are scattered in Xinjiang, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Gansu.

"Delisting all poverty-stricken counties indicates China has resolved the millennia-old issue of extreme poverty," said Gao Gang, a researcher with the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences.

The hard-won feat came after decades of unremitting efforts in the world's most populous country. Since its reform and opening up in the late 1970s, China has lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty.

In particular, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in late 2012, the country's remaining poor population of nearly 100 million under the current standard have shaken off poverty, and all of its 832 poverty-stricken counties have been delisted.

ENHANCED SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

China's anti-poverty campaign has not only greatly improved the livelihood of poor people, but also helped induce a much-coveted sense of fulfillment and gain.

Huang Yuanping, 33, is a resident of Yunding Village, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province.

Bearing the responsibility of her ailing father-in-law and two children, Huang had long been tied to household chores and struggled to make ends meet. In 2014, her family was registered as a poor household.

The local government sent a team of three people to the village to help with the poverty-alleviation work in 2018. Upon arrival, they were as much struck by the picturesque scenery of the village as by its abysmal level of poverty. After thorough research, they reckoned that developing tourism was the best way to lift the mountainous village out of poverty.

After two years of efforts by the prefectural government, tourism-related infrastructure in the village was improved -- more roads were built, solar-powered street lamps installed, and dilapidated houses turned into hostels.

This year, a recreational campground was built in the village for travelers where Huang got the job of a front desk clerk, earning a monthly salary of 2,800 yuan.

Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2020 shows a night view of Yunding Village in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua)

"I used to be a housewife. Now with the new job, I feel a sense of self-fulfillment," said Huang. "I can learn a lot of things while making enough money to support the family."

"As the village is becoming an increasingly popular tourist attraction, I believe my life will become better and better," said Huang.

HIGH SATISFACTION RATE

China sets its national standard of extreme poverty based on per capita income and other factors such as living conditions and access to compulsory education, basic medicare and safe housing.

Before a county is officially removed from the poverty list, experts from third-party agencies would conduct an assessment on whether the criteria for delisting have been met and how satisfied the poor people are with the anti-poverty work.

Pang Jiaxing, an environmental expert from Lanzhou University who has been an assessor of anti-poverty work since 2016, said the assessment follows a set of strict scientific rules.

"During the assessment, we gathered information from both the officials and poor people. We also took field trips to see in person whether poverty-alleviation criteria have been met," said Pang. "Whenever there was an inconsistency between what we knew and what the poor people said, we sought opinions from their neighbors."

In recent years, the satisfaction rate of the poor people with anti-poverty work has continued to increase, reflecting that such efforts brought them genuine benefits, according to Pang and his team.

In both Guizhou and Tibet Autonomous Region, third-party assessments found the satisfaction rate among locals over 99 percent.

Nijia (1st L) and his family members pose for a photo in front of their house at the Rongma relocation settlement, a local poverty alleviation project, in Gurum Township of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

The elimination of extreme poverty means China has met the poverty eradication target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations 10 years ahead of schedule.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his message for the 2017 Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum that "targeted poverty reduction strategies are the only way to reach those farthest behind and achieve the ambitious targets set out in the 2030 Agenda."

"China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, and its experiences can provide valuable lessons to other developing countries," he said.
MAZEPPA, Minn. - 2020 has been a tough year for Minnesota businesses affected by pandemic shutdowns and restrictions, but members of one community showed their support for a Mazeppa eatery Thursday night.

Community members showed up to safely support The Pondy Restaurant and Bar at a time when the business has been through a lot. Restrictions have forced them to lay off staff and rapidly change the way their business operates.

But with laughter and music ringing into the new years night, owner Steve Overton says he's over the moon and on cloud nine.

"This is what people own restaurants and bars for," Overton tolk KIMT News 3. "They do it because when the people leave and they ring the bell, and say 'that was just really good,' it gives you the chills. Those moments are why you own a bar and restaurant, and tonight I got it again."

Overton says staff are working to plan safe outdoor activities into 2021, including ice fishing contests.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-31 20:39:53|Editor: huaxia

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A truck loaded with boxes containing China's COVID-19 vaccine products are seen at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, Dec. 31, 2020. A total of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech on Thursday arrived in Indonesia, according to Indonesian government officials. (Photo by Raziq Sabra/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech on Thursday arrived in Indonesia, according to Indonesian government officials.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said this is the second batch of the Sinovac vaccine delivery for Indonesia, and that the first batch of 1.2 million doses arrived on Dec. 6.

"With this arrival, it means that there are already 3 million doses of Sinovac vaccine in Indonesia," Marsudi told a virtual press conference.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said vaccination is one of Indonesia's main strategies to solve the COVID-19 pandemic, adding, "It would take more than 12 months to complete the vaccination program, so we always keep up to health protocols."

Indonesia is planning to vaccinate 181.5 million of its population next year in order to achieve herd immunity and break the chain of coronavirus transmissions.

The first period of vaccination will be from January to April 2021, for inoculating 1.3 million medical workers, 17.4 million public workers, and 21.5 million elderly people.

The second period will run from April 2021 to March 2022 for vaccination of 63.9 million vulnerable people and 77.4 million people of other groups. Enditem
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Hong Kong: 42 COVID-19 cases detected

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 42 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 36 are locally transmitted.

The patients include 20 males and 22 females, aged between one and 89.

Among the local cases, 13 have unknown sources of infection.

One of the linked cases belongs to the United Christian Hospital ward 2D cluster, involving a patient care assistant who tested positive for COVID-19 in a quarantine centre, bringing the number of infected cases in the cluster to 21.

Another case involves a Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital patient who tested preliminary positive for the virus yesterday.

Centre for Health Protection Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan told a press briefing this afternoon that she could not rule out a rebound in new infections, despite the recent fall in numbers.

We did see a decreasing number of cases over the past one or two weeks, but still, the decreasing trend is a bit slow. Also we are having quite a number of long weekends with quite a few gatherings, a lot of people crowded together outside or inside at home, so we are quite a bit worried about whether the numbers will go up again.

If there is any superspreader who has been to certain settings, there may be a huge spread. Otherwise, hopefully the worst is over, but still, the numbers may rebound any time.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-01-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BEDFORD TOWNSHIP, MI -- Police are investigating what theyre calling an attempted homicide in Monroe County.

A staff member at the Happy Day Motel in Bedford Township found two people -- a 32-year-old woman and 30-year-old man, both from Toledo-- unresponsive in one of the rooms around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

Monroe County deputies learned both victims were assaulted the night prior at the Bedford Inn Motel  less than a mile away. Bedford Inn Motel, located on S. Telegraph Road, is less than a half-mile north of the Michigan-Ohio border.

Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries. The female victim was released from the hospital while the male victim remains hospitalized in critical condition, per a Monroe County Sheriffs Office news release.

Detectives searched the Bedford Inn Motel room and found evidence of an aggravated assault, narcotics and a firearm.

The Bedford Township Fire Department, Monroe Community Ambulance and detectives from the Monroe Area Narcotics Team Investigative Services helped on the scene.

Anybody with information about the incident should call the Monroe County Sheriffs Office Detective Bureau at 734-240-7530.

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India's drug regulator is set to approve on Friday a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, for emergency use, according to news agency Reuters reported. The expert committee set up by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) V.G. Somani to vet vaccine proposals, met for the second time this week, recommended emergency approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. British-Swedish drugmaker inked an agreement with Serum Institute of India to produce 1 billion doses of its experimental vaccine for lower-and-middle income countries.

Dubbed as Covishield in India, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine showed an average efficacy of 70.4%, with no hospitalisations or severe disease, according to the data. Serum Institute sought emergency use licence for a version of the British drugmakers vaccine in India last month. The expert committee earlier asked it to submit updated data after the United Kingdom regulator had given its approval to AstraZenecas original version.

Britain last week approved the emergency authorisation of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the country. The authorisation is for two full doses administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks, AstraZeneca said.

The vaccine is "virus-vectored", which means it is a version of a virus that normally infects chimpanzees and has been modified with a portion of the COVID-19 called the "spike protein" to fire the immune system. Once in human cells, the vaccine should help stimulate the production of antibodies that recognize the virus.

Cheaper and easier to distribute than rival vaccines, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is by far the most significant in the global fight against the novel coronavirus. Unlike the two messenger RNA vaccines by US firms Pfizer and Moderna, this vaccine could be kept at normal refrigerator temperatures of between two and eight degrees Celsius. The Moderna vaccine needs to be stored at -20C, while the Pfizer/BioNTech product must be kept at -70C. It will be priced as little as $3 per dose.

Researchers claimed the vaccine protected against disease in 62% of those given two full doses and in 90% of those initially given a half dose.

The world's biggest producer of vaccines, has already stockpiled about 50 million doses, enough for 25 million people. India will be the first priority for the delivery of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer, Serum Institute of India, earlier mentioned. "The COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed initially in India, then we will look at the COVAX countries which are mainly in Africa. Our priority is India & COVAX countries," Poonawalla said.

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) could also approve a vaccine locally developed by Bharat Biotech, Reuters reported. The Drugs Controller General of India will take the final decision on emergency approval of coronavirus vaccine in India based on expert committee's recommendations.

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The coronavirus pandemic has thrust a range of politicians and public health experts into the spotlight. Lauren Harte spoke to some of those who have led Northern Ireland's fight against Covid-19 about how they have found the past year in the public eye.

The health minister

Former Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann followed his party colleague Michael McGimpsey in taking on the health portfolio with the return of the Stormont Assembly in January.

The North Antrim MLA's new role had no shortage of demands, with tackling a crisis in waiting lists seen as an urgent priority earlier this year, then along came Covid-19.

Since taking on the post, Mr Swann has had little time to reflect.

"In those very early days in January, I like most others, hadn't heard of novel coronavirus (nCoV) as it was known then and hadn't foreseen that the year to come would be the toughest-ever for our health service," he said.

"Now as I take some time to reflect on the past 10 months - there have certainly been a number of defining moments - the lockdown of our country, closure of our schools and overwhelming pressure on all aspects of our health service."

By and large, Mr Swann believes the public response to these challenges has been extraordinary.

"We asked people to stay at home, to protect our health service and save lives. For the most part, people willingly sacrificed their personal freedoms to protect others.

"But in all honesty I have also had fleeting moments of despair. There has been a minority whose behaviour has been at odds with the public health advice. I sincerely hope that those who are in this camp can see that Covid continues to put huge pressures on our already over-burdened health service."

Despite all of this, the overriding sentiment Mr Swann will take away from this pandemic is one of pride.

"This was a new virus that we didn't know a lot about it. Images from Wuhan beamed on to our television screens.

"Scenes from hospitals that were overrun. Pictures of mass funerals. Stories of health workers dying. Yet this did not deter our frontline staff. Their courage, commitment and determination saw us through some of the darkest days and we must never forget the sacrifices they have made for us."

Mr Swann says 2020 has also shown us what can be achieved when we work together and he has been heartened by Northern Ireland's response to Covid.

"Across our health service there have been countless examples of ingenuity, teamwork and tenacity.

"New services have been developed and brought online in a matter of days and weeks, rather than months and years.

"Communities worked together to deliver medicines, meals and essentials to the vulnerable. We have seen the very best in human nature."

The public health expert

Dr Gabriel Scally - the west Belfast man trained as a medical doctor at Queens University. After serving as Director of Public Health in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, Dr Scally was appointed as a public health director in the NHS in England.

He was later appointed as an associate fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research think-tank and as a visiting chair at Bristol University and the University of the West of England.

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In 2018 Dr Scally was pointed by the Irish Government to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the cervical cancer controversy.

He also assisted the Hyponatraemia Inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland hospitals as both an expert witness and as an advisor to the Chair, Justice O'Hara.

During the course of 2020, Dr Scally says he had a strange feeling that all his working life as a public health doctor has been in preparation for this time.

"In the spring I could see clearly the serious errors mounting up and it made me very anxious and extremely fearful of what was coming," he said.

"Early in the pandemic I was also very shaken by the death from Covid-19 of someone I knew from his singing songs at an Irish music session in Bristol that I have attended every week for years.

"His death convinced me that I needed to start speaking up in order to prevent others."

As the death toll mounted and the mismanagement of the UK government continued, Dr Scally's feelings turned to anger.

"In particular, I will never forgive or forget the collective failure across the island of Ireland to take advantage of the virtual elimination of Covid-19 in the summer. I knew that if this had been a disease of pigs, cattle or sheep, then co-operation would have been a given and a co-ordinated effort would have been made to eliminate the virus from Ireland and, importantly, to prevent new cases being imported."

Dr Scally was later invited to join the UK's independent scientific SAGE group, which provides independent and consistently correct expert advice to government, the public and the media.

"I hope the result is that my comments resonate more with people.

"Our media presence has certainly been extensive.

"Our collective efforts on Indie SAGE have had an effect, if not on the disastrous official policies in England or Northern Ireland, then certainly on the public.

"The outpouring of support and appreciation for our work has been very moving. My re-engagement with the media in Northern Ireland has also been a definite positive of the year."

The chief medical officer

Dr Michael McBride was appointed to the post of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the Department of Health, in September 2006.

Prior to joining the department he had been Medical Director at the Royal Group of Hospital and a consultant in the health service since 1994.

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"A year like no other" is how he described the last 10 months which has seen him working at the very heart of Northern Ireland's battle to combat the effects of Covid-19.

"The challenges that everyone in society have faced as a result of this pandemic have been of a scale I don't think any of us have experienced before.

"This virus has cost lives and livelihoods and has adversely affected us all either directly or indirectly.

"As ever it has been the young, the old, the disadvantaged and those most deprived who have suffered most."

"There has been immense pain and suffering brought to the doors of so many but there has also been inspirational instances of courage and compassion and human endeavour."

Dr McBride says he has never felt such immense pride in, and gratitude towards all staff - his colleagues and friends - who make up all parts of the health service family.

"Each and every one of them irrespective of role or responsibility across a multitude of disciplines and settings, have tended those for whom they care with a dedication, compassion, skill and professionalism that has been truly humbling to witness.

"They have saved lives, they have consoled the families of those they were unable to save and perhaps most poignantly they have held the hands and comforted many, whose families could not be there with them in their final moments.

"Each and every one of them have done so irrespective of the personal risk and yes they have lost colleagues and friends too."

That is also extended to his fellow citizens.

"My gratitude must also be extended to the people of Northern Ireland who have shown a solidarity and care for their fellow citizens which would seem to be ingrained in the NI psyche.

"We care about and look after each other because we have a strong sense of community.

"It has often fallen to me to be the bearer of difficult messages around the restrictions that needed to be introduced to protect us all from this virus and prevent our health service from becoming overwhelmed.

"I have been heartened by the way that the community as a whole has followed what I fully recognise has been a big ask on their behalf."

The chief scientific advisor

Five years into his role at the Department of Health, 2020 has seen Professor Ian Young dedicate almost all of his working time to Covid-19.

He was previously Professor of Medicine at Queen's University, where he was also Director of the Centre for Public Health.

"I really welcome the focus that has been placed this year on the value of science and the hard work that all of our scientists do behind the scenes, not only within our health system but across all aspects of our daily lives," he said.

"The remarkable efforts of all of those who have been involved in developing and producing the Covid-19 vaccine is testament to that."

For Professor Young, the weekly press briefings have been an important part in communicating with the public.

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"I think it was vital that the public were able to hear directly from us and to see the figures that were informing the decisions being made," he added.

"As an academic, I have been used to teaching and presenting and that has been useful experience for this year.

"As a clinician, I have been used to explaining complex topics to individual patients and I hope I have been able to do something similar for the general public in interviews and press briefings. However, the public would be a better judge of my success than I can be!

"This year has been incredibly difficult for everyone. I know it has not been easy for our lives to be disrupted as restrictions were brought in but I think we can all agree that we want to see a way out of this pandemic."

Professor Young believes this pandemic is a reminder that as human beings we are still vulnerable to new and emerging diseases.

"It has been a time of incredible pressure for many working in health and social care, and I have not been immune to that on a personal level.

"I'm very grateful for the ongoing support of family, friends and colleagues throughout this year and as we move into 2021."

With the welcome news of the vaccine roll-out, he is also hopeful for what next year will bring.

"There will be some difficult months to come, but there is also no doubt that we can look forward with hope to a time that we can do all the normal things we enjoy."

The virologist

Dr Connor Bamford is a virology research fellow investigating antiviral immunity in the lung at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen's University Belfast

As a scientist, he specialises in viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19 and has previously written on the Ebola and Marburg viruses.

Early in January 2020, in an article entitled "Mystery China pneumonia outbreak likely caused by new human coronavirus", he presented the facts as known at the time, explained them from a place of deep knowledge, warning that this was a serious matter.

This coverage of the story that would define 2020 meant regular media contributions from Dr Bamford would continue.

"My input has always tried to be based on fact and evidence in an open and accountable manner. I hope that I have conveyed that over last year," Dr Bamford reflected.

"I do not think I would be able to estimate how anybody was affected by the things I say as me and my words do not exist in a vacuum, although my messages are echoed by other public health leaders and experts in Northern Ireland, the UK and worldwide.

"On one side, I can see that the people of Northern Ireland (including our societal leaders) have been able to understand the evidence and reasoning that we are communicating and responded positively and because of this we all made a significant impact against Covid-19.

"However, I also see that the challenges that Covid-19 has brought about have been unprecedented and in some instances either people are not listening or that advice is too difficult to take on board, in comparison to carrying on as normal, where no additional support has been provided.

"Further exacerbating any appeals are mixed messages existing from politicians or self-professed experts or sceptics on social media.

"I think we all have learnt several significant lessons during this year, which should put us in good stead for whatever 2021 has in store for us, including -unfortunately - the continued presence of Covid-19."

Dr Bamford's main lesson has been to not underestimate the goodwill and resolve of the majority of people who have taken on board what the real experts have said.

"It is because of them that we are not in a worse position now than we could have been," he added.
President Donald Trump(R) and Vice President Mike Pence participate in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate Memorial Day in Arlington, Va., on May 25, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)

Pence May Choose 2020 Election Winner As He Sees Fit, GOP Rep Says in New Court Filing

Vice President Mike Pence has the ability to overrule the Electoral College vote and can essentially decide the outcome of the presidential election, said Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), coming after Department of Justice lawyers argued Pence is not the proper defendant in the suit.

The DOJs lawyers, representing Pence, argued that Gohmert should be filing a lawsuit against Congress, not Pences office.

Under the Constitution, [Pence] has the authority to conduct that proceeding as he sees fit. He may count elector votes certified by a states executive, or he can prefer a competing slate of duly qualified electors, Gohmerts attorneys wrote in a brief (pdf) on New Years Day. He may ignore all electors from a certain state. That is the power bestowed upon him by the Constitution.

The Constitutions 12th Amendment unequivocally entrusts Pence the rights to determine what electoral votes to count during the Joint Session of Congress on Jan. 6.

Earlier this week, Gohmert filed a suit in a Texas federal court to give Pence exclusive authority to decide which Electoral College votes should be counted and seeks to strike down Section 15 of the 1887 Electoral Count Act as unconstitutional.

By reaffirming the Constitutional prerequisites and processes for deciding the Presidential election and granting the relief requested, this Court can set the stage for a calm and permanent resolution of any and all objections and help smooth the path toward a reliable and peaceful conclusion to the presidential election process, Gohmerts wrote in the Jan. 1 brief.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of a provision in the Electoral Count Act which directs how Congress should vote on objections to slates of electors. The lawsuit argues that the Act overrides the Constitutions 12th Amendment, which directs the House to vote by state delegations rather than via individual members.

Most people realize that if nobody gets to 270, or nobody gets to whatever the definition of a majority of the electors chosen turns out to be, then it goes to the House, but the House votes by state, Rick Green, the founder of Patriot Academy, told The Epoch Times.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and about 40 GOP representatives are planning to object to key states electors during the Joint Session of Congress on Jan. 6, triggering a two-hour debate for each contested state.

On Dec. 14, GOP electors in seven states cast votes for Trump and Pence, with the Republican parties of those respective states saying it was done to preserve Trumps legal challenges. The Democratic electors votes in the states were certified by state executives.

Several GOP senators have said their effort will likely fail.

In the Senate, it would go down like a shot dog, Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 Republican in the upper chamber, told reporters last month.

Ivan Pentchoucov contributed to this report.
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
A Delhi court has granted bail to two persons in a case related to the communal violence in north east Delhi in February last year, on the ground of parity. It noted that four co-accused were granted bail before filing of the charge sheet and six others were granted bail in the past two months.

Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav granted the relief to Kasif and Wasif on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety of like amount in the case related to vandalism and torching of a car showroom during the riots in Dayalpur area. The court said both the accused were allegedly involved in other riots cases in the area, but it cannot be a ground to deny them bail in the present case.

This Court is conscious of the fact that applicants (Wasif and Kasif) are also involved in other cases of riots in the area, however, that cannot be a ground to deny them bail in the instant matter, as the present bail application(s) have to be decided in the context of present FIR and the investigation so concluded. As such, I am of the considered opinion that applicants are also entitled for grant of bail in the matter on the ground of parity because role assigned to them is on same/identical footing as the co-accused persons. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case in totality, both the applicants namely Kasif and Wasif are admitted to bail in the matter, the judge said in his order passed on December 24.

The court directed the accused not to tamper with evidence and to install Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones. Advocate Nasir Ali, appearing for both the accused, had said they had been falsely implicated in the matter and sought bail on the ground of parity.

Special Public Prosecutor D K Bhatia, appearing for the police, had opposed the bail pleas saying both the accused were allegedly involved in several cases of rioting in the area and may threaten the witnesses in the cases if released on bail. Communal violence had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after clashesbetween citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.
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(Newser)  A United Nations agency has condemned Iran's execution of a man who was 16 when he was charged with crime. Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee, 30, was put to death Thursday, the BBC reports. Amnesty International said he was forced to confess to stabbing a man in 2007. Rezaiee was convicted in what the organization called a "grossly unfair trial" that relied on confessions obtained under torture. He spent 12 years on death row. "Imposing the death penalty on someone who was a child at the time of the crime is a serious violation of international human rights law," Amnesty had said in a statement, "which absolutely prohibits the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by children."

story continues below

Michelle Bachelet, the UN commissioner for human rights, "strongly condemns" the execution, a spokeswoman said, per the Times of Israel. "There are deeply troubling allegations that forced confessions extracted through torture were used in the conviction of Mr. Rezaiee, she said, adding that there were also numerous other serious concerns about violations of his fair-trial rights." The office said that Rezaiee was the fourth juvenile offender put to death by Iran in 2020, and that at least 80 more are on death row. Bachelet called on Iran "to halt all executions of child offenders and immediately review their cases in line with international human rights law." (Read more capital punishment stories.)
SALEM, Ore.  With the new year, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles no longer requires proof of legal residence when people apply for a license, opening up legal driving privileges to undocumented immigrants.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 2015 during the 2019 legislative session, removing the requirement for people to prove legal U.S. residence when applying for a license or ID. It was set to go into effect on January 1, 2021.

RELATED: Oregon may grant driving privileges to undocumented immigrants (2019)

Applicants still need to provide proof of full legal name and identity, date of birth, Oregon residency, and a Social Security number. For someone without a social, there is a path forward by signing a written statement along with the application.

These standard licenses and IDs are not Real ID compliant, and only people who can provide proof of U.S. citizenship will be registered to vote.

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, 13 other states and Washington D.C. currently issue driver licenses to people who do not provide proof of legal status.
Loading The next morning, Monday, we packed our bags. Flights were being cancelled all over the place but there was still a good chance we would find one. Then the NSW numbers came in: 15. Halved in a day. The locals seemed confident. They had, after all "gold standard" COVID-19 management, to quote the Prime Minister. We teetered and, just, decided to stay. We reasoned, lets not cancel Christmas. We stay, and if things get worse again then in the new year we can take the hotel quarantine option. Hotel quarantine: far from ideal, with a four year-old and 15 month-old twin toddlers. A living nightmare, you might say. And expensive. Nevertheless, an option. Then NSW failed dismally to knock its outbreak on the head. That alleged gold standard COVID system came with pewter-standard public compliance on masks and social distancing rules (don't get me started, nobody here wears masks anywhere).

Plus on Christmas Eve we got an unexpected (for complicated reasons) letter telling us our daughter was to start school in 2021. We couldn't linger in NSW. We had to get home. We called Victorias coronavirus hotline to work out how to arrange a remotely bearable quarantine. We'd get two rooms, right? No, we were told, no rooms. You cant come back at all. Huh? "Mandatory hotel quarantine", it turns out, is for people who cross the border. And no one still in Sydney could cross the border. Police would turn back cars, airlines would check permits before boarding. Revellers at Bronte on Christmas Day. Credit:James Alcock We made phone calls, asking various officials how to get into hotel quarantine in Victoria. We were told, no. You can't. Its the policy.

It's the policy, apparently, because if the thousands of Victorians in NSW wanted to come home in the next few weeks there just aren't remotely enough quarantine hotel rooms to hold them. Hotel quarantine had been mentioned as a deterrent, not an option. This had not been clear, to put it mildly. We hatched a new plan: two weeks, at great expense, in an Airbnb in regional NSW  a detox in the green zone, in COVID-undiscovered countryside from whose bourn we travellers might still return to Victoria. On New Years Eve that option was closed, too, as all NSW became the forbidden zone. We're stuck. We cannot get home. For how long? Weeks? Months? Who knows. How will we work when our holiday leave runs out? Who will then take care of the kids? Wild thoughts occurred. If we flew to Tasmania under current rules we could self-isolate for two weeks in a serviced apartment and then fly to Victoria. But we learnt our lesson on the "green zone" debacle: dont risk your savings on a loophole that could close any moment. Nope.

Or, if we were super-rich, we could hire a plane or a yacht and fly or sail it to Victoria, pay hefty fines for breaking the law and get into the hotel quarantine that's denied to people who don't have ten grand to spare. Loading Even Western Australia, which slams down the shutters every time someone over the rabbit fence sneezes, is letting its citizens back from Victoria on "compassionate grounds" if they went there for Christmas. Even Australians in COVID-riddled Europe or the US can find flights  albeit expensive, albeit difficult to nail down, but at least it's an option from the other side of the world. But there are no repatriation flights for we marooned Melburnians in Sydney. COVID-free (we just got tests), responsible, never visited the northern beaches or any other hotspot, dont go out much anyway, the model home quarantiners. But we're not worth the risk? It feels weird. Melbourne is our home. And while we were out, someone nailed up the door.
China has approved for conditional use of its first coronavirus vaccine, developed by state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.



The approval, announced on Thursday by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, came a day after Sinopharm said its vaccine was found to be 79.3-per-cent effective in preliminary data from the final round of testing.



China aims to vaccinate at least 50 million people before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, in mid-February, in order to prevent the virus from spreading as hundreds of millions of people are expected to travel home for the holidays.



The Sinopharm vaccine is an inactivated, two-dose vaccine. Besides Sinopharm, three other Chinese companies, Anhui Zhifei Longcom, CanSino, and Sinovac, have vaccines in the final stage of clinical trials.



Chen Shifei, the deputy director of China's National Medical Products Administration, said at a press conference on Thursday that the agency urges Sinopharm to continue to monitor the durability and effects of the vaccine.



Sinopharm's vaccine efficacy rate is behind those reported by US companies Pfizer, of 95 percent, and Moderna, of 94 percent. However, unlike the US vaccines, which need to be stored at temperatures as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius, the Chinese vaccine can be stored at normal fridge temperature.



China has pledged to make its vaccine available to other developing countries.



Thousands across the country, including members of the military and government workers, started receiving coronavirus vaccines months ago through emergency-use approvals.

Source: dpa/GNA









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With the new strain from the United Kingdom, officials state that people know every safety protocol but follow them only based on their convenience. (Representational image. PTI/file)

Hyderabad: Surveillance officials of the health department have found that in 15 cases, those who have returned from United Kingdom but tested negative for the Coronavirus went out for social gatherings. The protocol is that those who have returned and tested negative must quarantine themselves at home for seven days.

Of them, 10 persons were in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts, who have been moved to the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences and Nature Cure Hospital.

A family of three members was found attending birthday parties and inviting people at home for a social gathering. Surveillance officials found this out and asked them to quarantine themselves at the Nature Cure Hospital.

A senior health official said, "People are not taking this as seriously as before. The people are no longer scared. The family had returned from the UK and people were inviting them over. They were not willing to stay at home. For that reason we had to take a strict step of keeping them in institutional care.

In another case, a young student who had been kept at TIMS wanted to leave immediately for a wedding in the family. The student was counselled to stay put.

A senior health official on condition of anonymity said, The last time, there was complete cooperation. People willingly gave inputs of whom they had met and contact tracing was easy. Now they are not willing to talk. Not willing to share information. They also do not want their status to be known to others."

This is causing a lot of problems as tracing people who may have come in contact with UK returnees and alerting them has become a challenge.

With the new strain from the United Kingdom, officials state that people know every safety protocol but follow them only based on their convenience. If they want to go out, attend parties, social gatherings and family functions there is no stopping them as they believe that a few medicines will make them fine.

Due to this reason the officials find that their counselling is having little impact and those who are constantly violating the protocols are being shifted to institutional care for a few days.
Aussie PM Respects States COVID-19 Border Closures

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he understands peoples frustration with coronavirus border closures as long queues form at the New South Wales-Queensland border but respects the decisions of state and territory leaders.

A flurry of new border restrictions in recent days has brought long queues of travellers heading from NSW to Victoria following outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne.

As much as we would like there to be greater consistency across all of these things, we must respect their jurisdictional authority, Mr Morrison told reporters on Friday. They are ultimately responsible for what would happen in their state if there were to be an outbreak in their state.

As prime minister, I do respect that, he said.

Western Australia has re-established its hard border with Victoria, which has recorded eight cases linked to an outbreak in the past two days.

Victoria will put up a hard border to all NSW residents from Saturday, while the Northern Territory on Thursday revised its public health orders to bar entry for all greater Sydney residents.

South Australia has also re-established its hard border with NSW, along with a 100-kilometre buffer for border communities.

Queues of vehicles have formed in southern NSW as Victorians try to return home and avoid a mandatory two weeks in quarantine for arrivals after midnight on Friday.

It is a global pandemic and that means that there will be frustrations from time to time, Morrison said.

He urged states to balance the risks of COVID-19 transmission with disruptions caused to people.

Morrison has previously hit out at some states for their border management, criticising WAs decision to shut last year as economic protectionism.

The federal government had aimed for Australia to be fully open by Christmas, a plan dashed by the COVID-19 outbreak on Sydneys northern beaches.

Victoria recorded no new locally-transmitted cases on Friday but authorities warn there will be more, with eight cases identified in the last two days.

All have links to the Buffalo Smile Thai restaurant in Black Rock where three of the positive cases ate, and some 170 close contacts are in quarantine.

One of the eight cases identified is in the states east, prompting worries of possible transmission outside Melbourne.

NSW has reported three new cases of community transmission on Friday, all linked to western Sydney. None of them are linked to the northern beaches hotspot, which now totals 146 after two previously recorded infections were linked.

Queensland started the year with a day of no new cases and there are currently 13 active cases in the state.

AAP
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The chart shows daily new cases of COVID-19 in the eight counties of the Capital Region. Graphics by Cathleen F. Crowley and Bethany Bump/Times Union (About the data)

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Warren County reported 44 new coronavirus cases on Friday. The county reported 11 were hospitalized, the highest number its recorded since the pandemic started early last year. County officials said all of those hospitalized had moderate cases of the virus.

One of the new cases involves a person who'd been on the Hadley-Luzerne Central Schools campus, forcing the district to scrap plans to bring back high school students for in-person classes on Monday. Instead, the district said it was asking his high school and junior high students to continue remote learning until Jan. 19.

Read more

11:14 a.m.: New coronavirus cases top 300 for first time in Albany County

The county set a new record to end 2020 with 346 new coronavirus cases overnight.

County Executive Dan McCoy said there were also three deaths overnight, a woman in her 70's and a man and a woman in their 60's. Read more.

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6:50 a.m.: The lost: Capital Region lives ended by COVID-19

543. That's the minimum count of how many people, as of this writing, have succumbed to COVID-19 in the greater Capital Region. In less than 10 months. Read more.

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Thursday: Underage drinking party that led to outbreak was at teachers' home, officials say

The coronavirus super-spreader party in Wilton that infected 17 people and forced the Glens Falls City School District to go fully remote for the next two weeks was held at the home of two area teachers  one from the Glens Falls school district and the other from Ballston Spa, officials said. Read more.

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Thursday: Albany Med seeks volunteers to staff COVID-19 vaccine clinics

Albany Medical Center has issued a call for volunteers to help staff COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the coming months as they prepare to vaccinate roughly 1 million New Yorkers across the Capital Region.

The hospital system  one of 10 regional vaccination hubs statewide in charge of coordinating vaccine distribution  launched a website this week, CapitalRegionVax.org, where people can find information about the regions vaccination plan and answers to frequently asked questions, including who can get the vaccine and in what order. It also contains links where interested volunteers can sign up to help. Read more.

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Thursday: 5 more deaths, 256 new virus cases end dire year in Albany County

COVID-19 has killed five more residents in Albany County, cementing December as the deadliest month in the county since the start of the pandemic 10 months ago, County Executive Dan McCoy said at the final coronavirus briefing of the year.

The five residents who died include two women and a man in their 90s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s. During the month of December, 63 people died from coronavirus compared to 55 in May. Read more.

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Thursday: Capital Region residents await vaccine and chance to 'move on'

Earlier this month, images of healthcare workers receiving their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine jolted many pandemic-weary residents with a renewed sense of optimism. Undercutting that, however, was the reality that the road to normalcy and widespread immunization is still months away. And for Santacruz, that wait could mean an even more- prolonged stretch of business struggles.

Read more

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Wednesday: In devastating year, essential workers got us through

Few people experienced the COVID-19 pandemic like essential workers experienced it.

The health care workers, grocery clerks, convenience store cashiers, gas station attendants and public transportation workers could not perform their jobs from home. Remote work was not an option for janitors, waste collectors, delivery drivers and mail carriers. Those who kept our schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters and social services up and running saw precious few breaks in the year 2020.

For essential workers, coronavirus was not an abstract phenomenon, or a hoax, or a problem that other people had to deal with. The prospect of getting sick and possibly dying from an infection was all too real for many of those who worked on the front lines this year, especially in the early days as employers scrambled to find personal protective equipment. And many of them did fall ill and die.

As 2020 comes to a close, the Times Union is highlighting the work of five essential workers who helped carry the Capital Region through the past nine months and who will continue to shoulder the weight of this pandemic for months to come.

Read more

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Tuesday: Coronavirus deaths shifting to younger victims in Albany County

Albany County saw two more deaths from the coronavirus overnight, bringing the death toll to 210.

County Executive McCoy said both of the victims were men in their 50s, part of a growing trend in the county of younger victims dying from the disease.

It's the eighth day in a row the county has had deaths from the virus. In October, 24 percent of the county's deaths were residents between the ages of 50 to 74. That has since risen to 30 percent of the county's deaths.

Read more

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Tuesday: Eviction moratorium bill becomes law after special session

The two chambers of the state Legislature met concurrently Monday for a rare special session, passing a bill banning evictions and foreclosures until May for anyone who attests that theyve financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure extends a halt on evictions until the beginning of May. It passed the state Senate 40 to 21, along party lines. The Assembly passed the bill Monday evening, and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed it into law.

Our goal here is to create a system where people have to attest under penalty of law that they have experienced a hardship and that that hardship is causing them to be unable to meet their rental obligations, and in that situation we want to protect them from eviction as an emergency public health measure, Sen. Brian Kavanagh, a New York City Democrat and the sponsor of the bill, said during the debate.

A Cuomo executive order had stated that tenants who could prove their financial hardship in court could evade eviction. The new law tweaks that process so anyone willing to attest under penalty of perjury to their tenuous financial standing in a legal document called a standardized hardship declaration form" can access the protections. It does not cancel rent, but merely pushes the debt forward.

Read more

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Tuesday: Stimulus dollars are headed to New York schools, but will it be enough?

The new stimulus package President Donald Trump signed into law Sunday does not include the financial bailout New York hoped would go to the state and local government.

But it includes extra aid for school districts.The $900 billion pandemic relief package includes $5.8 billion for New York schools and universities and $465 million in grants for day care organizations.

Schools and colleges in the Capital Region face a difficult financial recovery that will hinge greatly on the actions of the federal government and the 2021-22 state budget, which is expected to pass in April 2021.

Read more

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Tuesday: Local officials fear New Year's Eve house parties could fuel surge

Nine more Capital Region residents have died due to complications from COVID-19 and over 1,000 more were confirmed to have the disease Monday as officials urged people to stay home on New Year's Eve.

The urging comes as caseloads, hospitalizations and deaths are rising rapidly in the region. On Monday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo singled out the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley as regions of the state with dangerously high COVID-19 positivity rates  at 8.48 percent and 9.26 percent, respectively  saying residents need to change their behavior to stem the spread of the virus.

While Thanksgiving gatherings have been blamed in part for the current surge, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy and Albany County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen said Monday that they fear an even larger spike in January as more people are apparently traveling during the Christmas holiday than the Thanksgiving one.

"We continue to see high numbers and given the trends of increases it is unlikely that December is the worst month that we will have," Whalen said. "It is likely that January will be worse."

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said he feared people would gather maskless at house party's for Thursday's New Year's Eve celebration. Such a scenario, he said, could fuel outbreaks in January.

Read more

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Tuesday: No corner of economy spared by COVID-19

There wasn't a corner of the economy that was spared by COVID-19 in 2020.

Borders closed. Travel ground to a halt. Workers lost their jobs. Business owners lost their livelihoods. And nearly a third of a million Americans lost their lives, including more than 500 Capital Region residents. Thousands more locally lost their jobs as well.

Although Congress quickly approved $2.8 trillion in economic aid for consumers and businesses early on during the pandemic  including extra unemployment benefits, direct cash payments to households and business loans to maintain payrolls  much of it was exhausted within months.

But as infection rates have crept up again threatening to force a new wave of lockdowns and business closures, local business leaders like Mark Eagan, CEO of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, said that another round of stimulus was "desperately needed" before even more businesses are forced to close.

Read more

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Gugulethu Mhlungu, popularly known as Gugs, was recently appointed editor of Careers Magazine.

Gugulethu Mhlungu

Congrats on your new role at Careers Magazine. How do you feel about it?

What does the role entail?

Comment on the current state of the industry, how the industry has responded to Covid, and how you plan to navigate the magazine through this.

What happened to print entities this year had less to do with 2020 than historical questions around how costly the medium is (both production and distribution) in a country with stagnating growth, rising poverty, unemployment and inequality.

And tell us more about the issues that affect young people, such as economic inclusion, gender-based violence, unemployment, climate change and politics. How has Covid affected some of these and where does Careers Magazine fit in here?

What do you love most about your career and the media/publishing industry?

Tell us a bit about your experience and how this has equipped you for your new position.

What are you most looking forward to (at Careers / in your new role)?

Whats at the top of your to-do list?

What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?

Tell us something about yourself not generally known?

Mhlungu has often lended her voice to issues that affect young people, including economic inclusion, gender-based violence, unemployment, climate change and politics. presented an exciting opportunity for me to continue to drive the narrative of young peoples welfare. Often young people are spoken down to, spoken about but almost never consulted on matters that involve them. Young people are the majority and I hope we can makean indispensable resource for us by us, she says.Until recently, Mhlungu was the deputy editor ofand before then a host of a week-daily morning news programme and former talk radio presenter. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Media Studies and Anthropology from Rhodes University as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Media Management. At 21 she was the youngest station manager in South African broadcast history when she was made the station manager of Rhodes Music Radio. Part of her career has included being alifestyle editor, a National Arts Festival/Business Art SA award winning writer and working with YouthLab, a platform for young South Africans to become active participants in all spheres of civic life.Its kind of the feeling one gets before a roller coaster gets going. I am both excited and nervous. Excited that despite the hardships the magazine and print industry has faced in general, there is a real need and place for good, thoughtful content for a youth brand like. Nervous at the advent of this new journey but I believe a healthy dose of nerves is both good and normal at the start of a new thing.I am responsible for the overall editorial focus of the magazine which means every word, every comma, every picture needs to (hopefully) be just right for all our platforms, i.e. the print magazine, the website and our social media platforms. Im joking (only kind of). In addition to the editorial, a large part of an editors job is about staying informed, on top of trends and up to date with what matters to our readers and thinking about how we create and produce information that reflects that. Of course, equally important, is all the aforementioned has to work towards making the magazine successful, it is a business after all.I think the print industry was already facing tough conditions long before Covid and the immense socio-economic disruptions that come with a pandemic just exacerbated the challenges. When I was studying for my post grad in media management, one of the things we were repeatedly told was that the world of work we were trying to study for would probably not exist by the time we graduated. When I was still in newspapers there were deep questions about what the role of print in the near and distant future would be.Under the circumstances, I think the industry has done the very best it could have done.I hope we are able to create and produce a product that makes sense and is of value for where we are right now and wherever our readers find themselves.SA has an average of 27 so when we speak about the issues of slow growth, of poverty, of unemployment we are actually speaking about the ways in which this affects young South Africans because that is who is the majority of the population. All of SAs issues are youth issues; name it and it probably affects young people most acutely. SA is also a majority female country so again poverty pops up. We should be speaking about the ways in which black poor women remain the face of poverty in this country. The impact of Covid-related job losses, of rising hunger are absolutely gendered so we cant speak about those things without centring them around young black poor women.I hope thatcan be a useful guide for navigating the world, and a platform where we figure it out together with and as young people.The ability to contribute to a democracy, which is the real and important role of media. Yes, media gives you the opportunity to do cool, interesting stuff but we play such a critical role in enabling or stifling democracy (as weve seen over the years with the impact of media houses and social media platforms and their impact on democracy and public discourse).Ive been lucky in that Ive been able to work in radio, in television, in newspapers and in magazines as well as stakeholder engagement so I bring an understanding and experience in more than just magazines and/or social media which is increasingly important for the print industry. Media is now intertwined.I have two qualifications from Rhodes University, including a Bachelor of Arts with a specialisation in TV and a post grad diploma in media management so I have studied journalism and media studies which has been one of the greatest privileges of my career and life in general. I also read voraciously which is I think is hugely important for anyone working in media. Its super important to read the research, the books, the court documents, the reports, and watch the documentaries, so Im always reading and learning. I am also a young black woman in SA so I also bring my lived experiences, which I think are important.To do really good and impactful work, and to highlight as many voices as possible from as many parts of the country as we can through our platforms. There is a great concentration of news and reporting on Gauteng, Western Cape and to some degree KZN, which makes sense because in terms of numbers thats where people are but I always think we do ourselves a disservice by not at least trying to do work thats about outside of the big provinces.Extending the reach of this beautiful publication.Ive got my hands full, its quite a list. Im currently reading edits for my book which is due out in 2021,by former Greek finance Minister Yanis Varoukis,by Bell Hooks and I recently boughtby Mariah Carey after I watched her AppleTV interview with Oprah.Im listening toby Wizkid,by Samthing Soweto,by Hope Tala and lots of Amapiano.I dont think theres very much thats not known about me, especially after my time on talk radio which requires that you share quite a bit about yourself. But if I had to guess I would say people dont know that I want to be a nature conservationist at some point in my life. Steve Irwing is one of my heroes and I think we cannot do enough for the natural world especially given the immense impact humans have had on it.
The US killing of top general Qassem Soleimani will not deter Iranian resistance, a senior commander said on Friday as tensions mounted in the build-up to the first anniversary of the drone strike.

The United States killed Soleimani, leader of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, in Iraq on Jan. 3, 2020. Washington had accused him of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on US forces in the region.

Days after the US drone strike, Iran retaliated with a rocket attack on an Iraqi air base where US forces were stationed, and Iranian forces on high alert mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger airliner taking off from Tehran.

Esmail Ghaani who succeeded Soleimani as head the elite Quds force, said on Friday Iran was still ready to respond.

From inside your own house, there may emerge someone who will retaliate for your crime, he said at a televised event to mark the anniversary at Tehran University.

American mischief will not deter the Quds force from carrying on its resistance path, he added.

Two US B-52 bombers flew over the Middle East on Wednesday in what US officials said was a message of deterrence to Iran ahead of the first anniversary.

On Thursday, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused US President Donald Trump of attempting to fabricate a pretext to attack Iran, and said Tehran would defend itself forcefully.

Representatives of Irans regional allies and movements in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Gaza also spoke at Fridays anniversary event.
TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Actriv Inc. is pleased to announce its upcoming merger with Action Healthcare Staffing in the coming month. As part of the merger, the joint enterprise will be rebranded as "Actriv Healthcare, Inc." and it will represent the largest healthcare staffing company in Washington State employing over 400 Nurses and Aides.

Actriv Inc. is a leading name in the healthcare staffing scene across the Pacific NW and serves all across Tacoma, Seattle and Idaho. Action Healthcare Staffing is another renowned healthcare staffing firm in the USA and offers services across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. After the merger, the rebranded Actriv Healthcare Inc. will be headquartered at Tacoma, WA.

Per the statements of Actriv Chairman and CEO Allan Njoroge, the merger will create significant synergic opportunities and present a strong platform for organic growth in the Pacific Northwest. Besides, as Action Healthcare Staffing covers other service areas, the merger will lead to nation-wide expansion of their services.

"We are excited about the opportunities the merger will create for our customers and the Healthcare Industry, as well as our employees and the stakeholders. Together, Action Healthcare and Actriv Inc will be able to scale rapidly while delivering the best in class and most innovative Healthcare Workforce Solutions," said the Chairman and CEO of Actriv Healthcare.

The merger comes at a crucial time when the country is struggling with the menacing COVID-19 pandemic that further calls for increased support from the healthcare sector.

"It is one of the hardest times in the history of Healthcare with the COVID-19 pandemic and the services we provide are essential, merging the two organizations will bring together two amazing brands and resources to better serve our communities," added in Ms. Sabryna, the COO of Actriv Healthcare.

As a healthcare powerhouse, Actriv Healthcare will continue to support Healthcare Facilities fighting COVID-19 in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. Speaking on, the Actriv CEO said, the company is dedicated to bridging the gap between healthcare providing organizations and qualified healthcare professionals. The company stressed on providing innovative healthcare staffing assistance, backed by the guarantee of the most efficient and safest patient care.

"What separates us from regular healthcare staffing companies is our strong customer-centric approach and innovative design that helps to create enduring solutions. We work with highly qualified and passionate nurses (RN, CNA, LPN, Travel RNs) so that we can support healthcare organizations and patients with the best care. Finding the right nurse in no easy task. But we will make the process more convenient for you by offering you access to remarkable, dedicated and professional healthcare staff who are genuinely committed to the best healthcare possible. We leverage state of the art technology to make it easy and seamless for Healthcare Facilities to get the help they need." said David Herr the Director of Business Development.

The company CEO Allan also assured complete transparency with both healthcare staff and healthcare organizations signing up for their services. Actriv is extremely particular about maintaining constant communication with both healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations for easy exchange of thoughts and ideas.

Action Healthcare Staffing also has expressed great excitement while speaking on the news of the upcoming merger with Actriv Inc. "We are looking forward to the merger with Actriv Inc. as a great opportunity to empower the healthcare staffing scene across the whole nation. Actriv has always been renowned for excellent healthcare staffing assistance and we are confident that our collaboration with Actriv will lead to proliferating results in near future," noted the chief spokesperson from Action Healthcare staffing, LLC.

About Actriv Healthcare

Actriv Healthcare is reinventing the way healthcare professionals connect with healthcare facilities. We leverage technology to help healthcare professionals do what they love by matching them with shifts that match their preferences. And helping facilities get the on-demand shift coverage in order to deliver the best quality care to their patients. We believe in heart counts and not head count, that is why we take a heart-centric approach to recruit top healthcare professionals by providing unparalleled experience from on-boarding, credentialing and training; to providing day to day 24/7 support.

Media Contact:

Allan Njoroge

Phone: 253.433.7755

Email: [email protected]

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Paris, Jan 1 : Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have raised the bar so much that the new generation of players will have to learn to dominate on all surfaces if they are to match the class of the trio, says former Serbian tennnis star Janko Tipsarevic.

"Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer raised the ladder so much that it is necessary to dominate (on all surfaces) in relation to the previous generation," Janko Tipsarevic, who was part of the 2010 David Cup-winning team, told Sport Klub.

He predicted a bright future for Russian Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 4, who won the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in 2020. He, however, said the Medvedev needs to learn to do better on clay surface.

"Medvedev is an amazing player," Tipsarevic said. "It is not a question of whether he will win the Grand Slam title, since he will, it is not a question of whether he will be number one - he will at one point." "Sampras was superior for a very long time, and he collected points on grass and concrete (hard courts)." "In this era, a player has to be great on all surfaces to dominate, but at the moment I don't see that Medvedev can make good results on clay due to his style of play."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
HORSHAM, Penn.The Christmas holiday season is nearly over, and Xgen Products is looking forward to the Valentines Day gift seasonand it's kicking that off with its annual free shipping offer to all Xgen customers in the United States.

Our customers really appreciate our free shipping promotion, and we love offering it, said Andy Green, president of Xgen Products. With everything that has gone on in 2020, retailers will definitely want to take advantage of not having to pay for shipping on their orders this month.

To qualify for free shipping, each order must be a minimum of $750, and must be placed between January 1, 2021 and January 31, 2021. The promotion is open only to Xgen customers in the United States, and the order must ship by 1/31/2021.

Retailers looking for Valentines Day stockables may wish to take notice of the new lingerie and apparel from Baci Lingerie, Envy Menswear and Teachers Pet. Gift sets from The Bodywand, Secret Kisses, The Rabbit Company and Fredericks of Hollywood Toys are also expected to be a hit, not to mention new releases from Power Pole Pro, ZOLO and Peekaboos Pasties.

Customers looking for Valentines Day best sellers can register for next weeks Xgen Live session here. They can also review those best sellers in the Xgen Products 2021 Valentines Day Product Guide here.

Those seeking more information may call an Xgen representative for full details on the free shipping promotion.

To stay up to date on Xgen's new releases, seasonal offers, and product news, check out Xgens Twitter @xgenproducts and its B2B site Xgenb2b.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 09:36:44|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 19 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including nine locally transmitted cases and 10 arriving from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said Friday.

Five of the locally transmitted cases were reported in Beijing, and four in northeast China's Liaoning Province, the commission said in its daily report.

A new suspected case arriving in Shanghai from outside the mainland was reported Thursday, said the commission.

Seventeen COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland Thursday.

By the end of Thursday, a total of 4,273 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 4,006 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 267 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 87,071 by Thursday, including 370 patients still receiving treatment.

A total of 82,067 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,634 had died as a result of the virus, according to the commission.

There was one suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Thursday, and 13,584 close contacts remained under medical observation. Enditem
STAMFORD  A woman about to board JFK flight bound for a Christmas vacation in her native Dominican Republic was detained and extradited to Stamford Tuesday for what police said was her alleged involvement in stealing $7,225 from a Stamford grandmother.

Nicole Cisneros-Dipre, 24, of Yonkers, New York, was charged with second-degree larceny and released after posting a $20,000 court appearance bond. Police said she was involved in a con called the grandson scam.

It could not be determined if Cisneros-Dipre had hired an attorney and she could not be reached for comment.

Lt. Tom Scanlon said the telephone scam targets the elderly.

The Stamford Police Department strongly encourages people to avoid making hasty decisions regarding financial transactions, or even gift card purchases, that may appear urgent at the request of another party, Scanlon said. People should take information from the requester, consult with family and friends, and then follow up with the requesting person to better determine their legitimacy.

According to Cisneros-Dipres two-page arrest affidavit, an 83-year-old Shippan woman called police on May 7, 2019 to report that she had been duped and sent $7,225 to someone who called and claimed they were trying to get the womans grandson out of jail.

The caller told her to wire the money to Nicole Cisneros of Yonkers, the arrest affidavit said. When the woman made contact with her grandson after sending the money she realized she had been scammed, the affidavit said.

Through a search warrant, financial crimes investigator Michael Stempien determined the money was wired into a Bank of America account belonging to Cisneros-Dipre on May 6, 2019 and $6,887 was withdrawn a day later, the affidavit said.

After police contacted her, Cisneros-Dipre claimed the money came from an online boyfriend, the affidavit said.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
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The Nigerian police have again arrested the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for leading a protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Mr Sowore and some activists were arrested at the #CrossoverWithProtest, a planned procession across the country on New Year eve.

Some of the protesters who escaped arrest confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Sowore was whisked away in one of the seven vans of the Nigerian police mobilised to the protest ground at Gudu junction in Abuja.

Although our sources did not know where Mr Sowore was taken to after the arrest, Sahara Reporters said the former presidential candidate was taken to Abattoir police station in Logokoma, Abuja where he is currently being detained alongside others.

PREMIUM TIMES called Mr Sowores two mobile numbers but he could not be reached on Friday morning.

This newspaper could not tell as of the time of this report how many protesters were arrested with Mr Sowore.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Sowore, on Twitter, charged Nigerians to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Frank Mba, police spokesperson, did not respond to calls for his comment for this report.

This is not the first time Mr Sowore will be arrested by the Buhari administration. He was detained for over 100 days in 2019 for calling for a #RevolutionNowProtest. For most of the period, he was detained despite being granted bail by the court.

While that protest called for better governance in Nigeria, the security agencies accused him of planning to overthrow the government of Mr Buhari.
Six-year-old Adam King who captured the hearts of the nation following his appearance on the RTE Late Late Toy Show has posted a virtual hug to the people of Ireland for 2021.

In a recorded video message Adam, who is from Killeagh, Co. Cork, thanked the public for the massive outpouring of love he has received in the last month.

Holding a "virtual hug" Adam said "Hello everyone, thank for you everything in 2020. Here is a virtual huge for everyone in 2021. Bye. Happy New Year."

Wishing everyone a #HappyNewYear2021 ! Thank you for taking Adam into your hearts - you are in ours too 



May 2021 bring good things for all of us! We look forward to continuing this wonderful journey with you all #adamsvirtualhug  pic.twitter.com/da3JbuGier  Adam King - Adventures With a Difference (@AdventuresWAD) December 31, 2020

Last month Taoiseach Micheal Martin sent a letter to Adam thanking him for inspiring people with his "virtual hug."

Adam, who would like to grow up to be a NASA commander, held up his now-iconic virtual hug sign during the last Toy show extravaganza hosted by Ryan Tubridy.

Since then his virtual hug has been turned into a postmark by An Post.

Read More Adam 'meets' his hero Commander Chris Hadfield

Richard Miley of An Post Mails and Parcels said that the special hug "keeps us all connected even if we can't hug in person this year."

Following his appearance on the Toy show Adam, who has a huge interest in all things space, received a message from retired astronaut Chris Hadfield who said he was hugely impressed by the youngster.

"The way that you spoke, the way that you treated everybody around you, the way that you showed us the things that you are dreaming of, I found it really inspiring."

Adam was born with osteogenesis imperfecta type 3, the most severe form of the condition which causes brittle bones.

He is well known at Cork University Hospital for his cheeky smile and infectious personality and has attended appointments dressed as Santa to cheer up hardworking staff at Christmas.

He has also been known to bring in presents and cards for his favourite healthcare workers.
NBC News - WASHINGTON  A bill tucked into the large spending legislation President Donald Trump signed into law on Sunday will require that portable fuel containers, including plastic gas cans, include "flame mitigation devices" to help prevent explosions from igniting inside them.

The "Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2020'' establishes "performance standards to protect against portable fuel container explosions near open flames or other ignition sources" and directs the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to "promulgate a final rule to require flame mitigation devices in portable fuel containers" within the next two and a half years.

A report issued by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to accompany the original version of the proposed legislation in 2019 cited the findings of a 2013 NBC News investigation of portable plastic gasoline containers.

The NBC News investigation found that under certain conditions, the containers were susceptible to explosions that could cause severe burns.

The new law comes after a long battle to force the container industry to add such devices to plastic gas cans and other fuel containers. During the past several decades, more than 80 lawsuits filed on behalf of plaintiffs have alleged that portable gas cans had exploded and caused serious burns, some of them fatal.

One of the lawsuits was filed by Karen Kornegay of Louisiana, whose 19-year-old son Dylan died in 2010 after suffering severe burns over 80 percent of his body. A can he had used to ignite a bonfire allegedly exploded and sprayed him with flaming gasoline.

While Kornegay acknowledges her son should not have used a gas can to ignite a bonfire  as the container industry warns never to do  she told NBC News she believed the container's design was to blame for the severity of his injuries.

Kornegay's lawsuit and others claimed that the containers were unsafe and defective, susceptible to "flashback" explosions because their designs did not include any flame mitigation devices.

A flashback explosion can occur when vapor escaping the can contacts a flame or a spark. The vapor can ignite and "flash back" inside the can.

One type of flame mitigation device, called a "flame arrester," which is usually pieces of mesh or disks with holes meant to disrupt flame, is used in metal "safety" gas cans, fuel tanks, and some containers of other flammable liquids, such as some charcoal lighter fluid brands and even some liquor bottles. But until the new law there was no federal requirement for some portable fuel containers.

Kornegay was overjoyed to learn the design changes had become law. "If I could be speechless I would be speechless, because it is something that has weighed so heavy on my heart," she said. "We remember all the children and adults and people that this happened to."

Another mother, Margrett Lewis of Sonoma, California, was a driving force behind passage of the new law. One of her twin daughters was severely burned when she and her sister attempted to pour a fireplace fuel product into a ventless fireplace from a container with no flame arrester.

According to Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who sponsored the original legislation in 2019, Lewis "championed the drafting and passage of the bill."

"Flame accidents have tragic consequences, but the solution is smaller than a dime and cheaper than a nickel," said Thompson in a press release issued by his office.

"It's bittersweet," said Lewis in the same release. "This law, too late to save my daughter from the horrors of a burn unit, ensures that every year, [thousands] will be protected from tragic burn injuries and death. I'm so proud of her and her twin sister for moving forward."

Contacted by phone this week, Lewis was blunt in describing her motivation. I cant have anybody else getting burned, she said.

The 2013 NBC News investigation reported on tests the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts had conducted with the support of the gas can industry  into whether the portable plastic gas container were susceptible to flashback explosions.

The test results showed that under certain limited conditions  including a very low volume of gasoline left inside  such explosions are possible.

The day after the NBC News investigation aired on the TODAY show and posted on NBCNews.com, the CPSC called for manufacturers to add flame arresters to plastic gas cans.

After NBC News' investigation, WPI continued two additional phases of testing, also with the industry's support, into whether flame mitigation devices such as flame arresters could help prevent explosions.

That testing found they did, concluding in 2016 that mitigation devices are "necessary" to address possible explosions, and reporting that some prototype designs for the devices had passed safety, durability and functionality tests.

Ali S. Rangwala, the professor of Fire Protection Engineering who conducted the testing at WPI's combustion lab, is pleased by the new requirement.

"I am so happy," he told NBC News in a text, "that the work we have done is now signed into law."

The industry had already agreed to a new technical standard two years ago, in late 2018. A committee consisting of industry representatives, consumer safety advocates and CPSC officials established "performance requirements for Flame Mitigation Devices (FMDs) in portable fuel containers." "A flame mitigation device," it stated, "shall be provided in each PFC opening to protect the container opening(s) from possible propagation of a flame into a flammable fuel-air mixture within the container."

Reporting that development on its website, the Portable Fuel Container Manufacturers Association noted that containers meeting the standard "are already being produced."

The PFCMA said its member manufacturers began "the introduction of flame mitigation devices on almost all of their PFCs starting about three years ago" in 2017. It said that it "enthusiastically supports the new law as part of our members' unwavering focus on the safety of their products for consumers," and described the addition of the flame mitigation device as "an extra measure of safety for consumers who, despite common knowledge of the risks, misuse gasoline to start or accelerate a fire."

The PFCMA emphasized that consumers should never use gasoline to start or accelerate a fire.

The law signed Sunday includes a long timeline, directing the CPSC to make its final rule "not later than 30 months" after the law's enactment date. It also includes an "exception," directing that the requirements of the "voluntary [industry] standardbe treated as a consumer product safety rule" if the CPSC determines they meet the conditions of the law.
All state governments and union territories have prepared for the Covid-19 vaccine dry run on Saturday (January 2) which will be a trial before the actual vaccination drive begins in India. Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat have successfully conducted dry run in the first phase. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday held a meeting to review the preparedness.

Vaccine dry run is an end-to-end exercise where all steps to be done during the actual vaccination drive will be tested to identify if there is any gap in the process or if any region of the country is experiencing any difficulty in the entire process.

The sites where the dry run will take place tomorrow have already been identified as preparations went on full swing on Friday. Social distancing signs were put up, vaccination officers were given their badges at many dry run centres on Friday.

The Co-WIN app which will be extensively used for the real-time monitoring of vaccination updates has already been tested in the first phase of dry run. The names of the mock beneficiaries  as there is no real vaccine involved in the dry run  taking part in the dry run are uploaded in the site, which is now being used by the officials involved in the process. They will also receive an SMS However, these beneficiaries who are being called for the dry run are health workers who will get vaccines when the drive begins.

All logistical arrangements, internet connectivity, electricity, safety of the sites are also to be checked during the dry run.

According to the health department, a model vaccine site must have separate entry and exit and at least three rooms so that beneficiaries can wait before and after vaccination. Arrangement for post-vaccination observations has also been recommended.

Maharashtra will hold the dry run at Pune, Nagpur, Jalna and Nandurbar. Jharkhand will conduct the dry run in Ranchi, East Singhbhum, Chatra, Palamu and Pakur. Bengaluru Urban, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Mysuru and Shivamogga will undergo the dry run in Karnataka. Tamil Nadu will conduct the dry run in Chennai, Nilgiris, Tirunevlevi, Tiruvallur and Coimbatore. Similarly, all states have identified dry run sites. The Centre has asked the states and the union territories to test sites at difficult terrains as well.

The nationwide dry run comes as the first vaccine candidate  Covishield developed by Oxford/Astrazeneca  inches towards getting approval in India. The government-appointed expert panel has recommended this vaccine for approval which will be granted by Drugs Controller General of India.
The news about vaccines brings a sense of relief, and assuming all goes well, life could revert to normalcy by mid-end of 2021. Covid-19 has brought renewed focus on human health within sustainability and global development agenda, which so far appeared to have focused largely on the environment, pollution, climate change, and social justice. Improved sanitation and hygiene, which have been the primary weapons to fight covid-19, need further strengthening so that we remain resilient in the emerging uncertain world. There is a case for following priorities to be addressed to ensure that we as a nation remain resilient and prepared:

Sustain the gains: The massive hygiene awareness and behavior change that accompanied covid-19, has had a surprising positive consequence on the burden on communicable diseases. The leadership of one of the largest municipalities of the country shared that due widespread adoption of hygienic behaviors by citizens, enteric disease and hepatitis (A & E) related hospitalizations dropped by over 68% and 80%, respectively. A pharma industry veteran also lamented the falling antibiotic consumption, a testimony that communicable diseases are indeed falling. This will also have a positive impact on reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance, an area in which India has for long remained highly vulnerable. These gains are significant and health authorities must continue the pursuit of improved sanitation and adoption of hygienic behaviors especially among the slum populations where due to the excessive population densities, vulnerabilities remain high. The slum population in India is over 6.5 crore, with Maharashtra and AP, each accounting for more than 1 crore people living in slums. Improving the infrastructure, services and operation & maintenance of public and community toilets remains one of the weakest links in the hygiene chain. There are several innovative and sustainable Made in India models to serve the bottom of pyramid in this regard, and rapid scaling of these is urgently warranted.

Fill the gaps: Situations in which large groups of populations mingle for long durations day in and day out, remain highly vulnerable and could kickstart infections that can rapidly assume epidemic proportions. Academic institutions and workplaces with massive workforce, a growing norm in India are such high-risk situations.

There has been a graded opening of offices combined with WFH options, and given the capacities of large organizations, work places may be able to manage and contain the risks. Academic institutions, which are on the threshold of opening will need more careful considerations. A few days ago, IIT-Madras had to shut down after finding over 100 cases on the campus. Some of our institutions have over 10,000 students across a single campus, and finding over 50 students cramped in one classroom, is a norm. Recent research estimates that there are over 9 million toilets within academic institutions in India. Improving these for cleanliness, hygiene and safety is crucial to prevent spread of infections. Disinfection of classroom surfaces, physical distancing, and ensuring absence or isolation of infected students from classes, are areas to consider as well. Presentism of infected students is a bigger concern as compared to absenteeism. The rapid adoption of digital learning has definitely helped manage the situation somewhat. Given the massive gaps that remain to be filled with regards to sanitation & hygiene in academic institutions, it also represents a unique entrepreneurship and jobs & livelihoods opportunity

Accelerate adoption of decentralized and circular economy models for waste & waste water treatment: For decades Indias metropolises have pursued centralized waste and waste-water treatment models. These are capex intensive, inefficient and leaky, leading to widespread contamination and pollution of water bodies & the environment, posing a constant threat of communicable diseases, and its spread. It is common knowledge that most large cities have an installed capacity that can barely treat 70% of the sewage it generates, and within that operational inefficiencies add to the volume of untreated sewage getting dumped into water bodies or into the environment. Especially relevant to tier 2 cities and towns where infrastructure is evolving, decentralized and circular economy models, which are low capex, far less leaky, value generating and better contained to prevent spread of infections, need to be promoted, especially within the smart cities context. Technological developments over the last decade has opened up several options for decentralized systems that are high efficiency and also offer additional benefits in terms of energy or compost generation, which can build a revenue or a value stream, while addressing climate change and pollution threats

Set up a national infection control task force: Working with science, technology, medical and global health fraternity, keeping an eye on upcoming threats, ecosystem perturbations and sectoral interdependencies, such a task force will help respond swiftly with knowledge & insights, and shape national, state, district and community level responses, to ensure that new epidemics are contained quickly and effectively

With its talent, start-up ecosystem, digital prowess and science & technology leadership, India has a unique health-cum-economic opportunity to emerge as a pioneer in tackling future pandemic threats.

(Nimish Shah is CEO of Toilet Board Coalition, India Chapter. TBC India is promoted and supported by Tata Trusts, Hindustan Unilever Ltd., Lixil India and USAID India. Views eare personal and do not reflect Mint's)

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Jet fuel or ATF price on Friday was hiked by 3.7 per cent, the third increase in rates in one month on firming international oil prices.

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price was raised by 1,817.62 per kilolitre, or 3.69 per cent, to 50,978.78 per kl in the national capital, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

This is the third increase in price since December 1, 2020. Rates had gone up by 7.6 per cent ( 3,288.38 per kl) on December 1 and by 6.3 per cent ( 2,941.5 per kl) on December 16.

ATF prices are revised on 1st and 16th of every month based on the average price of benchmark international rate and foreign exchange rate in the preceding fortnight.

In Mumbai, ATF price on Friday went up to 49,083.65 from 47,266.02 per kl.

Prices vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes.

Increase in price of ATF, which makes for close to 40 per cent of the running cost of an airline, will put additional burden on airlines that have been struggling to return to normal business after Covid-19 lockdown had halted their operations.

After rising by 100 per cylinder last month, cooking gas LPG rates were unchanged on Friday.

Non-subsidised LPG will continue to be priced at 694 per 14.2-kg cylinder.

Prior to the price increase in December, rates had remained unchanged at 594 a cylinder since July. This was the same rate at which subsidised LPG refills are also sold.

Since May, most cooking gas customers have not received subsidies as the combination of international oil price collapse and domestic refill rate increases brought parity between subsidised and market rates.

A subsidised cooking gas cylinder was priced at 497 in Delhi in June 2019. Since then, prices have cumulatively gone up by 147.

However, the increase in rates in December meant that the government had to resume paying subsidies to consumers.

Petrol and diesel prices, which are supposed to be revised daily, remained unchanged for the 25th straight day.

A litre of petrol costs 83.71 in Delhi and diesel is priced at 73.87.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Kristin Hannah has written so many novels that she cant quite remember whether her latest, The Four Winds (St. Martins, Feb.), an epic historical set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, is number 24 or 25. (Its 24.) Im going to have to trust you on that, she says with a laugh by phone from her home outside of Seattle. There, shes pretty much in lockdown mode again, surviving day by day and looking to a better future... which is a lot like my book.

Like Hannahs bestselling 2015 novel, The Nightingale, about two sisters in occupied France during WWII, The Four Winds covers a moment pulled from history. This time the focus is on Elsa Martinelli, who, abandoned by her husband, leaves her home on a drought-stricken Texas farm in the 1930s and travels to California in hopes of finding a better life for her children, Loreda and Anthony. But a bad situation quickly turns worse: the family faces hardships ranging from violence to deep poverty, cruelty at the hands of the farm owners they must work for to survive, and the pain of being cast off and considered less than, as Okies. As Elsa says at one point, Its wrong.... This isnt who we are in America. Yet despite the despair, there are uplifting moments of friendship, joy, empowerment, and love: the stuff that, no matter how devastating the moment, humans survive on.

The Four Winds is Hannahs ninth novel published by St. Martins. Work on it began several years ago, when she was touring for The Nightingale, an instant bestseller that SMP says has sold 4.5 million copies in all formats. Seeing the effect that book had on readers, Hannah started to want to write a book that was that powerful and that emotional and that meaningful, but was deeply American, she says. I was looking for a lost American story I could tell through a womans eyes. And the Great Depression just sort of jumped out at me.

Growing up on the West Coast, Hannah, 60, had a basic knowledge of what had happened during the time period, but when she dug into the research, she was stunned at the level of tragedy and difficulty people faced. With the drama and the stakes so high, her plot was already suggested, she says. The question was, who did she want to tell the story? Enter Elsa, who Hannah claims is one of her favorite fictional creations, a woman who goes from feeling that she has no validity at all to finding her voice and standing up not just for herself and her children but for other oppressed people. That, to me, was the most beautiful story arc, she says. Female strength, female empowerment, female friendship, motherhoodthese are things that I believe in. What I really love is taking those themes and issues and blowing the barn doors off by including them in places that you dont expect, in more historically male situations.

Hannah has been a working novelist for 30 years, but she didnt start out as a writer. When I was, I guess, 24 or 25, my mother was dying of breast cancer, and I was in my third year of law school, she says. I was visiting her and complaining about law school, and she said, Well, dont worry, youre going to be a writer, anyway.  (At that point Hannah had not written anything, though she was the kid on the family vacations who had to be told to look at the Grand Canyon because I was reading a lot on the way.)

Hannah and her mom decided to write a book in the time they had left together. Being mother and daughter, we argued about what book to write, she says. I wanted to write horror, and she wanted to write historical romance. Ultimately, her mom won.

The book that came from that, written after her mothers death and when Hannah was bedridden with a difficult pregnancy, was 1991s A Handful of Heaven. It is set in Alaskas Yukon Territory. I sold it when my son was two, Hannah says. When he was born, I realized that I just wanted to be home with him, and I thought, If I can write a book, then Ill be able to make a career of that. Ive been doing this ever since.

Over the years, shes had what she describes as a couple of big game changers. After publishing a number of historical romances, she wrote On Mystic Lake, a tearjerker of a love story published in 1999, and her first book to hit the New York Times bestseller list. The next was 2008s Firefly Lane, a story of female friendship spanning 30 years, which has been adapted by Netflix as a limited series starring Katherine Heigl. (The series is set to bow on February 3.) And then there was The Nightingale, which, once filming can begin again, will be a movie starring Elle and Dakota Fanning.

Each [game-change came about] because I had gotten to a place that I wanted to try something new, and throw everything up in the air, and see what I could do in a different format, Hannah says. And every time, its a big risk. Because you never know what readers are going to respond to, and what they arent. But books are as much a reflection of their authors as they are their readers, and what compels Hannah these days is investigating moments from the past that reflect the world today. She is interested in periods of history that can teach us a lesson about how things happen and what we need to do along the way. And I think its really important not just to put women back into the stories but to also bring these stories to a new generation.

Of course, Hannah couldnt have predicted the stark relevance the book would have to our current time, amid a pandemic, a climate emergency, an immigration crisis, and economic insecurity. By May 2020, after numerous rounds of edits, the book was finished, and it was at that moment that Hannah and her editor realized the unexpected timeliness of the novel.

All of a sudden youre looking at the TV and people are in food lines and cant pay their rent, she says. We were realizing that this isnt a small thing were in. Hannah, whose husband lost his best friend to Covid-19, was struck by the fact that so many people were in the same boat, grieving and unable to come together or mourn in the ways people traditionally do. We are all separated from the people we love, she saysincluding her son, whos grown and now lives in Los Angeles. I find myself shockingly thankful for Zoom calls.

And this is also where historical novels are so helpful. We can find hope in stories tinged with pain from the past, especially when were living through new pain ourselves. This pandemic is, as much as anything in my lifetime, something that has affected every single person, Hannah says. I think this is the Great Depression for our generation. This is the thing that we will look back and talk about. And we will study how we did well, and where we fell down, in the process of caring for each other.

Hannah also believes there are bright notesthings that help us carry on, if we look for them. America has been through hard times before, she says. And if we pull together and work hard, we can come through this as well. And we will not only survive, we will thrive.

Jen Doll is the author of the YA novel Unclaimed Baggage (FSG) and the memoir Save the Date: The Occasional Mortifications of a Serial Wedding Guest (Riverhead).
Attorney General William Barrs December 23 resignation caught many in the tech accountability movement by surprise.

Barr was a driving force behind the Justice Department's landmark Google antitrust suit in October. His departure has understandably raised questions about the future of the departments second antitrust investigation against Google and the general approach the Trump DoJ will take towards the company as it nears the end of its term.

This concern from Big Techs critics is explicable. Given the tech-friendly staff that Joe Biden continues to appoint and float as cabinet picks, the president-elect doesn't appear to be a tech hawk like many in the current administration. That means supporters of the cause need to get as much as they can done now before its too late.

Thankfully for their sake, the Trump DoJ remains in good hands and is unlikely to take its foot off the gas in its final few weeks on the job.

Barrs gloves were indeed off during the DoJs October investigation into Google. That said, it was the new Acting Attorney General, Jeffrey Rosen, who was the lead point man of that probe. There's no reason to believe he won't carry out the second Google investigation with any less force. He is well-positioned to advance the agencys efforts in the next 20 days to a point where a Biden White House wouldnt be able to stop the momentum.

Even if there was reason to believe that this unexpected transition of DoJ leadership would adversely affect the departments progress, there would still be no reason to think that Google would get off the hook. Over the last couple of weeks, many of the 50 states recently signed on to blockbuster lawsuits against the company that the incoming administration wont have the power or authority to stop.

One coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit in early December claiming that Google manipulates its search engine to favor its own products and services. The lawsuit argues that Googles tight hold on the search market allows it to act as a gatekeeper to businesses that rely on web sales for survival. Considering that only 5 percent of internet searches make it past the first results page, a site's spot in the result order makes a huge difference for companies looking for traffic.

That Google potentially uses its position as internet gatekeeper to favor itself and stifle competition is grounds for a massive fine or more.

This lawsuit wasn't the only non-DoJ related legal bombshell to drop against Google this month. Another group of AGs filed complaints about Google's digital advertising industry. They provided evidence that Google has rigged the ad market to limit competition and keep prices high.

In some instances, Google made deals with potential rivals to redirect business towards them. The law has a word for this: collusion. The arrangements weren't just agreed to by handshake; they are allegedly documented and could end the big tech oligarchy as we know it in one fell swoop. No amount of lobbying can make hard evidence disappear.

While these lawsuits and the appeals that will inevitably come with them will take years to conclude, one case is actually nearing its final verdict relatively soon.

After a decade of legal wrangling, Google v. Oracle should have a verdict by the beginning of this summer. Presented to the Supreme Court in October, the case centers on whether or not Google stole over 11,000 lines of code from the Java library when it created the Android mobile operating system. Given that the company initially asked for licensing terms, it certainly appears that it did take this coding unlawfully, ostensibly to save money on development and fast-track its product to the market.

Fast forward to the present, and the Supreme Courts upcoming ruling could very well kick off a year of severe legal headaches for the Silicon Valley giant.

While Barr will be missed for his tenacity and audacious pursuit of justice, hes left his work and legacy in the hands of a seasoned professional who will ensure that his work in reining in the tech sector monopoly withstands even the swampiest of D.C. storms.

Sure, big tech firms like Google may fill the next administration, but these officials wont be able to stop all of these state and federal cases that already exist. Even more lawsuits may be on the way, and the more punches thrown at Google, the more likely that one will land.

Much is still uncertain for the future ahead, but one thing is clear: the easy ride for Big Tech is over.

Dr. Michael Busler, Ph.D., is a public policy analyst and a professor of finance at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in finance and economics. He has written op-ed columns in major newspapers for more than 35 years.

Image: Google

The first populated area of the United States to escape 2020 did so at 9 a.m. Eastern in subdued fashion. Bars and nightclubs were closed in Guam, a U.S. territory that sits between Japan and Australia, and fireworks shows were canceled.

With few tourists on the island because of the coronavirus, some locals booked hotel staycation packages. But increased grocery sales of meat and alcohol suggested that many of the 170,000 residents planned to celebrate at home.

Another hot-ticket item: fruit.

There is a belief that if you start the new year with 13 round fruits, then your whole year will have good luck, said Kathy Calvo, the chief executive of Pay-Less Supermarkets.

Guam became a focal point during the pandemic when the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt docked there in late March with a growing outbreak onboard. It was a challenging year, in particular, for the islands tourism industry, and there are hopes 2021 will be different.
Nurses Detail Hard Times in an Orange County Hospital at Full Capacity

As nurse Anna starts her shift, she doesnt know whether shell be floated from the telemetry unit to the COVID unit, or to the intensive care unit (ICU).

I wasnt trained to be an ICU nurse, so I dont know how to do some of those drips, and I dont know how to take care of a patient on a ventilator. But what they did was they gave us six hours of module training online, she told The Epoch Times.

Sometimes we get put in situations where were risking patient safety. And  were kind of risking our license if something goes wrong, because we didnt feel like we were properly trained, but were still doing it because we have to, because theres no choice.

She and another nurse at a hospital in Orange County, California, told The Epoch Times how theyve seen patient care suffer and nurses burn out. They spoke of the trials of 2020, especially with hospitals at maximum capacity in recent months. Both chose to remain anonymous (Anna is a pseudonym).

New travel nurses have been hired to help with the surge at Annas hospital, but even still, she and her colleagues feel overwhelmed and are often asked to come in on their days off.

I get emails and phone calls every day that Im off, to work extra shifts, and sometimes to even work at other hospitals in our network. The hospitals are full and bursting at the seams and dont have enough staff to care for all these patients, Anna said.

The hospital she works in currently has over 200 COVID-19 patients, the most it has had since March. It has a little over 400 patients in total, also a record-breaking patient census.

Our daily COVID census doesnt even include the patients who were initially admitted for COVID, but have now been in the hospital for two months because they developed other complications secondary to COVID, she said.

Hospitals in Full Crisis Mode

Adam Blackstone, vice president of external affairs at the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC), told The Epoch Times that in California, there are more than twice the hospitalizations as the previous peak reached in July, and [its] projected to worsen.

Southern Californias health care workforce is drained, ICU capacity continues to sink, and were facing a nationwide shortage of trained nursing staff, he said.

With critical care nurses and other clinical personnel on the frontlines for nearly a year now, the issue of burnout and nursing shortages is becoming more severe, he said.

Many hospitals in California are now in full-crisis mode.

Impacts to Patient Care

On top of the influx of COVID patients, hospitals are also dealing with their normal winter busy season of serious flu cases and other ailments. When these patientsalong with those having heart attacks, strokes, and so oncome in, Anna said sometimes they dont get the treatment they normally would.

The patients that need ICU-level of care  sometimes dont get an ICU bed but will get a telemetry bed instead, she said.

At her hospital, the ICU capacity fluctuates between 05 percent daily, and nurses are often floated to help on different floors. She said shes heard the hospital is considering outdoor tent options to accommodate the surge.

If Im trying to advocate for a patient to go to ICU and theyre not doing wellthey need higher level of carethen the response is, Well, we dont have beds, youre just going to have to manage it.

Another consequence of being in full-crisis mode is the recent changes in hospital safety protocols.

The California Department of Public Health proclaimed an emergency order on Dec. 11 banning enforcement of hospital requirements, which means nurse-to-patient ratios have become flexible.

However, this means that nurses are handling more patients than theyve been trained to care for, Anna said, and sometimes non-ICU-trained nurses are working in the ICU to meet the demand.

The standard ratio for most telemetry floors is one nurse to four patients, but now its one nurse caring for six to seven patients. In the ICU, the standard is one nurse to two patients, but its now up to three or four patients.

No matter if you are a COVID patient or not, the care you receive might not be up to par with what you need. And not because the people treating you arent good at their job, but because they are so overworked, pushed into uncomfortable situations, and stretched beyond their limits, Anna said.

Another nurse told The Epoch Times the hospital has also hired some new graduates from nursing school, but the responsibility for training them falls on the nurses who are already overworked.

Trying to take care of four patients and teach the new grad when youre barely trying to give care for four patients with the new ratio  its just a lot of extra work, she said. You would think that it would be like, well theres two [sets of] hands, but the new grads are very scared, she said.

Nonetheless, more nurses are needed, so it remains a priority to train them.

A sentiment both nurses shared was that its been hard not knowing what the future holds. No matter what breakthroughs with treatments have been talked about, things have always seemed to get worse.

I really had a hard time just never knowing what I was going to walk into at work, feeling like were fighting a monster that we knew nothing about, Anna said. And seeing patients die or say goodbye to their family on FaceTime like thatthat just kills me.

Vaccine Hopes

Anna decided to take the Pfizer vaccine because to her its a glimmer of hope for a year thats had so many uncertainties. And although shes not sure the vaccine is going to turn things around, it gives her hope that there could be a breakthrough on the horizon.

I didnt do it just for me. I did it for my family, friends, and my patients I treat, she said.

Initially, she did have some hesitation. She said she wasnt sure that something produced so quickly could have the same efficacy as other vaccines that need years to produce.

A nurse recieves a COVID-19 vaccination at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Dec. 16, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

I also had hesitation because the process and science behind this vaccine is completely new, but could be revolutionary to the way we make vaccines.  I still have some worry about the long-term side effects, and if there are any, because theres no science to speak to that yet.

She said the vaccine is a touchy subject for many, but she believes each person should be able choose whats best for his or her health.

I dont believe this vaccine should be forced upon anyone, not even health care workers or high-risk groups. I have lots of coworkers that have opted out of getting the vaccine until a later time, and I stand with them in their choice, she said.

As an endnote, and hopefully a sense of peace, we as humans are resilient. I am truly grateful for some of the people I work with who always step up when they are called and have worked extra shift after extra shift to serve others, Anna said.

Personally, being a nurse during this year of chaos has taught me many things about my faith, perseverance, and the beauty in the fragility of life, she said.

On Dec. 29, health officials extended the stay-at-home orders for at least another three weeks in Orange County.

We essentially are projecting that the ICU capacity does not improve in Southern California and San Joaquin Valley, and that demand will continue to exceed capacity, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said.

The announcement means restaurants, gyms, breweries, and wineries will have to remain closed until the ICU capacities are above or equal to 15 percent.
Nicolas Poussins The Crossing of the Red Sea is like a great uncle who never leaves his big house, always up for a family visit. I am a fan of Poussins work in general. Apart from being beautifully painted and loaded with historical references, this painting is such a treasure. Its an amazing painting to have in the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) collection. Theres something about it that I recognise, which only occurred to me recently. The scene is set in Egypt, where I was born. It has long been a painting that I loved to sit and look at and learn from and then I thought, 'Hang on, this is historically relevant to my background'. I recognise that in the subject but not in the painting per se and perhaps I always knew of the Egyptian reference but hadn't consciously made the personal link. In the past few years, because Ive been working at VCA and walking through the NGV regularly, I would always at least walk past the painting, to make sure its there. If I have time, I sit in front of it, sometimes for a few minutes but often for longer. I could not and would not want to paint like Poussin. The painting is materially and conceptually distant from what I am interested in, yet it holds something that I guess I cannot imagine letting go of. A mystical connection with a past that is muddled in pagan practices, biblical narratives, Eurocentric views and modernist aspirations. Nicolas Poussin's The Crossing of the Red Sea (1632-1634), oil on canvas, 155.6  215.3 cm. Credit:Courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria Theres something about its dark skies, how it conjures the looming disaster. Its hard to work out if the group of people are walking into or coming out of a storm, there are so many layers in the foreground and background its difficult to tell which way they are actually heading. That murkiness, the browns, greens and greys, spotted with brightly coloured clothing, a type of faith in the ability of humans to collaborate and overcome a looming catastrophe. In essence, a classically derived belief in the human ability to physically and emotionally move across as one people to overcome hardships.

On another level it correlates to my move from one culture to another, from Egypt to Australia. I first saw this painting when I was studying at VCA in the late 1980s. Poussin is one of those figures who was brought to my attention by my art lecturers very early on; he was recommended as someone I should look at. I started looking at his work in books and then encountered the work at the NGV, and I guess I have never looked back: this large painting (it measures 155.6  215.3cm) became a feature in my life. Raafat Ishak: artist and head of painting at Victorian College of the Arts. Credit:Ponch Hawkes Poussin was recapturing a classical tradition in art in stark contrast to the more contemporary and rather frivolous French Baroque. In some ways, he was exploring a compatibility between pagan and Christian traditions, later championed by his many followers as a type of republican severity and civic mindedness in the French context. The rigours of classicism are apolitical in Poussins work. His approach seemed more philosophical, and that interests me. He was one of the very early artists to do so, and, as a consequence, had to revoke a position in the French court to return to his beloved Rome. The Crossing of the Red Sea, to my mind at least, sets a precedent to many 19th century works that I became interested in, by artists such as Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, Arnold Bocklin and  to a greater degree but of lesser interest to me  Jacques-Louis David and Eugene Delacroix. There is a lineage that traces Poussins works even further to early cubism and, I dare suggest, Marcel Duchamps work. I may be imagining all this of course, to draw some kind of lineage to my own work, but I guess there is a certain classical rigour that I believe runs through these artists works, an order and a logic that is self-consciously aware of its artifice and theatricality. Poussins The Crossing of the Red Sea is indeterminate, it is suspended between realities and mysteries, the historically constant narrative of exodus, and the inexplicable magic of a prophet parting a sea that does not part. The reportage-like quality of the narrative is myth. The Red Sea does not part  there were land passages between ancient Egypt and Sinai  yet the looming danger of the chase is made poignant by myth, art and theatre.
(Natural News) After Nov. 3, the meaning of some words and concepts abruptly changed. Have you noticed how new realities have replaced old ones?

(Article by Victor Davis Hanson republished from PJMedia.com)

Media cross-examination of the president is now an out-of-date idea. The time for gotcha questions has come and gone. Why ask a president whether he is a traitor or a crook when you can focus on his favorite flavor of milkshake or compliment him on his socks?

The old pre-election truth was that new vaccines take years to develop. The new postelection truth is that its no big deal to bring out new vaccines in nine months.

Impeaching a first-term president after his first midterm election  on a strictly partisan vote, for political reasons other than the Constitutions treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors  is now a terrible idea.

Worse would be to appoint a special counsel to harass a president on unfounded charges of collusion with China. An even scarier notion would be a conservative dream team of partisan lawyers hounding President Joe Biden  using a 22-month, $40 million blank check.

It would be unprofessional for university psychologists and physicians from a distance to diagnose, in pop fashion, the mental faculties of a President Biden.

Certainly, there would never be talk about Department of Justice officials contemplating wearing a wire as part of an entrapment scheme to remove a President Biden through the 25th Amendment. That would almost constitute a coup attempt.

Almost as bad would be for the holdover FBI director to start memorializing his private conversations with Joe Biden on FBI devices. He might then leak such memos to the press  just in case he were to be fired for secretly investigating Biden for Chinese collusion and then lying about such a probe.

What happened to the Logan Act? Not long ago it was assumed to be a critically needed guardrail. Wouldnt it now ensure that presidential transition team members were not calling foreign leaders while Donald Trump is still president? How has it suddenly become a defunct, ossified relic?

Leaking classified material would be about the worst thing government officials could do. Imagine if a Trump holdover, burrowed into the new Biden administration, released a transcript of Bidens private conversations with the Mexican president or the Australian prime minister.

Such a breach of trust would be almost as bad as a turncoat anti-Biden mole seeking to resist presidential directives. Imagine if this anonymous staffer were given an op-ed in the New York Tines to claim that a cadre of old-time Democrats were shocked by Bidens cognitive decline and resisting his directives.

Is extending security clearances to former high-level officials turned cable-TV pundits still a bad idea? Who would wish to see, for instance, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe issuing warnings each night on Fox News? With a wink-and-nod hat tip to his confidential sources, Ratcliffe could spin conspiracy theories that Biden is facing bombshell disclosures about his family misadventures with the Chinese.

Is it still important that we keep the tradition of retired high-ranking military officers  all subject to the requirements of the Uniform Code of Military Justice  not disparaging the president? Who would want former Pentagon officials, some of them serving on the boards of military contractors, warning us that Biden should be removed because of cognitive challenges? Certainly, generals and admirals should not compare a President Bidens policies to those of Mussolini or the Nazis.

At least dark money no longer exists. The old idea of right-wing billionaires pouring money into candidates political campaigns was supposedly a dangerous practice. It would be far more civic-minded for left-wing billionaires to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the coffers of nonpartisan state bureaucracies entrusted with guaranteeing the sanctity of national elections.

And apparently after, not before, an election is the proper time to announce critically important news.

Like the rollout of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine?

Like a $900 billion stimulus package?

Like a revised upward Fannie Mae report on the economy?

Like the ties between a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee and a suspected Chinese spy?

Like a federal investigation of Joe Bidens son and his possible profiteering with rich Chinese elites affiliated with Chinas government?

To keep track of our brave new American world is easy.

Just consider everything said to be bad by the Animal Farm media before Nov. 3 as now good. And remember that everything said to be good two months ago is now actually bad.

Read more at: PJMedia.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-02 03:43:34|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkey reported 12,203 new COVID-19 cases including 1,908 symptomatic ones on Friday, the first day of 2021, raising the total number in the country to 2,220,855, while Iran confirmed 6,286 more cases, taking the total nationwide infections to 1,231,429.

The death toll from the virus in Turkey, arguably the hardest hit country in the Middle East, rose by 212 to 21,093, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,114,760 after 14,110 more recovered in the past 24 hours, according to the country's health ministry.

In addition, the rate of pneumonia in COVID-19 patients stands at 3.8 percent and the number of seriously ill patients is 3,891 in the country.

The first batch of 3 million doses of China's SinoVac COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Turkey on Dec. 30.

In Iran, the pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 55,337 persons, up by 114 in the past 24 hours, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Iranian health ministry.

She said 803 of the new COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, while 5,013 remain in intensive care units.

Earlier in the day, Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesman of the Iran Food and Drug Administration, said Iran is cooperating with a Cuban company in producing a COVID-19 vaccine, adding testing of the vaccine is underway in Cuba.

The Israeli Ministry of Health reported 8,567 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total infections in the country to 428,510, while the death toll from the virus rose to 3,356, with 38 new fatalities added.

The ministry also reported 18 new cases of the mutant COVID-19 strain, bringing the total number of patients tested positive for the new strain in Israel to 23.

The number of people vaccinated against the COVID-19 in Israel has exceeded 950,000, about 10.2 percent of its 9.3 million population, since the vaccination campaign began on Dec. 20, 2020.

In Palestine, 1,450 new cases and 18 deaths were reported on Friday, raising the total number of infections in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem to 156,815 and the death toll to 1,550.

A full lockdown, including the closure of all sectors except for bakeries and pharmacies, continued across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for the fourth consecutive weekend to curb the growing infections with the virus.

Iraq has so far confirmed 596,193 coronavirus cases in the country, with 902 new ones added on Friday.

It also reported 11 new deaths and 1,976 recovered cases in the country, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,824 and the total recoveries to 539,817.

Morocco reported 1,777 new COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths on Friday, raising the tally of infections to 440,970 and the death toll to 7,425 in the North African country.

The COVID-19 death rate in Morocco stands at 1.7 percent while the recovery rate is 92.9 percent, with 1,093 patients in intensive care units.

Saudi Arabia reported 137 new coronavirus cases and seven more deaths, taking the kingdom's tally of COVID-19 cases to 362,878 and its death toll to 6,230.

The total number of recoveries in the kingdom increased to 354,081, after 228 new recoveries were confirmed on Friday.

As the first among the Gulf countries to report COVID-19 cases, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday confirmed 1,856 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cases in the country to 209,678.

The ministry also reported 1,577 new recoveries and two deaths, taking the tally of recoveries in the UAE to 186,019 and the death toll to 671.

On Dec. 9, 2020, the UAE announced the official registration of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group, or Sinopharm.

The Qatari health ministry on Friday announced 208 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the Gulf state to 144,042, official Qatar News Agency reported.

In Kuwait, 285 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths were reported on Friday, raising the tally of infections to 150,869 and the death toll to 936.

Algeria reported 287 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the North African country to 99,897.

In Lebanon and Jordan, the number of COVID-19 cases on Friday rose by 2,385 and 1,271 respectively to 183,888 and 295,765. Enditem
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2020 has thrown challenges at Australians like no year in decades.

We started the year blanketed in smoke with bushfires ravishing our land, we battled flood and the on-going drought, and we continue to live through a global pandemic that has taken loved ones, challenged our Australian way of life and wreaked unmatched economic havoc.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt supports changing the national anthem. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Through these challenges we have seen the very best Australians had to offer. We should take immense pride from one another and the way in which we have supported each other and our communities through this testing year.

It seems right, that as a nation we take a step forward together to acknowledge the strength and power of working together as one.
In any normal year, Laredo Morning Times honors one Laredoan on Jan. 1 who has made an especially significant impact on the city. But in a year like 2020, it didnt seem right to name just one person who has helped the Gateway City through this historic global pandemic when there are thousands of doctors, nurses, technicians, hospital custodians, assisted living caregivers, EMTs and countless others who have worked tirelessly to care for our sick and dying during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, we are proud to announce that all of our local frontline health care workers are our 2020 Laredoans of the Year for their remarkable service, bravery and efforts to fight an invisible enemy in this difficult time.

COVID-19 has brought unthinkable death and pain to the Laredo community, and health care workers have put patients lives before their own in order to save as many as possible. And their dedication to our communitys health extends far beyond the doors of the hospital. Many doctors and nurses who are caring for patients in the COVID units also have to separate themselves from their loved ones so as to limit their exposure to the virus. Following every long 12-hour shift, many frontline workers spend their time in solitude.

Their sacrifice for Laredo will never be forgotten.

LMT recognizes that there are thousands of stories from frontline workers that remain to be told. In the meantime, would like to acknowledge just a few ways they have admirably performed their respective duties below:

A public presence

Dr. Victor Trevino has been Laredos health authority for four years. Hes there to guide and lead the public in the event of an outbreak or epidemic, and he can issue quarantine orders to protect the public.

In the past, new viruses like Zika and H1N1 were able to be contained relatively quickly. And absent of an outbreak in the community, a health authoritys job is pretty under the radar.

These days, Trevino can be found three times a week on Facebook Live, briefing local leaders, the media and the community on the status of COVID-19 in the community. He has been omnipresent over the course of this pandemic, a fact that contributes to his ultimate goal of maintaining transparency around the virus.

Keeping the public informed has been their best defense against the virus, he said. He visits Laredos three hospitals daily to talk to doctors, nurses and ER staff and get an idea of their workload, which he reports back to the public.

Its a 24/7 routine. It doesnt matter if its Sunday, Saturday, night, day, its always constant. The phones are always on, and sleeping is sleeping with a phone, Trevino said. Illness is present, the virus is present at any time.

Its important to keep statistics but even more so to remember that these numbers are in fact people, he said. There are over 500 dead from COVID-19 in Webb County, and each of those deaths likewise represent the loved ones who they left behind.

Trevino admits he carries a weight on his shoulders as the health authority during this crisis but said its one he will gladly carry.

It is different to see all of this in real life, in real time. There is a certain sadness that comes with it. But we have to be strong and we have to continue the fight against this virus, he said.

One of his most memorable moments in 2020 was the day the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had not yet released any specific guidelines for the virus, and Laredo City Council called an emergency meeting. There was some hesitation to implement safeguards and shutdowns, but that was the first time local leaders took real action against the virus.

Trevino has also witnessed firsthand how political divisions have crossed into medicine and inhibited their ability to protect the community. This was especially apparent in his efforts to protect the schools from the virus by keeping learning remote via a public health order. The Texas Education Agency ultimately stepped in with its own overriding guidance which changed and varied widely in the weeks leading up to the start of the school year.

This should be a medical thing. It should be a prevention thing, it should be a public health issue, Trevino said. Regretfully, politics got in between. Thats something that came to me as a surprise.

But in the end, the health authority believes Laredo officials and health care workers have done the best with the resources made available to them.

I saw the efforts of the health care workers and all of their sacrifices. All of this is very significant, he said. ... I think we put in a 110% effort to fight this virus, and we could have been much worse.

Visiting the sick at their homes

Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa couldnt say how many COVID-19 patients he has treated in the last nine months, but he ventures that its in the thousands.

Laredo Medical Centers COVID ICU director and critical care physician fell ill two to three weeks into the pandemic, and Cigarroa took over management of the COVID unit at the hospital up until he himself contracted the virus in July.

Cigarroa is a cardiologist but has always devoted part of his practice to internal medicine since Laredo is so underserved in this area. But when the pandemic struck, he decided to close his cardiology clinic and dedicate his practice to COVID until it ended.

We didnt know it was going to last this long, he laughed. But its been absolutely wonderful. Weve been able to make a difference, and I think its what medicine is all about. We took an oath to take care of the sick, and I think this year the sick have been mainly COVID.

Now his office sees COVID-19 patients from 5-10 p.m. But Cigarroa is still making house calls, as he has since the pandemic started, because so many people fear going to the hospital.

This is a practice he loves. It keeps patients out of Laredos packed hospitals, and it brings him back to a centuries-old way of medicine. The pandemic brought home visits back to life, he said.

You become much more than a physician when you visit patients in their home and they invite you into their home. Its wonderful. You see the dynamics of the household and how everyone is reacting to COVID, and you become part of their families. Its really a very beautiful experience, Cigarroa said.

This has been an extremely tragic year, Cigarroa said, with so much death, misery and prolonged illness. But in the middle of all that, he has been able to see patients recover and regain the twinkle in their eyes and see families reunited.

There have been too few of these moments, but they have been remarkable, he said.

But I can tell you, the human spirit doesnt die easily, Cigarroa added. Despite the risk of getting COVID, most of our nurses are there every day. And even if they get COVID, they come back afterwards, and thats a beautiful thing from the frontline side.

Its almost like a war. You see so many different things in war, and this is what weve seen. We see the death, we see the fates, you see heroes, you see cowards, you see it all. But for the most part, you see tremendous courage from the caretakers.

Bringing health care outdoors

With the COVID-19 virus finding strength in close-proximity and indoor environments, medical staff have found themselves leaving the comfort of the office for an outdoor clinic to better serve their patients.

While the option was available to shutter ones practice to avoid infection, doctors around the country chose to open up outdoor clinics to better assess the situation and deliver the care that the community needed. These men and women continued to face the virus head-on while also struggling with the new virus.

The American Academy of Family Physicians stated that outdoor clinics helped relieve stress on emergency departments and made efficient use of staff and PPE while also limiting the spread of infection.

Under the circumstances, planning the clinics was a difficult task that included identifying zones to reduce the risk of infection, transitioning the offices operations to include the outdoor visits and having the proper workflow and supplies to treat patients, stated the AAFP.

Despite the confusion in the earlier months of the pandemic, Dr. Avelino Alvarez decided to open an outdoor COVID care clinic to provide a safer environment for both patients and staff.

Alvarez set up his office so it would focus specifically on phone consultations and provide care at the outdoor clinic. At the time, doctors were still unsure about how the COVID-19 virus was transmitted, so he set up the outdoor clinic based on his judgment and expertise.

It worked out fantastic, Alvarez said. We were able to reduce the risk of exposure to us (and the) patient, and it turned out that the virus is spread by the respiratory system like most viruses are.

He said that his choice was a game-changer for him as he could still consult his patients during a time when some doctors retired or stopped seeing patients for fear of COVID. Compounded by not having enough information on the virus, medical staff across the world had to rely on quick thinking and their team to combat the virus.

Alvarezs own actions resulted in the outdoor COVID clinic and the virtual consultations.

The patient loved it because they are not close to anyone, its just them by themselves, he said. We did get really positive feedback from them that they were really grateful.

Ultimately during this difficult year  especially on the body, the mind and the spirit  Alvarez said all the positive advancements have been due to the grace of God. However, he also commended all the nurses, respiratory therapists, doctors and everyone involved in direct patient care.

When asked about what he believed helped improve the lives of those in need during the pandemic, he said it was simply to be available. This means that whether it was in-person, through the phone or through online video streams, being available through multiple means helped the community.

Utilizing the technology that we have, but availability is key, Alvarez said. You have to be available for questions, for your patients; intervene when you have to intervene and treat over the phone, over pictures, over computers. You have to use every source that you have in order to keep them out of the hospitals and keep them healthy.

Face-to-face with the disease

For the majority of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed heavily on the world. The pressure to combat the pandemic has sat squarely on the shoulders of medical staff in Laredo and continues to do so.

And across the country, COVID and ICU units have seen the brunt of the COVID onslaught.

The men and women in those care units face a daily struggle against the virus but still show up each day to do their duty. With medical staff on the frontlines, strong and focused leaders of these units are who take care of ensuring their staffs safety and well-being while also ensuring the best care for their patients.

Laredo Medical Center Director of the Intensive Care Unit Jupiter Moneda and his team have worked diligently throughout the year to help those that suffer greatly at the hands of the coronavirus.

He said that on a daily basis, he makes his rounds throughout the ICU to ensure everyone has the proper PPE, and he conducts the orientations of all the new nurses from different states in the LMC COVID-19 care procedures.

Even when he tested positive for COVID-19 and was required to be sidelined for two weeks from work, he continued to call into the ICU to coordinate the continued efforts and provide moral support until he returned to work.

For at least four weeks, I was at least able to work from home combing the unit, giving out diagrams, making the schedules for the nurses, making assignments if needed, attending the administrations meetings, Moneda said. And thats helped me to keep this ICU afloat and able to handle those large cases of COVID-19.

With new nurses coming into the hospital from around the country, he ensures that his orientations bring them up to speed in order to continue the smooth operations of the ICU.

With patient safety a priority for Moneda, he and the rest of the staff at the LMC ICU have worked diligently on providing thorough treatment and life-saving care.

Nurses assisting the ill

Around the world, the primary and long revered frontline workers during the pandemic have been nurses.

The Texas Nurses Association stated that nurses will often be dealing with challenges and undesirable outcomes during disasters. These include lack of staff, supplies and other utilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have fought against misinformation, dwindling numbers due to infections and a lack of PPE.

However, the TNA also states that nurses will often be compelled by their duty to care for others while they balance to care for themselves.

It is this tenacity and determination that has allowed the world to continue forward, and despite the fatigue and fear they may have, nurses around the country and Laredo persevere.

Soledad Montes was recognized nationally for her dedication and commitment to the care of her patients after volunteering early this year to work in the COVID ICU.

We are so proud of Soledad for putting Laredo Medical Center and our city on the map by winning this distinguished award, said Interim CEO Jorge Leal, FACHE. We are honored to know that one of our frontline health care heroes represents the best of the best among our nations nursing professionals.

With countless nurses and medical staff helping the community each day, Montes was nationally recognized by the World Health Organization for the lengths she had gone to amid the pandemic.

Despite receiving the recognition, Montes also credits her team and LMC for part of the recognition as she worked with them to save lives.

I cant avoid feeling frustrated, expressing my grief and strong sense of powerlessness about suffering and loss of life. Despite this, I still found a deep meaning in my experience in the COVID area, Montes said. It made me proud of myself and of my team for the courage and potential to overcome these difficulties.

She has been a part of the medical community for 20 years and said that she has always been motivated by helping others.

In the face of the virus challenges, I still have to show great strength and perseverance, Montes said.

Additionally, Patricia De La Garza, an employee health nurse, has also worked diligently this whole year.

My role is to provide not only the routine employee screenings but also coordinate COVID-19 symptoms and random testing, contact tracing, give advice to our employees about COVID-19 and return to work, she said. I also handle reporting and work together with Infection Prevention, our Quality Department and the City of Laredo Health Department.

De La Garza added that despite the situation, there is hope. It can be seen in the new vaccines which have been distributed and administered to health care workers around the world.

Sometimes being a good listener and showing empathy can soothe an illness. This pandemic not only brings pain, but it also brings something more powerful. That is fear, she said. By constantly following up with our co-workers conditions, we wanted to show them that we care for them as we care for a member of our own family.

Helping other communities

Hospitals across the U.S. and the world have been experiencing hardships unlike any other amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the close proximity nurses and patients share and how the virus is transmitted through the respiratory system, hospitals are losing nurses while they recover or pass away.

As a result, traveling nurses have helped bolster the staff at hospitals to ensure quality care for all the patients.

According to the American Traveler, a traveling nurse website, traveling nurses are sought out during seasonal shortages or critical needs in certain specialties.

With how the pandemic has affected the U.S., struggling hospitals have found support from nurses who leave their home and families for the greater good.

As a retired nurse with 23 years of experience in the early months of the pandemic, Luis Decker returned to the field this year to help at the Hackensack Meridian Health Hospital as a traveling nurse.

As a Laredo-born nurse, he joined the team in New Jersey as it was a severe COVID-19 hotspot. With over 7,000 deaths in the state in May, he renewed his license and began anxiously waiting for his 13 weeks to begin.

When I first got here, it was the real deal here, Decker said. Im grateful Laredo wasnt hit like it is here.

When reaching New Jersey, he was assigned to a nursing rehab center for patients that was already outfitted with professional staff, risk minimizing protocols and a stock of PPE. However, there was a high chance he would see the devastation first-hand, and he did by his fourth shift.

One of his patients, an elderly woman, died of COVID as he stood with her.

It was difficult to see; I knew to expect it, but I wasnt prepared to experience it, Decker said. I was with her when she took her last breath. She wasnt alone.

Still, Decker continued to help throughout the pandemic and fulfilled his time in New Jersey.

It was surreal. Its like a warzone without the war, he said. The streets were completely dead in New Jersey.

Decker and so many other nurses have worked tirelessly in hospitals to not only help patients get better but also stand by their sides in their final moments.

Researching a cure

More than 400 Laredoans participated in the Moderna vaccine trials in 2020. They received either a placebo or the vaccine, and 28 days later a second dose. Then for two years, participants will report any symptoms and if theyve been exposed to COVID-19 or tested positive for the virus.

Its a long process to prevent further mortality and help create herd immunity for the world. And thanks to these 400 participants and 30,000 others in the U.S., this vaccine is now being distributed across the country.

Dr. Milton Haber was approached by Moderna to conduct this trial this summer. Historically, Latino and Black populations are underrepresented in vaccine trials. And especially considering that people of these ethnicities face disproportionate odds of dying from COVID-19, Moderna needed their participation in the trials. Laredo, being 95% Latino, was a perfect choice.

Haber is one of 89 physicians in the U.S. to become a principle investigator for this clinical trial.

I said, Damn right Ill get involved, Haber said. I immediately was accepted into doing the COVID trials, and its been an incredible experience  probably the greatest thing Ive ever done in my life. Because it has changed my life, but it also changed thousands of lives in Laredo.

Haber believes that having Laredoans participate in the trials will encourage more to take the vaccine, thereby preventing further mortality in the area.

He said the Moderna trial was extremely well-organized, well-structured and a lot of work. He and his team follow these 400 patients every day, documenting every phone call, email and text message, and reporting it back to Moderna daily.

There was a really good feeling behind it all. And we still have a long way to go. We still have a lot of research to do, he said. But its fun. Its a learning experience. Youre talking and having meetings with the best virologists and investigators in the world. Its a humbling experience.

Going directly to the patient

With hospitals struggling during the pandemic and health professionals spread thin, some have continued to help patients with at-home visits.

For many, visits to multiple patients at their homes is the norm. For others, taking care of one patient has been a vastly different experience that may have resulted in a stronger bond between medical professional and patient.

Jennifer Ann Garza, Private Duty Licensed Vocational Nurse, said that her role during the pandemic has been to care for her patient throughout the day and night. She said that with so much time spent, she sees her patient as family and works even harder to ensure both of their safety.

Each day, Garza monitors her patients for any signs of symptoms and makes sure that social distancing guidelines are followed. Aside from the usual LVN duties and the COVID safety guidelines, Garza also looks out for the safety of her patients family.

You are not just caring for the patient. You also have to think of who else is in there, who else has been exposed, she said. Its definitely more responsibilities now as we are taking more precaution now for the safety of the patient.

With these extra precautions, Garza said she adheres strictly to the safety guidelines and avoids traveling out for unnecessary reasons. This helps protect her well-being as well as that of her patients, but it is at the cost of not seeing her family.

This is tough, but I am grateful that my immediate family has been safe from the virus, she said.

As added protection, she has received her vaccine but will continue to be cautious as the country moves toward vaccinating the general public in 2021.

I just want things to get back to normal, she said. I think its going to be good for our elderly patients and health care professionals.

Shining a light on COVID

The war against COVID has been fought by many nurses and doctors who have sacrificed their own health and the health of their family.

While the end may be in sight as the vaccine is expected to roll out to the general public by June according to Laredo health officials, COVID has affected members of hospital staff here and across the country. Still, they continue to fight for the good of the community.

In April, Dr. Jaime Pinero, an ER doctor at Laredo Medical Center and Clear Choice ER, tested positive for COVID-19 during a time when information was still very scarce.

After caring for COVID-19 patients, Pinero developed a sore throat and fever.

After confirming he had COVID-19, he went into quarantine and the Laredo community lost a powerful ally against COVID-19 for the duration of his quarantine. However, he did not stay silent. Pinero later shared a video warning other about the impact the virus would have on the community.

Even when he was afflicted, Pinero continued to work for the community. And throughout the year, he has continued to provide insight regarding the virus through the Laredo Contra COVID 19 Facebook group, the same platform used for his first informational video during his quarantine.

In a Dec. 27 video, Pinero educated the community on the use and improper use of steroids and antibiotics. Additionally, in the middle of the November COVID-19 spike, he begged for the community to avoid going out to bars and hot spots.

Leading during a crisis

Through the continued efforts of hospital staff, the pandemic has been fought daily.

At the Laredo Medical Center, leaders of their departments see new information and new cases every day. For all of 2020, they have weathered the storm and have implemented protocols to ensure the safety of their team and the patients.

Hospital leadership not only understands the issues of their patients but the needs of their staff as well.

LMC Director of Womens Services Laura Uribe said that over the course of the year, she has learned to live with precaution as a result of the difficult days.

I also rely on my faith and truly believe we will prevail in this difficult time, Uribe said. On a more personal level, I have enrolled in graduate school this year in order to stay busy at home.

On the day-to-day basis, she opened the Obstetricians and Gynecologists COVID Unit to provide guidelines and help maternity patients.

In the Women's Services units, we continue to strive to make the necessary adjustments in order to observe the latest recommendations from organizations such as the CDC, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics in order to provide the best care possible, she said.

To better address the issues of maternity patients, she keeps herself informed about OB COVID cases and educating the patients and staff about up-to-date recommendations by the Laredo Health Authority and the CDC.

Alejandra Gonzalez was the LMC Director of 2C Telemetry and State but transitioned into the position of FEMA State Disaster Coordinator in September. Aside from handling staff needs, she also deals with the state and finds way to receive additional help for the hospital.

As we started battling this pandemic, we received so much support from local entities with warm meals and small gifts, but above all, so much prayers to keep us safe, Gonzalez said. COVID-19 hit home for me as I lost family members to this disease, but I was never alone as there was always someone to reach out to.

As for the critical emergencies, Amber Hernandez, LMCs Director of Emergency Services, said she has seen a lot of tragedy. Even during the pandemic, accidents and unexpected conditions still occur, Hernandez said. However, she continues to fulfill her duty to care for those in the ED.

This entails preparing processes to better treat our patients, ensuring staff have all the resources required to safely care for patients and assisting in staffing, Hernandez said. I lead the front door to the hospital, and I have to express how proud I am of every one of my staff members. Their bravery, dedication and sacrifices are admirable.

cocampo@lmtonline.com

jwallace@lmtonline.com
Analysis by MailOnline of Court Circular shows how royals adapted to pandemic

Of Prince Charles' 227 engagements, he carried out 70 appointments virtually

Out of a total 703 engagements by 5 most senior royals, 275 were virtual

Prince Charles was the most visible, while Queen halved public appearances

The Covid-19 pandemic has made royal engagements with huge crowds of wellwishers impossible, but The Firm has found way to adapt, with even the Queen, 94, embracing technology to meet people via video link.

An analysis of the five most senior royals' engagements for 2020 shows that Her Majesty carried out almost half of her appointments for the year listed on the Court Circular by telephone or video link.

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Of Prince Charles' 227 engagements and royal tours, he carried out 70 appointments virtually, while Prince William had almost half of his 181 engagements virtually, while his wife Kate Middleton did 50 of her 133 total public appearances virtually.

Out of a total 703 engagements carried out by the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, 275 were carried out virtually.

MailOnline's research shows that Sophie, Countess of Wessex carried out 78 engagements in 2020, with 45 of these being conducted on the phone or via video link.

Meanwhile, it was found that Princess Anne had carried out a huge 207 engagements making 95 virtual appearances with the many charities and organisations of which she is patron.

The Queen held her first virtual diplomatic audience from Windsor Castle in December, where foreign ambassadors in bent into low bows and deep curtseys from Buckingham Palace via video call

She managed to carry out one of the most ambitious royal tuours of the year, visiting Sierra Leone in January to focus on her work against sex crimes in conflict zones.

Overall, Prince Charles seemed to be the most visible senior royal throughout 2020, with the highest total overall engagements - tallied at around 227.

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His wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, made a total of 47 public appearances throughout the year.

Overall the Queen more than halved her number of public appearances after carrying out an estimated 295 engagements in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

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For the Duchess of Cambridge, the list below reflects the engagements that were shown on the royal website at the time of publication.

The Prince of Wales spoke of the 'debt of gratitude' the nation owes the Windrush generation in a video call in June 2020

The Duke of Cambridge, pictured at the London Palladium on December 11, carried out half of his engagements virtually this year

Almost half of the Duchess of Cambridge's engagements in 2020 were carried on via video and phone calls rather than in person. Pictured during a visit to Batley Community Centre during a tour of the UK that took her and the Duke of Cambridge to West Yorkshire

The Countess of Wessex meeting students on a visit to a secondary school on the final day of her Sierra Leone tour in January 2020
A woman holds a gold bar to mark the year of the snake in Beijing in 2012. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia Allows Chinese Purchase of Gold Miner While Canada Says No

Chinas second-largest state-owned gold mining company Shandong Gold has won a bidding war to gain control of Australian gold miner Cardinal Resources.

This comes after Five Eyes partner Canada blocked Shandong from acquiring a local mine in the strategically important Arctic Circle.

Over a seven-month period, the state-owned Shandong Gold vied mainly with Russian firm Nordgold for control of Perth-based mining company Cardinal.

In June, Cardinal was valued at 46 cents per share. However, by last week Shandong finalised a deal to buy the company for over AU$580 million at $1.075 per share, providing a substantial windfall to shareholders.

Bars of 2012 Lunar New Year gold are displayed in Beijing, Nov. 25. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

In the process, Shandong won a four-way tug-of-war between itself, Nordgold, Emirati-Russian group Dongshan, and the Ghanaian Engineers and Planners.

The successful acquisition of Cardinal will give Shandong control of two gold mining projects in the upper-eastern region of Ghana in West Africa.

Despite ongoing concerns over Chinese investment, Shandong received approval (pdf) to acquire Cardinal in August from Australias Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

The FIRB is tasked with scrutinising investment deals from overseas parties and has previously blocked deals from Chinese companies.

Notably, in April, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who has the final say on foreign investment matters, blocked two Chinese mining firms from acquiring stakes in Australian rare earth mining companies, saying the deals were contrary to the national interest.

Samples of rare earth minerals from left: Cerium oxide, Bastnaesite, Neodymium oxide and Lanthanum carbonate at Molycorps Mountain Pass Rare Earth facility in Mountain Pass, Calif., on June 29, 2015. (David Becker/Reuters)

Rare earths are 17 valuable minerals which lie at the heart of a wider geopolitical struggle between communist China and democratic allies.

The metals are integral to the manufacture of high technologies including fibre-optic cables, smartphones, magnets, and jetfighters.

Yet, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is estimated to control 63 percent (pdf) of the worlds rare earth mining and processing, raising concerns supply chains could be compromised if a geopolitical dispute erupts.

In recent years democratic nations have tried to counteract Beijings influence by establishing supply chains free from its control.

Investment in gold mining, however, has remained relatively free from scrutiny, partly because it is a more widely available mineral.

Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director Richard Fadden believes this needs to change.

I think gold is pretty important for the world economy. China has enough of a grip on the world economy as it is, given its capital assets, so I would include gold (as a critical mineral), the former adviser to two Canadian prime ministers told The Globe and Mail.

Chinese sales staff walk along an aisle paved with gold bars at a gold exchange house in Kunming, China, Dec. 11, 2012. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

The CCP has been stockpiling gold reserves in response to increasing economic instability domestically and to hedge against deteriorating relations with other nations, notably the trade war with the United States.

The lack of scrutiny over gold may be a loophole for the CCP to quietly bolster its wealth.

There is a worry that the Chinese seemed to be very knowledgeable about regulatory thresholds and were coming just underneath them  Fadden said.

If you had enough of these, either beneath regulatory thresholds or small investments, they would eventually be consolidated and there would not be very much anyone could do about it, he said.

The successful deal may also increase Beijings influence over Ghana, which already hosts a major US$2 billion infrastructure deal with Chinas state-owned Sinohydro Corporation.

Canada Rebuffs Shandongs Arctic Advances

In mid-December, Canadian authorities blocked a takeover bid from Shandong for Toronto-based TMAC Resources.

TMAC operates the Hope Bay project in the sparse northern territory of Nunavut. Hope Bay itself is located within the Arctic Circle.

Aerial view of Hope Bay, Nunavut, where TMAC Resources gold mine is located. (Timkal/CC BY 3.0)

The proposed deal sparked headlines over concerns a successful buyout would give the CCP a foothold in the sensitive region.

Canada, the United States, and Denmark have warned of increasing incursions by China and Russia in the region.

The two countries have built infrastructure, increased research expeditions, and carved out shipping lanes through the polar ice caps, contravening the spirit of a decades-long international convention.

Chinas Icebreaker Xuelong, which has voyaged to the Arctic, in Xiamen, Fujian province on June 27, 2010. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

The CCP has also been accused of expanding its Belt and Road Initiative throughout the region, despite China not being in the Arctic Circle.

The activities prompted U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to issue a warning at an address in Finland last year:

Do we want Arctic nations broadly, or indigenous communities specifically, to go the way of former government in Sri Lanka or Malaysia, ensnared by debt and corruption?

Do we want crucial Arctic infrastructure to end up like Chinese-constructed roads in Ethiopia, crumbling and dangerous after only a few years? he said.
A Green Beret has been charged after he allegedly threatened to kill his wife in front of his three children and then held them hostage during a two-hour standoff with police.

Army Colonel Owen G Ray, 47, is accused of beating his wife, Kristen, on Sunday, December 27, in their home on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, in front his two youngest children while his eldest called the police.

When officers arrived on the scene, Ray - armed with a shotgun and two pistols - reportedly warned that if anyone tried to arrest him, he would kill them and himself, according to Military.com.

Ray let his wife and children go around 12.30am but did not surrender himself until around 2.30am, police say.

Army Colonel Owen G Ray, 47 (left), and his wife, Kristen, got into an argument after she believed him to be intoxicated

Kristen said she became frightened during the argument and hid in the bedroom of her two young children, ages 7 and 10. Pictured: Ray (far left), his wife (far right) and their three children

According to a probable cause affidavit, viewed by Military.com, the incident began after Ray, a member of the Army Special Forces, and his wife got into an argument, in which she accused her husband of being drunk.

The affidavit states that Kristen became scared and hid in the bedroom of her 7-year-old and 10-year-old.

Kristen told police she heard her husband say: 'Let's do this' and went to the garage to retrieve his firearms, Military.com reports.

After finding his wife and children, Ray allegedly started 'shouting and swinging the gun around.'

When she threatened to call police, Ray is said to have become 'enraged' and aimed one of the guns at Kristen, threatening to kill her in front of the children, reported Military.com.

Ray allegedly then kicked his wife repeatedly in the face and chest while the younger children screamed at him: 'Don't kill mom! Don't shoot us!'

At this point, around midnight on Sunday, Ray's 16-year-old daughter dialed 911 and told dispatchers what was happening.

Dispatchers reported being able to hear the younger children screaming over the phone.

Ray finally let his wife and children leave the bedroom, at which point they ran downstairs to the first floor, the affidavit states.

After officers arrived, Ray, his wife and their three children were still inside the house.

'Ray could be heard saying, that law enforcement had surrounded the house so what choice did he have now and "You're going to force me to kill myself,"' according to the affidavit.

He let his wife and young children exit the home at 12.33am and his eldest daughter soon followed, reported Military.com.

Ray (left and right) allegedly retrieved a shotgun and two pistols from the garage and began beating his wife, threatening to kill her in front of the children. His eldest daughter, 16, called police and, when officers arrived, they report that Ray was holding them hostage

Ray let his wife and children go around 12.30am before surrendering himself around 2.30am, after which he was arrested and charged Pictured: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, where the Rays' home is

Officers say that while speaking on the phone with Ray, the colonel threatened to shoot any officers who tried to arrest him and himself.

'He stated that he had killed a lot of people and he had no problem killing law enforcement if they made attempts to arrest him,' according to the affidavit, viewed by Military.com.

At 2.22am, he finally surrendered and was arrested by officers with the Lakewood Police Department.

He was charged with one count of kidnapping in the first degree, two counts of second-degree assault, one count of felony harassment and one count of reckless endangerment.

Ray is currently being held at the Pierce County Jail on a $1 million cash or bail bond.

Court documents reveal Ray has a bail hearing scheduled for January 4 and has been ordered to reappear in court on January 11 with his attorney.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord told Military.com that Ray has been suspended from his job as I Corps chief of staff.

According to an official Army website, Ray has held a command at every level within the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), which deploys missions throughout the Indo-Pacific.

He served as a detachment commander in 2003 and as company commander in Afghanistan in 2011.

In 2013, Ray commanded the 4th Battalion of 1st SFG (A) and deployed as part of the Special Operations Joint Task Force before assuming the position of I Corps chief of staff at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
DEAL OF THE WEEK

S&S Nabs a Juneteenth-Themed Cookbook Food writer Nicole Taylor sold a cookbook dedicated to recipes for the Juneteenth holiday to Simon & Schuster. Watermelon and Red Birds, slated for 2022, was acquired in a world rights agreement by Dawn Davis (who is now at Bon Appetit) from Sharon Bowers at Folio Literary Management. The celebration of Juneteenth, which honors the day in 1865 when news of emancipation reached Galveston, Tex., marking the end of slavery in the U.S., is becoming more popular throughout the country. The book, to be edited by Emily Graff, will, S&S said, feature recipes for dishes like blueberry and beef puff pies and sweet potato yogurt pops, and be geared to readers eager to raise glasses and break bread to honor Mrs. Red, White, and Blues forgotten backbone. Taylor (The Up South Cookbook) is a former executive food editor at Thrillist and a two-time James Beard Award nominee.

FROM THE U.S.

Coes Take on JFK to Crown

Crowns Paul Whitlatch took North American rights to a biography of John F. Kennedy by bestselling author Alexis Coe (You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington). The book, which Jay Mandel at William Morris Endeavor sold, is tentatively titled Young Jack and will focus on JFKs early years up to 1956, when he published Profiles in Courage. Coe, Crown said, will explore the myriad identities of the adolescent Kennedyunprotected celebrity, bed-bound invalid, private-school prankster, journalist, war hero, and senatorand how he navigated devastating national crises as he came of age during the world wars. In addition to her authorial credits, Coe appears as an expert on MSNBC, offering, Crown explained, historical context on current events.

Penguin Classics Visits Darmas Bloomington

People from Bloomington by Indonesian author Budi Darma was acquired in a world English rights deal by Elda Rotor at Penguin Classics. Jayapriya Vasudevan and Helen Mangham at Jacaranda Literary brokered the agreement for the book, a collection of seven short stories, with Indonesian publisher Noura Books. Penguin described Darma as one of his countrys most beloved and respected living authors. The book follows a group of characters in Bloomington, Ind., where Darma lived for a period, and, the publisher said, blurs the boundaries between Western and Eastern literature. Tiffany Tsao is translating the title.

Saint John Gets Urgent with Viking

In a North American rights agreement, Vikings Meg Leder bought Bozoma Saint Johns memoir, The Urgent Life. The author, who was represented by Suzanne Gluck at William Morris Endeavor, currently works for Netflix as its global chief marketing officer; she also cohosts a podcast with Katie Couric titled Back to Biz with Katie and Boz, about how thought leaders are responding to societal shifts brought on by the pandemic. Her book will focus on her career successes, as well as how shes overcome personal tragedy and adversity, including the sudden loss of her husband. Describing the title, which is slated for 2022, Viking said it will be a road map to navigating struggle, and a touchstone for those enduring their own battles, letting them know that they are not alone.

Engler Sells Illustrated Take on 2020

Riva Hocherman at Holts Metropolitan Books nabbed North American rights to Elise Englers A Diary of the Plague Year: An Illustrated Chronicle of 2020. The title, slated for November 2021, grew out of a task New York artist Engler set for herself years ago to, the publisher explained, do one drawing a day of the first three headlines she heard on the radio when she woke up. Taking up the call in 2020, Engler went on to create, Metropolitan said, an accidental yet extraordinarily original and indelible record of an extraordinary year. Duvall Osteen at Aragi, Inc., represented the author.

Wed made the necessary psychological pivot.

The online grocery order was lodged, as was the bottle shop order. A family member would drop off jigsaw puzzles to our doorstep. We'd started devising creative ways to keep our 16-month-old son occupied in our apartment. In short, we were resigned to a 14-day home quarantine.

A day earlier, like thousands of other Victorians visiting family in NSW, wed raced back to our home state after the Andrews government announced it was shutting the border to halt the spread of coronavirus from our northern neighbours.

The conditions of our return were spelt out on the travel permits we applied for as we trundled down the Hume on New Years Eve with a restless toddler in the back seat.

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I will be tested for coronavirus within 24 hours of arriving in Victoria, it read.

I will self-quarantine at home or another suitable location for 14 days.

But the next morning, a nurse at The Alfred hospitals COVID-19 screening clinic provided different advice. Consulting a sheet of paper, the nurse said that as wed arrived from Wollongong on December 31, we would be free to leave quarantine after receiving a negative test result.

We questioned this, pulling up a press release from the Department of Health and Human Services that clearly stated we needed to quarantine at home for two weeks because Wollongong was no longer within the green zone.

Better check with the DHHS, came her reply.

After receiving our negative test results later on New Years Day, we called the DHHS to clarify. When we got through, an official gave us the unexpected news  we were now free to leave our apartment.

Vehicles queue to cross the NSW-Victorian border at Albury on Friday. Credit:Jason Robins

But, confused by the inconsistency between this new information and our permits, we questioned the advice. The official conferred with a colleague and confirmed that, yes, we could leave.

Another DHHS official, apparently unaware of the previous conversation, phoned us shortly afterwards to check the details of our travel. Again, his advice was clear: as wed received a negative test result, we were free from quarantine.

Out of an abundance of caution, we read him the conditions on our travel permit and asked one more time for confirmation. The official put us on hold while he spoke to his supervisor. Finally, he conceded he had initially provided the wrong advice. We would have to spend 14 days in home quarantine.

The experience has made me empathise with people who try to do the right thing but are provided with incorrect and confusing advice from health officials.

Read the full opinion piece here.
Dozens of senior citizens in a luxury high rise in Texas were given COVID-19 vaccines in the state's first wave.

The Montebello condominium complex in uptown Houston boasts marble tile bathroom floors, an outdoor pool, valet parking, a concierge service and a 24/7 security guard, and has condos that can sell for up to $4.8 million.

And, in the last two weeks, approximately 60 residents have been immunized against the virus, reported the Daily Beast.

In Harris County, where Houston is located, there are more than 237,000 confirmed cases, one-sixth of all infections in the state.

But thousands of at-risk healthcare workers have been struggling to receive their vaccines due to hospitals quickly running out of supply.

Approximately 60 residents of the luxury Montebello condominium complex (pictured) in uptown Houston received COVID-19 vaccines

The Montebello's general manager said the state authorized the vaccines and that the building is working with a distributor. Pictured: An interior of one of the Montebello's condos for sale

However, a spokesperson for Houston Health Department said he isn't aware of any arrangement with the high rise building. Pictured: The outdoor pool available to all residents

Meanwhile healthcare workers have been struggling to receive their vaccines due to hospitals quickly running out of supply. Pictured: A healthcare worker receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 21

'The state of Texas authorized it,' Daniel Hancock, general manager of the Montebello, told the Daily Beast.

'We're working with a distributor... It's a blessing we were able to get it.'

Hancock did not name the distributor and the Montebello is not on a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) list of providers to whom COVID-19 vaccines have been allocated.

However, he did tell the publication that the building was able to get doses of the jab because of its elderly population, although it's unclear how many elderly people live in the building.

One of the residents to be inoculated, 68-year-old David Fink, told the Daily Beast this isn't the only healthcare service he's received through the building.

He also gets his yearly flu shot by being a Montebello resident.

In Harris County, where Houston is located, there are more than 237,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, one-sixth of all infections in the state (above)

'It was all above board,' he said.

Both Hancock and Fink told the Daily Beast that other apartment buildings in Houston have similar arrangements to get their residents doses of the coronavirus jab.

Neither the Texas DSHS or Houston Health Department (HHD) responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

However, a spokesperson for the HHD told the Daily Beast he wasn't aware of any arrangement with the high rise.

'All the distributors have to register through the state health department,' Porfirio Villareal said.

'The apartment complex is not an approved provider. If a site is not approved, not on the list, and receiving shipments of the vaccine, then our recommendation is not to go to that site.'

The list from the Texas DSHS only lists hospitals, medical centers, pharmacies and living centers as recipients.

However, just 40 percent - 340,000 - of the 786,000 doses distributed across the state have been administered.

In Harris County, where Houston is located, only around 52,000 of 150,500 doses have been administered.

Many say they've been struggling to find a provider to get the vaccine despite the DSHS recommending that Texans call up and ask to receive a shot.

'I have not been able to find anyone who actually has the vaccine,' Michael Calder, a resident of Allen, who falls under the state's criteria, told CBS DFW.

He called three locations, two of which told him they had run out and one of which said only employees were being vaccinated.

'It's extremely important. I don't want to get sick,' he said.

'I don't want to be the last person to get sick and die, while a vaccine is being distributed already.'

This has led Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to authorize the HHD to open the city's first free vaccination clinic on January 2 for those at high risk of severe illness and death.
A Nigerian government agency has called for a "full, thorough and fair investigation" into the fatal shooting of George Nkencho.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) issued a statement yesterday calling on its citizens in Ireland to exercise patience and await the outcome of a probe into the shooting.

Read More

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is currently investigating the incident where the 27-year-old was shot several times by gardai in Manorfields Drive in Clonee, Co Dublin.

In a statement, NIDCOM, a Nigerian government agency, condemned in strong terms the killing of Mr George Nkencho, a 27-year-old Nigerian in Ireland.

Read More

NIDCOM was established by the Nigerian Government in 2019 to assist their citizens living abroad.

According to their website, the organisation act 'to mediate relations with Nigerians in the diaspora' and the Nigerian government.

In the statement, a spokesman for NIDCOM chariman Abike Dabiri-Erewa said she was calling for a "full, thorough and fair investigation into the matter.

She appealed to the obviously enraged Nigerian community in Ireland to exercise patience and await the outcome of investigation into the unfortunate incident, the statement reads.

The NIDCOM boss condoled with the family of Nkencho and the Nigerian community in Ireland over the killing of George and prayed God to give the family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Already, the African Advocacy Network Ireland (AANI) has expressed shock to learn about the shooting dead of George Nkencho on Wednesday, December 30.

The group said the circumstances surrounding the killing of a mentally challenged young man has enraged the African community and demanded a full independent public inquiry.

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission has issued an appeal for help from potential witnesses to the fatal shooting.

GSOC said the "incident involved the discharge of an official firearm in Clonee" after Gardai had been called following reports of a man armed with a knife at a Eurospar shop in Hartstown.

George Nkencho had reportedly threatened staff at the shop at around 12.15pm.

Mr Nkencho then fled from the shop, threatening uniformed gardai with a knife as he made his way home a short distance away at Manorfields Drive.

Mr Nkencho's family have said he suffered from mental health issues in recent years.

Around a dozen gardai were present at the scene, including members of the Armed Support Unit, and gardai say they were also threatened with a knife.

They implemented what gardai call a graduated policing response.

This is where the use of less-than-lethal force options are initially administered in an effort to resolve an incident.

Gardai say the less-than-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful, and a number of shots were fired from an official garda firearm at around 12.35pm.

Senior sources said the decision to fire shots was because the gardai believed there was an "imminent threat to life".

"He had been pepper sprayed and tasered but when this did not work the use of lethal force became necessary. There were concerns that he could kill someone," a source said.

Gardai are "very conscious" of the "major tension" in the community and have put in place a policing plan.

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AKRON, Ohio  Amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic, Akron also lost a record number of lives to homicide in 2020.

There were 50 homicides in Akron in 2020, making it the most murderous year of the past decade, according to police.

By comparison, there were 33 homicides in 2019, 32 in 2018 and 40 in 2017, which included seven people who died in a single arson.

This years victims included a father and his 1-year-old daughter who police say were intentionally struck by a driver, an 18-year-old fatally shot while at a red light with her grandmother, a 6-year-old girl who was struck by a bullet while riding in a car and a 53-year-old woman shot by her husband before he turned the gun on himself.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com asked Akron Lt. Michael Miller what factors investigators believe have contributed to the increase.

Certainly, theres no conclusive reason that we can point to, Miller said. Obviously, people have been suggesting things connected to COVID and things of that nature, however, weve had a few things that were unique this year compared to last.

Miller mentioned that more children have been killed this year than in recent years, and more incidents have resulted in multiple victims.

As far as contributing factors related to the pandemic, Miller said socioeconomic hardships might be further escalating the violence, but he doesnt think there have been increases in domestic violence, which some experts have raised concerns about since people had to spend more time at home this year, potentially with an abuser. Researchers at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston found that physical domestic abuse in the spring of 2020 was 80% higher than in the three previous years combined.

We havent had a disproportionate increase in domestic incidents, and the homicides we have arent specifically domestic in nature, with the exception of the one murder-suicide we had, Miller said. Were not seeing a correlation there so far, yet.

When asked whether Akrons increase in homicides might be due to random killings where the killer didnt know the victim, Miller said he didnt think that was the case.

Most of our homicides  and there have been arrests in about 60% of them  are not random, Miller said.

As of Dec. 17, when there had been a total of 46 homicides in Akron, 31 of them had been solved, Miller said, for a solve-rate of about 67%. That compares to 18 of 33 solved in 2019 (55%), 22 of 32 solved in 2018 (69%) and 27 of 40 solved in 2018 (68%).

As part of the police departments efforts to decrease homicides, shootings and other crimes, officers seized 900 guns as of Dec. 15, Miller said. During the same timeframe in 2019, police had seized 720.

I think that number is important too because it shows that, even though we have had an increase, that our officers, our detectives, are still in-step with or exceeding the pace in getting illegal guns off the streets, Miller said. We hope that those fine efforts will continue and well start to see decreases in some of these areas.

In a statement to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said his heart goes out to everyone who lost a loved one to violence this year.

Each homicide sends ripple effects of grief and loss through our community, Horrigan said. While the homicide statistics are unacceptable, this is a national challenge facing many cities in 2020 - due in part to the stresses and restrictions of COVID on both the justice system and the community at large.

Horrigan commended the police department on its efforts to solve homicides and prevent violence.

We are committed to reducing homicide numbers in 2021, and continuing the long-term trends of overall reductions in violent crime we have achieved in recent years, Horrigan said.

Last month, Akron accepted a nearly $4 million federal grant to hire 12 police officers specifically focused on combating gun violence, coordinating with other law enforcement agencies and engaging in community relations with residents, groups and businesses.

David Licate, a criminal justice professor at the University of Akron, said this years increase in homicides in Akron is statistically significant, and that social scientists are working to understand potential causes for an uptick in crime in cities across the country this year.

Its a peculiar year with a pandemic, with social justice protests, increased political polarization, Licate told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. The hope is its not a trend. Well back out of this, the vaccine takes hold, were not in an election year, we address the issues with policing, and it goes back to a normal variation.

Licate said that the pandemic and other social factors act as force multipliers in compounding hardships for people who were already struggling economically, with mental health or with conflict-resolution and self-control.

And young people can have those issues built-in as theyre maturing, Licate said. Often, well see homicide being a young persons game, usually a young male persons game, and thats going to exacerbate everything thats going on.

Other factors he said to consider are the effects of having kids out of school, access to guns and the ability of police officers during a pandemic to effectively investigate the communities where violent crime is most likely.

Violence of that type in a neighborhood does spread like a virus  its a contagion, Licate said. You can take a criminal justice approach, but you can also take a public health approach to it and look at social networks. These social networks are identifiable and these individuals can be witnesses or victims one time, theyre perpetrators the next time, but they know each other. And the police know that. They understand who these individuals are. They have great crime analysts at Akron PD. But I have to think that the things that police are doing that work are probably being interrupted by the pandemic, because were not supposed to get close to people.

Licate said he hopes Akron police look back on this years homicides to identify why the numbers increased, perhaps through something similar to Milwaukees Homicide Review Commission.

They need to dissect this, to do kind of an autopsy, to say, Alright, lets get academics and social service workers and members of the clergy and members of criminal justice together to do autopsies on each of these to see: where did it come from? Is there a network here? Is there another reason? How can we interrupt this cycle of violence? Because it does spread like a contagion and we know we can stop this.
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A man has been arrested for allegedly duping people by alluring them to invest in fake cryptocurrency, police said on Friday. The accused has been identified as Umesh Verma (60). He was arrested at the Indira Gandhi International airport when he was returning from Dubai, they said.

So far, 45 victims have alleged that they were duped of Rs 2.5 crore by the accused in this connection in 2017, police said. A case was registered after the complainants alleged that Verma, his son Bharat Verma and others induced them to invest in the scheme of cryptocurrency being operated by the accused under the name of Pluto Exchange, they said.

The accused assured the complainants fixed return between 20 to 30 per cent of the invested amount per month. They also promised commission on introducing more clients to the business, a senior police officer said. However, the accused persons did not give the promised return. They closed their offices and ran away. Verma changed his residential addresses frequently and finally shifted to Dubai, the officer said.

Investigation revealed that Verma was the sole proprietor of M/s Pluto Exchange formed for the fraud. He was the authorised signatory in bank accounts opened in the name of the firm, Joint Commissioner of Police (EOW) O P Mishra said. Verma opened an office in Connaught Place and convinced the complainants to invest in the scheme of Pluto Exchange cryptocurrency in November 2017, Mishra said.

The accused hosted their own website and launched mobile application Pluto Exchange for the sale and purchase of their new cryptocurrency launched in the name of Coin Zarus'. They induced people to invest on the pretext of giving higher returns and assured that their value would increase manifold, a police official said. Coin Zarus, in the form of cryptocurrency, issued by the accused company has no legal authenticity. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has already banned such types of coins and currency in virtual form, he said.

The police added that Verma was arrested in a gold smuggling case by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in December 2017.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
Hectic efforts are on to save a wild elephant that fell into a 50-foot deep well in Anakampoil in north Keralas Kozhikode district. Forest officials said it might have fallen into the unused well a couple of days back. The pachyderm was noticed by local people on Thursday evening.

A rescue team comprising forest, revenue and police officials have started breaking the well by constructing a pathway to get the jumbo out of the well. The well is located in a private land and visuals from the spot show the animal standing inside the well in a cramped manner with its legs covered deep in the slush.

A senior forest official camping in the area said the elephant must have been injured under the impact of the fall and its health condition can be ascertained once it is out of the well. Local people said elephants used to frequent the area quite often posing a big threat to human habitat and fencing of the area was just started after repeated protests.

It seems to be tired. We hope we can rescue it by tonight. If it is injured it will be shifted to a camp after tranquilising it, said the forest official.

The official said large vegetation animals need big tracts of land to roam around and feed and farms in fringe areas draw them to it, leading to man-animal conflicts. According to statistics with the forest department, 24 people have died in elephant attacks last year.

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Reduced electricity tariff for households canceled from Jan 1

From now on, all Ukrainians will have to pay for electricity at a fixed price of UAH 1.68 (US$0.06) per 1 kWh.

Reporting by UNIAN

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Four more people have tested positive for the new and highly infectious strain of coronavirus infection, taking the total number of cases to 29 in the country, said Union health Ministry on Friday.

The updated tally includes 25 people who were found positive for the new virus strain during the last three days.

Of the total cases of new mutant coronavirus strain, 10 are from the national capital.

"All the 29 persons are in physical isolation in health facilities," an official said.

Of the 29, the mutated UK strain was detected in the samples of eight persons at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in New Delhi, two in the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, one in the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kalyani (near Kolkata), five in the National Institute of Virology in Pune, three in Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad and 10 were sequenced at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences Hospital (NIMHANS) Bengaluru.

#IndiaFightsCorona#Unite2FightCorona



Update on the persons found infected with the new UK variant #COVID19 virus. pic.twitter.com/7iXYEJhQyZ  Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) January 1, 2021

Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others, the ministry said.

The presence of the new Covid-19 variant, which was first identified in the UK, has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore.

Earlier, the UK health official announced that the country has identified a new variant of Coronavirus that spreads faster than the other strains.

More than 40 countries including India have banned travel to and from the UK, a move several researchers said was necessary in the view of the rapid spread of the new strain, which was first detected on September 21.

Meanwhile, India on Friday reported 20,036 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,02,86,710, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

As many as 23,181 recoveries and 256 deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry.

The tally of active cases stands at 2,54,254 while the total recoveries have reached 98,83,461.

A total of 1,48,994 people have succumbed to coronavirus in the country, according to MoHFW.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said there will be no 'shortcuts' when it comes to rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine

Scott Morrison has defended his strategy to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine - saying there will be no 'shortcuts' when it comes to approving a jab.

Mr Morrison on Friday said Australia was in a much better place than other countries battling the pandemic and the vaccine therefore wouldn't need to be rolled out any earlier than March.

'On the vaccine, you don't rush to failure. That's very dangerous for Australians. Those who suggest that, I think it's a naive suggestion,' he said.

'For the vaccine to be successful, Australians have to have confidence in it.'

The government has struck up deals with AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Novavax to roll out the jab which Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, expects should reach all Australians by October.

More than $3billion was invested into ensuring a vaccination for the virus would be rolled out effectively.

Labor has meanwhile hit out at how the government is handling the pandemic - while calling for the next national cabinet meeting to discuss Australia's COVID-19 response to be moved forward.

A vaccine is expected to be available to Australians from March this year. Pictured is an inoculation at a clinic in Poland

Mr Morrison on Friday said that because Australia was in a much better place than other countries battling the pandemic, the vaccine wouldn't be rolled out any earlier than March (pictured lines at Wollongong Hospital testing clinic)

Mr Morrison has stressed the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) would be given ample time to assess each vaccine.

'There will be no shortcuts. The standards must be maintained and upheld,' he said.

'In countries like the UK, there's hundreds of people dying a day. Australia is not in that situation.

'So, we're being careful to ensure that we dot all the I's and we cross all the T's to ensure this vaccine is safe and able to be distributed across the Australian population.'

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said he was unimpressed the national cabinet won't be meeting until February 5.

The opposition leader said the scheduled meeting was a 'long time away' considering the state of the pandemic.

Thousands of Wollongong residents raced to get a COVID-19 test on Tuesday afternoon after news broke that the virus had spread south from Sydney

Mr Morrison said there was 'no need' to bring the date forward and that he was in regular contact with the state premiers.

He said if there was a need to bring the date forward he would but stressed the premier's views on borders 'will be the same if they met this afternoon as they were a month ago'.

'What we need to focus on now is ensuring that the outbreak is contained.'

Perdue Reiterates His Support for President Trumps Stimulus Package

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) reiterated his support on Wednesday for President Donald Trumps revisions to the pandemic stimulus bill, including an increase in direct payments, a repeal of Section 230, and the establishment of an election commission.

Were standing with the president on all the issues out there that we see in front of us, the $2,000 deal, the Section 230 issue, as well as the election commission that the president has called for, Perdue said on the Fox News Radios Guy Benson Show.

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Perdue issued a joint statement shortly after President Donald Trump signed the CCP virus relief bill that they said would greatly benefit Georgians. They criticized Democrats for their socialist agenda that prioritizes wasteful, irresponsible spending over the well-being of the American people.

We look forward to continuing to fight alongside the president in his relentless pursuit to keep America great, Loeffler and Perdue wrote.

Democrat Senate candidate Raphael Warnock, who is challenging Loeffler, called on her to support increased payments. Donald Trump is right, Congress should swiftly increase direct payments to $2,000. Once and for all Senator Loeffler should do whats best for Georgia instead of focusing on what she can do for herself, he said in a statement.

Loeffler and four other Republican senators have expressed support for the increased payment.

Incumbents Perdue and Loeffler are up against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the run-off election on Jan. 5. Should Democrats take the seats in the runoff, the seats of the two parties in the Senate would be a 5050 tie. The vice president as president of the Senate casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

President Trump has announced a rally in Georgia on the eve of the run-off to boost Republican votes. Biden has also promised to attend a rally for the Democrat candidates.

What Im called to do right now is hold the line and make sure we dont lose my seat. Kelly Loefflers committed to do the same thing, Perdue said.

Isabel van Brugen contributed to the report
Tyler Lepley gained a legion of new fans when he debuted in the role of Diamond on Starzs new hit drama series, P-Valley. However, earlier fans will recognize him from his role of Benjamin Benny Young in Tyler Perrys long-running primetime drama series, The Haves and the Have Nots. Recently, Lepley spoke out about people questioning his sexuality as well as the sexuality of Perry.

Tyler Lepley | Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images

Tyler Lepley stars in Starzs strip club drama series, P-Valley

P-Valley unfolds the story in a Southern town after two mysterious people, Andre Watkins and Autumn Night, arrive and set off a chain of events that will impact the denizens of Chucalissa, Mississippi for some time.

The official synopsis of the series from the network reads:

Down deep in the Mississippi Delta lies an oasis of grit and glitter in a rough patch of human existence where beauty can be hard to find. This southern-fried, hour-long drama tells the kaleidoscopic story of a little-strip-club-that-could and the big characters who come through its doorsthe hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful, and the damned. Trap music meets film noir in this lyrical and atmospheric series that dares to ask what happens when small-town folk dream beyond the boundaries of the Piggly Wiggly and the pawnshop.

The series stars Brandee Evans, Nicco Annan, Shannon Thornton, Elarica Johnson, Skyler Joy, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriet D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson and Lepley.

RELATED: P-Valley Star Parker Sawyers Was Supposed to Be a Succession Star but Disappeared After the First Episode

Tyler Lepley talks about working with Tyler Perry and the perception of their sexuality

Lepley was a guest on Angela Yees Lip Service podcast when he spoke about questions he got about his sexuality because of his association with Perry. Both Lepley and Perry identify as straight.

I remember when I first started out, I was seeing it [questions about his sexuality] here and there,said Lepley (as reported by The Grio). For whatever reason, people were associating it with my first show. I came out on a Tyler Perry show and for whatever reason he gets a rap like that and I know Tyler [Perry] personally and hes not gay. I was seen around him and all of a sudden hes rubbing off on me and people felt like I was gay something like that.

RELATED: P-Valley Creator Talks About Mercedes and Autumns Future, Plans for Season 2, and More

The actor also explained that the rumors happened again with P-Valley when he took photos with Nicholson, who plays closeted gay rapper Lil Murda.

He explained, I had done something while I was on the set of P-Valley, maybe I was with Clifford [Nicco Annan] or I think I was taking a picture with Alphonse who plays Little Murda, and people started off with the gay thing again. I think if you have a space that people cant figure out, they can just create a judgement.

P-Valley has been renewed for a second season at Starz, but it is unknown when it will begin production due to impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Haves and the Have Nots current final season is currently airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
The U.S. and New Mexico flags fly in Albuquerque, NM, on Oct. 1, 2018. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

New Mexico GOP Accuses Secretary of State of Withholding Election Records From Trump

The New Mexico Republican Party is accusing the states Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver of partisan political games by intentionally delaying the release of election records requested by President Donald Trumps campaign.

Trumps legal team on Dec. 17 filed an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request with the New Mexico Secretary of State, asking for information related to Dominion Voting Systems contractors who may have had access to these voting machines during the 2020 election. The request relates to so-called one day contractors reportedly used by Dominion in some New Mexico precincts, with the New Mexico GOP saying in a statement that a poll watcher has testified that Dominion had three contractors who had unfettered access to restricted areas.

The GOP alleged in a Dec. 31 press release that Toulouse Oliver had committed to turning over the records by Dec. 30, but later notified Trumps attorneys that her office was changing the response date to Jan. 14, eight days after Congress meets for a joint session to certify Electoral College votes.

The Secretary of States move is a deliberate effort to keep any evidence of potential issues from the Trump Campaign until after Congress certifies the Electoral College vote on January 6, New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce said in the release.

Accusing Toulouse Oliver of playing partisan political games, the GOP said she has a legal obligation to provide the election operation records and that she is stalling in providing them because they are evidence that can be used by Trump.

Again, the Secretary of State is partisan and defiant in refusing to uphold and oversee election integrity. She just makes up her rules. Theres no transparency of government here, Pearce said.

The Epoch Times reached out to the New Mexico Secretary of States office for comment, but did not receive a reply by publication.

The Trump campaign on Dec. 14 filed a contest-of-election lawsuit in New Mexico, challenging the states use of ballot drop boxes, alleging that the Secretary of State violated state election laws by allowing voters to return their absentee ballots in drop boxes placed outside polling locations instead of handing their ballot to a presiding election judge. The campaign asked the court to delay the certification of New Mexicos election results or, alternatively, to order the New Mexico legislature to appoint the electors.

New Mexicos certified Democrat electors on Dec. 14 cast their votes for former vice president Joe Biden.

Since Election Day, Trump and third-party groups have pursued legal challenges to the outcome of the election across multiple states. None of the efforts have so far borne fruit.
As we are closing the year and entering into a new one, we can reflect on lessons learned from the experiences gathered on how to adequately deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is time to look forward and continue to find a balance between health, safety, and the economical sustainability of our country.





The pandemic has taught us that we need to constantly follow developments both regionally and worldwide, and the importance of having a well-defined risk management approach that allows us to constantly adapt to our protocols so we can be both competitive in our main industry and create opportunities to work on the social wellbeing of our population.





I am pleased to have taken notice of the decision of one of our sister islands- Curacao. I have been in personal contact with my colleague, Minister of Health, Mrs. Zita Jesus- Leito concerning their new travel protocols, Minister Panneflek stated.





Curacao, which has always been very conservative in their approach to COVID-19 and their travel requirements; will no longer be requesting negative PCR tests for passengers traveling from St. Maarten, in the new year.





I am always in favor of managing the best way possible and minimizing the exposure risk to our people and its visitors, said





Minister Panneflek. We all know by now there will always be some degree of risk, which we will have to balance with the socio-economic wellbeing of St. Maarten.





The year 2021, will continue to bring new developments regarding dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.





Taking everything into consideration, we have made the following decisions:





There will be two (2) risk categories; low and high. The risk categories will be by country or by region and should constantly be monitored to see if adaptation is necessary. As stated, many times before this pandemic brings constant adaptation of the requirements.





Residents/ travelers from countries or regions of low risk, who in the last 14 days prior was not in any high-risk country/ region will need to fill in the mandatory health declaration (EHAS) at www.stmaartenentry.com, no later than 24 hours prior to their travel to St. Maarten. No PCR or antigen test is required.





For the countries and regions which are not on the low risk list, and are still being considered high risk, the requirement of filling out the health declaration form (EHAS), at www.stmaartenentry.com and the PCR, which can be substituted by the approved or emergency pre-approved FDA antigen test, with the test number, remains the same. Through monitoring the developments worldwide, the list of low-risk countries will be adapted. The current list will be expanded to include the following Dutch Caribbean countries: Aruba and Curacao.





Minister Panneflek wishes all a prosperous and safe transition from 2020 into 2021. May the new year bring you prosperity, good health, and joy. Have a wonderful New Year surrounded by those who are dear to you.
Besides these two, a Briton had tested positive for the Covid-19 B.1.1.7 strain on Wednesday (Representational Image: AFP)

Hyderabad: The mother of a UK returnee tested positive on Friday for the mutant strain of the Covid-19 causing SARS-CoV-19, called B.1.1.7, the third so far in the state. Her son, who had returned from the United Kingdom to Warangal on December 11, was the first person in the state to test positive for the new virus strain on Tuesday.

However, the wife of the UK returnee has tested negative for the new strain. The mother and son have been kept in isolation wards separately and are healthy. They are being monitored by healthcare authorities and have stated that they are not suffering any adverse effects. The wife has also been kept in an isolation facility.

Besides these two, a Briton had tested positive for the Covid-19 B.1.1.7 strain on Wednesday. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology has tested samples from UK returnees in Telangana state.

The transmission from son to mother in Warangal was stated to be local. A senior scientist at the CCMB said, We must collect more samples from the areas where those who tested positive are staying as there is a likelihood of the virus having spread.

The scientist said the CCMB had not been given any sample for testing. The nature of the strain is to spread fast. Given this behaviour of the virus, there is a need for more effective tracking and tracing.

Senior state officials did not want to speak on the new variant of Covid-19 due to the stigma attached to the disease. They said that people were getting scared and they do not want to indulge in fear-mongering.

Presently, controls have been put in place in terms of international travel and experts state that will help to control numbers.
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What is your plan to lead Trinidad and Tobago out of the Covid-19 pandemic?

This was the question Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar repeatedly asked Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday.
In a year marked by tightened restrictions and unrest, Telegram sent a clear message to authoritarian governments who tried to keep it quiet in 2020. But as the app, which has earned a reputation as a free-speech platform, looks to spread the word in Iran and China, its popularity among messengers of violence and hate remains a concern.

Telegram has emerged as an essential tool for opposition movements in places like Belarus and Iran and won a huge victory when the Russian authorities gave up on their effort to ban the app after two fruitless years during which senior officials continued to use it themselves.

But protesters and open media are not the only ones who find sanctuary in a tool like Telegram. Terrorists, hate groups, and purveyors of gore also see the benefits of encrypted group chats that can reach large audiences without censorship.

Not Under Your Thumb

Nowhere was the hidden hand of Telegram more apparent in 2020 than in Belarus, where activists and opposition politicians relied on the platform to counter the authorities attempts to control the narrative in a crucial election year.

Ahead of the August 9 vote pitting authoritarian incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka against a thinned pool of opposition candidates, the Belarusian authorities did their best to intimidate administrators of rogue Telegram channels.

When three Telegram-based opposition bloggers were arrested in June, the rights watchdog Amnesty International decried the pressure against alternative sources of information.

A quick perusal of some of the more sordid open channels on Telegram reveals that it is a place for violence, criminal activity, and abusers, regardless of what Europol says.

"The Belarusian authorities are carrying out a full-scale purge of dissenting voices, using repressive laws to stifle criticism ahead of the elections," said Aisha Jung, Amnesty Internationals senior campaigner on Belarus.

After Lukashenka claimed he had won a sixth straight term, triggering mass protests that continue to bring people onto the streets to contest the outcome, despite a violent police crackdown, it was the authorities who were crying foul.

"You see: a square was drawn in a well-known channel on Sunday -- go there. They went. They stood in this square," Lukashenka said after attempts to block the websites of independent outlets drove the opposition-minded to Telegram. "They drew another one -- go there, and then go to the Palace of Independence. This is how they manage."

In November, the state Investigative Committee was accusing the creators of the Poland-based Nexta channel on Telegram of organizing what it called "mass riots." By the end of the month, the creators of the opposition-friendly news source had been added to the State Security Committees list of "persons involved in terrorist activities."

Claiming that up to 15 percent of the citizens of Minsk were using Telegram and generating 50,000 to 100,000 messages a day to coordinate actions through 1,000 channels, the deputy head of the presidential administration said that "these are huge figures, and we have no right to turn a blind eye to this."

But by then, even Lukashenka had long accepted the reality of Telegrams power, using a newly created state Telegram channel to post videos in August of him brandishing an AK-47 and barking orders to security forces from his helicopter.

As the authoritarian leader told friendly members of the press in September: "How can you stop these Telegram channels? Can you block them? No. Nobody can."

'If You Cant Beat 'Em'

Belarus was not the only one to grudgingly concede to Telegram this year. Russia too, after a two-year battle to ban the app, took the "if you cant beat them, join them" approach.

"Roskomnadzor is dropping its demands to restrict access to Telegram messenger in agreement with Russias Prosecutor-Generals Office," the countrys communications regulator announced in June.

Shortly afterward, the Communications Ministry admitted that it was "technically impossible" to block the messaging app.

The ban, introduced after Telegram refused to comply with Russian demands that it hand over encryption keys to help fight terrorism, never really stuck anyway.

Despite official efforts to block it, courts, political heavyweights, and even the Russian Foreign Ministry had continued to use the platform. And according to Telegram founder Pavel Durov, use of the app had doubled since the ban, with 30 percent of its 400 million active users coming from Russia.

The Russian entrepreneur had some experience defying the Kremlin, having created and headed the social-networking site VK before he was dismissed as CEO in 2014 after refusing orders to block Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalnys site and to hand over information about Maidan protesters in Ukraine.

After Telegram was unblocked, Durov explained that "over the course of the last two years, we had to regularly upgrade our unblocking technology to stay ahead of the censors."

The strategy included the formation of a "Digital Resistance" movement employing rotating proxy servers and other means of hiding traffic to circumvent censorship.

"To put it simply, the ban didnt work," Durov said.

Steps Taken, But Not Enough

There was some merit to Russia citing the effort to fight terrorism as a reason for introducing the ban in the first place, considering that its initial demand for encryption keys stemmed from attempts to decipher comments authorities said were made on Telegram by a suicide bomber who killed 15 people in St. Petersburg in 2017.

Going into 2020, Telegram was still dealing with such criticism, including that it was not doing enough to prevent extremist groups like Islamic State from disseminating information.

Among the steps taken by Telegram were the introduction of an ISIS Watch feature that publishes daily updates on banned terrorist content and encouraging users to report extremist content.

Europol even lauded Telegrams actions, saying in late 2019 that "Telegram is no place for violence, criminal activity, and abusers. The company has put forth considerable effort to root out the abusers of the platform by both bolstering its technical capacity in countering malicious content and establishing close partnerships with international organizations such as Europol."

Those efforts, as well as Telegrams role as a public-service beacon during the coronavirus pandemic, appear to have factored into the lifting of the digital blockade.

But they didnt end criticism that dangerous minds were still exploiting the apps free-speech policies.

A racially motivated shooting in February that left nine people dead in a town outside Frankfurt, Germany, sparked renewed concerns. Within hours of the attack, the perpetrators manifesto was being spread by right-wing extremist groups on Telegram.

Scores of white nationalist groups, according to an analysis by Vice News, had made the switch to Telegram after they were kicked off mainstream social media like Facebook and Twitter.

"Telegram makes a lot of sense for those groups: The app allows users to upload unlimited videos, images, audio clips, and other files, and its founder has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to protecting user data from third parties -- including governments," Vice News wrote.

The Counter Extremism Project, an international policy organization formed to combat the growing threat from extremist ideologies, reported in May that it was still finding Islamic State propaganda on Telegram.

In addition, the project said it had found "multiple white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups" on Telegram celebrating the shooting death in the United States of an unarmed black man, as well as encouraging mass shootings and violence against African Americans.

What Did I Just Watch?

A quick perusal of some of the more sordid open channels on Telegram reveals that it is a place for violence, criminal activity, and abusers, regardless of what Europol says.

Multiple channels host full-length, uncensored videos showing the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand preparing for and carrying out the attacks in which 51 people were killed and 40 injured.

Multiple videos of school shootings are available, and uncut videos of ordinary people being stabbed, shot, bludgeoned, or mutilated are ubiquitous.

Compromising sex videos of Russian celebrities and politicians are there for the watching, as is a recent live-streamed incident in which a popular vlogger reportedly accepted money to lock his girlfriend outside in subzero temperatures, where she died.

Amid the recent fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, videos apparently taken by Azerbaijani soldiers and distributed on Telegram show executions, including beheadings, as well as other abuses of POWs. The videos prompted an investigation by the Council of Europe, Europes top human rights watchdog.

Digital Resistance To Fight Another Day

Now, as 2021 begins, the fight over Telegram is continuing -- and expanding.

In Belarus, the authorities continue to pursue charges against Telegram bloggers they accuse of fomenting unrest over the outcome of the August presidential vote. Among them is n mid-December, Losik announced that he had launched a hunger strike to protest his treatment and potential eight-year prison sentence.

In Iran, the execution of activist and journalist Ruhollah Zam has sparked international outrage. Zam, who headed AmadNews -- which had been suspended by Telegram in 2018 for publishing information about Molotov cocktails but was revived under a different name -- was credited with helping inspire anti-government protests in 2017.

And in China, where Telegram is banned, the app has seen a surge of millions of new users as other messaging platforms have suffered outages.

Both Iran and China have come into focus among free-speech advocates in recent years, including efforts to develop technologies such as Signal and Tor that allow people to access the Internet and communicate privately.

"We don't want this technology to get rusty and obsolete. That is why we have decided to direct our anti-censorship resources into other places where Telegram is still banned by governments -- places like Iran and China," Durov wrote on his personal channel after Russia unblocked Telegram. "We ask the admins of the former proxy servers for Russian users to focus their efforts on these countries."

"The Digital Resistance movement doesn't end with last week's cease-fire in Russia," Durov wrote in June. "It is just getting started -- and going global."
George Anderson is accused of launching an attack in the couple's bedroom

A suspected cancer sufferer allegedly stabbed and struck his wife on the head with a lump hammer as she brought him a cup of tea, a court was told on Friday.

George Anderson is accused of launching an attack in the couple's bedroom before driving to a PSNI station and declaring: "She's lucky I didn't do her right."

The 60-year-old, of Lyndhurst Parade in Belfast, faces charges of attempted murder, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of offensive weapons.

Police went to the address on Wednesday afternoon as his wife was receiving first aid treatment from a neighbour.

A detective told Belfast Magistrates' Court: "She said (Anderson) had been sitting on the edge of the bed, and as she was bringing him a cup of tea he got up and hit her with a lump hammer to the top of the head."

It was alleged that she grabbed his arm, but he produced a knife held in the other hand and stabbed her to the back of the head.

She managed to exit the bedroom and escape from the house, shouting for help in the street outside, according to police.

Meanwhile, Anderson was arrested after he arrived at a nearby PSNI Station.

He told an officer at the front gates that he only had a few weeks to live due to cancer and had just stabbed his wife because she was having an affair, the court was told.

Police stressed there is absolutely nothing to support any claims of infidelity.

On being cautioned he allegedly responded: "She's lucky I didn't do her right."

The detective said Anderson further stated: "It doesn't matter, I'm dying anyway. I was wanting to do her in the neck, she's lucky she's f****** living, I'll tell you that. She was lucky she got down them stairs."

Her ability to escape was allegedly attributed to him being weak from having lost up to five stone in weight.

Anderson's wife was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she received three staples for wounds to her head.

Opposing bail, the detective contended: "This was an unprovoked, premeditated attack involving weapons.

"His wife feels that if the defendant had not lost so much weight in the last number of weeks she wouldn't have been able to fight him off and would not have been able to escape."

Defence solicitor Paul Dougan argued that the alleged attack was completely out of character.

The couple have enjoyed a happy, 35-year marriage with no previous allegations of violence, he told the court.

Issues were raised about his client's mental and physical health, with a medical appointment due next week to confirm the suspected cancer diagnosis.

Mr Dougan set out how Anderson's wife also discussed him being unwell in her statement.

"Prior to describing this incident she talks about him sitting on the side of the bed with a very bad colour and his eyes staring at the wardrobe in front of him, apparently no conversation or discussion whatsoever," he added.

Refusing bail, however, District Judge George Conner ruled: "At this stage there is too high a risk of further offences."

Anderson was remanded in custody to appear again on January 7.

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Kim Jong Un thanked North Koreans for supporting his leadership in "difficult times" in a rare hand-written New Year letter released Friday ahead of a crucial ruling party congress that will set the country's economic goals.

The personal message came after the isolated North put on a performance featuring fireworks, singing and dancing in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square to usher in the new year, despite the coronavirus pandemic, which the North insists has yet to reach its shores.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

Kim usually delivers a televised speech on January 1 that is scrutinised by Korea-watchers for signs of where the reclusive state is headed in the new year.

But he skipped the occasion last year, replacing it with an address he had delivered at a party meeting the previous year.

It is widely expected that he will again drop the televised speech this year ahead of the country's first congress in five years.

State media have said the event will be held in early January but have yet to specify the exact dates.

"I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people, good health," Kim said in the letter carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

"In the new year, too, I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true.

"I offer thanks to the people for having invariably trusted and supported our Party even in the difficult times," he added, apparently referring to economic hardship brought by international sanctions and strict anti-coronavirus measures.

South Korean media said it was the first time since 1995 that a North Korean leader has sent a New Year card to the country's citizens, the last one coming from Kim's father Kim Jong Il.

Kim also visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun mausoleum on the outskirts of Pyongyang at midnight, according to KCNA, to pay his respects to his grandfather and father -- North Korean founder Kim Il Sung and his successor Kim Jong Il.

The congress, which is expected to set out a new economic and political plan, will be the first such meeting in five years, and only the eighth in North Korea's history.

The 2016 congress was the first in North Korea in 36 years.

The congress is expected to take place ahead of the January 20 inauguration of Joe Biden as US president.

Relations with the United States have been deadlocked since talks between President Donald Trump and Kim stalled early last year.

Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and the Trump administration ground to a halt after the collapse of the Hanoi summit in early 2019 over sanctions relief.

The incoming US president has characterised Kim as a "thug", while Pyongyang has called Biden a "rabid dog".

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Islamabad, Jan 1 : Convinced that police have mishandled the case, a parliamentary committee ordered a fresh inquiry into the abduction of a minor Christian girl in Faisalabad.

The 13-year-old was freed five months after Muslim men allegedly abducted, forcibly converted her to Islam, and then one of them married her, the Dawn reported.

The order was issued on Thursday.

A meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was held under the chairmanship of Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. The meeting discussed various issues of forced conversion and marriage and the death of a farmer in Lahore due to alleged police violence besides the murder of a member of the minority community.

Faisalabad police officials told the committee that they had received a complaint from the family of the girl that Khizer Hayat had allegedly abducted the girl. But the girl's recorded statement said otherwise.

The police maintained that the girl in her statement recorded before a magistrate said she had left her home voluntarily and embraced Islam and got married. The police officials told the committee that the girl had also undergone a medical test and according to the doctor's report she was between 16 and 17 years old.

However, during the committee meeting, the girl's father presented the form "B" issued by Nadra which showed her as 13 years old.

Senator Khokhar and other members of the committee raised questions over the investigation process and declared that the certificate issued by Nadra was authentic proof of the girl's age, rejecting the doctor's report. As a proof, the family members also presented her twin brother's Form "B".

The girl's father also registered a complaint with the committee about the behaviour of the police over which the committee expressed its regret.

The chairman of the committee apologised to the family of the minor girl and demanded that legal action be taken against those responsible and proper protection be provided to the family.

Senator Khokhar said: "The investigating officer has tarnished Pakistan's image." The committee also directed the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Faisalabad to investigate the whole matter and submit a report to the committee on January 6. The SSP assured the committee that the matter would be investigated and a charge-sheet would be issued to the concerned investigating officer.

Regarding the murder of Dr Tahir Mahmood, a member of the Ahmadi Jamaat in Nankana, DPO Nankana Ismail Kharal informed the committee that Dr Mahmood was killed by a 16-year-old boy, living in his neighborhood. According to the official, those who provided the boy with a weapon had also been arrested and the case was pending in the anti-terrorism court.

The chairman of the committee declared the case sensitive, saying a committee of the entire Senate should discuss these issues with regard to the protection of minorities. He believed that strict action also needed to be taken against hate speech.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed from Lahore presented facts before the committee against allegation that Malik Ashfaq Langrial died after being tortured by the police during a protest by farmers.

The farmer's condition deteriorated after tear gas shelling on protesting farmers at Thokar Niaz Baig. He later died in hospital.

The police officer informed the committee that the farmer was suffering from a heart condition and did not die in police custody. He said: "The police had nothing to do with it." He said the farmers' representatives were on a strike and action was taken against them. No one was tortured, he claimed.
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The Newburyport Police Department took an individual into custody after he barricaded himself inside his home during a police investigation, according to authorities.

A 57-year-old man refused to allow police to enter his home during an investigation into a reported break-in at the One Stop Gas Station at 1 Kent St., according to authorities.

Police received reports that a man, fitting the description of the 57-year-old and possibly armed, went into a residence at 3 Atkinson St, City Marshal Mark Murray said in a statement.

Newburyport Police Take Man Into Custody who Barricaded Himself Inside Home https://t.co/FT7oZfuYZ5  Newburyport Police (@NewburyportPD) January 1, 2021

Newburyport Police requested support from the Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council and Massachusetts State Police and eventually were able to take the man into custody at roughly 11:10 a.m., the statement read.

Our top concern this morning was ensuring the safety of this individual and the community at large, and we were focused on bringing about a peaceful resolution to this incident, said Murray. Im grateful that we were able to do so, in large part due to the support on-scene from our NEMLEC partners and the Massachusetts State Police.

The man is currently at the Anna Jaques Hospital for evaluation and police are looking into possible charges in connection with this incident.

A shelter in place order was briefly in effect for the area, and was lifted shortly after the individual was taken into custody, the statement clarified.

On Friday, the Newburyport Police Department posted a warning on its Twitter account at 10:19 a.m. to avoid the Winter and Olive Streets. At 11:18 a.m., they lifted the shelter-in-place between Winter and Olive Streets.
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Doctor Who fans are in for a treat as new pictures from the explosive New Year's special see Captain Jack Harkness standing alongside the dreaded Daleks.

Captain Jack, played by John Barrowman, bravely makes a stand beside three bronze Daleks as he makes his much-anticipated return to the beloved sci-fi BBC series.

The exciting snap sees Jack seemingly standing on a spaceship while his hands glow a mysterious green, as fans are left on the edge of their seats to see what happens.

Never fear, Jack's here! Doctor Who fans are in for a treat as new pictures from the explosive New Year's special see Captain Jack Harkness standing alongside the dreaded Daleks

And, of course, the Time Agent is returning in nothing other than his signature RAF-style greatcoat as he joins The Doctor's three companions to battle the Daleks.

The return of the older bronze Daleks comes alongside a brand new design of the dreaded species, completed with colourful glowing layers.

Another snap sees The Doctor in despair as she finds herself stranded in a space jail while her companions - Graham O'Brien (Walsh), Ryan Sinclair (Cole) and Yasmin Khan (Mandeep Gill) - are on Earth frantically searching for her.

The Time Lord solemnly gazes out of a window in a stone wall as she appears to be contained by florescent blue bars, adding further mystery to the upcoming episode.

Mystery: The Doctor also she finds herself stranded in a space jail, with a snap showing her appearing to be contained by an unknown type of florescent blue bars

The New Year's Day special, titled Revolution of the Daleks, will also see two of The Doctor's beloved companions, Graham and Ryan, exit the TARDIS.

Previously released promotional snaps have teased impending danger for the companions as the widely-feared Daleks take centre stage once again.

The action-packed festive special will sure to kick off 2021 in style, with it being said that there's set to be an almighty battle to save the human race from the evil Daleks as they once again try to exterminate humanity.

Joining the cast are a selection of guests including Killing Eve's Dame Harriet Walter, 70, who will make her debut in the show as well as The Trial of Christine Keeler's Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, 34.

While Sex And The City star Chris Noth, 66, will also be reprising his role as the disgraced Jack Robertson.

Last hurrah: The New Year's Day special, titled Revolution of the Daleks, will also see two of The Doctor's beloved companions, Graham and Ryan, exit the TARDIS

Trapped: As The Doctor is stuck in jail, her three companions - Graham O'Brien (Walsh), Ryan Sinclair (Cole) and Yasmin Khan (Mandeep Gill) - are on Earth frantically searching for her

Meanwhile, John Barrowman teased Captain Jack's reunion with the Doctor, telling The Mirror that the two coming face-to-face will be 'everything that [fans have] ever wanted between Jack and 13'.

Meanwhile, showrunner Chris Chibnall previously opened up about the Christmas special's title and the meaning behind it.

He told Radio Times: 'I think it has more than one meaning. I think you'll understand when you've seen the episode!'

He continued: 'There are loads of different ways you can interpret that title, whether it's a Dalek revolution, or whether there's a revolution involving Daleks...'

Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks airs on New Year's Day at 6.45pm on BBC One.

Intrigue: John Barrowman teased Captain Jack's reunion with the Doctor, saying the two coming face-to-face will be 'everything that [fans have] ever wanted between Jack and 13'
Patriotic Australian left with the old national anthem lyrics tattooed on torso

Scott Morrison announced the switch to 'We are one and free' on New Year's Eve

Matt Hill got the ink done when he was 18 backpacking though Europe in 2013

He sees the funny side and said he 'fully supports' the change to the lyrics

A proud Aussie bloke who inked the words 'For we are young and free' on his torso woke up on New Years Day with more than just a hangover.

The patriotic tattoo 25-year-old Matt Hill got after four months backpacking across Europe when he was just 18 is now awkwardly outdated thanks to the Prime Minister's national anthem lyric switch.

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Scott Morrison announced on New Year's Eve that the second line of Advance Australia Fair will change from 'For we are young and free' to 'For we are one and free' - with the new anthem to come into effect from January 1, 2021.

Critics have long called for the lyrics to be altered to reflect Indigenous Australians as the longest living culture in the world - and Mr Morrison said the change was a direct nod to that fact.

The patriotic tattoo Matt Hill (pictured) got after four months backpacking across Europe when he was just 18 is now awkwardly outdated thanks to the Prime Minister's anthem lyric switch.

Scott Morrison announced on New Year's Eve that the second line of Advance Australia Fair will change from 'For we are young and free' to 'For we are one and free' - with the new Anthem to come into effect from January 1, 2021 (pictured, Matt Hill's tattoo)

'It is time to ensure this great unity is reflected more fully in our national anthem,' Mr Hill, from Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia.

'While Australia as a modern nation may be relatively young, our country's story is ancient, as are the stories of the many First Nations peoples whose stewardship we rightly acknowledge and respect.'

Surprisingly, Mr Hill is also in favour of the change. He just wishes the government had made the decision a lot sooner - before he got the tattoo.

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'I got the tattoo in 2013 so I could always carry a piece of home with me when I was abroad,' he said.

'I fully support the change of lyrics and hope this is a symbolic change that leads to more positive and productive action.

'Regardless of the switch, my tattoo will always be a memento of an amazing trip and my little piece of home. Only wish they had made the change earlier,' he joked.

'I got the tattoo in 2013 so I could always carry a piece of home with me when I was abroad,' Mr Hill (pictured right) said'

'Regardless of the switch, my tattoo will always be a memento of an amazing trip and my little piece of home. Only wish they had made the change earlier,' Mr Hill (pictured right) joked

Mr Hill was on the European loop and quickly running out of time and money so he found a 'dingy tattoo shop in Dublin' where they drew up the lettering stencil.

He admits it might not be the best tattoo but it was exactly what he was looking for.

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Several years on from those wild nights, Mr Hill now spends his days helping other young people create the travel experience of their dreams.

He works as a travel coordinator for students taking a gap year or a short break after graduating high school and spends his time hopping between exotic locations like Fiji, Japan and part of Europe.

But the Covid-interrupted year has been a painful one for the tourism sector and he's now hoping that 2021 will bring some much-needed change.
GLEN CARBON  Two Missouri men have been charged with multiple felonies after an attempted armed robbery at the Glen Carbon Walmart that resulted in one of the suspects being shot by a Madison County deputy in St. Louis after a chase.

Earl A. Barber, 41, of Ferguson, Missouri, was charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, robbery and unlawful possession of weapon by a felon, all Class 2 felonies.

Benjamin N. Smith, 48, of St. Louis, was charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and robbery, all Class 4 felonies, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated fleeing a peace officer, both Class 2 felonies.

Bail was set at $350,000 for Barber and $250,000 for Smith.

The incident began at about 9:22 p.m. Dec. 30 when Glen Carbon police received a report of a strong-arm robbery near the Glen Carbon Walmart, and were later told the suspects had fled and were shooting at witnesses from their vehicle.

The victim was identified as a 45-year-old woman. The two had allegedly attempted to steal her purse.

Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach and Madison County officers pursued the pair to Shardell Drive and Poggemoeller Avenue, where the passenger got out of the vehicle and was shot by a Madison County sheriffs deputy. A handgun was recovered at the scene.

Although the suspect who was shot was not named, the nature of the charges indicated it was Barber. He was taken to a St. Louis area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The second suspect was taken into custody without incident.

The deputy was described as an 11-year veteran of the department.

Some information was provided by The Associated Press.
In the backdrop of the ongoing farm stir on Delhi's borders, the will launch a massive farmers outreach programme titled Kisan Kalyan Mission from January 6.

The three-week agenda, part of the broader theme of doubling the rural income, will cover all the 400-plus assembly constituencies spanning 75 districts of the state.

There are an estimated 23 million farmers households in UP, of which more than 21 million or 90 per cent are small and marginal farmers with fragmented land holdings and subsisting on low farm income.

The average size of land holdings in UP is only 0.73 hectares compared to 3.62 hectares in Punjab. The preponderance of marginal and small farmers results in smaller marketable surplus of agro commodities in UP and therefore such farmers find it more convenient to sell outside mandis under the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act.

UP chief minister Adityanath today directed officials to prepare the blueprint of organising block level farmers meets, seminars, exhibitions and fairs, and integrating the farming community with the central and state government agricultural and allied sector schemes.

The state will collaborate with progressive farmers, scientists and farming experts to propagate modern and scientific farming methods for cutting down on farm input costs for higher yield and profitability.

At various forums, Adityanath has been stressing that the new central farm laws were aimed at doubling the farm income and providing an additional marketing avenue to farmers to sell their agro produce apart from the government notified mandis. He claimed vested interests were trying to mislead the farmers on the issue of the new farm laws.

The CM has also directed for speedy procurement of paddy and prompt payment to farmers in the ongoing kharif marketing season. The state is targetting procurement of 5.5 million tonnes (MT) of paddy, while 4.7 MT of paddy has already been purchased by government agencies with nearly two months still left in the kharif procurement cycle.

Meanwhile, he asked officials to expedite the preparation of the state data centre policy while stressing that a conducive investment climate had been facilitated in UP.
The Indian Army has restored the grave of Brigadier Mohammed Usman, in Delhi which was recently found to have been vandalized.

According to reports, the grave located in a cemetery whose land comes under the jurisdiction of the Jamia Millia Islamia in south Delhi was restored on Thursday, days after images of its desecration went viral, causing outrage.

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"Entire ranks of the Army and veterans have been deeply hurt that his grave was found in a state of disrepair. He is a national hero and not just Army's hero, so it should be everyone's duty to honour our heroes. Army has taken up to lend dignity to Brig Usman's grave again and repair and restoration work is in progress," an Army source told PTI.

"The grave falls within the territorial jurisdiction of Jamia Millia Islamia, so the administration should be responsible for the maintenance of the grave. And, if they cannot maintain it, Army is fully capable of taking care of the grave of the war hero," an Army source had said on Monday. Also, there was no plan to shift his remains to the Delhi Cantonment area, the source had added.

BCCL

The graveyard located in the Batla House area is the final resting place of many other eminent people. "The Army unit responsible for maintaining the grave concerned sought formal permission from the university for repairing and maintaining the grave. They were granted the permission," a representative of the university said.

Born in Azamgarh in 1912, Brigadier Usman joined the Indian Army at the age of 23 and was commissioned in the Baluch Regiment. Following the partition, Brigadier Usman refused the offer to join the Pakistan Army and he was later transferred to the Dogra Regiment.

During the 1947-48 India Pakistan war, Brigadier Usman was the Commander of 77 Para Brigade, was given the charge of 50 Para Brigade at Jhangar which was captured by Pakistan Army.

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However, the Indian forced led by Brigadier Usman recaptured Jhangar and also safeguarded Naushera which gave him the name 'Naushera ka Sher', Saviour of Naushera.

Brigadier Usman was killed in a shell attack at the age of 36 and was the highest-ranking Indian Army official to be martyred in the war.

He was awarded Maha Vir Chakra, the second-highest military honour for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Earlier, after the news about the vandalism of his grave surfaced, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Syed Zafar Islam had said he will personally get it renovated.
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An anti-mask protest group is hand-delivering letters to GPs advising them to treat Covid-19 patients with a drug which the HSE and other health authorities worldwide have said is not effective against the virus.

Health Freedom Ireland organised rallies this year to protest Nphets advice on the pandemic.

Limerick GP Dr Pat Morrissey, who spoke at the October rally, was later removed from his position as chair of ShannonDoc. He said he prescribed hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to Covid-19 patients.

A HSE spokeswoman said at the time: Hydroxychloroquine is not used as a treatment for Covid-19. It has been removed from clinical recommendations due to evidence indicating a lack of benefit in patients hospitalised with Covid-19.

In the letter, signed by Ms Maeve Murran, an alternative healer and kinesiologist, the group criticises the HSE for telling doctors and pharmacists not to use the drug.

The letter describes the drug as proven safe and effective in the treatment of Covid-19 and calls on GPs to investigate this for themselves.

However, while this drug is used for other diseases, the HSE and European Medicines Agency [EMA] has said it is not proven effective against this new virus.

The EMA advises it should only be used in trials. Seventeen countries temporarily halted trials this year, but have since re-started. President Trump was criticised in America for promoting HCQ.

Read More Ob-Gyn institute says pregnant women can get vaccine

The letter states volunteers have worked hard to print and hand-deliver this letter to as many GPs as possible in Ireland.

HFI responded by email to questions from the Irish Examiner, but did not wish to say how many letters were delivered or how many GPs responded.

They said: Our objective in reaching out to GPs about a treatment option, that has shown very promising results in both clinical trials as well as direct patient care scenarios, is to learn if GPs in Ireland have been using or considered using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or any other treatment options for Covid-19. The letter, which strongly promotes this drug, links to studies which HFI say prove the drug is effective against Covid-19.

But UCC Professor Gerry Killeen, AXA Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology said: The evidence is pretty clear, it doesnt do anything.

Some of the papers referred to are pretty infamous now as being unethical, those studies saying it treats Covid, one of the early French papers was refereed by the guy himself in his own journal.

One French scientist quoted is Didier Raoult who will shortly appear before a French disciplinary panel for his HCQ claims.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Department of Passports, Citizenship and Foreign Affairs has signed a contract with the American computer company, IBM, to set up an electronic visa system, the Libyan Ministry of the Interior of the Government of National Accord (GNA) announced
I dont want a lot for Christmas. Sincerely, theres just one thing I need. Department of Education make my wish come true  bin the Leaving and stop making hasty decisions for my school.

The next Irish chart-topper? I think not. Nonetheless, Id like to register a few complaints before this festive season is officially over. Yes, this is me having a strop in my Christmas pyjamas, full of turkey sandwiches and smelly cheese.

Our Department of Education has been a Bad Santa this year. Why? Because Santa is famous for listening to every child, but our department treats all situations like theyre the same. We all receive the same decrees from Dublin, about how to conduct ourselves and make decisions for our community.

Bad Santa  one size does not fit all, and you need to start loosening your hold on us from afar. The case in Claremorris this December was a truly shocking example of your inability to care for every school on an individual basis. You forced that school to re-open despite a dozen cases, overturning a sound decision made by their board on health and safety grounds. That school knew you were wrong. Their community and the rest of the country knew you were wrong. Youll always fall short when you deal with every school from a cool distance.

Now we find ourselves being told that we will all return to school on January 11 despite a new strain that is, in our Taoiseachs words spreading at a rate that has surpassed the most pessimistic models available to us. Our Taoiseach tells us there has been a 61% increase on the previous week. The truth is, we dont know whats going to happen. Department of Education, this situation is serious, and we have the highest numbers ever experienced. So why have you allowed a fixed date to be communicated to all schools?

Sadly, its just more of the same. Too often this year, schools gained their information from the media before it was communicated via the Department. Schools were left hanging during lockdown with no real guidance on distance learning. Teachers bore the brunt of the blame. Then they were left hanging over the summer, leaving principals in a state of unknowing until as late as August about what September should look like. Now, we are being called back to work into a situation we dont know enough about to control. You assure us that the extra days before the return date will provide protection. Why are we in such a hurry?

I only hope you have the guts and the commitment to your schools to speak up before that return date if things continue to deteriorate. I really wish I had that confidence in you, but Ive been disappointed one time to many. This is a new strain. I dont feel safe going to work until I see robust evidence that you cant possibly provide yet. It doesnt help that you have previously forced affected schools to open despite their concerns.

I would feel much more comfortable if you could give some autonomy to school communities, handing control over to counties as is done in numerous successful systems of education in Europe. The coronavirus has shown us that your system doesnt work  due to your lack of flexibility and imagination  two magic ingredients when it comes to education.

And while Im at it, and still have my stretchy pants on, I dont understand why we couldnt finish school on the Friday before Christmas, despite surging numbers. I had no interest in an early finish before numbers started to escalate. But the day after flights from the UK were halted, and treasured Christmas plans were cancelled for many of my loved ones, we all went to school. Why on earth did we all turn up after the final weekend of term, possibly putting peoples lives at risk? Is education a babysitting job? Would you admit, in retrospect, that it was a bad idea? You open and close bars, shops, and restaurants like tins of biscuits but not schools. You tell us they are safe. How do you know that those final days of school didnt result in unnecessary sickness and death? Can you prove they were safe?

Are you worried about the Leaving Cert exam? Is that it? Is that why you want all students back in school so quickly? Is it worth that level of protection? At what cost? Bad Santa, we were forced to do things differently for the Leaving last year. We survived it. Can we please do things differently from now on? But better. Can we wait and see how the numbers go and ensure the people of Ireland that theyll return to schools when it is safe to do so and not beforehand? Can we also use this difficult time to create a real Leaving Cert that doesnt result in such anxiety? Can we provide each school with real support? Can you stop treating schools like theyre on your naughty list? Can you trust principals to know what is needed and what is best for their students and their wider community? Can you allow schools to close if they feel they need to do so? Can you please listen.

Bad Santa make my wish come true.

All I want for Christmas is something completely, entirely, uniquely, and bravely new.
The Malaysia-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project has been terminated due to both parties being unable to reach an agreement, the Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia and the Prime Minister's Office of Singapore said in a joint statement on Friday.

The 350-kilometer (217-mile) rail network, 335 kilometers within Malaysia and 15 kilometers in Singapore, was expected to be completed by 2026 and to cut travel time between Singapore and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur from more than four hours by car to 90 minutes.

According to the statement, the Malaysian government had proposed several changes to the HSR project considering the impact of COVID-19 on its economy. The governments of both sides had conducted several discussions with regard to these changes and had not been able to reach an agreement, it said.

The bilateral agreement on the project, signed in 2016, had been suspended at Malaysia's request in September 2018, with the deadline for the extension of the suspension expiring on December 31, 2020.

"Both countries will abide by their respective obligations, and will now proceed with the necessary actions, resulting from this termination of the HSR agreement," the statement said.

Singapore and Malaysia "remain committed to maintain good bilateral relations, and cooperate closely in various fields, including strengthening the connectivity between the two countries," the statement added.

Malaysia's economy minister Mustapa Mohamed said the Malaysian government had proposed changes to the project structure and station design, which would have provided Malaysia with more flexible financing options and brought forward the construction phase by two years to help boost the country's post-pandemic recovery. But no agreement was reached.

Malaysia and Singapore will work together to determine the amount of compensation owed, he added.

In 2018, Singapore said it would seek to recover over 250 million Singapore dollars ($189.14 million) should Malaysia cancel the project.

(CGTN)
"We just ended a weird court bail proceeding, the regime is scared and doing everything to keep us detained and hurt, but these acts wont delay our liberation as a people, rather it will hasten it! A magistrate just ruled that we should be remanded in @PoliceNG instead of bail. " Omoyele Sowore on Twitter.

Mr Sowore and some activists were arrested at the #CrossoverWithProtest they organised in Abuja.

The Nigerian police have again arrested the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for leading a protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Mr Sowore and some activists were arrested at the #CrossoverWithProtest, a planned procession across the country on New Year eve.

Some of the protesters who escaped arrest confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Sowore was whisked away in one of the seven vans of the Nigerian police mobilised to the protest ground at Gudu junction in Abuja.

Although our sources did not know where Mr Sowore was taken to after the arrest, Sahara Reporters said the former presidential candidate was taken to Abattoir police station in Logokoma, Abuja where he is currently being detained alongside others.

PREMIUM TIMES called Mr Sowore's two mobile numbers but he could not be reached on Friday morning.

This newspaper could not tell as of the time of this report how many protesters were arrested with Mr Sowore.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Sowore, on Twitter, charged Nigerians to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Frank Mba, police spokesperson, did not respond to calls for his comment for this report.

This is not the first time Mr Sowore will be arrested by the Buhari administration. He was detained for over 100 days in 2019 for calling for a #RevolutionNowProtest. For most of the period, he was detained despite being granted bail by the court.

While that protest called for better governance in Nigeria, the security agencies accused him of planning to overthrow the government of Mr Buhari.
Efforts are on to trace 75 people who have travelled to Karnataka from the UK with authorities hopeful of locating them soon, state Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Friday. The number of returnees from the UK who have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus prevalent in the European nation remained at seven and results of genomic sequencing of 31 others was awaited, he told reporters in Bengaluru.

"We are yet to trace 75 people who travelled from the UK some foreign nationals are also there who might not have local contact numbers, their details have been collected from immigration department," Sudhakar said. He said the Home Department has assured all would soon be traced so that they can be tested.

Sudhakar said 70 of the 75 people were from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city corporation, limits. So far, on undergoing RT-PCR test 33 people, who have travelled from the UK, along with five of their contacts have tested positive for COVID taking the number to 38, he said.

All their samples underwent genomic sequencing at NIMHANS, out of which seven have have confirmed with UK variant virus infection, the Minister said. According to the latest official information, a total of 5,068 people have come to Karnataka from the UK since November 25, out of which 4,238 people have come since December 9, and 810 were transit passengers traveling to other states.

"Information regarding 810 passengers has been shared with respective states," he said. Noting that from Saturday, COVID vaccine dry run will be held in five districts of the state, Sudhakar said, it will be a mock trial ahead of official vaccination to check our preparation.

Preparations have been done in Karnataka, he said, a minimum of 25 people, including designated health staff at primary health centre, taluk and district hospitals will be administered. The vaccine dry run will be held in Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Mysuru, Belagavi and Bengaluru.

A vision team has been constituted by the health department consisting of 38-40 health experts both from the private and government sectors, the Minister said.
San Antonio police have arrested 33-year-old Kevin Lee Perez in connection with a man found shot to death following a car crash on the Northwest Side on Tuesday night.

Police responded to the accident at the Mossrock and Robin Hill intersection around 8 p.m. When they arrived, they found a 35-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his upper body and head injuries from hitting the windshield from the crash.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and has not been identified by police.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

Initially, police said they had little to go on because there were no reports of gun shots, disturbances or a road rage incident reported in the area at the time. Police also said they did not have witnesses.

Around the same time of the incident, police were called to a burglary in progress about 4 1/2 miles away in the 7700 block of Oakdell Way. Initially, police believed the man found dead had attempted to break into the home prior to the shooting and was shot by Perez while he fled.

Police said they now believe Perez was arguing with his girlfriend and fired off gun shots indiscriminately, hitting the victim as he drove by.

Perez said he had no intention of hitting the victim, according to police.

Perez was charged with murder and felon in possession of a firearm. His bail was set $270,000.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
The Minneapolis Police Department released body camera footage on Thursday that shed new light on a fatal police shooting the night before, the first killing by a city police officer since George Floyds death in the spring.

The 28-second video shows a chaotic scene in which several police cars are blocking a driver from leaving the parking lot of a gas station. As an officer walks toward the car and yells for the driver to put his hands up, the man appears to raise something to his window and a loud bang can be heard. The drivers window shatters, someone curses and the officer ducks for cover.

About two seconds later, the officer fires a shot at the man, followed by four more. About a dozen shots can be heard in all, but it is not clear from the video who fired the others.
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The Philippines on Friday temporarily banned the entry of foreigners from the United States, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus in the country.







The restrictions will be in effect from January 3 to January 15, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque.







The Philippine government earlier banned the entry of foreign visitors from 20 countries where the new strain has been reported.







The other countries are Britain, South Africa, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Israel, Hong Kong, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Singapore, Lebanon, Japan, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Australia, France, Iceland and South Korea.







Passengers who are in transit in the US before the ban takes affect are still allowed to enter the Philippines, but need to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a government-accredited facility even if they present a negative RT-PCR test.







Filipinos coming from the identified countries are allowed to come home but will also have to undergo the 14-day facility-based quarantine.







The capital region of Metro Manila and eight areas in the Philippines are under a less-stringent lockdown until January 31.







Malls, restaurants, and other commercial establishments are allowed to operate, but not at 100-per-cent capacity. Public transport is operating at downsized capacity, and inter-island travel is allowed, but with some restrictions.







On Friday, the Department of Health reported 1,765 new infections, bringing the Philippines' total caseload to 475,820. The death toll was up by four, to 9,248. (DPA)


The expert panel that is advising the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Covid-19 vaccines has given an in-principle nod today to the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine candidate, which Pune's Serum Institute of India will make and market here, say sources in the know. "Serum Institute's Covishield vaccine candidate has been given an in-principle nod from the expert panel and now the drug regulator needs to approve it.

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At long last, it happened.

Shortly before midnight on Thursday, Britain completed its exit from the European Union, replacing a close 47-year long relationship with the continent with something far more distant. Now it will have to live through difficult years of separation that will sap its political vibrancy and diminish its role on the world stage. Though a trade deal was belatedly agreed, the economic fallout may be dire, too.

Yet for many, its also a deeply personal moment. My grandparents, who escaped Nazi Germany on the eve of World War II, found a home in Britain  to them, it was a beacon of light and hope. But they would be heartbroken to see it today. Inward, polarized and absurdly self-aggrandizing, Britain has lost itself. In sorrow, I mourn the passing of the country that was my familys salvation.

My grandparents arrived in England in 1939 as stateless refugees. They felt not just gratitude for their immediate safety but also a deep attachment to the values of openness, decency and tolerance they found in their adopted homeland. Once the war ended, they became naturalized British citizens as soon as they could. In a letter to a friend, my grandfather praised the generous hospitality and nearly unrestricted freedom they enjoyed as migrants. They never shed their German accents but switched to speaking only in English.

My parents generation, in turn, gave their all for the country that took them in. They inevitably faced some anti-German sentiment in the early postwar years, but simply ignored it. My uncle, who arrived in Britain on a Kindertransport train when he was 15 years old, joined a commando unit of the British Army composed of German refugees and was killed on a Normandy beach on D-Day, aged 21. In the 1980s, my father, a businessman, and my aunt, a radiographer, were both decorated by Queen Elizabeth II for their contributions to the country. After all the trauma of leaving Germany I had struck fresh roots in England, my father wrote in a private memoir. We had found a new home in every sense of the word.
Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it was calling off its automotive joint venture with India's Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd due to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The companies said in separate statements that the decision was driven by changes in the global economy over the last 15 months, causing both to reassess their capital allocation priorities.

"The global economy and business environment are not the same as October last year," Ford spokesman T.R. Reid said.

The deadline to finalize a joint venture between the companies was Dec. 31, and both made the decision to end the agreement rather than close a deal or extend the timetable to do so, Reid said.

In October 2019, Ford and Mahindra said they would form a joint venture in India in a move to cut costs for developing and producing vehicles for emerging markets. The companies said at the time they expected to launch three new utility vehicles, starting with a midsize SUV, and also jointly develop electric vehicles for emerging markets.

Asked if those vehicles were now canceled, Reid said, "At this point, there's nothing to talk about other than the joint venture isn't going to happen." Ford said its independent operations in India will continue.

Pressure to pursue mergers or alliances in the auto industry has grown as the costs of developing electric and self-driving vehicles drives companies to preserve funds for those efforts. France's PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV expect to close their $38 billion merger in the first quarter of 2021.

Ford executives have repeatedly touted a company strategy that includes partnerships, including with Mahindra, as a way to increase efficiencies and reduce costs on its path to achieve 8% global operating profit margins. Reid said that strategy would continue, when asked whether Ford would look to partner with another automaker in southeast Asia.

Mahindra said in its statement that the decision will not have any impact on its product plan, and that it is accelerating efforts to develop electric SUVs.

Also read: Skoda India to increase car prices from January 1

Also read: Older models led to setback in global auto markets: Nissan COO
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Thursday for an attack that killed nearly 40 soldiers in Syria the day before when jihadists ambushed a bus in eastern Syria.

War monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday IS had attacked regime soldiers as they travelled home for holidays in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, killing 37.

It said eight officers were among those killed while 12 other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

A statement by IS's propaganda arm Amaq said its fighters had "ambushed a bus transporting apostate Nusayri army elements," using a derogatory term for the Alawite sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

The vehicle was targeted "with heavy weapons" and "multiple explosive devices, which led to destroying the bus and killing nearly 40 elements and wounding others", added the statement, according to SITE Intelligence, which monitors jihadist activities worldwide.

"It was one of the deadliest attacks since the fall of the IS (self-proclaimed) caliphate" last year, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP on Wednesday.

IS overran large parts of Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a cross-border "caliphate" in 2014, before multiple offensives in the two countries led to its territorial defeat.

The group was overcome in Syria in March last year, but sleeper cells continue to launch attacks namely in the vast desert that stretches from the central province of Homs to Deir Ezzor and the border with Iraq.

The official news agency SANA reported on Wednesday that a "terrorist attack" on a bus killed "25 citizens" and wounded 13.

The Observatory said two other buses which were part of the convoy managed to escape.

The war in Syria has killed more than 387,000 people since it started in 2011, the Observatory says.

The dead include more than 130,500 pro-government fighters, among them foreigners, as well as 117,000 civilians.
Find vehicle deals for the 2021 Hyundai Tucson at Carter County Hyundai.

Shoppers interested in finding their future SUV in Ardmore are encouraged to check out the Holiday Sales Event happening at local dealership Carter County Hyundai. These vehicle deals will only last for the holiday season, so any driver interested in utilizing these vehicle savings for the 2020 or 2021 Hyundai Tucson are encouraged to contact the dealership sooner rather than later.

Drivers in the Ardmore area can find both the 2020 and the 2021 Hyundai Tucson available for 0% APR for 72 months. Shoppers can also find included in these vehicle deals complimentary vehicle maintenance from the dealership for 3 years or up to 36,000 miles. Shoppers who would like to research the Hyundai Tucson further can find research pages and blogs on the dealerships website. There, customers can also find the available Hyundai Tucson models listed on the inventory page, as well as other Hyundai models currently available at Carter County Hyundai.

Additional information about this sales event and the models available can be found on the dealerships website at http://www.cartercountyhyundai.com. Customers who are interested in finding their future vehicle by using this holiday sales event should contact Carter County Hyundai today. Those who wish to speak with a sales representative can call 580-319-4949 or show up in person at 616 Holiday Drive in Ardmore, OK.


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Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
(Natural News) Democrat political strategist Damien Thaddeus Jones, who served as regional political director for Beto ORourkes U.S. Senate campaign, has come forward to blow the whistle on a massive voter fraud ring in Harris County, Texas. The voter fraud ring is overseen by Dallas Jones, who served as Texas Political Director for the Joe Biden presidential campaign. In this stunning audio obtained exclusively by NATIONAL FILE, Damien goes into detail about Dallas Jones fraudulent activity and work for Biden. On the tape, Sheila refers to Sheila Jackson-Lee. This article below delves into the massive evidence of voter fraud  including photographic evidence and sworn affidavits  that emerged in Harris County in 2020, and how its direct link to the Biden campaign provides even more justification for President Donald Trumps ability to claim victory in the presidential election.

(Article by Patrick Howley republished from NationalFile.com)

Harris County, Texas conducted 24-hour voting in the 2020 election, even as the county became engulfed in a voter fraud scandal that ensnared the Joe Biden campaigns recent Texas political director Dallas Jones. A well-placed insider named Constance Stanton tells NATIONAL FILE that Dallas Jones was interrogated by the FBI and fired by the Biden campaign after he was implicated in an illegal Ballot Harvesting operation in sworn affidavits first reported by NATIONAL FILE. This scandal has since been picked up by various news outlets across the nation, including by Fox News. Vote count discrepancies are reported in Harris County.

Sources within the FBI told NATIONAL FILE that Dallas Jones was interrogated but was not necessarily picked up, implying that Jones voluntarily submitted to FBI interrogation. Multiple sources tell NATIONAL file that Jones was fired by the Biden campaign. (RELATED: Texas Poll Watcher Testifies on 2020 Voter Fraud in Houston).

Here is what Constance Stanton told NATIONAL FILE in October: Harris County Clerks Office in Harris County, Texas is intending to conduct an illegal polling operation on Thursday, October 29th, 2020. Harris County, home to Houston Texas, is the third largest voting county in the country with approximately 2.5 million voters. As Harris County goes, so goes Texas. As Texas goes, so goes the nation. Harris County did not allow the GOP State Conversation to take place this past summer and it seems the socialist Democrats took complete control of Harris county when they won offices in 2018, by a 200,000 vote margin.

20 private investigators have uncovered a great deal. What has been uncovered is a group of masterminds wanting to destroy the Texas voting voice. Some of the masterminds include Democrat County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Democrat State Senator Boris Miles. They have two captains, Gerald Womack and Dallas Jones.

Jones was hired by the Biden campaign to run the Biden Texas operation. These captains have scores of paid vote harvesters working for them. Vote harvesting is a second-degree felony under the Texas Election Code. This is a criminal operation that these Democrat elected officials are running.

Dallas Jones was picked up by the FBI, the weekend before last, for 2 days of interrogation. He was subsequently fired by the Biden campaign.

They harvest ballots by mail from nursing homes, homeless centers, door to door in poor neighborhoods, often dressed as Census workers. They offer $50 gift cards in front of stores asking people to take ballots by mail, acquired from the above, to sign and mail at a local post office. They hold ballots by mail in several locations where people forge signatures on the collected ballots by mail.

Evidence has been presented to the local DA, Kim Ogg, who received a substantial amount of political contributions from Soros funded organizations in her election in 2018. The evidence included an affidavit and other evidence, including photographs, from a 30 year black police officer who was serving as a poll watcher and saw the election judge use a table full of IDs to vote unregistered people that were voting by drive through.

This is a criminal act according to the Texas Election Code. The district attorneys office did not even want to entertain our criminal complaint.

This information along with other affidavits of harassment of poll watchers and alternate election judges was sent to the office of Republican Atty. General Ken Ken Paxton.

The Democrat County clerk, Chris Hollins, instituted drive-through voting by anyone for any reason which is in violation of the Texas Election Code. A petition for writ of mandamus before the Texas Supreme Court last week to stop this illegal activity and they voted 7 to 1 to deny the petition. The County clerk has now opened up the early voting polling locations until 10 PM for the rest of the week until the last day of early voting, when eight polling places will be open 24 hours. Of the 120 early voting locations, the vast majority are in Democrat areas of the county.

In violation of the Texas Election Code, Hollins independently mailed ballots by mail to all individuals 65 and older, in violation of Texas Election Code, which requires an individual to request a ballot by mail before it can be sent. Hollins planned on sending every registered voter a ballot by mail, but the Texas Supreme Court granted our petition and stopped this.

The Harris County voter files have not been purged since 2016 when the Democrats took charge. We can document that dead people have voted in this election and people who have moved out of state. No arrest warrants have been issued and we do not expect them to issue any.

In the meantime, the Democrats are implementing their massive election voter fraud scheme, mostly in open sight. One arrest would go miles in stopping this election fraud scheme. The drive through locations are located in primarily in Democrat areas. This also violates the 14th Amendment.

Constance Harris statement concludes

PRESS RELEASE: Discrepancy in 3 voting counts from Harris County @CGHollins. Still no answer. Daily Record of EV shows 1,090,445 votes, while the number reported by Clerk to the @TXsecofstate is 1,081,265, & @HarrisVotes roster shows 1,092,521. Which is correct? #txlege pic.twitter.com/lZMXK5XVHB  Team Bettencourt (@TeamBettencourt) October 26, 2020

At Harrisvotes.com, clicking on Polling Locations and then the clock icon for Hours of Operation show that beginning on Thursday October 29 there were EIGHT polling locations that have 24-hour voting rolling into Friday morning.

Texas poll watcher Raymond T. Stewart, a retired police officer, submitted a sworn affidavit Thursday that was provided to the Harris County District Attorneys Office. That affidavit, first obtained by NATIONAL FILE, alleges that a Houston precinct judge and staff illegally used a stack of drivers licenses in their possession to allow people to vote illegally in the 2020 election at a drive-through voting window created by the Coronavirus pandemic. Stewarts affidavit and photos of the scheme are presented below. The acting precinct judges identity has been confirmed by the Harris County Clerks Office and insiders identify her as a Democrat.

Harris County, where Houston is located, is also the site where the Joe Biden campaigns Texas political director Dallas Jones is accused of running an illegal ballot harvesting operation, according to two separate affidavits submitted to the Texas Supreme Court by former law enforcement officials. Here is the GoFundMe page for private investigators who are busting what insiders say is one of the largest voter fraud rings in the United States. Here is a photo from the scene of the stack of drivers licenses.

Here Is The Sworn Affidavit, Under Oath, of Raymond T. Stewart:

My name is Raymond T. Stewart. I am above the age of eighteen years and am fully competent to make this affidavit. The facts stated in this affidavit are within my personal knowledge and are true and correct.

I am a 30+ year veteran Texas Peace Officer. I am a volunteer poll watcher for Candidate Andre Hines. On 10/13/2020, at 8:40am, I arrived at polling location Northeast Multi-Services Center, PRCT ID SRD141C, 9720 Spaulding Street, Houston, Texas 77016.

I informed the staff that I was a poll watcher for a candidate and had my paperwork. I asked for the precinct judge to sign my required paperwork so I could start work. The precinct judge is identified as April Elmore (Gibson) and she was there but refused to sign my paperwork and she instead directed me to someone inside named Madonna. Madonna signed the paperwork but not in the designated signature line. I then began my work as a poll watcher.

I observed several oddities but the most concerning was a table in-between the sign-in tables One and Three. At that table was a large stack of Texas Drivers Licenses. Staff would come inside from the drive-through voting booth and scan a drivers license from someone outside and get a ticket and return outside. But sometimes a staff member would search through the stack of drivers license on the table, then scan it, receive a ticket and also go outside to the drive-through booth. As a Police Officer, I quickly became suspicious that they were committing a crime by having the unattended D.L.s just sitting on the table and that possible voting crimes were being committed using these forms of ID. Also during this time-frame an employee of the Harris County Attorneys Office came by and he conversed with April but nothing changed and he departed. Since I was there as a poll watcher and not there as a Police Officer, I just continued to observe and considered how to deal with this situation. About that time a Precinct 1 Constable (Deputy W. Schultz) arrived at the polling location and he happened to be someone I knew professionally. I spoke with the Deputy outside and informed him of what

I had observed. He was amazed and asked for evidence which I provided to him.

Unfortunately our conversation was overheard by a staff member in the parking lot. The Deputy went inside the polling location but at this time the drivers licenses were removed and hidden from the table. The Deputy departed the area apparently to consult with the election taskforce and supervisors. A spoke with him several times that day via phone and in person regarding my observations. At 1:00pm April commanded me to leave the polling location because I had observed and collected evidence and she informed me that I couldnt.

I have not received any call from any Federal, County nor State official investigating these serious actions and crimes.

Raymond T. Stewarts Affidavit Concludes

Read more at: NationalFile.com and VoteFraud.news.
Tributes are being paid to a Dublin hospital healthcare assistant who died from coronavirus on Christmas Eve.

Mariter Tarugo (60), who came here from the Phillipines 20 years ago, has become St Vincents first Fillipino/Irish frontline worker to die of the disease. She worked on St Andrews, which is now a Covid-19 ward.

The Dalkey local is survived by her daughter Nice Marie Tarugo, also a healthcare worker, and her husband Nicolas (69), who recently recovered from his own battle with the deadly virus. She also has two grandchildren Axl and Arabella.

Expand Close Mariter Tarugo is survived by her daughter Nice Marie Tarugo, also a healthcare worker, and her husband Nicolas as well as her two grandchildren, Axl and Arabella. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mariter Tarugo is survived by her daughter Nice Marie Tarugo, also a healthcare worker, and her husband Nicolas as well as her two grandchildren, Axl and Arabella.

Due to Level 5 Government restrictions, only 10 mourners were permitted to attend her funeral service this afternoon.

Instead, her fellow frontline workers at St Vincents formed a guard of honour outside in freezing conditions and pouring rain as her remains were taken from the hospital mortuary.

Mariter was then brought to Harolds Cross for cremation at St Jerome and the service was live-streamed so her family and friends in the Phillipines could watch the ceremony.

Her husband was unable to enter the crematorium for her final send-off as he is still very weak from his own battle with Covid-19.

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I couldnt arrange a proper wake for her due to the restrictions and most of our family couldnt come due to the travel restrictions so wanted to stream it so people could watch, said her daughter Nice.

She described her late mum as a very selfless and loving person who always put others first when delivering her duties and touched so many lives.

Her family have received countless messages of condolences and support from those who knew her.

She never stopped working even though she was sick; she was the type of person who doesnt even know to ring in sick, she continued.

She was passionate in terms of giving care and rendering all of herself those years when she was still alive. She cared for countless patients when the pandemic started. I feel terribly heartbroken and saddened.

Expand Close Mariter Tarugo worked on the St Andrew's Ward of St Vincents Hospiral, which is now a Covid ward / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mariter Tarugo worked on the St Andrew's Ward of St Vincents Hospiral, which is now a Covid ward

Ms Tarugo was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 a week prior to her death and her heart-broken daughter said that shes still in shock at her mums passing.

Its awful to think that my mothers funeral is happening in the same week that the vaccinations are being carried out, she said.

She was dearly and loved by her family and friends and I may say one of the best Filipino workers in Ireland.

The Philippine Consulate in Ireland has paid tribute to Mariter.

"Philippine Consulate Dublin sends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mariter Tarugo, the first Filipino-Irish Covid-19 ward frontliner of St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin who sadly succumbed to the virus on Christmas Eve, only one week after she contracted it.

We offer her daughter Nice, husband Nicolas, and grandchildren Axl and Arabella our thoughts and prayers during this dark time in their lives.

"May care and love of those around them provide comfort and peace to get them through the days ahead. Remembering the wonderful and gentle soul of Mariter Tarugo will forever remain in our hearts. May she rest in peace."

Read More

Online Editors
2020 has seen the release of several intriguing new smartwatches.

This market segment performed admirably in the first half of 2020, despite the economic downturn which came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While shipments remained fairly flat at 42 million units, the global market saw 20% growth in revenue, according to Counterpoint Research.

The organisation said that fall detection and SpO2 monitoring would be two of the most popular features in the coming period.

Apple remained the dominant player both in terms of value and volume  accounting for more than 51% of revenue. It was followed by Samsung, Garmin, and Huawei.

The growth of this market is no surprise, as smartwatches boast a range of features which make users lives more convenient, while also enhancing their ability to track fitness regimes.

Among their capabilities, smartwatches allow for the following:

Keeping track of your your app notifications.

Reading and responding to text messages.

Making and receiving calls.

Streaming and controlling music on Bluetooth devices  such as wireless headphones.

Health, fitness, stress, and sleep monitoring.

Below are eight of the best smartwatches which were launched in South Africa this year.

Apple Watch Series 6  Starting from R8,999

Apple Watch Series 6 OS WatchOS 7 Display 1.57-inch 324 x 394 Always On OLED (40mm) 1.78-inch 368 by 448 Always On OLED (44mm) Processor S6 SiP Storage 32GB Sensors Accelerometer

Altimeter

Ambient Light sensor

Barometre

Blood oxygen sensor (Sp02)

Electrical heart rate sensor

GPS / GLONASS

Gyroscope

Optical heart rate sensor Connectivity 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, LTE (optional) Battery life 18 hours Water resistance 50 metres NFC payments Yes, not supported in South Africa yet.

Apple Watch SE  Starting from R6,499

Apple Watch SE OS WatchOS 7 Display 1.57-inch 324 x 324 OLED Processor S5 SiP Storage 32GB Sensors Accelerometer

Altimeter

Ambient Light Sensor

Barometer

Electrical heart sensor

GPS/GLONASS

Gyroscope

Optical heart sensor Connectivity 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, LTE optional Battery life 18 hours Water resistance 50 metres NFC payments Yes  Apple Pay  not supported in South Africa yet.

Fitbit Versa 3  R4,999

Fitbit Versa 3 OS Fitbit OS 5.1 Display 1.58-inch 300 x 300OLED Processor n/a Storage 4GB Sensors Accelerometer

Altimeter

Ambient Light Sensor

Barometer

Blood oxygen sensor (Sp02)

Electrical heart sensor

GPS/GLONASS

Gyroscope

Optical heart sensor Connectivity 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 Battery life 6 days Water resistance 50 metres NFC payments Yes  Fitbit Pay Fossil Sport  R4,999 Fossil Sport OS Wear OS Display 1.19-inch 390 x 390 OLED Processor Snapdragon Wear 3100 Storage 4GB Sensors Accelerometer

Altimeter

Ambient Light Sensor

Gyroscope

GPS

Optical heart sensor Connectivity 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 Battery life 24 hours Water resistance 50 metres NFC payments Yes  Google Pay  not supported in South Africa yet.

Huawei Watch Fit  R2,999

Huawei Watch Fit OS Huawei Wearable Platform Display 1.64-inch 280 x 546 Always On OLED Processor DK3.5+S Storage 4GB Sensors Accelerometer

Blood oxygen sensor (Sp02)

Gyroscope

Optical heart sensor Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0 Battery life 10 days Water resistance 50 metres NFC payments No

Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro  R6,999

Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro OS Huawei Lite OS Display 1.39-inch 454 x 454 Always On OLED Processor Kirin A1 Storage 4GB Sensors Accelerometer

Altimeter

Ambient Light Sensor

Barometer

Electrical heart sensor

GPS/GLONASS

Gyroscope

Optical heart sensor Connectivity Bluetooth 5.1 Battery life 14 days Water resistance 50 metres NFC payments No

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3  Starting from R8,999
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President Muhammadu has made an appeal to Nigerias Judiciary to dispense justice in corruption-related matters expeditiously.

Mr Buhari made the appeal as he addressed the nation on New Years Day Friday morning.

While appealing to the judicial arm, the president said on our part the executive is committed to timely and judicious prosecution of corruption-related cases.

Anti-graft agencies  EFCC and ICPC  are parts of the executive arm.

Corruption is generally viewed as chief among the drivers of Nigerias chronic development crises.

Mr Buhari, while campaigning ahead of the 2015 elections, made anti-corruption fight one of his three main promises. Other two key promises were economic turnaround and security.

However, corruption remains a challenge under Mr Buhari. Insecurity is not abating and the hunger and joblessness are not reducing.
Flights between India and the UK will resume from 8 January, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday. The government had last week extended the suspension of flights to and from the UK from 31 December till 7 January to prevent the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus found in the UK, considered to be much more infectious.

This came in the wake of people arriving from the UK being found to infected with the new strain.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

However, operations will be restricted and such flights will only operate to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

It has been decided that flights between India and UK will resume from 8 January 2021. Operations till 23 January will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia (Directorate General of Civil aviation) will issue the details shortly," Puri said on Twitter.

Prior to that airlines such as Air India, Virgin Atlantic, British Airway, and Vistara operated several weekly flights between the countries from Indian cities such as Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Amritsar, apart from Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

Normal international scheduled commercial flights to and from all other countries stand suspended at least till 31 January to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

However, all cargo international flights and ones under bilateral air bubble pacts are allowed to operate. A bilateral air bubble is a mechanism to operate flights between India and other nations with preconditions during the pandemic.

India has bilateral air bubble pacts with 23 countries. These include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ukraine, the UAE, and the US.

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As the nation is busy protesting against the unconstitutional move of Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to dissolve the parliament, Munni Shah is busy making flags that rise high during these demonstrations.

Inside the streets of Kathmandu, Shah along with her husband, daughter and two other helpers are struggling to prepare flags for protests that are being staged on daily basis across the country.

We prepare a large number of political party flags on a daily basis. The number ranges from four to five thousand as we try to make as many as possible. After the announcement of the election dates, we have been very busy. We dont even have time to eat food also, Munni told ANI.

After the Prime Minister announced the decision to dissolve the lower house on December 20, anti-government protests broke out across the country. Cadres of various political parties have been placing orders from various districts of the Himalayan Nation to make flags for their respective parties that have resulted into making flag-making business flourishing in Kathmandu.

Orders for making flags have surged from 10 to 12,000 units after the latest development since last week. I will keep some as stock and sell them as the party demands for it, with the frequency of sales, I would make more and keep the stock ready, Kailash Shah, who has a printing press told ANI.

With elections announced for next spring, flag makers like Shah are expecting a high influx as it is the main time for their business to operate round the clock without any break.

I am now waiting for the election, in case it takes place on time; then the demands would again peak and I will have to deploy about 30 to 35 workers to meet the demand. I get orders for flags from Terai, Hill and Mountainous districts and from all parties, Kailash said.

Not only that of political parties, but Shah has been making national flags whose demands also run high during the protest as groups that separate themselves from political parties also are hitting the road.

With election fever yet to set-in, the business of flag making would further flourish in creating employment in the post-lockdown situation. Small-sized flag cost nearly Nrs. 10 in the Nepali market in the current scenario which would continue to rise with the arrival of the election season.

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General Assignment Reporter

Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012.
LONDON  At the ports and terminals on Britains southeastern coast, a new era began on Friday morning without much fuss. Ferries and trains that carry goods to France from Dover and Folkestone were running on time, and drivers snaked their trucks into the port unencumbered by congestion.

To all appearances, little may have changed on Jan. 1, the countrys first day outside the European Unions single market and customs union. It was, after all, a public holiday and not much business was taking place.

But for the first time in over 25 years, goods traveling between Britain and the European Union will no longer move freely and customs checks will be enforced for goods entering the bloc.

A trade deal, signed into law in Britain in the early hours of Thursday, less than 24 hours before it took effect, means the country and the European Union will trade goods without tariffs. Businesses, however, will still face significant changes that they had been urged to prepare for even during the lockdowns, closures and other social restrictions that the government has introduced to contain a surging coronavirus pandemic.
Australians stranded in the United Kingdom and Europe will once again be able to fly home from London via Singapore, after the country lifted a ban on people transiting through Changi Airport from Britain.

The Singaporean government's decision last week to block anyone travelling from the UK amid an outbreak of a potentially more contagious strain of COVID-19 there cut off one of the few remaining connections between Australia and the UK.

Singapore Airlines is one of the few carriers to maintain regular services into Australia during the pandemic. Credit:AP

But a Singapore Airlines spokesman confirmed on Friday that it had received government approval to carry passengers from Londons Heathrow Airport onwards to Sydney and Auckland via Singapore.

Passengers connecting through to Australia will have to remain in the aircraft on the ground in Singapore and will be segregated from other passengers on board. They must also return a negative result for the COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of their flight.
Indias market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), on Friday fined Reliance Industries (RIL) Rs 25 crore and its chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani Rs 15 crore, in relation to trading Reliance Petroleum shares.

Two more entities, Navi Mumbai SEZ Pvt Ltd and Mumbai SEZ Ltd have been fined Rs 20 crore and Rs 10 crore, respectively.

According to todays order, RIL had entered into a well-planned operation with its Agents to corner the open interest in RILs erstwhile listed subsidiary Reliance Petroleum Ltd (RPL) Futures to earn undue profits from the sale of RPL shares in both cash and futures segments and to dump large number of RPL shares in the cash segment during the last ten minutes of trading on the settlement day, resulting in a fall in the settlement price.

It was also observed that Mukesh D. Ambani, being the Chairman & Managing Director of RIL, was responsible for its day-to-day affairs and thereby, liable for the manipulative trading done by RIL, the order said, adding, it was also observed that Navi Mumbai SEZ Pvt. Ltd. and Mumbai SEZ Ltd. have allegedly aided and abetted RIL by providing funds to one of the agents appointed by RIL, who in turn provided funds to other 11 agents for making the margin payments for the short positions in RPL November Futures, the order stated.

The case pertains to a Sebi order, dated 24 March, 2017, claiming fraudulent trading in the futures and options (F&O) segment of the securities of RPL which was merged with the former in 2009.

In March 2007, RIL had sold 4.1% of its stake in RPL. However, to prevent a plunge in the RPL share price, the equity was apparently sold first in the futures market and later in the spot market.

After finding that RIL violated the Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices (PFUTP), making unlawful gains, Sebi had banned RIL from equity derivatives trading for a year and had also directed the oil-to-telecom conglomerate to disgorge Rs 447 crore, along with an annual interest of 12% since 29 November, 2007, taking the total penalties to nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

Upholding Sebis order, on 5 November 2020, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) in a 2:1 majority order, dismissed RILs plea against Sebi in connection with the sale of RPL shares by RIL in November 2007.

RIL had said it would approach the Supreme Court against the SAT order.

On December 18, 2020, the Supreme Court while admitting RILs plea, asked the company to deposit Rs 250 crore-- 50% of the disgorged amount of Rs 447.27 crore-- as ordered by the Securities Appellate Tribunal in the case.

In its Friday order, Sebi said, In the event of failure to pay the said amount of penalty within 45 days of the receipt of this Order, recovery proceedings may be initiated under Section 28A of the SEBI Act for realization of the said amount of penalty along with interest thereon, inter alia, by attachment and sale of movable and immovable properties.
The Manipur government has requested the NDRF and the Army to help contain the wildfire which broke out in Dzukou Range in neighbouring Nagaland and has spread to Senapati district of the state, officials said on Thursday. The fire broke out in the Dzukou Range in Nagaland on Tuesday and has crossed over to Manipur side, they said.

Manipur Chief Minister Chief Minister N Biren Singh conducted an aerial survey of Dzukou valley in Manipur's Senapati district on Thursday accompanied by Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, Director General of Police L M Khaute in a helicopter to assess the situation, a state government release said. The Dzukou Valley is a valley located at the borders of Nagaland and Manipur.

"Just received a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assess and discuss the situation about the wildfire at Dzuko valley. He has assured all the necessary assistance from the Home Ministry to contain the situation at earliest," Biren Singh later said in a tweet.

Just received a call from Honble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji to assess and discuss the situation about the wildfire at Dzuko valley. Amit Shah Ji has assured all the necessary assistance from the Home Ministry to contain the situation at earliest.@PMOIndia  N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) January 1, 2021

The Manipur government requested the National Disaster Response Force to provide assistance in containing the situation and had also requisitioned the Army and the Assam Rifles to assist firefighters in extinguishing the wildfire, they said. Firefighters, forest department personnel and volunteers from Mao area have reached the area and are trying to douse the blaze, officials added.

Taking serious view of the wildfire at Dzuko valley, having a personal arial survey of the situation, sending more personnel to the spot and seeking help from concerned authorities to stop the spread of the fire and save the deep forest portion of the valley. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/WK9IVunX87  N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) December 31, 2020

Conducting an arial survey to take stock of the wildfire that broke out at Dzuko valley 2-3 days back. The fire has spread quite extensively and caused serious damage on this part of mountain range. The Fire service, Forest official and volunteers are reaching the site. pic.twitter.com/aP78lI130N  N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) December 31, 2020

Meanwhile, personnel of the Forest department, Fire, police and volunteers of SAYO for the third day on Thursday tried to extinguish the wildfire, officials said.

OSD of Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, Johnny Raungmei said IAF choppers were used on Thursday to make an aerial survey of the fire. Personnel of Forest department, Fire and Emergency Services, SDRF, police and volunteers of Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) tried to douse the fire on Thursday.

The OSD said IAF choppers would be used on Friday to fight the fire if necessary. Meanwhile, Nagaland Governor R N Ravi visited Dzukou valley on Wednesday, a Raj Bhavan release issued on Thursday said.

During his visit, Ravi had first-hand assessment of the intensity of the devastating fire in the trekking route to the valley and extent of the destruction, it said. Absence of a functional Standard Operating Protocol to effectively respond to such a disaster has aggravated the situation, the release said.

The Governor lauded the effort of the SAYO volunteers and the policemen who, in an extremely adverse ground condition, are battling the raging fire to contain it from further spreading. Further, the Governor has urged the state government to immediately frame an appropriate SOP including satellite-based real-time early warning system to prevent recurrence of such a disaster.
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The eight new Covid-19 cases in Melbourne could be more worrying than the 173 cases in Sydney, according to a disease expert.

Australian National University epidemiologist Peter Collignon said he had been 'more concerned' about the cases reported in the Victorian capital because he was waiting for confirmation of the source of the outbreak.

Authorities have 'presumed' the outbreak is linked to the New South Wales cluster, which began in Sydney's Northern Beaches, and have yet to confirm the connection through genomic testing.

New South Wales reported on Friday three new Covid-19 cases, all from western Sydney with an unknown source, while Victoria reported zero.

Victoria broke its 61-day Covid-free streak after two women in their 40s and a 70-year-old tested positive on Wednesday.

A further five people tested were revealed on Thursday, bringing the state total up to eight.

The eight new Covid-19 cases in Melbourne could be more worrying than the 173 cases in Sydney, according to a disease expert (pictured, Melbourne residents on New Years Eve)

The original three women had visited the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne, the same time as a Victorian returned from Sydney on December 21.

Health Minister Martin Foley is still waiting on the results of the genomic testing to confirm if the outbreak is linked to New South Wales.

Professor Collignon said until then, the connection between the two states is a 'presumption'.

'In some ways, I'm a little more concerned by the cases in Melbourne than Sydney,' he told news.com.au.

'That it's from NSW is a presumption at the moment and that's why we need genomic testing given there's been restrictions in NSW for quite a while, as well as between Sydney and Victoria and that the virus is not that widespread among people in Sydney.'

Australian National University epidemiologist Peter Collignon said he had been 'more concerned' about the cases reported in the Victorian capital (pictured, Covid-19 testing clinic at Summer Hill, Sydney's inner west)

Professor Collignon is concerned the outbreak in Melbourne could have originated from a different and mysterious source.

'Mystery cases worry me the most,' he said. 'For every one mystery case, there is another person you haven't found yet.'

All eight cases in Melbourne have been linked back to the Thai restaurant, but it has not been officially established how it began.

Victoria has announced it will take a hard border approach to NSW and will ban all residents from entering the state from 11.59pm on January 1.

Anyone who arrives back in Victoria from anywhere in NSW on Friday has to be tested and go into isolation for 14 days.

After that, returning Victorians will go into hotel quarantine.

Professor Collignon slammed the border closure as 'not sustainable'.

The state endured three months in strict Stage Four lockdown, suffering 820 of Australia's 909 Covid deaths.

Authorities have 'presumed' the outbreak is linked to the New South Wales cluster, which began in Sydney's Northern Beaches, and have yet to confirm the connection through genomic testing (pictured, Sydney residents at Circular Quay on New Years Eve)

Health Minister Martin Foley on Thursday urged Victorians not to travel to NSW and for any Victorians in the previous NSW green zone to return immediately (pictured, residents in Melbourne on New Years Eve)

Health Minister Martin Foley on Thursday urged Victorians not to travel to NSW and for any Victorians in the previous NSW green zone to return immediately.

'You do not want to be caught on the wrong side of a rapidly evolving situation,' he said.

Victorians can continue to return from Canberra with a green zone permit, while more details will be announced for border communities and people who are travelling through NSW to return to Victoria.

Acting premier Jacinta Allan apologised for the border closure but said Victorians who are in NSW should not be surprised.

'We have been sending a very strong message for the better part of a week-and-a-half ... advising people to think very carefully about their travel to NSW,' Ms Allan said on Thursday.

'These difficult decisions are about protecting the community, protecting and keeping case numbers low and doing everything we can to lock in the gains we have made over the course of 2020.'

The three women had visited the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne, the same time as a Victorian returned from Sydney on December 21
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to continue her fight for the people on the occasion of her partys 23rd Foundation Day on Friday. Banerjee had formed the TMC on January 1, 1998, after breaking away from the Congress.

As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998. Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time, we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people. Banerjee tweeted.

On TMC Foundation Day, I extend my sincere gratitude to our Maa-Mati-Manush and all our workers who continue to fight with us in making Bengal better and stronger each day, the TMC chief posted. The Trinamool family will carry on with this resolve for times to come! she added.

The TMC had issued instructions to its workers to conduct programmes across the state to mark the occasion. Senior party leaders hoisted the party flag at its state headquarters and hailed workers for their tireless efforts in serving people.

The party seeks to retain power in the face of a dual challenge by the alliance finalised last week between the Congress and Left parties for the upcoming assembly election in West Bengal. The assembly elections are slated to be held in April-May this year.

Meanwhile, the opposition Left Front and the Congress on Thursday demanded that the ruling TMC make arrangements to convene an assembly session to prove its majority amid the growing number of defections from the party to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Bachelor alum Peter Weber revealed Thursday that he and his girlfriend Kelley Flanagan 'have decided to go our separate ways.'

'While our relationship was filled with countless beautiful memories, our relationship simply didn't work out in the end,' the 29-year-old Delta Air Lines pilot - who boasts 2.1M Instagram/TikTok followers - wrote.

'Kelley is someone I will always have a special love for. Someone I have learned more from than she will ever understand. Someone I am so thankful came into my life and someone who I will always wish all of life's greatest blessings on.

It's over: The Bachelor alum Peter Weber revealed Thursday that he and his girlfriend Kelley Flanagan 'have decided to go our separate ways' (pictured December 1)

'These moments in life always hurt, but in my opinion that shows you it was worth the time you spent together. Thank you Kelley.'

Peter famously eliminated the 28-year-old tax attorney during week seven of the 24th season on the ABC dating competition.

Instead, Weber proposed to Hannah Ann Sluss during the March 10th finale, but by the time the After the Final Rose special aired they had ended their engagement.

Weeks later, the Virginia-born, Cali-based reality star was seen canoodling with Kelley at the Riverwalk in Chicago and he publicly confirmed their romance on May 2.

The 29-year-old Delta Air Lines pilot vaguely wrote: 'While our relationship was filled with countless beautiful memories, our relationship simply didn't work out in the end'

'I will always have a special love for her': Peter famously eliminated the 28-year-old tax attorney (L) during week seven of the 24th season on the ABC dating competition

Just kidding! Instead, Weber proposed to Hannah Ann Sluss (L) during the March 10th finale, but by the time the After the Final Rose special aired they had ended their engagement

Hiking couple: Weeks later, the Virginia-born, Cali-based reality star was seen canoodling with Kelley at the Riverwalk in Chicago and he publicly confirmed their romance on May 2 (pictured November 13)

Eagle-eyed fans know that Peter originally met Flanagan by chance while dancing in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village way back on August 18, 2019.

By December 22, Weber Instastoried that he and the Illinois native - who bonded over the movie Top Gun - planned on moving to Manhattan together in early January.

Curiously, Kelley posted nothing about the break-up on her Instagram account, but she did Instastory a happy New Year's Eve selfie.

The Baylor University drop-out is probably still best known for having sex 'four times' with The Bachelorette Hannah Brown inside a windmill on the Greek island of Crete during the 15th season.

'I truly didnt know if I'd see her again': Eagle-eyed fans know that Peter originally met Flanagan (R) by chance while dancing in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village way back on August 18, 2019.

'So grateful Kell was on board with the move!' By December 22, Weber Instastoried that he and the Illinois native planned on moving to Manhattan together in early January

'Happy New Year 2021!' Curiously, Kelley posted nothing about the break-up on her Instagram account, but she did Instastory a selfie

Pilot Pete: The Baylor University drop-out is probably still best known for having sex 'four times' with The Bachelorette Hannah Brown (L) inside a windmill on the Greek island of Crete during the 15th season

It's worth noting that out of the 15 prior seasons of The Bachelor, only three couples are still happily married most notably Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici, who share three children.

The Bachelor #13 Jason Mesnick technically picked Melissa Rycroft before proposing to runner-up Molly Malaney, and the married couple have a seven-year-old daughter Riley.

The Bachelor #22 Arie Luyendyk Jr. technically chose Becca Kufrin before proposing to runner-up Lauren Burnham, and the married couple are now expecting twin siblings for their daughter.

Christmas portrait: It's worth noting that out of the 15 prior seasons of The Bachelor, only three couples are still happily married most notably Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici, who share three children

September 1 family portrait: The Bachelor #13 Jason Mesnick technically picked Melissa Rycroft before proposing to runner-up Molly Malaney (L), and the married couple have a seven-year-old daughter Riley (M)
NEW DELHI : Food delivery platforms witnessed a surge in orders on New Year's Eve , as more people ditched crowded parties and stayed indoors amid covid-led restrictions. Indians picked biryani and pizza as their favourite dishes to bid farewell to a grim year.

Zomato said it hit record gross merchandise value (GMV) on 31 December evening compared to the previous years. Its platform touched the peak of 4,254 orders per minute on New year's Eve, Deepinder Goyal, co-founder and CEO at the food ordering platform said on Friday. Overall, orders were up 60% compared to a year ago.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

Rival Swiggy, too, saw a peak of 5,500 orders per minute. The company said new users on its platform jumped two-fold showing there was a strong intent for customers to order online.

Yesterday, we clocked 60% more gross merchandise value than last New Year's Eve. Thats GMV of 75 crores in one single day, with peak orders per minute (OPM) rate of 4,254," Goyal tweeted on Friday.

It worked with 1,00,000 delivery partners on Thursday night to fulfil orders across India as the country faced muted celebrations on account of covid-related restrictions.

The demand last night was much higher than what we could process. We ran out of delivery partner capacity much before peak time. If we had unconstrained supply, we could have hit 100 crores of GMV yesterday. Need to do better next time," he said.

Local restrictions in several large cities, including night curfews on public gatherings and cap on the number of diners in restaurants and bars prompted more people to stay indoors and order in.

This, said Goyal, was seen in a high number of orders being placed as early as 6 pm. Our order velocity right now is the highest we have seen in our life so far (~2500 orders per minute. Surpassed India vs Pakistan day wala opm. And it's only 6pm! I hope our tech lives through this," he said on Thursday.

At nearly 8 pm on Thursday night, Goyal said the platform's system was seeing an insane amount of strain" as it processed 1.4 lakh live; the platform then said 20,000 biryanis in transit and 16,000 pizzas.

Rival Swiggy too reported numbers well beyond its own internal targets.

The company had in a previous statement to the media said it expected a 50% jump in orders on New Year's Eve.

For the restaurant industry, the days from Christmas to 1 January are significant in terms of business done.

Traffic increased by 100% during dinner time (on 31st evening), with tier 2,3 cities like Jaipur, Vizag etc increasing by almost 200%. Tier 3 and 4 cities such as Berhampur, Rourkela, Karimnagar saw a 150 to 200% growth, higher than what we have observed in the metros," said a Swiggy spokesperson said.

Besides a jump in new user base on its platform, Swiggy saw a significant participation from restaurant partners.

Cloud kitchen company Rebel Foods that has over 300 cloud kitchens across India, UAE, South East Asia and the United Kingdom and operates food brands Faasos, Behrouz Biryani, Mandarin Oak, Oven Story, Sweet Truth in India too said tier 2 and tier three cities reported a massive surge in orders.

This year due to night curfew implementation, we did more business than 31st December last year, supported by larger bucket size orders with higher average order value," Raghav Joshi, co-founder and CEO India Business Unit, Rebel Foods.

Biryani, pizzas and desserts each grew massively in our portfolio, said Joshi. Consumers, he said, ordered more biryani for lunch on 31st, the day ended with pizzas catching up and taking lead". Its brands Ovenstory, and Behrouz Biryani saw the highest number of orders followed by Sweet Truth. Mumbai was biggest city for us followed by NCR region and then Bengaluru and Pune, "but a huge change from last year was the 40% higher sales generated by tier 2/3 cities compared to last year," he said.

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Suzuki Motor Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. are exploring ways to make India a key global hub for sourcing components while also sharply increasing vehicle exports from the country, said two people familiar with the plans.

The initiatives are being pushed partly by the turbulence caused to automotive supply chains worldwide by covid-19 that has forced companies to realign their operations and reduce reliance on China.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

The Indian governments incentive scheme to boost local manufacturing is also influencing the decisions.

Japans Suzuki is weighing options to make India the sole production hub for the next-generation model of its popular hatchback Swift by discontinuing production in Japan and other locations, said one of the two people cited above.

The parent of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd will adopt a similar strategy with its upcoming sport-utility vehicle, Jimny, though volumes for the Swift will be substantially higher.

Hyundai plans to develop India as one of its global hubs for sourcing parts and vehicles. This is part of the South Korean automakers strategy to derisk its operations by gradually reducing its reliance on China for parts, the second person said.

As part of the strategy, Hyundai plans to source more parts from India for its current or new factories in the Asean region; for instance, its upcoming plant in Indonesia. The company also plans to enhance the procurement of parts for its factories in South America and Eastern Europe from India, the person said.

The first person cited above said that in the post-covid era, global carmakers will be looking at multiple sourcing hubs as opposed to just depending on one country, and Hyundais decision to develop India as one of its hubs in Asia is reflective of this strategy.

View Full Image Sarvesh Kumar Sharma/Mint





The Indian governments intent to promote exports and manufacturing from India in the next decade has enthused the likes of Suzuki, Hyundai and others. The covid pandemic has also shown the need to have multiple sources. If Suzuki finally decides to make India the sole hub for production (of Swift), then exports of Maruti is expected to benefit immensely. Also, given its production capacity in India, financially it will make sense as well," the person said.

Ever since the outbreak of covid-19, the Indian government has been actively pursuing companies to invest in the country as an alternative to China. The government announced in November the production linked incentive scheme of 3 trillion to encourage local manufacturing. The automotive sector, comprising vehicle makers and component suppliers, will receive subsidies worth 57,000 crorethe biggest chunk.

Hyundai has ranked as Indias top car exporter for more than two decades. Its sister company, Kia Motors, has also chalked up aggressive plans to tap India as a car export hub in the coming years.

Suzuki, meanwhile, plans to export more cars from India to other emerging markets in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corp. with whom it has a partnership for the Indian market since 2017.

The second person cited above said Suzuki may also make India the sole hub for some of its other products as well after the Jimny and the new Swift, and that the company is planning to utilize the Indian governments incentives in the coming years to enhance exports.

For Hyundai, India will play a bigger role when it comes to supply of parts to destinations in South America and Eastern Europe like Brazil, Slovakia and others. India is already one of the regional headquarters and, post-covid, it will be a regional hub for procurement of parts for other countries," the person added.

Queries emailed to Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor India on Monday remained unanswered.

Globally, the automotive industry is on the verge of a massive transformation, and we may see regionalization outscoring globalization in the next decade for car manufacturers and suppliers. Moreover, with the thrust on localization in India and with policies like AatmaNirbhar Bharat, India will have a key role to play in Asia," said Puneet Gupta, director, IHS Markit.

We may see India becoming a hub for more and more models and more and more brands in the coming years. We think the production-linked scheme by the Modi government will kick off and usher in a new era of exports of cars and automotive parts from India to the world," Gupta added.

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In the picture: In 2020, above average temperatures (in red) occurred in six months, and above average precipitation (in green) was noted in nine months. Overall, it was a little warmer and a lot wetter than normal.

Looking statewide, this was the third year in a row with precipitation more than ten inches above average. It was the 11th wettest year dating back to 1895. At least four tropical systems contributed to the soggy scenario (Cristobal in June, Laura in August, Beta in September, and Delta in October). The year began with very mild and wet conditions from January through March. In six of seven months to follow. temperatures were below average and precipitation was above average. The reset button was hit in November, with precipitation shutting off (very dry), and temperatures warming up (very mild). Dryness continued into December, but the year ended as it started with a lot of rain in the last couple of days.
San Antonio police have arrested 33-year-old Kevin Lee Perez in connection with a man found shot to death following a car crash on the Northwest Side on Tuesday night.

Police responded to the accident at the Mossrock and Robin Hill intersection around 8 p.m. When they arrived, they found a 35-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his upper body and head injuries from hitting the windshield from the crash.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and has not been identified by police.

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Initially, police said they had little to go on because there were no reports of gun shots, disturbances or a road rage incident reported in the area at the time. Police also said they did not have witnesses.

Around the same time of the incident, police were called to a burglary in progress about 4 1/2 miles away in the 7700 block of Oakdell Way. Initially, police believed the man found dead had attempted to break into the home prior to the shooting and was shot by Perez while he fled.

Police said they now believe Perez was arguing with his girlfriend and fired off gun shots indiscriminately, hitting the victim as he drove by.

Perez said he had no intention of hitting the victim, according to police.

Perez was charged with murder and felon in possession of a firearm. His bail was set $270,000.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Finance Minister Rod Phillips

Ontario's finance minister has resigned from his cabinet position after going on a Caribbean vacation during the pandemic.

Premier Doug Ford says he has accepted Rod Phillips's resignation as minister.

Phillips returned to Ontario this morning after spending more than two weeks in St. Barts despite provincial guidelines urging people to avoid non-essential travel.

Ford says he has asked Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy to assume the role of minister of finance and deliver the government's 2021 budget.
BarcelonaThe environmental prosecutor of Tarragona asks for 1 year and 10 months in prison for a man accused of making a graffiti on the Roman aqueduct of Les Ferreres, in the municipality of Tarragona. According to the public accusation, on 29th September 2018 Cosmin O.R. wrote, with red paint, the letters "C X L 29-09-2018", flanked by two hearts and with four points, on one of the restored and newly made ashlars on the top of the aqueduct, known as the Pont del Diable.
Bengaluru, Jan 1 : Karnataka health minister K. Sudhakar on Friday said the home department was yet to track 75 people who returned to the state from England since November 25.

The minister told reporters that of the 75 people 70 are within the limits of Bengaluru civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and five are from other districts.

"The home department had assured me that all 75 passengers will be tracked by Friday night as they are already in touch with the immigration department to cull data from them. Among 75 patients many are from Karnataka and only a few are foreigners," he said.

In response to a question, the minister claimed that most of these passengers had not furnished their addresses and phone numbers properly, hence, the state government is finding it difficult to track them.

"The home department is already in touch with the immigration department to gather every bit of information about these missing passengers," he said.

According to him, a total of 5068 passengers have returned to the state from England since November 25 to December 31 on Air India and British Airways flights.

"Of these 5068 passengers, 4238 passengers landed in Bengaluru from December 9 to December 31 and among them 810 are from other states. Karnataka health and home departments have taken steps to inform their counterparts in those states," he informed.

The minister added that about 38 people including five who came in contact as primary or secondary contacts with the Covid positive patients have been admitted to government hospitals.

"Their swabs have been sent to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (Nimhans) for carrying out genome sequencing test. Among these 38 patients, only seven (three are from Bengaluru and four are from Shivamogga) have tested positive for the mutant virus," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Xi Jinping

When the Chinese government offered free cows to farmers in Jieyuan, villagers in the remote mountain community were skeptical. They worried officials would ask them to return the cattle later, along with any calves they managed to raise.

But the farmers kept the cows, and the money they brought. Others received small flocks of sheep. Government workers also paved a road into the town, built new houses for the villages poorest residents and repurposed an old school as a community center.

Jia Huanwen, a 58-year-old farmer in the village in Gansu province, was given a large cow three years ago that produced two healthy calves. He sold the cow in April for $2,900, as much as he earns in two years growing potatoes, wheat and corn on the terraced, yellow clay hillsides nearby. Now he buys vegetables regularly for his familys table and medicine for an arthritic knee.

It was the best cow Ive ever had, Jia said.

The village of Jieyuan is one of many successes of President Xi Jinpings ambitious pledge to eradicate abject rural poverty by the end of 2020. In just five years, China says it has lifted from extreme poverty over 50 million farmers left behind by breakneck economic growth in cities.

But the village, one of six in Gansu visited by The New York Times without government oversight, is also a testament to the considerable cost of the ruling Communist Partys approach to poverty alleviation. That approach has relied on massive, possibly unsustainable subsidies to create jobs and build better housing.

Local cadres fanned out to identify impoverished households  defined as living on less than $1.70 a day. They handed out loans, grants and even farm animals to poor villagers. Officials visited residents weekly to check on their progress.

Were pretty sure Chinas eradication of absolute poverty in rural areas has been successful  given the resources mobilized, we are less sure it is sustainable or cost effective, said Martin Raiser, the World Bank country director for China.

Beijing poured almost $700 billion in loans and grants into poverty alleviation over the past five years  about 1 percent of each years economic output. That excludes large donations by state-owned enterprises like State Grid, a power transmission giant, which put $120 billion into rural electricity upgrades and assigned more than 7,000 employees to work on poverty alleviation projects.

The campaign took on new urgency this year as the country faced devastation from the coronavirus pandemic and severe flooding. One by one, provinces announced they had met their goals. In early December, Xi declared that China had achieved a significant victory that impresses the world.

But Xi acknowledged further efforts were needed to share wealth more widely. A migrant worker in a coastal factory city can earn as much in a month as a Gansu farmer earns in a year.

Xi also called for officials to make sure that newly created jobs and aid for the poor did not fade away in the coming years.

Gansu, Chinas poorest province, declared in late November that it had lifted its last counties out of poverty. Just a decade ago, poverty in the province was widespread.

Hu Jintao, Chinas leader before Xi, visited people living in simple homes with few furnishings. Villagers ate so many potatoes that local officials were embarrassed when a young girl initially refused to eat yet another one with Hu in front of television cameras because she was tired of them, according to a cable disclosed by WikiLeaks.

Though many villages are still reachable only by single-lane roads, they are lined with streetlights powered by solar panels. New industrial-scale pig farms, plant nurseries and small factories have sprung up, creating jobs. Workers are building new houses for farmers.

Three years ago, Zhang Jinlu woke in terror when the rain-weakened mud brick walls of his home gave way. Half the roof timbers came crashing down with slabs of dirt, narrowly missing him and his mother.

Officials in Youfang village built a spacious new concrete house for them, complete with new furniture. Zhang, 69, now receives a monthly stipend of $82 through the poverty program. His original house was rebuilt for him as a storage shed.

This house used to be dilapidated, and it leaked when it rained, Zhang said.

The government helps private factories buy equipment and pay salaries if they hire workers deemed impoverished.

At Tanyue Tongwei Clothing & Accessories Co. in southeastern Gansu, about 170 workers, mostly women, sewed school uniforms, T-shirts, down jackets and face masks. Workers said that several dozen employees received extra payments from the poverty alleviation program in addition to their salaries.

Lu Yaming, the companys legal representative, said Tanyue receives at least $26,000 a year in subsidies from poverty alleviation programs  out of which $500 a year was paid to each of the 17 villagers deemed impoverished.

But the viability of these factories without ongoing aid is far from clear. Until the subsidies arrived, the factory frequently had trouble paying wages on time, Lu said.

Inevitable questions swirl over whether some families have used personal ties to local officials to qualify for grants. Corruption investigators punished 99,000 people nationwide in connection with poverty relief efforts last year, according to official statistics. At local eateries in communities like Mayingzhen, where a heavily seasoned platter of fried donkey meat costs $7, the talk is all about who received what, and whether they really should have qualified.

While the poverty alleviation program has helped millions of poor people, critics point to the campaigns rigid definitions. The program assists people classified as extremely poor at some point from 2014 to 2016, without adding others who may have fallen on hard times since then. It also does very little to help poor people in big cities where wages are higher but workers must pay far more for food and rent.

According to the governments complicated criteria for determining eligibility for aid, anyone who owned a car, had more than $4,600 in assets or had a new or recently rebuilt house was excluded. People hovering just above the governments poverty line continue to struggle to make ends meet, but are often denied help with housing or other benefits.

Zhang Sumei, a 53-year-old farmer, earns $1,500 a year growing and selling potatoes and had to use her savings to build her home in concrete. She says that she should have qualified for aid for the extremely poor. Farming Gansus notoriously infertile soil is hard and difficult.

In this society, poor families are designated by cadres, and we have nothing. she said bitterly.

The partys campaign-style approach also fails to tackle deep-seated problems that disproportionately hurt the poor, including the cost of health care and other gaping holes in Chinas emerging social safety net. Villages provide limited health insurance  only 17 percent of the cost of Jias arthritis medicine is covered, for example. Hefty medical bills can ruin families.

Yang Xiaoling, a 48-year-old worker who works at another government-subsidized factory in Gansu, wept uncontrollably as she described the crippling debt she faced after paying medical fees for her husband, who suffered kidney failure.

Three years ago, she borrowed $7,700 at zero interest from a bank affiliated with the poverty alleviation program and was supposed to invest the money in buying livestock. But instead she borrowed more money from relatives and then spent all the money on a kidney transplant and medicine for her husband.

Now the entire loan is due and she has no money to repay it. Follow-up medical treatments for her husband consume her entire salary. So the couple and their three children and her husbands invalid parents subsist on monthly government poverty assistance payments of less than $50 per person.

I dont have the ability to pay it back. I cant help it, Yang sobbed. I have already borrowed a lot of money, and now no one lends me money.

Despite the challenges, the poverty relief program may have a long-term political benefit that helps to ensure some of it survives. Gratitude for the program seems to be reinforcing the political power of the party in rural areas.

In Youfang, Zhang was quick to praise not just the poverty program but also Xi, comparing him to Mao.

It is good for the country to have Xi Jinping, he said, and the national policy is good.

By Keith Bradsher

c.2020 The New York Times Company
Free conference scheduled

Marywood University is holding a free, virtual conference for educators from Northeast Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

The Supporting Next-Generation Andragogy and Pedagogy (SNAP) Virtual Symposium from the universitys Educational Technology Services with support from the Center for Transformational Teaching and Learning, the Continuing Education department, and the education department, aims to support educators across NEPA and beyond.

Presenters for the sessions include: Adam Balcziunas, electronic resources and systems librarian at Kings College; Rebecca Doglas, fifth-year architecture student at Marywood; Lauren Esposito, assistant professor of English at Marywood; Sue Jenkins, associate professor of art at Marywood; Kate OConnor, associate professor of architecture at Marywood; Michelle Pannone, assistant professor of architecture at Marywood; Amanda Avery, associate professor of library services at Marywood; Kimberly Hagan, lecturer in Marywoods School of Architecture; Lindsay Morton, assistant professor in the psychology/counseling department; Isabella Parker, Marywood School of Architecture; and Katherine Fisne, senior associate director in the Educational Technology department at Marywood.

During the virtual symposium, educators will learn skills to infuse technology into courses across multiple platforms, including in-person, online, hybrid and hyflex.

As a result of the pandemic, Marywood pivoted from in-person, on-campus classes to its HyBridge Education Model, an online method that emphasizes student-centered learning and active learning activities. The model was successful and Marywood saw there was an opportunity for other NEPA educators to benefit from the program implementation.

The symposium features sessions, including Engaging Virtual Techniques, Digital Models, Putting the ARC in Architecture, Be an Education McGyver, Embedding the Library in Your Virtual Classroom, Look, Collaborate, and Listen, ImprovING Engagement and New Tricks for All Dogs.

For more details or to register for the inaugural symposium on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., visit www.sites.google.com/maryu.marywood.edu/ets/snap, or contact Katherine Fisne at fisne@marywood.edu.
NEW DELHI : Ace mountaineer Colonel Narendra 'Bull' Kumar, 87, who helped India secure the Siachen Glacier, passed away on Thursday at the Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi due to age-related illness.

Col Kumar, who was awarded the Kirti Chakra, Padma Shri, Arjun award and the McGregor medal, carried out multiple expeditions in the Siachen glacier area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Based mainly on his reconnaissance reports, the Indian Army went ahead with the mission to occupy the Siachen heights under the Operation Meghdoot.

One of the initial inputs about the Pakistani plans to annexe the Siachen glacier also came to be known by the Army through the iconic mountaineer who was commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment in 1953.

"He is known to be the Siachen saviour. It was he who first detected the cartographic aggression of Pakistan in the Siachen glacier area. Rest is history," said Lt Gen Sanjay Kulkarni (Retd). Kulkarni was also one of the first Indian Army soldiers as a Captain to have climbed on top of the glacier along with his platoon.

He was the first Indian to climb Mount Nanda Devi. He climbed Mount Everest in 1965, Mount Blanc( highest peak in the Alps), and later Mount Kangchenchanga.

He climbed all these peaks despite losing four toes due to frostbite in earlier expeditions. In 1981, as member of the Antarctica Task Force he played a stellar role.

He earned the nickname 'Bull' for relentlessly charging into everything he did.

At his funeral in Brar Square in Delhi Cantonment, his contemporaries and juniors said he was a very brave officer and was awarded the United Services Institution's McGreogor Medal which put him in the illustrious list of explorers and surveyors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to Colonel Narendra 'Bull' Kumar, lauded as "soldier mountaineer", saying his special bond with the mountains will be remembered.

"An irreparable loss! Colonel Narendra 'Bull' Kumar (Retired) served the nation with exceptional courage and diligence. His special bond with the mountains will be remembered. Condolences to his family and well wishers. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.

He was responding to the Indian Army's tweet about his demise.

"The Soldier Mountaineer. Indian Army pays homage to Col Narendra 'Bull' Kumar  The Soldier Mountaineer who will continue to inspire generations. Colonel Narendra 'Bull' Kumar passed away today leaving behind a saga of utmost dedication, courage and bravery," it said.

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Victoria has introduced a "traffic light" system that divides the nation into green, orange and red zones. Incoming travellers to the state are stopped, fined or waved through, depending on where they have recently been and whether they have the required permit.

The aim is to bring some certainty to the ad hoc and fast-changing system that has confused many. It's just one of the ways Australian states and territories are handling the COVID-19 crisis. Here is the current state of play nationally:

Authorities wait for the arrival of a Brisbane flight at Melbourne Airport on Saturday. Credit:Ashleigh McMillan

ACT

Those from the Sydney suburb of Cumberland remain in a hotspot which requires travellers from the area to have a valid exemption (details here) to entre the ACT or they are liable for an $8000 fine. People from other parts of NSW and everywhere else in the country are allowed in.
The U.S. natural gas industry seems to have a brighter future than its oil sister under a Biden administration, even though the president-elect has made a pledge to push an ambitious emissions-cutting agenda during his term, aiming for a net zero electricity sector by 2035 and net zero economy by 2050. According to industry sources, the sharp rise in investor appetite for environmental, social and governance investments will not affect the natural gas space too much, with opportunities opening up for a consolidation of the sector, Mergermarket reported for Forbes this week.

A consolidation is already underway in the oil sector, prompted by the latest news from the pandemic front, with vaccines widely seen as a solution to the demand loss problem that has made some smaller players in the field attractive for buyers.

While oil is falling out of favor fast with the new breed of environmentally conscious investors, natural gas will simply be indispensable for the observable future to provide the reliability of electricity supply that solar and wind simply cannot offer at this point.

Industry advisers point to Californias blackouts as a case in point here: the state that leads in renewable power also leads in grid unreliability. While some state administration officials have defended the shift to renewables saying it has nothing to do with the increased risk of blackouts, others have blamed the rush to go renewable for the blackouts.

Reliability of power supply is what many experts argue will ensure the long-term future of natural gas even in a world that is setting increasingly ambitious climate change fighting goals for itself. Solar and wind only produce power intermittently and they need energy storage to become as reliable as fossil fuels. However, storage technology needs to advance a lot from current levels, which can only provide storage for a couple of hours, in case of a sudden outage, for example.

Gas, on the other hand, is not intermittent and the United States has abundant supplies of it, especially in the shale plays. Thanks to forecasts for a rebound in demand for natural gas, especially overseas, producers have been ramping up their output, while still keeping a cap on oil production.

Related: 8 New Energy Technologies That Will Blow Your Mind Demand has remained pretty robust. Supply has been starved for capital, the chief executive of energy investment firm Banpu Kalnin Ventures told Reuters last month. The Thailand-listed company recently acquired the natural gas assets of Devon Energy.

The positive sentiment on natural gas goes beyond the energy industry, too. A recent Deloitte survey revealed that most executives believed natural gas had an essential role to play in the worlds energy transition, Natural Gas Intelligence reported, noting the survey also suggested this role will be reduced or evolving as gas is pitted against renewables.

Essential it may well be but for now, natural gas is trapped between the power industrys decarbonization strategy of focusing on low-carbon fuels and the broader impetus to replace gas with renewables for electricity generation, Deloitte noted in the survey.

Other challenges include the ongoing problem of fugitive methane emissions associated with gas, as well as the growing electrification of the broader energy system.

Related: The Worst Performing Energy Stocks Of 2020

The methane issue has been garnering growing attention from various stakeholders and the energy industry has been doing a lot more to reduce emissions. In fact, this year U.S. oil producers managed to capture a record amount of associated gas.

The electrification issue, on the other hand, may well turn into an opportunity for more natural gas demand if renewables inherent disadvantages prevent them from meeting this additional demand for electricity.

Emission-cutting targets are all well and good until the actual fact that the worlds energy demand is growing sinks in. Solar and wind cannot meet this growing demand on their own for the abovementioned intermittency reason as well as because even in the Sahara, the sun does not shine 24/7 and even in the North Sea there may be windless days. Until these problems are solved, the world will continue to need fossil fuels and natural gas is the best placed among them to fit in with the transition to a less fossil-fuel intense energy sector.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Nairobi  Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga sent messages of hope on Friday as the country crossed over to a new year bidding goodbye to 2020, a year which was characterized by an economic slowdown and a health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his new year message, DP Ruto urged Kenyans to remain hopeful saying it's the time to shed old ways, adjust plans, align priorities, and embrace new possibilities in making lives better.

"In 2020, our vision has been trained to seek opportunity in the chaos, to see light in the dark. It is my hope and prayer that, with the lessons we have learnt and our now sharpened capabilities, the worst is well behind us. Let us therefore look forward to a year of rebuilding and restoration; a year when we seize more chances and make up for everything we lost," he said.

"With courage, faith, hope and love, let us enter the New Year, marching boldly towards a blessed destiny, in the name of Almighty God our creator and protector," he further stated.

Raila Odinga, on his part, lauded Kenyans for remaining strong throughout the tough year even as he urged everyone to pray and work harder for the well-being and prosperity of the country.

"2020 was difficult on many fronts. We thank the Almighty for standing with us and salute Kenyans for the resilience. There is hope and much to be done as we begin 2021. Let's continue praying and working for the well-being and prosperity of our country. Happy New Year Kenyans," Odinga said.

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka echoed the sentiments further urging the government to procure affordable and effective vaccines and ensure that all Kenyans should have been vaccinated to subdue the coronavirus pandemic.

Kalonzo called upon Kenyans to continue embracing and nurturing the spirit of nationhood by putting aside political differences and ideologies in order to achieve a prosperous and peaceful country.

"We should all strive to ensure that no imaginary dichotomies separate us from achieving our socio economic development. To achieve these, we need peace and a harmonious coexistence. Kenyans are known world over for their love, warmth, tolerance, and optimism," he appealed.

Kalonzo also rallied support for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitution review process which he said will will bring about positive changes in the way the political affairs of this nation are run..

"We should all bear in mind that Kenya comes first before individual interests. We should all strive to foster harmony and unity among ourselves," he added.
The contraction in the number of Made in China TV sets reaching the country stood at 51.9 percent in August, 88.5 percent in September, and 99.4 percent in October.

Anti-China sentiment was high following the border tensions early last summer and a call went out across the country to boycott China-made products. The Union government, too, acted to restrict imports of several items such as colour televisions, air-conditioners and tyres, purportedly to promote domestic production of these items, and announced production-linked incentive schemes for select industries to achieve that goal.

True enough, imports from China contracted, but not as much as some sections such as nationalist trade lobbies desired. Imports had also been hit by the country-wide lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to demand contraction. A bar on the opening of stores selling non-essentials and a restriction on delivery of non-essentials by e-commerce platforms also impacted demand for imported consumer goods, of which China is the largest source.

Yet, imports from China contracted a relatively lower 17.2 percent compared with the 32.6 percent contraction in the countrys import bill during the April-November 2020 period, over the year-ago period, according to data by the department of commerce. It can be argued that the sharper contraction in the nations total import bill was due to a decline in oil and gold imports, but the shrinkage was still higher, at 25.6 percent, when these commodities were excluded.

That China is the only or the dominant supplier for many commodities, machinery, electronics, and consumer products, helped that nations exports to India despite the border hostilities. Peoples need to DIY (do it yourself) also helped drive demand for many goods, including items for personal grooming. That said, policy measures and anti-China sentiment did hurt some Chinese exports to India, among them televisions.

TVs shut out

The restrictions on television imports imposed at the end of July had the desired effect. Imports collapsed as the country headed into the festive season  the contraction in the number of Made in China TV sets reaching the country stood at 51.9 percent in August, 88.5 percent in September, and 99.4 percent in October.

Disaggregated data based on the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) classification for November is yet to be uploaded by the Department of Commerce. Overall, the number of television sets imported from China contracted 61.6 percent in the April-October period from the corresponding year-ago period, with the value of imports declining by 57.3 percent.

However, it was Vietnam that took a harder hit than China due to the ban, with the number of TV sets imported from that nation contracting 74.9 percent in April-October from the year-ago period, as it is a major supplier of LCD TVs. India imported 1.032 million TV sets in April-October 2020, down 69.9 percent from 3.429 million in the same period a year earlier.

WFH boost for PCs

In contrast to televisions, imports of personal computers, laptops, and tablets from China did relatively well, helped by a surge in demand for upgraded machines, as people continued to work from home and students attended classes online. September and October were good months for PC and laptop imports from China, which rose 27.8 percent and 72.2 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.

A late surge notwithstanding, imports from China contracted 14.9 percent in April-October from a year earlier. This was possibly due to diversion through Hong Kong to avoid regulatory and policy obstacles that Chinese goods faced, something that government officials too suspected. Imports of PCs and laptops from Hong Kong shot up 153.5 percent during the period, and the rise was especially large during the months when imports from China contracted.

As a result, the share of Hong Kong in Indias imports of PCs and laptops soared to 23.4 percent from 9.8 percent, while that of China declined to 65.1 percent from 80.8 percent in the period under review. The combined share of China and Hong Kong saw only a minor change during this period, declining to 88.5 percent from 90.6 percent.

It was also seen that while the volume of imports of computers from China and Hong Kong climbed only 3.3 percent, the value of these imports was up 24.7 percent, an indicator that superior configurations were in demand for work from home and online classes.

After the border conflict with China, traders in India made belligerent calls to boycott Chinese goods. Chinese imports at ports faced delays. The Indian government banned a raft of Chinese apps, including the popular TikTok.

China is Indias largest trading partner, with the trade deficit skewed in Beijings favour. China and India had trade worth $52.46 billion in the April-November period. India imported goods worth $38.82 billion and exported $13.64 billion in this period, according to the department of commerce.

Premium on looking groomed

But the anti-China backlash did little to dent the enthusiasm of Indian buyers for some Chinese goods.

The volume of imports of small-value gadgets such as shavers, hair clippers and hair-removing appliances saw a big spurt during the April-October period, as services of salons and beauty parlours were restricted and many people avoided visiting them when they opened for business for fear of contracting Covid-19.

Thus the need for DIY grooming gadgets, necessitated by the need to look good on video calls, rose, and that provided another small boost for Chinese imports. Over 96 percent of electric shavers, 90 percent of hair-removing appliances and 75 percent of hair clippers are sourced from China. The April-October period saw demand for China-made shavers leap 94.1 percent, for hair clippers soar 81.8 percent and hair-removing appliances or epilators rise 23.3 percent from a year ago. Indonesia was the source for about 20 percent of hair clippers, which were more premium compared to those from China.

Masterchef, anyone?

Domestic appliances was another category that provided support for the import of Chinese goods. As people stayed at home without the option of going to restaurants, images and videos shared on social media helped many discover their cooking and baking talents. And that led to investment in gadgets and appliances needed to automate various tasks or to obtain better results.

Thus, from July onwards a strong demand emerged for various electro-mechanical domestic appliances, including whiskers, blenders and choppers. About 90 percent of these imports were sourced from China. Demand for ovens, grillers, roasters and cooking plates also picked up as the festive season began. Imports of these appliances staged a smart recovery, perhaps helped by sales organised by online platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. Over 99 percent of these appliances were sourced from China.

That was not all. With domestic help kept away due to the pandemic, many better-off households started investing in appliances such as dishwashing machines or upgraded their washing machines. China was a winner in the dishwasher segment too, but second to Turkey, where many European appliance makers have their factories. Imports of dishwashers from China jumped beginning July and look set to narrow the gap with Turkey.

With the economic recovery gathering pace, imports will pick up too. As China is a large source of imports for India, imports are bound to amplify again.
Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi says she continues to receive complaints from distressed women even a year after the J&K State Women Commission was abolished by the governnment

It has been around 16 months since the Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women was abolished following the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories, yet the last chairperson of the commission, Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi, continues to receive complaints through emails, calls, and messages from distressed women.

With the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, more than 150 laws, including the one that governed the functioning of the State Commission for Women and Child Rights, were repealed. More than a year has passed, however, no step has been taken to establish a women's commission in the Union Territory.

Since there is no platform for the women in Jammu and Kashmir to register their complaints, Masoodi, a senior lawyer at the Supreme Court, has been receiving complaints from victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment.

In a detailed interview with Bisma Bhat, Masoodi talks about the rise in incidents of violence against women and the importance of a women's commission in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Edited excerpts of the interview are as follow:

It has been over a year since the Jammu and Kashmir State Womens Commission was dissolved. Being the last chairperson of the then womens commission, do you still receive complaints from victims?

Unfortunately, the Jammu and Kashmir State Womens Commission was dissolved without putting a new mechanism in place for over a year now. Nevertheless, I have been receiving complaints from victims belonging to different areas in Jammu and Kashmir.

What kind of complaints do you frequently receive from women?

The complaints vary in nature. I not only received complaints against domestic violence, but also against sexual harassment at workplace, child abuse, gender-based discrimination, and medical negligence.

On average how many calls do you receive per month?

Ever since the closure of the J&K Women's Commission, on an average, every month my office has been receiving around 5-10 complaints through calls, email, personal messages and social media.

Did you help these women in distress, and how?

I took up the matter with relevant authorities wherever it was warranted. I also extended my support to the victims through counselling. By counselling I mean, the provision of legal/professional assistance and guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems caused due to the act of violence, wherever we deemed it necessary.

What can you tell us about victims of gender-based and sexual violence in Jammu and Kashmir? Do they belong to a particular socio-economic group?



It has been observed that women and girls from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, rural or far off areas are more vulnerable and are at greater risk of gender-based violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Comparing the rape cases that have happened in the past few years with the recent cases of rape, we can conclude that women and girls who belong to the marginalised sections of the society or those who live in areas that are not easily accessible are more prone to gender-based and sexual violence.

Kashmir was considered a safe place for women, but it has been seeing an increase in crimes against women. There have been reports of gang-rape cases as well. What could be the main reasons for this?

A recent report submitted by the government in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir revealed that 16 cases of rape, 64 cases of molestation and one case of eve-teasing were reported in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir during the lockdown period (April to September). These are the cases that got reported, and I am sure the number is way more than what has been reported. Jammu and Kashmir is predominantly a hilly area wherein it's difficult for women to reach out to law and order agencies to report such crimes in normal circumstances, needless to say, things apparently turned much difficult for the victims during the lockdown.

There has also been an unprecedented upsurge in gangrapes and rapes of minor girls by relatives and neighbours that sometimes result in tragic deaths. There have also been cases wherein women have been raped by their close relatives or an acquaintance. By and large, the reasons for the increase in such cases are no different from those reported in other states. Lack of deterrence, low conviction, long drawn out legal proceedings, financial constraints, societal pressure and unwillingness to report are some of the main reasons because of which cases of sexual violence continue to happen unabashedly.

You mentioned prolonged judicial process as one of the factors for the increase in cases of violence against women. Why does it take years to announce a decision in such cases?

There is a famous legal saying: Justice delayed is justice denied. Definitely, the delay in dispensation of justice in cases of rape and sexual offences, which ultimately results in low conviction rate, is one of the most crucial factors behind the spiralling of such cases. Because of certain loopholes in the criminal justice system, the accused is acquitted at the end of the day thereby making a mockery and frustrating the purpose of the entire criminal justice system.

Shortages of forensic labs, fast-track courts, well-trained investigators, lackadaisical approach by the prosecution, and delay in filing of charge-sheet, improper handling of forensic evidence, unwanted adjournments are some of the reasons that cause such delay.

Due to the delay, important evidence gets spoilt or is tempered with and often the witnesses either disappear or turn hostile. At times, the victims and their families run out of resources, hence the acquittal of the accused.

I strongly advocate the establishment of fast track courts to try such cases so the cases could reach their logical conclusion at the earliest and the victim may not have to suffer any further trauma due to a delay in the trial.

How important was the State Womens Commission for the safety of women and child rights in Jammu and Kashmir?

The Jammu and Kashmir State Commission For Protection of Women and Child Rights (JKSCPWCR) was a masterpiece of legislation that conjointly provided for the protection of women and child rights. Some of the important powers of the commission included, but not limiting to, investigation of matters relating to constitutional and legal safeguards for women and children, taking up cases of violations of rights of women and children, to inspect homes, jails, hospitals and other places where women and children are lodged or kept or imprisoned.

The greatest potential for intervention, personally my favourite, was the power to look into complaints and take suo-motu cognisance of violation of rights. The JKSCPWCR Act provided for all the powers of a civil court including that to summon a person from any part of Jammu and Kashmir, to require the production of documents, require evidence on affidavits, access to public records and the power of issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents.

The dynamism of the office of the chairperson of the commission coupled with the aforesaid powers and through its members and civil society organisations can reach out to people at the grassroots to ensure the implementation of welfare laws in letter and spirit.

Do you think law enforcing agencies should play a more effective role in stopping these crimes?

Strict implementation of laws by law enforcement agencies is an extremely crucial factor in clamping down on such ignoble crimes. The role of law-enforcement agencies begins the moment a crime is reported till the criminal is prosecuted and punished. Any soft or sluggish approach or negligence in terms of conducting an investigation, collecting evidence or recording statements of credible witnesses, delay in filing the charge-sheet can lead to an unfortunate acquittal of the culprit and denial of justice to victims.

Moreover, the whole purpose of laws against sexual violence is frustrated if justice is not delivered in time. The judiciary has the primary responsibility of enforcing fundamental rights through constitutional remedies. Therefore, the trial in such cases should be run and concluded on a fast-track basis so that victims of sexual violence are not denied justice due to unwanted and unwarranted delays.

What should governments do to stop crimes against women?

I personally feel that crime against women and children could be curtailed to a considerable extent if we chart out a strategy whereby we focus equally on crime prevention and post-crime remedies.

There cannot be a bullet shot approach in stopping such crimes as the root of such crimes lie in the mindset which is built over years. Hence, besides creating stringent provisions of law, there must be a comprehensive strategy to infuse and inculcate virtues of morality in young boys by involving them in various kinds of workshops and orientation programmes wherein importance and role of girls and women in different capacities must be taught to them on a regular basis.

Simultaneously, there should be the provision of safe spaces at public places, quick and swift crime response system, research on attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours of men and boys, as well as young people, related to various forms of violence. There should also be provisions for raising awareness, community mobilization, and educational programmes, as well as legal and policy reforms, and widespread awareness of sexual violence laws through print media, electronic media and social media.

Unfortunately, despite so much water has flown under the bridge, we have yet not reached the halfway mark towards achieving a just and ideal society for women.

There is only one woman police station in the entire Valley. Do you think, there is a need to set up more women police stations in every district?

Women who are victims of violence or harassment do not find it easy to approach the police or other authorities in Jammu and Kashmir for help or support. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide Women's Police Station or Mahila Police Station in each and every district. I would go a step further and suggest that there should be chowkies of Womens Police Station in each district so that women do not have to travel much in terms of seeking redressal of their complaints.

I would also urge the UT administration to increase focused community outreach by engaging Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir who will act as an interface between police and the community to facilitate women in distress and conduct mass awareness programmes to sensitise masses on gender equality and women-friendly laws.

Do you think there is a need to establish old age homes and shelter homes for homeless women?

It has been observed that the elders are denied care, respect and dignity at their homes, a trend which is unusual and unheard of in a place like Jammu and Kashmir. Hence, old age homes become the last resort for such lonely and neglected elderly people.

On the other hand, there is also a huge dearth of shelter homes for women in Jammu and Kashmir because of which victims of domestic violence face acute problems in terms of shelter. And, at times, they fear availing any legal remedies as they dont have any place to go to after formally launching a lawsuit or filing a criminal complaint against the offender. Therefore, I certainly believe that in order to fructify the welfare laws and to make them meaningful, the government must accelerate the efforts to establish sufficient old age and shelter homes in Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi:

The ministry of home affairs has sent 400 anti-riot police personnel to Uttar Pradesh's violence-hit Saharanpur district where caste clashes have left two people dead.

"Four companies (around 400 personnel) of the Rapid Action Force have been sent to Saharanpur to help the state government maintain law and order following a request of the Uttar Pradesh government," home ministry spokesperson Ashok Prasad told reporters.



The forces were sent after a request from the Uttar Pradesh government, which also despatched a preliminary report to the Home Ministry with details on incidents of violence. It said apart from the two deaths, 40 people were injured.

Read | Saharanpur violence: Section 144 imposed, social media banned as Yogi Adityanath govt struggles to restore peace

The request for the specialised anti-riot RAF and the preliminary factual report came after the home ministry asked the state government to send details of the incidents which had taken place in the district.



Prasad said one person was shot dead and two people were injured in the clashes between two communities on May 23, following which three FIRs were registered and 24 people arrested.



On May 5, another person was killed and 15 people were injured in a fresh bout of violence. Nine FIRs were registered on that day and 17 people were arrested.

Read | Saharanpur violence: Mobile internet, messaging services suspended



About a dozen police vehicles were set ablaze and 12 policemen were injured on May 9. Violence first broke out in Saharanpur about 40 days ago following a procession to mark Ambedkar Jayanti.



In view of the continuing violence, the state government on Wednesday suspended the district magistrate and senior Superintendent of Police. The Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Inspector General were transferred out. Internet and mobile messaging services were also suspended in the district to prevent the spread of rumours which the administration feared could spark further trouble.

Read | Saharanpur clashes: Centre seeks report from UP's Yogi Adityanath govt

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Jenna Dewan showcased her sensational figure in a plunging minidress, nine months after welcoming her son Callum Michael Rebel with fiance Steve Kazee in March.

As the lovebirds prepared to ring in the new year together on Thursday evening, the Flirty Dancing host slipped into a pair of sky-high stilettos to watch the famous ball drop at midnight on TV.

'Had to remind each other what we looked like outside of sweats,' the 40-year-old Step Up actress joked on Instagram as she celebrated New Year's Eve at home.

New Year's Eve: Jenna Dewan showcased her sensational figure in a plunging party dress, nine months after welcoming her son Callum Michael Rebel with fiance Steve Kazee in March

In addition to putting on a very busty display, the mother-of-two rocked a glamorous makeup look, appearing happier than ever as she enjoyed quality time with her man.

While the 45-year-old Tony winner sported a more casual ensemble than his bride-to-be's provocative attire, they had fun making silly faces at the camera and he showed off his gold earring in footage on her Instagram Story.

The duo tuned in to watch Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen co-host CNN's New Year's Eve Live from New York as they ate pizza and toasted with Dom Perignon.

Celebrating: As the lovebirds prepared to ring in the new year together on Thursday evening, the Flirty Dancing host slipped into a pair of sky-high stilettos to watch the famous ball drop at midnight on TV

'Had to remind each other what we looked like outside of sweats,' the 40-year-old Step Up actress joked on Instagram as she celebrated New Year's Eve at home

Dewan also shared footage of herself strutting down her staircase, while Kazee could be heard exclaiming: 'Oh, there she is! Oh, girl got dressed.'

The comment section was flooded with compliments from her more than 6.3 million Instagram followers and celebrity pals like Kelly Ripa, Jen Atkin and Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi.

'Wow..........hot hot H O TTTTTTT,' the 50-year-old morning talk show host gushed.

Leggy display: The comment section was flooded with compliments from her more than 6.3 million Instagram followers and celebrity pals like Kelly Ripa, Jen Atkin and Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi

Her post comes less than 24 hours after she reflected on the 'life' and 'beauty' she experienced in 2020, as well as devastating loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'Oh, 2020,' Jenna began her Instagram caption. 'Looking back on pictures from this year...It has been challenging, humbling, heartbreaking, shocking and life changing to say the least.

'I lost a family member to Covid, i have loved ones who lost loved ones and lost jobs. Ive seen sides of people and this world that i wish i hadnt seen,' she continued.

Happy: The duo tuned in to watch Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen co-host CNN's New Year's Eve Live from New York, in addition to eating pizza and toasting with Dom Perignon

Rather than losing faith in her fellow humans, Jenna zeroed in on the life-affirming aspects of the past year.

'There was also life, beauty and some of the most incredible experiences of my life..and so i choose to end this year feeling matured, humbled and grateful,' she wrote.

'Taking all the lessons of this year into the next chapter. be safe everyone, hang in there and sending love and peace to you all .'

Highs and lows: Dewan stunned in a red dress in a New Year's Eve Instagram post, even as she revealed that she had lost a 'family member' to COVID-19 in the past year

New love: Jenna included a photo of herself in a hospital bed with Steve gentle caressing her head as she gave birth to their son Callum, now nine months old, on March 6

Jenna opened the slideshow with a gorgeous image of herself from when she was pregnant earlier this year with her son.

In another image, she posed by some white blocks in a fierce scarlet dress with a high slit to showcase her toned legs.

A cute photo with Steve showed them sharing a sweet kiss as they posed in front of their Christmas tree in one snap, while another showed the two from behind as they embraced her daughter Everly, seven, whom she shares with her ex-husband Channing Tatum.

Too cute: Everly and Callum looked adorable in their dual photos, with her holding the little boy in one

Jenna met the Logan Lucky star on the set of their 2006 dance drama Step Up, and they shortly after production wrapped.

The two married in July 2009, before announcing their separation in 2018.

Later that year, she began dating Steve, and in September 2019 they announced that they were expecting their first child together.
It is grossly and patently unfair to tens of thousands of our most at-risk patients to now try to reschedule their appointments, Dr. Richard Vautrey, the chairman of the trade unions family doctor committee, said in a statement. The government must see that its only right that existing bookings for the oldest and most vulnerable members of our society are honored, and it must also as soon as possible publish a scientifically validated justification for its new approach.

A spokeswoman for Britains National Health Service said in a statement that the service was giving family doctors extra financial and logistical support in order to to help ensure thousands more receive the vaccine quickly.

The N.H.S. has to follow the new guidance, the statement said, so as to increase the number of vulnerable people protected against Covid over the next three months, potentially saving thousands of lives.

Delaying second vaccine doses could double the number of people who receive a shot soon, and eventually lighten the toll of the virus in Britain, where hospitals are facing a deluge of cases of a new and more contagious coronavirus variant. While any one person may be better off getting the second dose promptly, some scientists said, society as a whole benefits if more people are given the partial protection of a single dose for the time being.

Other scientists, however, believe that Britain overshot the available evidence, potentially leaving older people and health care workers without the full protection of two vaccine doses amid dreadful wintertime surges. Britain made the decision without the public meetings or voluminous briefings that have preceded American regulatory decisions. No trials have explicitly tested the long-term efficacy of a single shot.
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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Saudi Arabia Security And Surveillance Market (2020-2026) under Security & Services category. The Saudi Arabia Security And Surveillance Market is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

Saudi Arabia Security And Surveillance Market (2020-2026): Market Forecast By Type (Video Surveillance System (By Component Type (Camera, Recorder, Encoder, Software)), Access Control System (By Authentication Type (Card Reader, Biometric)), Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (By Sensor Type, By Deployment Type)), By Application (BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance), Government & Transportation, Retail & Logistics, Commercial Offices, Oil & Gas, Residential, Hospitality And Healthcare, Tourism And Public Venues, Other (Manufacturing And Critical Infrastructure)) And Competitive Landscape

Saudi Arabia security and surveillance market is anticipated to grow at a steady pace owing to the diversification of the economy and reviving the construction sector. The market for security and surveillance in Saudi Arabia is likely to see continued growth owing to major projects such as Riyadh Metro, Neom Business City, and Sudhir Industrial City. As the nation continues to make efforts to strengthen their non-oil sectors, the market for security and surveillance in the country is predicted to grow at a healthy rate in the years to come.

Request a free sample copy of Saudi Arabia Security And Surveillance Market Report @

http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2062992

Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% during 2020-2026. During the starting months of 2020, the sales of security and surveillance systems is likely to decrease owing to the coronavirus pandemic as the people would not be demanding for security and surveillance systems during the lockdown. However, government initiatives such as the Saudi Vision 2030 and National Transformation Program are predicted to aid the growth of the non-oil sector of the economy and would promote the growth of security and surveillance systems during the forecast period. The development of new social infrastructure in Saudi Arabia would create more avenues for the deployment of security and surveillance systems. By type segmentation, the video surveillance systems segment had the highest revenue share in 2019 due to the universal application of video surveillance systems for security in various establishments and is likely to maintain its dominance during the forecast period as well.

The government and transportation vertical held the major revenue share in the Saudi Arabia security and surveillance market in 2019 and would continue to maintain its dominance during the forecast period as well due to its advantages of remote monitoring, transportation management, and increased public safety. Further, the hospitality & healthcare segment of Saudi Arabia is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period on account of increasing reliance on advanced security systems in this segment across the nation.

The report comprehensively covers the security and surveillance market by type and application. The outlook report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of the security and surveillance market on-going trends, opportunities/high growth areas, market drivers which would help the stakeholders to device and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.

Key Highlights of the Report:

Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market Size and Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market Forecast until 2026F

Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market Overview, By Types

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume for the period, 2016 -2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume for the period, By Types, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Security and Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume, By Types, until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Video Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume for the period, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Video Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Video Surveillance Market Revenues for the period, By Application, 2016 -2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Video Surveillance Market Revenues, By Application until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Video Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume for the period, By Component Type, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Video Surveillance Market Revenues and Volume, By Component Type until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Access Control Systems Market Revenues and Volume for the period, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Access Control Systems Market Revenues and Volume until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Access Control Systems Market Revenues for the period, By Application, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Access Control Systems Market Revenues, By Application until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Access Control Systems Market Revenues and Volume for the period, By Authentication Type, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Access Control Systems Market Revenues and Volume, By Authentication Type until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues for the period, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues for the period, By Application, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues, By Application until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues for the period, By Sensor Type, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues, By Sensor Type until 2026F

Historical Data of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues for the period, By Deployment Type, 2016-2019

Market size and Forecast of Saudi Arabia Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Market Revenues, By Deployment Type until 2026F

Market Drivers and Restraints

Saudi Arabia Video Surveillance Market Trends and Industry Life Cycle

Porter's Five Force Analysis

Market Opportunity Assessment

Revenue Share, By Company

Revenue Share, By Regions

Competitive Benchmarking

Company Profiles

Key Strategic Recommendations

Markets Covered

The report provides a detailed analysis of the following market segments:

By Type:

Video Surveillance System

By Component Type

Camera

Recorder

Encoder

Software

Access Control System

By Authentication Type

Card Reader

Biometric

Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems

By Sensor Type

By Deployment Type

By Applications:

BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance)

Government & Transportation

Retail & Logistics

Commercial Offices

Oil & Gas

Residential

Hospitality and Healthcare

Tourism and Public Venues

Other (Manufacturing and Critical Infrastructure)

Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/saudi-arabia-security-and-surveillance-market-2020-2026-/2062992

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A New Year's Eve McDonald's run allegedly turned violent after a woman stepped out of her vehicle and tried to choke a police officer.

The 49-year-old was charged with assaulting police, resisting arrest and refusing to undergo a breath test after a Highway Patrol officer approached her stationary Holden Vectra.

Police said the incident unfolded in the car park of the fast food eatery on Bogan and Grenfell streets in the Central West New South Wales town of Parkes.

A New Year's Eve McDonald's run has allegedly turned violent after a woman stepped out of her vehicle and tried to choke a police officer (pictured, McDonalds Parkes)

As the male senior constable approached at about 3:30pm, the woman allegedly launched a verbal tirade and became physically aggressive.

'When he attempted to conduct a breath test, she exited the vehicle and allegedly grabbed him around the neck,' police said in a statement.

The officer managed to break free from the alleged attack but while attempting to restrain the woman, he sustained a laceration to his hand.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics but later had to be taken to Parkes Hospital where he received stitches.

The alleged offender also had to be taken to the same hospital for her own hand injury.

She has been issued with a Court Attendance Notice and will face a magistrate on February 15 in Parkes Local Court.
HOUSTON: Shortly after midnight Duc Nguyen sat up in his hospital bed for a video call with his wife. The glow of a television and a street lamp outside his window provided the only light as a nasal cannula delivered oxygen to his lungs.

It was not how the 33-year-old had envisioned welcoming in the new year, but he said he was grateful the United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in Houston had a vacant bed so he could be treated for pneumonia brought on by COVID-19.

Nguyen said he was confident he would recover, but he predicted the worst days of the pandemic were ahead.

We are still in for another treat next year," he said in a raspy voice. Its not over yet."

Similar scenes were playing out across the country as a post-Thanksgiving surge of infections added to the number of patients forced to usher in 2021 alone, confined to a hospital room by a virus that has taken more than 342,000 American lives.

Located in a working-class area of north Houston, UMMC has been hit hard by the waves of cases that slammed into Texas during the summer and fall, exacting an immense physical and emotional toll on nurses such as Tanna Ingraham, who has herself overcome two bouts of COVID-19.

In normal times Ingraham might have rung in the new year sharing drinks with friends. Instead, she was still coming to terms with the sudden death this week of a patient who had just been taken off a ventilator amid signs she was on the mend.

Like her, the patient was 43, and Ingraham choked back tears as she drew the tubes from her body and placed her into a body bag - a task she has grown used to this year. For Ingraham, 2021 and widespread vaccination cannot come soon enough.

Im just hoping that at the end of this there is going to be a light because, honestly, thats the only thing that keeps me going. That and my faith," she said. So, 2021 Im ready."

This week Reuters followed doctors and nurses as they made their rounds of UMMCs COVID-19 unit, pausing to check on vital signs and sometimes offering a hug or gripping a hand. Touch, Ingraham said she had learned from her own battles with the disease, is critical to warding off a sense of despair.

TENSE ATMOSPHERE

A handmade sign marks the number of days  287  that staff have been working since the pandemic came to Texas in the spring. Mexican and American flags hang on the walls, a nod to the many medical students from Mexico who have come to help and learn. A Christmas tree and holiday decorations offset an otherwise tense atmosphere amid worries of a coming surge.

On Thursday Texas set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations, with 12,268 patients in hospitals across the state, climbing further above a previous peak in July, according to data from the Texas Department of Health. A University of Washington team whose model has been used by the White House projects the states hospitalizations will peak on Jan. 9.

Dr. David Persse, the health authority for the Houston Health Department, worries that infections will accelerate in January and February as cases stemming from Christmas and New Year celebrations materialize. Another concern is the possible spread of a highly infectious coronavirus variant discovered in Britain, he said.

Its a huge concern," Persse said. We are all sort of bracing to see if that occurs."

Dr. Joseph Varon, the hospitals chief medical officer, spoke quickly on Thursday afternoon as he put on personal protective equipment. It was his 287th straight day working and two more COVID-19 patients had died the previous night.

We have patients up to the wazoo. The wards are full. My nurses are exhausted. Emotions are everywhere. People are dying," said Varon, who garnered national attention in November after a photo of him hugging a COVID-19 patient went viral.

My hope for 2021 is that people are a little more conscientious," he said, referring to mask-wearing and social distancing. That they understand by wearing your mask you are protecting somebody else."

Terry Peden, a 57-year-old electrical engineer, came to Varons COVID-19 unit after being told by another hospital he should stay at home and ride out his sickness, which progressed from a COVID-19 diagnosis to double pneumonia.

Peden said he was just happy to be alive and was content to ring in the New Year with a call to his son and daughter from his hospital bed.

I would love to be home, but everybody else would too," Peden said. Ill be glad when 2020 is gone. It has been one heck of a year for the whole world."

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
A PRISONER spat at a garda, urinated twice on a cell door and exposed himself to officers, shouting at them "Suck my d**k" after he was found wandering on a flyover on the M50, a court heard.

Gheorghe Postelnicu (43) had been arrested for his own safety but had repeatedly told gardai to "f**k off" and tried to pull away from them.

He was intoxicated at the time and had very little memory of his behaviour, his solicitor told Blanchardstown District Court.

Judge David McHugh jailed Postelnicu for three months, saying his behaviour was "absolutely appalling".

The defendant admitted criminal damage to a garda cell, public drunkenness, threatening and abusive behaviour and resisting arrest on September 20, 2019.

Sergeant Maria Callaghan said gardai were on patrol shortly before midnight on the M50 Naas Road when they saw a man on the flyover.

Sgt Callaghan said it had been very difficult to see him due to the time of night and lighting.

Gardai stopped to help the man, but he started shouting at them, repeatedly telling them to "f**k off".

Sgt Callaghan said Postelnicu resisted arrest and refused to cooperate with gardai or give them his name.

He threw his clothes on a chair, and when he was escorted to a cell he was aggressive and urinated against the door. He spat at a garda and exposed himself, saying "suck my d**k and f**k garda".

Sgt Callaghan said Postelnicu urinated against the door again and the cell had to be professionally cleaned.

The accused had no previous convictions, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Valerie Buckley said Postelnicu, an unemployed construction worker, was very sorry for his behaviour.

He was extremely intoxicated and did not know why he reacted in the way he had.

Ms Buckley said Postelnicu had very little recollection of the night and was very embarrassed and upset about his actions.

She said he had been go- ing through a "very difficult patch" and was currently homeless.

Jailing Postelnicu, Judge McHugh said he had been "completely out of his mind" on the M50 and had put his own life and the lives of others in danger.

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Two people have appeared before a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates' Court following arrest for Covid-19 regulations breaches on New Years Eve.

Both accused are already facing similar charges, while one has numerous unpaid tickets issued for previous breaches.

Ruari Saunders (35) and Lucy Richardson (23) both with separate addresses at Richmond Avenue, Eglinton, appeared by video-link from police custody, where an officer confirmed the charge against each could be connected.

She explained police received a report on New Years Eve of an ongoing gathering at Saunders' flat. On arrival six persons were located, of which the two were arrested.

Both are also facing similar charges from a previous incident which is due in court later this month, and because of that it was decided to bring them to court straight away rather than release on bail, as had been the case in the first instance.

On top of that, Richardson has to date been given five 'Covid Tickets' totalling 1800 in fines, which remain unpaid.

A defence lawyer for Saunders asked to have his matter dealt with and offered to enter an immediate guilty plea.

However the court was told that Covid-19 breaches are exclusively handled by a particular section within the Public Prosecution Service and time is required to review all cases.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan remanded the pair on 300 bail with conditions including abiding by all COVID-19 regulations - "which everybody should be doing - and refraining from being in each others company.

The cases have been adjourned for mention at Londonderry Magistrates' Court later this month.

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Finding Dory-style octopuses have arrived in Ireland  and are snacking on their favourite lobster dishes just metres from shore.

The highly intelligent creatures propelled to fame in the Pixar movie have stunned Irish fishermen in recent weeks by popping up in their lobster pots.

They are normally found in the waters around the Mediterranean but are among a string of warm water creatures like anchovies making unprecedented northward migrations into Irish waters in recent weeks.

One of the newly arrived octopuses, who is now resident at Dingle Oceanworld, has been called Fab Vinny after fisherman Vincent Regan who found him alive in his lobster pot in Goleen Harbour in recent days.

They are a Mediterranean octopus, said the director of Dingle Oceanworld Kevin Flannery. They are quite large  they can grow to 20 kilos.

I had only ever recorded one before in 2005 and now there are four of them in recent weeks."

Irish fishermen would never have seen them and now all of a sudden they have arrived much like the anchovies a few weeks ago.

They were three of them up around Sneem around Kenmare Bay and then this other live one was caught in Goleen Harbour in Schull.

Read More Budget for Ennis flood relief doubles to almost 20m

They would have moved here crawling across the Celtic sea shelf.

There is a definite sign of a northwards movement of species, due to global warming and changes in the ocean pattern or whatever is going on.

Just last week 100 west miles off here we got a Moray Eel which would normally be way down off the coast of Spain.

The remarkable creatures with multiple hearts have been known to open jars to obtain food.

Kevin Flannery said the octopus is one of four who have been reported to him in recent weeks.

This guy came up alive in a lobster pot and I transported him back to Dingle.

When he spreads himself out its just wow. He is about three feet.

I decided to call him Fab Vinnie after Vincent Regan who caught him.

Octopuses like those protrayed in Walt Disney Pictures' Finding Dory have arrived on the south west coast of Ireland.

They are very inquisitive. They are regarded as one of the most intelligent creatures in the sea.

They watch you. When they are angry, they are bright red and when they are calm and passive, they are white.

They can take crab out of the jar once they see how this is done.

They can travel from one tank to another tank to get fish. They do need something to keep them interactive all the time like a toy or a bell.

We have a specialised tank and rocks and places for him to hide.

He said the large octopuses could be a major threat to the countrys lobster fishery.

Read More Baltimore lifeboat coxswain retires after 45 years

They are about 10 times the size of common Irish octopus and while our octopus have one set of suckers these octopus have two sets.

They are getting them in the lobster pots here. They annihilate lobsters.

They pull the lobster against the pots so they can smother them. Then they have a beak and behind that they have a venom sack, and they anaesthetise the prey and eat it.

Fishermen are going to start to realise when they see the eaten lobster in their pots. These guys would have gone in and killed them and left the shell.

Its a la carte dining for Spanish octopus.

He said the octopus will thrive here on their favourite dish of lobster.

They breed very fast. This could be a serious issue for any crustacean fishery like lobster and crab.

We have 900 tonnes of lobsters caught every year.

If these fellas start arriving in big numbers, I think the only thing they can do is to start selling them because there is a huge demand for them in Spain.

You see them in the market, in all the restaurants. They are called Pulpo.

Although they are found quite close to shore, he said they are not dangerous to swimmers.

They just leave a cloud of ink and take off away from people.

It is very seldom people see them because they are the ultimate in camouflage.

This is now what is happening in our waters. This is the new species that are going to be here in the future.
A police leader has called on the Prime Minister to 'do the right thing' and ensure officers get priority access to Covid-19 vaccines as many go off work sick.

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said rank and file officers urgently needed the 'protection they deserve' as more were off ill or self-isolating.

Mr Apter has called for officers to be prioritised after society's most vulnerable groups and NHS workers have been given the jab.

He said in a statement: 'It's time for the Prime Minister to do the right thing for police officers in the thick of this pandemic.

'I am calling on him to back my colleagues in their time of need.

A police officer wears a face mask as he stands on the concourse at Waterloo Station in London on June 15, 2020

'This is certainly not about jumping the queue in front of the most vulnerable members of society or those on the NHS frontline.

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales

'It's about ensuring policing is resilient enough to cope with the demands of the pandemic and that my colleagues can continue to support the public during these exceptional times.'

Mr Apter said he had lobbied the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) over the issue and it had been raised directly with the Government but no decision has been made.

He called for Boris Johnson to make a decision immediately. In a letter to NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt, Mr Apter said: 'If we expect police officers to continue to police in the way that we do then it's essential they are given the protection they deserve.

'Getting hands on and working in close contact with members of the public is often unavoidable.

'This creates a risk, not only for our members and the public they are dealing with, but also for the officers' families.'

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, told LBC radio it was 'quite absurd' police were not currently prioritised, saying increasing numbers of officers were off work ill after dealing with groups of people who had Covid-19.

A man is given a face mask to wear after being issued with a fine by a TfL Transport Support and Enforcement Officer in the presence of a BTP officer at King's Cross station, London

It comes amid calls for ambulance workers to also be prioritised for vaccination. David Davis, a spokesman for the College of Paramedics, told BBC Radio 4's PM: 'The bit that is really worrying for us is that quite often these paramedics and other ambulance staff are in the back of these ambulances with patients with Covid, with very high levels of viral load, and the risk to them is also extremely high.

'We need to protect the staff we've got and that's why the college is calling on the Government to make sure we can access vaccination for ambulance service staff who are there at the front line in those ambulances with patients who are terribly poorly with Covid.

'It is certainly the case that ambulance staff, in our opinion, should be prioritised.'
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DuPage Medical Group, which has about a million patients in the west and southwest suburbs, will likely use its electronic medical records to identify patients who are old enough to qualify for the next round of vaccines, Hoscheit said. It can then reach out to those people through MyChart, phone calls, text messages or emails to let them know its their turn, he said.
Countries around the world have begun banning flights and travellers from Britain as London said the spread of a more-infectious new coronavirus strain was "out of control".

Also Read | European countries ban UK flights as Britain says new coronavirus strain 'out of control'

Here are the countries that have announced travel bans so far.

France

France said Sunday it will halt all travel from Britain for 48 hours from midnight Sunday including journeys "related to goods transport by road, air, sea or rail".

The ban on all but unaccompanied freight comes as companies are scrambling to shift merchandise across the Channel with days to go until Britain finally quits EU trade structures.

Prime Minister Jean Castex's office said the 48-hour period would offer time to coordinate a joint EU response that would ultimately allow travel from the UK to resume "with compulsory testing on departure".

Germany

Germany will halt all air links with the UK from midnight on Sunday, with the ban initially slated to last until December 31, Health Minister Jens Spahn told ARD public television.

Cargo flights will be exempt.

A government source told AFP Berlin is already "working on measures" to extend the suspension into January, when the end of Britain's post-Brexit transition period means it will no longer be covered by EU rules that enable the flight ban.

Also Read | Covid-19: Union Health Ministry to meet on December 21 on new coronavirus strain in the UK

Italy

Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said that he had signed a decree "which blocks flights from Great Britain and prohibits entry into Italy of people who have stayed there during the last 14 days".

Anyone already in Italy who recently travelled from Britain must be tested for coronavirus, the statement added.

The new virus strain has been found in one person in Italy who recently returned from Britain, the health ministry said.

Netherlands

All passenger flights from Britain to the Netherlands have been banned until January 1, the Dutch government said.

One case of the new virus variant has been found in the country, the health ministry added.

Belgium

All plane and train travel from the UK to Belgium will be suspended for at least 24 hours from midnight Sunday, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told television channel VRT.

Austria

Austria's health ministry told press agency APA on Sunday that Vienna is working out details for a ban on travel from Britain.

Sweden

Sweden's Interior Minister Mikael Damberg told public broadcaster SVT the country was "preparing" to ban people entering from Britain "as quickly as possible", with a formal decision expected Monday.

Switzerland

Switzerland said it was suspending flights from Britain and South Africa, where a similar virus variant has been detected, from midnight Sunday "until further notice".

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

All three Baltic states -- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- have halted all passenger flights from the UK. Lithuania will still allow flights to depart for the UK, while Estonia and Latvia have halted those as well.

Latvia has also banned bus and ferry passenger traffic to and from the UK. The bans will go into effect Monday and last until the end of the year.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria said that flights to and from Britain would be suspended from midnight Sunday until January 31.

The government had earlier announced a 10-day quarantine for anyone arriving from the UK.

Romania

Romania has banned all flights to and from the UK for two weeks, beginning on Monday afternoon.

Turkey

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter that flights from Britain, Denmark -- where nine cases of the new strain have been detected -- the Netherlands and South Africa would be suspended.

Iran

Iran's health ministry has ordered flights from Britain suspended for two weeks, state news agency IRNA reported.

Israel

Israel said it was barring entry to foreign citizens travelling from Britain, Denmark and South Africa.

A joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and the health ministry also announced tough rules for Israelis returning home from those nations, saying that they would be confined in army-run hotels serving as quarantine centres.

Kuwait

Kuwait has added Britain to a list of "high-risk" nations and banned flights.

El Salvador

El Salvador's Present Nayib Bukele said on Twitter that anyone who had been in Britain or South Africa in the past 30 days will not be allowed to enter the country.

Argentina

Argentina has banned flights from the UK, the government said in a statement Sunday. It said that the last flight from Britain would arrive in the country on Monday.

Chile

Chile announced that it would suspend flights from the UK effective Tuesday.

A government statement said passengers without a residence permit or who had been in Britain in the past two weeks would be barred from entry into the country.

Morocco

Morocco banned all flights to the United Kingdom beginning on Sunday.
Amid the threat of the new strain of the Coronavirus, four more people in India were found to be infected with the new variant, taking the cumulative number of infected people with the UK variant to 29 in the country. India on Thursday reported five new cases of the new strain of coronavirus and previously, 14 were reported on Wednesday and six on Tuesday.

The mutation of COVID-19 first emerged in South East England and experts stated that the new strain is 70% more transmissible than the previous one. The new strain of Coronavirus is more dominating than the previous one, according to the experts, and has compelled UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to announce stricter stay-at-home lockdown measures in the UK amid the festive season.

The new variant of Coronavirus has caused havoc in the UK with the fresh load of cases going above the 50,000 mark daily. The UK on Friday reported 55,892 cases, 299352 in last 7 days, as per the UK Government website. The new variant has also been detected in multiple countries around the world with its presence being reported by Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon, and Singapore, so far. Moreover, there has been another strain of the virus emerging in South Africa which is said to be responsible for 90% of the new cases reported in the country.

In a preemptive move, India suspended flights from the UK on December 23 till the end of the year which the Civil Aviation Ministry on December 30 announced the extension of flight ban till January 7.

READ | Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India Reports 20,036 Fresh Cases; SEC Recommends Covishield

READ | Serum Institute's Vaccine Candidate 'Covishield' Gets SEC's Green Signal, Awaits DCGI Nod

Coronavirus situation in India

Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 active caseload continued to exhibit a sustained downward slide and has significantly dropped to 2,54,254 on Friday, the lowest after 179 days according to Union Health Ministry. The daily new cases in India in recent days have been around 20,000. The number of fresh Coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours stood at 20,036. The total number of recovered cases is set to reach the 99 lakh mark on Saturday as the recovered cases stood at 98,83,461 on Friday with the addition of 23,181 recoveries in 24 hours.

"The gap between recoveries and active cases, that is steadily increasing, has crossed 96 lakh and presently stands at 96,29,207," the ministry highlighted.

READ | COVID-19: France Detects First Case Of South Africa's COVID-19 Variant

READ | Health Minister Reviews COVID Vaccine Dry Run Preparations Even As SEC Meets On Approvals
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The lines are endless and hospital telephones are ringing off the hook since coronavirus vaccines became available this week for the elderly in retiree-rich Florida.

The state government gave the green light Monday for inoculating those aged 65 and abovea group that makes up nearly 20 percent of the Sunshine State's population, the largest such proportion in America.

So ever since, it has been mayhem, as tens of thousands try to get a shot they hope will protect them against the potentially deadly COVID-19.

Governor Ron DeSantis has asked for patience, admitting that at least for now, there are not enough doses for every elderly Floridian.

"The COVID vaccine supply is limited," he told a press conference on Wednesday in a retirement community in Palm Beach.

"We don't have enough vaccine on hand for all four million-plus senior citizens. We will get there."

The Jackson Health System said that this week, it hopes to vaccinate 10,000 of its 65-plus patients and individuals at high risk due to pre-existing conditions. Next week, it will help patients outside its system.

It kicked off its campaign with a few local celebrities getting the jabmusician Emilio Estefan (husband of Gloria), 67, and former Miami Dolphins player Nat Moore, who is 69.

Estefan defended the need for people to get inoculated, amid ongoing speculation about how effective it is.

"I think there's a lot of misinformation out there," Estefan told reporters at the headquarters of the Jackson Health System, the largest hospital network in Miami.

North of Miami, in Fort Lauderdale, Broward Health got such a flood of calls that it said its appointments for vaccinations are now filled up until February.

The Broward County webpage for making a vaccination appointment has been down since Wednesday.

Things are just as frantic in central Florida: in Orange County, which includes Orlando, home to Disney World, officials said they have scheduled 30,000 vaccinations and can make no more appointments for now.

'I can't wait'

So far, more than 175,000 people have received their shots, according to the state health department.

But for some, after nearly a year of various lockdown restrictions, the wait feels unbearably long.

"I can't wait to see my grandkids. I can't wait to hug those little guys. It's just been so long," Candice Seltzer, a retiree who has been vaccinated, told CNN.

Since vaccines were first distributed in mid-December, from Pfizer-BioNTech and then from Moderna, the majority of doses went to health care workers, and nursing home residents and staff.

Last week, DeSantis extended the campaign to include everyone aged 65 and above, and patients with serious health complications.

So far, Florida has recorded more than 1.3 million coronavirus cases and more than 21,500 deaths. It has recently been notching up as many cases each day as it did at its previous worst moment of the pandemic, in July.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
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YEREVAN, JANUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan visited the frontline on January 1 and got acquainted with fortification works.

The President talked with the defenders of the Fatherland, inquired about the problems and noted that irrespective of the consequences of the war the strengthening and modernization of the arsenal of the Defense Army remains one of the priorities of the Government. ''We must have a qualitatively new army, taking into account the lessons of the war, the experience of leading countries and modern types of armaments', President Harutyunyan said.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam) has over the years organised effective conferences, business forums, and networking events in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

AHK Vietnams chief representative Marko Walde highlights the contributions made for the significant development of foreign direct investment in Vietnam from Germany.

AHK Vietnams chief representative Marko Walde

AHK, in tandem with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), has created platforms for authorities and businesses from both Germany and Vietnam to discuss and exchange information and experiences. Through the AHK working groups and roundtables, German investors take part in shaping the work in Vietnam as well as raising their voices and opinions, planning initiatives, and discussing the current situation in Vietnam.

Resolutions and findings are used as a starting point to discuss with policymakers and authorities. AHK Vietnam carries out market-specific conferences and networking events, in collaboration with the MPI or by inviting leaders, representatives, and experts. For companies, these are good opportunities to both strengthen existing contacts and create new ones.

They also have the chance to stay informed about the latest developments in Vietnam. Thanks to that kind of policy dialogue, recommendations and feedback from the German business community in Vietnam on sustainable development, economic policy, and human resources development have been delivered directly to the MPI and related experts.

In collaboration with municipal and provincial departments of planning and investment, German investors are supported in setting up factories in Vietnam. Before the pandemic crept in, AHK Vietnam regularly hosted delegations from Germany. Being part of the AHK member network helps to stay informed and establish contacts with visiting local companies and organisations, as well as researchers and policymakers in Vietnam.

GDP growth for Vietnam in 2020 is projected around 2.8 per cent and, thanks to free trade agreements (FTAs), Vietnams GDP is set to increase by up to 3.2 per cent between now and 2030. Vietnam will become a strategic investment destination in the process of restructuring global and regional supply chains and a potential market for international corporations.

In 2020 a series of documents such as amended laws on investment, enterprises, and public-private partnerships were approved to simplify procedures, enhancing decentralisation and transparency, diversifying investment forms, and supplementing special incentives for large-scale projects that meet the requirements and can make significant contributions to socioeconomic development.

Conditions to enjoy

It is obvious that these results show the Vietnamese government has taken decisive and forceful action against the impact of the pandemic. These measures should be taken as fast as possible to counter the economic impact of the coronavirus, in order to bring the economy back onto a growth path as quickly as possible.

Moreover, the Vietnamese government creates the most favourable conditions for foreign investors and businesses, and this commitment will boost the economic growth of this country and attract more investors to Vietnam. Vietnam has been implementing a number of activities and effective methods in order to achieve the dual objectives of promoting socioeconomic development and effectively preventing the pandemic from taking hold.

German businesses expect that the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement will improve economic policy in Vietnam in the long run. Businesses could enjoy protection of investments with trade facilitations and increase investments in Vietnam.

For the mid-term, there will be many investment flows for high-valued projects into Vietnam. German investors would bring their well-known technology in management and training to this country, allowing more value-added production and less waste of material and resources.

There are currently expansion plans for German investors from China to Vietnam. They are complementing their existing Chinese operations with new activities in Vietnam regarding sourcing and investments. This trend had started before the US-China trade conflict as German investors in China were already looking to diversify their operations by adding another location in Asia.

Their concrete reasons for that are their diversification strategies and reliability of Vietnamese partners, as well as rising wage costs in China. And when it comes to alternatives in ASEAN, German investors choose Vietnam first.

Companies that are increasing investment in Vietnam despite pandemic include tesa, which began building a 55 million ($67 million) plant at DEEP C Industrial Zones in the northern city of Haiphong. This manufacturing site will employ about 140 employees and the operation date is slated for 2023.

Areas of focus

As Vietnam gradually resumes economic activities in a new normal environment, business will benefit from foreign high-skilled workers and experts in terms of restoring production, expanding investment, and enhancing expertise when new entry regulations are implemented.

German businesses think that more investors and experts from Germany and the EU will have incentives coming to Vietnam for diplomatic and business purposes, as a result of the Vietnamese governments commitment to creating the most favourable conditions for foreign investors and businesses to enter Vietnam for a short period, as well as the EVFTA.

In addition to easing entrance for foreigners and based on the current situation of the pandemic worldwide, the Vietnamese government should also consider opening more international flights especially for foreigners and supporting work visas for those who wish to stay and work in Vietnam for a long time. More importantly, the government could support well-organised immigration procedures to facilitate legal entry of investors, managers, technical experts, and diplomats and their family members.

By participating in FTAs like the EVFTA, Vietnam has more opportunities for entering these markets and attracting investments in this country. This will happen through removing tariffs, reducing regulatory barriers and overlapping red tape, ensuring protection of geographical indications, opening up services and public procurement markets, and making sure the agreed rules are enforceable.

New market access opportunities across a range of sectors will also be created thanks to the EVFTA. On the other hand, there will still be challenges for Vietnamese products, in terms of intellectual property rights and protection, as well as global competitiveness and material origins.

Local companies should improve their competitive advantages as soon as possible. Vietnam should adjust policies to speed up the development of the supporting industries by educating high-quality workforce, exchanging experiences, and digitalisation. These are the essential strategies for Vietnam to develop sustainably. VIR

Vietnam-Germany relations develop constantly: Ambassador Cooperative relations between Vietnam and Germany have been developing constantly in multiple fields, German Ambassador to Vietnam Guido Hildner told the media on September 30.
Victoria reported 10 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 on Saturday

All the new cases were linked back to a Thai restaurant at Black Rock, Melbourne

Two new cases were identified in hotel quarantine with state total now at 29

Genomic testing also confirmed Victorian cluster 'directly linked' to NSW

Victoria has recorded 10 new locally acquired coronavirus cases overnight, all linked to a Thai restaurant.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley announced on Saturday the new cases brought the state total to 29.

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'Now that we are seeing a total number of some 29 active cases across all of Victoria, including in hotel quarantine, this is a very significant issue for Victoria as we head into 2021,' Mr Foley said.

There were two cases recorded in hotel quarantine while all 10 locally acquired cases have been linked back to the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne.

Mr Foley revealed the results from genomic testing had also directly linked the cluster to Sydney's Northern Beaches outbreak.

Authorities had previously announced they believed the cluster was linked to the neighbouring state, though were waiting for definitive confirmation.

Health officials in Victoria were reportedly pleading with NSW to mandate masks more than two weeks ago. Pictured, Melbourne residents wear masks as they line up to enter a venue

There were two cases recorded in hotel quarantine while all 10 locally acquired cases have been linked back to the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne (pictured)

Exposure sites have also been identified around the Lakes Entrance, Strathbogie, Cheltenham, Oakleigh, Brighton and Mentone.

Mr Foley also revealed a Victorian couple, who crossed state borders to visit a pub in regional NSW, had returned to Melbourne to isolate.

The pair had been identified as close contacts of a case linked to the outbreak at Thai restaurant in Black Rock, which now sits at 18.

They were warned by contact tracers - and told to isolate and get tested - though still travelled from Melbourne into regional NSW to enjoy a night away.

The two Victorians visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, in the southern region of NSW, on December 30 from 5pm to 6.30pm.

Click here to resize this module

The pair then ate at Bermi's Beachside Cafe in Bermagui from about 9am to 10am on December 31.

They had been contacted by health workers to tell them they were close contacts on December 30 when they were still in Victoria, and they later sought testing when in NSW.

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'Please be advised we have been contacted by NSW Health and a confirmed Covid case visited the cafe for breakfast December 31 between 9-10am,' the cafe wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Staff at the cafe are in isolation and will be tested for Covid-19.

'We are very confident in our Covid safety plan and have followed all rules in enforce these rules to help keep everyone safe,' the cafe said.

Two New South Wales residents who flew into Melbourne Airport on Friday and allegedly fled after an authorised officer told them they would need to isolate for 14 days, have also returned to their home state.

Exposure sites have also been identified around the Lakes Entrance, Strathbogie, Cheltenham, Oakleigh, Brighton and Mentone

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley announced on Saturday the new cases brought the state total to 29 (pictured, Covid-19 testing facility at Cheltenham, Melbourne)

The two Victorians visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, in the southern region of NSW, on Wednesday from 5pm to 6.30pm

'I did want to make particular mention of two people who absconded from discussions with authorised officers yesterday who have now apparently returned to Goulburn in New South Wales,' Mr Foley said.

'Upon the advice of the public health team, those people have breached numerous orders of the public-health state of emergency in Victoria and they will each be fined at least $19,000 for their breaching of those arrangements. '

Mr Foley said he also 'made no apologies' for Victoria's hard border closure, which came into effect from 11.59pm on Friday.

'The border closure, based on public health advice, has caused significant disruption for returning travellers and regrettably will also cause disruption for our border communities,' he said.

The pair then ate at Bermi's Beachside Cafe in Bermagui from about 9am to 10am on Thursday

Hundreds of drivers are facing lengthy queues to get back into Victoria from NSW before the hard border closure comes in at midnight

'As I think I indicated yesterday, we've been quite consistent for some time now, in fact for two weeks, that the deteriorating position in New South Wales was of significant concern and that the public health advice was likely to change very quickly in a rapidly changing public health environment.

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'We make no apologies for closing the border.'

Hundreds of drivers faced lengthy queues to get back into the state from NSW before the hard border closure.

Victorians had been warned to not enter New South Wales.

In the state's west at Genoa one motorist on Friday reported a wait of almost six hours as a line of hundreds of cars snaked through a checkpoint.

Victorians are facing lengthy queues to cross the NSW border into their home state, as a COVID-19 quarantine deadline looms. Pictured: Police officers patrol and check for entry permits to Victoria at a border checkpoint on December 29, 2020

Two women in face masks are seen in Melbourne's CBD on Thursday ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations

On Thursday, Acting premier Jacinta Allan apologised for the border closure but said Victorians who are in NSW should not be surprised.

'We have been sending a very strong message for the better part of a week-and-a-half ... advising people to think very carefully about their travel to NSW,' Ms Allan said.

'These difficult decisions are about protecting the community.'

Masks are also mandatory indoors and the number of visitors allowed in Victorian homes is down to 15 from 30, she said.

Mr Weimar thanked the 'thousands of people' who quickly packed up and returned to Victoria.

'I know we saw some very long waiting times in queues at border crossings last night and during the early hours of this morning,' he said.

'We are expecting another very busy day today at the border.

'If you're in NSW and you want to be back in Victoria you need to leave now.

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'Please prepare for a lengthy wait at the border so make sure you have fuel, water, food and whatever you need to isolate safely when you get home.'

Revellers say goodbye to 2020 and ring in the New Year at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne
Rock band Foo Fighters released a new song called "No Son of Mine" on Friday.

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The track is from the group's upcoming, 10th studio album, Medicine at Midnight, which is due out Feb. 5.

Foo Fighters posted a link to the song on Twitter, along with the image of a handwritten note that reads: "It was almost exactly a year ago that we finished recording our 'new' record Medicine at Midnight, with a massive world tour planned that would have taken us around the globe celebrating our 25th anniversary as a band. But, well ... you know ...

"So, we waited. And waited. And waited," the message continues. "Until we finally realized our music is made to be heard, whether it's in a festival field with 50,000 of our closest friends, or alone in your living room on a Saturday night with a stiff cocktail. So, the wait is over."

Most live performances have been canceled since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
JERUSALEM: Israel is juggling supplies and pace in its COVID-19 vaccination drive in the hope of meeting a late-January goal of full protection for its most vulnerable people, officials said on Thursday.

Having begun the vaccinations on Dec. 19, Israel is now administering more than 150,000 doses a day. Top priority are the quarter of its 9 million population who are over 60, suffer from risky health problems or are medical workers.

Some other lucky citizens have managed to get vaccinated, witnesses and officials at Israels main health providers say - often as clinic walk-ins" who were given surplus injections which would otherwise have had to be thrown away at the end of the day.

But the Health Ministry is husbanding supplies closely. That means pushing back against public expectations that the campaign might soon be opened up to all adults or the at-risk criteria expanded to include groups like teachers.

Early January will see an abeyance" of about two weeks in the administering of first doses, ministry director-general Hezi Levy said, to ensure that those who already got them get their scheduled follow-up booster injections.

We are doing everything in our power to bring forward supplies" of Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc vaccines that might allow for broadening out the campaign by February, he told Kan radio, saying the age threshold could then be lowered to 50.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will in February be the first country to emerge" from the health crisis, thanks to the vaccines, adding that it would attain sufficient doses for all other groups within weeks.

How this might happen given global scarcity was not clear.

One Health Ministry official, Yaron Niv, said in a separate Kan interview that each dose cost the country $62.

It was not clear to what extent the disparity with the European Union agreement to pay 15.50 euros per dose for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, might be due to secondary outlay in Israel.

Otherwise, Israel is emphasising thrift.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told reporters an Israeli firm had safely subdivided the frozen Pfizer vaccine trays so that smaller batches can be thawed and deployed.

Some health providers have been extracting six, rather than the advertised five, usable doses from each Pfizer vial, an official said.

(Editing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Culture Kings in heart of Sydney's CBD was visited by confirmed case on Dec 28

A busy hotel and a cafe in NSW's South Coast have also been put on high alert

Two infected Victorians ignored orders to isolate and visited the two venues

Meanwhile a BWS in Berala, west Sydney, had case visit store on multiple days

Shoppers who visited a popular clothing store have been put on urgent alert for coronavirus after a pub and a cafe were also found to have been exposed to COVID-19.

NSW Health has told anyone who visited the Culture Kings store on George St in the Sydney CBD between 1-2pm on Monday December 28 to watch for symptoms and get tested if they appear.

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The venue had been visited by a confirmed coronavirus case.

Anyone who visited the Culture Kings store on George St in the Sydney CBD between 1 and 2pm on Monday December 28 is to watch for symptoms and get tested if they appear

The popular clothing store had been visited by a confirmed coronavirus case and shoppers have been told to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they appear

Meanwhile, a busy hotel and a cafe in the South Coast have also been put on alert.

Those who visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, on December 30 between 5-6.30pm have been urged to get tested and isolate until given a negative result.

The same instructions apply to anybody who was at Bermis Beachside Cafe in Bermagui on December 31 between 9-10am.

Click here to resize this module

These venues were put on the list after two infected Victorians ignored directions to isolate and travelled from Melbourne into regional NSW to enjoy a night away.

The pair are close contacts of a case linked to the outbreak at a Thai restaurant in Black Rock, Melbourne.

LATEST NSW VENUES ON ALERT Culture Kings, George St, Sydney between 1-2pm on Monday December 28 Great Southern Hotel in Eden, on December 30 between 5-6.30pm Bermis Beachside Cafe in Bermagui, on December 31 between 9-10am Berala BWS, on December 22 between 2.45pm- 9.15pm, December 23 between 12.45pm  9.15pm, December 27 between 12.45pm-8.15pm, December 29, 1.45pm  9.15pm, December 30, 12.45pm  9.15pm and December 31 between 8.30am  5pm Berala BWS December 24 between 12.45pm  9.15pm, December 26 between 9.55am  9.15pm and December 28 between 8.30am  7.15pm

Despite being called by contact tracers while on their way into NSW from Victoria and told they were close contacts - which means you have to isolate and get tested - the pair continued on their journey and dined at the hotel and the Bermagui cafe.

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Staff at the cafe are in isolation and will be tested for COVID-19.

Meanwhile a BWS in Berala, in Western Sydney has been put on alert after a positive case attended the store on multiple days.

The two Victorians visited the Great Southern Hotel in Eden, in the southern region of NSW, on Wednesday from 5pm to 6.30pm

The same instructions apply to anybody who was at Bermi's Beachside Cafe in Bermagui on December 31 between 9 and 10am

There were three new cases recorded in NSW on Friday, all from Western Sydney and under investigation.

Clusters have popped up in Wollongong and Sydney's inner west at Croydon, but both have now been linked to the original Avalon cluster.

But the new western Sydney cases, three men ages in their 20s, 30s and 40s, have not yet been linked to any known outbreak.

The man aged in his 20s is a close household contact of one of the mystery cases.

The Melbourne coronavirus cluster grew to ten infections on Friday. The outbreak is linked to Sydney

An urgent alert has also been issued for anyone who was at The Swallowed Anchor in Wollongong on December 19 after infected cases from both the Croydon and Wollongong clusters attended the tapas and wine bar.

Stay-at-home orders applying to Sydney's Northern Beaches residents north of the Narrabeen Bridge will continue until at least January 9, the Premier confirmed on Friday.

A lockdown for the peninsula's southern zone will be in place until January 2 with Ms Berejiklian to provide details about possible relaxed restrictions on Saturday.

Meanwhile the Victorian border will slam shut to the whole of NSW from midnight on Friday.

Victorians had been warned to not enter New South Wales.

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Those still making their way home have until 11.59pm Friday to cross before being forced into hotel quarantine as the state scrambles to avoid a third wave of the deadly virus.
In yet another jolt to the already beleaguered Congress in Telangana, party lawmaker from Nalgonda district Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy on Friday announced that he would quit the Congress and join the Bharatiya Janata Party soon.

Rajagopal Reddy, who represents the Munugode assembly constituency, told reporters in Tirumala, after having a darshan of Lord Venkateshwara that the BJP was the only alternative to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, as the Congress party had failed to put up a strong fight.

He said that he had predicted long ago about the growth of the BJP as a strong force in Telangana. I stand by my statement and the recent results of the by-elections to the Dubbak assembly seat and the elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) proved it, he said.

Claiming that the BJP would get further strengthened in Telangana in the coming days, Rajagopal Reddy said he might join the BJP shortly keeping in mind the interest of the people of his constituency.

If Rajagopal Reddy defects to the BJP sooner or later, the Congress will be left with just five MLAs in the 119-member state assembly. The party had won 19 seats in the assembly elections held in December 2018, but 12 of them defected to the TRS en masse.

Of the remaining seven seats, the Congress lost one more in the by-elections to Huzurnagar assembly seat held in October 2019. The seat was vacated by PCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy on his election to Lok Sabha from Nalgonda parliamentary constituency in May 2019. With this, the party lost the Leader of Opposition status in the assembly.

Interestingly, Rajagopal Reddys elder brother Komatireddy Venkat Reddy is also an MP from Bhongir parliamentary constituency and is a front-runner for the PCC chief post, following the resignation of Uttam Kumar Reddy.

My elder brother might remain in the Congress and become the PCC chief. But I am going to join the BJP, Rajagopal Reddy said.

In fact, soon after the last Lok Sabha elections, Rajagopal Reddy showered praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People of India have given mandate in favour of Modi for the second time, showing their confidence in his decision-making. The BJP has the strength to take some revolutionary decisions, as they have strong leadership. I highly doubt how much Congress can fight against Modi, he said then.

The Telangana Congress party has strongly condemned Rajagopal Reddys statement that he would join the BJP shortly. It is not correct on his part to desert the party when it is in crisis. As a responsible MLA of the party, it is his duty to stand by the party and strengthen it, PCC vice-president Mallu Ravi said.

Stating that the Congress was the only party that had been fighting on the issues concerning common people, Ravi said Rajagopal Reddy, who had won the assembly elections on Congress ticket, owned the moral responsibility to work for the defeat of the TRS and the BJP.

He expressed confidence that the Congress would bounce back into power both at the Centre and the state.
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London: Britains long and sometimes acrimonious divorce from the European Union ended on Thursday, local time, with an economic split that leaves the EU smaller and the UK freer but more isolated in a turbulent world.

Britain left the European blocs vast single market for people, goods and services at 11pm London time, midnight in Brussels, completing the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II.

People raise a glass and celebrate in Parliament Square as the bell known as Big Ben strikes 2300, and Britain ends its transition period and formally leaves the European Union in London. Credit:AP

A different UK-EU trade deal will bring new restrictions and red tape, but for British Brexit supporters, it means reclaiming national independence from the EU and its web of rules.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose support for Brexit helped push the country out of the EU, called it an amazing moment for this country.
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She recently enjoyed a luxurious trip to Dubai with beau Dan Edgar before returning home for a Tier 4 restricted Christmas in her native Essex.

And while Amber Turner was back in the chilly UK climes, she could not resist stripping off as she took to Instagram on Thursday.

The TOWIE star, 27, looked sensational in a sizzling lingerie set which left little to the imagination, with a sheer bra showing off her surgically-enhanced assets.

Hit stuff! Amber Turner was back in the chilly UK climes, she could not resist stripping off as she took to Instagram on Thursday

Amber looked incredible in the scantily-clad snap as she sizzled while looking at the camera while holding her coiffed blonde locks away from her face.

She was flaunting her sensational frame in the latticed bra and matching bottoms, which featured a waist-enhancing high-waisted shape.

The nude trim on the lingerie set helped highlight her Dubai tan.

Trip: Amber recently enjoyed a luxurious trip to Dubai with beau Dan Edgar (pictured) before returning home for a Tier 4 restricted Christmas in her native Essex

Amber and boyfriend Dan shared multiple updates from their trip as they flew out of London's Heathrow Airport for an 'exciting business venture'.

Amber revealed they had both had a coronavirus test before travelling, which came back negative, and they also had an antibody test to see if they had ever had Covid-19, which too came back negative.

After posting several updates from the airport and their flight, Amber revealed that they had landed in Dubai and were back at her 'favourite' Palm Jumeirah.

Safety first: Amber revealed they had both had a coronavirus test before travelling, which came back negative, and they also had an antibody test, which too came back negative

Dan's representative previously told MailOnline: 'Dan has had to go to Dubai for an exciting business venture that is soon to released.

'This is something that Dan has been working extremely hard over the past few years on and if it wasn't essential for Dan & Amber to attend they would have stayed back in the UK.'

The couple then returned home to Essex, currently under Tier 4 restrictions, for Christmas while many reality stars continued their Dubai jaunt.
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Kady McDermott was forced to hit back at trolls on Friday after she was criticised for her 'business trip' to the Maldives.

The former Love Island contestant took to Instagram to share a sunset photo of herself in a bikini, gazing out at the infinity pool and soaking up the evening heat.

'My favourite time of the day!' she captioned it, tagging @hardrockhotelmaldives and @trendingtravel.co.uk into the post.

Hitting back: Kady McDermott was forced to hit back at trolls on Friday after she was criticised for her 'business trip' to the Maldives

But one follower - who allegedly has been contacting her via direct message as well - was quick to slam Kady, 25, for being abroad while the majority of the UK are forbidden to travel and stuck in Tier 3 and 4 lockdowns.

'Breaking the rules again - don't see this as a business trip!' he remarked.

Unable to let it slide, Kady bit back: 'Oh so because you dont see it as a business trip it means it isnt? Oh ok lol.

'But if you mush know as you keep sending me DMS too I am here with @trendingtravel.co.uk and had a valid letter for travel from the CEO. Not everyones work is based in an office, David!' [sic]

Business or pleasure? The former Love Island contestant took to Instagram to share a sunset photo of herself in a bikini, gazing out at the infinity pool and soaking up the evening heat

Work or play? One follower - who allegedly has been contacting her via direct message as well - was quick to slam Kady, 25, for being abroad while the majority of the UK are forbidden to travel and stuck in Tier 3 and 4 lockdowns [above is her reply]

She went on: 'I understand some people may not see this as work but advertising fashion brands, companies, hotels etc is how I pay my bills.

'I dont question anyone on how they pay theirs so dont question mine. Happy new year!' [sic]

Others agreed with the original critic's comment, with one remarking 'God how easy is that flying somewhere nice and getting pictured' and another posting 'Got her fella with her so cant be that much of a business trip'.

Kady is away with her boyfriend, former TOWIE star Myles Barnett, 26, after they rekindled their romance following an on-off relationship.

She went on: 'I understand some people may not see this as work but advertising fashion brands, companies, hotels etc is how I pay my bills. I dont question anyone on how they pay theirs so dont question mine. Happy new year!'

Kady was also forced to hit back at another follower on Friday, who bizarrely posted: 'Congratulations on the pregnancy!'

Kady was also forced to hit back at another follower on Friday, who bizarrely posted: 'Congratulations on the pregnancy!'

To which Kady snapped back: 'Only thing in my belly right now is a pina colada and pad Thai!'

The snap saw Kady in a skimpy two piece, her long raven tresses falling loosely over one shoulder and covering her face and her torso.

It comes after a flurry of reality stars have been slammed over the past few weeks for jetting off to the lives of the Maldives, St Barts and Dubai.

Plus one: Kady is away with her boyfriend, former TOWIE star Myles Barnett, 26, after they rekindled their romance following an on-off relationship

Hard at it girls? Despite the coronavirus crisis worsening, stars of TOWIE, Love Island and Geordie Shore appear to be soaking up the sun around the globe in their droves. Pictured Malin Andersson, Chloe Ferry, L-R

While some jetted out prior to the UK's travel ban, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson enforced another lockdown on the nation, others have jetted off since then, under the 'for work purposes' loophole.

Despite the coronavirus crisis worsening, stars of TOWIE, Love Island and Geordie Shore appear to be soaking up the sun around the globe in their droves.

Most have flocked to Dubai, as the United Arab Emirates has played host to a number of stars over the past year, despite the consistent rules throughout advising against international travel, save for work or education.

Hot spot: Dubai has been the primary hot spot for reality star 'business trips', rule-bending and hard-partying throughout the pandemic, and stars continue to flock to the United Arab Emirates despite soaring infection rates

Amid yacht trips and wild nights out, a host of stars, including TOWIE's Amber Turner, Dan Edgar, Yazmin Oukhellou and James Lock, have all maintained their trips have been for business purposes with many confirming their work plans on social media or to publications through their representatives.

On December 20, London and surrounding areas were plunged into Tier 4, which saw travel abroad for leisure 'not permitted', with exceptions only allowed for reasons such as work, education and childcare, however Vogue Williams and her husband Spencer Matthews were spotted on a family holiday to St. Barts on Monday.

Government guidelines for international travel currently state: 'Following identification of a new variant of the virus, international travel from your area may be increasingly restricted because of domestic regulations...

Living it up: Amid yacht trips and wild nights out, a host of stars have maintained their trips have been for business purposes with many confirming their work plans on social media or to publications through their representatives [Love Island's Kaz Crossley and Ellie Brown, pictured]

Idyllic: The stars have also sauntered to the Caribbean while Brits languish at home

'Different rules apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For example, those in tier 4 areas in England will not be permitted to travel abroad apart from limited exceptions, such as work purposes. Follow all the rules that apply to you.'

The general travel advice on the Gov.uk site reads: 'We continue to advise against all non-essential international travel to some countries and territories. You should check the country page for your destination....

'We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping this advice under constant review so that it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British people. We take a range of factors into account.

'For coronavirus, this includes the incidence rate and the resilience of healthcare provision in each country.'
SPRINGFIELD  The Indian Orchard Citizens Council is looking to bring some cheer to 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic by renewing its hanging flower basket program along business corridors.

The neighborhood council is asking for business donations as it continues the program, now in its fourth year, said Zaida Govan, citizens council president.

The neighborhood is seeking funds from local businesses and city assistance in promoting the program, she said.

The neighborhood council is planning on approximately 200 flower baskets including areas along Main Street and the Boston Road business corridor within or near Indian Orchard, Govan said. The group was able to add more than 50 new baskets along Boston Road in 2020 from the Pasco Road intersection to the Wilbraham town line.

The program created some beauty and happiness during COVID-19 pandemic, she said. There were more than 175 baskets hung throughout the neighborhood.

People were so impressed and happy to see the baskets out, Govan said. I think it was very important.

The neighborhood is seeking donations from small and large businesses for the Indian Orchard Blooms campaign, and hopes that some grant funds will be available, Govan said.

In a prepared release this week, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno praised Govan and Indian Orchard residents and businesses for working together to help keep the neighborhood vibrant and highlight the important role that Boston Road plays in Springfields local economy.

I will proudly continue to donate and support this Neighborhood Business District Initiative, Sarno said.

The program includes having a private landscaper hired to maintain the baskets from May through October. The baskets looked beautiful during the pandemic year, Sarno and Govan said.

If it looks good, people feel good and want to spend money and buy and invest in the area, Sarno said. Here is to a much better year to come!

Govan said letters have been sent out to many businesses seeking their support for the program this year, but the council knows that the residents and businesses are struggling during the coronavirus.

Govan said the program was initiated by former state Rep. Paul Caron, through the neighborhood councils Business Connections Committee. The program grew from 25 flower baskets three years ago.
New Delhi: Director, CBI Shri Rishi Kumar Shukla greeted the officers and staff of CBI on the occasion of New Year 2021. In a virtual address to the officers of CBI across India, Director, CBI underlined that Covid-19 related lockdown came as a challenge.

In spite of the best efforts taken CBI family lost a few Officers and men. Director, CBI conveyed condolence to their family members and assured them for all possible assistance. He stressed the need to continuously adhere to covid protocols as a pandemic is still here. We should continue with periodic sanitization of our workplace and frequent testing, he added.

Director, CBI also informed that a large number of cases numbering around 800 were disposed off during the year gone by (2020) despite huge challenges of COVID-19 pandemic which caused tremendous hurdles in the operations in various walks of life. With your cooperation and efforts, we have been able to finalise the investigation of a substantial number of cases to achieve our targets. We need to work hard in the coming days, Director, CBI said.

Shri Shukla complemented the investigating officers and the supervisory officers in exhibiting the true nature of team CBI towards relentless by pursuing cases. He cited the example of a recently adjudicated case in Kerala in which conviction was pronounced despite the severely hampered and complicated case handed over to CBI.

Director, CBI also emphasised the need for officers and others at various levels in keeping themselves updated with the latest tools of investigation through sustained training. He pointed out that new and well innovated Online/Virtual training modules are now available/ developed as a fall-out of restrictions caused by the covid pandemic.

Shri Shukla underscored the need for supervisory officers to involve themselves in live investigation cases more frequently as a matter of New Year resolution. This will help them to have the first-hand experience of some of the present investigation methods and can further guide their teams to strengthen/further improve investigation with an objective of accelerating the process.

Shri Shukla highlighted the welfare activities and said, efforts were made to fill- up the existing vacancies, hold maximum DPCs whereby a number of officials were promoted. He recognised the services rendered by the Officers while getting various prestigious awards including IPM/PPM/USM/AUSM/Home Ministers Medal & Asuchana Padak etc.

Director, CBI complimented the officers of CBI for professional work and for progressively achieving better results, especially during the last two years. Recently, a large number of high-value bank fraud cases have been taken up which marks an emerging challenge to CBI.

The Additional Directors and other senior officers & officials of CBI also present during the address.
US travellers have been temporarily banned from entering the Philippines after the new and more infectious Covid variant was detected in Florida.

The ban comes into effect on Sunday, 3 January, and will last until Friday, 15 January, a spokesperson for Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, said.

It covers those who have been to the US within 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines, the spokesperson added.

The announcement comes just hours after health officials in Florida said they found evidence that the new variant, sometimes referred to as B.1.1.7., was found in a patient in the state.

Florida is the third state to have detected the B.1.1.7. California and Colorado have also reported cases of the new variant, which is thought to be more transmissible after being first detected in the UK.

New coronavirus cases are on the rise across the US. There were 230,982 reported on 31 December - up slightly from the 229,349 logged on 30 December.

In total, the US has recorded 20million cases and some 346,000 Covid-related deaths, official figures show.

The Philippines ban expands the travel restrictions that Manila announced earlier this week, which initially covered passengers from 19 countries and territories and took effect from midnight of 29 December.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the decision to include the US in the regulation was on the recommendation of the health and foreign affairs departments.

Passengers from the US who will arrive before 3 January will be allowed to enter the Philippines, but they must undergo a 14-day quarantine even if they had initially tested negative.

The restriction does not cover Filipinos travelling from the United States but they are also required to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a government facility when they arrive.

The new variant has not been detected in the Philippines.

With more than 475,000 confirmed infections and 9,248 deaths, the Philippines has the second-highest number of Covid cases and casualties in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Adam King, who appeared on The Late Late Toy Show last night. Picture by Fergal Phillips

Late Late Toy Show sensation Adam King has sent a special New Years message thanking the public for their support in 2020.

The Cork native shot to fame after he appeared on the show on RTE and told the audience about his dreams to work for NASA and his virtual hugging machine.

His virtual hug symbol, with the words A Hug For You written in a red loveheart, now features on all Christmas letters sent through An Post.

Hello everyone, thank you for everything in 2020, he says in a short video on social media.

Heres a virtual hug for everyone for 2021.

Happy New Year, he adds.

In an accompanying caption, his parents write that they couldnt be more proud of him.

His Virtual Hug has become a symbol for so many people everywhere and we couldn't be more proud. In the difficult times we are living through, Adam is so happy to have helped brighten people's days, the caption reads.

It adds that the King family is grateful to those who supported their son since his appearance on the Late Late and teased plans in the new year.

The entire family are so grateful to everyone for getting behind Adam and his spirit of love and connection. We all need it now more than ever. We have lots and lots of exciting plans coming up in the New Year to continue to share Adam's message so please be sure to check in with us.

May 2021 bring good things for all of us! We look forward to continuing this wonderful journey with you all.

Adam melted the hearts of the nation when his appearance on the show attracted attention from real-life astronauts.

He told presenter Ryan Tubridy of his dreams to work in Capcom, an operator on Earth which communicates with astronauts in space.

He made a return to the RTE talk show when he virtually met Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who told Adam that he could very well see him working for NASA one day.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The National Weather Service Cleveland put out a hazardous weather outlook Friday, and Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Ashtabula counties could experience flooding as a result of rain.

NWS Cleveland meteorologist Kirk Lombardy said a low pressure system is moving through the area, and the precipitation began as a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain in the morning. Lombardy said most of the area was receiving just rain after noon.

Temperatures have warmed up into the lower 30s, and Lombardy said temperatures should continue to increase and gradually reduce the chance for freezing rain.

And with the recent snowfall and then the rainfall weve had just the other day, and then the additional rainfall now, were expecting the ground to be quite saturated with water, Lombardy said. And then with the additional rainfall today and tonight, theres a possibility that we will see rises in our rivers across northern Ohio into northwest Pennsylvania.

The rain is expected to continue through tonight and have a gradual decrease in the amount of rain overnight. Lombardy said much of Saturday is expected to be fair weather as the low pressure system goes off to the northeast part of the country with the rain.
India has asked China to allow two Indian freighters stranded for months near two Chinese ports because of the pandemic to rapidly unload their cargoes or replace their 39 crew members, an official said Friday.

"There is growing stress on the crew members on account of the long delay," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said. The vessels are among ships from various countries waiting to unload their cargoes at Jintang and Caofeidian ports, Srivastava said.

"We expect that this assistance will be provided in an urgent, practical and time-bound manner, given the grave humanitarian situation that is developing onboard the ships," he said in a statement.

Srivastava said Chinese authorities have conveyed that a crew change is not permitted at the ports because of COVID-19-related restrictions. Beijing has suggested that the shipping company may apply for a crew rotation at Tianjin port, he said.

The MEA spokesperson said the Indian Embassy in Beijing continued to remain in close and continuous touch with the Chinese authorities in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, adding the government is also following up on the matter through the Chinese Embassy here for "an early resolution". He said the Indian Embassy has repeatedly taken up the issue with both the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs and the local provincial authorities, requesting that the ships be allowed to dock and/or the crew be allowed to be changed.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said local authorities have been maintaining close communication with the Indian side and providing necessary facilities and assistance.

"Some Chinese ports allow crew changes under the premise of complying with the relevant epidemic prevention regulations, but Jintang port and Caofeidian port are not included in this list. It is up to the freighter to decide whether to adjust its operating arrangements," Wang said last week.

The Indian cargo vessel MV Jag Anand of Great Eastern Shipping Co. has been at anchor near Jingtang in Hebei province since June 13 with 23 Indian crew members on board. Another vessel, MV Anastasia, with 16 Indian crew members, has been near Caofeidian since Sept. 20. Both are waiting to discharge their cargoes before leaving the ports.

(With inputs from AP and PTI)
Andre Hill, the unarmed 47-year-old Black man fatally shot by police in Columbus, Ohio, just three days before Christmas received no aid for several minutes after being mortally wounded, new police body camera footage shows.

The footage, released Thursday, was taken in the moments after Hill was shot by now-former Columbus Police Department officer Adam Coy, a 19-year veteran of the force. The footage is from the body cameras of several different officers, including officer Amy Detweiler, who was with Coy at the time of the shooting.

Coy was fired after Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan recommended the officer be terminated for failing to turn his body camera on ahead of the shooting and for failing to give Hill medical assistance after shooting him. Both Coy and Detweiler violated the department's protocol by failing to turn on their body-worn cameras ahead of the shooting, according to a directive published by the Columbus Police Department.

Image: US-RACISM-POLICE-KILLING (Stephen Zenner / AFP - Getty Images)

Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus, Jr. agreed with Quinlan's recommendation, citing "indisputable" evidence in his decision following a hearing on Monday.

The actions of Adam Coy do not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer, or the standards we, and the community, demand of our officers, Pettus said. The shooting of Andre Hill is a tragedy for all who loved him in addition to the community and our Division of Police.

Detweiler, who has been on the force since 2011, has been reassigned to administrative duty while an internal investigation of the shooting is conducted, according to NBC4i.

Hill was a guest of the homeowner where the shooting took place and had not committed a crime when Coy and Detweiler arrived at 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 22.

Neither Detweiler nor Coy turned their cameras on ahead of the shooting. However, a "look back" feature on the cameras meant it recorded 60 seconds of video prior to the officers activating them, but this did not capture audio.

Story continues

Detweiler's camera activates after the shooting has occurred and Hill can be seen sprawled on his back laying in the driveway. Coy tells Detweiler to get him police support, which she then radios for. Shortly after, the footage shows Detweiler getting into her car and then putting up police tape. As more police gather at the scene, an officer can be heard telling Detweiler, "Cuff him up. He's still moving." Two unidentified officers roll Hill onto his stomach while Detweiler steps over Hill and then puts the handcuffs on his wrists.

An officer can be heard reminding the others to make sure their cameras are on.

Detweiler's footage also captures a woman exiting the home where the shooting takes place, saying, He was bringing me Christmas money. He didnt do anything. Detweiler tells the woman to go back inside the house and the woman goes back in.

Later, Detweiler tells another officer, I didnt shoot ... I didnt see what he saw.

Previously-released footage from Coy's body-worn camera begins by showing Hill inside a garage before he is shot.

In the video, prior to the audio turning on, Hill can be seen holding a phone, with the brightly lit screen facing Coy, as Hill appears to move slowly toward the officer. Hill's other hand is not clearly visible on the video. The camera shakes as Coy backs away from Hill, without audio, it's unclear when exactly Coy fires as well as how many times Coy fires his weapon.

Although it's not captured on the video, Detweiler told NBC News affiliate NBC4i that she heard Coy say "Theres a gun in his other hand! Theres a gun in his other hand! before he shot Hill. Detweiler said she did not see a weapon and Hill was later determined to be unarmed, NBC4i reported.

Once the audio does turn on, Hill is on the ground, lying near the back of a car parked in the garage. Coy can be heard shouting "Put your f-----g hands out to the side! Hands out to the side! Now! Roll to your stomach, now!" while an unmoving Hill can be seen on the ground.

After several minutes, a police supervisor arrives at the scene and asks if anyone was "doing anything" for Hill and directs an officer to start pumping Hill's chest. At this point, an officer finally begins giving Hill chest compressions. The Associate Press estimates roughly 10 minutes passed before Hill was given medical assistance.

Hill was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Coy has not been charged with a crime but Franklin County Prosecutor Ron OBrien has appointed Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost as special prosecutor to conduct an investigation of Hills case.

After the footage was released, Police Chief Tom Quinlan said his initial reaction to seeing the videos was anger and "deep disappointment."

"One of the core values of the Columbus division of police is compassion, and the body-worn camera video released today shows little of that," Quinlan said in the video.

Ben Crump, the attorney for Hill's family, lambasted the police in a tweet posted on Friday.

"Andre Hill should be alive today and his death is indefensible! The rampant police mentality to shoot first and ask questions later is incontrovertible evidence that Black lives don't matter with too many law enforcement officers," Crump wrote.
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The Judicial Service says Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has administrative powers to issue warrants to judges to sit and determine cases any day.



The Service said it was regrettable that the implementation of the administrative measures intended to promote smooth administration of Justice had been misconstrued by a section of the media.



A statement issued and signed by Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo, Judicial Secretary in Accra, said.



The statement is in response to public reactions to the re-assigning of two High Court Judges by the Chief Justice.



"The Judicial Service is deeply concerned about publication in some sections of the media imputing ill and improper motives to the Chief Justice's recent legitimate exercise of administrative powers to the re-assigning of two High Court judges."



The statement said "the Chief Justice by a letter dated 10th December 2020, transferred Justice Charles A. Wilson from the High Court, Tamale, where there were three High Court Judges currently, to the High Court at Bolgatanga, which has two High Courts with only one judge."



It explained that Justice Wilson's transfer was to take effect from January 6, next year, when the Christmas vacation would have ended and that he was directed to start work on January 11, 2021 until his release to Tamale, which was his station.



According to the statement, the Chief Justice exercised his administrative powers to transfer Justice Wilson to address a pressing administrative challenge undermining the efficient delivery of Justice in the region.



The statement said in the case of Justice Douglas Seidu, his posting to Bolgatanga upon his appointment, was curtailed because of his previous practice as a lawyer in that town.



"It is this situation that necessitated Justice Wilson's transfer to Bolgatanga to fill the vacuum, until such a time that a permanent replacement is made", it added.



The statement said: "as of now, no warrant whatsoever has been issued to Justice Seidu to sit in Tamale from his station at Sunyani."



It said the Service assured the public of its commitment to uphold, at all times, the rule of law in the discharge of its mandate.

Source: GNA









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Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The president of the Malian Transition, Bah NDaw, has urged the government to take adequate measures to break the chain of the coronavirus contamination in the country
ENCINO, Calif., Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tokio Marine HCC  Cyber & Professional Lines Group today announced that Ari Giller has been appointed Vice President of Cyber and Tech Underwriting, effective November 13, 2020, reporting to Michael Palotay, the groups Chief Underwriting Officer. Mr. Giller is based in Chicago and will oversee the West Coast and Midwest underwriting divisions.



Im excited to announce Aris promotion, said Mr. Palotay. Hes distinguished himself as a thought leader, and his unparalleled expertise has kept us forward-thinking in the marketplace. Ari spearheaded our regional distribution approach in the Midwest and has successfully grown that operation for four years. His strategic outlook will continue to be a huge asset as he takes on this leadership role.

Mr. Giller joined Tokio Marine HCC in 2011 and most recently served as Director - Cyber & Tech Underwriting Midwest. In his new role, he will lead product development, manage new business production, and oversee the cyber and tech underwriting team. His in-depth knowledge and experience of the cyber market has been impactful over the years and will be especially important as the cyber market continues to evolve.

I am eager to get started, said Mr. Giller. As we constantly evaluate exposures in the market, we look to refine our underwriting approach and improve our risk management and prevention services. As industry leaders, we strive to be ahead of the curve during times of continuous change.

About Tokio Marine HCC

Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $30 billion as of September 30, 2020. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Tokio Marine HCCs major domestic insurance companies have financial strength ratings of A+ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings, A++ (Superior) from A.M. Best, and AA- (Very Strong) from Fitch Ratings; its major international insurance companies have financial strength ratings of A+ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit www.tokiomarinehcc.com.
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George Clooney is shaping up to end 2020 with a hit.

On Thursday, Deadline reported that his film The Midnight Sky, which the Oscar-winner directed and starred in, is slated to become one of Netflix's most-watched overall films.

The streaming service announced that the picture had been viewed by a projected 72 million households during its first four weeks of release.

Finishing strong: George Clooney's film The Midnight Sky is slated to become one of Netflix's overall most-watched titles

The film was also Netflix's biggest theatrical release of the year, as it played on hundreds of screens in 16 different countries worldwide.

In terms of streaming, the media company confirmed that The Midnight Sky attained the top spot for content in 77 countries and has reached the top ten list in 93 countries overall.

The science fiction picture was based off of the 2016 novel of the same name, written by novelist Lily Brooks-Dalton.

The plot follows a research scientist who takes a young girl on a trip through the Arctic Circle in order to warn a potentially returning spaceship not to return to Earth, which has undergone a cataclysmic event.

Dual roles: Clooney served as both the leading actor and director of the film; he is seen on set with David Oyelowo and Tiffany Boone in 2019

In addition to Clooney, the picture also stars Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo and Demian Bichir in supporting roles.

Development on the project was announced in June of 2019 and filming began in October of that year, with production wrapping the following February.

Due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, The Midnight Sky was given a limited theatrical release beginning on December 11th.

The movie's wide release on Netflix occurred a few weeks afterwards on December 23rd.

In an interview with Variety, Clooney spoke about the difficulties of directing a motion picture in a particularly harsh environment; the film was shot in England and Iceland, often in below-zero temperatures.

Big and small screens: The Midnight Sky was given separate theatrical and home releases

Heavy duty work: Clooney spoke to Variety about filming in harsh environments, stating that 'you have to be really, really prepared'; he is pictured in 2018

'First and foremost, you have to be really, really prepared... We get in a scene, and all of a sudden, its too sunny or too nice. Or then we get there, and it wasnt nice enough. Ive been doing it long enough now that its not as complicated as it feels,' he stated.

The 59-year-old also noted that he wanted the film to feel timely and to cover a wide range of subjects under the guise of a sci-fi story.

He said: 'I wanted it to deal with things were all dealing with today: the denying of science, playing out anger, hatred, and divisions in between the people of the United States, but also divisions that play out in other countries.'

Clooney also spoke about how his status as a parents influenced both the writing of the screenplay and his performance in multiple different scenes.

'Theres a part of this film that is about isolation and our ability to communicate, and our inability to be near the people we love. And that is a very specific example of taking away and losing something you care deeply about,' the actor opined.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31) - Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay has ordered an investigation on the vaccination of some Presidential Security Group members with an unregistered vaccine.

In a statement on Thursday, AFP spokesperson Marine Major General Edgard Arevalo said Gapay wanted a "thorough investigation on the factual circumstances surrounding this incident."

The AFP on Monday confirmed President Rodrigo Duterte's close-in security personnel were the first ones among the military to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in a bid to "protect" the chief executive from infection.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted on Wednesday the vaccines given to the PSG members were smuggled in small batches.

However, Arevalo maintained Gapay was not involved in the matter.

"We maintain our previous declaration that the Chief-of-Staff of the AFP was not part of or privy to the circumstances involving the procurement of these vaccines, its source, and the administration thereof to PSG troopers," he said.

The Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Customs, and the National Bureau of Investigation are also set to investigate on how the unregistered COVID-19 vaccines entered the country.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday said PSG chief Brigadier General Jesus Durante III should attend the Senate's probe on the 'underground' vaccination program.

The FDA Act states those who import, sell, or distribute any unregistered health product may face imprisonment or monetary fines.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid has said Ireland could see 3,000 Covid-19 cases per day as the testing system catches up with reported cases.

Speaking to RTE's Morning Ireland, the HSE Chief said the health service is on "high alert" as Covid-19 cases rise and contact tracing and Ireland's testing system tackle the growing coronavirus infection in the community.

Mr Reid said people need to reduce contacts and stay at home to protect themselves in the coming days and weeks.

Asked about the 4,000 under-reported cases, Paul Reid pointed out there were 35,000 swabs taken yesterday. He said the system cannot cope with the lab tests being handed over to be put onto the infectious disease register.

He said it hasn't, however, had an impact in terms of contacting people. "The real picture over the last few days is most likely getting close to 3,000 cases per day. That is the extent of the virus we are dealing with.

"When we get to these levels, it has a severe impact across areas, not just our systems, the health service and the volume that any system can cope with."

Testing vs restricting movements

Asked about a decision not to test close contacts of confirmed cases and instead advise them to restrict their movements, Mr Reid said this does not represent a failure of the testing system.

Mr Reid said in mid-December, the tracing system was contacting 9,000 people per week between cases and their contacts. The HSE chief said this has increased dramatically in recent days and yesterday tracers contacted 13,000 people in one day.

Mr Reid said the scale could increase from 9,000 per week to 100,000 per week if tracers need to contact this amount every day.

What we have to do now is prioritise our capacity. Everybody remembers the 100,000 per week capacity that we wanted to build, we now have 175,000 per week capacity.

So we have to prioritise that now for the most symptomatic people. And thats in essence what we have had to do, said Mr Reid.

Private hospital support

Private hospitals are providing support for some health services Mr Reid said, as the health system grapples with Covid-19 cases. The HSE boss said the health system went into winter in a stronger position than previous years as a result of this year's investment and that trolley numbers are down over 70% compared to last year. The impact of Covid-19 on hospital capacity is disproportionate though due to infection but said the system is managing.

Discussions about capacity for a surge in Covid-19 hospitalisations are ongoing with private hospitals the HSE chief said.

Meanwhile, an additional 2,000 Covid-19 vaccines have been made available to vaccinate health staff in three Cork hospitals this weekend.

The South/South West Hospital Group (S/SWHG) confirmed the allocation which will be administered to "public-facing health care staff" in Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital by Sunday.
An inmate holds up a message through a window at Dongbu Detention Center in Seoul, Tuesday, to communicate to media personnel outside about the COVID-19 infection situation there. In the message, the inmate complains that eight infected patients are confined in one cell and sending out mail has been banned. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



The health authorities are on high alert as the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic here has been spreading in increasingly complex patterns.



There have been mass infections in geriatric hospitals and a correctional facility, while cases of a mutant strain originating from the United Kingdom that is 1.7 times more transmissible, have been confirmed in Korea, adding to the woes the government is facing in its antivirus fight.



According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Thursday, 967 new COVID-19 infections were reported for Wednesday, including 940 local cases, raising the total caseload to 60,740. The country's total virus caseload broke the 60,000 mark the same day, 11 months after the first case was reported Jan. 20. It has taken just 10 days for the number to rise from 50,000 due to the third wave of the pandemic, which is proving to be more virulent.






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SPRINGFIELD  As investigators search for the cause of a suspicious fire that heavily damaged the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church on Monday, anxiety continues to grow in the community, especially among members of historically Black churches.

People have been calling local leaders to air concerns about the blaze and the fact they still have no answers about the cause, said state Rep. Bud L. Williams, D-Springfield.

He and Bishop Talbert Swan II, president of the Springfield chapter of the NAACP and the head of Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ, held a press conference on New Years Eve in front of the Presbyterian church at 14 Concord Terrace to discuss the impact the fire has had on the community. They called on Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi to work more closely with local churches.

Williams said there has been radio silence about the investigation, although fire officials have said daily they are continuing to investigate and have released information about other fires in the area. He asked Sarno and Calvi to make daily announcements to give developments to the public.

Sarno said the citys police and fire departments are working with state and federal investigators to find the cause of the fire and provide justice to the churchs members if law enforcement determines it was arson.

I have just been informed by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi that during the course of this investigation an individual has been arrested for unrelated crimes and other charges could be pending depending on the outcome of this investigation, Sarno told The Republican on Thursday evening.

The suspect, whose name was not immediately available, was arrested by another department Thursday. Springfield police had a warrant out for his arrest on multiple charges including attempted arson, malicious damage and other crimes, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman.

I congratulate all our local, state, and federal partners that have worked around the clock on this matter. As I have stated previously there is zero tolerance with regards to any crimes of this nature, Sarno said. Further information will follow in this ongoing investigation. Again, in these situations, special attention will be given to houses of worship.

He added that he, Clapprood and Calvi have continually updated pastor Terrlyn Curry Avery about the investigation and will do what he can to assist in the rebuilding of the church, which sustained about $100,000 in damage and saw most of the interior destroyed.

In her first statement since the destruction of the church, Curry Avery thanked Sarno, who she said has been in daily contact with her, for working with her and for his promise to help to rebuild the church.

Although we have suffered a tremendous loss and certainly believe that whoever committed this atrocity should be held accountable for their actions, we also recognize that the person is clearly a wounded soul. As such, we offer forgiveness, along with our prayers for his spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing. I want to thank community leaders and my fellow faith leaders who have expressed their concern for, and support of, our members and about the impact that this burning has on a community that is already besieged, she said.

She also thanked people for their prayers, kind words, and support. A building fund has been developed and donations can be made to psne.org/donate.

Williams and Swan said the concerns about the fire have resonated beyond Springfield. Both said they have received calls from people across the country concerned the fire may be a hate crime. Swan said more than two dozen people from outside Springfield have called seeking more information.

In the history of America, one terrorist act that has always been enacted against the Black community has been striking against the heart of their faith and the burning down of their churches, Swan said. While we understand that the authorities are investigating this and it has not been deemed to be a hate crime, the concern in our community should be understandable.

After four days, investigators continue to sift through evidence searching for a cause. They have been working all day. Arson is a tedious crime to investigate, Fire Capt. Drew Piemonte said Thursday evening.

Piemonte said investigators consider possible causes for a fire and then seek evidence that either rules out or confirms each theory.

Identifying where in a building and how a fire started is a deliberate and time-consuming process. So far, investigators have determined the fire began in the rear of the church, but it is not yet clear if it started inside or outside.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the states Arson Hotline at 800-682-9229. Rewards of up to $5,000 are available for information that leads to a conviction.

Swan said he is concerned that no one has contacted the citys Council of Churches to discuss the possibility that someone may be trying to burn down Black churches. He pointed to the fact that the Presbyterian church is one of the well-known Black churches in the city and is even named for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., which could make it an obvious target.

He criticized Sarno and Calvi for failing to talk with other pastors, especially those with large Black congregations, and help them protect their own churches if there is an arsonist in the community. Swan said he had not asked either for assistance in the past few days.
Kathmandu, January 1

Nepal has begun the formal process to import Covid-19 vaccine from India. Newly appointed Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi met Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday to talk about purchasing the vaccine, informed Indian Embassy, Kathmandu.

The embassy said that the vaccine will be brought to Nepal as soon as it is released for emergency-use in India.

Six Covid-19 vaccines are in different stages of clinical trial in India. Dr VG Somani, Drug Controller General of India, on Thursday hinted that some of these vaccines could be approved and be out for the public soon. According to various news outlets in India, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation is meeting on Friday over approval of emergency-use of three vaccines.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently wrote to the Indian government, requesting for the supply of the vaccines that would suffice the need for the 20 per cent of the population, according to Nepali Ambassador to India, Nilamber Acharya.

Sources say that the government is also preparing to start similar initiatives for the import of vaccines from other countries.
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has eased the norms on shooting films in the state for both small and big screens, so as to give a boost to the film production sector.



Applications for the shoot can be sent online to the www.apsftvtdc.in website of the AP state film, television and theatre development corporation for according governmental permission free of cost. The processing of the request will be done in a stipulated period and the applicants as also the concerned departments will be informed of the decisions soon.



APSFTTDC managing director T. Vijay Kumar Reddy said in a statement here on Thursday that the earlier practice of collecting a stipulated amount for government permission has been done away with. The state government recently issued GO 45 on such permissions and hoped that these relaxations would give a major boost to the film and TV industries, he said.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Sandia Pueblo member Lynn Trujillo said she felt a sense of hope.

For Mark Moores  whose laboratory tests for COVID-19  the vaccine brought relief.

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They became two of the most prominent members of state government Thursday to reveal they got a COVID-19 vaccine. A third state official, Dr. Tracie Collins, who leads the Department of Health, also has received a shot.

In separate interviews Thursday, Trujillo and Moores reported some arm soreness, but no other side effects.

I think the vaccine, Trujillo said, is definitely a message of hope for all of us.

Trujillo, 48, is secretary of the Indian Affairs Department under Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. She got a Moderna shot Wednesday in her role as a member of Sandia Pueblo, a community that received doses directly from the U.S. Indian Health Service.

Moores, 50, is a Republican senator from Albuquerque. He got the Pfizer shot about two weeks ago in his role as a frontline worker who collects samples for testing at a laboratory he and his wife own.

All summer and fall, it goes through your mind: If I slip up one time, if my mask isnt snugly fit, I can get COVID,' Moores said. Getting that shot was liberating.

Moores and Trujillo both said they will continue wearing masks and taking other steps to limit the transmission of COVID-19. And they encouraged New Mexicans to embrace vaccination when theyre eligible.

People excited about it

Their comments come as New Mexico hospitals report progress vaccinating their frontline employees. The states initial allocation of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has been dedicated to front-line workers in health care, staff and residents at long-term care facilities, and Native American communities.

Alex Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, said UNM Hospital has administered thousands of vaccine doses already to employees who work directly with COVID-19 patients.

The health system, she said, is now opening up vaccination to any other employee working in its hospitals or clinics rather than at home.

People are really excited about it, Sanchez said.

UNM had administered about 7,200 doses through Wednesday.

Presbyterian Healthcare Services reported that it has administered the first vaccine dose to almost 6,000 front-line workers, including nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and housekeeping staff. Presbyterian is also vaccinating first responders at Albuquerque Fire Rescue.

This vaccine has been well received and deeply appreciated by our care teams, who have served the community with unwavering dedication throughout the pandemic, Dr. Jason Mitchell, Presbyterians chief medical officer, said in a written statement.

Collins, a medical doctor and the health secretary-designate for New Mexico, received her first dose of the vaccine in late December in her role as a health care provider, a state spokesman said.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses for maximum protection, spaced three to four weeks apart.

Collins said this week that New Mexico had administered 41,000 doses of the vaccine overall through Sunday, or about 83% of the supply.

More doses have come in since then, bringing the total to about 71,700 doses received by the state.

New Mexico has been vaccinating people as the supplies come in, not holding back half the doses to provide a second shot. The booster doses will come from future shipments.

A spokesman for Lujan Grisham said earlier this week that the governor isnt yet scheduled for the vaccine, given the limited supply.

Sen. Moores said he supports vaccinating legislators and elected officials soon because of their essential role in state government. Vaccination, he said, would make it easier for lawmakers to conduct more of their work in person, with the 60-day session set to start within three weeks.

I highly encourage everyone to get it as soon as theyre eligible, Moores said. It is a liberating experience, and its what were going to need to put this pandemic in our rearview mirror.

41 COVID deaths Thursday

New Mexico ended 2020 just shy of 2,500 coronavirus deaths.

State health officials reported 41 more COVID-19 fatalities on Thursday, pushing the official virus-related death toll to 2,477 residents since March.

The state has averaged about 30 deaths a day over the last week. At its peak, New Mexico was averaging about 36 daily deaths in mid-December.

Thursdays victims included three women in their 30s and 17 adults in their 80s or 90s.

The state also reported 1,684 new cases of the disease  a bit higher than the average of about 1,100 daily cases for the last week. At its peak, New Mexico averaged almost 2,700 case a day, in late November.

Health officials said 803 coronavirus patients are hospitalized in New Mexico, a figure thats been roughly stable the last few days.
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Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has appealed for urgent intervention by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the plight of about 800,000 displaced people in need of food in areas affected by insurgency in the state.

Mr Zulum said this according to a statement by Isa Gusau, the governors special adviser on communications and strategy on Friday.

Mr Gusau said the governor made the appeal in a letter he presented during a visit to NEMA headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, where he informed the agencys boss about the critical needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 11 towns.

The governors aide noted that Gov. Zulum in a letter, informed NEMAs Director General, Retired AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Mohammed, that IDPs in Monguno, Bama, Damboa, Gwoza, Dikwa, Gamboru, Ngala, Damasak, Banki, Pulka and Gajiram need urgent access to food supplies.

Mr Gusau said the governor had, however, acknowledged interventions made by NEMA, the North East Development Commission and efforts by the Nigerian Customs Service, following presidential directive two years ago that food seizures be used for humanitarian support in crises areas.

He said Zulum also noted that food interventions must be sustained because majority of IDPs rely on agriculture as means of livelihood, and substantial portions of them cannot access their farmlands due to insurgents attacks.

He quoted the director general of NEMA as assuring the Borno governor of sustained support, and lauded the efforts of Zulums administration toward transforming the state through a well thought out development plan.

The NEMA boss also assured Mr Zulum of the agencys support, particularly in the actualisation of the states recently unveiled 25 year development plan.

Meanwhile, Mr Zulum had also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, on inter governmental efforts for repatriation of thousands of Borno citizens displaced by insurgency, presently taking refuge in Cameroon in the last six years.

There are more than 60,000 of such refugees in Minawawo camp in Cameroon, waiting to be evacuated.

(NAN)
It's a new year, and a new era for Northern Ireland following our exit from the European Union.

More importantly for certain delighted parents, however, was the new life that 2021 has brought into their world.

Unlike 12 months ago, the first babies of this new year had mothers and fathers wearing face masks in the maternity units as well as "restricted access" for doting dads.

It was also a break from tradition not to see photographers milling around, ready to capture the first arrivals of January 1.

Babies are born every day - and every New Year's Day - but these 2021 newborns have a special significance.

They are the first members of the post-Brexit generation, the first born within Northern Ireland but outside the European Union for nearly five decades.

All Shaunna Murray cared about, however, was the health and well-being of little Adley, who arrived in the Ulster Hospital at 3.33am, weighing 4lb 9oz.

The 27-year-old Bangor woman gave birth to the baby girl via emergency Caesarian section.

"I arrived at the Ulster at 12.15am on New Year's Day and she came at 3.33am," Shaunna told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Her wee heart kept stopping every time I had a contraction so I had an emergency section.

"I was really worried about her so I'm so happy everything went well in the end."

It is child number three for the full-time mum, who has two sons - Lucas-James (4) and Caleb (2) - with Andrew Carle (33), her partner of six years.

Shaunna told how her oldest son chose his sister's name. "He watches an American girl called on Adley on YouTube and said that's what he wanted us to call her," she said. "I'm not getting out until Sunday and the boys are very excited about meeting her."

Shaunna revealed there were some differences giving birth during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Andrew, who no longer works due to failing eyesight, was with her during the birth, although he had to wear a face covering in keeping with new protocols.

"He was allowed to come into the room with me from 12.45am and stayed until 7am," she said.

"The only thing that was different this time was that everyone was wearing masks - including me at the start, but then they let me take it off, thank goodness.

"I haven't slept for two days but I'm just delighted! My mum Christine and sister Launna are helping Andrew with the boys at present. I can't wait to bring Adley home."

Charlene and Martin Corrigan from Benburb, outside Armagh, welcomed a baby Laoise at Craigavon Hospital at 12.35 am, weighing 6lb 10.5oz. Mum Charlene said she was delighted to have been given the gift of a beautiful little girl.

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"Everything went the way I wanted it to go so I'm extremely happy," she told this newspaper.

"I was taken into hospital on Wednesday afternoon because I had to be induced.

"Laoise was born about five hours after my contractions started and she came very quickly in the end. I feel very lucky."

Housing support manager Charlene (33), who has a two-year-old son called Conlaoch with sales manager husband Martin (36), revealed that it hadn't been plain sailing during her last visit to the delivery suite.

"The first time around it was quite traumatic for me so it was absolutely brilliant to have a normal birth," she said. "We're so happy to have a son and a daughter - it's lovely to have one of each."

She added: "I'm going home tonight and I can't wait for our family to be together. It's the best possible beginning to a new year."

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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Citing what they characterized as "a significant amount of misinformation circulating on social media and other places in Cayuga County on who is eligible, and when they can receive the vaccination," the heads of the Cayuga County Health Department and Auburn Community Hospital issued a joint statement on the process Thursday.

Cayuga County Public Health Director Kathleen Cuddy and Auburn Community Hospital CEO Scott Berlucchi said vaccinations are being administered according to the state Department of Health's prioritization plan. Under that plan, which is taking place in phases, vaccinations for the general public are not yet available.

In the first phase, which got underway in Cayuga County last week, the first group's vaccinated included the personnel at health-care facilities "at high risk for transmitting or becoming infected with COVID-19, including direct care, administrative staff, and food and housekeeping services staff who have contact with patients or infectious materials. ... The vaccine cannot be used for any other populations or groups other than those the facility is instructed to vaccinate at this time."

Nursing homes and nursing home personnel are being vaccinated under a separate federal program run in partnership with private sector pharmacies.
Leading Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, and Toyota witnessed double-digit growth in wholesale despatches in December as pent up demand led to robust passenger vehicle offtakes.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Honda Cars also reported increased sales in the domestic market last month.

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) reported 17.8 per cent increase in sales in December at 1,46,480 units as against 1,24,375 units in December 2019.

The sale of mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, increased by 4.4 per cent to 24,927 units as compared to 23,883 in the same month last year.

Similarly, sales of compact segment vehicles, including models Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, rose by 18.2 per cent to 77,641 units as against 65,673 cars in December last year.

Utility vehicle sales, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross, and Ertiga, also rose 8 per cent to 25,701 units compared to 23,808 units in the year-ago month, MSI said.

Similarly, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the country's second-largest passenger vehicle maker, reported its best monthly sales in December.

The company's domestic sales posted a 24.89 per cent increase in dispatches to dealers at 47,400 units,as compared with 37,953 units in the same month last year.

HMIL MD and CEO SS Kim said that right from the introduction of innovative initiatives such as Click-to-buy and mobility membership to the launch of Aura, all-new Creta, new Verna, new Tucson, and all-new i20 coupled with multiple powertrain options, the company has redefined experiences to give customers superior products and services in every segment.

"This clearly reflected in our domestic sales that achieved new horizons, with Hyundai managing to increase market share for the second year in succession," Kim noted.

Tata Motors reported 84 per cent increase in sales at 23,545 units last month compared with 12,785 units in the year-ago period.

"Retail sales were 18 per cent higher than wholesale for the month, and pipeline inventory remains thin," Tata Motors Business Unit President Shailesh Chandra said.

The company is continuing to debottleneck the supply chain and ramp up our output to meet the



increased demand while addressing the availability of electronic components, he added.

Mahindra & Mahindra said its in the domestic market were up 3 per cent to 16,182 units last month, compared to 15,691 units in December 2019. Its total sales however, dropped 10.3 per cent to 35,187 units in December 2020.

"Our overall sales have been affected due to the continuing supply chain challenges related to the constantly changing global environment, more specifically the supply shortage of micro-processors (semiconductors) used in electronic control units (ECUs),' M&M Chief Executive Officer Automotive Division Veejay Nakra said.

Demand continues to remain strong even after the festive season, and as the company gets into the new year, he added.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported 14 per cent growth in its domestic sales to 7,487 units in December 2020.

The carmaker had sold 6,544 vehicles in December 2019.

"As we wrap up the year, we are happy to have registered a 14 per cent growth in wholesales in December 2020, when compared to sales in the same period in 2019," said Naveen Soni, Senior Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM).

He said customer orders have been rising significantly, and retail sales (dealer's sale to customers) have also been very encouraging, giving the company confidence to embark upon a new target as it welcomes the new year.

"We have also managed to retain more than 6 per cent growth in wholesales in the last quarter of the calendar year 2020 when compared to the last quarter of 2019," he added.

Further, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) said its domestic sales increased by 2.68 per cent to 8,638 units in December compared to the same month last year.

The company had sold 8,412 units in the domestic market in December 2019.

"2020 was a challenging year, but the industry showed great resilience and realigned their businesses in the new normal. Quicker market recovery aided by increased demand for personal mobility and our steady positive sales momentum is very encouraging," HCIL Senior Vice-President and Director Marketing and Sales Rajesh Goel said.

With the availability of novel coronavirus vaccines in 2021, the company expects a return of optimism to the market and boosting the consumer sentiment going forward, he added. MG Motor India said its sales rose by 33 per cent to 4,010 units in December 2020 compared to 3,021 units in the same month a year ago.

The company sold 3,430 units of Hector, 458 units of Gloster, and 122 units of ZS electric vehicles last month.

"We have ended the year on a high note with customers continuing to choose the best-in-class premium products from MG's stable. Going forward, we will have more excitement for the customers in January. We expect the momentum to continue as the MG brand enters more markets in 2021," MG Motor India Director Sales Rakesh Sidana said.

The carmaker said it would be taking preventive annual maintenance shutdown at its Halol manufacturing facility in Gujarat during the first 10 days of January, which would affect its production during the month.

This, coupled with lockdown restrictions, could hamper the supply chain as well, the automaker noted. In the two-wheeler segment, Yamaha Motor India reported a 33 per cent growth in sales to 39,224 units for December as against 29,486 units in the same month last year.

The company has been reporting growth in its sales volumes consecutively over the past six months, following the lifting of the COVID-led lockdown, the two-wheeler maker said in a statement.

"The company expects overall demand to grow in 2021 owing to a varied demand of personal mobility," the company noted.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  A man in eastern France was killed when a New Year's Eve firework exploded after he went back to inspect it, reports the AP. The 25-year-old died instantly in the incident in Boofzheim, close to France's eastern border with Germany, the regional government said Friday. AFP reports his "head was torn off" in the incident and cites a local paper that reports after the lit firework did not explode, two men walked toward it to see what was going on. The second man was treated for facial injuries. The regional government had banned fireworks for New Year's Eve and a nighttime curfew was in place to dissuade people from gathering in public during the coronavirus pandemic.

story continues below

In neighboring Germany, police said a 24-year-old man died after lighting a homemade firework in Rietz-Neuendorf, about 20 miles southeast of Berlin. Police said Friday that explosives experts found several more unused devices in the vicinity. Germany banned the sale of fireworks this year to deter gatherings and cut down on the large number of serious injuries that clog up hospitals every New Years Eve. The Guardian adds that another fatality occurred in Italy, where a 13-year-old boy died due to abdominal injuries caused by a firecracker.

(Read more fireworks stories.)
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Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Sunny along with a few clouds. High 88F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
File image of the 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi. (Image: AP)

More than 850 academicians from across the country have supported the new reforms brought in by the Union government in the agriculture sector. The government passed three contentious bills aimed at reforming the farm sector in the Monsoon session of Parliament.

Stating that the three new acts seek to free farm trade from all restrictions, the group of academicians, in a statement, noted that the laws would empower farmers to conduct transactions at competitive prices.

Farmers' Protest : Centre agrees to remove stubble burning fine, withdraw draft electricity amendment bill; next meeting on January 4

The academicians highlight the government's assurance that the minimum support price (MSP) wouldn't be scrapped through these farm bills. The laws would provide full autonomy for farmers to sell their produce, they stated.

"The Union Government has repeatedly assured the farmers that these three bills on Farm trade wouldn't do away with Minimum Support Price (MSP), but rather free the farm trade from all illicit market restrictions, open the market beyond 'mandis' and further assists the small and marginal farmers to sell their produce at market/competitive prices. The new laws also provide full autonomy for farmers to sell their produce," the statement said.

Extending their support, they said, "As a proud citizen of India and members of different educational institutions, we strongly support the proposed Agricultural reforms bill, 2020 by the Union Government. We strongly believe in the government's assurance to the farmers to protect the farmers' livelihoods, and it will not take the food from their plate. The government is still firmly committed to delivering the principle of minimum government, maximum governance."

The academicians belong to premier institutions including, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, North Eastern Hill University, among others.

Meanwhile, in the sixth round of meeting, that took place on December 30 between the Centre and farmer unions who are protesting against the reforms, the two sides arrived at a consensus on two of the four demands raised by the farmers.

However, there is no agreement on the other two demands - chalking out modalities of repealing the three legislation and giving a legal guarantee on the MSP. The two issues are expected to be taken up in the next round of talks scheduled on January 4.
A year-long examination of Main Street homelessness

"I am writing this to my brothers and sisters, the mamas and the babies that are starting to die at alarming rates. Something needs to change. Teach these babies to share and to love first because this world never loved us, we other people."  Desirae

The only hint of yuletide colours is the red-and-white Canadian flag fluttering atop the old firefighter museum just off the Main Street strip.

Otherwise, this morning  Christmas morning  is quiet, indistinguishable from the previous day and the one that follows.

Life on the strip The costs of homelessness  both in fiscal resources and human misery  are difficult to fathom. And the problem, which has has plagued Winnipeg for decades, is growing. In order to better understand the issue, the Free Press spent the past year documenting life on the streets and in the shelters. click to read more The costs of homelessness  both in fiscal resources and human misery  are difficult to fathom. And the problem, which has plagued Winnipeg for decades, is growing. In order to better understand the issue, the Free Press spent the past year documenting life on the streets and in the shelters, interviewing advocates, community activists and academics, reviewing research papers, shadowing social-service workers and consulting people with expertise gained through lived experience. The result is Life on the Strip: A year-long examination of Main Street homelessness. At the start of each instalment is a quote from Desirae, one of the people profiled in this series. She lives on the streets of Winnipeg in a tent. The quotes are excerpted from an essay she wrote and submitted to the Free Press. Our final chapter returns to what remains of the homeless camps on Christmas Day. See the full series at wfp.to/lifeonthestrip. Close

The sun is slowly rising and theres a chill in the air. A black bird flies above, its caws piercing the silence as it spreads its wings against the sky.

Fences cordon off the spaces where the encampments stood, the metallic wiring criss-crossing and rendering inaccessible plots of public land where people once tried their best to forge something akin to a home.

But the cycle of life down on the strip continues its ebb and flow.

Since the city last dismantled the camps, people have returned, although not in the same numbers. Unless steps are taken to address the root causes of homelessness once and for all, it seems likely they always will.

Behind the Manitoba Metis Federation building, pressed up against the fence near the sidewalk, a ramshackle structure has been built from scavenged materials.

Behind the Manitoba Metis Federation building, pressed up against the fence near the sidewalk, a ramshackle structure has been built from scavenged materials. Boxes and blankets, tarps and clothes, old newspapers and thrown-away food litter the ground.

Nearby, a young man  skinny, with scruffy facial hair and loose-fitting clothes  walks down the road. He limps with each step, mumbling something that cant be heard. He has to repeat himself three times before his words are audible.

"Do you have any speed for sale?" he asks.

When told no, he apologizes and walks away.

The largest camp left standing has formed near the corner of Higgins Avenue and Maple Street, flanking the firefighter museum, where theres no fencing to block off the land. There are three tents, a lean-to and a garbage bin for fires.

A new camp has been set up on Higgins Avenue beside the former Austin Street and Henry Avenue camps, which were dismantled by the city earlier in 2020.

At the site of the camp where Desirae and Kyle once lived, theres a single makeshift shelter covered in tarps  orange and blue, purple and green. Theres a man and woman rummaging through the items on the ground, next to several discarded shopping carts.

Do they know where Desirae is? The man ignores the question, but the woman stops what shes doing, turns around and shakes her head no. She says she hasnt seen Desirae in a while and doesnt know where shes staying these days.

No one on the strip seems to know where she is.

The moon and sun hang in opposite ends of the sky.

Its mid-afternoon and a man dressed in a Santa costume has turned up on the strip to try to spread some Christmas cheer. He pops out of his vehicle and hands out bags of McDonalds food to hungry people before heading on his way.

Hes one of many Winnipeggers who come out on Christmas to try to ease the burden of the homeless with small gestures of kindness. Over the coming hours, several vehicles pull onto side streets and people distribute free food, clothing and hygiene products.

People leave their shopping carts outside the Main Street Project as they take shelter inside away from the cold.

The sound of birds chirping brightly fills the air and people linger outside the shelters  some wearing masks, some not.

Behind the Salvation Army, a person rummages through an industrial garbage bin, and down Martha Street, a man pushes a shopping cart through the snow, coughing loudly as he goes.

Not too far away, on the corner of the street, a woman has been standing in the same spot for several hours, hardly moving.

"She doesnt stay here anymore," says another woman, standing outside one of the camps, when asked if she knows who Desirae is and where shes might be.

Its possible Desirae moved into one of the shelters to escape the coming cold. Its also possible that when the city last broke up the encampments, she moved on somewhere else where shed be less likely to be bothered by authorities.

As the authors of the 2018 Winnipeg Street Census wrote in their final report: "Invisibility is a survival strategy for people experiencing homelessness."

A homeless encampment on the banks of the Red River. It's possible Desirae moved to another encampment, or went to a shelter to escape the cold.

Desirae has not responded to the most recent email from the Free Press, and repeated efforts to track her down at the camps around the Main Street strip have been unsuccessful.

As the afternoon stretches on, an SUV pulls into the loop behind the MMF building and a woman gets out holding a bag of donations. She walks over to the makeshift shelter pressed up against the fence and shouts: "Hello, is anybody there?"

Theres no answer, so she leaves the bag on the ground, hoping someone in need will come across it, and walks back to the vehicle shrugging her shoulders at the driver.

The moon glows in the dark of night.

As the final hours of Christmas 2020 tick away, things remain relatively quiet on the strip. The people are few and far between and the side streets feel empty and hollowed out.

Shoes hang from power lines beside the Main Street Project and the former camps on Austin Street and Henry Avenue. Reporter: Thorpe

A black garbage bag is stuck in the bare branches of a tree on the corner of the road, fluttering against the moon like a depressing, surrogate kite.

The Love Lives Here mission, which for years has served up free suppers on Tuesdays and Thursdays out of an old trailer, sits dark and empty. The volunteers had to temporarily halt services in the fall due to the pandemic.

For many people living on the streets, it made a bad situation worse. It meant two fewer guaranteed meals each week.

A pair of boots and a pair of sneakers hang from a power line near the trailer, tangled up together and dangling in the air. Down the street, three people huddle outside the front door of the Mount Royal Hotel.

Behind the Thunderbird House, cardboard boxes and wooden pallets burn in a makeshift fire pit, and a few people sit close with palms out, warming themselves as the glow from the flames pushes back against the night.

A group keep warm around a makeshift fire in downtown Winnipeg.

The problem and the desperate needs of people here is clear as ever, staring this city straight in the face.

It's not unique to Winnipeg: sizable homeless encampments have sprouted across the country. And while the situation is dire, its also not without solutions.

In Septembers throne speech, the federal Liberals promised to put an end to chronic homelessness in Canada once and for all. Of the total number of people in the country with no place to go, its estimated 15 per cent are chronically homeless.

Click to Expand A chronic problem Twenty-one per cent of the citys homeless population reported being homeless for 10 years or more, according to the 2018 Winnipeg Street Census. The majority of them said they have experienced multiple episodes of homelessness in their lives.

The number is worse in Winnipeg, where the latest street census found 21 per cent of respondents reporting they had been homeless for 10 years or more, with the majority saying they had experienced multiple episodes of homelessness throughout their lives.

Gregg Olsen, a professor at the University of Manitoba, whose work focuses on social inequality, wrote a report with Lars Benjaminsen, a colleague from Denmark, that took a comparative, cross-national look at homelessness.

What they found was the Nordic countries, which feature strong social safety nets, have made the greatest progress in addressing the crisis.

"Nations with more developed housing and homelessness policies have been much more successful in addressing homelessness. The incidence and severity of homelessness is markedly worse in nations with higher levels of poverty and less-developed and inclusive welfare states," the authors wrote.

A mural painted on the wall of The Red Road Lodge near the former camps on Austin Street and Henry Avenue.

"Finland in particular has experienced a remarkable, steady decline in its level of homelessness since 1987, in part because of its commitment to eradicating homelessness and its emphasis on a housing first approach."

The central question Canadian society must confront is whether housing is a fundamental human right. If it is, then the current situation, which sees hundreds of thousands of Canadians homeless in any given year, is intolerable.

"In every child who is born, under no matter what circumstances, and of no matter what parents, the potentiality of the human race is born again," wrote James Agee, a journalist who documented the lives of poor sharecroppers in the American South during the Great Depression.

"And in him, too, once more, and of each of us, our terrific responsibility towards human life."

And come morning, when most of us are curled up warm in our beds, all around this city, all around our home, Winnipeggers  fellow citizens will be asleep in tents and bus shacks.

Christmas Day is like any other day for Winnipeg's homeless population.

On the Main Street strip and down the side streets, along Portage Avenue and St. Annes Road, from St. Boniface to Osborne.

So much need out in the open.

And a long winter to come.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Ryan Thorpe

Reporter Ryan Thorpe likes the pace of daily news, the feeling of a broadsheet in his hands and the stress of never-ending deadlines hanging over his head. Read full biography
Nail Polish touches upon aspects of sexual violence rarely discussed in Hindi cinema or in Indian society at large.

Language: Hindi

Rating: 2.75

Director Bugs Bhargava Krishnas Nail Polish is a court procedural in the strictest sense of the term. Written by Krishna himself, Nail Polish is about a popular social activist, Veer Singh (Manav Kaul), accused of raping and murdering two poor migrant children and suspected of having killed dozens of others. The case is being prosecuted by Amit Kumar (Anand Tiwari), while the lawyer for Singh is a seemingly soulless rich fellow called Sid Jaisingh (Arjun Rampal). Judge Bhushan (Rajit Kapur) is hearing the case.

Krishna is an advertising professional and a familiar face as an actor. Not for him the dhai kilo ka haath style of Bollywood dialogues in a courtroom. In Nail Polish, he keeps the thunder and lightning, trumpets and drum rolls determinedly away, to deliver an appropriately understated, effectively low-key film.

The twist in this unusual tale is dramatic but presented without melodrama. No more information can be given since the element of astonishment is crucial here. You will have gathered from the trailer that the film deals with human psychology  The mind commits the crime, the body takes the blame are the opening words in the voiceover. This much can also be said: Nail Polish touches upon aspects of sexual violence rarely discussed in Hindi cinema or in Indian society at large. It does both the above in a pared-down fashion uncharacteristic of Bollywood, clinically, systematically and matter-of-factly chronicling the trial, revealing only bare essentials of the lawyers and judges backgrounds while giving Veer Singh a backstory with depth and detail.

The only time the film strays away from its purposefulness is with a needless albeit short song inserted into the narrative to recount a man-woman romance in a formulaic, cursory fashion. Since the man in the equation has already been elaborated upon, this motif serves the same purpose here that it serves in most Indian films resorting to it: in a virtually all-male world, it offers visual relief in the form of a pretty female face without investing in the characterisation of that woman (Samreen Kaur).

The woman in question is crucial to the plot but is written sparingly  the story remains, from start to finish, of and about men, notwithstanding nicely done asides about the judges alcoholic wife (Madhoo Shah) and the public prosecutors family.

Nail Polish is, despite that lacuna, noteworthy and interesting. The performances by all the actors are restrained and well-matched to the films unfussy style. Krishna clearly hasnt forgotten that Rampals looks have a huge fan following, and with that in mind, he gives the model-turned-actor a lovely shot draped in a white towel, but is careful to keep the shot brief.

Manav Kaul deserves to be singled out for his exceedingly subtle enactment of a role that might easily have been reduced to a certain kind of Bollywood cliche but in his hands is not. The director too deserves kudos for not demanding a stereotypical routine from the actor  to explain further would involve spoilers.

Nail Polish does not dwell at great length on sexual violence, but the mere acknowledgement of an area of violence usually left untouched by Hindi cinema is significant. It does not deliver a PhD thesis on mental health either, but by not misinforming the public in the way too many Hindi films have done in the past, it serves an important purpose.

Most of the events in Nail Polish occur in Uttar Pradesh  I missed a local flavour in the narrative although the passing reference to the states politics is amusing. And after treating the viewers intelligence with respect throughout, it could have done without that last shot of Veer Singhs face that overtly tries to suggest a reading of the situation to the audience. Overall though, Nail Polish is a smartly handled, intriguing, well-acted psychological thriller that comes as a pleasant surprise.

Nail Polish is streaming on Zee5.
India on Friday said that it has decided to lift the temporary ban on flights from the UK and will resume operations from 8 January in a limited manner amid concerns of the new and highly infectious covid-19 strain spread, which was first identified in Britain.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri today said, "Operations till 23 January will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of two countries to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad only."

It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021.

Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 1, 2021





He also mentioned that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be issuing a detailed guideline shortly.

India on 21 December ordered to impose a temporary suspension on flights coming from UK after the emergence of a new and highly infectious strain of the coronavirus in Britain. The suspension of flights came into effect from 22 December midnight and will continue till 31 December, the government added.

Further, the ministry also added that as a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from UK in all transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights which are reaching India before 22nd Dec at 23.59 hrs) should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at the airports concerned.

However, the government later extended the temporary suspension of flights to the UK till 7 January.

"Decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till 7 January 2021," Puri said on social media platform Twitter.

Meanwhile, India today reported four more cases of a strain of Covid-19, taking the total tally to 29.

"All the 29 persons are in physical isolation in health facilities," an official said.

Of the 29, the mutated UK strain was detected in the samples of eight persons at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in New Delhi, two in the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, one in the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kalyani (near Kolkata), five in the National Institute of Virology in Pune, three in Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad and 10 were sequenced at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences Hospital (NIMHANS) Bengaluru.

The government is doing a comprehensive contact tracing exercise for their co-travellers, family, among others.

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(Natural News) The reason why millions of Americans are still walking around in obsessive fear over a virus with a more than 99 percent survival rate is largely because of communist Chinese internet propaganda, a new bombshell report reveals.

Early on in the plandemic, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) did everything in its power to censor the truth about what was really going on in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus. After the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) arrived in North America, however, the Chinese government via its many media proxies ramped up the fearmongering and has not let up since.

This massive propaganda effort has led to the near-dissolution of the American economy, which in many ways is in shambles due to relentless lockdowns. Meanwhile, Chinas economy is going strong, Wuhan is open for business without masks, and everything over on that side of the world is booming.

It is no accident that the land of the free is being forced to watch its own economic viability disintegrate while the Chicoms point and laugh from halfway around the globe. This was all part of the plan to bring about the total collapse of the United States, which appears to be slated for any day now.

When it actually mattered, communist China kept a lid on the spread of infection within its borders. Once the rest of the world let down its guard, however, the narrative quickly shifted to ensure maximum economic and social carnage.

Nearly a year into this thing, key economic powerhouses like California, New York and Illinois are still closed for business. Restaurants are closed, social activities are prohibited, and the public is being told to stay home or die, essentially.

It is the perfect Christmas gift for communist China, which aims for nothing more than the total destruction of the U.S. under the guise of a disease that, truth be told, is not even close to being as serious as authorities claim.

The main objectives of the Chinese governments effort appeared to be making the virus impact seem less severe while masking the origins of the outbreak, reports Neon Nettle about the CCPs approach in the very beginning.

For more related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news.

China is destroying America with masks, lockdowns and eventual economic collapse

Thanks to Xi Jinpings launch of an operation called the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) back in 2014, the communist regimes far-reaching COVID-19 propaganda continues to this very day, a full year after it began.

What is happening, in essence, is that the CCP continues to hoodwink the American left, as well as many on the right, into believing that lockdowns, masks and economic collapse are good things that will save lives. Meanwhile, the CCP has so muzzled the mainstream medias reporting of the crisis that many Americans have completely forgotten that China is the responsible party for unleashing this thing.

Whenever people start to discuss things online that detract from or call into question the CCPs official COVID-19 narrative, hired internet trolls are ready to post distracting chatter that ensures the script is followed.

A combination of people, technology, and, presumably, lots of money, the report explains, is how communist China is continues to keep America under lock and key, with no end in sight.

Aligning with what President Donald Trump has been saying, the report basically accuses the Chinese government of underplaying the severity of the virus early on, only to later leave the U.S. holding the bag.

President Trumps bold move to limit travel from China in the early days of the pandemic, despite severe opposition from Democrats, is still credited as saving untold American lives, Neon Nettle concludes.

Sources for this article include:

NeonNettle.com

NaturalNews.com
Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged members of the National Democratic Congress to preserve the legacy of late former President Jerry John Rawlings.



He said the NDC as a party born out of the events of the 31st December Revolution, had a duty to uphold former President Rawlings principles of probity and accountability, as a part of their national life and daily practice.



Mr Mahama made the appeal on Thursday in Accra at the 39th Anniversary Celebration of the 31st December Revolution on the theme, Sustaining the Gains of the 31st December Revolution: The Legacy of former President Rawlings.



Other speakers at the event include Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the National Chairman of the NDC; Mr Dan Abodakpi, a former Minister of Trade and Industry; Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, a former Defence Minister and Madam Agnes Momo Lartey, Member of Parliament-elect for Krowor.



The ceremony was attended by high ranking officials of the NDC such as Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, a former Speaker of Parliament.



Mr Mahama said the flame that the late former President lit in 1981, which continued to burn for 39 years, would burn forever.



The revolution was not perfect, as we know every human event is never perfect. Like any human being our founder, leader of the Revolution, Chairman Rawlings, was not perfect, he said.



But the sum of what he did on earth, especially from the age of 33 when he burst into the political scene of Ghana and the sum events of the 31st December Revolution represent a kind of atonement for the ills of the past.



He said the revolution therefore, bequeath to Ghanaians the principle of holding to account persons entrusted with public responsibility, since sovereignty resides with the people.



He noted that the revolution also bequeath to Ghanaians a growing economy that ensured stability for our countrys progress over the years; and that also more importantly, bequeath to Ghanaians a constitution that was crafted by the ordinary people of this country.



He said it was because of the drafting of constitution by ordinary Ghanaians such as butchers, dressmakers, the mechanics, teachers, farmers and fishermen; that had made the countrys supreme law the most enduring constitution in the history of Ghana.



He said the late former President, while he was alive declared that he did not want monuments and statues to be erected in his honour but rather he wanted to be remembered in the hearts of men.



And I believe that the only vehicle; that is the best vehicle that can ensure that he is remembered in the hearts of men is the vehicle of the political Party he founded and that is the NDC. This is the reason why we must commit ourselves to the cause of Party NDC, he said.



I know like every human institution, we might have our disagreement but lets have and put as a focus for all of us that protecting the revolutionary origins of our Party and the legacy of our founder is the main objective that we all want to achieve.



I dare say no one person can fill Jerry Rawlings shoes. No one person can encapsulate the charisma, the political wits and the courage exhibited by our late founder.



And therefore, I urge that we should recommit at this 39th anniversary, that all of us will work together and that even when we have differences of opinion, we will resolve them in a way as not to endanger future of our Party, Mr Mahama said.



He said: And that will continue to work together as one collective (family) to ensure that the memories of those who laid down their lives for our fourth republican constitution is never extinguished.



Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the NDC was not a Party that burnt markets but rather it was the Party that built most markets across the country.



He noted that the Party would be declaring a three-day fasting and prayers to support their legal team, which was handling their Presidential Election petition before the Supreme Court.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Advocates believe renewable energy in Ohio and across the United States should get a boost when President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January given his expressed desire to make Americas energy sector carbon-free by 2035.

Yet most of the development of wind and solar farms is driven by whats going on at the state level, and in Ohio the political climate for renewable energy has not been welcoming.

The controversial House Bill 6 reduces and eventually eliminates so-called renewable portfolio standards. And the prospects for windfarms have been additionally hampered by strict setback standards imposed in 2014.

So, what are the prospects for 2021 and beyond? To get a better understanding of the state of wind and solar in Ohio, cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer spoke with several developers of utility-scale wind and solar projects, defined as producing 50 megawatts or more of electricity.

Does wind and solar make sense in Ohio?

From a resource standpoint, yes, according to developers. Ohio may not offer the potential of an Arizona when it comes to sun power, but it gets enough rays to create affordable electricity under the right circumstances. And the northwest quadrant of the state has ample wind resources.

The state also has millions of acres of flat farmland that are ideal for solar farms that can be shrouded in trees and other greenery to hide them from view.

Also, the grid infrastructure is already in place. Ohio has plenty of transmission lines, many originally built to connect rural coal plants with city centers, that make for convenient interconnection to the grid. Ohio also belongs to the robust and reliable PJM Interconnection, which controls the wholesale distribution of electricity across 13 states and Washington, D.C.

Theres also growing corporate demand for green energy and the willingness to pay for it, evidenced in Ohio by Amazons arrangement to buy electricity from both wind and solar projects.

Whats the status of new wind projects in Ohio?

Only a few new wind projects are in the works and thats largely because of regulatory obstacles and lack of political support to remove them, said Andrew Gohn, director of eastern state affairs at the American Wind Energy Association.

Perhaps the biggest deterrent is the change in setback requirements. Projects considered economical suddenly became less so. That said, the industry in Ohio has not completely ground to a halt.

Last year, EDP Renewables North America completed a small wind farm in Paulding County, which borders on Indiana. The farm was built under the new, restrictive setbacks - the space the government requires that wind farms maintain between the wind turbines and buildings.

But the Pauling County project is the last one the company intends to build in Ohio under the current regulatory and political environment, said Amy Kurt, the developers senior manager of regional government affairs.

We were able to squeak that project out, Kurt said, because it was in a favorable area where EDP already had operating wind farms and the company was able to get the necessary waivers from landowners to overcome the setback restrictions.

Also, RWE Renewables Americas, the U.S. subsidiary of a German energy company, just erected the last of 75 turbines on a 250-megawatt project in Hardin and Logan counties, northwest of Columbus. The so- called Scioto Ridge project was permitted in 2014 and built under the old setbacks.

The only wind developer with new projects before the Ohio Power Siting Board that must adhere to the current setback requirements is Apex Clean Energy, a Virginia-based firm that has been trying to produce wind energy in Ohio for the past 10 years.

Apex did not give up as others did when the setbacks changed, however it was forced to accommodate the new restrictions and to incorporate new technology that allows for taller turbines that create more megawatts of electricity.

One of the projects, Emerson Creek in the northwest counties of Erie and Huron, would have 52 to 71 turbines depending on the size of the turbines and generate 300 megawatts of power, said Nate Pedder, development manager for Apex Clean Energy.

Before the setback change, Emerson Creek was to have been built in two phases with more than 100 turbines generating 500 megawatts, Pedder said. New plans before the Ohio Power Siting Board include options for turbines that can generate significantly more electricity.

Also moving ahead is a reimagined project in the northwest counties of Seneca and Sandusky. The proposed Republic Wind farm is expected to have about 50 turbines and generate 200 megawatts.

Pedder said Apex has a third project on the drawing board. The Honey Creek project would be primarily in Crawford County, west of Mansfield.

There could be more, he said.

Whats the status of new solar projects in Ohio?

Seven solar projects in Ohio have been approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board, three of which are currently under construction, according to board spokesman Matt Butler.

Two of the projects are in Hardin County. The third, called Hillcrest, is in Brown County, east of Cincinnati.

Hillcrest is a good example of the benefits, beyond cleaner air, that wind and solar projects can provide, according to developers.

Construction on the 200-megawatt Hillcrest project began in January and has employed several hundred workers throughout a year when many people were out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic, said Stephanie Williams, director of government relations for project developer Innergex Renewable Energy.

The project will have pumped at least $69 million into the economy once it is up and running by March of 2021 and promises to distribute $60 million in payments in lieu of taxes to the Western Brown School District and Green Township over the next 35 years, Williams said.

The projects 600,000 solar panels were made by FirstSolar in Perrysburg.

Similar scenarios could play out across the state.

Its really a fantastic way to support these local communities, said Jason Rafeld, executive director of the Utility Scale Solar Energy Association of Ohio, an advocacy group.

In addition to those projects cleared to begin construction, 23 more projects scattered around the state have applications pending before the Ohio Power Siting Board or have indicated their intent to file.

The politics of wind and solar

Generally speaking, the wind and solar industries are hoping for a repeal of House Bill 6, but that does not seem as likely as it did earlier in 2020 when legislators on both sides of the aisle were aghast at the accusations of dark money and criminal activity behind the bills passage.

The bill bails out two nuclear plants, among other things. But wind and solar developers are more concerned about the bill reducing the amount of energy that the state says must come from renewable energy sources. HB 6 reduces the so-called renewable portfolio standards from 12.5% to 8.5% and phases out the requirement altogether by 2026.

Gohn said his organization doesnt think the legislature will retract the portfolio standards but he is hoping they will remove two dubious technologies from the list of those that count toward the standards.

They include the burning of a waste products called black liquor by the paper industry and some industrial waste heat provisions.

While House Bill 6 guts the renewable energy standards, it provided subsidies to six solar projects in the state that had been permitted when the law was enacted.

Rafeld said he believes the solar subsidies were added to the bill to build a coalition of bipartisan support for a bill that was primarily intended to bail out the nuclear plants.

What federal changes are afoot?

The renewable industry would love to see a federal renewable portfolio standard but sees no political appetite for that, said Gohn, whose wind association is transitioning into the American Clean Power Association that includes solar and other renewable forms of energy,

The industry is also hopeful that tax credits for wind and solar are extended under a Biden administration, although such tax policies would need the approval of Congress.

What about Lake Erie wind?

Plans to put a 6-turbine wind farm called Icebreaker off the coast of Cleveland in Lake Erie are still in place after developer Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. won a hard-fought battle with opponents before the Ohio Power Siting Board.

In September, the board reversed a prior decision to limit nighttime operation, a requirement that would have quashed the project.

But before the 20-megawatt pilot project can move ahead, the board must decide on an appeal from opponents, who contend that the turbines would, among other things, harm migratory birds.

That appeal could ultimately go to the Ohio Supreme Court, possibly delaying the project another 12 to 18 months, said Dave Karpinski, president of Lake Erie Energy Development.

Karpinski said his group expects to win that appeal, but the additional delay has further stalled the projects momentum.

We suffered quite a setback, Karpinski said, and the projects Scandinavian investor needs to have its confidence in Icebreaker restored.
STAMFORD  A landmark presidential election and yet another reckoning with the countrys racial history notwithstanding, 2020 will first and foremost be known as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Connecticut, that was as true for Stamford as anywhere.

For part of the spring, Stamford was the epicenter of the disease in the state, seeing more new cases per day than any other municipality. In April, the Connecticut National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve arrived in the city to help with the caseload at Stamford Hospital and repurpose a building on its grounds to help meet extra demand.

Restaurants in the city were shuttered, as were many non-essential businesses. In an effort to help local eateries, an outdoor dining campaign called Streateries was launched by the Downtown Special Services District over the summer.

The city budget was also slashed by $32 million due to the economic effects of the virus. That included about $12 million from the schools budget.

Stamford schools shifted to a full remote-learning model in March, and returned to partial in-school teaching in September. As cases of COVID-19 started to rise again after Thanksgiving, the district decided to go back to full distance learning until Jan. 19.

As 2021 begins, vaccine distribution promises to be the story of the year. In Connecticut, the rate of vaccination so far has outpaced New York, but the diseases positivity rate remains high.

Dulos saga

The year began with new developments in what had been one of the biggest local and state stories of 2019.

In January, Farmington resident Fotis Dulos was charged with the murder of his wife Jennifer  who was reported missing to New Canaan police  where she lived with the couples five children  on May 24, 2019.

A few weeks after the arrest, the 52-year-old Dulos was found unresponsive in a vehicle in the garage of his home. He was flown to New York in critical condition, and put on life support while suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fotis Dulos died on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Jennifer Dulos body has yet to be recovered.

Michelle Troconis, ex-girlfriend of Fotis Dulos, and Kent Mawhinney, his former attorney, have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Their cases remain ongoing.

Racial justice protests

This summer was marked by protests against police brutality in cities across the nation. Again, Stamford was among them.

Nationwide, protests erupted after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis in May. In Stamford, a number of demonstrations, under the banner of Black Lives Matter and others, took place.

In July, a contingent of demonstrators calling themselves Justice for Steven Barrier set up an encampment in Latham Park to protest the death of the Stamford resident, who died in police custody in October of 2019. Some of the people involved in that effort also took part in a campaign to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus from Stamfords downtown Columbus Park.

Police eventually ordered protesters to leave Latham Park or be arrested. The Columbus debate, which resulted in dueling rallies, has since quieted down, as city officials stated they would wait until 2021 to address it.

But tension between the Latham Park activists and police reached a boiling point in August, when a long protest led to altercations on Broad Street.

An internal affairs investigation was completed and the results are to be presented to the Stamford Police Commission at its next meeting scheduled for Jan. 4.

Shootings on the rise

Stamford has garnered a reputation for being one of the safest cities in America in recent years, but 2020 saw many shootings reported across the city.

The increase in gun violence led to a rally in December, with community leaders speaking out against the spate of shootings, many of which are believed to be the result of hostilities between neighborhood factions in the city.

Several people have been shot. And on Sept. 20, Shernetta Dunmore, a Stamford mother, was shot and killed when a gunman or gunmen fired on people gathered in a parking lot on Ursula Place. Two others were wounded in the shooting. Police days later arrested Ian Evans in relation to one of the men wounded at the party. He was charged with first-degree assault, criminal use of a firearm and other offenses.

To date no arrest has been made in Dunmores death.

In early December, a Stamford Hospital worker was shot while driving home from work after he was struck by a stray bullet from a shootout on West Broad Street. The 56-year-old hospital employee was admitted to the hospital but his wound was not life threatening. Police have made an arrest in relation to that incident.

Gunfire has occurred in various parts of the city, from Connecticut Avenue on the West Side to Pequot Drive in Waterside and Lockwood Avenue on the East Side to Hope Street in Glenbrook.

In November, two shootings in neighborhoods near Westover Magnet Elementary School terrified parents, staff and students, causing lockdowns at the school and leading to a virtual meeting hosted by the school principal and police department staff.

Police officers implored residents to quickly report any acts of violence to help get guns off the streets.

The Gun and Crime Stoppers program allows people to report crimes anonymously, and offers rewards for tips that lead to arrests.

The hotline can be reached at 203-977-TIPS. People can also text the keyword Tips2SPD and a tip to CRIMES (274-637), or go to www.StamfordPD.org/Tips.

School closes

Enrollment and deficit problems led to the closure of the 60-year-old Trinity Catholic High School this year.

By February, school officials received word that only 19 freshman students had committed to the school for the 2020-21 school year, well below expectations. Projected enrollment for next year was up to 110 students, while enrollment for the 2018-19 school year was 295 students.

Closing Trinity broke my heart, said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.

In the past, the diocese had to pick up the cost of operation, mostly payroll and healthcare expenses. This years budget deficit was expected to be $1.3 million, and would have catapulted to $2.3 million next year based on the reduced enrollment of roughly 100 students.

The building, however, wont be vacant for long.

In November, Mater Salvatoris, operated by the Spain-based Sisters of the Company of the Savior, purchased the property, and will begin teaching there in September.

Currently, Mater Salvatoris operates an all-girls college preparatory school of about 49 students from pre-K to fourth grade in a building on Scofieldtown Road. It opened in 2018 and is one of only seven schools in the world founded by the Sisters of the Company of the Savior, and the only one in the continental United States.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
Flights between India and UK to resume from 8 Jan 2021

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 01: India on Friday said that it has decided to lift ban on flights from the UK and will resume operations from 8 January in a limited manner amid concerns of the new and highly infectious covid-19 strain spread, which was first identified in Britain.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said that "It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8th January, 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only."

India on 21 December ordered to impose a temporary suspension on flights coming from UK after the emergence of a new and highly infectious strain of the coronavirus in Britain. The suspension of flights came into effect from 22 December midnight and will continue till 31 December, the government added.

The mutant virus was first detected in southeast England in September. It is quickly becoming the dominant strain in London and other parts of the UK, and has led to surging infection numbers and the toughest levels of restrictions

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 20:12 [IST]
Amid freezing temperatures in Delhi and adjoining areas, a farmer from Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh died near Ghazipur border on Friday while protesting against new agricultural laws enacted by the central government.

The farmer, Galtan Singh (57) was a resident of Bhagwanpur Nagal village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, said Saurav, an associate of Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who is leading the farmers from Uttar Pradresh demonstrating at the Ghazipur Border.

Saurav told IANS: "Galtan Singh was in good health and fit and but he suddenly felt uneasy with complaint of chest pains and was taken to the hospital but he died on the way. The body has been sent to his village, " he informed.
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Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday warned of stringent action against those found guilty of desecration of idols and temples in the State.

The Chief Minister said that desecration of idols will not be tolerated and stringent action will be taken against the culprits. Terming destruction of idols as atrocious, he said that God would punish those who keep messing up with temples and deities.

He wanted police to take strict action against those indulging in acts of sacrilege and ensure that such acts do not recur.

Meanwhile, speaking about the distribution of house site pattas while interacting with officials, he directed officials to ensure that all eligible candidates will get house sites. He averred that the government will not cut the number of beneficiaries in order to save funds. He said that all eligible beneficiaries must be covered by welfare schemes that are announced by the government. He affirmed that the State government is working relentlessly for the welfare of the poor and in case any eligible individual was left out by mistake, they should immediately be included in list of beneficiaries.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said that applications seeking ration card, pension, and housing should not be kept pending state and they ought to be resolved at the earliest.

He directed that all applications of ration card, pension must be resolved in 10 days, while those pertaining to Aarogyasri card in 20 days, and housing applications in 90 days. He directed the authorities to display these particulars at all ward and village secretariats.
Ride-hailing drivers throughout the year 2020 were hit hard by the effects of the pandemic, which led to a sharp fall in clients at the beginning of the year, and by the new policy on required higher discount rate.

As the number of their rides to the airport decreased step by step and stopped completely, Ngo Van Hai, a Grab driver, finally decided to give up the job.

2020 was a terrible year, he said.

He had been working as a Grab partner for two years before he quit the job. He mostly received and picked up international travelers at the airport. Ride-hailing was once a good job which brought a stable income after he left a construction company.

However, everything changed because of Covid-19. The sharp fall in the number of clients caused his income to drop by 50 percent. During the social distancing period, the temporary suspension of traditional taxi and e-hailing services pushed most drivers to the wall.

Sometimes I could not earn any dong during a whole week. I needed money to pay debts, he said. He decided to sell the car.

Tran Van Hien from Thanh Xuan district said at first he could earn VND20 million as a Grab driver. But the income began decreasing one year later.

As the income was not high enough to pay bank debt, he sold the car at a loss of VND100 million.

Hien affirmed that many other ride-hailing drivers are facing the same problem. They borrowed money from banks to buy cars and now have to sell the cars because the income is too modest.

According to Nguyen Hoai Nhan, a driver from Thai Binh, the income from his job was high enough to feed his family. But now he receives 2-3 orders a day and earns about VND50,000 a day, which is not enough to pay room rent.

If the pandemic continues, I will have to give up the job, he said.

Ride-hailing firms are also facing difficulties. Grabs founder and CEO Anthony Tan said Covid-19 has posed great challenges for the largest ride-hailing startup in Southeast Asia. The firm has had to made difficult decisions on cost cutting and capital management.

Ride-hailing drivers throughout the year 2020 were hit hard by the effects of the pandemic, which led to a sharp fall in clients at the beginning of the year, and by the new policy on required higher discount rate.

Covid-19 is the largest crisis affecting Grab in its history of eight years of operation, the CEO wrote in a message to investors and partners.

The crisis has had an unprecedented impact on the companys business and partners.

Ride-hailing firms had to suspend operation as requested during the lockdown earlier this year. Car drivers had to stop working temporarily, while motorbike drivers shifted to delivering goods and providing shopping services to earn a living.

The high unemployment rate explains the rapid increase in the number of ride-hailing drivers. Meanwhile, consumers are tightening their purse strings, which affected drivers incomes and led to a high proportion of drivers leaving the market.

Meanwhile, Decision 146 has put an end to the program on the application of technology in managing and connecting electronic contract-based passenger transportation, paving the way for ride-hailing firms extending their services nationwide.

Since April 1, ride-hailing services have been covered by the newly issued Decree 10.

Under the new regulations, traditional taxis and ride-hailing apps have the right to choose either to mount a light box with the word TAXI or a reflective light logo instead of the only choice of a light box.

As a new type of business, ride-hailing apps once raised controversy. Traditional taxi firms complained they were unfairly treated and accused ride-hailing apps of evading tax.

In Hanoi, the number of traditional taxis was fixed at 19,000 and they were prohibited to circulate on some streets in rush hours. Meanwhile, ride hailing cars could travel on all streets.

While ride hailing drivers were complaining this year about the sharp fall in number of passengers, they received another blow in the last month of the year: Grab changed the policy on required discount. The firm cited the new policy on VAT by the government in Decree 126.

Grab has several times changed its policy on discount rate since it arrived in Vietnam. With the latest adjustment, the required discount rate has become very high for partner-drivers, which prompted them to go on strike.

The board of directors of Grab had an online dialogue with partners on the implementation of the Decree 126. The dialogue ended with disappointment for drivers as Grab stated the changes in the policy on discount rate would be implemented.

Meanwhile, the General Department of Taxation affirmed that the new decree only guides tax declaration and payment, but it doesnt change the tax rate.

Nguyen Xuan Thuy from the Ministry of Transport said the sharing economy means mobilizing idle instruments and assets for production and business, thus improving the efficiency of usage of resources.

However, Grab doesnt just use idle instruments to make money. Agreeing with Thuy, Pham Xuan Hoe from SBV also said Grab is a variation of the sharing economy.

Duy Anh

New tax policy for ride-hailing services sets off storm Earlier this month the Governments amendment of tax regulations for ride-hailing services, which increases the tax they actually pay, was a topic of hot debate in the media.
(Natural News) Google Ventures, the venture-capital arm of Google, is in a position to profit from the Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine. The developers of the vaccine, Adrian Hill and Sarah Gilbert, set up a company called Vaccitech to attract outside investors for their new vaccine projects.

Google co-founder Larry Page and his wife Lucy have already partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to design a flu vaccine that would protect broadly against the strains of flu that infect people every winter and those in nature that could emerge to trigger a disruptive and deadly pandemic. Ever since Google invested in Bill Gates global vaccine programs, the Big Tech dictator has engaged in vaccine censorship, targeting and removing any scientific information about vaccine injury and the faults of vaccine-augmented immune responses.

Google to help convince the world that covid-19 vaccines are needed annually

Googles widely used video platform, YouTube, is now banning any skeptical scientific content that deviates from the official covid-19 narrative. Any information about virus shedding from live virus vaccines is deemed misinformation. Any studies that show how influenza vaccines cause susceptibility to coronavirus infection are censored. Google and YouTube are actively working to brainwash people, to prolong pandemic fears, to maximize submission to their vaccine projects. But their plan is even greater than this.

In order to obtain royalties from the sale of the vaccine, the financiers behind Vaccitech and the Oxford vaccine will need to convince the world that these covid-19 vaccines are needed at regular intervals every year. The first two-shot protocol is an experiment to see how many people will comply and how well these people will tolerate the vaccines. Vaccine injuries are being normalized during this process.

Their intentions are clear. Oxford medical professor, John Bell told NBC News that the world will need regular vaccinations against coronavirus every year. Bell is the architect of the Oxford-AstraZeneca partnership and stands to benefit financially from the annual distribution of the vaccines.

Pascal Soriot, the CEO of AstraZeneca, is ready to declare covid-19 a seasonal illness that will require regular vaccinations. In order to cash in on their investment with Vaccitech, Google needs the World Health Organization to declare the pandemic a seasonal illness. WebMD is already on board with the plan.

Vaccitechs CEO, Bill Enright said that Google and all of Vaccitechs investors will receive a big chunk of the royalties as well as milestone payments when the pandemic is declared over and the vaccines are used on a seasonal basis. Vaccitech has already received 2.3 million of public funding to develop the second generation of covid-19 vaccines, as their investors prepare to cash in on the swindle indefinitely. (Related: Oxford-AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine experiment is tied to eugenics-linked institutions.)

Google will help suppress the real public health issues to promote the faulty vaccines they are invested in

In order to stay consistent with the science in the clinical trials, vaccine recipients will need to submit to upwards of six shots every year, guaranteeing royalties for Google and the other financiers. Covid-19 vaccines are a dependency program, designed to capitalize on human fears for years to come, while generating revenue for a broken system of immunology.

News outlets are already drumming up the fear of another coronavirus strain and vaccines are already being developed to ensure the world that another round of covid protection is on its way. The vaccines do not protect people from the chronic state of malnutrition that is the well-documented reason why people suffer from complications and death to the infection. The vaccines do not improve the efficiency of the individuals microbiome or mucous membranes, to help eliminate viruses from the body. The vaccines do not remove the immune-suppressant drugs and foods from a persons lifestyle, the real reasons why people with underlying conditions are dying from multiple comorbidities. The vaccines do not protect against medical error, nosocomial infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia or lung damage from ventilators that drive up the mortality rate in some of the most improperly ran inner city hospitals. These are just a few of the real public health issues, but Google and YouTube will continue to suppress the root of the problem, while pushing the vaccines they are heavily invested in.

Read up on Googles pandemic agenda at EvilGoogle.news

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

WebMD.com

NewsTarget.com

News.Sky.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

NaturalNews.com

Brighteon.com
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's president has pardoned at least 26 men convicted of plotting the 2001 assassination of then-leader Laurent Kabila, the presidency said.

Laurent Kabila was shot and killed by a bodyguard in his palace in January 2001. The bodyguard was himself shot dead immediately after.

Prosecutors said the assassination was part of a coup attempt led by Colonel Eddy Kapend, Kabila's closest personal aide, and a court sentenced him and more than two dozen others to death.

The men were jailed and officials say a number have since died in prison, but none of the death sentences were carried out.

President Felix Tshisekedi pardoned the men - and a number of other people convicted in other cases - to show "humanity, pardon, justice and national reconciliation," state television reported on Thursday night.

The report did not go into any specific reasons for the Kabila case.

Kabila's son Joseph, who succeeded him, repeatedly resisted calls to pardon Kapend and the others. Joseph Kabila stepped down as president in 2019, and was replaced by Tshisekedi, a longtime opponent.

Tshisekedi governed for the first two years of his presidency in coalition with Joseph Kabila's allies, but is now trying to distance himself from his predecessor and remove Kabila loyalists from the government.

Human rights groups, the Catholic church and others had criticised the assassination trial as unfair.

Laurent Kabila's death further scarred a country with a dark history of political assassinations, including the 1961 killing of its first post-independence prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, by secessionist rebels with support from Belgian officials.

(Reporting by Stanis Bujakera; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Andew Heavens)
UC Merced is launching an investigation into whether a professor who maintained a Twitter account rife with anti-Semitic remarks and images broke any of the school rules, and what, if any, consequences the university ought to impose.

Abbas Ghassemi, a teaching professor in the UC Merced School of Engineering, tweeted anti-Semitic posts and posted images found on anti-Semitic conspiracy websites from the now-deactivated account @ProfessorGhass1.

Chancellor Juan Sanchez Munoz confirmed the account was associated with a university faculty member in an email to the campus community on Tuesday. He said the Twitter account was brought to the universitys attention by the news media.

Munoz said the tweets crossed the line and went against the UCs statement of principles against intolerance, which condemns anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism.

The opinions presented in this Twitter account do not represent UC Merced or the University of California, Munoz said in a statement. They were abhorrent and repugnant to us and to many of our colleagues and neighbors; they were harmful to our university, our students, and our years of work to build an inclusive and welcoming community.

The School of Engineering dean emailed faculty and staff last week, calling the tweets reprehensible and affirming that the views expressed in the posts did not reflect those of the university, Munoz said.

The dean and department chair will work with other university officials to further investigate potential violations of university standards and faculty code of conduct.

The account was created in July 2019 and deleted Dec. 18 after the Jewish News of Northern California reached out to Ghassemi for comment. The news outlet took screen shots of the tweets before the account was taken down.

Subsequent news reports sparked outrage in the Northern California Jewish community.

StandWithUs, an international Israel education organization with a chapter in Northern California, wrote a letter to university leadership, stating that they were deeply concerned about Ghassemis public anti-Semitic statements and the universitys initial characterization of his posts as the opinions of a private individual.

The issue here is not whether Ghassemi has a constitutional right to make antisemitic comments, which of course he does, StandWithUs wrote in a letter to Munoz last week.

The issue is that Ghassemi has been making these comments publicly on Twitter where he identifies himself as a UC Merced professor, and he is responsible for educating the very people he appears to loathe and about whom he attributes racist conspiracy theories.

Munoz said he has also asked university officials to develop programming for the spring semester that addresses hate speech and anti-Semitism in academia.

UC Merced will also make policy updates that clearly state the responsibilities of community members conduct, especially on social media.

We must not let anti-Semitism or any form of bigotry or hate toward any group take root in the UC Merced community, Munoz said.

Vanessa Arredondo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @v_anana
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday called on people in the country to have a focussed collective attitude and advance national interests if the nation has to consolidate gains made in the first 185 days of his administration.

The Malawi leader reiterated the calls in his new year message to the the nation.

Dr Chakwera said negative attitudes such as concentrating energies on getting handouts and fault finding should not find a place in the building of a new Malawi.

"As a people, we have never believed that collective problems can be solved by isolated actions. We believe in working together to solve the problems we share, even working together with people we disagree with.

"So, if we are going to have better fortunes in 2021, it will be by fully embracing the Tonse Philosophy of working together," said the Malawi leader.

The Malawi leader said one of the paramount aspects the country should grasp is that the nation cannot make meaningful progress if we do things haphazardly. He said in the next two weeks he will be outlining his administration's top priorities.

Dr Chakwera said despite challenges the nation has faced such as COVID-19 pandemic and other political machinations that were derailing the nation on the path of progress, the Tonse Administration has managed to deliver some of the key promises such as affordable inputs programme.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Governance Malawi By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"We successfully launched the Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) that has now already given 75% of our farming households access to two 50kg bags of fertilizer at K4,495, while addressing logistical hiccups that are normal in the roll out of a new program.

"As I speak, over 2.5 million farming households have already received a total of over 5 million bags. This is almost triple the number of farmers who have been helped with farm inputs in any year, and we are well on our way to reaching 100% of the targeted farmers," said the President.

Meanwhile Dr Chakwera has assured the nation that clearing of the rubble and draining of the swamps continue until the Government machinery is remodelled to serve the interests of the nation.

He said these efforts have received international recognition hence Malawi being named country of the year by an international Magazine 'The Economist.'
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
So-called journalists, a judge, and other Democrats are having a collective cow that Trump has pardoned some associates. Like this guy here:

A federal judge in Iowa who has warned against political corruption is ridiculing President Donald Trumps pardons, including those issued to convicted Republican campaign operatives and former members of Congress. Its not surprising that a criminal like Trump pardons other criminals, senior U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt of the Southern District of Iowa told The Associated Press in a brief phone interview Monday. In a bit of humor, he said: But apparently to get a pardon, one has to be either a Republican, a convicted child murderer or a turkey. Pratt was referring to pardons Trump granted to his former campaign aides convicted during the special counsel's Russia inquiry, former GOP congressmen who committed crimes, and security contractors convicted of killing innocent civilians in Iraq. Trump also pardons turkeys  this year two from Iowa  annually before Thanksgiving.

Every one of these characters know that the Russian collusion story, based on the fictional dossier, was in fact a hoax, but nevertheless want people prosecuted and jailed, due to the total fraud from the Obama Justice department and the biased Mueller investigative squad.

Mueller's team of partisan Democrats knew from the beginning that there was no evidence of Russian collusion, but had much evidence of criminal activity by the Obama Justice department, including the perpetuation of multiple frauds on the FISA courts. Yet, instead of going after the criminals, they spent years ginning up process crimes against people who were associated with Trump.

Every one of these people know that Michael Flynn and his family were destroyed, bankrupted, and prosecuted for what they knew was no crime (this was even in the original FBI notes), yet they want him imprisoned. That is evil and vengeful.

There was little to no outrage when Obama handed out pardons and commutations of terrorists and criminals like candy.

There was no outrage as many people in the Obama/Biden administration committed serious crimes and yet were not charged by the politicized Justice Department run by the sock puppets Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch who did what they were told.

Here is an abbreviated list of criminals that were never charged:

Eric Holder: Perjury and obstruction of Justice-Fast and Furious. Hid documents for years from Congress

Lois Lerner and others at IRS: Perjury and obstruction of Justice for targeting political opponents, destroying computers and lying to Congress. Allowed to retire to her mansion.

Hillary and her aides: Violating national security laws, and obstructing justice by using a non-secure private computer to send and receive classified documents and then destroyed the evidence with hammers with the willing nod of the Justice department. Loretta Lynch even met with Bill Clinton a few days before a pretend interview of Hillary. Cheryl Mills got unwarranted immunity.

Obama and many others illegally corresponded with Hillary on her non-secure computer. Where were the whistleblowers?

The Hezbollah terrorist group got away with drug running. In dropping the case against them, Obama effectively gave them a pardon to appease Iran. Wouldnt the terrorist organization be considered war criminals for all the deaths of innocent civilians they have caused?

James Comey, Jim McCabe, and others got away with it, too, for committing perjury to Congress and/or the FBI.

Everyone at the DNC and Hillary campaign who were involved in submitting fraudulent documents to the Federal Election Commission, claiming the payments to Steele for the fake dossier was for legal fees. They too got away with it.

Everyone at the DNC and Hillary campaign who presented the fake dossier to the FBI to perpetuate a fraudulent investigation. Another case of impunity.

Everyone at the FBI who lied to the FISA Court to justify spying on people in the Trump campaign. No consequences, there.

The crimes by the Obama/Biden crime family in the 2016 election dwarfed Watergate but instead of caring, most of the media participated in perpetuating the fraud to the American people by reporting their version of the story alone, or else not reporting the story at all.

None of the criminals in the Obama/Biden crime family were bankrupted and intentionally destroyed. They were let off scot-free. They were so above the law, Obama didnt need to pardon them. Here's what lefty FiveThirtyEight wrote:

Obama Granted Clemency Unlike Any Other President In History Among recent presidents that preceded Obama, commutations were much rarer than pardons because they tend to be politically riskier. When Bill Clinton commuted the sentences of 16 members of FALN, a group that wanted independence for Puerto Rico and claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombs in the United States, he received letters of protest from the Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement groups. President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that commutations create a risk by freeing prisoners who might reoffend. But in his last year in office, Obama has not appeared to be overly concerned with the optics of freeing hundreds of prisoners. Along with Manning, Obama commuted the sentence of Oscar Lopez Rivera, an FALN member.

In almost every story we read about the Hunter Biden access-for-sale corruption, there is a statement that says there is no evidence that Joe did anything wrong. What a joke. There is massive evidence that he was involved in wrongdoing, from emails, and the firsthand claims of at least one associate. Hunter said that he was paying the family bills in one email to his sister. That would amount to tax fraud, if that is true.

What appears to have happened is that the Biden family lined up kickbacks from many foreign sources, then those kickbacks were laundered through Hunter's account and then Hunter used or paid significant amounts of money for Joe and Jill.

If the media cared they would do far more investigative work. Here are a few who are.

Hunter Biden emails show leveraging connections with his father to boost Burisma pay

Howie Carr : Its a crime you havent heard about Hunter Bidens latest

Biden is also ripping Trump for not caring about cyber security. This from the Obama/Biden administration which didnt care about the security risks of Hillarys computer and that catered to the dictators in China, Russia and Iran who are the greatest risks. We gave massive amounts of money to Iran.

Obama also issued a stand down order to his cyber security chief in 2016 to stop investigating Russian hacking while targeting Trump and associates. Remember this?

Obama cyber chief confirms 'stand down' order against Russian cyberattacks in summer 2016 The Obama White Houses chief cyber official testified Wednesday that proposals he was developing to counter Russias attack on the U.S. presidential election were put on a back burner after he was ordered to stand down his efforts in the summer of 2016.

Jim Acosta of CNN said the other day that the media will be softer on Biden than Trump.

That is nothing new. They havent been hard on Democrats for decades. They dont care if Raphael Warnocks camp abused kids, they dont care how many women the Clintons (and Biden) abused and they dont care about all the kickbacks to the Bidens and Clintons.

All that most of the media cares about is putting leftists in power to push their radical agenda. They havent cared about facts, science, or election integrity for a long time. That makes them enemies of the people.

Image credit: Pixabay public domain
A photo of actor Ben Affleck wearing Boston gear and struggling with an order of Dunkin iced coffees and Munchkins has gone viral.

The photo taken outside the actors California home quickly became a meme representing 2020, shopping habits and more.

me collecting all of the packages i get every day that i dont remember ordering pic.twitter.com/YLxayDUBKs  Carrie Wittmer  (@carriesnotscary) December 31, 2020

He gave us one last gem for 2020 thats love pic.twitter.com/mCCH0AieMz  The Hungry Boy (@The_SummerMan) December 31, 2020

Ben Affleck picking up his delivered Dunkin wearing a Boston T-shirt is the most Boston and the most 2020 thing ever. pic.twitter.com/2fxLdkWrO4  Joey Rodriguez (@joeyrdz81) December 31, 2020

Ben Affleck is my entire 2020 existence  pic.twitter.com/vojP4JYaLX  Big Sky Daddy Energy (@LocanasMua) December 31, 2020

Its not the first time Affleck can be seen with a Dunkin cup.

me every sunday:       



me monday through friday: pic.twitter.com/k0Bit2C6yW  Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 11, 2020

At this point it almost seems like Ben Affleck is better known for appearing publicly flustered and enjoying Dunkin coffee than he is for his career in entertainment, and honestly, I relate.  Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) December 31, 2020

Its happened so many times that earlier this year Jezebel asked: What Does Ben Affleck Think About Dunkin Donuts Closing 450 Stores?

Vulture also looked into if Dunkin keeps Afflecks order on file this year. Some have wondered if hes a paid brand ambassador.

I HAVE bought more Dunkin Donuts this year thanks to Ben Affleck.  Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords) December 31, 2020

Brb switching to Dunkin forever bc Ben Affleck  Brianna O'Neill (@beachboundbb) December 31, 2020

Either way it seems clear that hes surpassed his brother, Casey Affleck, as mayor of Dunkin.

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TSXV: GGI

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VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Garibaldi Resources Corp. (TSX.V: GGI) (the "Company" or "Garibaldi") Further to the Company's December 30, 2020 news release this update amends results from the recently completed 2020 drill program, targeting deeper extensions of the easterly plunging E&L intrusion. Hole EL-20-96 intersected a newly discovered semi-massive sulphide zone 450 meters east of the Lower Discovery Zone (LDZ) at a depth of 645 meters. The values for a single 18.5meter intersection within hole 96 at a depth of 144-162.5 meters were incorrectly transposed and the company provides the corrected description and assay table below:

EL-20-96 also produced an 18.5meter interval including the lower section of the orbicular gabbro and top portion of the LDZ significantly enriched in palladium and platinum, grading 2.00 g/t Pd, 0.97 g/t Pt. and 0.76 g/t Au. Notably, this hole intercepted a series of gabbros from surface to over 640 meters.

Amended Assay Results for Drill Holes EL-20- 96

Hole (#) Interval Width (from  to) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) *including over 18.5 m (144  162.5 m) 1.97 1.68 0.05 0.97 2.00 0.76 6.94



**Massive sulphides (75-100%); *Semi-massive sulphides (50% - 75%). Intervals are core lengths (true widths are estimated to be 80% of reported intervals)

About Garibaldi

Garibaldi Resources Corp. is an active Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of its assets in some of the most prolific mining regions of British Columbia and Mexico.

We seek safe harbour.

GARIBALDI RESOURCES CORP.

per: "Steve Regoci"

Steve Regoci, President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Garibaldi Resources Corp.

Related Links

http://www.garibaldiresources.com


Melissa Benoist's ex-husband Blake Jenner is back on Instagram a little over two-months after admitting he 'emotionally, mentally' and 'physically' hurt the Supergirl actress.

The Glee actor, 28, reflected on the tough 2020 as he sat down to get a haircut from a little girl in the clip.

'Definitely been a year,' he told his 262k followers. 'I wish all of you a kinder/healthier 2021 filled with much brighter days. Next time you hear from me Ill probably still be getting this haircut. '

Back online: Blake Jenner has returned to social media for the first time since he admitted to abusing ex-wife Melissa Benoist in October

Survivor: Jenner and Benoist were married from 2015 to 2017, and last year the CW star revealed she was a survivor of domestic violence - without specifying her abuser by name

Jenner disabled comments on the post.

Jenner and Benoist were married from 2015 to 2017, and last year the CW star revealed she was a survivor of domestic violence - without specifying her abuser by name.

The actor confirmed he was the partner in question in a lengthy statement in October, where he apologized for his actions and also insisted that the abuse went both ways.

Fresh start: He reflected on 2020 while he got his hair cut by a young girl, telling followers 'Definitely been a year. I wish all of you a kinder/healthier 2021 filled with much brighter days'

Without naming her in the statement, Jenner addressed a specific instance in which he threw his cell phone at a partner, causing an injury to her eye.

The actor admitted this did indeed happen, and has always regretted it.

'I take full responsibility and accountability for the hurt that I inflicted during my relationship with my past partner - emotionally, mentally and yes, physically.'

'Two years prior to the end of our relationship, there was a time where my past partner and I were in an argument that escalated, and in a moment of frustration, while I was standing in the hallway and she was in our bedroom, I threw my phone aimlessly and it hit my former partner in her face.

His side: Jenner finally confirmed he was the person Benoist was speaking of in a lengthy statement posted Thursday, in which he apologized for his actions and insisted the abuse went both ways

'I froze in a state of shock and horror as my then-partner screamed in anguish, her eye immediately swollen shut from the impact of the phone. It's a moment that I will regret for the rest of my life. She sat there crying and I can only imagine the pain, fear, and shame she must have felt in that moment. If I could do anything to take it back, I would.'

As the relationship became abusive, Jenner said they sought therapy, and though things improved temporarily, it would ultimately revert to toxicity.

'Without absolving myself of any responsibility, it is important to understand that there was mental, emotional and physical abuse inflicted from both ends. As a result, my former partner and I began to see a therapist together, but despite numerous attempts to work our issues out, we would find ourselves stuck in this toxic cycle that our relationship became.'

Jenner described an emotionally abusive relationship in which he was allegedly 'prohibited' from seeing friends, made to pass on jobs due to jealousy, and physically assaulted.

In addition to being punched and scratched, the actor says he went to the hospital for a broken nose after he was allegedly punched in the face.

He also claims he was 'physically assaulted' in the shower and left with an injury he declined to go into any detail about.

'The mental and emotional abuse began at the start of our relationship. I was made to pass on numerous jobs and opportunities because of jealousy of prospective female co-stars. I was discouraged from and threatened to not develop relationships with and take photos with female co-stars at professional events.

'Threats and derogatory comments were made regarding female colleagues I had worked or was working with.'

In addition to being 'punched' and 'scratched,' the actor claims he went to the hospital for a broken nose after he was hit in the face.

'I was made to feel guilty for working as I received calls from my former partner while I was away, threatening self-harm out of depression and deep-seated fear of abandonment. I was isolated - prohibited from seeing my friends for years, resulting in this toxic relationship becoming the entirety of my world.

'I was verbally and emotionally abused for everything from the family I was born into to the clothes I would wear in photoshoots. I was scratched. I was slapped. I was punched in the face, which caused a trip to the hospital to treat my broken nose.

'I, too, have had to conceal and make up lies about many visible injuries I had incurred throughout the relationship. I was physically assaulted in the shower, leaving me with a traumatic injury that I do not want to delve into at this time.'

Jenner said there were 'discrepancies' in her version of events, but refused to go any further to avoid 'mudslinging.'

Alleged injuries: In addition to being 'punched' and 'scratched,' the actor claims he went to the hospital for a broken nose after he was hit in the face. The pair are seen in 2013 above

Jenner says he has been working on his issues with a therapist since.

'To every victim of situational couple violence and any victim of any form of abuse that may have been triggered by our story, I am truly sorry. I know that no statement or letter can convey this, so I will make every attempt to lead with action - I stand with you as a victim myself, I repent for the abuse I inflicted as an aggressor myself, and vow to never retreat to losing who I am ever again.'

'However, the most important apology extends - then and now - to my former partner. I am sorry. There are many things that I wish I could have done differently; and while I wish it did not take the pain that was suffered throughout the course of our relationship, I will never regress to making the same mistakes ever again. I will never stop doing the work necessary to better myself in all areas of my life. I wish you and your family but good health, joy and love.'

The admission comes nearly a year after Benoist first came forward with her story, sparking an outpouring of support.

Healing: Jenner says he has been working on his issues with a therapist (pictured 2015)

'The stark truth is I learned what it felt like to be pinned down and slapped repeatedly, punched so hard the wind was knocked out of me, dragged by my hair across pavement, head butted, pinched until my skin broke, shoved into a wall so hard the drywall broke, choked,' she said at the time.

'I learned to lock myself in rooms but quickly stopped because the door was inevitably broken down. I learned to not value any of my property - replaceable and irreplaceable. I learned not to value myself.'

Benoist divorced Jenner in 2017 and is now married to actor Chris Wood, whom she shares newborn son Huxley with.

For confidential help and support in the US please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

If you are in the UK please call the National Domestic Violence freephone helpline on 0808 2000 247
More vaccines on the anvil as US ramps up efforts

Covishield: Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine gets recommendation for emergency use, DCGI to take final call

Get set for largest vaccine drive: 2021 brings hope

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: Preparations are underway on a massive scale for the launch of the world's largest vaccination driver against COVID-19.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the people should not let their guard down and strictly abide by the COVID-19 preventive norms even after the vaccination. The PM said this while speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the AIIMS, Rajkot.

Earlier, I said 'dawai nahi too dheelai nahi." Now I am saying dawai bhi aur kadaai (caution) bhi. Our New Year mantra should be dawai bhi aur kadaai.

Health Ministry releases communication strategy to support COVID-19 vaccine rollout

The PM said that people will be given doses of the vaccine manufactured in India. He also said that the last day of the year is to remember lakhs of doctors, health warriors, sanitisation staff, pharmacists and other frontline workers. I pay my respect to those people who have sacrificed their lives while performing their duties.

The PM said that in 2020, there was an atmosphere of disappointment and dismay due to the infection.

There were doubts, but in 2021 there comes a ray of hope in terms of its treatment. He also described the battle against COVID-19 as a fight against an unknown enemy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rajkot, Gujarat, via video conference, the PMO said.

Over 201 acres of land has been allotted for the institute, which will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,195 crore and is expected to be completed by mid-2022, the Prime Minister''s Office said.

The state-of-the-art 750-bed hospital will also have a 30-bed AYUSH block. It will have 125 MBBS seats and 60 nursing seats, the PMO said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 8:09 [IST]
Satpal Nischal, a 65-year-old Punjabi jeweller, has become the first casualty of the controversial land laws that allows outsiders to formally purchase land in Kashmir.

Nischal, who ran a flourishing business in the heart of Srinagar, had been living here for more than four decades. Police said militants shot him on Thursday evening in his shop. The killing has sent shockwaves in the business community. Many non-locals have set shop in Srinagar's upscale markets of Saraibala and Hari Singh High Street.

The 65-year-old came to Srinagar as a young boy with his father and lived as a tenant in Saraibala locality for 17 years. He worked as a goldsmith in the initial years but made rapid progress, his neighbours and fellow traders told News 18. The family constructed a house in posh Indira Nagar locality and for the last 25 years, they lived amicably with their Muslim neighbours.

The entire locality and the trader community have gone in a state of shock over the sudden tragedy.

Official sources say though he owned land and a house here much before the new land laws came into effect following the abrogation of Article 370, it was apparently his decision to take up domicile for himself and his family members that may have led to his killing.

Sources said the family was recently issued domicile certificates that are pre-requisites to take up a job in local government offices, though land can now be acquired in the erstwhile state without being a domicile.

In its brief statement on Thursday, police said Nischal was killed in a terror-related case and that investigation is in progress. Officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime, police said.

Though family and friends were not willing to offer comment, many in Kashmir suspect the killing took place to unsettle outsiders and dissuade them from buying land after new laws had thrown open the sale of Valley's immobile property to every citizen of the country.

Before Article 370 was read down, there was an embargo on outsiders to own such property. These have fuelled apprehensions in Kashmir that such provisions are aimed to diminish the Muslim majority character of the former state and change its demography.

Teary-eyed friends and relatives poured in huge numbers for the cremation on Friday.

And those suspicions have gained currency after militant organisation, The Resistance Front, in a purported statement on social media, owned responsibility for Nischal's killing. The TRF said he was an active participant of the demographic change and settler colony project of Hindutva forces.

The outfit said he had taken up the domicile and was neutralised for that. The outfit warned to kill all those who became part of the programme and came to Kashmir with the intention to settle.

Inside the slain jeweller's home, teary-eyed friends and relatives poured in huge numbers to console the family. The Nischal family were not keen to tell media what could be the reason behind his murder or the reports of acquiring the domicile.

I don't know that. I am here because he was our good neighbour in Sariabala. We have a long association and have participated in many family functions," said Shabir Ahmad. We are in deep shock and have come to express our condolence," said Khalid Ahmad, another neighbour.

Nischal's body was consigned to flames and his friends bowed their heads in silence. Former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah condemned the killing.

"Very unfortunate. There can be no justification for this kind of violence. May the soul of the departed rest in peace & may his family find strength at this difficult time," tweeted Abdullah. Mufti also condemned the killing in strong terms. "Condemn the gruesome killing of an innocent man in Srinagar yesterday. Violence has no place in a civilised society. Deepest condolences to the bereaved family," she wrote on Twitter.
Despite the bitter 40-degree cold front and intermittent bouts of rain, more than 100 people snaked around the massive AT & T Center on Thursday morning, some waiting up to an hour to get tested to see if they had the coronavirus.

As demand for testing has increase significantly during the holidays and inclement weather pushes people inside, people going to community centers forgoing physical distancing once they get inside.

It was crowded, Brenda Brumit, 67, said after getting tested at the AT & T Center Thursday. It did not feel comfortable. I dont feel that comfortable being close to people anymore.

Brumit has gotten eight COVID tests this year  six at the AT & T Center. She has to get a test every time she wants to visit her mother who is in a nursing home or her husband who is in the hospital for an unrelated illness.

Typically, there are about a dozen people inside at a time getting tested, Brumit said; normally, she walks right in. This is the second time she has had to wait outside at the AT & T Center location.

The city has three asymptomatic testing sites  one at the AT & T Center, the Cuellar Community Center and the Ramirez Community Center. These sites are run by Community Labs, a nonprofit organization that provides free coronavirus testing.

In November, a total of about 400 to 500 tests were performed daily at all three sites. However, with demand for testing growing since Thanksgiving, the sites have been averaging about 1,600 tests daily in December, said Mary Ullmann Japhet, a spokeswoman for the testing company.

Ruben Garcia, 58, got tested Wednesday at the Ramirez Community Center. He also encountered a large indoor crowd.

Those wanting to be tested were required to queue inside a poorly ventilated gym with about a hundred potentially infectious people for about 20 minutes amid a surge, Garcia said. It was quite stuffy.

Its dangerous, he added, with staff being too busy to enforce social distancing.

Garcia received his results just 12 hours later, which showed he didnt have COVID-19. However, after his experience, he wants to get tested again to make sure he didnt catch the virus while in line. Garcia said he filed a report about his experience, citing a violation of the citys emergency orders.

These indoor crowds sometimes occur as staff are trying to get folks out of the rain, said San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Joe Arrington. The fire department oversees the testing sites.

There has been an uptick in folks coming in for asymptomatic testing, Arrington said. And while this does create longer lines at times, our folks that are out at the community centers have not reported any complaints.

Testing sites closed Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas, and resumed normal business hours Dec. 26. Testing for both asymptomatic and symptomatic people will be closed again today for New Years Day, with symptomatic testing resuming Jan. 2.

However, asymptomatic tests wont be offered again until Jan. 4 at the three main testing sites.

Among the crowd at the AT&T Center on Thursday were 29-year-old Victoria Alcorta with her 5-year-old daughter, Sophia, wrapped up tightly in a pink blanket to stay warm, her face barely visible.

By noon, the two had waited about 20 minutes, and reported the line was moving pretty quickly. The mother was the one getting tested  rather, retested  hoping for a negative so she could go back to work as an assistant property manager.

Since both her and her daughter had previously tested positive for the virus, she ha to stop working and they had to cancel their Christmas plans, opting for a quiet holiday at home.

To view more information on testing sites, go to COVID19.SanAntonio.gov.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 05:04:13|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang (L), Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed (C) and Egyptian Assistant Minister of Health for Public Health Initiatives Mohamed Hassani attend the signing ceremony of the letter of intent on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation between China and Egypt in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

The signing of the letter will strongly promote the cooperation on coronavirus vaccines between China and Egypt, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang says.



CAIRO, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China and Egypt signed on Thursday a letter of intent for mutual cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang signed the letter, on behalf of the National Health Commission of China, with Mohamed Hassani, Egyptian assistant minister of health for public health initiatives, said the Chinese embassy in Cairo in a statement.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed, the statement said.

Liao said that the signing of the letter will strongly promote the cooperation on research, development, production and use of coronavirus vaccines between the two countries' relevant institutions.

China and Egypt have helped each other amid the menacing pandemic, the ambassador said, adding that the signing of the letter of intent is the embodiment of the joint efforts by China and Egypt to build a health community.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang (2nd R) and Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed (1st R) attend the signing ceremony of the letter of intent on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation between China and Egypt in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

He stressed that people of all countries have the right to obtain vaccines and medicines, pointing out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

"Chinese vaccines are undergoing phase III clinical trials in many countries, and they are progressing smoothly. China has approved the emergency use of the vaccines in the country, and there have been no serious adverse reactions," Liao said.

The ambassador emphasized that China has made a firm commitment that it will serve the vaccines as a global public product and supply them to the world at a fair and reasonable price, contributing to the realization of the availability and affordability of the vaccines in developing countries.

For her part, the Egyptian health minister said that the Egypt-China relations are particularly friendly, and cooperation in the health field has been further expanded.

"China has given full play to the joint efforts of the government and enterprises to firmly support and assist Egypt during the fight against the epidemic, and Egypt highly appreciates that," Zayed said.

"As a country with a large population in the region, Egypt has a very sincere desire to carry out anti-epidemic cooperation with China, including vaccines," she said, noting that Egypt looks forward to China's continued support.

On Dec. 10, Egypt received the first batch of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine to help fight the COVID-19 epidemic.

The batch of the vaccine, developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group, or Sinopharm, came from the United Arab Emirates.
Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken has welcomed comments by the head of the Catholic Church that a united Ireland will never be achieved unless nationalists are willing to listen to those who are fearful of the prospect of reunification.

Archbishop Eamon Martin made his comments to The Irish Catholic newspaper ahead of the 2021 anniversary of the partition of the island of Ireland.

He said: "Clearly as a nationalist myself, as growing up in a nationalist community, I would have a yearning that that sense of belonging is something that could be shared by all of the people in the island of Ireland."

However, Archbishop Martin warned that understanding where those fearful of a united Ireland are coming from is key.

"I think that we will never reach there unless we are open to understanding each other, and I think that 2021 provides an opportunity for greater understanding of where we've come from and indeed where we might go together into the future."

The archbishop said that the division of the island 100 years ago had caused "a great amount of sadness: a sense of separation, a sense of loss with the partition of the island," within the broader Catholic/nationalist community.

At the same time, he said that "for unionists and indeed loyalist communities in Northern Ireland, it represents for them a significant moment in the establishment of the Northern Ireland state".

Archbishop Martin also criticised nationalist politicians for refusing to engage with the commemoration of the creation of Northern Ireland.

"I would like to see the 2021 centenary as an opportunity for greater mutual understanding, for opportunities to build further reconciliation and peaceI am somewhat disappointed that many of our nationalist and republican political leaders have dismissed the centenary of 2021 altogether because for me I think it's really important to seize it as a moment to reflect on where we've come from.

"If we could accept that people on this island approach their belonging from very different perspectives - that was key to the Good Friday Agreement: that we would recognise legitimate aspirations on the island and that to me is something that we're better not to run away from, but to face," the archbishop said.

"And if there is ever to be greater mutual understanding and living together on the island of Ireland, then we need to be able to face difficult moments and difficult episodes from our history we need to be able to face it openly," he insisted.

Mr Aiken said Archbishop Martin should be commended for many of his remarks.

"The lack of engagement and indeed respect shown by some nationalist politicians and commentators brings into real question whether they are truly committed to parity of esteem and mutual respect," the Ulster Unionist Party leader added.

"It seems that to some, the only shared space than can be contemplated is an island dominated by a singular narrative.

"The commemoration and indeed celebration of Northern Ireland's centenary should also be about reflection and a determination for us all to what is best for all of our people, now and well into the future," he said.

In response, a Sinn Fein spokesperson added: "The centenary of partition is nothing to celebrate for Irish republicans, nationalists and democrats.

"Partition has been to the detriment of citizens across this island and continues to restrict our social and economic potential."

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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CRISIL Ratings | Company received the necessary approvals from SEBI and RBI to undertake the Ratings business transferred to it pursuant to the scheme.

The global COVID-19 situation, rollout of vaccines, geopolitical trends, Union Budget and economic recovery would be the major factors driving investor sentiments in 2021 after a tumultuous year which saw both ''the worst of times and the best of times'' for the stock market, said analysts.

What a year 2020 turned out to be!

From witnessing gigantic losses to record-shattering gains, investors went on a roller-coaster ride amid the coronavirus pandemic and massive stimulus measures.

Markets closed last year with remarkable gains of around 16 per cent, but will the winning ways continue in 2021 as well?

According to Hemant Kanawala, Head - Equity, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance, "If 2020 was a year of COVID infection, lockdown and recession, 2021 will be a year of vaccination, reopening and recovery."

Analysts are optimistic about the road ahead for the equity market but added that the quantum of rise would depend on multiple factors.

Markets may see profit-taking ahead followed by consolidation initially but analysts expect the prevailing uptrend to continue in 2021 as long as there is no resurgence of COVID-19 cases and consequent lockdown.

Another important factor would be the geopolitical situation with a new US president set to take charge, they added.

Dalal Street wrapped up 2020 on a bullish note, with the Sensex gaining 15.7 per cent during the year marked with panic selling as well as record-breaking peaks.

"Markets have been continuously making newer highs led by strong liquidity flow, supportive global cues, positive news on progress of COVID vaccines and US stimulus announcement. However, we feel some consolidation at the start cannot be ruled out, citing stretched valuations across the board.

"Nonetheless, we would see a decent performance in the markets, given overwhelming liquidity support from central banks, which is expected to continue in 2021 as well. On the domestic front, we believe improving India''s fiscal position and NPA situation would boost sentiments. Besides, the Union Budget and earnings are crucial events for investors...," said Ajit Mishra, VP Research, Religare Broking.

Considering the present scenario, Sensex and Nifty have the potential to test 48,000-plus and 14,500-plus zones this year, he added.

Mishra added that markets are trading at expensive valuations after the phenomenal recovery in the last nine months, so there could be profit-taking ahead followed by consolidation initially and earnings recovery would decide the future course of equities.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services said, "Despite the havoc created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy is expected to recover in 2021 giving boost to the equity markets in addition to upgrades in corporate earnings."

"We expect Sensex to touch 51,500 level, while Nifty is expected to cross 15,100 mark due to enough liquidity and better than expected recovery in businesses," said Vinit Bolinjkar, Head of Research, Ventura Securities.

According to analysts, the prospect of vaccines, additional stimulus package by developed countries and gradual recovery in the global economy will drive the domestic market.

"CY21 will be marked with hopes of early rollout of COVID-19 vaccine, normalisation of activities and unperturbed growth recovery. We expect CY21/FY22 to be a better year with likely strong recovery in both the economy and earnings," said Jaideep Hansraj, MD & CEO, Kotak Securities.

Going ahead, the key driver for markets would be revival in earnings to sustain these premium valuations, Mishra said, adding that the government has the opportunity to set the roadmap for sustained growth in the Union Budget early this year.

"Improvement in trade relations between India and the US under the new administration can play a critical role in expediting the recovery," Mishra added.

Vaccine optimism and liquidity supporting measures infused life into the equity market which had faced turbulent trading sessions in March due to concerns related to the pandemic and its impact on the economy.

March proved to be dreadful for Dalal Street, with the Sensex plunging a massive 8,828.8 points or 23 per cent during the month.

"As long as we don''t have a resurgence of COVID and consequent lockdown, the situation should improve quickly and materially," Bolinjkar added.

During the entire 2020, the 30-share BSE Sensex made monthly gains in seven while closing with losses in five of them.

"Continuity of global liquidity and how does the geopolitical situation change with the new US president can drive global sentiments," said Santosh Kumar Singh, Head of Research at Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company.

Markets witnessed volatile trends during the year, with the BSE benchmark crashing to its one-year low of 25,638.9 on March 24, only to roar back to its record high of 47,896.97 on the last day of trade.

"We have a target of 14,500 for Nifty-50 for December 2021, with an upward bias based on the optimistic economic development seen in the latest data," according to Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

Sentiment will also depend upon investment trend of foreign institutional investors, movement in rupee and Brent crude.

"All-in-all, we believe the market will run up ahead of, and in anticipation of, an ensuing economic recovery. If 2020 was largely about survival, both health-wise and finance-wise, it was also the most opportune time to tweak and tighten portfolios.

"In our reckoning, the best for the markets lies immediately ahead," said Amar Ambani, Senior President and Head of Research - Institutional Equities, Yes Securities,

On the market''s Budget wishlist, Mishra said market participants would keenly watch progress and plans on the disinvestment process by the government.

Further, there would be wide expectations that some of the sectors like airline, travel and tourism, hotels and multiplexes would get some sort of relief package.

"Additionally, higher spending in social sectors like rural, infrastructure and agriculture would be taken positively by the markets," he added.

On sectors to watch out for in 2021, Mishra said banking would be a key sector to watch out for after severe underperformance. The sector has made a comeback in a big way recently, led by strong results from some of the large private and public sector lenders.

"We also like telecom as we believe the worst is over for the sector as lingering tension of pricing wars and the decision on AGR dues has subsided to some extent.

"The long-term growth story remains promising for the industry, thanks to increase in digital penetration, which has further accelerated post the pandemic and consistent rise in smartphone users," he said.
An Ethiopian migrant, Agitu Ideo Gudeta was raped and murdered by a Ghanaian employee on her farm where she raised goats for her cheese business, police said on Wednesday, December 30.



The suspect, Adams Suleimani, 32, who works on Gudeta's farm in the northern Italian region of Trentino, has admitted to killing Gudeta, 42, with a hammer and raping her, Italian news agency Ansa reported.



According to the Italian daily Repubblica, Suleimani was brought in for questioning on Tuesday night based on evidence found at the scene. Carabinieri are investigating allegations that he had assaulted and raped Ms Gudeta after an argument over an unpaid salary. He is being detained in Trento as the investigation continues.



It was gathered that neighbours began looking for Ms Gudeta after she failed to turn up for a business appointment though they could hear her mobile phone ringing and vibrating inside her flat.



Gudeta had made her home in the mountains of Trentino's Valle dei Mocheni, making goat's cheese and beauty products in her farm La Capra Felice (The Happy Goat), which was built on previously abandoned land.



Her story was reported by numerous international media, including Reuters , as an example of a migrant success story in Italy at a time of rising hostility towards immigrants, fueled by the right-wing League party. Gudeta escaped from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, in 2010 after her participation in protests against 'land-grabbing' angered local authorities. Activists accused the authorities of setting aside large swathes of farmland for foreign investors.



On reaching Italy she was able to use common land in the northern mountains to build her new enterprise, taking advantage of permits that give farmers access to public land to prevent local territory from being reclaimed by wild nature.



Starting off with 15 goats, she had 180 by 2018 when she became a well-known figure.



"I created my space and made myself known, there was no resistance to me," she told Reuters in a story that year. As one of the few black people farming in the region, she had overcome persistent racial harassment to become a beloved figure in the valley.



She became a national symbol for environmentalism and integration after Radical Party politician Emma Bonino singled her out as an example of successful integration and courageous female entrepreneurship. In 2019 she was nominated for the Luisa Minazzi-Environmentalist of the Year prize by the Italian environmentalist association Legambiente.



"Our entire group expresses sorrow over the assassination of a courageous woman who was passionate about her job and engaged in defending environmental and human rights, said the Legambiente nominating committee in a statement.



"In the coming hours we will vigilantly follow the investigation into this unacceptable femicide, which follows in the wake of racist threats that Agitu Ideo Gudeta had received several times in recent years.













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The San Antonio Food Bank plans to build a $9 million apartment complex next to its New Braunfels branch for financially struggling families in the area.

The organizations clients in fast-growing New Braunfels are facing rising housing costs, pushing many to move outside the city of more than 90,000. That means more time commuting to work and having to switch school districts.

The biggest driver for a lot of the families on why theyre coming in to get food is because they cant afford their rent and buy food, said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank. The cost of housing in Comal County has just skyrocketed over the last decade.

The nonprofit is also trying to help working parents build financial assets and achieve self-sufficiency, Cooper said. Tenants will pay reduced rents and have access to child care.

The food banks strategy is to address hunger by dispensing food, provide job training and nutrition education, help families access programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, and connect them with regional groups such as Workforce Solutions Alamo for employment assistance.

The apartment project will target families who are doing everything they can do and theyre (on) that upward trajectory, Cooper said. They just need a window where things arent so tight that a little thing, like a flat tire or a medical bill or a high summer utility bill, throws them out of moving forward.

Along with working with clients coming into the New Braunfels Food Bank, staff there will work with other local nonprofits to help identify clients for the 51-unit complex, dubbed the Apple Seeds Apartments.

Residents will live there for two or three years. A portion of their rent will go into a savings account, which could be used for education or a down payment for a house after they complete the program, Cooper said. Rents for the two- and three-bedroom apartments have not yet been set.

Families will also take classes. Programming is being ironed out but could include budgeting or parenting skills.

Families will have day care at an on-site facility; the food bank is looking to partner with another nonprofit or third-party group for the center.

Construction of the complex at 1530 S. Seguin Ave. is expected to start in April and take about a year to complete, a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows.

The food bank is raising funds for the project. It has raised about one-third of the cost so far, which includes commitments from the New Braunfels-based McKenna Foundation, the San Antonio-based Kronkosky Charitable Foundation and others, Cooper said.

The food bank also recently received an undisclosed sum from author and billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The agreement specified that the amount not be made public, officials said last month.

Scott has given more than $4 billion to 384 organizations across the country, including the food bank and six other nonprofits in San Antonio.

The food bank will use Scotts donation for expenses to keep up with the spiraling demand for food amid the coronavirus pandemic and the nonprofits capital projects, which include the Apple Seeds Apartments and a culinary center.

Building housing next to the New Braunfels Food Bank has long been part of the plan.

New Braunfels is the third fastest growing city in the U.S., census data released in May shows. Its population swelled to 90,209 between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2019, increasing 56.4 percent. The rankings included cities with populations of 50,000 or more as of April 1, 2010.

The median price for a house in New Braunfels rose to $272,400 in November, up 12.1 percent from the same month in 2019, according to the Four Rivers Association of Realtors. In Comal County, where New Braunfels is the county seat, the median home price jumped 17.7 percent to $329,450.

The McKenna Foundation provided $250,000 toward the purchase of a roughly 5-acre plot for the food bank and a future housing development. It also committed $1 million for the apartment complex to NB Housing Partners, according to the foundations website.

The food bank was built on half of that land.

The foundation and NB Housing Partners reached out to several local nonprofits to co-develop the apartment complex, Cooper said, but those efforts didnt pan out.

They then asked the food bank to consider taking on the project. Plans advanced after talks between the nonprofits board members and a due-diligence period, Cooper said. McKenna and NB Housing Partners donated the land to the food bank in 2020.

The food bank is working with architects to develop designs and will soon choose a contractor.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
A pharmacist accused of deliberately spoiling more than 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine at a hospital outside Milwaukee was arrested Thursday afternoon, local authorities said.

Police in Grafton, Wis., arrested the unnamed man on recommended charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property. He is being held in the county jail, according to a statement from the police department.

The alleged episode, at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wis., touched off anger nationwide as limited supplies of shots are rationed for high-risk individuals. The estimated value of the doses, which authorities said totaled as much as $11,000, pales in comparison to the protection they might have offered to health-care workers on the front lines of the intensifying pandemic.

The alleged tampering will delay inoculation for hundreds of people, health officials said, in a state where 3,810 new cases were reported and 42 people died Thursday of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a state dashboard.

The pharmacist was dismissed earlier this week by the health-care system, Aurora Health Care. And authorities said he admitted in writing that he had removed 57 vaccine vials "knowing that if not properly stored the vaccine would be ineffective." Police said they were withholding the man's name until he was formally advised of the charges pending against him.

Aurora Health officials had previously been silent on the person's motives, but the details of his alleged behavior became more grim with each update. At first, the incident, in which 57 vaccine vials were discovered Saturday left outside a refrigerator, appeared to be an honest mistake. Each vial has enough for 10 vaccinations but can remain at room temperature for only 12 hours and, once thawed, cannot be refrozen.

Hundreds of doses were discarded, but some were quickly administered, Aurora Health officials said.

On Wednesday, the health system announced its finding that the act was intentional. And on Thursday, Aurora Health leaders said the vials had been removed not once but twice, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the several dozen shots administered Saturday.

Addressing reporters Thursday, Jeff Bahr, the president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group, called the pharmacist a "bad actor."

Police in Grafton, a village of about 12,000 that lies 20 miles north of Milwaukee, said their investigation was aided by the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration.

Leonard Peace, an FBI spokesman in Milwaukee, would not comment on the FBI's involvement but said of the episode, "We're aware of it." The FDA also was aware, said a spokeswoman, Stephanie Caccomo, who similarly declined to address the existence of an investigation. She directed questions to the hospital.

Initiating an internal review earlier this week, hospital officials said they were initially "led to believe" the incident was caused by "inadvertent human error." The vials of the Moderna vaccine, they thought, had simply been left out overnight Friday, and they rushed to administer doses they believed at the time were still usable. They used nearly 60 and discarded the rest, Bahr said.

As the review continued, he said, "we became increasingly suspicious of the behavior of the individual in question."

The employee was suspended and on Wednesday "admitted to intentionally removing the vaccine from refrigeration," Bahr said. The person, he added, also admitted to removing and returning the vaccine to refrigeration the previous night, Christmas Eve.

That acknowledgment, he said, made clear that the nearly five dozen people who received shots on Dec. 26 may not gain full protection. He said Aurora Health was working with Moderna and the FDA to "figure out a strategy" for ensuring these people are thoroughly inoculated against the virus. He also said each of those individuals had been contacted.

Bahr said there was otherwise "no evidence that the vaccinations pose any harm to them other than being less effective or ineffective."

He said he was "not able to make any judgments on motive at this time."

The tampering will delay inoculation for hundreds of people, Aurora Health officials said, in a state where 3,810 new cases were reported and 42 people died Thursday of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a state dashboard.

"We are more than disappointed that this individual's actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving the vaccine," the health system said in a statement.

Tara Smith, an epidemiologist at Kent State University and an authority on antipathy toward vaccines, said the incident will prompt medical providers to reassess who has access to the shots, even among their own employees.

"Hopefully, this is a one-off, but I'm sure places will now have to think about whether those handling the vaccines are trusted, in addition to making sure supplies are under camera surveillance," she said.

Security has been paramount in state planning, officials say. When Wisconsin began receiving vaccine shipments in December, the health department did not disclose the eight regional hubs receiving the bulk of the materials.

Julie Willems Van Dijk, the deputy secretary of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services, said at a Dec. 14 news conference, "This is precious vaccine. We do not want to create any security risks." She said the state had consulted with the Department of Homeland Security on the plans.

On Thursday, Wisconsin Health Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said her department has worked with Aurora Health officials as they "investigated the situation, reviewed their processes and implemented improvements."

"It is disappointing that any covid-19 vaccine was wasted in Wisconsin," she added in a statement to The Washington Post.

The Wisconsin incident comes as states continue to grapple with a bumpy rollout of vaccine, which is being prioritized for health-care workers and residents and staffers at long-term-care facilities. So far, distribution has lagged far behind federal projections, as the Trump administration failed to make good its promise to deliver shots to 20 million people by the end of the year.

As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 12.4 million doses of the vaccine had been distributed across the United States, but only 2.8 million of those had been administered. Trump administration officials have said these numbers lag behind the actual pace of vaccination, which they also vowed would accelerate starting next week.

The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, the first two regimens to gain U.S. regulatory approval for emergency use, are two-shot protocols with intricate logistical requirements. Moderna's vaccine does not require subarctic temperatures, as does the Pfizer product, but it does need to be kept cold. It can be stored at freezer temperatures for six months, the company says, and kept at regular refrigerated conditions for 30 days. It can be maintained at room temperature for only 12 hours, though, and can't be refrozen once thawed.

Complex storage requirements are among the reasons state officials are imploring providers to administer vaccine quickly once it is received. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, taking to Twitter last week to celebrate the start of shipments of Moderna's vaccine, said it marked "another step forward in fighting this pandemic."

In its original statement Monday, Aurora Health said it had successfully vaccinated about 17,000 people over the previous 12 days. Its initial review, it said, had found that the 57 vials were simply left out overnight by the employee after "temporarily being removed to access other items." Bahr said the specific hospital where the incident occurred received no vaccine before Dec. 24.

The health system apologized, saying, "We are clearly disappointed and regret this happened."
A new year and a new start awaited Tyler Hollingsworth as he returned home the first time in eight days.

Since Dec. 24, Hollingsworth has been at the Hurley Medical Center in Flint, recovering from critical injuries he received when he and fellow Midland Police officer Chuck Brown responded to a fire that ultimately claimed the life of a Midland man.
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The pandemic put humanity to the test in 2020, but for all the failures and bad behavior, we as a species accomplished some amazing things.

Rather than let those who showed nothing but contempt for their fellow humans dominate our memories, lets celebrate how the rest of us used our big brains and worked together.

The Chinese governments stifling of information about the novel coronavirus hobbled public health experts at the start.

Once again, a repressive government obsessed with controlling information magnified a disaster, allowing the virus to infect millions before alerting the world to the danger.

Once the virus was out, though, Chinese scientists quickly shared its genetic sequence. Experts were ready to analyze the virus DNA and make new vaccines, because governments had funded universities where dedicated engineers engaged in not-for-profit research developing new technologies.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: COVID makes the rich even richer  and takes away from workers

Virologists knew what to do thanks to decades of philanthropic and taxpayer-funded research into HIV, influenza and other infectious viruses.

Decades of accumulated knowledge, most of which the public never will understand, provided essential clues, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, perhaps the most famous living U.S. scientist.

With the genome in hand, men and women with more than a dozen years of education went to work.

Among them were Turkish immigrants to Germany who run BioNTech and who partnered with the Greek CEO of a giant American pharmaceutical corporation named Pfizer.

Data scientists used supercomputers and high-speed internet connections to share critical information and run theoretical models. Artificial intelligence sped up experiments and ruled out dead-ends.

None of this work comes cheap. Companies had seen viruses die out in the past, making them wary of the investment. The private sector needed to know the billions they were spending would not bankrupt them.

Governments socialized the risk. Politicians promised to fund research and purchase vaccines, even if no one ever took them. Career bureaucrats pored over proposals, identifying which had promise, eventually approving vaccines for public consumption.

Public health workers now are injecting people with millions of doses of at least four different vaccines, and more are on the way. Scientists took five years to develop the last major vaccine; this time, they did it in 10 months.

Just as scientists relied on centuries of accumulated knowledge to speed vaccine development, politicians and economists did the same to prevent a financial disaster.

Worries about government spending, budget deficits, public debt and socialism went out the window when the economy began seizing. Even conservatives recognized the nation needed to socialize the economic suffering and support those who lost their jobs or closed their businesses.

President Donald Trump and lawmakers authorized government checks to millions of Americans, whether they lost their jobs or not. They paid private businesses to keep people on the payroll, even if the shop doors were locked.

The massive injection of cash  financed by American taxpayer debt  drove up average incomes even with the economy at a standstill. Recipients used the money wisely to pay down debt, build savings or pay for necessities, multiple studies show.

Meanwhile, the Ivy League bankers at the Federal Reserve socialized the risk to financial markets, stabilizing stock and bond prices with cash injections.

The intercession worked so well that millionaires and billionaires bought even more stock, driving indexes to new highs and safeguarding middle-class retirement accounts.

Quick reactions by governments, universities and big business soon will tame COVID-19, one of the most impressive public health accomplishments in generations. Smart fiscal strategies, first developed to fight the Great Depression, have prevented another financial crisis, keeping people in their homes and businesses.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Heedless COVID spreaders take toll on lives and the economy

While we may grouse about how much more we could have done if everyone had cooperated, the pandemic and its fallout could have been much worse. And while we are not out of the woods yet, we can see the path to safety.

The irony is that the pandemics heroes are people that a high proportion of Americans consider global capitalisms villains: scientists, politicians, bureaucrats, bankers, economists, doctors and other experts.

Everyone who receives a vaccine will owe a debt to big corporations, big government, globalization and immigration. They made a vaccine available on a timeline that will save millions of lives and livelihoods.

Anti-intellectuals who continually deride experts for speaking the truth and trying to find solutions to humanitys problems owe them an apology. Vilifying experience and education is ignorant.

We should begin 2021 recognizing how much we can accomplish and protect, if we globally share the risks, work together and respect those with knowledge. We are, after all, a social species at our best when we unite.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
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The farmers' unions protesting on various points of Delhi border said on Friday that they will hold a tractor march on January 6 if the repeal of the three farm laws is not decided upon in the next round of meeting on January 4.

"It seems govt is taking farmers lightly. They were able to disperse Shaheen Bagh protestors and were thinking they can do the same with us. But such a day will never come. If the government does not make a decision on January 4 then farmers will have to take a decision," said Yudhvir Singh of Bhartiya Kisan Union.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

"We will hold tractor march on January 6 if no concrete decision is taken in the January 4 meeting between government and the unions," he added.

The unions have said that they are not ready to back down, instead will announce dates for shutting all malls, petrol pumps in Haryana if the government fails to end the deadlock in the next meeting.

"In Haryana, all toll plazas will remain free. All the petrol pumps and malls, except private, will be shut. Leaders of BJP and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) will face protests in the state and this will continue till their government of alliance breaks," said Vikas Sisar, a farmer leader from Haryana.

The farmers also announced that protesters on the Haryana-Rajasthan border will move forward if talks do not progress constructively.

Violence in Rajasthan

The statement came after Haryana Police on Thursday lathicharged farmers and fired tear gas shells after a group broke barricades at Shahjahanpur in Rajasthan in their attempt to march towards the national capital.

Hundreds of farmers, mainly from Rajasthan and Haryana, have been agitating at the Shahjahanpur border in Alwar district. Tensions flared up on Thursday as some of them on tractor-trailers tried to force their way into neighbouring Haryana.

Regarding the incident, Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India said on Friday: "In Shahjahanpur yesterday, some farmers broke barricades and moved forward. The morcha there was held after a consensus of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha here, it was a joint decision. Local and national leadership agreed that morcha should remain in Shahjahanpur for now."

"The next round of talks with the government will be held on January 4 and if our demands are not accepted, we will hold a march at Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) on January 6. We will announce a date about when and move forward from Shahjahanpur border," he added.

Sixth round of talks

The Union ministers holding the sixth round of talks with the 40 protesting farmers' unions on Wednesday told the farmers that the process to withdraw a law is a long-drawn one and proposed to set up a committee to examine the three new farm reforms.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the unions were apprehensive about an ordinance related to the environment. "The first issue was an ordinance related to the environment. Unions were apprehensive about farmers being included along with Parali ones. Both sides agreed to farmers' exclusion," said the minister.

Further, the government also decided to rollback provisions on stubble burning and draft electricity law.

"Farmers feel that if reform is introduced in the Electricity Act, they will suffer loss. Unions wanted that electricity subsidy given to farmers by states for irrigation should continue. The consensus was reached on this issue also," said Tomar.

However, the farmers have said that two of their main demands remained unresolved.

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Brittany Counts, 25, her seven-year-old son and four-year old-daughter died

It was revealed by her fiance after the accident that Counts was also pregnant

Counts' car spun into the wrong lane and was hit by an on-coming vehicle

A Facebook fundraiser to cover funeral costs far exceeded its $20,000 goal

A pregnant mother and her two children were killed on Monday in a car crash in Texas, after she lost control of her car and spun into on-coming traffic.

Brittany Counts, 25, her seven-year-old son Wyatt Mask and daughter Preslee Mask, four, were killed at around 12:35 p.m. in Parker County on a Texas state highway.

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The report - obtained by People Magazine - states that Counts 'failed to control her speed and took evasive action moving to the left to try and avoid' a pickup truck. while driving on Highway 199.

Unable to avoid hitting 2017 GMC pickup truck, the mother's 2007 Ford Edge spun 'clockwise into the westbound lane of travel where it was struck by a 2016 Ford F-150 pickup,' the report said.

Brittany Counts, 25 was killed when her car spun out of control and was hit by an on-coming vehicle

Wyatt Mask (right), 7, and Preslee Mask (left), 4, were killed when their car spun out of control and was hit by an on-coming vehicle

'The collision killed the 25-year-old driver and two juvenile passengers, ages seven and four, who were inside the Edge.' The driver of the Ford F-150 was taken to hospital with undisclosed injuries, the statement added.

In the wake of the tragedy, Counts' fiance Dillon Latta posted a photo of the couple together on his Facebook page, revealing that they had been expecting a daughter together this spring.

'Your the love of my life. Our baby girl was due in May ... God please help me through this I don't know what to do,' he wrote.

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Stephen Winkler, Latta's brother-in-law set up a fundraiser for funeral expenses on Facebook which quickly raised over the $20,000 target - reaching over 25,800 as of Friday when the fundraiser had ended, with 442 people having donated.

'Today was a tragic day for our family, my brother in law Dillon Latta lost his fiance Brittany Counts, his unborn daughter Paislee Denise Latta, and his seven year old step son Wyatt Mask and seven year old step daughter Preslee Mask in a tragic car accident in Springtown Tx,' Winkler wrote in the description.

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He added, 'Due to the sudden loss and unexpected funeral expenses any help would be greatly appreciated during this families time of need.'

Both on the fundraising page and on Latta's post, tributes from the couple's friends came pouring in for Counts and her children - whom she shared with a different father to Latta.

In the wake of the tragedy, Counts' fiance Dillon Latta posted a photo of the couple together on his Facebook page (pictured) along with a tribute to his partner and children. His post also said that the couple were expecting a child when Counts was killed in the accident

'What a tragedy. I was so shocked to hear of your unexpected loss yesterday. I am so sad and still trying to accept it,' one well wisher wrote.

'She was a beautiful mother and had beautiful children. They will all be missed greatly by all of us who knew her. My thoughts and prayers for the family and for all involved in this tragedy.'

Another said: 'I know there's not a thing anyone could say to take away your heartache but I wanted to say that you're forever in my prayers and that I am incredibly sorry for your loss.'

In a second post to Facebook, Latta posted more pictures of the couple together.

'Brittany was the definition of "ride or die" she was here for me when I was going through some of the hardest times in my life. She showed me what unconditional love is. Her and Wyatt and Preslee mean the world to me and my family,' he wrote.

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'To our daughter I'll never get to hold. I know your beautiful just like your mom and sister,' he added. 'A huge part of me is gone forever and I don't know what to do.'
Dear Annie: Sometimes, in the course of conversation with someone who has an accent, Ill find myself mimicking their speech. Its entirely unintentional and embarrassing, and Im sure it irritates the other person. Ive had to explain multiple times to people of varying vernaculars that Im not mocking them. How do I defuse awkward situations like this, short of avoiding conversation in the first place? -- Dont Shoot the Mockingbird

Dear Mockingbird: Your flock is bigger than youd think. A common psychological phenomenon known as mirroring or the chameleon effect leads people to unconsciously emulate those with whom theyre speaking. Though it can be embarrassing, this tendency is not inherently a bad thing. In fact, psychologists believe that it signals high levels of empathy, and a 2013 study found that this kind of unconscious imitation actually tends to make conversational partners feel more positively about the speaker.

Of course, we shouldnt go around deliberately imitating peoples accents. But when you do find yourself slipping up, briefly apologize when it feels appropriate, and then move on. Youre not intentionally hurting anyone, and youre probably not the first person theyve encountered whos done it.

Dear Annie: Concerning the lady who was attacked by her neighbors dogs: You were exactly right to recommend she contact the authorities. I cant imagine any local jurisdiction where vicious unleashed dogs attacking citizens would be allowed or their owners not held responsible. Im sure I will be one of many voices who would encourage her to immediately contact an attorney to file a civil suit for wrongful injury. Theres no doubt she has a case. -- Lawyer Dave

Dear Lawyer Dave: If ever I miss the mark, then I can count on my readers to help me find it. Dozens of you wrote that I should have recommended that Sincerely Confused hire a lawyer. The following letter includes a few more tips.

Annie Lane writes the Dear Annie advice column.

Dear Annie: Sincerely Confused should notify the dogs owners home insurance company of the incident. Shell need to provide a detailed, written personal account of what happened. She should also seek such statements from those good samaritan witnesses, too, if possible. Additionally, she should include copies of the police reports, as well as copies of her hospital records and any notes from follow-up doctor visits. And she should compile an itemized list of every single medical cost associated with her attack (the full charges, not just co-pays).

Since some time has passed, it seems she might be reluctant or fearful of pursuing a lawsuit. But she should still talk it over with an attorney. At the very least, she may be able to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company privately. I encourage her to choose an amount sizable enough to compensate her for all expenses incurred, plus the lifelong burden caused by her injuries. Project what it will cost to pay for future medical visits and to buy the equipment and therapies necessary to cope with her condition for the rest of her life.

If the cops or city doesnt do it first, a claim like this might get the dog owners attention. If they hope to stay insured, Ill bet they build a fence. My heart goes out to her! -- Bitten Once in ND

Dear Bitten: Im sorry to hear that you learned from a similar experience, but I appreciate your wisdom, and Im sure Sincerely Confused will as well.

Ask Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie is out now! Annie Lanes debut book -- featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

Read more advice:

Ask Amy: Separated soulmates are eager to connect

Dear Annie: Looking to hop off the hamster wheel

Dear Abby: Children cut off stepmother with dads power of attorney
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Guinea began vaccinating against COVID-19 with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine on an experimental basis, starting with government officials, authorities said Thursday.

Guinea has ordered only 55 doses of the Russian vaccine, said Dr. Sakoba Keita, the director-general of the National Health Security Agency.

"We requested a small quantity of the vaccine, 55 doses precisely. This is the beginning of an order," Keita said. "Yesterday we vaccinated in this pilot phase 25 senior officials of the state. There are 30 doses left and we will continue with the vaccination."

However, he said on state TV Wednesday that they also sent a letter to Russia requesting 2 million doses of Sputnik V to help the country's vulnerable. Guinea has a population of 13 million.

Guinea is one of the first African nations to vaccinate its officials.

The Minister of Defense, Mohamed Diane was the first to receive the vaccine. He was shown getting the inoculation on national TV followed by other Cabinet ministers receiving the shots on Wednesday.

Gen. Bourema Conde, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, spoke after receiving the Russian vaccine.

"This new vaccine is a strong signal. This signal shows the strong will of the president. Today is a sampling, and this sampling will be duplicated," he said. "The president wants all Guineans to be in good health in relation to this pandemic."

Amadou Damaro Camara, the president of the country's legislative body, the National Assembly, was also vaccinated.

"We are the guinea pigs," he said of receiving the first doses of the vaccine.

"It is the government's permanent concern to want to fight against this disease and we are very happy about it," he said. "We hope that this vaccination will be extended to the rest of the people and that it will be the beginning of the eradication of this disease."

Tibou Camara, Guinea's industry minister, also spoke on the television broadcast after being vaccinated.

"The Guinean population should be congratulated and rejoice at a time when the vaccine is coveted and not very accessible to many countries, and that our country is a beneficiary," he said.

Russia has businesses in the West African nation and Guinea is known for its bauxite mining.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was among the first world leaders to congratulate Guinea's President Alpha Conde after he won a controversial third term in office after a violently contested election in October.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Vietnamese banks are enthusiastically filing for initial public offering or re-listing, in which they dream about tapping into broader scope of funds.

UPCoM has hailed Viet Capital Bank and several others to publicly trade in 2020. Photo: Le Toan

MSB, formerly known as Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank, officially joined a parade of financial institutions making their shares debut in Vietnam last week.

The bank held an impressive initial public offering (IPO) on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HSX) amid a huge cash flow, stirring up the stock market.

Accordingly, MSB boasts an initial share price of VND15,000 apiece (65 US cents). Market watchdogs believe this is a relatively attractive valuation, with its price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratio lower than those of other peers.

Nguyen Hoang Linh, MSBs general director, noted that the banks IPO on HSX will significantly enhance its position in the industry, as well as pave the way for MSB to tap into larger pool of public funds.

Going public also helps MSB continue to improve financial capacity, corporate governance standards, transparency, and facilitate more favourable conditions to boost the banks stock value, Linh added.

In May, MSB withdrew its IPO application as well as rescheduled the IPO until conditions became more satisfactory.

Market gyrations and indiscriminate selloff amid the peak of COVID-19 have been a brutal comeuppance for the global and local stock market, making many lenders hesitant to go public.

MSB is slated to divest its charter capital of consumer finance arm FCCPOM, and looking to shake hands with foreign and local investors alike to cash in on the consumer finance landscape.

An industry insider revealed to VIR that the bank also nearly reached its foreign ownership limit (FOL) even before the IPO, with 29.18 per cent of stakes already in the hands of foreign investors.

In the first quarter of 2021, MSB will ink an exclusive bancassurance agreement with one foreign-invested insurer, most likely Prudential or Manulife. Specifically, its profit before tax reached VND2.30 trillion ($100 million) after November, which completed 60 per cent of its whole year target, and up 116 per cent on-year. Furthermore, MSB expects to divest VND500 billion ($21.7 million) charter capital of FCCOM. Whether divesting 100 per cent or 50 per cent capital, MSB could rake in a profit of VND1.3 trillion ($56.52 million) or VND600 billion ($20.1 million) respectively, brokerage KIS reported.

On the same boat, 300 million of shares of Petrolimex Commercial Joint Stock Bank (PGBank) were publicly traded last week on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM). The banks foreign ratio is capped at 30 per cent in accordance to Vietnamese regulations.

Nguyen Quang Dinh, chairman of PGBanks board, voiced his optimism. This marks a significant milestone for our future development and is also a driving force for us to constantly enhance the banks commitment to customers and business efficiency, Dinh said.

UPCoM has welcomed five lenders to publicly trade since the beginning of 2020, including Nam A Bank, Viet Capital Bank, Saigonbank, and ABBank. Ho Chi Minh City-based privately-held lender ABBank joined a rush of banks tapping public funds. The bank has shuffled its top management in the last two years, and has had five CEOs in just two years. Other lenders are placing their focus by switching exchanges to access a wider range of funds.

On December 16, BAC A BANK also submitted dossiers to list more than 700 million shares on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), from UPCoM.

Nam A Bank, after filing an IPO on UPCoM two months ago, has also now signalled its ambition to list on the HSX. Listing on UPCoM before moving to the HSX will lay the essential foundation for us to prepare more thorough conditions in the longer scale. At the same time, the debut on UPCoM also helps Nam A Bank shares to improve liquidity, cement its position in the market, and bring maximum benefits to shareholders, said Tran Ngoc Tam, general director of the bank.

Meanwhile, ACB, SHB, VIB, and LienVietPostBank have also reaped the fruits of listing on the major bourse in Ho Chi Minh City.

After signing a 15-year exclusive bancassurance contract with Canadas insurer Sun Life, ACB unfolds multiple opportunities, including being eligible for margin trading after six months re-listing on the HSX, feasible inclusion on the VN30 Index in August 2021, and VNDiamond and VNFIN Lead the following November, explained Tran Dang Manh, analyst at Bao Viet Securities.

OCB chairman Trinh Van Tuan confirmed the banks commitment to soon go public on the HSX, saying that the IPO timing decision would be taken extra seriously to create more added value for its shareholders.

At the moment, Vietnams stock market is maintaining its impressive uptrend thanks to the rebound of banking stocks from large-cap lenders such as VietinBank, Vietcombank, BIDV, and Techcombank. However, there are still some lenders staying quiet in the IPO game, such as BaoViet Bank and VietA Bank.

Market watchdogs have expressed their caution over the amended Law on Securities taking effect from January 1, 2021, which requires public firms to trade on UPCoM for at least two years prior to listing on major stock exchanges  which could explain the rush of banks making debuts at this time. VIR

Lam Tien

Prime Minister urges banks to further cut interest rates The Central bank has lowered its interest rate cap three times by a combined of 1.5-2 percentage points per annum, which is the largest cut in the region.
The Tennessee Health + Housing Summit will convene leaders from the health care, community development, philanthropy and government sectors for deep conversations and exploration of the intersection of health and housing  in particular as it relates to our aging neighbors.
The Majors

It was a bullish final week of the year for the European majors. The CAC40 and the EuroStoxx600 rose by 0.53% and by 0.77% respectively, with the DAX30 gaining 0.97%.

A pullback on Thursday left the CAC40 and EuroStoxx600 with modest gains, while the German markets were closed on Thursday.

In a shortened week for the majors, COVID-19 vaccinations and the Brexit deal delivered support to the majors in the week.

With EU-wide vaccinations in progress and a no-Brexit withdrawal from the EU averted, optimism towards 2021 supported riskier assets.

U.S stimulus and expectation of more stimulus in the New Year added to the optimism towards the economic outlook for next year.

The upside was limited, however, with a continued rise in new COVID-19 cases and the new and more virulent strain of the virus a concern.

The Stats

It was a quiet week on the economic calendar. Key stats included French job seeker totals and prelim December inflation figures from Spain.

In France, job seekers rose from 3,549.7k to 3,586.3k in November. The markets were forgiving, however, with lockdown measures in November contributing to the uptick.

From Spain, deflationary pressures eased at the end of the year. Consumer prices fell by 0.5%, year-on-year, following a 0.8% decline in November. The Harmonized Index for Consumer prices fell by 0.6%, following a 0.8% decline in November

The stats ultimately had a muted impact on the majors, however.

From the U.S

Economic data was on the busier side. Key stats included November goods trade data and pending home sales and Decembers Chicago PMI.

The stats were mixed, with the goods trade deficit widening and pending home sales sliding in November.

On the positive, however, was a pickup in the Chicago PMI from 58.2 to 59.5 in December.

On Thursday, the weekly jobless claims figures were out after the shortened European session.

The Market Movers

From the DAX, it was a bearish week for the auto sector. BMW slid by 1.62% to lead the way down, with Continental and Daimler falling by 0.53% and by 0.82% respectively. Volkswagen slipped by just 0.01% in the week.

Story continues

It was also a bearish week for the banking sector. Commerzbank slid by 1.68%, with Deutsche Bank falling by 0.11%.

From the CAC, it was a bearish week for the banks. Credit Agricole slid by 1.90%, with BNP Paribas and Soc Gen falling by 1.58% and by 1.45% respectively.

It was also a bearish week for the French auto sector, however. Peugeot and Renault ended the week with losses of 1.63% and 2.30% respectively.

Air France-KLM rallied by 5.28%, following a 3.69% gain from the previous week, while Airbus ended the week down by 2.46%.

On the VIX Index

It was just a second weekly gain from 6-weeks for the VIX. In the week ending 31st December, the VIX rose by 5.67%. Reversing a 0.19% decline from the previous week, the VIX ended the week at 22.75.

For the week, Dow and S&P500 rose by 1.35% and by 1.43% respectively, with the NASDAQ gaining 0.65%.

The Week Ahead

Its a particularly busy week ahead on the economic calendar.

Key stats include private sector PMI numbers for December and German unemployment, retail sales, trade, and industrial production figures.

French consumer spending figures will also draw attention in the week.

Other stats include member state inflation and Eurozone retail sales and unemployment figures that should have a muted impact.

From the U.S, the markets preferred ISM private sector PMIs, the weekly jobless claims, and nonfarm payrolls will influence.

Out of China, the Caixin Manufacturing PMI ahead of the European open on Monday will set the tone.

Away from the economic calendar, COVID-19 news and chatter from Capitol Hill will remain in focus.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

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The very first minutes of 2021 should be the zero point for us to usher in the outset of our new national rise, Pashinian said in a televised address to the nation aired on New Years Eve.

What do we need for this? First of all, to furnish a new security environment, the most important component of which is the launch of army reforms and the strengthening of relations with our primary security partner, Russia, and the creation, in this context, of new security guarantees, he said.

Armenia already has close political, economic and military ties with Russia. It hosts a Russian military base and has long received Russian weapons at knockdown prices and even for free.

Moscow also deployed 2,000 peacekeeping troops to Karabakh as part of a Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war on November 10. In addition, it dispatched Russian soldiers and border guards to Armenias Syunik region southwest of Karabakh to help the Armenian military defend it against possible Azerbaijani attacks.

Pashinian again praised the Russian peacekeepers, saying that their presence provides substantial security guarantees for Karabakhs ethnic Armenian population.

The vast majority of Armenian opposition forces, including the formerly pro-Western Bright Armenia Party (LHK), also support closer ties with Russia, saying that is the only realistic way to counter Azerbaijans military alliance with Turkey.

LHK leader Edmon Marukian called last week for the opening of a second Russian military base in Armenia. Marukian said the base should be stationed in Syunik.

Former President Robert Kocharian likewise made a case on December 4 for Armenias much deeper integration with Russia. Kocharian, who has a cordial rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that only Russia can help his country rearm its armed forces and confront new security challenges in the aftermath of the Karabakh war.

I am convinced that the further development of multifaceted Russian-Armenian ties meets the fundamental interests of our two brotherly peoples, Putin said in a New Year and Christmas message to Pashinian sent earlier this week.

He said that in the course of 2020 Moscow and Yerevan became fully convinced of the significance of friendly, allied relations between our countries.
Health care workers care for a man wounded in an attack on the airport in Aden, Yemen, on Wednesday (AFP or licensors)

On World Day of Peace, Pope Francis expresses his appreciation for demonstrations in favour of peace, and calls for prayers for the people of Yemen, and for a bishop kidnapped in Nigeria.

By Vatican News staff reporter

In remarks following the Angelus on New Years Day, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude all those in every part of the world who, respecting the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, have promoted moments of prayer and reflection on the occasion of today's World Day of Peace. He noted in particular a Virtual March that took place on New Years Eve, organized by the Italian Episcopate, Pax Christi, Caritas and Catholic Action; and another, promoted by the SantEgidio Community, which took place in the morning on New Years Day.

Prayers for Yemen

The Holy Father also shared his sorrow and concern at the further escalation of violence in Yemen, which is causing numerous innocent victims. He prayed that efforts will be made to find solutions that will allow peace to return to those tormented peoples.

Brothers and sisters, he exclaimed, let us think of the children of Yemen! Without education, medicine, hungry Let us pray together for Yemen.

Prayers for victims of kidnapping

Pope Francis also called for the faithful to join the prayer of the Archdiocese of Owerri in Nigeria for Bishop Moses Chikwe and his driver, who were kidnapped on 27 December. We ask the Lord that they and all those who are victims of similar acts in Nigeria may return unharmed to freedom and that that dear country may regain security, concord and peace.

A year of peace and hope

Pope Francis concluded his remarks with best wishes to all for a year of peace and hope, with the protection of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
Thousands of tourists crowded the beaches of Goa to ring in the New Year on Friday, flouting social distancing norms, in stark contrast to the rest of the country where states governments had imposed night curfews to curb gatherings and celebrations following the Centres caution over the coronavirus pandemic.

The beaches became choked with crowds as many night clubs also organised parties for New Years eve. A few hours before celebrations were set to begin Goas health minister Vishwajit Rane had said that a night curfew was likely to be imposed in the coastal state, popular with partygoers, and that he had spoken to chief minister Pramod Sawant about the issue. Spoke to the Honble CM Dr.Pramod Sawant on imposing night curfew in the state on lines of the state of Delhi & Karnataka. The file is already in process. Strict SOPs is the need of the hour as Goa is a tourist state. Rane said on Twitter.

However, the chief minister later told news agency PTI that no decision on night curfew had been taken by the state. The chief ministers decision to not implement a night curfew in the tourist state of Goa came on the heels of a letter to the state by the Union health ministry to lay down necessary standard operating procedure (SOP) keeping the states Covid-19 situation in mind. Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan had called for a strict vigil in Goa to curb all potential super spreader events and places where crowds may gather to celebrate the New Year, PTI cited an official as saying.

The ministry also referred to its earlier communication, saying states and Union territories may impose restrictions, such as night curfew, based on their assessment of the Covid-19 situation. However, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. In view of the matter, you may promptly assess the local situation and consider imposition of appropriate restrictions on 30th, 31st December and 1st January, 2021, the letter said.

It was a warning Rane had previously acknowledged on Twitter. Received a letter from MoHFW INDIA to ensure SOPs & protocols are laid down by each state based on the situation in the respective states.Goa being a tourism state, it is imperative to have strict SOPs in place, to sustain tourism activities in keeping with Covid-19 guidelines, Rane had tweeted on Thursday.

Even though the chief minister had asked people to follow SOPs, visuals from party hotspots showed people flouting social distancing norms. Goa on December 27 saw its highest footfall of passengers when 11,000 passengers arrived on 72 flights, its highest traffic since lockdown.

Goa has 51,066 cases of the coronavirus disease in the state, out of which 939 are active. Around 37 tourists, who travelled to Goa from the United Kingdom and tested positive for the coronavirus disease, and their contacts have been quarantined at ESI Hospital in Margao.
A farmer allegedly died by suicide at a village in Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradeshs Bundelkhand region, said police. A five-page note addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recovered on his person, saying his body should be handed over to the government so that his organs could be sold to realise the hefty electricity bill of about Rs 88,000, said police.

The farmer, who died on Wednesday, owned a small flour mill. He is survived by his three daughters and a son.

His family members have alleged that the power company had seized his flour mill and also his motorbike.

The victims brother, who is employed in the power distribution company, said, My brother ended his life due to harassment by the power distribution company. My brother was highly upset and under stress since his flour mill and the motorbike were seized by the power distribution company.

He said, My brother was not able to pay the electricity bills as there was no good crop this year. Earlier, there was an average bill of about Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per month but suddenly a bill of about Rs 88,000 was given to him. Without giving any time to pay the bill, the power distribution company officials in Chhatarpur district sent a legal notice to my brother and seized his flour mill and motorbike. A team took away the bike causing harassment and stress to my brother. He wanted some time to pay the bill but the officials refused to listen to his pleas.

The brother demanded strict action against those responsible for the death.

The note reads, When there are scams by big politicians and businessmen the government employees dont take any action. If they take a loan they get enough time to repay it or the loan is waived. But, if a poor person takes even a small amount of loan, the government would never ask him as to why he was not able to repay the loan. Instead, he is insulted in public.

Matguva police station in charge Kamaljeet Singh said, We have got a note. The deceaseds father and brothers tried to convince him not to get stressed about the power bill. However, when his wife returned from her parents house there was an argument between her and the victim over the unpaid bill. Later, he took the drastic step. However, an investigation is going on in the matter.

Congress MLA and ex-minister Harsh Yadav said, Farmers and others are at the receiving end of the power distribution companies. Either teams of the power distribution company or its recovery agents are harassing the farmers and others like anything. They seize and take away tractors, trolleys, bikes, etc whatever they get from the houses of the farmers in the name of recovery of power bills. That too when kharif crops were not good because of bad weather this year.

Despite efforts, the chief engineer and the superintending engineer concerned of the power distribution company couldnt be reached for their comments.

Collector, Chhatarpur, Sheelendra Singh, said, The deceaseds father gets pension and he gets the benefit of PM Kisan Kalyan Yojna too. His brother works in the power distribution company. The administration immediately gave ex-gratia of Rs 25,000 to the deceaseds family. An inquiry would be conducted in connection with the incident and action would be taken if anyone is found responsible for the suicide.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday released statement on the status of two stranded Indian vessels  MV Jag Anand & MV Anastasia  that are on anchorage in China. The ministry in the statement said,"...given growing stress on crew members and our concern for increasingly difficult conditions for them, these two cases are being pursued vigorously."

"Our Embassy in Beijing has repeatedly taken up these cases both with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also the local provincial authorities, requesting that the ships be allowed to dock and/or the crew be allowed to be changed," MEA said in a statement.

"We expect assistance will be provided in urgent, practical, time-bound manner," said MEA.

It also said that Indian Ambassador has personally taken up this issue with China's Vice Foreign Minister. "Ministry is following this issue with Chinese Embassy. Chinese authorities have conveyed that on account of COVID related restrictions, crew change isn't being permitted from these ports," it further added.

Two cargo vessels- MV Anastasia and MV Jag Anand- with 39 Indians on board have been on anchorage in Chinese waters as they were not allowed to unload their cargo though some other ships have managed to do so.

China on December 25 had said that there is no 'link' between stranded Indian ship crew on its Chinese ports and its strained relations with India and Australia.

The statement had come a day after the External Affairs Ministry had said that the cargo vessels have been on anchorage in Chinese waters as they were not allowed to unload their cargo.

"There is a considerable amount of stress on the crew members on account of this unprecedented situation," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said.

Srivastava said bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand is on anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since June 13 and it has 23 Indian sailors.

Another vessel, MV Anastasia with 16 Indian nationals as its crew, is on anchorage near Caofeidian port in China since September 20, waiting for discharge of its cargo, he had said at a media briefing.

"Our Embassy in Beijing has been in constant touch with provincial and central government authorities in China, requesting that the ships be allowed to dock and/or the crew be allowed to be changed," he had said.









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A principal in Magherafelt has said more care is needed to protect the lives of children and staff after a last-minute decision to delay a return to school.

Mary O'Kane, head teacher at St Brigid's Primary School, Mayogall made the comments as Education Minister Peter Weir announced a U-turn on plans to reopen schools on January 4 due to soaring Covid-19 rates.

The majority of school pupils won't return in the first week of January as planned, with primary school pupils to be taught remotely until January 11.

Remote learning will continue throughout January for years eight to 11.

Opening as usual next week will be childcare settings, pre-school facilities, nurseries and special schools.

Schools will also accommodate vulnerable children and those of key workers next week.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Ms O'Kane said the lack of forward planning in the decision was inexcusable.

"Last-minute doesn't even begin to answer it. I'm at my desk today like many other principals, trying to make arrangements," she added.

"On Wednesday night it seemed that school wasn't opening for a week. Now we have to be ready on Monday morning for vulnerable children and children of key workers."

With a number of her staff self-isolating, she said an added pressure was finding substitute teachers who could deliver blended learning.

"It's not my job to question the minister's decision, but we could all see it coming," she explained.

"I can see the point of view that children are safer in school.

"We keep them in very strict bubbles, but at the same time, with all the families gathering over Christmas, the plan to have reopened schools on January 4 was endangering the lives of a lot of people.

"The fact that this new strain is so virulent and transmissible is a huge concern.

"But the minister does have a very difficult job.

"He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

"There really does need to be some more careful planning and better organisation."

The sudden change has caused added stress for many parents across Northern Ireland struggling to arrange childcare plans, although others welcomed the move.

Chris Crooks (35), from Holywood, owns a tattoo parlour in Belfast which has been shut as part of the six-week lockdown.



Expand Close More time at home: Chris Crooks with his sons Jackson (front) and Carter / Facebook

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Whatsapp More time at home: Chris Crooks with his sons Jackson (front) and Carter

His sons Jackson (9) and Carter (8) now also have an extra week at home.

"If I had to choose, at this time of year with my business being shut, I'm more than happy to have them home," he said.

"If there's one thing I've learned over the last six months, as a parent and a businessman, it's that the Executive likes to leave things to the last minute."

The Ulster Teacher's Union welcomed the delay but said Mr Weir's decision had come two weeks too late.

General Secretary Jacquie White accused the minister of treating teachers with "disregard and disrespect".

The SDLP's education spokesperson, Daniel McCrossan MLA, also welcomed the delay but said that Mr Weir had "failed to act proactively".
The Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet in Madhya Pradesh will be expanded on Sunday, a Raj Bhavan official said late Friday.

Governor Anandiben Patel will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers in the Raj Bhavan at 12.30 pm on Sunday, the official said.

There are six berths vacant in the cabinet after three ministers losing the bypolls in November this year and two ministers - Tulsi Silavat and Govind Singh Rajput resigning from the cabinet in the run-up to the bypolls in October as they completed six months in their respective office without being members of the state assembly. One berth was already vacant.

Sources said Chouhan is most likely to induct Silavat and Rajput into the cabinet.

State BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, Cabinet expansion is chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans prerogative. The party is not aware as to how many MLAs will be inducted in the cabinet as ministers.

This will be the first expansion of Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet after the assembly bypolls in November which saw Chouhan government gaining majority in the 230-member assembly with 126 members. Earlier, he had expanded his cabinet on July 2 with 28 new ministers including 20 cabinet ministers and 8 ministers of state. Twelve of the 28 ministers were ex-MLAs who later contested the bypolls.

Earlier, there were just six ministers in the cabinet including CM Chouhan. While Chouhan was sworn in as the chief minister on March 23 he inducted five ministers in his cabinet on April 21. The cabinet can have a maximum of 35 members.
Car crashed into Asian-themed Tampopo in Albert Square, Manchester

Vehicle burst into flames and firefighters helped man and woman out

The flames coming from the car set fire to umbrella stands outside the venue

A suspected drink-driver and three of his passengers were taken to hospital after a car smashed into a popular Manchester city centre restaurant on New Year's Day.

No staff were inside Asian-themed restaurant Tampopo on Albert Square when the dramatic crash happened at around 3.15am on Friday.

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But the car burst into flames upon impact and firefighters had to help a man and a woman from the vehicle. They and two others were taken to hospital for treatment.

The flames coming from the car set fire to umbrella stands outside the venue.

Owner David Fox, 55, who has five other Tampopo outlets, said: 'It would appear someone just crashed into it, a great start to 2021.'

A suspected drink-driver and three of his passengers were taken to hospital after a car smashed into a popular Manchester city centre restaurant on New Year's Day

No staff were inside Asian-themed restaurant Tampopo on Albert Square when the dramatic crash happened at around 3.15am on Friday

None of the venue's 20 staff nor the owner were onsite when the crash happened.

The full extent of the damage to the restaurant, which opened there in 1997, is yet to be established.

Mr Fox, who hopes to open the restaurant for takeaways on Saturday, said: 'I'm hoping it will just be minor external damage. We will see.'

Click here to resize this module

Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to the scene at around 3.15am.

A force spokesman said: 'A man aged 19 was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and failing to remain at the scene of a collision.

'He was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Tampopo opened in Albert Square in 1998 and serves Tampopo cuisine from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan

The car burst into flames upon impact and firefighters had to help a man and a woman from the vehicle. They and two others were taken to hospital for treatment

The flames coming from the car set fire to umbrella stands outside the venue

None of the venue's 20 staff nor the owner were onsite when the crash happened

'Three passengers in the car - a woman aged 19, a man aged 18, and a man aged 20 - were taken to hospital for injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.'

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines, from Moss Side and Salford, were called to the scene alongside a technical response unit from Ashton-under-Lyne after reports that a car had gone into a building in Albert Square just before 3.15am.

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Firefighters used hose-reels to tackle a fire but the blaze did not appear to have spread to the inside of the restaurant, although it was left heavily smoke-logged.

Firefighters pulled a man and a woman from the car and they were taken to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service.
President Donald Trump walks to the Oval Office while arriving back at the White House in Washington on Dec. 31, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Trump: America Proud of Hawley, Others Who Plan to Object to Electoral Votes

President Donald Trump late Thursday said Americans are supportive of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and the roughly three dozen House of Representatives members who plan on objecting to electoral votes in the upcoming joint session of Congress.

America is proud of Josh and the many others who are joining him. The USA cannot have fraudulent elections! Trump wrote in a tweet.

Hawley this week became the first senator to pledge to object to votes during the Jan. 6 joint session.

I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on Jan. 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws, Hawley wrote in a statement. On Fox News, he said somebody has to stand up for the Trump voters who believe election fraud occurred.

Hawleys move attracted backlash from Democrats and some fellow Republicans, including members of the GOP Senate leadership.

Walmart also called the senator a sore loser. It later apologized and deleted the social media statement it had issued.

Trump shared an article about Hawley responding to Walmart. Hawley asked the company to apologize for using slave labor and  the pathetic wages you pay your workers as you drive mom and pop stores out of business.

Attempts to reach Walmart were not successful.

Hawley and members of the lower congressional chambers plan centers around how the U.S. Constitution enables objections during the joint session held to count Electoral College votes.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) speaks to reporters in Washington, on Oct. 22, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Objections must be written and have the support of at least one senator and one representative. If an objection meets the requirements, it triggers a withdrawal from the joint session. In each chamber, there is then a two-hour debate and a vote on whether to uphold a challenge. Unless objections receive a majority vote in each chamber, theyre discarded.

Democrats objected to electoral votes in 2017 and 2005. They failed to garner support from any senators in 2017, making the challenges null.

In 2005, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) joined the objection. She and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (R-Ohio) objected to Ohios electoral votes. The lawmakers at the time said the objection was meant to raise awareness for the need for election reform, pointing to a report from Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee that found irregularities.

I hate inconveniencing my friends, but I think its worth a couple of hours to shine some light on these issues, Boxer said after the chambers withdrew. Our people are dying all over the world, a lot from my state, for what reason? To bring democracy to the far corners of the world. Lets fix it here, and lets do it first thing.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and most other Democrats, along with Republicans, voted to reject the objection.

Hawley said on Fox that his aim is similar.

Besides making the point that some states didnt follow their own election laws, we had unprecedented interference from the biggest, most powerful corporations in the history of the world, the big tech corporations, all in favor of Joe Bidens censorship like we have never seen before, he said, adding: We have had no congressional investigation of the fraud; we need it. And weve had no congressional action. We need that to protect our election going forward.

Im going to make all of these points. Im going to try to force a debate about all of these points, he said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) (L) and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) walk to a press conference to announce their objection to the certification of Ohio electoral votes, in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2005. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was among those skeptical of the objection.

If dead people were voting, I want the names, Graham said during an appearance on Fox. If youre going to retry the case in the Senate thats already been tried in the federal courts it would be hard for me to basically take over the federal courts role. But I will listen and well see how it comes out.

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) noted there is a constitutional basis for objections but argued there is no real basis for it in this case.

For President-Elect Bidens 306-232 Electoral College victory to be overturned, President Trump would need to flip multiple states. But not a single state is in legal doubt, Sasse said in a statement.

Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden has claimed victory in the election, while Trump and others continue contesting election results.

GOP lawmakers filed a lawsuit this week, asserting Vice President Mike Pence has the exclusive authority to decide between competing slates of electors. Pence on Thursday asked the judge to reject the suit.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, has said that a new variant of COVID-19 awaits every discovered vaccine being processed to cure the deadly coronavirus.

Mr Adeboye made the statement in his 2021 prophecies around 3:00 a.m. on Friday following the crossover service that was held at the eve of new year.

He claimed that many challenges that characterised 2020 will re-occur in 2021.

Some Nigerian clerics routinely deliver predictions for new years, prophecies many often dismiss as turning out false.

Some of the things that happened in 2020 will spill over into 2021, Mr Adeboye said.

One of the many challenges that rocked the year is Coronavirus and efforts have been made since to get vaccines to build immunity against the virus.

The cleric, however, said for every coronavirus vaccine discovered, there is a new variant in the making, claiming it will continue until the high and mighty admit that safety is of the Lord.

He said the world can only come out of the woods when it admits the following:

that it is the most High that rules in the affairs of men not science Daniel 4:25

That God can reduce the so-called wisdom of man to foolishness. 1 Corinthians 1:19-20. 4

That for every vaccine discovered, there is already a variant in the making. This will continue until the high and mighty admit that safety is of the Lord. Proverbs 21:31.

God says He will begin to deal with nations on individual basis so that in any nation, if Gods people will humble themselves and pray, He will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

For Nigeria, the cleric said, God wants us in Nigeria to know that only God can lift a siege. 2 Kings 7:1-end.

The humble who put their trust in God will see the end of the siege. James 4:6.

The erstwhile ignored will become vessels unto honour in Gods hands. 1 Corinthians 1:27.

God says there will be sounds from heaven, he said.
Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy Buds Pro this month alongside the Galaxy S21 series, and while the Korean conglomerate is yet to reveal the Buds Pro's launch date, it has confirmed the Galaxy Buds Pro moniker as the support page for the TWS earphones has gone live on Samsung Canada's website.

Other than confirming model designation (SM-R190), the support page doesn't divulge anything about the Galaxy Buds Pro. But thanks to previous leaks, we know what the TWS earphones will look like and the features they will come with.

The Galaxy Buds Pro will have a two-way speaker and a trio of microphones on each bud in addition to an 11mm woofer and a 6.5mm tweeter. They will come with noise cancellation tech and also have IPX7 water resistance.



Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

The battery size of the Galaxy Buds Pro is unknown, but leaked promo material revealed the TWS earphones will offer a total of eight hours of playtime and 4.5 hours of talk time. Pair them with the charging case, and you'll get an additional 10.5 hours and 20 hours of talk time and playtime, respectively.

The rest of the highlights of the Galaxy Buds Pro include Ambient Sound, Conversation Mode, and Spatial Audio. They will come in at least three colors (silver, violet, and black) and are rumored to cost $199 in the US and 229 in Europe.

Source | Via




Haiti -217th independence : Message of reflection from Lesly Conde





For us Haitians, New Years Day marks the anniversary of the creation of Haiti, the first black State in the New World. On this independence day Lesly Conde former Consul General of Haiti in Chicago (August 2004 - May 2018), delivered a message of thoughts and wishes that we invite you to read and share.



Message from Lesly Conde:



"Dear compatriots and friends everywhere,



As a year draws its bow to make room for new challenges, new hopes and renewed optimism, I appreciate the unique privilege of extending to you my sincere wishes for health, success and happiness. We have come to a point where 2020 is about to be a thing of the past. We are not at the end of our worries and uncertainties. We have to believe that we will be up to the demands of today and tomorrow thanks to our discipline and our pragmatism.



For us Haitians, New Year's Day is a doubly important date since it brings back the anniversary of the creation of Haiti, the first black State in the New World. On this first day of January 2021, we proudly celebrate the 217th anniversary of this tiny Nation who showed the world the path to freedom. Our ancestors wrote one of the most beautiful pages in the history of mankind by carrying very high the torch they bequeathed to us, and which it is our responsibility to protect. For this reason, January 2, which we observe as the Day of the Ancestors, deserves to be observed everywhere in the world where freedom, justice and human rights are considered as essential ideals. Our ancestors deserve to be known to all the children of the world for having given a decisive victory to the cause of respect for humanity by routing the slave armed forces of Napoleon Bonaparte.



Even today, our country experiences moments of great uncertainty. In 2021, we must draw inspiration from the foresight of our ancestors, to forge patriotic alliances, and find solutions in the sense of the national interest, of our common dignity. We can make this 217th year of independence of the first black state of the New World, that of its rebirth.



At the beginning of each year, while our Nation, always resilient, gives itself new reasons to hope and to fight, it is also the time to think about this disaster of apocalyptic dimensions which befell us on January 12, 2010 This large magnitude earthquake struck mercilessly and without warning, leaving nearly 400,000 dead and countless horror stories not all of which can be told. This year, as we commemorate the eleventh anniversary of this destructive earthquake, let's have a special thought for those compatriots who still exist after their lives were destroyed. We will always remember the admirable outbursts of solidarity of which the world has shown itself capable. Today wounds of all kinds are still alive. Even today, Haiti struggles desperately to cling to its humanity.



I could not say goodbye to you without drawing your attention to the extremely urgent situation that the whole world is currently facing. It is true that the Covid-19 did not ravage our country as some experts predicted, but our communities have already counted a lot of victims in the diaspora. During this holiday season, I therefore advise you to be extremely careful wherever you are.



It only remains for me to thank you for giving me your attention. I cannot urge you enough to love your neighbor. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, think of Haiti."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Lucknow, Jan 1 : Barely hours before ushering in the New Year, the Yogi Adityanath government transferred 17 IAS officers, including the District Magistrate of Hathras who came under fire following the gang-rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras last year.

According to the government spokesman, Hathras District Magistrate Parveen Kumar Laxar, who faced flak for the cremation of the woman in the dead of the night was among the 11 district magistrates transferred in a reshuffle.

Laxar was also in the limelight after the Allahabad High Court had expressed concern over the failure of the Uttar Pradesh government for not taking action against him after the rape and murder case.

He has been transferred to Mirzapur in the same capacity.

Meanwhile, Joint Managing Director of Jal Nigam, Lucknow, Ramesh Ranjan, has been appointed as the new District Magistrate (DM) of Hathras.

Markandey Shahi has been made the District Magistrate of Gonda, Shruti has been given the charge of District Magistrate at Balrampur while Nitin Bansal has been made the Pratapgarh District Magistrate.

Navneet Singh Chahal has been made the DM of Mathura, Sanjeev Singh has been given charge of Chandauli and S.Rajlingam has been appointed as DM of Kushinagar.

Abhishek Singh is the new DM of Sonbhadra. Apurva Dubey has been appointed in the same capacity to Fatehpur, and Sunil Kumar Verma has been made Aurraiya DM.

Kanchan Verma has been made the Managing Director, UP Medical Supply Corporation, Sushil Kumar Patel has been made the Joint Managing Director of the Jal Nigam, Lucknow.

Bhupendra S. Chaudhary has been appointed as the special secretary, irrigation and water resources, Sarvagya Ram Mishra has been made special secretary, trade tax and Rupesh Kumar has been appointed as special secretary, sugar and cane development.

Ten officers of the provincial civil services (PCS) have also been transferred.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Victoria has introduced a "traffic light" system that divides the nation into green, orange and red zones. Incoming travellers to the state are stopped, fined or waved through, depending on where they have recently been and whether they have the required permit.

The aim is to bring some certainty to the ad hoc and fast-changing system that has confused many. It's just one of the ways Australian states and territories are handling the COVID-19 crisis. Here is the current state of play nationally:

Authorities wait for the arrival of a Brisbane flight at Melbourne Airport on Saturday. Credit:Ashleigh McMillan

ACT

Those from the Sydney suburb of Cumberland remain in a hotspot which requires travellers from the area to have a valid exemption (details here) to entre the ACT or they are liable for an $8000 fine. People from other parts of NSW and everywhere else in the country are allowed in.
Several American businesses and organizations worry about risks of the U.S. applying tariffs on Vietnam's exports, citing the U.S.'s large trade deficit is not due to currency valuation.

In December 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) office organized a hearing to gather opinions from U.S. businesses and organizations regarding suspicions that Vietnam's increasing trade surplus with the U.S. was caused by deliberate undervaluation of the Vietnamese dong.

The U.S. Department of Treasury has labeled Vietnam and Switzerland as currency manipulators in a report issued on December 16, though this action on its own would not automatically activate tariffs or sanctions.

The USTR investigation mentioned above, however, would allow the U.S. to unilaterally apply retaliatory tariffs on partners deemed to engage in unfair trade activities.

However, most U.S. businesses and organizations participating in the hearing said the U.S.'s large trade deficit with Vietnam was due to objective factors, not because the Vietnamese dong was devalued.

Alexander Feldman, Chairman, President & CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said one of the reasons for the large trade deficit was due to the U.S.'s export products losing their tariff advantage.

He said the biggest obstacle for U.S. exports is the fact that Vietnam has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with most countries in the Asia-Pacific alliance. However, the U.S. has pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Virginia B. Foote, Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Amcham), said exporters and importers do not see Vietnam's exchange rate policies as an issue. The U.S., meanwhile, has stepped out of almost all FTAs, while tariffs are an extremely important factor in trade, she added.

Eva Hampl, senior director of the U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB), said her agency was yet to receive any response from members saying currency valuation was one of their concerns.

The council has mostly fielded concerns about the U.S. applying tariffs on Vietnam's exports, she said, adding that no matter how the investigation by the U.S. Treasury and the USTR turns out, applying tariffs was not an appropriate response.

Vanessa P. Sciarra, Vice President for Legal Affairs and Trade & Investment Policy at the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), said she was concerned that the use of sanctions could hurt relations between the two countries in the short term, while triggering retaliatory tariffs and negatively affecting U.S. exports to Vietnam.

What can be done

While some businesses expressed suspicion that they could have been hurt by a deliberately undervalued dong and therefore supported tougher measures against Vietnam's exports, the majority of U.S. businesses and organizations at the hearing said the way to reduce the trade deficit was to increase negotiations and sign trade agreements.

The USTR also doesn't need to conduct its own investigation into the matter, but let the U.S. Treasury take care of it, they said.

Matt Priest, President and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), said the U.S. and Vietnam should work together to resolve this issue. He said he hoped that there would be no additional tariffs imposed on shoe products.

Additional tariffs on shoes imported from Vietnam would directly hurt U.S. businesses and consumers, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic, he said. If any tariff imposed on Vietnamese exports to the U.S., the only one to gain an advantage would be China, he added.

If the U.S. administration takes any action that increases costs for U.S. businesses and consumers, businesses would try to return to China to revive production, especially shoes and other footwear, he said, noting that the U.S. doesn't have many choices outside Vietnam and China.

Alexander Feldman hoped the U.S. administration would negotiate with Vietnam to find solutions, and that Vietnam would buy U.S. products on a larger scale, including agricultural ones.

Eva Hampl proposed the U.S. and Vietnam have an FTA, the best way to resolve trade deficit in her opinion.

John Goyer, Southeast Asia executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said there was no need for tariff actions. The chamber has proposed that the U.S. administration joins FTAs as a longer-term bilateral trade solution, but the current administration does not pay much attention to FTAs.

Therefore, the chamber feels joining and helping the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) is a more effective step. The agreement would provide an opportunity for Vietnam and the U.S. to resolve their issues effectively.

At the hearing, Can Van Luc, a Vietnamese economist, said there were flaws in the U.S. Treasury and the USTR's calculations regarding their decision to label Vietnam as a currency manipulator.

Countries must at least have a $20 billion bilateral trade surplus with the U.S., foreign currency intervention exceeding 2 percent of GDP and a global current account surplus exceeding 2 percent of GDP to be labeled a manipulator.

Regarding foreign currency intervention, the U.S. Treasury has backed its claims with data from IMF documents, but even the IMF has admitted that these have shortcomings, in particular not mentioning how a country's foreign currency intervention policies could be used for purposes appropriate for its economic conditions, or how increasing foreign currency reserves is necessary to meet medium-term reserve targets, said Luc.

In fact, Vietnam's foreign currency reserves for the last three years have been low, only worth around 3.5 months of imports, which is much lower than some other countries in the region like Thailand (9 months), Singapore (5 months), China (14 months), and the Philippines and South Korea (8 months).

Additionally, Vietnam's exports depend a lot on its imports. If Vietnam wants to export more, it would have to import even more. Its FDI sector has accounted for around 70 percent of total export turnover in the last five years, and around 50 percent of its total import turnover. Because Vietnam's supporting industries are still weak, producing for export requires FDI businesses to import materials irrespective of the currency exchange rate, Luc said.

"Our research has also shown that when the Vietnamese dong's true value drops, exports do not increase as expected, but actually decreases," he added.

Vietnam neither gains an export advantage by manipulating its currency, nor does it engage in such manipulation, he concluded.
File image of farmers protesting against the new farm laws on the outskirts of New Delhi (Image: AP)

DMK chief M K Stalin on Friday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami to take a cue from Punjab and Kerala and get a resolution adopted in the state assembly seeking repeal of the three contentious Cenrtal farm laws, against which farmers have been protesting near Delhi.

Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, wrote to the chief minister seeking convening of a special session of the House immediately for the purpose, a day after the Kerala Assembly adopted a resolution pressing for repeal of the laws.

Farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting for nearly 40 days near Delhi demanding scrapping of the Central agri laws, contending that they were harmful to their interests, a charge rejected by the government.

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, an ally of the BJP which is in power at the Centre, has been defending the farm laws with Palaniswami himself saying they do not affect the farmers, especially those from his state.

Stalin said farmers have been protesting outside Delhi for 37 days, braving the cold but ''determined'' on their stand, seeking repealing of the three legislations. "Being the first state to have given farm loan waiver and free electricity to farmers, it is imperative that Tamil Nadu stands by the farmers during this period of crisis for them and help in realisation of their demands," Stalin said.

"I request that a resolution be adopted in the state assembly against the three central farm laws and the House be convened immediately for it," he added. Congress-ruled Punjab and Left-led Kerala, besides the AAP government in Delhi, had earlier adopted assembly resolutions backing the agitating farmers and seeking repeal of the three laws.
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Missouri Senator Hawley has endured outrage from progressives across the nation for his electoral challenge in support of President Trump but what's more interesting is REPUBLICAN REBUKE OF THE MISSOURI POLITICO.

Accordingly, here's another sampling of harsh times confronting this MAGA NEXTGEN Leader from fellow conservatives . . .

"

Shameful Stuff"

Outgoing GOP congressman criticizes Hawley for fundraising off Electoral College challenge Outgoing GOP Rep. (Va.) tore into Sen. (R-Mo.) after Hawley sent out a fundraising email boosting his upcoming challenge to the Electoral College results. "Of course he's fundraising off fantasy," Riggleman tweeted. "Getting ready for 2024. Using disinformation and conspiracies as a baseline for fundraising. Grift. Fooling people to take their money.

More GOP Outcry

Hawley faces heat from Senate Republicans over Electoral College plans McConnell has also expressed concern that the vote could hurt GOP senators facing tough general election fights by alienating moderate voters. Opposing the GOP-led objection, meanwhile, could jeopardize Republicans' primary prospects by turning off voters who are convinced the election was stolen from Trump. The clash illustrates the emerging tensions between Hawley and Republican leaders.

Republican Top Ranking Leader Calls Out Missouri Official

McConnell called Hawley out over objecting to Electoral College vote during conference call Hawley wasn't on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday held a conference call with the Senate GOP caucus in which he questioned Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley over his plans to object to the Electoral College vote, according to a source directly familiar with the call.

Republican Outrage

Hawley jams GOP with Electoral College fight It's exactly the scenario GOP leaders hoped to avoid. Though conservatives can only delay - not change - the outcome of the election, the votes will provide potential primary fodder against 2022 incumbents and squeeze 2024 White House hopefuls. "That will be a common standard, put out by people who are very loyal to the president.

Former Top Spy Dislikes

Brennan 'awards' Hawley as the 'most corrupt senator' Former CIA Director John Brennan explains why he named Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) the "Most Craven, Unprincipled, & Corrupt Senator" after he announced plans to object to the Electoral College vote on January 6.

You decide . . .


There were no casualties over the period under review.

The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported four violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Thursday, December 31.

"In the past day, December 31, four ceasefire violations were recorded in the area the Joint Forces Operation (JFO)," the press center of the Ukrainian JFO Command said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on January 1, 2021.

In particular, enemy troops fired a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher and rifles near the village of Starohnativka, as well as proscribed 82mm mortars and a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher near the village of Shyrokyne. Also, the invaders used 120mm mortars near the village of Vodiane, as well as under-barrel grenade launchers near the village of Talakivka.

Read alsoUkraine finalizes prisoner swap listThe violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire in Donbas.

Since Friday midnight, January 1, six ceasefire violations by the Russian occupation forces were recorded in the area the Joint Forces Operation. In particular, the enemy fired 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and rifles near the town of Avdiyivka, as well as hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and small arms near Vodiane.

What is more, the occupiers fired grenade launchers of various systems and a heavy machine gun near the village of Zolote-4, as well as automatic rifles near the village of Novoluhanske.

The Joint Forces fired back, the JFO HQ said.

There were no casualties over the period under review.

The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military.

Donbas ceasefire: Background

Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday, July 27.

On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce, Russia's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has reported more such violations over the latest period.

Reporting by UNIAN

Caronte, one of 88 drawings by artist Federico Zuccari to illustrate Dantes Divine Comedy (Roberto Palermo/Uffizi Gallery/AP)

Florences Uffizi Gallery is making 88 rarely displayed drawings of Dantes Divine Comedy available for viewing online to mark the 700th anniversary in 2021 of the Italian poets death.

The virtual exhibition of high-resolution images of works by 16th century Renaissance artist Federico Zuccari will be accessible from Friday for free, any hour of the day, for everyone, said Uffizi director Eike Schmidt.

The drawings illustrate Dantes masterpiece The Divine Comedy, an epic poem in three parts recounting a pilgrims travels through hell, purgatory and heaven.

Expand Close Lucifer, one of 88 drawings by Federico Zuccari to illustrate Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy (Roberto Palermo/Uffizi Gallery/AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Lucifer, one of 88 drawings by Federico Zuccari to illustrate Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy (Roberto Palermo/Uffizi Gallery/AP)

Dante Alighieri is revered as the father of the Italian language. A Tuscan by birth, he died and was buried in the city of Ravenna, a three-time ancient capital located in the region of Emilia-Romagna.

The pencil-and-ink drawings are in contrasting shades of black and red. They were completed during Zuccaris stay in Spain from 1586 to 1588, and became part of the Uffizi collection in 1738.

The drawings have only been publicly displayed twice previously, and then only a selection, owing to their fragility  in Florence in 1865 to mark the 600th anniversary of Dantes birth and coinciding with Italys unification as a nation, and for a specialised exhibition about Dante in Abruzzo in 1993.

The drawings were originally bound in a volume, with each illustration opposite the corresponding verse in Dantes epic poem.

Expand Close Ulisse and Diomede, the fraudulent advisers, from Dantes Divine Comedy, drawn by Renaissance artist Federico Zuccari (Roberto Palermo/Uffizi Gallery/AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ulisse and Diomede, the fraudulent advisers, from Dantes Divine Comedy, drawn by Renaissance artist Federico Zuccari (Roberto Palermo/Uffizi Gallery/AP)

The texts and scholarly comment will also be included in the virtual show, titled A Riveder Le Stelle (To see the stars again), a reference to the celebrated last line of Dantes Inferno.

Schmidt said the drawings are a great resource for Dante scholars and students, as well as anyone who likes to be inspired by Dantes pursuit of knowledge and virtue.

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The head of Irans judiciary has said that those who carried out the targeted killing of a top Iranian military commander one year ago are not safe on Earth.

Ebrahim Raisi, speaking in Tehran on January 1, said that even U.S. President Donald Trump, who authorized the strike that killed Major General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad on January 3, 2020, was not immune from justice.

Soleimani headed the Quds Force, the foreign operations wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

At the time of Soleimanis killing in a U.S. drone strike, Trump posted on Twitter that the Iranian had killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time and was plotting to kill many more.

Iran responded to the killing by launching a volley of missiles at bases in Iraq hosting U.S. and other international troops a few days later.

On January 1, Soleimanis successor, Esmail Qaani, addressed those who carried out the drone strike, saying that its even possible that there are people inside your home that will respond to your crime.

American mischief will not deter the Quds Force from carrying on its resistance path, Qaani said.

On December 31, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States of seeking a pretext for war because U.S. officials have suggested that Iran might carry out retaliatory attacks to mark the anniversary of Soleimanis assassination.

Tensions have been elevated between Iran and the United States since 2018 when Washington withdrew from an international agreement that aimed to restrict Irans nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions.

The Trump administration argued the agreement was fatally flawed because it did not address Irans ballistic-missile program or its support for regional groups that Washington considers terrorists.

After withdrawing, the United States reimposed sanctions on Iran.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
The U.S. Keeps Claiming Governments It Hates Are Paying Bounties On US Troops In Afghanistan





By Caitlin Johnstone

December 31, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - We're now getting mass media reports that yet another country the US government doesn't like has been trying to kill American troops in Afghanistan, with the accusation this time being leveled at China. This brings the total number of governments against which this exact accusation has been made to three: China, Iran, and Russia.

"The U.S. has evidence that the PRC [People's Republic of China] attempted to finance attacks on American servicemen by Afghan non-state actors by offering financial incentives or 'bounties'," reads a new "scoop" from Axios, quoting anonymous officials who refused to name their sources.

"The Trump administration is declassifying as-yet uncorroborated intelligence, recently briefed to President Trump, that indicates China offered to pay non-state actors in Afghanistan to attack American soldiers, two senior administration officials tell Axios," the evidence-free report claims.

The Axios report is already being circulated into public consciousness by mass media outlets like CNN. It is co-authored by Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, whose career lately has been focused on churning out extremely aggressive narrative management about China for a liberal audience, including a ridiculous hit piece on The Grayzone and its coverage of Xinjiang which failed to list a single piece of false or inaccurate reporting by that outlet. This eagerness to help manipulate public perception of America's number one geopolitical rival has seen Allen-Ebrahimian rewarded with plenty of attention from "sources" who provide her with endless career-amplifying "scoops".

A few months ago, it was Iran we were being told is trying to use proxies to kill US troops in Afghanistan.

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"US intelligence agencies assessed that Iran offered bounties to Taliban fighters for targeting American and coalition troops in Afghanistan, identifying payments linked to at least six attacks carried out by the militant group just last year alone, including a suicide bombing at a US air base in December," CNN reported in August without any evidence.

Before that it was Russia this same accusation was being leveled at, with mainstream news media shamelessly regurgitating claims by anonymous intelligence operatives and then citing each other to falsely claim they'd "confirmed" one another's reporting back in June. The story was sent so insanely viral by mass media narrative managers eager to pressure Trump on Russia during an election year that when the top US military commander in Afghanistan said in September that no solid evidence had turned up for this claim it was completely ignored, and to this day the liberal commentariat still babble about "Russian bounties" as though they're an actual thing that happened.

Three imperialism-targeted nations, same exact accusation. Pretty soon they'll be telling us that bounties are being paid on US troops in Afghanistan by China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Hezbollah, WikiLeaks, Jimmy Dore, and the entire staff of World Socialist Website.

The "Bountygate" narrative was one of the most brazen psyops we've seen rammed straight from the US intelligence community into public consciousness with no lube in recent years, and it was so successful that they're just spraying it all over the place to see if they can replicate its effects on other targeted governments.

It is not a coincidence that the information landscape is so confusing and bizarre right now. Our psyches are being hammered with more and more aggression by mass-scale psyops designed to manufacture support for increasing aggressions against the governments which have resisted absorption into the US-centralized empire, because as China rises and the US declines we're moving toward a multipolar world.

A movement toward a multipolar world should not be a frightening prospect--it's been the norm throughout the entirety of human civilization minus the last three decades--but after the fall of the Soviet Union the drivers of the US power alliance decided that US global hegemony must be preserved at all cost. Drastic measures will be undertaken to try and retain hegemony, and propaganda campaigns is being rolled out with increasing urgency to grease the wheels for those measures.

Meanwhile we've got nuclear-armed nations brandishing armageddon weapons at each other with increasing urgency and unpredictability because a few imperialists decided the entire planet should be governed from Washington DC. This, to put it gently, is an unsustainable situation.

Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com
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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inspected on Friday construction projects in Cairo, including the 156-km long Middle Ring road, that links cities east and west of Cairo, the presidency said.

Consisting of 16 lanes - eight on each direction - the Middle Ring road is considered one of the widest in the Middle East, Presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

The road extends from the city of Belbeis in the Sharkia governorate in the east of Egypt to the Al-Dabaa corridor in the west of Egypt, said Radi.

The road has been constructed to serve tens of thousands of vehicles daily; help reduce traffic congestion and travel time; limit car crashes and save fuel costs, Radi added.

The Middle Ring road is located in an area between Greater Cairos Ring road and the Regional Ring road serving all governorates of Upper Egypt, Nile Delta and Canal cities.

It also serves the new cities on both sides of the road in the east and west of Cairo, such as New Cairo and the 6th of October city.

The presidents Friday tour also included Al-Matariya district and the new Mohamed El-Assar axis linking east Cairo with the Shubra-Benha axis and the Rod Al-Farag-Dabaa axis.

Mohamed El-Assar axis saves travel time from Cairo toward the north-western direction to Al-Dabaa then Matrouh, said Radi.

He added that the axis contains many service centers, gas stations and rest areas on both sides of the road.

El-Sisi, during his tour, discussed workflow with workers and officials at different construction sites.

He issued directives to clean and line all canals and drains in the area and to pave and raise efficiency of the roads.

The president followed on the executive status and workflow of the construction work, highlighting the importance of sticking to the timeframes in executing these projects on high technical and engineering specifications.

He also affirmed the need to strictly apply the preventive measures against coronavirus to ensure the safety of the workers at the construction sites.

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They waited for him to come out, and the three left the Ford and confronted Williams, 65. He pulled out a revolver from his waistband and fired, police said. Williams was hit once in the abdomen and collapsed. The three got back into the car and sped away.
Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, is set to quarantine, five days before a pivotal runoff election that will determine not just whether he keeps his seat but also whether Republicans maintain control of the Senate.

Mr. Perdues campaign announced on Thursday that a member of the senators campaign staff had tested positive for the coronavirus and that the senator was going into quarantine. The incumbent, a Republican being challenged by Jon Ossoff in a closely watched race, was notified of the positive test Thursday morning, according to a statement from his campaign.

Mr. Perdue, 71, and his wife both tested negative for the virus on Thursday, but will quarantine all the same, according to Mr. Perdues campaign.

Mr. Perdue attended a campaign event on Wednesday in Hiawassee, Ga., where he met with supporters. In photos, he and others can be seen wearing masks and standing close together.


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The remains of the deity of the goddess Komalamma left on the Paderu Ghat road after the deity was destroyed by unknown miscreants in the Visakhapatnam agency on Friday. (DC Image)

VISAKHAPATNAM: Another act of vandalising a holy place has taken place at Komalamma temple close to Vantlamamidi near Paderu in the agency area of Visakhapatnam district on Friday. The incident comes close on the heels of Lord Ramas statue being decapitated on Tuesday at Ramateertha village in Nellimarla mandal of neighbouring Vizianagaram district.

According to information, miscreants vandalised deity Komalammas padalu (feet) on the ghat road, which is adjacent to the famous Modakondamma temple. According to local tradition, devotees first offer prayers to Modakondamma and then seek blessings from her younger sister Komalamma.

Devotees who went there on Friday morning to have darshan of Komalammas padalu on occasion of the New Year were shocked to find the feet vandalised. They took pictures and posted them on social media, leading to the news going viral.

Modakondamma is the main tribal deity of Paderu region. Believed to be the Shakti Peetham of the region, lakhs of people, both tribals and non tribals, participate in the fete held for the deity every summer.

District unit of the CPI (M) has strongly condemned the Ventlamamidi incident. It demanded that the government quickly identify and punish those responsible for the desecration. Party district secretary K. Lokanadham said certain forces are conspiring to disturb peace in the region, as the incident has happened soon after the Lord Ramas statue was vandalised in Vizianagaram district.

Senior police officials said efforts are on to identify people who vandalised the Komalamma temple.

Meanwhile, Vizianagaram police said they have traced a suspect involved in decapitating Lord Ramas statue at Ramateertha. All the accused in the case will be arrested soon, police maintained.
New York City's first babies of 2021 was born at midnight on the dot.

Mom Ivett Rodriguez and dad Antonio Guilbert welcomed Jaxel Rodriguez the minute the ball dropped on Friday morning.

Jaxel came into the world weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz. and measuring 19 inches at Coney Island Hospital, according to the NYC Health + Hospitals Instagram account.

Mom Ivett Rodriguez and dad Antonio Guilbert welcomed their third child, Jaxel Rodriguez, the minute the ball dropped on Friday morning

Jaxel came into the world 6 lbs. 11 oz. and measuring 19 inches at Coney Island Hospital, according to the NYC Health + Hospitals Instagram account

He is the third child for Ivett and Antonio, who called him 'the best gift of the new year'

Jaxel managed to enter the world the moment that 2020 officially came to an end.

He is the third child for Ivett and Antonio, who called him 'the best gift of the new year.'

Pictures show the little boy wearing a matching onesie and beanie from the hospital and being cuddled by his smiling mother.

According to the New York Post, two babies tied as the first ones to be born in 2020 last year.

Parents Michelle and Anthony Saraceno of Staten Island welcomed their first child, Anthony, at Richmond University Medical Center at midnight on January 1, 2020.

Meanwhile, Jennet and Artyom Zobnin welcomed their son Aidan at midnight in Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn.

According to UNICEF, an estimated 371,504 babies will be born around the world on New Years Day.

What's more, over half of these births will likely be in 10 countries, including India, China, and Nigeria, which will have the most  followed by Pakistan, Indonesia, Ethiopia, the US, Egypt, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The leaders of San Antonios hospitals issued an urgent warning on New Years Eve, telling people to stay home to avoid a potential catastrophe.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in local hospitals is growing at an alarming rate and on track to surpass the July surge in a matter of days, the eight hospital presidents wrote.

Without action to reduce the spread of the virus in this community, we will reach capacity, and our ability to save lives and care for the sick and injured will be in serious jeopardy.

Hospitals took in 159 new coronavirus patients Wednesday, bringing the total COVID-19 patient count to 1,136.

During the July surge, coronavirus hospitalizations reached a peak of 1,267 on July 13.

Echoing the near-daily refrain of Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the hospital leaders urged the public to:

Cover noses and mouths with a mask while in public.

Stay home whenever possible.

Wash hands frequently.

Only gather with people in ones immediate household.

Stay physically distanced at least 6 feet from others.

We know some of these things are easy to do, the letter stated. Others are hard, especially after such a long time.

We are a social community, and we know its difficult to stay apart, they said. But we must do it until the COVID-19 vaccine is widely distributed. That day will come but until it does, we must remain vigilant to avoid a crisis in our hospitals and further tragic losses of friends and loved ones.

Since the pandemic began in March, 1,538 San Antonians have died from the virus.

Many residents have thanked nurses and doctors for their tedious overtime, but the best way to demonstrate gratitude today is a collective commitment to do the things we all know can help prevent an even greater crisis, the hospital leaders wrote.

These people have dedicated their lives to caring for your family members as they would their own. Without your help, they will face an extremely challenging surge of patients. No one wants that to happen, they added.

Hospital leaders who signed the letter include Matthew Stone, president and CEO of Baptist Health System; Dean Alexander, president and CEO of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa; Allen Harrison, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare; Jonathan Turton, president and CEO of Southwest General Hospital; Eric Epley, CEO of STRAC; George B. Hernandez Jr., president and CEO of University Health System; Dr. William L. Henrich, president and CEO of UT Health San Antonio; and Christopher R. Sandles, medical center director and CEO of South Texas Veterans Health Care.

Weve lost too many people already; so lets do our part and slow the spread, they added near the end of the letter. We can do it, San Antonio.
According to Daily Sabah, Turkey on Friday suspended all entries from the U.K. after reporting 15 cases of the new COVID-19 variant among arrivals from the country.

"While investigating the mutation from the U.K., the new COVID-19 variant was detected in 15 people, who entered our country from the U.K. Entries from the U.K. have now been temporarily suspended," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on his Twitter account.

He said they were in quarantine, along with people they had been in contact with. He said the strain was not identified in passengers from elsewhere, Daily Sabah informs.
While the pandemic has affected a lot of industries negatively, one, in particular, seems to be doing just fine in Madison County.

That is the housing market.

In fact, in 2020, the average number of days a house was on the market was 26. That is down from 43 in the previous year. Nearly 8,500 hundred homes were sold this year.

"The houses were in a very quick turn-over time when we came out here," Buyer Megan Kannenberg said.

Like many people moving to Madison County, it was the job that brought both Kannenberg and Fernando Reyes to the area.

Both bought homes within this pandemic. What they did not expect was how competitive the market would be.

"Once you try to go see a house and viewing, usually the seller tells you they already have more than one offer," Reyes said.

The reality is, homes are going quick. North Alabama has been pacing above national trends for several years. Just in November, 729 homes were sold.

"This year, even with the pandemic, it has been crazy busy. We're still selling homes," Zelda Friedman with the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors said. "People are still moving into the area. Jobs are still available, and as long as jobs are available, people are going to move. So, that's what is really driving our market right now."

Friedman said it is a perfect time for people to sell their homes since not enough new homes are being built to keep up with the demand.

"I do know that some communities have waiting lists that are not finished. I do know that we still have buyers moving into the area that are wanting homes," Friedman said.

For Reyes, he moved here a year ago. He wanted to take his time looking at the market. He ended up choosing to go with a new build that will be ready around April.

"If you're not in a hurry, that'd be the better option," Reyes said. "I'm not in a hurry."

For the Kannenbergs, the couple was coming from Colorado and did not want to wait. They knew they wanted to buy a home rather than rent and had to move quickly.

"The house that we ended up buying had been on the market for two weeks," Kannenberg said. "Which is a really long period of time for most of the houses, which are going in less than five days."

Both said while it was stressful at the time, it is important to do your research, find a reliable Realtor and act quick when you can.

"My other piece of advice, just have fun," Kannenberg said. "It's a really fun process to kind of, you know, purchase a house and imagine yourself living in a different place. It's just really fun and can be a really enjoyable process."
An employee shows the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in New York City on Dec. 21, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

Hospital Worker Arrested After Tampering With COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

A hospital worker who was fired after admitting to intentionally causing the spoilage of some 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines was arrested on Thursday.

Advocate Aurora Health said the employee removed vials of Modernas vaccine from a pharmacy refrigerator at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wisconsin. That caused most of the doses to expire.

The now-former employee of the hospital was arrested for tampering with and causing the destruction of doses of the vaccine, the Grafton Police Department announced.

The employee worked in the pharmacy at the hospital. He was described as a pharmacist but not identified by name.

The investigation into what happened revealed that the person removed the vials from the refrigerated storage knowing they would not be usable, police said in a statement.

The expired doses were still administered to patients but health officials believe there are no health concerns related to the spoiled doses, Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr told reporters in a call.

Detectives found the pharmacist knew the spoiled vaccinations would be useless and people who thought they got vaccinated would actually not be protected against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.

The value of the expired doses was estimated to be between $8,000 and $11,000.

The pharmacist was booked on charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property, all felonies. Police were assisted by the FBI. The arrest appeared to be the first of its kind, coming weeks after the first COVID-19 vaccine received emergency use authorization.

Officials initially thought what happened was a mistake.

Over the subsequent days, as we continued our internal review, we became increasingly suspicious of the behavior of the individual in question, Bahr told reporters. The individual was suspended and after multiple interviews over the course of the week, admitted yesterday to intentionally removing the vaccine from refrigeration.

He said that there is no evidence the pharmacist otherwise tampered with the doses, or tampered with other doses. He also said the facility has secure protocols.

Its become clear that this was a situation involving a bad actor, as opposed to a bad process, said Dr. Jeff Bahr. Weve certainly used this to have additional dialogue and ensuring learning around our processes.

In a statement, Advocate said, we continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic.

We are disappointed that this individuals actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine, it added.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) told news outlets in a statement that it requires any wasted vaccine to be reported, investigated, and addressed through a written plan of improvement.

Immediately upon notification, DHS followed up with Aurora and has worked closely with them as they have investigated the situation, reviewed their processes and implemented improvements, Wisconsin DHS Secretary Andrea Palm said. We will continue to work with our healthcare partners to get as many shots in arms as quickly and safely as possible.
The global phenomenon created by a Queensland woman to dress up on bin days will be left behind in 2020 with a bitter sweet end.

Danielle Askew created the Bin Isolation Outing Facebook page nine months ago, when she dared a friend to dress up while rolling her bin to the kerbside.

Facebook page Bin Isolation Outing founder Danielle Askew will close the page. Credit:Facebook

"I made the page for my friends and I dressed up as Elsa from Frozen and wrote tag youre it, your turn. It grew from there," she said.

From children wearing Disney costumes to men strutting in Ironman suits and onesies, Australians did a little dance or proudly walked their bin to the front of their homes.
With new measures in place for almost a week, the sale of non-essential products has been limited for large stores, shopping malls and small businesses alike.

RTL's Tim Morizet spoke to several shops situated in Luxembourg City to investigate how consumers' behaviour has changed compared to the first lockdown in March.

Guy Tabourin's wine shop on the Place du Theatre is one of the few stores in the upper district of the city which has remained open under the new measures. His shop had seen an uptick in sales ahead of the festive period. Tabourin praised the information provided by the government with regard to the measures this time around, saying the guidelines were clearer compared to the March closure. The government issued a clear list of products which were permitted to be sold under the new guidelines.

Compared to the previous week, the city's streets were quiet, but the atmosphere is less nervous than during the first lockdown, said Tabourin. There are more shoppers in the capital this time around, as people feel more comfortable going out, he added.

This demonstrates the change in customers' behaviour over the last few months, as they flock towards bigger shopping centres. Anne Kaiffer, owner of a butcher's in the capital, said customers were less afraid of mingling with crowds, and went to shopping centres to do all their shopping in one outing. However, she said she was aware that shoppers outside the capital had been turning to local stores to avoid visiting the city and its malls.

Shoppers have shown tendencies towards using local bakeries rather than visiting the large chain bakeries in shopping centre galleries. Anne Nickels of Namur said this had changed from the March lockdown, and their pre-Christmas figures showed a swing towards their smaller stores for orders, rather than the stores in shopping malls.

For many other shops in the city, the question remains as to what support lies in store for them over the coming months, as there has not been much communication from the municipal council.
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Three people have been arrested after a 500-year-old church in Essex was trashed during an unlicensed New Yar's Eve rave.

Members of the conservation group that supports All Saints Church in East Horndon - a Grade II listed building - said they are 'devastated' by the damage caused and estimate repairs could cost more than 1,000.

Organisers of the event set up a bar and DJ decks inside the church and hired Portaloos for partygoers, while Essex Police said officers had been threatened and had objects thrown at them.

It came as police in Essex alone issued 18,000 worth of fines over New Year celebrations, breaking up events that included a house party with 100 people attending and a fire dancer performing for crowds.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet criticised those who 'decided to blatantly flout the coronavirus rules and regulations and, ultimately, they decided that partying was more important than protecting other people,' after police in Essex broke up an illegal gathering at an abandoned church in Thorndon Park

Police in Essex broke up house parties and raves, including one in an abandoned warehouse in Brentwood on Thursday night

Essex Police issued 18,000 worth of fines and arrested five people after carrying out New Year's Eve raids across the county overnight

Astrid Gillespie, a volunteer for the Friends of All Saints, said she was 'just trying to get her head round the news', having found out via a Facebook post on New Year's Day.

'I went up there and the police were still there packing up the equipment that they seized,' she told the PA news agency.

'There were hundreds of people there, it sounded like it was a ticketed event. It was a professional set-up, they'd hired Portaloos - they're still there.

'They had a bar area where you had to exchange tokens, so they must have been selling drinks tokens.

'There was loads of evidence of drugs and they've done damage to the church, obviously it's a mess and needs to be completely cleaned out.

'The ground has been all churned up because they must have had vans dropping off all the equipment.'

Ms Gillespie, 48, said a small window had been smashed to put in an extractor fan unit and the sound equipment had been wired into the church's fuse box.

She added that because of the building's age and heritage status, the damage was 'not going to be cheap' to fix, and that the locks would have to be replaced.

'The vicar is going to organise a preliminary clean-up but it's a huge task and we're estimating 1,000 but it could well be more,' she said.

'I love the place, it's such a beautiful church, and to find out it's been damaged is devastating, I'm just trying to get my head around it.

'You wake up in the new year and think 'new year, new me' and then you've got to deal with all this.'

Police said the crowds at the church were dispersed before midnight and that three arrests had been made.

A 27-year-old man from Harlow was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, a public order offence, and of offences under new coronavirus regulations.

A 22-year-old man from Harlow was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence, possession of cannabis, and of offences under coronavirus regulations.

A 35-year-old man from Southwark was also arrested on suspicion of possession of class A and class B drugs.

While most Brits stayed at home to celebrate the end of 2020, police were handing out hundreds of fines and breaking up illegal raves across the country.

A top police officer has slammed New Year's Eve revellers who ignored Covid lockdown rules and 'decided partying was more important than protecting other people'.

A woman who organised an event in Sewardstonebury involving a fire dancer and an entertainer was fined 10,000. Elsewhere in the county officers broke up an illegal rave at an abandoned church in East Horndon and another at a warehouse in Brentwood.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet criticised those who 'decided to blatantly flout the coronavirus rules and regulations and, ultimately, they decided that partying was more important than protecting other people'.

He added: 'We've seized their equipment, arrested five people, and issued a large number of fines to those who think this behaviour is acceptable.

'We need you to keep yourselves, other people, and the NHS, safe. Thank you again to everyone who spent their New Year's Eve in a responsible, legal, way. 'Stay safe, Essex.'

Met Police issued 217 people with fixed penalty fines and five people could receive 10,000 fines for organising large gatherings across London.

Two men were stabbed and a woman hit around the head with a bottle as violence broke out when up to 70 people squared up to one another in Edgware Road, London, just minutes after midnight.

There were similar raves across the country, as Greater Manchester Police issued 105 fines, compared to 66 in Brighton and Hove.

A woman has been fined 10,000 for organising a house party - complete with a fire dancer as an entertainer - at her home in Sewardstonebury, Essex, last night

Despite strict orders to stay at home, crowds gathered along London's Southbank to watch this year's fireworks display. While others attended a nearby protest against lockdown rules

Met Police officers on horseback were dispatched on the banks of the River Thames in order to disperse crowds from London

Hundreds attend raves across Essex as 18,000 worth of fines are handed out Police in Essex were forced to break-up parties across the county last night after being called to gatherings at an abandoned warehouse, a conservation-run church and a house party with more than 100 people attending. Police seized equipment from a warehouse rave in Brentwood before dispersing events in Thorndon Park and Sewardstonebury, near Epping Forest, overnight. Three men were arrested at the party at a church in Thorndon Park on drug offences. Two people were arrested at the rave in Brentwood. One for failing to provide details, and the other on suspicion of drink driving. A woman was issued a 10,000 fine for organising the house party in Sewardstonebury. Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet thanked people for staying home last night, before adding: 'Unfortunately, there were others who decided to blatantly flout the coronavirus rules and regulations and, ultimately, they decided that partying was more important than protecting other people. 'We've seized their equipment, arrested five people, and issued a large number of fines to those who think this behaviour is acceptable. 'We need you to keep yourselves, other people, and the NHS, safe. Thank you again to everyone who spent their New Year's Eve in a responsible, legal, way. 'Stay safe, Essex.' Advertisement

In the aftermath of the disturbances on Edgware Road, a photographer working for MailOnline was knocked unconscious while taking pictures near police officers yards from the homes of the rich and famous including Tony Blair and Claudia Winkleman.

As he recovered, he told MailOnline: 'We got there and there were lots of armed police. Big armed police cars were zooming past us  we counted 11. There must be 100-and-something police there at least, a lot of them heavily armed.'

He said as he worked, a man approached him and punched him.

'As I hit the floor, six or seven officers rushed to me and then apparently six or seven more caught the guy who did it,' he said. 'He was arrested on the scene.'

The experienced photojournalist said he counted around 60 or 70 suspected gang members present on the street after the initial stabbings had taken place.

Police said they were called by colleagues in the London Fire Brigade to reports of a stabbing on Edgware Road.

A spokesman said: 'Officers attended the scene, with the London Ambulance Service and [the air ambulance]. Two males were identified with stab injuries. Both men were taken to hospital.

'A woman was also located at the scene suffering with a head injury, she has been taken to hospital.' He added: 'One woman has been arrested for GBH and taken to a police station.'

Speaking this morning, Met Police Commander Paul Brogden said: 'In all, the vast majority of Londoners complied with the Covid regulations that are in place to protect themselves and their loved ones, and we're grateful to those people. The public are all too aware that Tier 4 restrictions have been put in place to reduce the spread of the virus and to protect the NHS.

'We did attend a number of calls to parties and unlicensed events across London, including one where two people were stabbed. My colleagues in the local command unit continue to investigate.

'Our enforcement activity will continue. If people insist on gathering and breaching regulations, then officers will attend and encourage people to disperse. Where necessary, enforcement action, including fines starting at 100 and working their way up to 10,000, will be considered.

'We are still dealing with the stark reality of fighting a deadly virus. I urge Londoners to continue to keep themselves and their families safe by staying at home.'

Elsewhere in London, dozens of people were found gathering in Chadwell Heath, while another rave was busted at a warehouse in London's Royal Docks.

Some revellers were determined to party despite the threat of 10,000 fines and repeated warnings about the dangers of spreading the virus.

Police say 60 partygoers were found at an unlicensed music event in Kemp Road, Chadwell Heath, on New Year's Eve.

Officers dispersed the crowd and handed a 10,000 fine to the organiser of the rave.

Despite police attempts to disperse crowds, revellers were seen laughing and joking as they ushered in the New Year

Police in Newham, East London, were called out to break-up a rave at an abandoned warehouse in London's Royal Docks last night. Empty bottles and sound systems were left at the scene after police arrived

Revellers could be seen dancing at a house party in Sewardstonebury, Essex, yesterday, with more than 100 people in attendance before police were called

Balloons - potentially used for inhaling nitrous oxide - littered the floor of the abandoned warehouse in East London today

Crowds gathered around the London Eye - despite rising Covid-19 infections and warnings that the country could face a national lockdown this month

Newham Police said that a 'large unlicensed music event' was shut down by officers and a number of arrests were made at a warehouse in Royal Docks.

Police in Liverpool managed to prevent a gathering after organisers shared details of the event online.

Merseyside Police introduced a dispersal zone for the Pier Head and areas of Liverpool city centre to stop people gathering last night after a post was circulated on social media encouraging people to meet near the Liver Building to party together.

On the post, organisers said: 'F*** Tier 3. Liverpool Pier Head tonight.'

Officers in Norfolk spotted another event as scores of youngsters began making their way to the event on Hall Road in the village of Ludham, Norfolk, as the countdown to midnight began.

Generators and other equipment for the music was seized, and motorists were told to avoid the area as police officers dispersed the gathering crowds of ravers and shut down the rave before it could begin.

A Norfolk police spokeswoman said 'As cases of coronavirus rise across the county, officers will continue to take firm action against these kinds of gatherings, which breach public health regulations, including the use of fines.'

Around 80 people were dispersed from a party at a rural property in Hyndburn, outside Blackburn, with the organiser receiving a 10,000 on the spot fine.

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods, of Lancashire Police, described the party as a 'shocker'.

He tweeted: 'Home after a very different NYE. Well done @LancsPolice & @NWAmbulance who dealt with a steady stream of incidents after midnight.

'Some shockers tonight e.g. Hyndburn rural property with about 80 young people there @LancsPolice stopped it & organiser reported for 10k fine.'

Two people were taken to hospital with stab wounds after two gangs allegedly clashed on Edgware Road, central London, just after midnight on New Year's Day

Dozens of people are said to have lined the streets in Edgware Road early on Friday morning amid reports of an illegal rave

Metropolitan Police said they were called to the scene in West London by the London Fire Brigade after reports of a stabbing

The banks of the River Thames would usually be packed for the New Year's Eve fireworks display, instead police were forced disperse revellers last night amid Covid-19 restrictions

Police officers were seen confiscating champagne and glasses from some revellers who had gathered in the capital yesterday

Revellers were out in London throughout last night, with officers, including some on horseback, ready to deal with anyone flouting lockdown rules

Three people were injured in Edgware Road as police, joined by paramedics and firefighters, responded to a night of violence

In Nottingham, small crowds gathered in Market Square as clocks struck midnight. The city is currently under Tier 4 measures

While signs warned Nottingham visitors to enjoy a 'safe' Christmas, crowds gathered to mark the end of 2021. Those living under Tier 4 restrictions are expected to stay at home except for essential journeys

Fines handed out in Brighton were among 81 fixed penalty notices issued by Sussex Police between 6pm on Thursday and 3am on Friday.

The fines ranged from outdoor gatherings of groups in public spaces, to private parties and people travelling from outside the area into the county.

Several were issued to groups gathering on Brighton beach in breach of the restrictions, although there was no large-scale event on the seafront, police said.

Five tickets were issued to a group stopped in a car from London who claimed they were in Brighton to collect a takeaway.

There were revellers out in Kensington, West London, last night, as two people were spotted stopping for a selfie on their way out for New Year's Eve

Pubs may be shut in Leeds, but young people were ready to head out to the shops to make sure they were stocked up to see the back of 2020

Revellers in Nottingham ushered in the New Year with a glass of prosecco in the city's Market Square, despite Tier 4 restrictions

Metropolitan Police descended on a property in Kensington last night after an alleged illegal party was said to have taken place

London was placed under Tier 4 measures on December 20, but revellers were seen out and about across the capital last night, including in Kensington

Four police vans were called out to a home in Kensington overnight on a busy night for officers across the capital, which saw protests and illegal raves take place

There was violence in Edgware Road, London overnight, with blood stains still visible on the street in the early hours of this morning

It is alleged that an illegal rave was taking place in a building on Edgware Road and that as many as 70 alleged gang members had spilled out onto the street

A woman was also found at the scene by emergency services suffering from a head injury, while a second woman was arrested on suspicion of GBH

While there were scenes of violence in London, crowds were seen gathering in Nottingham Market Square last night

People in Nottingham were seen smoking and laughing, while some chose to wear masks in the final hours of 2020

Despite dozens of people gathering in Nottingham, just one police car could be seen monitoring activity around Market Square

The entrance to luxury apartments on Edgware Road was cordoned off this morning after dozens of people lined the street

Forensic officers were out checking bins on Edgware Road after two men were stabbed and a woman suffered head injuries

Witnesses in Edgware Road last night reported seeing up to 70 people gathered in the street before three people were injured

Police were called out to Edgware Road around 00.32am this morning after reports of a stabbing, with parts of the street cordoned off during investigations

London Ambulance Service paramedics rushed two men and one woman to hospital after they suffered stab wounds and a head injury in Edgware Road

Piers Corbyn, the anti-lockdown activist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, railed against the restrictions on a march along London's Southbank.

Pictures show the 73-year-old being held back by supporters as he faces down officers during the protest.

Dozens of people congregated outside County Hall, where Mr Corbyn addressed the demonstration through a megaphone.

Meanwhile others pressed ahead with party plans and flouted rules by toasting in 2021 with a large group of friends.

Crowds were seen gathering on the Southbank, near the London Eye, to catch a glimpse of last night's fireworks display.

Witnesses saw police confiscating alcohol as people looked to celebrate the end of the year.

Leeds remains in Tier 3, but revellers were still seen gathering last night in Headling to celebrate the final hours of 2020

Groups of young men were seen gathering on the streets of Leeds last night as the city remained in Tier 3 lockdown meaures

In Leeds, some braved the cold weather and were pictured on the streets clutching bottles of wine and crates of beer

It was a heavy night of celebration for some revellers out in Leeds on Thursday, as they saw an end to 2020

Piers Corbyn was hugged by a fellow lockdown protester on the banks of the River Thames last night, as other drank to celebrate the New Year

A photographer working for MailOnline, who was knocked out by a man while taking pictures of the incident, claims that hundreds of officers were dealing with the incident, 'a lot of them heavily armed'

Most public places typically brimming with crowds lay eerily deserted - and usual hotspots such as Trafalgar Square were even boarded up to prevent people congregating.

But in Leeds, some braved the cold weather and were pictured on the streets clutching bottles of wine and crates of beer.

On London's Southbank, police were forced to deal with an anti-lockdown protest attended by the likes of Piers Corbyn, the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

Police officers detain a man at the anti-lockdown protest on the South Bank, London, during the night

Pictures show 73-year-old Piers Corbyn being held back by supporters as he faces down officers during the protest on London's Southbank

Piers Corbyn (pictured middle), the anti-lockdown activist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, railed against restrictions during a march along the River Thames last night

Dozens of people congregated outside County Hall, where Mr Corbyn addressed the demonstration through a megaphone

Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, speaks to a crowd at an anti-lockdown protest in the capital overnight

Police on horses were seen patrolling the streets of London during the night to ensure people followed Tier 4 rules

Ahead of last night, police chiefs warned they would be prepared to take action against rule-breakers.

Scotland Yard tweeted: 'We are at a critical point in this pandemic. We would urge everyone to celebrate the New Year in the comfort of their own homes. If people insist on gathering and breaching regulations, then officers will shut them down and enforcement action will be taken.'

The maximum fine for breaking coronavirus restrictions is 10,000 for the most egregious breaches.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

Vote

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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) in Washington on Sept. 21, 2020, and the family members of the "Hong Kong 12" (R) in Hong Kong on Dec. 28, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/Pool via REUTERS/Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

Pompeo Criticizes the CCP Over Imprisonment of Hongkongers Who Unsuccessfully Tried to Flee to Taiwan

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Dec. 31 over its decision to hand down prison sentences to 10 Hongkongers who were arrested at sea in August by Chinas coast guard.

The 10 people, along with two teen minors, were trying to flee Hong Kong via mainland China in a boat to self-ruled Taiwan when they were arrested on Aug. 23. Two of the Hong Kong 12 have been sentenced to three and two years prison by a Chinese court on Wednesday for organizing others to illegally cross the border.

The eight others who are over the age of 18 were sentenced to seven months imprisonment for illegally crossing the border. The Chinese court did not press charges against the two teens, and repatriated them back to Hong Kong on Wednesday. However, Hong Kong police have said that the two youngers may face additional charges for absconding.

The CCPs persecution of the Hong Kong 12  exposes once again Beijings brutality, blatant disregard for the international treaties it has signed, and its disdain for the rights of the Hong Kong people, Pompeo said, according to a statement.

The Hong Kong 12 had no bail, no choice of lawyer, and no access to family. This is a stark preview of the future of justice in a Hong Kong stripped of its protections under an authoritarian One Country, One System framework. #FightForFreedom #HK12  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 31, 2020

Pompeo also critized the CCP and its local lackeys in Hong Kong for destroying the citys rule of law and stripping away peoples freedoms. Hong Kong was a former British colony before it was handed back to Chinas communist regime in 1997.

He added: The Hong Kong 12 who tried to flee this tyranny deserved a heros welcome abroad, not capture, a secret trial, and prison sentences.

There has been a significant exodus of Hongkongers since the pro-democracy movement escalated in June 2019, when millions took to the street in opposition of a bill that would allow Beijing to extradite people in Hong Kong for trials in politicized Chinese courts. Many have since left Hong Kong out of fear that they could be persecuted for their roles in the movement following the passage of Beijings national security law.

Taiwan is one of the top destinations for Hongkongers fleeing their city. According to statistics from the Taiwan government, 5,858 Hongkongers applied for residency in Taiwan in 2019, an increase of 41 percent from 2018. The total jumped to 7,474 for the first ten months of this year.

A regime that prevents its own people from leaving can lay no claim to greatness or global leadership. It is simply a fragile dictatorship, afraid of its own people, Pompeo added.

He called on Beijing to immediately and unconditionally release the 10 Hongkongers who remain in the country.

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) also called on the Hongkongers unconditional release via Twitter on Dec. 30. The commission said the 10 were exercising the freedom of movement guaranteed to HKers by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Article 12 of the ICCPR stated: Everyone lawfully within the territory of a state shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence.

Benedict Rogers, chief executive of British NGO Hong Kong Watch, expressed concern about the potential for mistreatment of the 10 Hongkongers in Chinese jails.

There is a risk that the ten activists who have been charged could be tortured or face ill-treatment in jail, Rogers stated in a Dec. 30 statement.

He warned the case could be a precedent for an alarming future. He explained: It also could pave the way for more Hong Kong pro-democracy activists to be extradited and tried in the mainland.

We urge the international community to continue to push for their release and return to Hong Kong and for coordinated and firm action against the continued deterioration of Hong Kongs autonomy, freedoms, and way of life, Rogers concluded.
BioNTech is working flat out with partner Pfizer to boost production of their Covid-19 vaccine, its founders said, warning there would be gaps in supply until other vaccines were rolled out.

The German biotech startup has led the vaccine race but its shot has been slow to arrive in the European Union (EU) due to relatively slow approval from the blocs health regulator and the small size of the order placed by Brussels.

The delays have caused consternation in Germany, where some regions had to temporarily close vaccination centres days after the launch of an inoculation drive on December 27.

At the moment it doesnt look good - a hole is appearing because theres a lack of other approved vaccines and we have to fill the gap with our own vaccine, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin told news weekly Spiegel in an interview.

A shot from Moderna is expected to be cleared by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Jan. 6.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has urged the EMA to also quickly approve a vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca that Britain cleared this week. The EU timeline for that treatment remains uncertain.

Sahin said the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which uses messenger RNA to instruct the human immune system to fight the coronavirus, should be able to cope with a variant first detected in Britain that appears to be more contagious.

We are testing whether our vaccine can also neutralise this variant, and will soon know more, he said.

Asked about coping with a strong mutation, he said it would be possible to tweak the vaccine as required within six weeks - though such new treatments might require additional regulatory approvals.

New production line planned

Sahin founded BioNTech with his wife, Oezlem Tuereci, who is the companys chief medical officer. Both faulted the EUs decision to spread orders in the expectation that more vaccines would be quickly approved.

The United States ordered 600 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine in July, while the EU waited until November to place an order of half that size.

At some point it became clear that it would not be possible to deliver so quickly, Tuereci told Spiegel. By then it was already too late to place follow-on orders.

BioNTech hopes to launch a new production line in Marburg, Germany, in February that could produce 250 million doses in the first half of the year, said Sahin.

Talks are under way with contract manufacturers on boosting output and there should be greater clarity by the end of January, he added.

Sahin also said BioNTech would make its vaccine, which requires storage at around minus 70 Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit), easier to handle. A next-generation vaccine that would keep at higher temperatures could be ready by late summer.
The daily new coronavirus infections in India remained below 30,000 for the 19th consecutive day on Friday, taking the total caseload to 1,02,86,709

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has recommended granting emergency use authorisation for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield', being manufactured by Serum Institute of India, reports said.

According to a report in CNBC-TV18, the recommendation comes with certain conditions, but didn't elaborate.

A report in India Today said the Drug Controller General of India will take a final call on whether or not to approve the vaccine for emergency usage authorisation.

The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield vaccine which was developed by scientists at Oxford University. The SEC's recommendation has come days after the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the Oxford vaccine produced by AstraZeneca in the UK for human use.

Meanwhile, the daily new coronavirus infections in India remained below 30,000 for the 19th consecutive day, taking the total caseload to 1,02,86,709.

Additionally, the national recovery rate rose to 96.08 percent with the number of patients having recuperated from the disease at 98.83 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

A vaccine distribution dry-run is set to begin in four districts in Maharashtra on Saturday. State health minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said four districts in the state have been selected for a dry run of the coronavirus vaccine.

Pune, Nagpur, Jalna and Nandurbar have been selected for the dry run, he said in a statement. Three health centres will be set up in each district.

There will be no actual vaccination, but preparations will be made as per the guidelines. There will be a waiting room, vaccination room and

monitoring room, a health centre, as required under the guidelines.

Centre looking at the vaccination effort as a holistic public health response

Sharing details on India's vaccination plan, Dr VK Paul, head of National COVID-19 Task Force had told CNBCTV18 said that the immediate phase will start with a nationwide vaccination of healthcare workers.

"There will be 31 vaccine hubs supplying vaccines to all states. These 31 hubs will supply vaccines to 29,000 vaccination points in last-mile delivery," he said.

Dr Paul also clarified that the Govt has stated that financial resources are not a constraint to vaccinate people.

"India is currently looking at a priority group of 300 million and not the whole population. We're looking at the vaccination effort as a holistic public health response. We want to minimise deaths related to COVID-19 hence chose higher risk groups. As we move along, the stockpiling capacity will also rise. We want to ensure that the entire nation has herd immunity. The ultimate goal is to stall the spread of transmission for which wider vaccination is required," he added.

"We are on the same page with the industry. Formal procurement and agreements will follow soon," he added.

Though there has been no official confirmation yet on the SEC's recommendation to authorise Covishield for emergency use, Dr Paul said that the SEC was close to a decision point on Covishield approval.

"We are definitely at an inflection point with respect to Covishield approval. SEC is to look at data from Indian trials and from other countries. We are close to a decision point on Covishield approval," he told CNBCTV18.

Besides Covishield, the SEC is also looking at the EUA application of Pfizer (filed on 4 December) and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which had sought the nod for its indigenously developed Covaxin on 7 December.

The SEC on COVID-19 of the CDSCO, which had earlier sought additional safety and immunogenicity data from SII, deliberated on its application seeking emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the shots on Wednesday and met again on Friday to review the matter.

SII had applied to the DCGI for EUA for Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on 6 December.

Schools partially reopen in Kerala and Karnataka

Lectures for Class 10 and 12 began in schools across Kerala on Friday with limited hours and restricted number of students.

It was after a gap of nine months that the schools opened in the southern state, in compliance with strict COVID-19 protocols. Since the lockdown was imposed in March, students were attending online classes through the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education's (KITE)-Victers channel.

They were greeted with digital thermometers at the entrance of schools to measure their body temperature, which is mandatory as per the guidelines issued by the authorities. They were admitted into the school campus only after collecting consent letters from the parents.

A recent high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had decided to reopen educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in adherence with COVID-19 guidelines.

In its guidelines, the General Education Department directed that only 50 percent of students be allowed at a time in schools and that classes be arranged as one student per bench in the first week.

Guidelines issued by the Director of Public Instructions (DPI) said that 25 percent of the students will be allowed at a time in schools where their strength exceeds 300 in number in classes 10 and 12.

In detailed instructions, the authorities have asked the school managements to ensure masks, sanitizer, digital thermometer and soaps in their institutions.

Meanwhile, in Karnataka, schools and pre-university colleges reopened for students on Friday with strict COVID-19 safety norms.

While regular classes began on Friday for Class 10 and Second-Year PUC (Class 12) students, who will be facing board exams, students from grades 6-9 came to campuses for the Vidyagama programme.

PTI reported that while there was opposition from certain sections about opening schools and pre-university colleges amidst prevailing pandemic situation, others, including Karnataka education minister Suresh Kumar were of the opinion that opening of schools and colleges along with preventive measures were necessary for students, especially in rural areas, with online education being unavailable.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said the school and colleges are restarting in the interest of educational progress of the students.

75 UK returnees to be traced in Karnataka, says govt

Efforts are on to trace 75 people who have travelled to Karnataka from the UK with authorities hopeful of locating them soon, state health minister K Sudhakar said on Friday.

The number of returnees from the UK who have tested positive for the new strain of the coronavirus prevalent in the European nation remained at seven and results of genomic sequencing of 31 others were awaited, he told reporters.

"We are yet to trace 75 people who travelled from the UK... some foreign nationals are also there who might not have local contact numbers, their details have been collected from the immigration department," Sudhakar said.

He said the Home Department has assured all would soon be traced so that they can be tested.

Sudhakar said 70 of the 75 people were from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city corporation, limits.

So far, on undergoing RT-PCR test 33 people, who have travelled from the UK, along with five of their contacts have tested positive for COVID taking the number to 38, he said.

All their samples underwent genomic sequencing at NIMHANS, out of which seven have been confirmed being infected by the UK variant, the Minister said.

According to the latest official information, a total of 5,068 people have come to Karnataka from the UK since 25 November, out of which 4,238 people have come since 9 December, and 810 were transit passengers travelling to other states.

"Information regarding 810 passengers has been shared with respective states," he said.

Noting that from Saturday, COVID-19 vaccine dry run will be held in five districts of the state, Sudhakar said, it will be a mock trial ahead of official vaccination to check our preparation.

State-wise details

There are 2,54,254 active COVID-19 cases in the country which comprises 2.47 percent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh mark on 7 August, 30 lakh on 23 August, 40 lakh on 5 September and 50 lakh on 16 September. It went past 60 lakh on 28 September, 70 lakh on 11 October, crossed 80 lakh on 29 October, 90 lakh on 20 November and surpassed the one-crore mark on 19 December.

According to the ICMR, 17,31,11,694 samples have been tested up to 31 December with 10,62,420 samples being tested on Thursday.

The 256 new fatalities include 58 from Maharashtra, 30 from Kerala, 29 from West Bengal and 21 from Chhattisgarh.

A total of 1,48,994 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 49,521 from Maharashtra followed by 12,122 from Tamil Nadu, 12,090 from Karnataka, 10,536 from Delhi, 9,712 from West Bengal, 8,364 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,108 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,341 from Punjab.

With inputs from PTI
Guwhati/Agartala, Jan 1 : Bearing a resemblance to the entire world, at least 2,191 people died of Covid-19 in northeast in the past year, the region which usually remains distressed with terrorism and backwardness.

While the decades-old terrorism and economic backwardness have already battered the eight states of the region in the erstwhile years, the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 took a toll on the lives and economy of the northeastern region, which has a population of 45.58 million, with 28 per cent of tribal population.

According to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry's fact sheet, among all the states across the country, Mizoram has the distinction of lowest death ratio in Covid-19 with 0.19 per cent, while Sikkim had the maximum fatality rate of 2.16 per cent among the northeastern states.

However, the average death rate of the northeastern region due to the coronavirus is 0.91 per cent against the national average of 1.45 per cent.

Three other northeastern states -- Manipur (1.26 per cent), Tripura (1.16 per cent) and Meghalaya (1.04 per cent) have high mortality ratio in coronavirus, while Arunachal Pradesh (0.34 per cent), Assam (0.48 per cent) and Nagaland (0.66 per cent) tamed the death ratio reasonably.

Union DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister Jitendra Singh on a number of occasions lauded the Covid-19 management of the northeastern states, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to the two northeastern states -- Assam and Manipur-- highly praised them for the lowest mortality rate.

With largest number of populations (3.12 crore), Assam has tested 2,16,139 Covid-19 positive cases in 2020 followed by 33,264 cases in Tripura, 28,137 in Manipur, 16,711 in Arunachal Pradesh, 13, 408 in Meghalaya, 11,921 in Nagaland, 5, 877 in Sikkim and 4,204 in Mizoram.Over 1,043 people succumbed to the dreaded virus in Assam while 385 in Tripura, 354 in Manipur, 139 in Meghalaya, 127 in Sikkim, 79 in Nagaland, 56 in Arunachal Pradesh and eight in Mizoram.

The first death reported due to the coronavirus in Assam on April 10, also the first in the northeastern region, was in the Hailakandi district on the southern part of the state.

A middle aged man, who had visited abroad, succumbed to Covid-19 in the Silchar Medical College and Hospital. There is a good news too. All those people who have recently arrived from the United Kingdom (UK) to Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya, tested negative for the coronavirus.

After Gujarat, Kerala and a few other states, the Tripura government has distributed homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album-30 free of cost among 50,000 families residing in the Agartala Municipal Corporation to boost the immunity of the people against coronavirus.

The Tripura government distributed vitamin-C-enriched pineapple and lemon juice freely in July among the people in urban areas to increase their immunity against Covid-19. Besides, Covid-19, several other issues dominated the northeastern region including the new Citizenship (Amendment Act), National Register of Citizens (mainly in Assam), promulgation of Inner Line Permit to protect the indigenous people of the region, flood and landslides in Assan and other northeastern states.

In an industrial disaster, six months long gas and oil condensate leakage and subsequent fire at an oil well of the state-owned Oil India Ltd's (OIL) in Assam's Tinsukia district was also a major incident in the region. After nearly six months, state-owned Oil India Ltd's (OIL) blowout well in Assam's Tinsukia district has been successfully "killed" and the 160-day-long fire there was doused completely on Sunday, officials said.

The BJP-led governments in Manipur and Tripura faced rebellion in the just departed year, while separate Naga flag, separate Constitution demands by the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) hindered the 23-year long peace talks with the Indian government in 2020.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Singapore said a multi-billion-dollar high-speed rail link between the city state and Malaysias capital Kuala Lumpurhas been terminated.

Malaysia has allowed the high-speed rail project to be terminated, and has to compensate Singapore for costs that the city has already incurred in fulfilling its obligations, according to a statement from Singapores transport ministry on Friday.

The announcement came just after a December 31 deadline for the second and final extension of the suspension of the project, which was first mooted a decade ago and given the green light in 2013. In June, the Southeast Asian neighbours had agreed to put the development, which has already incurred multiple suspensions, on hold again amid a discussion around costs.

The on-again, off-again 350 kilometer (218 mile) high-speed rail link would have cut travel time between the centers down to about 90 minutes versus more than four hours by car. Although flying between the two only takes about an hour, thats a lot longer once airport check-in and security is taken into account. The service was due to start in 2026.

Local media in Malaysia reported in November that Malaysia was considering ending the line in its southern city of Johor Bahru rather than in Singapore.

The administration of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who resigned in February, sought to cancel the project as the country grappled with debt and liabilities amounting to more than 1 trillion ringgit ($249 billion), before settling for a deferment and a S$15 million ($11.4 million) compensation fee to Singapore.

Mahathir had at one stage estimated the project would cost around 110 billion ringgit for Malaysia.

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Battered by a wave of coronavirus infections and deaths, local jails and state prison systems around the United States have resorted to a drastic strategy to keep the virus at bay: Shutting down completely and transferring their inmates elsewhere.

From California to Missouri to Pennsylvania, state and local officials say that so many guards have fallen ill with the virus and are unable to work that abruptly closing some correctional facilities is the only way to maintain community security and prisoner safety.

Experts say the fallout is easy to predict: The jails and prisons that stay open will probably become even more crowded, unsanitary and disease-ridden, and the transfers are likely to help the virus proliferate both inside and outside the walls.

Movement of people is dangerous, said Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, who has been tracking coronavirus cases in correctional settings. Weve got really good examples of overcrowding equals more infection and greater risk of outbreak. Weve got lots of evidence that even transferring people from one facility to the next is very dangerous.
In reaction to the pandemic, the Supreme Court postponed arguments that had been scheduled for March and April, and in May it embarked on a bold experiment, hearing arguments by telephone and letting the public listen in, both firsts. The court has now heard some 40 arguments in the new format. Notwithstanding the occasional glitch, including what certainly sounded like a flushing toilet, the proceedings were orderly and dignified if at times stilted and inert.

The justices ask questions one at a time, in order of seniority, a stark contrast to the free-for-all that had greeted lawyers arguing in the courtroom. We look like Family Feud, Justice Clarence Thomas once told a bar group, explaining why he very seldom asked questions from the bench. On the phone, though, Justice Thomas is an active participant.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the new format allowed the court to function. Although we look forward to returning to normal sittings in our courtroom, the chief justice wrote, we have been able to stay current in our work.

By some measures, though, the courts workload is dropping. An appendix to the chief justices report said the court issued only 53 signed opinions in argued cases in the term that ended in July. That is the smallest number since the 1860s. The current term seems poised to yield a similarly small number of opinions.

During the Spanish flu epidemic, in the term that started in 1918, the court decided 163 cases, or more than three times as many as the current court.
Brody McWilliams Brown was born to mum Jennifer McWilliams in The National Maternity Hospital at four seconds past midnight, making him the first baby born in Ireland in 2021

When Jennifer McWilliams (19) made a pre-Christmas dash into Holles Street, she initially thought she was having contractions, given that she was nearly 37 weeks pregnant.

But nothing could have prepared her for the news that came back from her medics; she had tested positive for Covid-19.

She would go on to have Irelands first baby of 2021 in what has been described as ironic by the National Maternity Hospital Master, Professor Shane Higgins, given the current pandemic.

The Sallynoggin student was not due her first baby with partner Eric Brown until January 13 but both mum and her little boy Brody, who weighed 7lbs 10oz, are thriving.

Expand Close Vanessa and Garry McLaughlin, from Meath, welcomed baby girl Kady at Coombe Hospital / Facebook

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Whatsapp Vanessa and Garry McLaughlin, from Meath, welcomed baby girl Kady at Coombe Hospital

She told independent.ie how she was completely asymptomatic when she first entered the hospital but would go on to lose her sense of taste. She received her positive Covid diagnosis on December 22.

I came into hospital thinking I was having contractions and they said they would do a blood test and also a Covid-19 test to rule it out and it came back positive, she said.

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It was a shock as everyone in my circle of close contacts have come back as negative except me so Ive no idea where it came from. Ive been so careful, especially being pregnant.

My main concern was for the baby but after talking to the midwives and the nurses, they said anyone theyve seen who had Covid didnt pass it on to the baby. So that was a relief to hear that. They tested him this morning but we havent got the results yet so fingers crossed.

Expand Close Brody McWilliams Brown was born to mum Jennifer McWilliams in The National Maternity Hospital at four seconds past midnight, making him the first baby born in Ireland in 2021 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Brody McWilliams Brown was born to mum Jennifer McWilliams in The National Maternity Hospital at four seconds past midnight, making him the first baby born in Ireland in 2021

Given that she was also diagnosed with pre-eclampsia after a urine sample was taken, medics decided to induce her on December 31 as a precautionary measure.

She said she had no idea she would welcome in the countrys first New Years Day baby and said having him after being diagnosed with Covid was crazy.

The hospital said all the proper protocols were followed to ensure the safe care of Jennifer and delivery of her baby Brody.

We werent too sure when hed arrive but one minute, we checked and I was only 2cm dilated and an hour later, I was at 10cm and we were pushing so it was quick, she added.

I didnt actually think he was going to be the first. Holles Street was very busy last night so I really wasnt expecting it.

The Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Prof Shane Higgins, said it was ironic that the first baby born in 2021 was to a Covid-positive mum and encouraged all their patients to remain vigilant.

Meanwhile, Co Cork recorded its first birth of 2021 at one minute past midnight. A baby boy was born to parents Karen and Michael Foley.

The first New Years Day birth that was recorded at the Coombe hospital was with a baby girl who arrived in at 12.24am.

The new arrival, who has been named Kady, was born to delighted parents Vanessa and Garry McLaughlin fromCo Meath.

It will be a busy time in their household, given that baby Ava was born in the same hospital 19 months ago.

The first New Years Day birth recorded at the Rotunda Hospital came at 12.31am. Baby girl Riona, who weighed 3.82kgs,

and is theirwas born to parents Ursula Ni Shionnain and Dean Mac Aogain from Dublinfirst child.

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Irish Independent
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By Benjamin Jumbe

President Museveni has confirmed that former professional boxer Zebra Ssenyange was killed by security operatives

This was during his end of year national address delivered last evening

The President who apologized for the incident said Ssenyange was doing a good job to transform the lives of the ghetto youth and also mobilise for the NRM party Kawempe division.

He said much as he did not know Zebra, he was told that he was supposed to meet him.

Museveni added that on that fateful night, security personnel had gone to pick Ssenyange for questioning over allegations that some of the youth he was training as boxers were to be used by the opposition groups to cause havoc in the city.

He has however promised to investigate circumstances behind Ssenyanges killing further blaming this incident on what he called reckless efforts of the opposition to intimidate citizens.
Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused outgoing US President Donald Trump of aiming to fabricate a pretext for war as tensions mount between the two countries.

His remarks come ahead of the first anniversary of the US killing of top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on January 3.

US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf waters since late November and two American B-52 bombers recently overflew the region.

Also Read: No reason given for Trump cutting short his Florida vacation amid tensions with Iran

Instead of fighting (the novel coronavirus) in US, @realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to OUR region, Zarif wrote on Twitter.

Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war, he added.

Trump ordered a drone strike on January 3 this year to kill Soleimani near Baghdads international airport.

Days later, Iran launched a volley of missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and other coalition troops, with Trump refraining from any further military response.

Iran doesnt seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests, Zarif said.

Trump said last week said he would hold Iran responsible for any fatal attack on Americans in Iraq after accusing Tehran of being behind a rocket strike on the US embassy in Baghdad on December 20.

Zarif at the time warned the US president against any adventurism before leaving the White House on January 20, and said putting your own citizens at risk abroad wont divert attention from catastrophic failures at home.

The US embassy in Iraq and other foreign military and diplomatic sites have been targeted by dozens of rockets and roadside bomb attacks since later 2019.

Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and world powers in 2018 and launched a maximum pressure campaign against Tehran, reimposing and reinforcing crippling sanctions.

The two countries have twice come to the brink of war since June 2019, especially following the killing of Soleimani.
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Police on the streets of Belfast on New Year's Eve (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

House parties breaching Covid regulations in Northern Ireland on New Years Eve saw police issue 126 fines of 200 as well as issuing 34 warnings, new figures show.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said that in relation to breaches of the coronavirus regulations, enforcement action was taken by officers right across Northern Ireland.

This included 126 Cov4 200 fines and 34 Cov2 prohibition notices for house parties as well as two Cov5 penalty notices issued in respect of businesses continuing to operate in breach of the regulations.

ACC McEwan said: Its really disappointing that despite the health crisis due to the deadly virus, there were still people last night who deliberately decided to breach the Regulations and put themselves and others at risk.

I do want to take this opportunity to thank the vast majority of people who are being responsible, and who are doing their bit and continuing to take this virus seriously as we navigate this pandemic.

ACC McEwan said it was vitally important that people take the time to understand the latest regulations, and to take personal responsibility for stopping the spread of the virus.

We will continue with our partnership approach, working closely with our colleagues at the Department of Health, Public Health Agency and the Northern Ireland Executive as we progress through this period, he said.

Where people do not follow the Health Protection Regulations, our approach will remain the same we will engage with people first explaining the guidance and the law and encourage people to do the right thing.

However, where we are left with no choice but to enforce, we will take this measure in order to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities and help protect our NHS."

Meanwhile, post-primary pupils will be required to wear face coverings in classrooms when they return to school settings in 2021, new guidance from the Department of Education has said.

It comes as part of additional safety measures outlined in a letter to schools, seen by BBC News NI.

Pupils in years 12 to 14 are expected to return to school on January 11 and it's not known whether the measure will be in effect by that time.

Post-primary pupils and teachers are already required to use face coverings in communal areas but the measure will now be extended to classrooms.

Some pupils and staff are already exempt from wearing face coverings for medical reasons.

The move was revealed in a letter to schools on Thursday which clarified future schooling arrangements ahead of a return to the classroom.

Read More

The Department of Education letter said that additional safety measures would be put in place in schools for the new term, including "face coverings being required in all post primary settings, including the classroom, improved signage and stronger public messaging".

Read More

Follow live updates here:

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

Belfast Telegraph
DANBURY - When Jane was laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic, she was already struggling to help her five children with their distance learning studies.

Then Jane was told she had to leave her apartment because the landlord planned to sell the house.

The good news is Jane has found a new apartment. The bad news is she doesnt have the $2,800 for the security deposit and the first two months rent.

A gift of any amount would help Jane meet this emergency need for her family.

Jane and her children are among the needy families in the Danbury area that The Giving Fund is trying to help this holiday season. The Giving Fund is a nine-year partnership between The News-Times and the United Way of Western Connecticut.

Readers have donated $850,000 to families in need since the program started.

Making a difference in the lives of our neighbors is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to the long-term vitality of our community, said Kim Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut.

This week, The News-Times features a new set of families in need. Names are changed to protect privacy. Descriptions of family situations are provided by local charities.

Donations may be made online at https://www.uwwesternct.org/thegivingfund or be mailed to United Way of Western Connecticut, 301 Main Street, Suite 2-5, Danbury, CT 06810. Checks should be made payable to The Giving Fund c/o United Way.

If a familys need becomes fully funded, additional donations given will be used to support other cases.

This weeks families are:

#199 Dorothy, a mom of four young boys, is going through a divorce. Having been a stay-at-home mom for the last ten years, she is having difficulty adjusting to her new life. Her estranged husband sparingly gives money for the childrens needs. The pandemic has complicated Dorothys plans to go to school to learn new skills for a career. A gift of $1,300 will allow Dorothy to pay her rent, her bills, and leave money to buy new clothes for her growing children.

#200 Andrea came to the United States to work for an American family as a full-time live-in nanny. She has two young children back in her home country who financially depend on her. During her employment she was exploited by the family. She was expected to work long hours with no breaks or days off, and she was not given a room of her own. Andrea did not feel this was right and left. She is now living in a temporary home while she looks for a new job. A gift of $1,200 would help support Andrea and her basic needs during this transitional period.

#201 Betty is a single mother of a 17-year-old daughter who excels in high school. Betty has relied on her parents to supplement Bettys work income. Betty lost her job when the pandemic forced the business she worked for to close. Bettys mom also lost her job. Her parents can no longer help the way they have in the past. Betty is struggling to pay bills such as insurance, utilities, food, and gas, but her biggest concern is keeping a roof over their heads. A gift of $1,500 would pay the rent for December.

#202 Steven is struggling to find employment. He has a history of anxiety and depression and is experiencing an increase in stressors due to the pandemic. Steven lives with his family, which is also struggling financially due to medical concerns. Steven is facing food insecurity and is afraid for his physical and mental health. A gift of $500 will go toward healthy food to combat food insecurity and poor nutrition.

#203 Jessica is raising her daughter Gina by herself while Ginas father is incarcerated. Because schools are virtual most of the time, childcare costs have increased, and Jessica is having trouble covering the expense. She gets a small childcare subsidy from state. A gift of $1,500 would help Jessica to pay for Ginas care and enable her daughter to stay at a quality childcare center.

#204 is Janes story above.

#205 Rachel and her young adult son Oswald are coping with diabetes and are having a difficult time paying for medication. Rachel has been unable to work as much as she usually does due to the pandemic, and she has fallen behind on the rent. A gift of $2,200 would help Rachel and Oswald with the rent they have fallen behind on these past ten months of the pandemic.
SHERIDAN  Many states around Wyoming have legalized marijuana in one form or another, with South Dakota and Montana voting to legalize the schedule one drug in the 2020 election for recreational use.

Wyoming's willingness to follow suit and the implications of the potential legalization in the state remain unclear and worrisome to local law enforcement.

South Dakota and Montana both voted to legalize weed Nov. 3. South Dakota voters approved adults 21 and older to possess and distribute up to one ounce of marijuana, while medical patients with a registration card can have up to three ounces. Montana voters passed a 20% tax on marijuana and allowed individual counties to prohibit dispensaries. Possession or use of up to one ounce was also approved. Montana and South Dakota join Colorado, which legalized the drug in 2012. Montana also legalized medical marijuana in 2004.

Whether Wyoming will become the next state to legalize the drug, local law enforcement leaders are not sure. A University of Wyoming study published Dec. 8 indicated more than half of Wyomingites support marijuana legalization in the state. The statewide survey was conducted Oct. 8-29, yielding 614 responses from randomly selected Wyoming citizens.

According to a survey by the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center, 54% of Wyoming residents now say they support allowing adults in Wyoming to legally possess marijuana for personal use.

This continues the steady increase in support observed from 2014, 2016 and 2018, when support rose from 37% to 41% to 49%, respectively, the report said.

Clear patterns indicate a younger demographic supporting legalization, with the most support in the 25- to 34-year-old range, which responded with 67% in favor of it.

From a law enforcement standpoint, Sheridan Police Chief Travis Koltiska doesnt expect drug traffic to increase on the interstates, necessarily but said its likely Sheridanites will travel to neighboring states to retrieve marijuana and get caught in their home county. Sheridan County Sheriff Allen Thompson believes drug traffic will increase in the area.

Large legal operations in surrounding states have also shown us increased availability in distribution amounts, and that will likely increase if we look at data from the past, Thompson said.

Historically, it takes law enforcement a few months after the legalization of the drug in another state to see the impact, Thompson said.

Despite it remaining illegal to possess any and all forms or amounts of marijuana in Wyoming, some believe the drug should not be criminalized.

Three-quarters of Wyoming residents believe people convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana should not serve time in jail, according to the UW study. This has increased from 69% in 2018 and from 66% in 2014.

As laws regarding the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana change around the U.S., especially in nearby states, its not surprising to see attitudes in Wyoming change as well, said Brian Harnisch, a senior research scientist at WYSAC. In all bordering states except Idaho, marijuana or medical marijuana has been legalized to some extent or decriminalized.

Koltiska said usually in discussions regarding decriminalizing marijuana, people will also bring alcohol into the conversation, presenting it as more of an issue in the community  and the nation  than marijuana.

Alcohol was legal 70 years before I was born, Koltiska said, who said he will never professionally support the legalization of recreational marijuana use. Looking back, if alcohol was in the same position as marijuana right now and had seen the effects of alcohol being used illegally, would I support it? I dont know. Maybe I would not.

"I hate seeing any kind of substance that does have a chance to be abused, he continued. The more availability in society of substances that can be abused, the more dangerous it is for everyone.

Thompson recognized legalization of marijuana could add revenue to the state budget  an option he believes legislators may entertain in the future  but also noted the implications that follow.

I am concerned that Wyoming will look at legalizing marijuana as a way to increase government revenue, Thompson said. If we look at any industry based solely on revenue generation, I think that is concerning. It might increase revenue in the short term, but what are the long-term costs to personal health and the already strapped public health system in Wyoming?

I would hope that legalization efforts focus on personal freedoms, supporting the affected health systems and maintaining a focus on factual education about the pros and cons of marijuana use, he said.

While legislation has not been presented on the matter recently, public perception of legalizing the drug continues to increase as law enforcements opposition remains steady.
Witnesses identified Shah, who was wearing a medical boot, as the man who got into a shoving match with the other man outside then fired a gun in his direction, piercing the mans girlfriends sport utility vehicle with five bullets.
There is so much to celebrate with the new year. The arrival of safe, effective Covid-19 vaccines means that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel (though the next few months will be horrific). Equally important, Americas mendacious, incompetent, mean-spirited president will be replaced by his polar opposite: A man of decency, honesty, and professionalism.

But we should harbour no illusions about what President-elect will face in office. There will be deep scars left from the Trump presidency, and from a pandemic that the outgoing administration did so little to fight. The economic trauma will not heal overnight, and without comprehensive assistance at this critical time of need  including support for cash-strapped state and local governments  the pain will be prolonged.

Americas long-term allies, of course, will welcome the return of a world where the stands up for democracy and human rights, and cooperates internationally to address global problems like pandemics and climate change. But, again, it would be foolish to pretend that the world has not changed fundamentally. The US, after all, has shown itself to be an untrustworthy ally.

True, the US Constitution and those of its 50 states survived and protected American democracy from the worst of Trumps malign impulses. But the fact that 74 million Americans voted for another four years of his grotesque misrule leaves a chill. What might the next election bring? Why should others trust a country that might repudiate everything it stands for just four years from now?

The world needs more than Trumps narrow transactional approach; so does the US. The only way forward is through true multilateralism, in which American exceptionalism is genuinely subordinated to common interests and values, international institutions, and a form of rule of law from which the US is not exempt. This would represent a major shift for the US, from a position of longstanding hegemony to one built on partnerships.

Such an approach would not be unprecedented. After World War II, the US found that ceding some influence to international organisations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (imf) was actually in its own interests. The problem is that America didnt go far enough. While John Maynard Keynes wisely called for the creation of a global currency  an idea later manifested in the IMFs Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)  the US demanded veto power at the IMF, and didnt vest the Fund with as much power as it should have.

In any case, much of what Biden will be able to do in office depends on the outcomes of run-off elections for Georgias two US Senate seats on January 5. But even without a willing partner in the Senate, the president has enormous sway over international affairs. There is plenty that Biden will be able to do on his own, starting immediately.

One obvious priority will be the post-pandemic recovery, which will not be strong anywhere until its strong everywhere. We cannot count on China to play as pronounced a role in driving global demand this time around as it did in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Moreover, developing and emerging economies lack the resources for the massive stimulus programs that the US and Europe have provided to their economies. What is needed, as IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has pointed out, is a massive issuance of SDRs. Some $500 billion of this global money could be issued overnight if only the US Secretary of the Treasury would approve.

Whereas the Trump administration has been blocking an SDR issuance, Biden could give it the green light, while also endorsing existing congressional proposals to expand the size of the issuance substantially. The US could then join the other wealthy countries that have already agreed to donate or lend their allocation to countries in need.





Illustration: Binay Sinha

The Biden administration can also help lead the push for sovereign-debt restructuring. Several developing countries and emerging markets are already facing debt crises, and many more may soon follow. If there was ever a time when the US had an interest in global debt restructuring, it is now.

For the past four years, the Trump administration has denied basic science and flouted the rule of law. Restoring Enlightenment norms is thus another top priority. International rule of law, no less than science, is as important to the USs own prosperity as it is to the functioning of the global economy.

On trade, the World Trade Organization (WTO) offers a foundation upon which to rebuild. As of now, the WTO order is shaped too much by power politics and neoliberal ideology; but that can change. There is a growing consensus in support of Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealas candidacy to serve as the next director-general of the WTO. A distinguished former Nigerian finance minister and former vice-president of the World Bank, Okonjo-Iwealas appointment has been held up only by the Trump administration.

No trade system can function without a method of adjudicating disputes. By refusing to approve any new judges to the WTOs dispute-settlement mechanism to succeed those whose terms have retired, the Trump administration has left the institution inquorate and paralysed. Nonetheless, while Trump has done everything he can to undermine international institutions and the rule of law, he also has unwittingly opened the door for improving US trade policy.

For example, the Trump administrations renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada largely did away with the investment provisions that had become among the most noxious aspects of international economic relations. And now, Trumps Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, is using the time he has left in office to call for anti-dumping sanctions against countries that give their companies an advantage by ignoring global environmental standards. Considering that I included a similar proposal in my 2006 book, Making Globalization Work, there now seem to be ample grounds for a new bipartisan consensus on trade.

Most of the actions I have described do not require congressional action and can be carried out in Bidens first days in office. Pursuing them would go a long way toward reaffirming Americas commitment to multilateralism and putting the disaster of the past four years behind us.

Shekhar Guptas National Interest will resume next week
(Natural News) On Dec. 7, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared with Dr. Anthony Fauci at a press conference to talk about a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Strangely, Cuomo tried to compare himself and Fauci to Al Pacino and Robert De Niro from The Godfather movies.

Netizens didnt lose any time mocking the governor on social media.

Cuomo and Fauci or Pacino and De Niro?

In a video clip from the press conference, Cuomo can be seen telling Fauci about the importance of educating people about the prevention of small spreads of COVID-19. While discussing the COVID-19 vaccine, Cuomo praised Fauci for having a tremendous credibility across the U.S.

Cuomo also noted that hearing Fauci declare the vaccine as safe for use would help encourage more people to take it. He added that once the vaccine is deemed ready and safe, Cuomo himself would be the first to get vaccinated.

Cuomo added that he might even enlist Fauci to do an ad telling New Yorkers its safe to take the vaccine. He liked the idea so much that he even called himself and Fauci the modern-day [Robert] De Niro and [Al] Pacino.

The suggestion made Fauci laugh and when Cuomo asked him if he wanted to be De Niro or Pacino, the doctor remained diplomatic, claiming he didnt want to hurt anyones feelings. Since Fauci didnt choose, Cuomo praised him for acting like a true politician.

As the press conference continued, Cuomo thanked Fauci for being a rock that helped stabilize the nation.

Try Beavis and Butthead

Netizens who got wind of the unusual comparison had a lot to say, with Twitter user @weimrnr claiming that the pair were more like Beavis and Butt-Head.

More like Beavis and Butt-Head https://t.co/9fMNeOQMwF  A Cavanagh (@weimrnr) December 7, 2020

Others likened the pair to the bumbling main characters of the movie Dumb and Dumber or the Sesame Street muppets Bert and Ernie.

Even journalist Matt Binder chimed in. He asked if the governor was comparing himself and New York cases to the total number of people dead at the hands of Pacino and De Niros characters in their respective movies combined.

As of writing, a total of 27,215 people have died from COVID-19 across New York state while over 700,000 have tested positive.

The silly exchange also angered other Netizens, with user @WomanInSTEM_ calling the pair mafia guys on her account.

Sure. Two mafia guys https://t.co/vGZJHvkNEb  Woman In STEM (@WomanInSTEM_) December 7, 2020

In August 2019, CNN host Chris Cuomo, the governors brother, got into an altercation with a man who called him Fredo. In The Godfather books and movies, the character Fredo Corleone was considered a weakling compared to his brother Michael Corleone, a crime boss.

The CNN host even compared being called Fredo to being called the N-word, a move that was criticized by netizens as being tactless and racist.

Masterful COVID-19 press conferences?

In November, Cuomo was awarded an Emmy for his masterful pandemic press conferences.

The move was questioned by many, with some saying that it was ironic since New York had the most severe infection rates. Others also suggest that Cuomo didnt deserve the award because of questionable decisions, like sending thousands of COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes. (Related: Cuomo receives Emmy for best actor in Covid-19 performance, proving its all theater.)

At the press conference, Fauci warned that January could be a really dark time for America. On the same day, Cuomo announced that he would close indoor dining in New York City if hospitalizations didnt slow down as they reached 1,400, which is more than double compared to mid-November.

While the city-wide test positivity rate in New York City is four percent, it varies between boroughs. In Manhattan, it is 2.56 percent but on Staten Island, it is 6.3 percent. Statewide, the rate is at 4.79 percent.

On Cuomos official website, he stressed the importance of observing safe behaviors because of the increasing number of coronavirus cases in New York and throughout the nation. He also called on citizens to do everything they can to help hospitals prepare to handle a growing number of patients.

Cuomo added that the state has already enforced various measures to help prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, along with a directive to expand capacity by 25 percent.

The good news is New York still maintains one of the nations lowest infection rates, but everyone must do their part to slow the spread of the virus and stop the uptick in hospitalizations. If we work together and stay New York Tough, we can manage this pandemic until the vaccine is here, concluded Cuomo.

Visit Pandemic.news for more updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in New York and across America.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Twitter.com 1

Twitter.com 2

Vox.com

Governor.NY.gov
Bharat Biotech expects approval of Covaxin for emergency use from WHO in July- September

Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 crore doses for 2021

Covid-19 vaccination in India: Dry run starts today to test systems

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 01: Barely days away from the roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccine in India, a mock drill of the Covid-19 vaccination drive will be conducted across all states and Union Territories on Saturday, as per the central government order. The exercise is aimed at testing the preparedness for the vaccine rollout.

India test drives vaccine delivery, mass vaccination soon? | Oneindia News

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness at various session sites in the country for coronavirus vaccination trial run on January 2.

The government has already successfully earlier conducted a two-day pilot Covid-19 vaccination drive in four states - Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat on December 28-29. But today's dry run is more ambitious in scope, as it is covering all state capitals.

Covishield vaccine: All you need to know about OxfordAstraZeneca COVID-19

The government will be vaccinating priority groups in the first two phases: frontline workers including all healthcare professionals in the first stage and emergency workers in the second stage. While the data of these people are already being compiled by the state governments, from the third stage onwards where people with co-morbidity will be given vaccines, self-registration will be introduced. And that will happen through the Co-WIN app.

The app will have separate modules for administrator, registration, vaccination, beneficiary acknowledgment and reports.

Once people start to register for the app, the platform will upload bulk data on co-morbidity provided by local authorities.

The CO-WIN app is yet to be available for smartphone users and it is expected that it will be publicly available soon.

The different modules of the platform cater to the entire process of COVID-19 vaccination starting from registration to verification.

What is dry run?

Dry run is essentially a practice session where a sample number of beneficiaries will go through a mock immunisation process.

Vaccine dry run is an end-to-end exercise where all steps to be done during the actual vaccination drive will be tested to identify if there is any gap in the process or if any region of the country is experiencing any difficulty in the entire process.
A tradesman imprisoned on a cruise ship after a disastrous threesome risked sabotaging his lawsuit against the liner by messaging one of the women on Facebook during the trial.

Royal Caribbean crew locked up Sydney air conditioning technician Daniel Rawlings, 32, for six days of a 10 day 'schoolies' cruise around the Pacific in November 2016.

Security staff on board the Explorer of the Seas vessel thought one of the 18-year-olds that Rawlings slept with was too 'intoxicated' to consent.

She had been found wandering the corridor, naked and disoriented in the early hours of the morning.

Rawlings sued after he was placed in conditions 'akin to solitary confinement' and was never charged over the ship crew's false fears he had raped the girl.

He was awarded almost $100,000 in damages by the NSW District Court just before Christmas - but not without Rawlings finding himself in hot water.

Tradesman Daniel Rawlings was slammed in court by Royal Caribbean's lawyers for 'reprehensible' behaviour when he messaged a witness as she gave evidence in court

A District Court judgment revealed how Rawlings sent a series of Facebook messages to one of the threesome participants as she gave evidence as a witness - including telling her to make a Royal Caribbean lawyer 'look a fool'.

The woman had been on a morning tea break from giving evidence when Rawlings flicked her a message saying 'you're doing well', court documents said.

'This is so much harder than I (thought),' she replied.

Rawlings then advised her that she didn't have to answer Royal Caribbean's lawyer with direct 'yes or no' answers, but simply with her view.

'He will exaggerate things and ask you to agree,' the tradesman said, according to the court documents.

'Haha yeah! Don't meet strangers on a cruise ship (crying face emoji).' Quip the witness made to Rawlings about what he learned from the ordeal, according to court documents

A little later, the witness messaged Rawlings: 'I'm so mad at him hahah I just wanna yell at and tell him that it f***ing happened four years ago how does he expect me to know what happened.

Rawlings replied: 'The nicer you be to him the worse he looks.

'Make him look a fool.'

The woman replied: 'Yeah okay.'

He replied: 'I'm so grateful, you're brave'.

'Thank you,' she said. 'But like I said from the start there was no way I was gonna run away from this, it's the biggest load of bulls*** ever.'

Rawlings then said the ordeal had taught him a lot - leading the witness to quip: 'Hahaha yeah!

'Don't meet strangers on a cruise ship (crying face emoji).'

The trio had met on the dancefloor of the ship's Dizzy's Nightclub.

These are some of the messages Rawlings and the witness exchanged, according to court documents (digital mock up above)

Royal Caribbean's lawyers told Judge John Hatzistergos that Rawlings' messages showed he was trying to 'manipulate' evidence, to a degree, to suit his case.

'He could only have known that it was reprehensible behaviour', they argued, according to the court judgment.

Under cross-examination, Rawlings admitted the messages showed him giving advice on how the witness should give evidence - but argued they didn't show him advising her on the content of what she said.

Rawlings also claimed he didn't know he wasn't allowed to talk to the witness, according to the judgment.

In his judgment, Judge Hatzistergos found the messages didn't show Rawlings in a favourable light.

But the judge accepted he was advising the witness about her method of answering questions, rather than instructing her on what answers to give herself.

The court heard when the witness messaged Rawlings to ask if he was allowed to speak to her, he replied: 'Yes, you have to take an oath of honesty anyway...'

Rawlings (left and right, with a friend who is unrelated to the case) was awarded $100,000 after being detained for six days of a 10 day cruise to the south Pacific

The judge ruled Rawlings' evidence was 'in some respects unreliable and exaggerated' but didn't make sweeping findings about his credibility.

After careful scrutiny of the evidence, the judge found in his favour ordering Royal Caribbean pay $97,344 in damages in a 199-page decision.

The judge found the ship's captain had been justified in initially detaining Rawlings, investigating the evidence and referring it to New Caledonia law enforcement.

But his further days-long detention 'comprising conditions akin to solitary confinement for the remainder of the journey back to Sydney ... was not reasonable.'

Lawyers for Royal Caribbean sought to stay the judgment. The case returns to court to determine legal costs next year.
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The EUs first anti-fraud prosecutor reflects on the challenges of tackling transnational crime

Laura Codruta Kovesi is no stranger to fighting corruption. After becoming Romanias youngest and first woman prosecutor-general, she served as head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate from 2013 to 2018. Her tenacity and fearlessness soon opened a new door. Kovesi now serves as the European Unions first anti-fraud prosecutor in charge of the new European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO), based in Luxembourg, which will investigate, prosecute, and bring judgment for crimes against the EU budget. These crimes can include fraud, corruption, organized crime, and cross-border value-added tax (VAT) crimes exceeding 10 million.

Previously, only national prosecutors across EU member states could tackle such criminality, but they lacked jurisdiction beyond their borders. Other institutions, such as Europol or the EU anti-fraud office OLAF, had no legal authority to act. The European Commission reports that 140 billion in VAT revenue was lost in 2018 to fraud and evasion, predicting that number to increase to 164 billion in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

Can the EPPO successfully tackle transnational crime? F&Ds Rahim Kanani interviewed Kovesi to find out.

F&D: What is the single most important lesson you bring to this new role from your experience in Romania?

LK: My experience with Romanias National Anti-Corruption Directorate is proof that nobody is above the law and that the law can be applied equally to everyone, regardless of their position in society. We were able to not only raise awareness about the seriousness of corruption and how it impacts peoples lives, but we were also able to show that Romanian institutions can work efficiently and legally to defeat it. It is not an unsolvable problem.

F&D: What are the main challenges to establishing an effective EU prosecutors office?

LK: Were building this office from scratch, so there is much work to be done to get our administrative, budget, and legislative guidelines in order. There is no precedent for such an office, as we have to harmonize the work of prosecutors from 22 different member states. They are working in different judiciaries with different procedural rules, and we have to find common ground.

The second challenge, once were operational, is to be efficient, act independently, and win the trust of the citizenswhich we can only win by being effective in our efforts and by proving that the law is applied equally to everyone.

F&D: Do you have enough resources to achieve your mission?

LK: After much debate, and with 3,000 cases expected to land on our desks when we start, we now have funding for 140 European delegated prosecutors, but we are still missing resources for key Luxembourg-based staff, who will be key to the success of our mission. We need financial investigators and case analysts. With their expertise, we can aggregate and analyze information to investigate cross-border crime more efficiently. Until now, all the prosecutors were focused on their own internal criminality, and they didnt always have access to information outside their borderslike bank accounts and specific financial transactions. The EPPO makes this possible.

Investigations alone are not enough. Another priority is to get money back or recover the damages. With more specialized staff based at headquarters, we can identify goods and bank accounts that can be seized. This will make all the difference in terms of investigating financial fraud efficiently and effectively.

Specifically, Ive been pushing for a budget of 55 million. At this point we only have 37.7 million. In the context of just how much fraud there is to investigatein the billions of dollarsthis is not a large sum of money.

F&D: How will your office decide which cases to pursue?

LK: The principle of legality is our main guide rather than the principle of opportunity. In terms of prioritizing, criteria could include the amount of damages at stake or the statute of limitations. We also have to consider the position of those suspected. If someone is using their public office to commit a crime, we may want to focus on that first. We will also need to rely on national authorities because our work requires cooperation with national police, tax administrations, and other domestic agencies.

F&D: How important is investigative journalism in fighting corruption?

LK: Investigative journalists can be a very good source of information. Sometimes we opened up investigations based on journalists exposing potential criminality, and in some cases, they were able to send us additional documents, recordings, and other materials that proved useful. I see journalists as partners because they are the ones writing about our cases, and they can help us educate the public about our work, how corruption influences their lives, and the seriousness of these topics. In 90 percent of the cases, journalists and prosecutors share the same goal, but there is one small difference: they are eager to learn more about our investigations, and we sometimes want to say less. But its important to find common ground.

A few years ago in Romania there was a huge attack against the rule of law, and there were legislative proposals put forth that would not only cut the tools and resources of prosecutors to investigate, but they would also decriminalize clear criminality and corruption. There were proposals to eliminate the legal guarantee of independence for prosecutors and subordinate them to the minister of justice; decriminalize abuse of office offenses amounting to an arbitrarily set figure of 200,000 lei ($47,800); pardon tax evasion; decriminalize bribes if they were paid through an intermediary; ban recordings captured in public spaces from being used as evidence; close investigations if they had not been concluded within one year; and more.

Journalists explained why it was so important to reject these ideas, and more than 500,000 people took to the streets to protest these changes and support the rule of law.

Journalists would also call us and say they had information about potential illegality, but they wanted to check first whether writing an article might impede an active investigationand if so, they would hold back the story.

F&D: You spoke of winning the trust of citizens as a pillar of effectiveness. How do you plan to do that?

LK: When you investigate cases based on solid proof, obtain convictions in court, and do so in an efficient and independent manner, you can win the peoples trust. But its not something you can do in one or two days. Even if on day one we open 3,000 cases, or 5,000 cases, its not enough. You need to obtain credible results, and the only way you can achieve this is to have definitive decisions in the courts for a conviction. This takes timetwo or three years, not two or three days. From the outset, we must establish ourselves as a strong and independent institution.

Only then will people send us their complaints and tips. In Romania, most of the cases we opened were based on information provided to us from the public. In one year alone, complaints from private citizens increased by more than 60 percent. This is a good indication that people trust you, and if they trust you, they will confide in you and fight for you. What we do is not for us, its for the benefit of the people. That is justice.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Wed made the necessary psychological pivot.

The online grocery order was lodged, as was the bottle shop order. A family member would drop off jigsaw puzzles to our doorstep. We'd started devising creative ways to keep our 16-month-old son occupied in our apartment. In short, we were resigned to a 14-day home quarantine.

A day earlier, like thousands of other Victorians visiting family in NSW, wed raced back to our home state after the Andrews government announced it was shutting the border to halt the spread of coronavirus from our northern neighbours.

The conditions of our return were spelt out on the travel permits we applied for as we trundled down the Hume on New Years Eve with a restless toddler in the back seat.

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I will be tested for coronavirus within 24 hours of arriving in Victoria, it read.

I will self-quarantine at home or another suitable location for 14 days.

But the next morning, a nurse at The Alfred hospitals COVID-19 screening clinic provided different advice. Consulting a sheet of paper, the nurse said that as wed arrived from Wollongong on December 31, we would be free to leave quarantine after receiving a negative test result.

We questioned this, pulling up a press release from the Department of Health and Human Services that clearly stated we needed to quarantine at home for two weeks because Wollongong was no longer within the green zone.

Better check with the DHHS, came her reply.

After receiving our negative test results later on New Years Day, we called the DHHS to clarify. When we got through, an official gave us the unexpected news  we were now free to leave our apartment.

Vehicles queue to cross the NSW-Victorian border at Albury on Friday. Credit:Jason Robins

But, confused by the inconsistency between this new information and our permits, we questioned the advice. The official conferred with a colleague and confirmed that, yes, we could leave.

Another DHHS official, apparently unaware of the previous conversation, phoned us shortly afterwards to check the details of our travel. Again, his advice was clear: as wed received a negative test result, we were free from quarantine.

Out of an abundance of caution, we read him the conditions on our travel permit and asked one more time for confirmation. The official put us on hold while he spoke to his supervisor. Finally, he conceded he had initially provided the wrong advice. We would have to spend 14 days in home quarantine.

The experience has made me empathise with people who try to do the right thing but are provided with incorrect and confusing advice from health officials.

Read the full opinion piece here.
The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland is expressing shock over what he says is a blasphemous satirical clip broadcast on RTEs New Years Eve Countdown Show, which he said was mocking and deeply offensive to Christians.

In two tweets this evening Archbishop Eamon Martin called for it to be removed immediately" from the national broadcasters online player.

He said the mock news clip, featuring former news anchor Aengus Mac Grianna and accusing God of rape, must be denounced.

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To broadcast such a deeply offensive clip about God and Our Blessed Mother during the Christmas season on RTE and on the eve of the Solemn Feast of Mary, Mother of God, is insulting to all Catholics and Christians, Dr Martin said.

"I am shocked that producer/editor of 'NYE Countdown Show' didnt realise how deeply offensive was a mocking 'news report' accusing God of rape & reporting his imprisonment. This outrageous clip should be removed immediately & denounced by all people of goodwill.

His condemnation was echoed by Fianna Fail councillor, Micheal Sheehan, from Wexford, who said he has made a complaint to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).

He described the mock Waterford Whispers news item as gross and distasteful and said an apology was needed.

Independent.ie has asked RTE for a response.

In the programme, the former RTE newsreader reported that God became the latest figure to be implicated in ongoing sexual harassment scandals. It went on to detailed alleged offenses, which referenced the immaculate conception.

Archbishop Martins tweets prompted an outpouring of support for his comments and criticism of RTE.

The New Years Eve programme was hosted by Kathryn Thomas and Deirdre O' Kane.

Read More

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Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat condoled the death of Colonel Narendra Kumar (retd), a former top mountaineer who contributed immensely in helping India secure the Siachen Glacier.

On the demise of Col Narendra Bull Kumar, we convey our condolences. A soldier whose determination and yearning to scale high mountain peaks led to discoveries that helped the Army in occupying locations that helped us in strengthening our defensive posture General Rawat said.

Awarded the Padma Shri, Arjun award and the Kirti Chakra, Indias second-highest peace-time gallantry award, Kumar was fondly known as Bull in the army.

Our strong posturing on the Saltoro Ridge and in other areas of Ladakh are a part of his adventurous travels. His name will forever remain etched in the rich history of our Army, Chief of General Rawat added.

The departed officer had reported Pakistani military activity on the Siachen glacier, after which the army launched Operation Meghdoot in April 1984 to secure the glacier.

First to report on Pakistani mischief in Siachen sending patrol and mountaineering expeditions to the Glacier area. India was thus able pre-empt Pakistani attempt to occupy Saltoro Range ....Salute! former army chief General VP Malik (retd) tweeted on Thursday.

Kumar died at the age of 87 on Thursday due to an age-related illness at the Armys Research and Referral Hospital.
Pope Francis prays the Angelus and asks us to entrust " our anxieties and our torments " to the Mother of God. Today we celebrate the 54th World Day of Peace, which this year has as its theme "A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace". "Developing a mentality and a culture of care taking so that indifference, rejection and rivalry  which unfortunately prevail  will be defeated ". Prayer for the children of Yemen and for the bishop of Owerri (Nigeria), kidnapped a few days ago together with his driver.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - . May it be for everyone a year of fraternal solidarity and peace, a year filled with expectant trust and hope, which we entrust to the heavenly protection of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother": this is the wish expressed by Pope Francis today in introducing the Angelus.

The Pope gave his address from the library of the apostolic palace so as to prevent mass gatherings in St. Peter's Square in keeping with anti-pandemic measures. As a result of a bout of sciatica, the pontiff was unable to preside over Vespers and Te Deum yesterday or this morning's Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. At the Angelus he appeared in good health.

The Pope first emphasized the importance of entrusting "our anxieties and torments" to the mother of God: "The reassuring and comforting gaze of the Holy Virgin is an encouragement so that this time, granted us by the Lord, might be spent for our human and spiritual growth, that it be a time in which hatred and division are resolved, that it be a time to build and not to destroy, to take care of each other and of creation."

He then recalled that today the 54th World Day of Peace is also celebrated, which this year has as its theme "A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace".

"The painful events that marked humanitys journey last year, especially the pandemic, taught us how much it is necessary to take an interest in others problems and to share their concerns. This attitude represents the path that leads to peace, because it fosters the construction of a society founded on fraternal relationships. Each of us, men and women of this time, is called to make peace happen each day and in every place we live, taking those brothers and sisters by the hand who need a comforting word, a tender gesture, solidary help. And this is a task given us by God: to be peacemakers.

"It is a question - he continued  of developing a mentality and a culture of care taking so that indifference, rejection and rivalry  which unfortunately prevail  will be defeated. Peace is not only the absence of war, but a life rich in meaning, rooted in and lived through personal realization and fraternal sharing with others."

"May the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6), obtain for us from heaven the precious gift of peace, which cannot be fully pursued with human strength alone. Peace is above all a gift to be implored from God with incessant prayer, sustained with patient and respectful dialogue, constructed with an open collaboration with truth and justice and always attentive to the legitimate aspirations of individuals and peoples.

After the Marian prayer, Francis renewed his wishes for the new year to everyone and proposed a moment of silence for the situation in Yemen, expressing "pain and concern for the increase in violence ... which is causing many innocent victims". Just think of the children of Yemen - he added - without education, without medicines, hungry.

The Pope also invited to pray for peace in Nigeria and for the bishop of Owerri, Msgr. Moses Chikwe, kidnapped days ago with his driver, so that they be freed unharmed.
Two days before Christmas, Mott Street, right in the heart of Chinatown, was filled with lights overnight. Residents woke up to 250 violet, pink, orange and gold lanterns hanging above the street. Local artists had painted whimsical designs and auspicious characters onto them: fu, for good fortune; he, for peace. Other characters stood for love, happiness, wealth and longevity.

It is a neighborhood that could use some cheer, said Max Davidson from Admerasia, an advertising agency that focuses on Asian-American entrepreneurs. Even in January, he said, referring to the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and the xenophobia that Chinatown suffered, a lot of the local businesses were reporting a 50 to 70 percent revenue drop. Since then there has been little improvement.

The lanterns are here to stay, at least into the new year. Light Up Chinatown is a grass-roots initiative that is kept going by donations, and so far, the group has raised almost $32,000. The actor Will Smith even gave $10,000, in conjunction with the nonprofit Asian Americans for Equality, after hearing about the project. Light Up Chinatown hopes ultimately to raise $47,000 to make more blocks look just as appealing (Bayard Street between Mott and Bowery is next).

The idea for the lanterns came from Patrick Mock, 26, who was born and raised in Chinatown and is the manager of 46 Mott Bakery.
Despite a decline in state budget revenue, remittances, and foreign direct investment, Vietnam is expected to see positive growth with a surplus in current account this year thanks to a rise in export turnover and foreign currency reserves.

The World Bank estimates that Vietnams economy will grow by 6.8 per cent in 2021, photo Le Toan

The World Bank last week released its fresh forecast for the Vietnamese economy, which is expected to grow by almost 3 per cent in 2020 while the world economy is expected to contract at least by 4 per cent amidst the biggest global shock of past decades.

The bank attributed Vietnams good economic performance to the resilience of both its domestic economy and external sector. Beyond the containment of the pandemic by bold, early, and innovative measures, the government has also used its fiscal and monetary policies to provide breathing space to the private sector and jump start the recovery. For example, public spending started rising again after three years of fiscal consolidation. The first nine months of 2020 saw a 40 per cent year-on-year increase in the disbursement of the public investment programme.

The World Bank said that the external sector this year  the main driver of economic growth in Vietnam over the past decade  has performed exceptionally well since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.

Vietnam is expected to achieve a current account surplus. It is registering its highest-ever merchandise trade surplus and accumulating almost $100 billion in international reserves [up from $80 billion at the end of 2019], said the World Banks report. The current account surplus will be achieved even though the tourism sector has been badly hurt by the ban on foreign visitors, and by the expected decline in remittances from Vietnamese expatriates by approximately 7.8 per cent in 2020 compared to a year earlier.

In 2019, the quantity of remittances sent to Vietnam amounted to $16.68 billion, according to the State Bank of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City accounts for about $5.3 billion.

According to the Asian Development Bank, Vietnams current account is expected to see a surplus equivalent to 1 per cent of GDP in 2020 before rising to 1.5 per cent in 2021.

Vietnam has been continuously reporting current account surpluses since 2011, and more recently has seen the figure at 2.9 per cent in 2017, 3 per cent in 2018, and 2 per cent in 2019.

The achievements noted by the World Bank will be made following a climb in exports despite a fall in state budget revenues and foreign direct investment (FDI). Specifically, the government has estimated that total export-import turnover for 2020 will be $527 billion, up 1.8 per cent on-year. Export turnover will be $267 billion, a 1 per cent rise against the previous year, and import turnover will stand at $260 billion, up 2.6 per cent on-year. The total trade surplus will therefore be about $7 billion.

In the first 11 months, Vietnams total export turnover hit $254.6 billion, up 5.3 per cent on-year. Vietnamese exporters earned $73 billion of this, up 1.6 per cent on-year and accounting for 28.7 per cent of the countrys total export turnover, while foreign exporters fetched $181.6 billion (excluding crude oil exports), up 6.9 per cent, and responsible for 71.3 per cent of the economys total.

Meanwhile, under the governments calculations, total state budget revenue for 2020 will likely be about VND1.32 quadrillion ($57.4 billion), equal to 87.5 per cent of initial estimates, and total state budget spending will be over VND1.68 quadrillion ($73 billion), tantamount to 96.5 per cent of initial estimates. Total budget overspending will be around VND360 trillion ($15.65 billion) or 4.99 per cent of GDP.

The government also estimated that total foreign investment in Vietnam, in terms of newly-registered, newly-added, and capital contribution and stake acquisition, for 2020 will be about $34-35 billion, down 10.1-12.8 per cent on-year. Total disbursement will likely be about $19-20 billion, down 1.9-6.8 per cent on-year.

However, according to the World Bank, overseas investors have continued pouring money in and/or shifting production activities to Vietnam due to the countrys strong management of the pandemic.

Continued strong FDI signals investor confidence in Vietnams economic prospects, bolstering the capital account, said Jacques Morisset, lead economist for the World Bank in Vietnam.

In the first 11 months of 2020, Vietnam attracted $26.43 billion in FDI, including newly-registered and newly-added capital, as well as stake acquisitions and capital contributions, down 16.9 per cent on-year, and the total disbursed sum hit $17.2 billion, down 2.4 per cent on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

This remains a remarkable achievement, given the United Nations Conference on Trade and Developments projection of a 30-45 per cent decline in FDI inflows to East Asia in 2020, the World Bank noted.

Looking ahead, Vietnams prospects appear positive as the economy is projected to grow by about 6.8 per cent in 2021 and, thereafter, stabilise at around 6.5 per cent, stated the World Bank report. This projection assumes that the COVID-19 crisis will be brought gradually under control, notably through the introduction of an effective vaccine. Yet, the magnitude and duration of the pandemic as well as its economic implications are hard to predict and, for this reason, a lower-case scenario cannot be discarded. VIR

Thanh Dat

Vietnam to become worlds 19th largest economy by 2035: CEBR Vietnams economy is expected to move to the 19th position in the rankings of the World Economic League Table in 2035, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).
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The San Antonio Food Bank plans to build a $9 million apartment complex next to its New Braunfels branch for financially struggling families in the area.

The organizations clients in fast-growing New Braunfels are facing rising housing costs, pushing many to move outside the city of more than 90,000. That means more time commuting to work and having to switch school districts.

The biggest driver for a lot of the families on why theyre coming in to get food is because they cant afford their rent and buy food, said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank. The cost of housing in Comal County has just skyrocketed over the last decade.

The nonprofit is also trying to help working parents build financial assets and achieve self-sufficiency, Cooper said. Tenants will pay reduced rents and have access to child care.

The food banks strategy is to address hunger by dispensing food, provide job training and nutrition education, help families access programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, and connect them with regional groups such as Workforce Solutions Alamo for employment assistance.

The apartment project will target families who are doing everything they can do and theyre (on) that upward trajectory, Cooper said. They just need a window where things arent so tight that a little thing, like a flat tire or a medical bill or a high summer utility bill, throws them out of moving forward.

Along with working with clients coming into the New Braunfels Food Bank, staff there will work with other local nonprofits to help identify clients for the 51-unit complex, dubbed the Apple Seeds Apartments.

Residents will live there for two or three years. A portion of their rent will go into a savings account, which could be used for education or a down payment for a house after they complete the program, Cooper said. Rents for the two- and three-bedroom apartments have not yet been set.

Families will also take classes. Programming is being ironed out but could include budgeting or parenting skills.

Families will have day care at an on-site facility; the food bank is looking to partner with another nonprofit or third-party group for the center.

Construction of the complex at 1530 S. Seguin Ave. is expected to start in April and take about a year to complete, a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows.

The food bank is raising funds for the project. It has raised about one-third of the cost so far, which includes commitments from the New Braunfels-based McKenna Foundation, the San Antonio-based Kronkosky Charitable Foundation and others, Cooper said.

The food bank also recently received an undisclosed sum from author and billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The agreement specified that the amount not be made public, officials said last month.

Scott has given more than $4 billion to 384 organizations across the country, including the food bank and six other nonprofits in San Antonio.

The food bank will use Scotts donation for expenses to keep up with the spiraling demand for food amid the coronavirus pandemic and the nonprofits capital projects, which include the Apple Seeds Apartments and a culinary center.

Building housing next to the New Braunfels Food Bank has long been part of the plan.

New Braunfels is the third fastest growing city in the U.S., census data released in May shows. Its population swelled to 90,209 between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2019, increasing 56.4 percent. The rankings included cities with populations of 50,000 or more as of April 1, 2010.

The median price for a house in New Braunfels rose to $272,400 in November, up 12.1 percent from the same month in 2019, according to the Four Rivers Association of Realtors. In Comal County, where New Braunfels is the county seat, the median home price jumped 17.7 percent to $329,450.

The McKenna Foundation provided $250,000 toward the purchase of a roughly 5-acre plot for the food bank and a future housing development. It also committed $1 million for the apartment complex to NB Housing Partners, according to the foundations website.

The food bank was built on half of that land.

The foundation and NB Housing Partners reached out to several local nonprofits to co-develop the apartment complex, Cooper said, but those efforts didnt pan out.

They then asked the food bank to consider taking on the project. Plans advanced after talks between the nonprofits board members and a due-diligence period, Cooper said. McKenna and NB Housing Partners donated the land to the food bank in 2020.

The food bank is working with architects to develop designs and will soon choose a contractor.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
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Dublin's National Maternity Hospital was the first to welcome a new baby in 2021 at four seconds past midnight.

Brody McWilliams Brown, weighing in at 7lbs 10oz, was born to mum Jennifer McWilliams, and both are doing well.

Brody surprised us by coming early, it is a fantastic start to the New Year," said Jennifer.

"We cannot believe that he is the first baby born in Ireland in 2021."

Jennifer was diagnosed with Covid-19 on December 22 and she made the NMH aware prior to her arrival.

The hospital said all protocols were followed by staff to ensure the safe care of Jennifer and baby Brody.

Jennifer was diagnosed with Covid-19 on December 22 and she made the NMH aware prior to her arrival.

She added: "I would like to thank all the staff at the National Maternity Hospital who have just been brilliant and have taken the best care of both Brody and I despite me having Covid-19.

Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Professor Shane Higgins said it was "ironic" that the first baby born in 2021 was to a Covid positive mother.

Brody surprised us by coming early, it is a fantastic start to the New Year," said Jennifer. "We cannot believe that he is the first baby born in Ireland in 2021."

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jennifer on the birth of her first baby, Brody," Professor Higgins said.

"We would also like to thank her for alerting us to her positive result prior to coming to the hospital and working with our staff in ensuring a safe outcome for all.

"I would once again like to thank all our staff for their professionalism, dedication and empathy throughout the pandemic."

Professor Higgins concluded: "We wish all our patients and family a healthy and Happy New Year.
Perhaps one is doomed to be eclipsed when playing Princess Margaret, but Vanessa Kirby more than held her own in the first two seasons of The Crown. The perfect foil for Claire Foy's prissy and dutiful young queen, Kirby's Margaret fulminated on the sidelines, craving the spotlight she managed to attract all too often with her rock 'n' roll lifestyle and her appalling taste in men.

She has been replaced in recent seasons by Helena Bonham-Carter as Margaret moves through a painful middle age, but The Crown's success has raised all boats, and eye-catching turns in Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Hobbs & Shaw have led Kirby to this star turn in a decidedly heavyweight drama. In Pieces of a Woman, she seizes her moment with a heartbreaking portrayal of a woman enduring unimaginable grief.

The English language debut of Hungarian director Kornel Mundruczo (Johanna, White God), Pieces of a Woman stars Kirby and Shia LaBeouf as a Boston couple anxiously preparing for the birth of their first child. Sean Carson (LaBeouf) is a rather chippy builder currently working on a vast bridge across the Charles River, which he seems to feel he should be designing. Martha Carson (Kirby) is more laid back, on the surface at least, and has no such status anxiety: she's the daughter of Elizabeth Weiss (Ellen Burstyn), a tough and wealthy Jewish widow who makes no secret of the fact she thinks Martha has married down.

Elizabeth is not even thrilled about Martha's pregnancy, which she fears will attach her more completely to Sean. But she needn't have worried, because during the home birth Martha insisted on, things go horribly wrong. When the couple's midwife cries off at the last minute, her flustered replacement Eve (Molly Parker) seems unsure of herself, and seconds after the baby is born, it dies.

This may not have been Eve's fault at all, but this is America, and Martha's mother is out for blood. Elizabeth was born in wartime Hungary and narrowly survived the Holocaust: in her world, you can only move on from tragedy if someone else is made to pay. Martha seems resistant to her mother's Old Testament ghetto logic, but Sean, a hothead, is all on for vengeance, and a remorseless lawyer (Sarah Snook) is engaged.

She will bring no happiness to anyone and, meanwhile, her legal action against the unfortunate Eve is about the only thing Sean and Elizabeth can agree on. They loathe each other and trade insults like gunfire. When Elizabeth passive-aggressively buys them a family saloon, Sean complains the vehicle is "grey, like her soul". Elizabeth is more direct: "I've never liked you," she bluntly informs him.

While they bicker, Martha is left to deal with the unbearable weight of her grief. And though Sean, a recovering alcoholic, reacts to his trauma by hitting the sauce, Martha retreats inwards and becomes obsessed (for obvious reasons) with tending and seeding apple pips.

Kornel Mundruczo's film is full of such symbolism, not all of it as heavy handed: a bleary, dream-like visual style draws you into the couple's extended nightmare, and the acting of Kirby and Burstyn in particular keeps you there. LaBeouf's resting state may be outrage: he's all too convincing as the surly and thin-skinned Sean, particularly during a ghastly bedroom moment. If there were awards for the most excruciating sex scene, LaBeouf's heavy-handed overtures here would surely be in contention, but as you watch between your fingers, you realise that this is a couple entering its death throes.

The problem is that Pieces of a Woman tends towards one note, that note being full on hysteria. If this makes it a hard watch, I suppose it ought to be given the subject, but wall-to-wall histrionics are not especially revealing from the viewer's point of view and in the end, you feel like you're observing a rather callous and clinical scientific study of grief.

But Kirby makes her character's despair seem chillingly real.

In countless films, Las Vegas has been presented as a glamorous fantasy world, an adult Disneyland where pleasure obliterates one's worries. But the regulars at The Roaring 20s occupy a very different Vegas. In Bill and Turner Ross's odd but engaging film, the rundown bar is about to close down and its shambling clients emerge from the woodwork to begin a day-long wake.

What follows is a fascinating insight into a bleary American subculture, but there's a catch - it's all faked. Because Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets was actually filmed in New Orleans and one of the boozers is an actor. All the other drinkers, though, are real people, their stories and traumas their own, and their disjointed soliloquies give this strange hybrid docudrama compelling veracity.

The film captures the warmth and camaraderie of the barfly universe, but also the doomed circle of mutual enablement that will sink all these drinkers, one after the other. One talkative regular prides himself on having only become an alcoholic after he'd become a failure. "I ruined my life sober," he announces with a smile, "and then I came to you." PW

Situated just a few bitterly contested miles from Jerusalem, the ancient city of Ramallah has become the de facto capital of the occupied West Bank.

The epicentre of Palestinian culture and commerce, Ramallah is also on the front line of a bitter and seemingly open-ended conflict, surrounded by ever-encroaching illegal Israeli settlements that threaten its very existence. And yet, the city survives and even appears to thrive, helped by its mayor, Musa Hadid.

In David Osit's perceptive documentary, we watch Hadid go about his work, running committees, solving problems and toiling tirelessly to raise his city's profile. Greeted warmly in the street wherever he goes, Hadid seems popular and Osit's documentary bucks cliched portrayals of the West Bank as a dusty wasteland: when we first meet Musa he's sipping coffee in a French-looking cafe.

The scale of Mayor Hadid's task is put in context when he deals with trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and Donald Trump's breathtakingly cynical decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. But the Mayor's quiet positivity seems unquenchable. PW

3 stars (IFI@home, 89mins)

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (Curzon Home, IFI@home, 98mins), 4 stars

In countless films, Las Vegas has been presented as a glamorous fantasy world, an adult Disneyland where pleasure obliterates ones worries. But the regulars at The Roaring 20s occupy a very different Vegas. In Bill and Turner Rosss odd but engaging film, the rundown bar is about to close down and its shambling clients emerge from the woodwork to begin a day-long wake.

What follows is a fascinating insight into a bleary American subculture, but theres a catch  its all faked. Because Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets was actually filmed in New Orleans and one of the boozers is an actor. All the other drinkers, though, are real people, their stories and traumas their own, and their disjointed soliloquies give this strange hybrid docudrama compelling veracity.

The film captures the warmth and camaraderie of the barfly universe, but also the doomed circle of mutual enablement that will sink all these drinkers, one after the other. One talkative regular prides himself on having only become an alcoholic after hed become a failure. I ruined my life sober, he announces with a smile, and then I came to you. PW

Mayor (IFI@home, 89mins), 4 stars

Situated just a few bitterly contested miles from Jerusalem, the ancient city of Ramallah has become the de facto capital of the occupied West Bank.

The epicentre of Palestinian culture and commerce, Ramallah is also on the front line of a bitter and seemingly open-ended conflict, surrounded by ever-encroaching illegal Israeli settlements that threaten its very existence. And yet, the city survives and even appears to thrive, helped by its mayor, Musa Hadid.

In David Osits perceptive documentary, we watch Hadid go about his work, running committees, solving problems and toiling tirelessly to raise his citys profile. Greeted warmly in the street wherever he goes, Hadid seems popular and Osits documentary bucks cliched portrayals of the West Bank as a dusty wasteland: when we first meet Musa hes sipping coffee in a French-looking cafe.

The scale of Mayor Hadids task is put in context when he deals with trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and Donald Trumps breathtakingly cynical decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital. But the Mayors quiet positivity seems unquenchable. PW




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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk from Marine One as they return to the White House in Washington on Dec. 31, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Team: Voters Should Call State Legislatures for Special Sessions to Decertify

President Donald Trumps campaign has been pressing voters to call their state legislatures to conduct an emergency special session on voter fraud.

Over the past several days, the team urged people to contact Georgia House Speaker David Ralston and Georgia, Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan to demand a vote on decertification of the states Electoral College votes.

The Trump Team Twitter account also posted the phone numbers of state legislators in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Time for state legislators to take the Election seriously. President @realDonaldTrump needs you to DEMAND they call a SPECIAL SESSION & hear the evidence. Contact your state legislators NOW! GA: (404) 656-1776 WI: (608) 266-2517 MI: (517) 373-6339 AZ: (602) 542-4331 pic.twitter.com/F6GWIYRhvn  Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) December 30, 2020

It comes as the Joint Session of Congress is slated to convene on Jan. 6 to count the Electoral College votes. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and at least 40 House representatives have announced they would challenge the votes.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvanias GOP delegation to Congress announced they would challenge Pennsylvanias electors. They include Republican Reps. Dan Meuser, Glenn Thompson, Mike Kelly, Scott Perry, Lloyd Smucker, Guy Reschenthaler, John Joyce, and Fred Keller.

The lawmakers, in a statement, said that Pennsylvanias election on Nov. 3 was fraught with anomalies, irregularities, and alleged fraud. Pennsylvania Secretary of Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar has vehemently denied there was any fraud that would overturn the election, and Gov. Tom Wolf moved to certify the states electoral votes.

But the delegation listed several reasons for their decision: Accepting ballots past 8:00 pm on Election Day; not properly requiring signatures to match those on mail-in ballots or requiring dates; meanwhile, the matching of signatures was required at a polling site; authorizing the curing of mail-in ballots with less than a 24-hours notice; only some counties were informed and adhered to this order leaving voters treated unequally from county to county; authorizing the use of unsecure drop boxes, which is not permitted in statute; and prohibiting certified poll watchers overseeing the canvassing of ballots in Philadelphia.

The move requires at least one House representative and one senator to carry out, although some congressional leadersincluding Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.)have said their efforts will likely fail.

Hawley on Wednesday became the first senator to say he would oppose certifying the election for Joe Biden, pointing to Democratic efforts to do the same in prior elections.

Following both the 2004 and 2016 elections, Democrats in Congress objected during the certification of electoral votes in order to raise concerns about election integrity. They were praised by Democratic leadership and the media when they did, the Missouri Republican said.
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McConnell Rebuffs Trump on $2k Relief Checks

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Congress is ending a chaotic session like few others, a two-year political firestorm that started with the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, was riven by impeachment and a pandemic, and now closes with a rare rebuff by Republicans of President Donald Trump.In the few days remaining, GOP senators, led by Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, are ignoring Trump's demand to increase COVID-19 aid checks to $2,000 and poised to override his veto of a major defense bill, asserting traditional Republican spending and security priorities in defiance of a president who has tried to march the party in a different direction.South Carolina's Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top Trump ally, tried to bridge the divide Thursday, saying that Congress could try again to approve Trump's push for bigger COVID aid checks in the new session, which opens Sunday.I am with President Trump on this," Graham said on Fox News. Our economy is really hurting here, he said. "Theres no way to get a vote by Jan. 3. The new Congress begins noon Jan. 3. So the new Congress, you could get a vote.As Congress meets for a rare New Year's Eve session, the standoff over the COVID checks and the defense bill punctuates the presidents final days. The one-two rebuke of his demands deepens the divide between the Republican Party's new wing of Trump-styled populists and what had been mainstay conservative views. The stalemate is expected to drag into the weekend.An exasperated Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said this week, After all the insanity that Senate Republicans have tolerated from President Trump  his attacks on the rule of law, an independent judiciary, the conduct that led to his impeachment  is this where Senate Republicans are going to draw the line  $2,000 checks to the American people?Majority Leader McConnell all but shut the door on Trump's push for the $2,000 checks, declaring Congress has provided enough pandemic aid as he blocked Democratic attempts to force a vote.Opening the Senate on Thursday, McConnell called the House-passed bill matching Trump's request socialism for rich people.The GOP leader made clear he is unwilling to budge, despite political pressure from Trump and even fellow Republicans, including the two GOP senators facing runoff elections in Georgia next week that will determine which party controls the Senate.Trump was making an early return to the White House from Florida. But rather than take a victory lap over the massive $2 trillion-plus COVID aid and year-end spending package he just signed into law  or other successes this session like the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court  he was berating Republican leaders.Most GOP senators seemed to accept the inaction on the relief checks, even as a growing number of Republicans agree with Trump's demand.With the Georgia Senate runoff elections days away, leading Republicans have warned that the GOPs refusal to provide more aid as the virus worsens could jeopardize the outcome of those races.Georgias GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who are trying to fend off Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in Tuesday's elections, have announced their support for Trumps call for more generous checks.On Wednesday, McConnell unveiled a new bill loaded up with Trump's other priorities as a possible off-ramp for the stalemate. It included the $2,000 checks more narrowly targeted to lower-income households as well as a complicated repeal of protections for tech companies like Facebook or Twitter under Section 230 of a communications law that the president complained is unfair to conservatives. It also tacked on the establishment of a bipartisan commission to review the 2020 presidential election Trump lost to Biden.If McConnell set a vote on his bill, it could revive Trump's priorities. But because the approach contains the additional tech and elections provisions, Democrats and some Republicans would likely balk and it would be unlikely to have enough support in Congress to pass.
In a notable gesture of respect, the French government has awarded the Legion of Honour orders of merit to hundreds of frontline COVID-19 responders. As the French government's official gazette announcement on Friday, while more than a thousand people received the most prestigious state award, France gave most awards to those involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For almost a year, the entire population of France, like the population of other countries, has been facing a serious health crisis with unprecedented consequences. Many compatriots have made their professional and voluntary contributions, showing impressive commitment. Sixty-three percent of people are awarded under these decrees mainly for participation in response against the epidemic," said the Journal Officiel.

Read: French Ambassador Welcomes India's Return To UNSC, Supports 'permanent Membership'

While doctors and nurses were mostly among the people who received the award, the honour was also bestowed upon some of the medical workers who died in the line of duty.

France awards the Legion of Honour to public figures for their achievements in the fields of science, sports, culture, technology, military and economics. It is the highest award for civil and military merits in France, set up by French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

Read: COVID-19: France Detects First Case Of South Africa's COVID-19 Variant

Read: France Plans To Extend Night Curfew In Some Regions

(With Agency Inputs)
Portland Ends 2020 With Violence as Rioters Destroy Businesses and Throw Firebombs at Police

Authorities in Portland declared another riot near the federal courthouse shortly before the New Year after a large crowd of rioters clashed with police, smashed windows, and threw firebombs, according to police.

The riot was declared at about 11 p.m. after a crowd of between 80 and 100 protesters gathered earlier in the night in the area of Southwest Avenue and Southwest Main Street, with some in the crowd engaging in violence, according to a Portland Police Bureau (PPB) statement.

At least two Molotov cocktail-style firebombs and large fireworks were hurled and launched at riot police, the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, and the Multnomah County Justice Center, police and video footage confirms. Some rioters also attempted to break into the justice center but failed to do so.

Portland Police officers citywide had to be pulled from answering emergency calls to respond, PPB officials said.

The violence from the crowd has prompted a declaration of a riot. All persons in the area of Southwest 3rd Avenue around Southwest Main Street are ordered to leave to the south and west immediately. (continued)  Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) January 1, 2021

Officers were attacked with large rocks, full size bricks, and frozen water bottles, they continued. Some officers were targeted by paint balloons that may have been laced with a caustic substance as it caused burning to the skin. Some law enforcement officers suffered injuries, although no Portland Police officers were hurt.

According to news agency KOIN, riot officers responded to the violence by using pepper spray or mace. The outlet reported pepper balls, rubber bullets, or some other type of less-lethal munition was also heard being fired.

Portland Police was assisted in the riot by Federal Protective Services and the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, according to the PPB statement. Law enforcement officers assisting were also targeted with dangerous projectiles, it is unclear which department the officers that were injured during the clashes are from.

Authorities have announced that arrests were made but didnt go into specifics. The bureau added that information on those arrested is still being compiled and a list will be released at a later time.

Multiple videos shared on Twitter by reporter Andy Ngo shows businesses, including a Chase bank and Starbucks, destroyed during the violent New Year riot. A crosswalk sign near the Justice Center was also set on fire in just one of a number of fires spotted in the area.

This collage of pictures shows a crosswalk sign near the Multnomah County Justice Center destroyed by fire (left) and a fire doused on Southwest Main Street during a riot in Portland, Oregon on Dec. 31, 2020. (Portland Police Bureau)

Antifa smashed up a Chase bank and numerous other businesses in downtown Portland after starting fires outside the Justice Center, Ngo wrote in the description of one video. Authorities also confirmed several businesses were damaged and the reports of the damage are currently being compiled.

Prior to the declaration of a riot and officers engaging with the crowd, they warned people to leave the area to avoid arrest, but few if any heeded the warning, police said.

All persons in the area of Southwest 3rd Avenue around Southwest Main Street are ordered to leave to the south and west immediately. If you do not leave you are subject to arrest, citation, and/or the use of force, including but not limited to impact weapons and tear gas, according to the PPB statement.

The rioters mostly dispersed by 2:00 a.m. and the PPB said no chemical compound gas, which is similar to tear gas, was deployed during the clashes, adding that the bureau did use inert smoke and some impact munitions.

Portland has been the site of frequent, near-daily protests, riots, and general unrest following George Floyds death in Minneapolis in the spring. The Portland protests saw renewed intensity after Jacob Blake was shot by officers after resisting arrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. What followed were acts of arson, riots, and mass vandalism in the Wisconsin city.

From NTD News
New Delhi:

The opposition Congress on Thursday claimed that senior BJP leader and Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan had attended the marriage of a relative of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Nashik, and demanded a high-level probe.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the photos of Mahajan, who is the guardian minister of Nashik district, attending the marriage have gone viral.

Some police personnel in Nashik are already in the soup after reports surfaced that they attended the marriage of the woman whose family members are said to be relatives of Dawood, at a posh mall in Mahatma Nagar locality of Nashik, around 170 kms away from Mumbai.

Local media in Nashik had reported that Mahajan and some MLAs attended the function.

The BJP minister and some party legislators attending the wedding of an international don is a very serious matter and a shocking issue. A high-level probe needs to be conducted into this, Sawant told reporters here.

Nashik police commissioner Ravindra Singhal Wednesday ordered an internal inquiry against the concerned personnel of Bhadrakali police station on the basis of reports that they attended the marriage.

The groom is the son of a former local corporator.

Though some politicians, including MLAs and corporators, reportedly attended the function, the police commissioner Wednesday said he could not confirm this though he conceded that the invitation for the marriage was indeed sent to some politicians.

Also Read: News of Dawood Ibrahims death fake, Chhota Shakeel confirms he is alive

Maharashtra DGP Satish Mathur today said he has demanded a report from Nashik police on the issue.

Instructions to take action against the police personnel, if any illegality is found in attending the marriage, have been given, he told reporters in Thane.

Meanwhile, recalling the resignation tendered by senior BJP minister Eknath Khadse last year after the allegations of propriety had surfaced against him in a land deal, Sawant asked, why different standards of justice are being applied in both the cases?

The marriage function in which BJP leaders and some police officials were present was of the people very close to Dawood Ibrahim. This shows how Dawoods well wishers are entrenched in the system, Sawant said.

The Congress leader claimed he had the information that Intelligence Bureau (IB) is probing the issue.

The IB investigating this case proves that Dawoods relatives are on the radar of the intelligence agency. Senior ministers and the Guardian Minister (Mahajan) not being aware about this does not seem possible, he said.

Recalling the Khadse episode, wherein a hacker had claimed that the then minister had been speaking to Dawood Ibrahim over phone, Sawant said It is imperative to know about the BJP leaders connection with relatives of Dawood.

Previously, Khadse was alleged to have spoken to Dawood on phone, which was one of the reasons for demanding his resignation. Now, justice should be equal for both (Khadse and Mahajan), he added.

Mahajan remained unavailable for comment.

When contacted, the BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari accepted that Mahajan attended the marriage, but from the side of the bridegroom.

Girish Mahajan had attended the wedding from the grooms side and he did not have any idea about the girls relation with Dawood. As far as the Congress demand on the BJP coming out clean in relation with Dawood is concerned, the Congress has many hidden secrets. They should first introspect and then level allegations, Bhandari said.

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Dick Thornburgh, who as Pennsylvania governor won plaudits for his cool handling of the 1979 Three Mile Island crisis and as US attorney general restored credibility to a Justice Department hurt by the Iran-Contra scandal, has died. He was 88.

Thornburgh died Thursday morning at a retirement community facility outside Pittsburgh, his son David said. The cause is not yet known. He suffered a mild stroke in June 2014.

Thornburgh built his reputation as a crime-busting federal prosecutor in Pittsburgh and as a moderate Republican governor. As the nation's top law enforcement official, he prosecuted the savings and loan scandal. He also shepherded the Americans with Disabilities Act; one of his sons had been severely brain damaged in an auto accident.

Dick Thornburgh (pictured here in 2014), who as Pennsylvania governor won plaudits for his cool handling of the 1979 Three Mile Island crisis and as US attorney general restored credibility to a Justice Department hurt by the Iran-Contra scandal, has died. He was 88. Thornburgh died Thursday morning at a retirement community facility outside Pittsburgh, his son David said. The cause is not yet known. He suffered a mild stroke in June 2014

In March 1979, he was confronted with the worst nuclear accident in US history when a routine equipment failure at the Three Mile Island plant turned into a partial meltdown, which released radioactive elements. In this photo from April 1, 1979, Thornburgh (center left) is seen speaking with then-President Jimmy Carter (right) and Harold Denton of the US Nuclear Agency

When Thornburgh left the US attorney general post in 1991, he made a run for U.S. Senate, losing to Harris Wofford in the general election. In this shot, Thornburgh is seen laughing alongside then-President George HW Bush while announcing that he is leaving the DOJ

After leaving public office, Thornburgh became a go-to troubleshooter who helped CBS investigate its news practices, dissected illegalities at telecommunications company WorldCom and tried to improve the United Nations efficiency.

'I've always had an opportunity to right a vessel that was somewhat listing and taking on water,' he told The Associated Press in 1999. 'I wouldn't object to being characterized as a 'Mr. Fix It.' I've liked the day-in, day-out challenges of governance.'

President Ronald Reagan appointed Thornburgh attorney general in the waning months of his administration. Thornburgh succeeded the embattled Edwin Meese III, who was investigated by a special prosecutor for possible ethics violations, and his appointment in August 1988 was hailed on Capitol Hill as an opportunity to restore the agency's morale and image.

He was asked to stay on as attorney general when George H.W. Bush became president in 1989.

Thornburgh ran into trouble with the press and members of Congress who were put off by his imperious manner. He also battled liberals and conservatives in Congress over Justice Department appointments.

DICK THORNBURGH'S THREE MILE LEGACY This is an aerial view of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Plant in the middle of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania On March 28, 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, suffered a partial meltdown that instilled fear in hundreds of thousands of nearby residents and changed the way Americans viewed the technology. One of the Three Mile Island reactors was shut down for routine refueling on March 28. The other, Unit 2, was humming along quietly until, at 3:53am, potentially catastrophic events began. The failsafe system failed. Three valves on auxiliary pumps that should have been open weren't. And the chain of human error and mechanical breakdown grew, multiplied, and turned a routine glitch into the worst nuclear accident in the 22 years since the nation began using nuclear power. A 'meltdown'  synonym for nuclear catastrophe  was indeed a possibility. For seven days, and seven nights, those within 20 miles of Three Mile Island lived with the specter of unknown power out of control. Dick Thornburgh, who had been the state's governor for only a few months, agonized over whether to order an evacuation of the area around the plant. He eventually ordered pregnant women and young children to leave an area five miles around the plant, which initially caused thousands of others near Harrisburg to flee. However, his calm handling of the emergency response and his decision against a mass evacuation won him praise for years afterwards. 'He would see where the facts would lead to make decisions under frightening circumstances, then communicate them in the best way to the citizens to avoid undue fear and panic,' Nancy Watson, curator of the Thornburgh Collection at Hillman Library, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2009. 'I think his calm and careful decision-making was reassuring,' Ms. Watson said. 'Someone was willing to hold the reins, and in this case, it was the governor.' - AP Advertisement

Despite the difficulties, Thornburgh enjoyed the continued backing of President Bush and won unprecedented increases from Congress in the Justice Department's budget to fight crime.

The prosecution of savings and loan operators and borrowers increased during his tenure as the nation faced a growing crisis in the thrift industry. He set up securities fraud and S&L task forces in several major cities.

Also under Thornburgh, the Justice Department pursued the prosecution of deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who was brought to Miami to face drug trafficking charges after a U.S. invasion.

Thornburgh tried to halt unauthorized leaks of information about criminal investigations, but he ran into trouble in the spring of 1989 when CBS News aired a story that the FBI was investigating the congressional office of Rep. William Gray, D-Pa. The story produced expressions of outrage among Democrats because it was aired when Gray was seeking to be elected House majority whip.

An internal investigation later showed that Thornburgh's own chief spokesman played a role in confirming the story.

US Senator Pat Toomey said Thornburgh led Pennsylvania and the Department of Justice 'successfully and with integrity.'

'The steady nature in which he guided Pennsylvania through one of its most dangerous crises - the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island - should serve as an example for all elected officials,' the Republican senator said.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, shared Toomey's sentiment, describing Thornburgh during the accident as a 'necessary and steady voice of calm in the midst of a crisis.'

As Pennsylvania governor from 1979 to 1987, Thornburgh won a reputation as a squeaky-clean, reform-minded executive who cut the state government's payroll, but his defining moment came barely two months into office.

In March 1979, he was confronted with the worst nuclear accident in American history when a routine equipment failure at the Three Mile Island power plant turned into a partial meltdown, which released radioactive elements.

Thornburgh agonized over whether to order an evacuation of the area around the plant. He recalled years later that 'some people were telling us more than they knew and others were telling us less than they knew.'

He eventually ordered pregnant women and young children to leave an area five miles around the plant, which caused thousands of others near Harrisburg to flee.

His cool handling of the 10-day crisis was credited with averting panic.

He was praised in later years for recognizing that Pennsylvania's manufacturing industry was fading and pumping state money into economic development for new businesses.

Thornburgh's career in government services stretched back to the 1960s. He was US attorney in western Pennsylvania from 1969 to 1975, prosecuting drug traffickers, organized crime figures and corrupt politicians.

From 1975 to 1977, he was assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's criminal division, where he stepped up federal prosecutions of public corruption in the post-Watergate era.

He showed his sense of humor at events during his first gubernatorial campaign in 1978, mocking the state Legislature's generous compensation to the tune of 'My Favorite Things.' 'Nice big fat paychecks and liberal pensions / Fringes and perks that we won't even mention ...' As attorney general, he referred to white-collar crime as 'crime in the suites,' as opposed to streets.

When Thornburgh left the U.S. attorney general post in 1991, he made a run for U.S. Senate, losing to Harris Wofford in the general election.

The election landed Thornburgh in a courtroom in Texas, where Karl Rove, one of George W. Bush's closest advisers, sued him to try to get back nearly $300,000 in back campaign debts. Thornburgh lost in court, appealed and eventually settled the case.

ewsmen and spectators stand in front of the main gate of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Middletown, Pennsylvania on April 2, 1979

In this March 30, 1979 file photo, Pennsylvania Gov. Dick Thornburgh, left, announces the closing of schools in the area around the Three Mile Island PWR in Harrisburg

In 1992, Thornburgh accepted a top administrative job at the United Nations to fight bureaucratic excess and corruption. He left the job after his one-year contract ended, expressing frustration at inefficiency and saying the U.N. is 'almost totally lacking in effective means to deal with waste, fraud and abuse by staff members.'

In recent years, Thornburgh was tapped to investigate wrongdoing in the corporate world.

In 2002, the Justice Department tapped Thornburgh to help investigate WorldCom for mismanagement, irregularities and fraud. He described the company, which made the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history, as 'the poster child of corporate governance failures.'

In this December 13, 1978 file photo, Pennsylvania Governor-elect Dick Thornburgh waves at photographers from the front steps of the Sate Capitol in Harrisburg

Thornburgh was co-leader of an investigation conducted by CBS when its '60 Minutes Wednesday' program used faked documents to bolster a 2004 story that questioned George W. Bush's Vietnam War-era military service. The probe's damning final report led to the firing of three news executives.

Richard Lewis Thornburgh was born July 16, 1932, and grew up in Rosslyn Farms, near Pittsburgh. He trained as an engineer at Yale, seeking to follow his civil-engineer father's footsteps, but went to law school at the University of Pittsburgh.

Upon graduation, he went to work as a corporate lawyer, later joining the law firm of Kirkpatrick and Lockhart.

Thornburgh married his childhood sweetheart, Virginia 'Ginny' Hooton, in 1955. She was killed in an automobile crash in 1960 that left one of their three sons, Peter, severely brain damaged.

Three years later, Thornburgh married Ginny Judson, who raised his three sons and bore another, William. (He wrote in his memoir that 'Ginny and my first wife shared not only a name but many characteristics that would no doubt have made them fast friends.')

He said the accident was a defining moment that forced him to refocus his life on what his mission and legacy would be.

Both he and his second wife became active in programs for the disabled. In 1985, the Thornburghs were named 'Family of the Year' by the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens.

Five years later, the Americans With Disabilities Act was signed into law after Thornburgh played a key role in negotiating compromises with Congress.
MWANZA regional authorities have asked residents to get ready to grab a rare opportunity that is beckoning in the region, that involves selling of bush meat.

Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) Mr Emmanuel Tutuba hinted on the rare opportunity this week, during which he asked butchery owners to exploit the opportunity.

According to the regional leader, plans are underway to open doors for bush meat sale, saying given the fact that people like wild meat, it will be well received.

"Wild meat has reliable markets almost across the world. It is our chance now as a country to invite people from all corners of the world to come to Tanzania and enjoy this rare meat, including establishing investments," he said.

He said Tanzania welcomes investors from across the world because the business environment, which is supported by legal framework, is attractive.

He stressed that the Regional Commissioner's office will be ready to provide any support to traders with interest to engage in bush meat selling at both local and international levels.

"There is high demand of wild meat in various corners of the world. There will be sustainable supply of the meat following improvements in conservation efforts that went hand in hand with stepping up security in national parks and reserves," he said.

The regional leader said it was imperative for Tanzanians to benefit from their natural resources.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Tanzania Food and Agriculture By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

The Region Wildlife Officer, Mr Laurent Yohana said that the set prices for wild animals are cheap to make the business sustainable.

Whole sale costs for buffalo will be 100,000/- , bushbuck 40,000/-, bush pig 40,000/-, dikdik 10,000/-, eland 150,000/-, gazelle grants 40,000/- and Thomsons gazelle 25,000/- .

Lake Zone Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) Coordinator, Mr Mohamed Mpita, commented that wildlife hunting will be conducted by only authorized persons, as per laws directives.

Among the areas for wild animals hunting include Kitwai in Manyara Region, Southern Kilwa (Lindi), Kisarawe (Coastal) and Ugalla Niens Game Controlled Area (Katavi).

Others are Simbanguru Igwemadete (Singida), Ipemba Mbezi open area (Tabora), Talamai open area (Arusha) as well as Matundu Forest Reserve (Iringa).

Chairman of the Association of Butcher Owners in the region, Mr Joshua Machage expressed his gratitude to the government, saying the new business will especially benefit ordinary people who have been failing to purchase livestock meat.

Cheap availability of wild meat will automatically lead into decrease of cattle meat price, which is 7,000/- per kilogramme, which is unaffordable to many Tanzanians.
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast

After years of cultivating enough fringe clout to take on Fox News, rival conservative network Newsmax TV has finally found some success, eating into the most-viewed outlets ratings enough to put a scare in them.

But the question media observers ask heading into the new year: How long can it actually last?

Newsmax toiled in the basementboth in terms of ratings and its amateurish production valuefor a decade before gaining mainstream notoriety and hundreds of thousands of new daily viewers after the 2020 election, thanks to its full embrace of MAGA election denialism.

Openly seizing upon outgoing President Donald Trumps rage towards Fox Newsfor its early projection of Joe Biden winning Arizona and, a few days later, the White Houseand the throngs of disillusioned right-wing media consumers chanting Fox News sucks! outside election offices and across social media, Newsmax has made it a point to go all-in on voter-fraud conspiracy theories and stolen election claims.

With a beefed-up on-air roster featuring ex-Fox News stars, MAGA castaways, and right-wing hangers-on, Newsmax made a naked appeal to the president and his most loyal fans, declaring it would not project the election for Biden, regardless of reality. (An odd and ultimately performative boast, considering Newsmax does not have a decision news desk that would normally make such calls.)

The strategy paid immediate dividends for Newsmax, as the network, which just months before had struggled to pull 10,000 viewers during some hours, suddenly saw an exponential growth in its viewership. And a good portion of those eyeballs seemed to have migrated over from Fox News.

Comparing pre-election (Sept. 28 to Nov. 1) ratings to those after the election (Nov. 9 to Dec. 17), Newsmax has seen staggering growth across all of its time slots, while Fox News suffered double-digit declines for every weekday show between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m ET. Newsmaxs biggest surge came especially between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., the hours leading into the primetime programming that sustains so much of cable-news programming.

Story continues

During those early evening slots, Newsmax saw its total audience increase by an astonishing 497 percent, or 502,000 viewers. While both CNN (14 percent) and MSNBC (4 percent) also enjoyed slight post-election viewership bumps, Fox News experienced a decline of 38 percent and 1.3 million total viewers during that span.

Nowhere is the Foxs ratings leakage more apparent than in its hard news hours of 6 to 8 p.m, featuring Special Report with Bret Baier and The Story with Martha MacCallum, respectively. Baiers program, for instance, lost 39 percent of its audience while Newsmaxs Spicer and Co. gained 667 percent. MacCallums show, meanwhile, dropped 44 percent of its viewership after the election while ardent Trump sycophant and ex-Fox host Greg Kelly picked up 486 percent over on Newsmax.

And in a moment that likely set off the most alarms for Fox News, Kelly actually pulled out a head-to-head ratings victory against MacCallum on Dec. 9, outdrawing The Story in the key ad demographic of viewers aged 25-54, with 239,000 Nielsen households compared to her 203,000. In recent weeks, Kellys show has at times pulled in a million total viewers. Prior to the election, he had a tough time drawing even 100,000 total viewers or 10,000 of them in the key demographic.

The daytime hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. have also been leaky for Fox News, which has lost 39 percent of its total viewership in that time, while Newsmax has welcomed a 455-percent increase. CNN, for its part, saw its daytime ratings climb 18 percent while MSNBC remained flat post-election. (CNN has also led in total day ratings, both in overall and demo viewership, since Election Day.)

Newsmax, however, has come a bit back to earth. The network is down 27 percent in total viewers compared to the first two weeks after the election. At the same time, the other networks have also experienced similar drops.

And Fox News ultimately finished 2020 as the top-rated basic cable network with the highest-rated year in cable-news history. But it experienced other late-year trends perhaps worthy of alarm: Fox & Friends, long the early-morning ratings king, lost 35 percent of its viewers post-election while its rival, MSNBCs Morning Joe, won the 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. slot six weeks in a row.

In other words, using a tortured metaphor: Newsmax cut just enough off Fox News legs to put it in danger of occasionally being brought down to the level of its main competitors.

Despite its intense ratings spike, Newsmaxs viewership still only represents a fraction of Fox News daily audience, comparing more favorably to business cable channels like CNBC and Fox Business.

And Fox insiders insist that beyond its recent growth, Newsmax doesnt represent any real threat to the Murdoch empires crown jewel.

Fox will slowly climb back, not to election-year levels, but they almost do better when they are fighting uphill when its us against the world, those crazy liberals, a person familiar with the inner workings of Fox News told The Daily Beast. I think the whole playing field is going to come down.

The election has exposed rifts between the hard right and reality. Trump has 25 or 30 million people who will believe really whatever he says, one source told The Washington Post in mid-December. The concern probably is the short termyou could have a brief time where Trump really turns some people against us. Long term, I dont think these competitors are positioned to really beat Fox.

During early-Decembers UBS Global TMT Virtual Conference, meanwhile, Fox Corporation CFO Steve Tomsic directly addressed the matter of Newsmaxs rising ratings. We don't have a hubris bone in our body, so we don't take lightly the potential for competition, whether it's the existing sort of classic MSNBC or CNN, or the sort of emerging ones like Newsmax and OANN, he said, adding the following warning to new competitors: People take the simplistic view that Fox News is three hours of primetime, Monday through Friday. The service and the actual business is so much broader than that.

Still, the fact that Fox News hasat least for the time beingfallen back to the levels of CNN and MSNBC hasnt been lost on management, and has seemingly resulted in a noticeably hard-right and opinion-oriented editorial shift at the network, especially during its supposedly more straight news hours.

In mid-November, Fox News announced it would expand the reporting and analysis from Tucker Carlsons top-rated, far-right primetime show to other parts of the network. Since then, the networks so-called hard news shows have featured more segments centered around monologues and opinion commentary not only from Carlsons program, but the other primetime opinion shows.

Furthermore, especially among the networks more overtly pro-Trump personalities, there has been a noticeable push to embrace election denialism, lending credence to some of the most outlandish election-fraud conspiracies being peddled by the president and his alliesall despite the networks news desk reporting such claims to be false.

This has included giving Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and his on-again-off-again crank sidekick Sidney Powell ample airtime to blare unfounded claims about corrupt voting software engineered to steal millions of votes from Trump.

The president, meanwhile, has continued to publicly bash his one-time favorite network, blaming them for his election loss and while celebrating their ratings declines, especially among the daytime hours that he has long believed to be biased against him simply for the crime of reporting the news.

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Trump has also claimed that "people at the highest levels of Fox" have reached out to his team in an effort to mend the supposedly broken relationship, something he has expressed no desire in pursuing at the moment. He wants to make them pay, a source told Axios, adding that the president is extremely focused on Foxs struggling ratings of late.

But the war between Fox News and Newsmax (and their far-right competitor One America News) to see who can go the farthest with the undemocratic election lies may ultimately prove too costly for the smaller outlets to keep up.

Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems, the two voting software companies at the center of Trumpworlds unhinged election conspiracies, have both signaled to the White House and its right-wing media allies that they could face legal action in 2021 over the lies and false claims being spread about the companies involvement in the election.

Smartmatic, which has been accused of conspiring with long-dead dictator Hugo Chavez and liberal philanthropist George Soros to flip the election, has taken the most concrete action thus far, issuing letters to Fox News, Newsmax, and OAN threatening legal action and demanding full on-air retractions of all such claims.

First Amendment lawyers believe that these cases will have merit, and the networks have responded as such.

Fox filmed a fact-check segment with an election systems specialist debunking claims about Smartmatic made by some of the networks own hosts and then aired it across three separate programs. Newsmax, meanwhile, published a lengthy point-by-point statement debunking the numerous falsehoods made on its airwaves about Smartmatic and Dominion, which Powell and other Trump figures have conflated and accused of working together to rig the election via algorithms.

One Newsmax host named John Tabacco publicly complained about being bullied into reading the statement (and called upon kooky former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne to swoop in and save the day), but the network has stood firm in its pivot. The retraction was read multiple times on-air and CEO Chris Ruddy has made it known that, after a month of refusing to do so, the network will now refer to Joe Biden as the president-elect after the Electoral College confirmed the votes.

But it appears that Newsmax (along with Fox, OAN, and others) are still looking down the barrel of potential litigation.

In late December, high-powered defamation law firm Clare Locke warned Newsmax, Fox News, and OAN of their intent to pursue lawsuits against the networks on behalf of Dominion. I think its fair to say in January we will be pulling the trigger on multiple litigation matters. The damage that theyve done has already been enormous, attorney Tom Clare told The Daily Beast. The time for a retraction is not now, it was weeks ago. Im certain a retraction does not undo the damage but its the right thing regardless of litigation.

A Dominion executive has already filed a separate lawsuit against Giuliani, Powell, OAN, and Newsmax over claims personally accusing him of rigging the election against Trump. Dominion itself is not a part of that suit.

Elsewhere, Eric Coomer, the director of product strategy and security for Dominion, seeks damages as well as a public retraction in a lawsuit he deemed an effort to unwind as much of the damage as possible done to me, my family, my life, and my livelihood as a result of the numerous false public statements that I was somehow responsible for rigging the 2020 presidential election.

The fact that Fox News, a well-funded network with billions of dollars in revenue, is taking the threat of lawsuits seriously enough ultimately doesnt bode well for Newsmax.

By his own admission, network CEO Ruddy is still personally investing money into Newsmax to keep it competitive. According to The New York Times, the television network is currently losing money despite $70 million worth of investments between 2014 and 2017. This would appear to be due to Ruddy paying cable providers to put Newsmax on their lineups. Its not unusual for companies to do that when they start out, Ruddy told the Times without specifically describing his own arrangements.

Ruddy doesnt need to compete with Fox, a person familiar with Newsmaxs operations told The Daily Beast, he needs to be perceived as competing with Fox. The insider added that the Newsmax CEO is really good at marketing and all he cares about is promoting [the network] to get investment money to sell it.

Newsmax is a grift, Matt Gertz, a senior fellow at liberal watchdog Media Matters, told Vox in late December. The thing you have to understand about Newsmax is that its an unprofitable TV business thats welded onto a very profitable digital and newsletter business.

Gertz was referencing the fact that Newsmax actually began in 1998 as a center-right digital news site, largely focused on anti-Clinton content at the time. It quickly rose to prominence in the following decades and experienced huge traffic growth, eventually resulting in the 2014 launch of its TV network.

But even the websites success has waned in recent years. At one point [Ruddy] had 10-12 million [unique views] to the site and he could make money on it and people looked at it and saw it was garbage with no original reporting and now its down to 1m or 2m uniques, the source familiar further noted to The Daily Beast.

At the same time, Ruddy has expressed perhaps deluded confidence that Newsmax can pass Fox News as the primary destination for conservative viewers.

The big story is why we will overtake Fox News quicker than anyone imagined, he declared to The Daily Beast late last month. Revenues on cable and OTT television will be more robust and consistent than the online business for the next 10 years, he told the Times.

Still, even if Newsmax can weather the threat of lawsuits, the specter of hard litigation could push Ruddy to pump the brakes on peddling the outrageous lies and baseless conspiracies that helped attract so many new viewers and put pressure on Fox News in the first place.

The cases brought up by Dominion and Smartmatic are extremely powerful as the repeated accusations against both companies are plainly defamatory and surely have done enormous reputational and financial harm to both, famed constitutional lawyer Floyd Abrams told The New York Times. It is far too early to predict how the cases, if commenced, will end, he added. But it is not too early to say that they would be highly dangerous to those sued.

Times media columnist Ben Smith echoed such sentiments, telling MSNBC last month: This is a case where for two of the companiesfor OAN and Newsmaxits a huge threat. Right now, theyre burning money. Theyre trying to create a new Fox, to the right of Fox. They need to keep raising money. And its very hard to raise money if you have a huge defamation claim hanging over you.

But ultimately the greatest risk to Ruddys vision of making Newsmax a profitable player in the cable news world isnt so much the lawsuits as the finicky nature of conservative media consumers.

For as much as Newsmax is trying to feed disgruntled Trump supporters shamelessly large portions of comfort food, what happens when the president is officially no longer the president and even Greg Kelly cant pretend the election can still be overthrown? Or even worse, what happens when the influx of Newsmax viewers simply grows bored with a rigid set of talking points repeated by a small handful of less-than-charming personalities broadcasting from poorly lit studios with none of the glamorous, high-gloss on-air polish of Fox News?

I dont think the programming is set up right, Jami Salamida, a former Fox viewer who recently flipped to Newsmax, told The Washington Post. Theyre basically just playing the same couple of shows all day long.

Its boring, a little bit, but Im dedicated, another new viewer admitted to the Post. Ill keep watching it until it gets better.

In the end, however, some believe Ruddy will be satisfied no matter the outcome, so long as he retains proximity to power.

He likes prancing around and being perceived that Im not as big as them, but Im in the club, the Newsmax insider said. Hes like a jock sniffer.

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The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tuesday began delivering a second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) to eligible individuals as a part of the Phase 4 coronavirus relief and funding omnibus package.

Treasury and the IRS are working with unprecedented speed to issue a second round of Economic Impact Payments to eligible Americans and their families, said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. These payments are an integral part of our commitment to providing vital additional economic relief to the American people during this unprecedented time.

According to recent reports, the Treasury Department was able to process and distribute all 113 million Automated Clearing House (ACH) EIP payments on Dec. 29 and 30, valued at $112 billion. Treasury began mailing paper checks yesterday.

The Treasury Department has indicated that should legislation be enacted to provide for an increased amount, EIPs that have already been issued will be topped up as quickly as possible. Per President Trumps urging, the House Monday moved, in a 275-134 vote, to increase the EIPs to adults to $2,000; however, the bill is pending in the Senate.
It has been at least seven years since some Nepalis voluntarily started observing the first day of the Gregorian new year (January 1) as Nepali Topi Diwas (Nepali Cap Day). On this day, people are seen coming out on the street wearing a Nepali topi.

However, there are two types of Nepali topis almost equally used in the country. Dhaka topi and Bhadgaunle topi have been long associated with Nepali identity and nationality. Although these topis were considered a part of the national dress until a few years back, many people celebrate the Topi Diwas with vigour.

Nonetheless, information about how, why and from when these two topis became the part of Nepali identity is still a mystery, with some people questioning the association of late.

Foreign origin of Nepali topi

File

In the past, women used to wear a shawl (locally called khasto or odhne) made up of original Dhaka. Likewise, chaubandi cholo made of Dhaka (a type of blouse) was popular among women as Dhaka topi and daura-suruwal was for men. Today, in the urban areas, these clothes have been restricted to formal occasions such as a wedding.

According to culture expert Jagaman Gurung, also the vice-chancellor of the Nepal Academy, Dhaka topi might have got its name from the present capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka. He surmises raw materials like threads and cloths used to be exclusively imported from Dhaka in Nepal in the past. Also, the weaving techniques were also imported from there only.

Veteran historian Dinesh Raj Panta says there is no written evidence about if the Dhaka topi came from Dhaka of Bangladesh and since when it was being used in Nepal. It must be in practice for the last 150 to 200 years, he says, adding the tradition of having a head-gear, however, must be as old as the eastern civilisation.

Gurung describes, There were two types of Dhaka cloth. One is the original Dhaka cloth handwoven with a loom. The second type is similar in pattern and design to the original Dhaka cloth, but a bit low in quality.

Later, the third type of Dhaka was also invented, according to Gurung. It is named after Dambar Kumari, the daughter of the then prime minister Janga Bahadur Rana. She used to love wearing a different type of Dhaka that later got its name as Dambar Kumari Dhaka, Gurung informs. Not woven with a loom, this used to be printed on a white thick malmal cloth (fine soft cotton muslin) by using different colourful wooden blocks.

Historian Panta says he has also heard about Dambar Kumaris story, restating there is no evidence though.

Bhadgaule topi

For Panta, a Bhadgaule (black) topi must have a longer history than that of the Dhaka topi.

On the other hand, Gurung thinks it is more Nepali than the Dhaka topi, at least in terms of origin. He informs Bhadgau is the old name of the Bhaktapur city inside the Kathmandu valley. As the black Nepali hat used to be made only in Bhadgau only by the people of the Newar community, it is named as Bhadgaule topi, according to him.

In the past, Bhadgaule topis used to be the first choice of the elites, government officials, and security personnel, according to him.

Panta thinks the Birke topi used by poets Bhanu Bhakta Acharya and Moti Ram Bhatta could have been a different version of the Bhadgaule topi.

Association with Nepaliness

Panta says further evidence-based research is essential to find more about which topi is how much old, and what they mean to having a Nepali identity.

But, Gurung describes the Dhaka topi as pride and a unique emblem of Nepalis. His explanation fits some nationalistic songs such as Yo mero topi kailashko shirjasto.

File Photo: PM KP Sharma Oli in Birke topi

He says King Mahendra popularised the use of topi as a symbol of Nepaliness so as to end the differences between those living in Pahad and Madhes as they were divided based on their clothing (topi vs dhoti). He remembers a topi was compulsory for members of the then Rastriya Panchayat.

During his reign between 1955 and 1972, he made it mandatory for all the Nepalis men to wear Dhaka topi for official photographs for documents such as citizenship certificates and passports.

According to Tejeswar Babu Gongah, a cultural expert, The topi which is round at the base indicates the mountains and the Himalayas of the country. The Dhaka topi is said to represent the mountain after the melting of the ice. The melted ice enables the growth of greenery and vibrantly coloured flowers in the lower regions of the mountain.

Perhaps that is why Nepal-born chef Santosh Shah recently participated in BBC MasterChef UK in a Nepali topi and proudly posted that photo on social media, calling it a national hat.

Acceptability under question

Santosh Shahs tweet with a Dhaka topi

But, this interpretation has been questioned of late. Although Shah earned praises from his fans, for example, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said all dresses worn by different communities of Nepal should be called national dresses. His response sparked another round of debate in the mainstream media also.

Chandra Kishore Jha, a senior journalist and columnist, views that there should be national discourse to analyse the act of the Panchayat system about nationalising the topi. Whether tagging a particular dress as noble and giving the status of the Nepali dress was right or wrong should be discussed openly, according to him.

Nonetheless, it has earned an international identity for Nepalis, he acknowledges. At the same time, he also mentions that there is a large population in India also wearing the Dhaka topi.

Further, Jha says, Nepali society is a diverse society. That diversity is also seen in the costumes. That is why no particular dress or costume is noble or great in itself. Of Course, all the dresses of all communities are great and supreme.

One community should not look down with contempt on the costumes of the other. In a democracy, there should be acceptance of all kinds of dresses.

Hence, he believes the celebration of Topi Diwas should respect every head-gear worn by every community.
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One of the first actions Rep.-elect Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., will take as a sitting congresswoman will be to object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

Herrell announced her intentions Thursday, days before she takes office as the only Republican member of New Mexicos congressional delegation. The electoral votes will be counted in Congress on Jan. 6, a final procedural step before President-elect Joe Bidens victory is affirmed.

A handful of Democratic lawmakers in 2017 objected to the results of the 2016 election. Their efforts were quickly shut down by then-Vice President Biden, who presided over the tally in his role as president of the Senate.

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Herrell said that shes objecting in part because of election-related actions taken in some states, including extending the absentee ballot deadlines, relaxing signature and identity verification requirements and mailing unsolicited absentee ballot requests, according to a statement she released Thursday.

With her objection, Herrell said she is also trying to call attention to election meddling by Big Tech and the media for censoring stories about Hunter Bidens finances.

Millions of Americans feel like this election was not conducted with integrity and fairness, Herrell said in a statement. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, it is my duty to give the people a voice and ensure that legitimate concerns over the integrity of the presidential election are thoroughly heard and examined.

The elections validity has been widely accepted by election officials at both the state and federal levels. And efforts by the Trump campaign to challenge the results in court have been refused or rejected.

Officials with the Democratic Party of New Mexico called Herrells plans irresponsible and said that Herrell should be instead focusing on issues affecting New Mexico.

Yvette Herrell has decided her personal political beliefs are more important than the opinions of millions of American voters. It is grossly irresponsible for an incoming congresswoman to be spreading dangerous misinformation about the recent election, Marg Elliston, chair of the DPNM, said in a statement. It undermines the legitimate democratic process.

With the announcement, Herrell joins what is so far a relatively small number of Republican lawmakers who have announced their intention to object to the certification. Fox News reported this week that about 10 lawmakers, including Herrell, will object to the results.

Herrell last month also was one of about two dozen newly elected Republican members of the House who signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, asking her to promptly investigate the 2020 election irregularities.
CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) -- Investigators are trying to determine whether alcohol played a part in a head-on crash that left a Lafayette firefighter dead on State Road 26 in Clinton County Thursday morning.

The Sheriff's office said 23-year-old Kiera Williams, of Lafayette, tried to pass another car when she hit a pickup truck in the oncoming lane.

The pickup's driver, 41-year-old Troy Trent, of Bringhurst, was pronounced dead at the scene. Trent was a member of the Lafayette Fire Department.

Williams and a passenger were taken to IU Health Arnett Hospital. She was transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Police said alcohol is believed to have contributed to the crash.
Russian Duma Approves Changes To Luxembourg And Cyprus DTAs

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

01 January 2021

At its December 22 plenum, Russia's lower house of parliament approved revisions to the country's double tax agreements with Cyprus and Luxembourg.

Both double tax agreement Protocols would increase the rate of withholding tax that may be levied at source by Russia on outbound dividends and interest income to 15 percent.

A five percent rate of tax will apply to institutional investments, as well as to public companies with at least 15 percent of shares in free float and holding at least 15 percent of the share capital in the company paying the income during the year, the Russian Government has said.

There will also be a withholding tax exemption for interest payments from corporate bonds, government bonds, and Eurobonds.

The Russian Government is seeking to have both Protocols approved before the end of the year so that the revised agreements may apply from January 1, 2021.
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A Pittston convenience store sold a Powerball ticket worth $100,000 in the drawing Wednesday night, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Food Express at 325 Laurel St. sold the winning ticket and will earn a $500 bonus.

According to lottery officials, the ticket matched four of the five white balls drawn  3-43-45-61-65  and the red Powerball 14.

Without the $1 Power Play option, the ticket would have been worth $50,000, lottery officials said. The Power Play multiplier drawn was two, bringing the ticket up to $100,000.

Lottery officials said the winner will not be known until the ticket is claimed and validated. Winners have one year from the drawing to claim their prizes.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioThe Fog of Trump is lifting
US President Donald Trump in a New Years Eve message reflected on his accomplishments in office, calling them historic victories, while his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, struck an upbeat tone in looking ahead to 2021.

After weeks of vowing to win his fight to remain in office, Republican Trump said in a video posted on Twitter: We have to be remembered for whats been done.

Trump, who has yet to formally concede his November election defeat to his Democratic rival, returned to Washington early from his Florida resort amid a fight with Congress over a defense bill and coronavirus aid checks.

Speaking from Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, Biden paid tribute to healthcare workers and encouraged people to get vaccinated in a brief appearance with his wife, Jill Biden, on the long-running ABC special Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021.

Im absolutely, positively confident  confident  were going to come back and were going to come back even stronger than before, said Biden, who takes office on Jan. 20.

He repeated his call for vaccines to be distributed more quickly.

Trump, who had COVID-19 in October, frequently played down the severity of the pandemic and oversaw a response many health experts have criticized as disorganized, cavalier and sometimes ignored the science behind virus transmission.

But in his remarks he noted that the United States has produced a COVID-19 vaccine in record time and he had correctly predicted it would come before the year ended.

The United States has been one of the countries worst-hit by COVID-19 and leads the world in fatalities, with more than 340,000 deaths officially attributed to the virus.

Trump was originally scheduled to attend a New Years Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The White House has given no reason for why he returned to Washington early, but it coincides with Trumps fight with Congress over his veto of a major defense bill and his demand for increased COVID-19 stimulus checks, as well as a spike in tensions with Iran.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the chamber, dealt a likely death blow on Wednesday to Trumps bid to boost coronavirus aid to Americans, declining to schedule a swift vote on a bill to raise relief checks to $2,000 from the $600 included in a $892 billion relief package passed by Congress earlier this month.

TENSIONS WITH REPUBLICANS

Trumps fellow Republicans in Congress have largely stuck with him through four turbulent years, but he lashed out at them in recent days for not fully backing his unsupported claims of election fraud, rejecting his demand for bigger checks and for moving toward the veto override.

McConnell on Thursday again rejected a vote on a standalone bill that would increase the stimulus checks, calling it socialism for rich people and a terrible way to get help to families who actually need it. The bill was passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on Monday.

McConnell also said there should be nothing controversial about approving the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Trump vetoed because it does not repeal certain legal protections for tech companies.

Weve enacted an annual NDAA for 59 straight years and counting, McConnell said. In the next few days  the easy way or the hard way  were going to do our job once again. This body will fulfill our responsibility to the men and women who protect our country.

The House voted to overturn Trumps veto on Monday. The Senate will convene again on Friday at Noon EST (1700 GMT) for a rare New Years Day session in which lawmakers are expected to cast the first of two procedural votes aimed at overriding the veto. If that succeeds, the Senate is expected to hold a second procedural vote on Saturday followed by a final vote on passage.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has said he will object to Bidens victory when Congress convenes to officially tally the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, which could trigger a lengthy debate in the Senate but has no chance of overturning the results. CNN reported that some 140 Republicans in the House are expected to engage in similar tactics.

Some Republican senators had supported Trumps call for an increase in the stimulus payments, notably David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who face runoff elections in Georgia Jan. 5 that will determine which party controls the Senate under Biden.

But Perdues campaign suffered a setback on Thursday, saying the senator was quarantining after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.

U.S.-Iran tensions, meanwhile, have again spiked.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused Washington of trying to fabricate a pretext for attacking his country and vowed Tehran would defend itself even though it does not seek war.

Two U.S. B-52 bombers flew over the Middle East on Wednesday in what U.S. officials said was a message of deterrence to Iran ahead of the first anniversary of a U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3, 2020.
China's monopoly of loaning big bucks to small nations and eventually buying their loyalty, is an open secret and Sri Lanka is also in the deep pockets of China beginning from 2013 when the Hambantota Port was offered to China state-controlled company. Sri Lanka ultimately ended up giving it for a 99-year lease to the China Merchants with 80 per cent stake when the GoSL could not repay the initial debt they claimed for developing the port.

Since then, Beijing has spread its wings over Sri Lanka, and so did the geopolitics in the region leading the nation becoming the battleground for geopolitics where countries like India, US, Japan, the UK, the EU and Australia accuse Sri Lanka of tilting towards China and creating an imbalance in trade ties.

The extent of the battle resulted in India still not being awarded the East Container Terminal (ECT), which is one of the deep port at the Port of Colombo (PoC). The ECT is adjacent to the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) run by the Chinese and speculated to give a tough competition to the Chinese.

Currently, 80 percent of the transhipment cargo is from India at the PoC and the revenue earned from this is huge.

The Port workers have been applying continuous pressure on the government not to award the ECT to India and to keep away from geopolitics. Some critics also allege that China is backing the port workers in the protests.

The Port workers protest over awarding the ECT was not experienced when the Chinese were offered mega projects that were "unsolicited proposals" with no proper Environmental Impact Assessments when it comes to the USD 1.4 billion Port City Project.

Former Central Bank Deputy Governor, Dr WA Wijewardena told a local newspaper that there is a problem with Chinese projects, compared to those funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) or the World Bank (WB), adding that all of these projects are unsolicited. He added, hence, there has not been any proper evaluation of the costs and benefits of those projects before Sri Lanka consented to them. As a result, most of these projects do not earn enough to repay the loans and due to that, the incomes earned from other sources have to be used for repaying these loans.

When Sri Lanka, Japan and India signed the Memorandum of Cooperation (Moc) to jointly develop the ECT, at an estimated cost of USD 500-700 million, on May 29 2019, the Port workers began to protest. There were several protests over ECT claiming that the State

should run its port however, the maritime experts say in a global village embracing international maritime trade is vital.

Despite the ECT was reserved for Indians, due to severe congestion, the government commissioned its operation, the day US Foreign Secretary Pompeo visited Colombo on October 28, 2020, who in fact, came to discuss China and the concerns on the Indo Pacific tension for the US because of China.

After ECT was commissioned, the operations generated revenue and the Port workers once again detested handing it over to India. They said with the revenue we can develop it further. on the other hand, the maritime experts noted that if there are international players at the PoC it will create confidence in the global market and countries like Japan that is known for building ships and India having a mega economy can attract more business to the ECT and also transform the current transhipment port to a global cargo port.

With the recent Cabinet Memorandum, dated October 22 2020, by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping stated that it has been decided to award the ECT to Indias, Adani Group, and Japan on a joint venture.

The ECT is already half-constructed spending around USD 75 million for the construction of the Quay Wall of 600 metres and another USD 30 million for three small cranes that were brought for Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) but currently used as it is in the ECT. What is left to build is another 600-metre quay wall with cranes for the ECT.

A merchant ship captain from India noted that Adani is only the terminal operator appointed by the Government of India and the Indian government does not run terminals. He said India operate terminals locally but have handed over many terminals to private operators like Adani, like Sri Lankan government owns the SLPA.

Former Chairman of Shipping Corporation Sashi Dhanatunge noted that 51 percent of the stake for Sri Lanka and 49 percent stake for India is welcoming as we have lost too much time and now it is a matter of saving the transhipment business from India for survival.

He further added that at the inception, we would have had a chance of creating competition and make a choice. But that edge and opportunity is lost now due to wasting too much valuable time and the time wasted by the Sri Lankan authorities in making a decision enabled India to stabilise its port development plans and to accomplish some of those successfully.

In the process, Sri Lanka lost the opportunity of attracting feeders from Bangladesh, which records one of the highest economic growths in the region, if not the world. Further, because of the lack of foresight of the authorities, none of them saw the importance of supporting and developing other maritime support services to make those operations efficient, environment friendly and economical in line with other successful hub ports like Singapore and Fujairah.

To become a Maritime, Bunkering and Logistic Hub like Singapore, there should be other services that Sri Lanka should be offering to ship owners and ship operators, he added.

CEO of Shippers' Academy Rohan Masakorala added that country should embrace international consortium working with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and other Sri Lankan companies as the business of ports and shipping is a global business and not a domestic venture. "With that, we can secure business through partnership and ensure competition and transparency without control monopoly," he added.

India with its neighbourhood first policy, has given priority to Sri Lanka with 50,000 houses built free including many other grants and soft loans, unlike the Chinese who have been accused of unsolicited proposals and loan facilities that had dived the country into debts.

Media Minister Keheyliya Rambukwelle also told the local media that the government is reviewing the project and have to give priority first. "We have always been considering India to be the first country to approach for trade ties and we will not put India into a confrontational position in the South Asian region," he recently told a local newspaper Ceylon Today.

The subtle battle between China and India in Sri Lanka forced the GoSL to balance its trade and bilateral partners without antagonising anyone, however, India feels that the ECT would create more trade benefits for both countries mutually. India has two huge ports closer to Sri Lanka and the ECT would be a vital component of it, India has said.

The discussion on the ECT is still continuing between the two governments and China is watching closely. When the CICT, another 18ft deep water terminal was handed over to China, there was uproar too however, the CICT is now in lead in cargo business in Colombo. Likewise, ECT also would help Sri Lanka not only to improve trade ties but also will support Sri Lanka to elevate itself from the total country foreign debt which is a staggering US$ 56 billion (in 2019) - a 66 per cent of the countrys GDP.
When a Black man appears in a Virginia courtroom this month to stand trial on charges of eluding the police, assaulting an officer and other crimes, he will face a scene that defendants in that room have not experienced in decades: The portraits of white judges will no longer line the walls.

A judge late last month ordered the removal of the portraits ahead of Terrance Shipp Jr.s Jan. 4 trial, ruling that the presence of the artwork, depicting judges who served in Fairfax County, could have suggested that the legal system is biased. The judge, David Bernhard of the Fairfax Circuit Court, wrote in his Dec. 20 opinion that the court was concerned the portraits might serve as unintended but implicit symbols that suggest the courtroom may be a place historically administered by whites for whites, and that others are thus of lesser standing. The display of portraits of judges in courtrooms of the Fairfax Courthouse is based on a non-racial principle, yet yields a racial result, he said.

The order was in response to a motion filed by Bryan Kennedy, a lawyer for Mr. Shipp. The idea, Mr. Kennedy said, came from both his client and a murder case in Louisa, Va., where a judge in September ordered a life-size portrait of the Confederate general Robert E. Lee removed from a circuit courtroom at the defendants request.

The decision underscores a year in which Virginia and the rest of the United States grappled with both implicit biases and overt images of white supremacy, leading to Confederate monuments and other symbols of racism being removed from public spaces.
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New Delhi :

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated outgoing prime minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda for the successful conduct of local elections in the country.

Modi conveyed his felicitations to Prachanda in a phone call last evening, the PMO informed on Friday in a tweet.

Modi also felicitated Shri Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda for his strong commitment to strengthen democracy in Nepal, it added.

Millions of Nepalese on May 14 voted in the countrys first local-level polls in two decades as the Himalayan nation took a crucial step towards cementing democracy amid political turmoil.

Before the elections, Prachanda had called up Modi who had assured all possible help from India in conducting the polls successfully.

Also Read | Nepal: Prime Minister Prachanda's government fails to register Constitution amendment bill in Parliament

Prachanda, who became the prime minister in August last year, resigned two days back under an agreement with Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba at that time that they would share power on rotational basis till next years elections.

Under that understanding, Prachanda had to resign after nine months.

Also Read: My visit will improve soured India-Nepal ties says Prachanda

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
THE FACTS: Social media users are misrepresenting a recent study, leading to the spread of misinformation about COVID-19. A false post that was shared on Dec. 27 reads: University of Florida researchers have found no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of Covid. The study was published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association. This could change everything. The post had amassed more than 35,000 retweets a day later, and was also shared widely on Facebook. Social media users shared the false post to justify arguments that shutting down businesses and schools during the pandemic was unnecessary. But a spokesperson for the network of journals published by the Journal of the American Medical Association confirmed to The Associated Press that no study with such conclusions had been published by the network. Numerous reports support transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by individuals who are asymptomatic, Deanna Bellandi, media relations manager for JAMA Network wrote in an email. Claims that any JAMA Network journal has published evidence to the contrary is incorrect and misleading. The false claims follow the release of a study by University of Florida researchers that was published on Dec. 14 on the website of JAMA Network Open, one of the journals in the JAMA network. The study analyzed data from 54 previous studies about household spread of SARS-CoV-2, and found rates of transmission to other household members was higher if the infected person had symptoms rather than was asymptomatic. The analysis also found transmission was higher between adults rather than children, and between spouses rather than other family contacts. The study did not conclude there is no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of COVID-19 as social media users claim it does. No, no we didnt say that, said Natalie E. Dean, a co-author of the study and a University of Florida assistant professor of biostatistics This is a misinterpretation of our message of our scientific findings and conclusions. Dean said it is important for the public to understand her study was only analyzing household studies and there is limited data at this point. She said there does seem to be evidence that people who never have symptoms do appear to be less infectious, but she said that does not mean that people without symptoms cannot transmit the virus that causes COVID-19. Certainly we are seeing presymptomatic transmissions before they develop symptoms, Dean said, a point that is also made clearly in the article text. She called presymptomatic transmission an important feature of this virus and said our policies need to reflect that. People who are infected with COVID-19 but are not experiencing symptoms cannot know whether or not they will develop them. Dean noted that even if it is the case that people who have symptoms and are coughing are more infectious, someone without symptoms could wind up spreading the virus more if they are continuing to interact with other people. The published study says important questions remain about household spread, including how infectious asymptomatic, mildly ill and severely ill cases are.  Associated Press writer Jude Joffe-Block reported from Berkeley, Calif.
LONDON - A steady trickle of trucks rolled off ferries and trains on both sides of the English Channel on Friday, a quiet New Years Day after a seismic overnight shift in relations between the European Union and Britain.

People watch the first truck, from Estonia, entering the Eurotunnel terminal Friday, Jan.1, 2021 in Coquelles, northern France. Eleven months after Britain's formal departure from the EU, Brexit becomes a fact of daily life on Friday, once a transition period ends and the U.K. fully leaves the world's most powerful trading bloc. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, Pool)

LONDON - A steady trickle of trucks rolled off ferries and trains on both sides of the English Channel on Friday, a quiet New Years Day after a seismic overnight shift in relations between the European Union and Britain.

The busy goods route between southeast England and northwest France is on the front line of changes now that the U.K. has fully left the economic embrace of the 27-nation bloc, the final stage of Brexit.

For the majority of trucks, they wont even notice the difference, said John Keefe, spokesman for Eurotunnel, which carries vehicles under the Channel. There was always the risk that if this happened at a busy time then we could run into some difficulties, but its happening overnight on a bank holiday and a long weekend.

Britain left the European blocs vast single market for people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time on New Year's Eve, in the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II. A new U.K.-EU trade deal will bring restrictions and red tape, but for British Brexit supporters, it means reclaiming national independence from the EU and its web of rules.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it an amazing moment for this country.

Lories disembark from the first ferry coming from Britain after Brexit, Friday Jan.1, 2021 in Calais, northern France. Britain left the European bloc's vast single market for people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time, midnight in Brussels, completing the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

We have our freedom in our hands, and it is up to us to make the most of it, he said in a New Years video message.

The historic moment passed quietly, with U.K. lockdown measures against the coronavirus curtailing mass gatherings to celebrate or mourn. Brexit, which had dominated public debate in Britain for years, was even pushed off some newspaper front pages by news of the huge vaccination effort against COVID-19, which is surging across the country.

In the subdued streets of London  which voted strongly to remain in the EU in Britain's 2016 referendum  there was little enthusiasm for Brexit.

I think it is a disaster, among many disasters this year, said Matt Steel, a doctor. It is a crappy deal. I dont really see any positives in it, to be honest.

But in seaside Folkestone, at the English end of the Channel Tunnel, retired bank manager David Binks said he was relieved that the tortuous Brexit saga was  just possibly  over.

Its been going on for so long now that the time is now, I think, that we move on and go from there, he said.

A lorry arrives to board the first ferry heading to Britain after Brexit, Friday Jan.1, 2021 in Calais, northern France. Britain left the European bloc's vast single market for people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time, midnight in Brussels, completing the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

The break comes 11 months after a political Brexit that left the two sides in a transition period in which EU rights and rules continued to apply to Britain.

The trade agreement sealed on Christmas Eve after months of tense negotiations ensures that the two sides can continue to buy and sell goods without tariffs or quotas. But companies face sheaves of new costs and paperwork, including customs declarations and border checks.

The English Channel port of Dover and the Eurotunnel braced for delays as the new measures were introduced.

The vital supply route was snarled after France closed its border to U.K. truckers for 48 hours during Christmas week in response to a fast-spreading variant of the virus identified in England. Some 15,000 truckers needed emergency virus tests just to get into France, a process that left many stuck in their trucks for days.

But the pandemic and a holiday weekend meant cross-Channel traffic was light on Friday. Britain has also delayed imposing full customs checks for several months so that companies can adjust.

In the French port of Calais, officials said the new computer systems were working well and truckers had the right paperwork.

Police officers stand on the boarding platform for Britain after Brexit, Friday Jan.1, 2021 at the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris. Britain left the European bloc's vast single market for people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time, midnight in Brussels, completing the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Brexit ... is not a synonym for congestion, as we say in English, nor a synonym for traffic disruption, but everyone must do their work, said Jean-Marc Puissesseau, president of the Ports of Calais and Boulogne-Sur-Mer.

Jean Marc Thillier, director of customs for the region, warned that the border faced a trial by fire when traffic picks up after the holiday weekend.

Brexit also brought new checks across the Irish Sea. A dozen trucks rolled off the first ferry to arrive at Dublin Port from Wales before dawn, clearing the new customs inspections without delays.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said trade would change fundamentally.

Were now going to see the 80 billion euros ($97 billion) worth of trade across the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland disrupted by an awful lot more checks and declarations, and bureaucracy and paperwork, and cost and delay.

Hundreds of millions of people in Britain and the bloc also face changes to their daily lives, with new rules for work visas, travel insurance and pet paperwork.

And years of discussion and argument lie ahead, over everything from fair competition to fish quotas, as Britain and the EU settle into their new relationship as friends, neighbours and rivals.

Brexit could also have major constitutional repercussions for the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland, which shares a border with EU member Ireland, remains closely tied to the blocs economy under the divorce terms. So while goods will continue to flow freely across the Irish land border, there are new checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. Over time, that could pull Northern Ireland away from the rest of the U.K. and toward Ireland.

In Scotland, which voted strongly in 2016 to remain in the EU, Brexit has bolstered support for separation from the U.K. The countrys pro-independence First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.

Video journalists Jo Kearney and Jason Parkinson in Folkestone, England and Alex Turnbull in Calais, France contributed.

______

Follow all AP stories on Brexit at https://apnews.com/Brexit
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
The climbers headed out before dawn, working their way up the mountain through powdery snow.

Air Force veteran Dale Moon and Eugene physician Dr. Latham Flanagan Jr. planned to be back at Timberline Lodge that night.

They didnt show.

A search team took to Mt. Hood the next morning, three days after Christmas in 1970. Blizzard conditions eventually turned them back. The following day, the searchers tried again -- and had to retreat again. Howling winds and zero visibility caused the same result the day after that.

Clackamas County Sheriffs mountain deputy Thomas Cutsforth told reporters the search teams were the best in the business but this is the worst kind of mountain weather.

Fifty years ago, the disappearance of the two climbers prompted a determined rescue operation, and news about the desperate effort spread across the country.

Fear mounted Thursday for the safety of two experienced Eugene mountain climbers missing since Sunday on 11,245-foot Mt. Hood as continued snowy weather stalled search parties, the wire service United Press International reported on Dec. 30. Blizzard conditions forced five teams consisting of 32 searchers back Wednesday and more snow was falling on the mountain Thursday.

The searchers didnt know it, but the 32-year-old Moon and 34-year-old Flanagan were still alive, huddled in a snow cave theyd built on the south side of the mountain. Bad weather had hit the two men Sunday evening as they were making their way down from the summit.

They had the gear to bivouac overnight, but on Monday the weather didnt clear.

They ran out of fuel for their butane stove on that second day. Which didnt really matter -- because theyd already run out of food. On the third day, they made do with a shared stick of candy.

Dale Moon survived five days in a snow cave on Mt. Hood, coming away with only minor frostbite on his face. (The Oregonian)Oregonian

Flanagans wife Bette admitted she had despaired as the search stretched on. Mountain-rescue expert Bill Keil, a ski writer for The Oregonian, would later acknowledge that the two men had been all but given up for dead.

Then, on Friday, Jan. 1, 1971, at 10:55 a.m., Keil spotted Moon and Flanagan through a 60-power telescope at his cabin near the Multorpor bridge. The two men were marching through the snow at about the 6,500-foot level.

After placing a call to search headquarters, Keil returned to his telescope and intently watched the two distant figures -- and, oops, there went one of them, tumbling down Little Zigzag Canyon when a cornice gave way, an avalanche of snow rolling over him. The other man slid down after him, digging him out and helping him regain his footing.

They were stumbling a little bit but really seemed to be in pretty good shape, Keil said. I believe they could have made it back under their own power.

A search party found the two men about an hour later, less than a mile from Timberline Lodge.

On a stretcher, an exhausted Dale Moon talks with his girlfriend (later wife) Cindi Clearwater after surviving five days on Mt. Hood. (The Oregonian)Oregonian

They had minor frostbite on their hands, feet and faces, meaning they were in remarkably good condition considering theyd been on the mountain for five days.

We did almost as much praying as we did shivering, Dr. Flanagan admitted of the time they spent hunkered down in their tight, makeshift shelter. We gave up hope -- and then we got it back again.

Bette Flanagan rushed to her husband outside a Portland hospital as he was being rolled in on a stretcher.

You look just horribly great, she exclaimed, planting a kiss on his mouth.

Dr. Flanagan thought that was an apt description. He felt battered but enlivened by the experience on Mt. Hood.

A lot of people think it was a miracle we survived, he said during an impromptu press conference with Moon later that day. We just dont feel that way. Patience did it -- patience to wait out the worst weather when we were impatient to keep going.

Moon agreed, and he added that at times it was difficult to keep in mind the best course of action.

When your body temperature drops to about 86 degrees, you get irrational, he said. Latham thinks Im irrational all the time.

Responding to a reporters question, Bette Flanagan said that, no, she wouldnt try to put a stop to her husbands dangerous hobby -- even though they had a 16-month-old daughter at home.

He likes to climb mountains, and I dont want to be married to half a man, she said.

Moon would prove to be even more determined to continue climbing mountains than his friend Latham. After all, he made his living teaching survival skills, and he volunteered for search-and-rescue teams in southern Oregon. He would conquer Mt. Rainier, the Grand Tetons and Denali, North Americas highest peak, during his extensive mountaineering career.

Mt. Hood in December 2020. (The Oregonian)

Yet Oregons tallest mountain would keep giving him trouble.

Three years after his ordeal with Dr. Flanagan, Moon went missing again on Mt. Hood.

He and two other climbers started up the mountain on skis in March 1974. The wind was whipping, but Moon wasnt concerned, saying the weather felt reasonable.

A fresh storm dropped on the three mountaineers within hours.

Blinded by swirling snow, Moon ended up leading his group off the wrong side of the crater below the summit. They did not make it back to Timberline Lodge on schedule.

Dr. Cameron Bangs supervises treatment of three mountain climbers, including Dale Moon, in 1974. (The Oregonian)Oregonian

Searchers set out the next day -- and grew concerned when they came upon abandoned sleeping bags at about the 7,500-foot level.

Dr. Flanagan drove up from Eugene to help out. His effort proved useless.

It was a total whiteout, he said of his day with a search team. The wind was gusting 80 to 90 miles per hour. We got to about 9,500 feet and dug into a snow cave and waited to see whether it would clear before starting down.

Flanagan headed back to his medical practice in Eugene while the search continued. All told, hundreds of trained volunteers spent some 2,000 man-hours looking for the lost climbers, according to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office.

Four days passed before Moon and his two companions appeared, near Illumination Saddle. All three men were in good condition. This time out, Moon had made sure he headed up the mountain with plenty of food, extra clothing and insulating pads. The climbers drank snow they had melted with a candle.

Moon, who would die of colon cancer in 2006 at 68, said they had been comfortable in our snow cave.

When the three mountaineers met up with a search team, Moon insisted they could walk out on their own. This is not a rescue, he declared.

Moon got on a volunteers two-way radio to talk to noted local ski-patrol physician Dr. Cameron Bangs.

Weve had no frostbite, no dehydration and were not hypothermic, he said.

Bangs responded that Moon didnt get to choose to walk out under his own steam or refuse a helicopter ride to Willamette Falls Hospital in Oregon City.

Youre a survival instructor, Bangs told him. You have to set a good example.

Moon acquiesced. Sitting on a snow vehicle for the ride back to the lodge, he admitted he was embarrassed.

I wont climb Hood for a while, he said. Ill be teased so badly.

The teasing happened anyway. Moons wife was the first to offer a quip. Just minutes after learning that hed been found, Cindi Moon said her husband wouldnt get another chance to go up Mt. Hood.

Im afraid theyll rule Dale off the mountain after this, she said.

Dr. Bangs also got in a playful dig. He told a reporter the three climbers were in good condition, then added:

Dale Moon is an excellent survivalist but a terrible meteorologist.

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
Residents of Hanois Hoan Kiem District and Hai Ba Trung District are the first in Vietnam to be eligible to the new chip-based ID cards.

From the early morning of Thursday, people in the two districts have brought the required paperwork and waited for their turn to receive the new ID cards at the Hanoi Police Headquarter on Tran Hung Dao Street.

The police have organized three counters at the main hall to process the massive amount of paperwork and application for the chip-based ID cards on its launching day.

Hanoi police process information for residents for the issuance of chip-based ID cards, December 31, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Vu Thi Ha Kim, 63, a resident of Tran Hung Dao Ward in Hoan Kiem District, said she looked forward to experiencing the new technology after receiving reception and specific guidance from police officers.

I think the ID card issuance is necessary. It is also relevant in the current 4.0 technology revolution. Residents have rights as well as responsibilities in doing this, Kim said.

Hanoi police take fingerprint of a resident for the issuance of chip-based ID cards, December 31, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Colonel Nguyen Hong Ky, deputy director of the local public security department, said the Ministry of Public Securitys launch of chip-based ID card is timely considering the current 4.0 technology revolution.

The manufacturing, issuance and administration of ID card is a central responsibility that police force of the city must focus on.

It is expected that all eligible residents in Hanoi receive the new ID card format by July 1.

Based on preliminary calculation, local police will issue the chip-based ID card for over 2.5 million residents of 14 years old and above.

According to Ky, the goal of issuance of 50 million ID cards for Vietnamese citizens, once achieved, will help simplify administration procedures, paperwork, as well as accelerating the progress of developing e-government in Vietnam.

Hanoi police take headshots of a resident for the issuance of chip-based ID cards, December 31, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Earlier on September 2020, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Public Security to roll out chip-based national ID cards as early as 2021.

The ministry inaugurated the distribution of barcode-based ID cards in 2016. So far, this design is only available in 16 cities and provinces nationwide, with a total of 16 million cards issued, while the rest of Vietnam are still keeping to the old 9- and 12-digit ID versions.

Chip-based ID cards only differ from previous versions in the addition of an electronic chip, while other information, including the ID number, will remain unchanged.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Police in Minneapolis released body camera footage that appeared to show a 23-year-old man was the first to open fire before he was shot and killed by officers during an attempted traffic stop on Wednesday. Its difficult to make out the video but the footage from the cameras worn by one of the officers seems to confirm at least part of law enforcements version of events. But demonstrators who gathered at a vigil Thursday said it wasnt as conclusive as officers were claiming and insist there are other things law enforcement could have done rather than open fire.

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The video shows an officer stepping out of a squad car and screaming at the man law enforcement was trying to stop. The man then tries to drive away but is blocked by other squad cars. Hands up! Police! Hands up! one officer yells. Then there appears to be at least one shot fired from inside the car before officers returned fire. The man seems to have shot through the rolled up window, shattering the glass toward the outside of the car. Officers then fired more than a dozen shots into the car. Authorities confirmed the man killed was Dolal Idd, 23. His family had already released his identity to the media earlier in the day.

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Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said the release of the video demonstrated how his department is committed to transparency while the investigation is ongoing. But he also made clear that for now the evidence shows that officers were not the first to open fire. From my view of the video and the preliminary information that also mentioned that a witness saw the individual fire first at the officers, my officers were reacting to that deadly threat, Arradondo said. The investigation will uncover more details, but the question is, Should the officers not react in a deadly force situation and knowing that community members lives were at stake as well? The officers are trained to protect community members lives and their own.

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The death of Idd was the first police killing in Minneapolis since George Floyd in May. Dozens of protesters gathered at the site of the killing Thursday, calling for an investigation and insisting the bodycam footage isnt as conclusive as authorities are claiming. It blows my mind that thats even a question for people to be like well that person shot first or this and this. Dont we have all these different classes and trainings that the people go to in order to avoid a situation where its escalated to the point where theres a weapon drawn, a Minneapolis resident said. Jaylani Hussein, the director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the video was inconclusive and there are many ways the officers could have handled the situation without opening fire. There are so many ways to deal with incidents like this. They have no de-escalation efforts at all, he said.
If the final phase of clinical trials of the Chinese vaccine from Sinovac Biotech, for the supply of which Ukraine signed a contract, fails, the money will be returned to the state in full amount, Deputy Minister of Health, Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Liashko has said.

"Ukraine has contracted [the vaccine], and it has the opportunity of getting this vaccine. This is the same thing that happens in other countries. For example, phase three of clinical trials by Pfizer and Moderna was ongoing, when most countries were signing contracts for their vaccine supply. The contract is secured by the bank. That is, Ukraine has transferred money, but this does not mean that we will receive this vaccine now," Liashko said on Hromadske Radio.

He said that the vaccine will be delivered only after its registration and the successful completion of trial.

"If it is not completed before the time specified in the terms of the contract, the money will return to Ukraine to the accounts of state-owned enterprise Medical Procurement of Ukraine. All risks have been leveled," Liashko added.

He said that Ukraine paid for the first batch of 1.9 million doses at the expense of the 2020 budget, and negotiations are underway on the 2021 budget.
She's certainly not shy when it comes to flaunting her sensational figure on social media.

And Simone Holtznagel didn't disappoint on New Year's Eve as she showcased her eye-popping assets in racy underwear.

The model, 27, struggled to contain her cleavage as she posed in the seductive lingerie set in a series of photos shared to Instagram.

Sizzling: Model Simone Holtznagel, 27, struggled to contain her ample cleavage as she posed in a seductive lingerie set in a series of photos shared to Instagram on New Year's Eve

'New year, same me - who dis?' Simone captioned the post.

The blonde bombshell looked simply sensational in the bodysuit set from Honey Birdette, which retails for $400.

Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders in voluminous curls, and she opted for glamorous makeup including a smokey eye and deep red lipstick.

Temptress: The blonde bombshell looked simply sensational in the bodysuit set from Honey Birdette, which retails for $400

In a video posted to her TikTok account, Simone also flaunted her peachy derriere as she spun round and enticingly looked over her shoulder.

Simone shot to fame in 2011 when she placed second runner-up on Australia's Next Top Model.

She landed her first Playboy cover in October 2015, fronting 'The College Issue'.

Claim to fame: Simone shot to fame in 2011 when she placed second runner-up on Australia's Next Top Model. She has since featured in campaigns for Guess and Bras N Things

She has also featured in campaigns for Guess and Bras N Things.

Simone, who hails from Wollongong, recently moved back to Australia after living in Los Angeles for several years.

Her television credits include Network 10's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (2018) and Channel Seven's First Dates (2020).
New India in making, infrastructure to be no less than US, Europe in 5 years: Nitin Gadkari

Mehbooba seeks impartial probe into Parimpora encounter

India

pti-Deepika S

Srinagar, Jan 01: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti sought on Friday an impartial investigation into the killing of three youths in an alleged fake encounter here two days ago and demanded that the bodies be returned to their families.

In a letter to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Mufti said such incidents brought "disrepute" to the armed forces and are "a grave violation" of human rights.

"I am sure you are aware of the unfortunate incident at Parimpora on 30th December. Three boys, the youngest being all of 17 years old, were killed in what the family has alleged to be a staged gunfight," she said.

"Questions are also looming over this encounter & there are conflicting versions & reports from police & the army. Justice can be served only if its swift & therefore I request you to initiate an impartial investigation into the matter immediately," the former chief minister said.

Police had claimed on Wednesday to have killed three militants in an overnight encounter in Parimpora area of Srinagar, but families of the slain youths said they had no connection with militancy and that two of them were students.

Farmers' protest have brought Centre to its knees: Mehbooba Mufti

Mufti said the incident comes close on the heels of police filing a charge sheet against an Army officer and two others in connection with the killing of three men from Rajouri district in an alleged fake encounter at Amshipora in Shopian last July.

The PDP leader said she and the lieutenant governor might not be on the same page on most political matters, "but I am certain we agree that such incidents bring disrepute to the armed forces and are a grave violation of human rights".

Mufti said while she was aware that the administration was apprehensive about returning the bodies of the three youths killed in Srinagar to their families, "this callous decision will only exacerbate their sense of loss and pain".

"One hopes that you will rethink this decision and allow them to get closure. A mother who grieves the sudden & tragic death of her beloved son shouldn''t be deprived of the last chance to see his face. Nor does she deserve to have to beg for his dead body. This is simply inhuman & unacceptable," she said in the letter.

Mufti urged Sinha to intervene and ensure that the families get a chance to perform the last rites as per their wishes.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

Meanwhile, Anantnag MP Hasnain Masoodi spoke to Sinha on Thursday evening over the issue, the National Conference said, adding that the Lt governor has assured an impartial inquiry into the incident.
I write this message during a season of endings. The secular year is coming to its close, and this Shabbat we fittingly will read the concluding parashah of Breyshit, the Book of Genesis. Our Torah Reading is Va-ychi, Genesis 47:28-50:26, which depicts the ends of the lives of both our Patriarch Jacob/Israel, and also his son Joseph. The haftarah for this Shabbat is 1 Kings 2:1-12, the deathbed charge of King David to his son and successor, Solomon, and the death of the aged monarch.

The Torah portion opens with the words: Jacob lived 17 years in the land of Egypt, and his lifespan was 147 years. So the time for Israel to die approached, and he called for his son Joseph. He said to him, If I have found favor with you, place your hand under my thigh [and swear to me], that you will treat me with chesed vemet (kindness and truth): Please dont bury me in Egypt.  (Genesis 47:28-29.)

Chesed vemet literally translates to kindness and truth. Our rabbinic sages were puzzled by this wording.

Is there a false kindness that Jacob had to say chesed vemet?  It was like saying, If you treat me with kindness after my death, that will be chesed shel emet (true kindness).  (Midrash Rabah, Breyshit Rabah 96:5; hence the name of many a Jewish cemetery, including two locally, is either chesed vemet or chesed shel emet.)

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In his comment on Genesis 47:29, Rashi made the matter even clearer: The chesed (kindness) which is done for the dead is chesed shel emet (true kindness), for one cannot expect any reciprocation or repayment.

As Rabbi Harold Kushner comments in Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, in later Hebrew, the words for this phrase come to mean true kindness (chesed vemet). Jewish tradition defines true kindness as a good deed for which no reciprocal favor can be anticipated, such as tending to the needs of the dead. Adherence to this sacred practice is one reason why the volunteer burial society in a community is known as chevra kadisha (the sacred society).

As Kushner suggests, chesed vemet is not only to be shown to the departed.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin writes in book Love Your Neighbor: When someone does something for another person so that the person will in turn do him favors, the action cannot be considered true kindness. Rather, it is a form of bartering in which the merchandise is not objects but favors. Whenever you do something for others, have their benefit in mind, not your own.

What is chesed? asks the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks in the book To Heal a Fractured World: It is usually translated as kindness, but it also means love  not love as emotion or passion, but love expressed as deed.  Where tzedakah is a gift or loan of money, chesed is the gift of the person.  More than anything else, chesed humanizes the world.

Thus, our tradition often speaks of Gmilut chasadim (acts of kindness), frequently rendered as acts of loving kindness.

Among innumerable beautiful anecdotes and teachings, the Babylonian Talmud contains this one, a particular favorite of mine:

Rabbi Simlay gave a drash: Torah begins with an act of chesed and ends with an act of chesed. The act of chesed at the beginning is, as it is stated, The Eternal God made garments of skins for the human beings and clothed them. [Genesis 3:21] And the act of chesed at the end is, as it is stated, Then God buried him [i.e., Moses] in the valley.  [Deuteronomy 34:6] (Sotah 14a.)

I love Simlays notion that the Torah begins and ends with lessons of kindness. This idea also applies to the book of Genesis, for Joseph accedes to his fathers final request and returns the Patriarchs body to the family burial place, the Cave of Mahpelah in Canaan.

Now, I know that chesed is not the sum total of Judaism, that being a Jew is not just about doing acts of kindness, and that a person doesnt have to be Jewish to be kind. Im also well aware that I am not always kind as I should be, and that chesed alone wont solve all the worlds problems, bring about peace, cleanse and renew the planet, feed the hungry, raise up the poor, heal the sick, or end racism and oppression.

But, surely, Ill be a better Jew and a better human being, and the world will be a better place, if I live and act with chesed, if I ever and always strive to be truly kind.

It is a season of endings, but with endings also come beginnings. Among my many prayers for the New Year, I fervently pray that we are entering the beginning of the end of the pandemic.

I also pray that I can begin to act and to interact with chesed vemet  true kindness  every day of 2021 and always.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Lane Steinger is rabbi emeritus with Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the dvar Torah for the Jewish Light.
2020 is of great significance to Vietnams economy as the country has deepened its engagement with the international community through a string of newly-signed landmark trade deals.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh

Vietnam and its partners clinched the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November. What significance does this sizeable trade agreement have for Vietnam as well as the opportunities it can bring to the economy?

Signing the RCEP was of paramount importance in the context COVID-19 has created disruptions in regional and global supply chains, casting critical impacts on the global economy. It marks a crucial watershed in Vietnams economic integration, simultaneously ushering in multiple opportunities both short- and long-term.

With its wide-ranging open market commitments in products, services, investment, and product origin principles harmonisation through the application of a single set of origin principles, the RCEP will create new supply chains in the region with numerous chances to participate.

Secondly, the agreement helps constitute stable export markets for Vietnam. In such a volatile world with never-seen-before supply chain disruptions as recently, building one of the worlds largest free trade areas will have long-term benefits to Vietnams exports, from there helping the country to realise the policy on building on export-oriented production.

Thirdly, implementation shall constitute a binding legal framework in the region in trade and investment policies, intellectual property, e-commerce, and dispute settlement, playing a role in shaping an equitable trade environment in the region.

Based on some independent studies (that of the World Bank, for instance), Vietnams efforts on carrying out economic reform, simplifying administrative procedures, and creating an open and pro-business environment could entail the country more benefits compared to directly opening markets with other countries, helping to turn Vietnam into a trustworthy destination to international investors in the long haul.

In the role of ASEAN chair in 2020 Vietnam boosted cooperation with other ASEAN states to actively discussed with the blocs partner countries to find solutions for unsolved issues leading to ending negotiations and signing of the RCEP. This achievement of Vietnam was highly appreciated by other ASEAN countries and respective partners.

The Vietnamese garment sector will be one of the biggest winners as the newly-signed RCEP agreement is implemented

Without forming a competitive supporting industry, Vietnam will stay low on the global production ladder. How will participating in new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs) help to solve this matter?

Aware of the importance of developing strong local supporting industries, the government has been and is paying particular attention to industrial development as a top investment priority. This policy is attested through Vietnam having in place a full suite of legal documents in this field, including incentive policies and mechanisms embedded in the laws on investment, enterprises, and small- and medium-sized enterprises; as well as incentive policies in legal documents on taxes.

Along with this is the effective implementation of legal documents at ministry and sector levels, by localities and businesses throughout the country. Both the quality and quantity of supporting industry businesses in the country have seen marketed improvements. Products of the sector have met domestic demands and been exported to many countries. Several local manufacturers, through employing cutting-edge management tools in production, have reached international standards and become suppliers to global companies.

The RCEP particularly aims to bridge existing commitments between ASEAN and each RCEP partner in ASEAN+ FTAs and beef up trade facilitation, adding the development of new supply chains in the region that Vietnamese companies can participate. The regulations on transparency and harmonisation of customs procedures and the application of single set of origin principles helps Vietnamese companies to find more convenience in sourcing input materials, diversifying and optimising export production to RCEP member countries, and from there deepening their involvement in the global supply chains.

Leveraging these policies and commitments, the Vietnamese business community and players in the supporting industries can bolster their competitiveness and avail of the benefits the RCEP and other FTAs with Vietnams engagement could bring.

As for dissemination activities, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has crafted training courses to provide further information about the commitments and how to implement to support the services and sectors in which Vietnam has advantages to boost competitive edge and participate more deeply into regional and global value chains.

Moving forward, the MoIT has further worked out programmes on market development for products that the country has the potential and advantages for export into RCEP markets. The MoIT has also developed and improved technical measures aligned with international commitments to support the development of local businesses, locally-made products, and protecting consumers.

In addition, the MoIT has also strengthened cooperation with major partners like the World Bank and UN Industrial Development Organization; countries with advanced industry like Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; and multinational corporations like Toyota, Honda, GE, and Bosch. These partnerships shall be tailored to fit capacity enhancement targets to enable local suppliers to satisfy strict requirements to join global value chains.

How do you assess Vietnams opportunities to attract foreign businesses, particularly those coming from China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia, to invest in the country via the advantages the RCEP brings?

Before signing of the RCEP, Vietnam was already an alluring destination for international investors. Statistics show that by end of October, of 10 countries and territories with big investment volume in Vietnam, six are RCEP members  South Korea with $70.38 billion, Japan $59.89 billion, Singapore $55.7 billion, China $18 billion, Malaysia $12.8 billion, and Thailand $12.5 billion.

The application of a single set of origin principles and face facilitation regulations between RCEP members shall enable countries to maximally avail of abundant material sources in the region to feed their business and production. With bountiful advantages in fruitful human resources, open investment policies, and political stability, Vietnam shall have enormous opportunities to lure investment from investors coming from RCEP members in all fields Vietnam has commitments, including in the supply of raw materials.

In recent years, the government and the MoIT have been and are introducing many policies and measures to increasingly improve the local investment environment, such as shortening approval times, simplifying business conditions and procedures to help investors save on costs, and stimulating innovations.

Vietnam has now enforced 13 FTAs, with each one requiring a particular action plan. Do we need an inclusive action plan in order to best avail of opportunities from these varying agreements?

The sweeping commitments and big coverage of these agreements are expected to leave broad impacts on local economy across the board. In light of international conventions, the National Assembly has assigned the government to craft particular action plans for implementing each agreement to ensure its utmost efficiency. However, it is also important to ensure unity of all action plans when all the deals are enforced. The MoIT, thereby, is carefully studying in order to report to the Inter-sectoral Committee on International Integration for enactment of an inclusive strategy for engagement into FTAs after 2020, to be able to present common orientations for all agreements at a later period. VIR

FTAs set to continue representing driving force for exports next year Local businesses have effectively utilised a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) signed by the country, many of which can be considered to add fresh impetus to boosting exports moving into next year, according to insiders.
Chris Stewart / SFC

The Rotary Club of Ridgefield is having an online raffe with a livestreamed drawing New Years Day, Jan. 1, at 2 p.m. instead of its Taste of Ridgefield event, which had to be canceled because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Click on the Buy Ticket button at www.ridgefield.rotary7980gives.org/rrrestaffle, or visit RRRESTAFFLE.org to purchase tickets.
The local energy sector remains essential during the State of Emergency but there is part of the sector that remains closed since it is yet to get a new owner and that's the refinery in Point -a-Pierre.
The owner of a car, stolen two years ago, could hardly believe it when he received a call from an auto service centre seeking his feedback. He was equally shocked to be told by the centre that the vehicle had been returned to station officer, Bithoor police station, Kaushlendra Pratap Singh, after servicing.

Singh, one of the cops injured in the Bikru ambush, in which eight policemen were killed by gangster Vikas Dubey and his men on July 3 last, would have continued using the stolen car had he not taken the car for the service.

Omendra Soni, the owner of the car, said his vehicle was stolen from Barra area from a car washing centre on December 31, 2018. He said he had lodged an FIR with the Barra police but the vehicle could not be found.

On Wednesday, he got a call from KTL service centre enquiring if his vehicle was running fine after the service a few days ago.

I was surprised at the query. I was told my details were with the centre due to a previous servicing of my Wagon R, that is why the call was placed for feedback, he said.

I went to the service centre and I was told that the vehicle was returned to SO Bithoor, Kaushlendra Pratap Singh on December 22 after servicing, he said, wondering why the police had not informed him about having recovered his stolen vehicle.

Also Read: UP govt to transfer Rs 12K each to labourers selected for religious travel

Singh, in his defence, claimed he had found the car abandoned after which it was seized. However, he did not elaborate on the date when the vehicle was found.

When asked how a police officer could use a seized vehicle as it was not permissible, he did not answer. As per the procedure, Bithoor police should have informed Barra police about the recovery of the car. However, Barra police confirmed that it did not receive any intimation from Bithoor police.

Left red-faced, the police brass has ordered an inquiry into the case. IG, Kanpur range, Mohit Agarwal said using a seized vehicle was against the law. The entire case would be inquired into and anyone found responsible would face serious departmental action.

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A gate blocks the entrance of a farm whose poultry have been hit with a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza near Eagle Grove, Iowa on May 17, 2015. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Pandemics, Prevention, and the Certainty of Blame

Commentary

Several people of late have taken to ending their written communications to me with Stay safe. This is a locution that, for some reason or other that I cannot quite explain, I abominate and that infuriates me, even though I am sure that it is probably well-meaning and even in some cases heartfelt.

It acts on me like the squeak of a piece of chalk or a fingernail as it scrapes on a blackboard, a sound that sends shivers down my spine (great poetry or music sends shivers in the opposite direction).

However, stay safe is not as bad as Happy Holidays. I received a Christmas (or should I say a holiday?) card from the United States recently whose envelope was prominently postmarked Happy Holidays. This seems to me an example of what a Dutch friend of mine calls anticipatory, or creative, appeasement.

Some authority or other imagines an expression, such as Merry Christmas, might conceivably offend someone, and then tries to forestall trouble by replacing it with something supposedly less offensive and more anodyne (and you cant get more anodyne than Happy Holidays).

The fact that no complaint has ever been received about the avoided expressionand if it had been received, ought to have been ignored with contumelyis beside the point. Prevention, including that of offence, is better than cure.

Pandemic Prevention

O prevention, what crimes are committed in thy name! On the other hand, it is sometimes necessary.

As I was going through my books last weekI want to list them before I die, a desire that is not so much an intimation of approaching death as a preservative against its approach, insofar as an unfinished task gives a person a reason to live that prolongs his lifeI came across a French book published in 2005 with the title (in English) of Pandemic, The Great Threat: Bird Flu, 500,000 Deaths in France? It was all about prevention of what might or might not happen.

Of course, 500,000 deaths (less than 1 per cent of the population of France) is a comparatively modest number for books about viral or emergent-disease disaster.

Man is the only creature, as far as I know, that derives some strange pleasure from the contemplation of his own extinction, at least so long as it remains theoretical.

One of my viral disaster books predicts with evident delectation that 98-99 per cent of humans will die from an Ebola-type virus that will emerge in the not-too-distant future from the jungles of Africa: ex Africa semper aliquid novi, out of Africa always something new, as Pliny said, though he might also have said it of Mount Vesuvius, whose eruption in AD 79 asphyxiated him.

So far I have livedstayed safe, if you likethrough predicted global cooling, global warming, mass famine, nuclear winter, asteroidal collision, and viral and prion-disease epidemics.

But as Bertrand Russell pointed out in explaining the weakness of induction as a means of predicting the future, the chicken who has hitherto always been fed by the farmer and runs to greet him one day has its neck wrung by him instead.

Just because no catastrophe has yet touched me, then, it does not mean that none in the future will ever do so. That is why anxiety springs eternal in the human breast.

Viral Pandemic

I am not sure whether it is instructive to read what was written fifteen years ago about future epidemics of viral diseases, but it is certainly interesting. The authors, Jean-Philippe Derenne and Francois Bricaire, are two great experts, not at all the types to sensationalize; but they repeated what the famous science journal, Nature, said in 2005, namely that it was not a question of if, but of when, there would be a devastating viral pandemic.

The authors predicted not a new coronavirus, but rather a new flu virus, one that dangerously combines elements of avian and human flu, exchanging and recombining their genetic material in pigs, which are hosts susceptible to both human and avian flu.

This new virus might be extremely pathogenic, say the authors, as was that of the so-called Spanish flu; and Mankind, having no previous experience of it and therefore no immunity to it, could easily be decimated by it. (So called virgin populations, with no previous experience of new diseases that are introduced into them, can decline by 90 per cent of their population, as did the Amerindian population of Central America in the century following the Spanish conquest, or even be altogether exterminated, as in Hispaniola, by such new diseases.)

The authors do not say that this will definitely happen, only that it is likely to happen. Currently existing ant-viral medication, which in any case is of somewhat limited utility, would probably not work, and it would take several months at the least to develop an effective vaccine.

The only way of containing the epidemic and preventing disaster in these circumstances would be to isolate known cases, observe social distancing, stay at home as far as possible, close all institutions such as schools, universities, restaurants, cinemas, and theatres where people gather in numbers, reduce all commercial and economic activity to a bare and essential minimum, eviscerate public transport, and provide masks, first to health care workers and then to the entire population. Borders should be closed at once to passenger traffic.

This now sounds eerily familiar. Of course, deaths so far have been far fewer than touted on the cover of the book, but we must remember that, just because we have had COVID-19, it doesnt mean that we could never have a pandemic of a new and dangerous bird-flu as well.

Moreover, there is no knowing which age-group the next pandemic will principally effect. In the past, children, young adults, and the old have been the main victims of different epidemics. We cannot know in advance.

In the midst of uncertainty, one thing at least is certain. According to the authors: [After the epidemic] only the number of dead will be remembered, not the number of saved  All those who kept silent before the pandemic will demand heads to roll. What will have been immense progress by comparison with previous mortality [in such pandemics] will have been lived or interpreted as a succession of errors and omissions. This, is because of the most fundamental psychological need of all: the need for someone to blame.

Theodore Dalrymple is a retired doctor. He is contributing editor of the City Journal of New York and the author of 30 books, including Life at the Bottom. His latest book is Embargo and Other Stories.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In 43 A.D. the Roman army under General Plautius returned to an island to crush the Celtic people of Britannia, a land ruled by warrior women and druids. They extended the boundaries of the political unit, built roads of clay, chalk, gravel, and flat stones, and cities including Colchester and a place called Londoninium, a fort beside the River Thames. When the Romans left in 410 to defend Rome, Emperor Honorius bade farewell, Fight bravely, and defend your lives. Youre on your own now.

It is unlikely that the leaders of the European Union gave equally cordial advice to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the occasion of the end of Brexit negotiations, now that Britain is on its own as a result of the historic deal between the two sides on December 24, 2020. After four and a half years of long and hard-fought negotiations, agreement was reached on numerous issues including level playing field guarantees, fair competition, governance, fishing rights, and assurance that UK companies would not undercut EU standards in unfair competition. Most important the UK is no longer a member of the EU.

The issue of UK relations with the EU has bedeviled British politics. British political parties were in unusual agreement to end the divisive issue and approve the complicated deal. The dispute is about trade and technical issues, but at the core is the issue of British sovereignty, the ultimate authority in decision-making and the maintenance of order. The Leavers who voted for Brexit proclaimed that decisions about the UK should be taken in the UK, and that sovereignty was compromised by EU rules and treaties that limited UK legislative freedom. Boris Johnson thought exit from the EU was a moment of real national renewal and change, and that Britain had recaptured sovereignty.

It remains to be seen whether and to what degree this concept of sovereignty is being challenged in the United Kingdom.

The British House of Commons voted in a special sitting on December 30, 2020 to approve, 521-73, the 1,200-page trade pact with the EU. Prime Minister Johnson enthusiastically exclaimed that the UK, which had taken control of our money, our order, our laws, and our waters when Brexit took effect on January 31, 2020, was now forming a new relationship with Europe based on free trade and friendly cooperation. The pleasure and satisfaction in the successful negotiations is well deserved, yet there is a little-noticed problem. Despite the overwhelming parliamentary approval, it is a cause for future political concern that members of nationalist parties of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the Commons voted against the deal.

Without exploring the full 1,200 pages, a few generalizations may be made. The EU is the UKs largest trading partner: the deal covers trade worth 668 billion.

Neither side will impose tariffs on goods, and there is no limit on the quantity of goods that can be traded, though there are checks for safety and customs declarations. The UK will be able to make free trade deals with other countries. Financial services, 80% of British exports, will be covered.

Fishing issues were highly controversial and not fully resolved before the UK has full control of its waters. The UK finally agreed the EU will only repatriate 25% of the value of fish caught during a five-and-a-half-year transitional period. After the transitional period, the UK will conduct annual negotiations on fishing.

The UK keeps control of its laws, borders, and waters.

There is no role for UK in the European Court of Justice, though the Court may have a role in Northern Ireland: in its place will be an independent tribunal.

Northern Ireland will remain in the EU single market for goods, and EU customs rules will be enforced at its ports. Some products, meat, fish, milk, eggs, from the UK will be checked to meet EU standards. New facilities will be required at Northern Irish ports for inspecting goods arriving from other parts of the UK.

The UK will not take part in the Erasmus student exchange program, nor in the Galileo satellite project. Regarding governance, a dispute-resolution body will be created. Level playing field provisions will ensure fair competition between British and European companies.

However, a major problem is the continuation of the United Kingdom constitutional framework which has changed from time to time. Divorce is always accompanied with pain. The issue of implementation of Brexit has become more pressing not only because of Brexit but because of the impact of coronavirus. Tension between advocates of unionism and separatism is likely to increase, even though devolution exists, providing for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to have some legislative power. Scotland and Wales have their own parliaments, ministers and cabinets and have powers over domestic legislation, especially health.

Northern Ireland has had a parliament since the partition of Ireland in 1921, though it has been shut down occasionally. Until 1998, Wales and Scotland were essentially governed by UK departments under the control of a British secretary of state in London. However, both the two countries voted for devolution, and have substantial powers over domestic legislation, especially on health issues.

The Kingdom of Scotland was created in the early Middle Ages. In 1603 King James VI of Scotland became James I, King of England and Ireland, a union of all three kingdoms. In 1707 the Scottish Parliament merged with the Parliament in London, into a single British parliament. However, a minority of Scottish nationalists still wanted a single Parliament or independence., and a Scottish National Party SNP was formed in 1934. As a result of the process of devolution, a Scottish parliament was created in 1998, obtaining a greater degree of self-government, powers to make primary legislation in all policy not expressly reserved for the UK government and parliament, though ultimate power resides in the central government. This arrangement therefore differs from a system of federalism. Devolved parliaments were set up, but the legislation creating them can be changed as with any other legislation.

In September 2014 a referendum on Scottish independence was defeated, 55.3% to 44.7%, Yet in 2015 the nationalist SNP won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats at the general election.

In the 2016 referendum on EU membership, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain, while England and Wales voted to Leave. The Scottish parliament voted for a second independence referendum but it was refused. However, the call was reinforced in the SNP election manifesto, an election where the party won 48 of 59 seats but again the Westminster government, then under Theresa May, rejected this request. Impetus for independence has been stalled because of COVID-19. Yet the reality is that Brexit has led to a steady increase in support for independence. In recent polls. support for independence has reached 58%, partly due to the competence and popularity of the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, and advocacy by Sean Connery, born into a working-class family in Edinburgh. Sturgeon is arguing that Scotland has been handicapped. Scotlands fishing fleets will face cuts in fisheries such as cod and haddock, and that there will be increases in the quota available for Scottish trawlers in only five of the 13 fishing areas close to Scotland.

Wales has been regarded as legally part of England since the 16th century. A proposed Welsh Assembly was rejected by Welsh voters in 1979, but support in 1997 for a devolved assembly was narrowly supported, 50.3% to 49.7%. , and a National Assembly for Wales was created. This was followed the next year by an executive body , the Welsh government. Another referendum in 2011 resulted, 63.4 % to 36.5% in support for more power to go to the assembly. Though the nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, has only 20% of votes in Welsh elections, recent polls in November 2020 indicate that 33% of Welsh population would support independence,

Arrangements in Northern Ireland have always been controversial. Home Rule was established in 1921, and a parliament was set up. It was ended in 1973 as a result of the troubles that began in the late 1960s, and no other arrangements were successful until the 1998 Good Friday agreement, which led to creation of a new Northern Ireland Assembly, to bring together the nationalist and unionist communities, and a Northern Ireland executive. It was suspended in October 2002 due to a breakdown in the peace process, but in October 2006 a road map to restore devolution was made. The executive was restored in May 2007.

The problem remains. Now that the call for independence is increasing what is the real meaning of British sovereignty? It was ominous that the meeting of the SNP in August 2020 took place in Bannockburn, the place where Robert the Bruce, king of Scots, defeated the English army of Edward II in 1314.

Image: Pixabay
Actress Sophie Turner welcomed her daughter Willa with husband Joe Jonas earlier this year in July. They got married in Las Vegas in May 2019, and had a second, bigger ceremony in France later that year. Their pregnancy was revealed in February 2020 and now the family of three are settling into their new lives.

Meanwhile, as 2020 wrapped up, Sophie shared some unseen moments from her pregnancy days, as she relived the days in the lead up to the birth of her baby daughter. In several pics, she can be seen flaunting her bare baby bump. These pictures are truly heartwarming. One of the pictures is from July, after she had delivered Willa.

On the work front, Sophie will be lending her voice for the character of Princess Charlotte in upcoming animated series, The Prince. She officially joined the cast of animated series in November. It is created and executive produced by Family Guy producer, writer and actor Gary Janetti.

The satire focuses on seven-year-old Prince George, who is voiced by Gary, and his antics as the first-born child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. Sophie will voice George's sister. "The Prince is being made for HBO Max.

(With IANS inputs)
News

Washington, DC - The Justice Department announced Tuesday that the career prosecutors reviewing the independent federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice on November 22, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio, found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges against Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback.

Washington, DC - The department notified counsel for Mr. Rices family of the decision and sent a letter to Mr. Rices family explaining the findings of the investigation and reasons for the decision.

Applicable Law

The department examined the facts in this case under relevant federal criminal statutes. The federal criminal statute applicable to these facts is Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. In order to proceed with a prosecution under Section 242, prosecutors must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that a law enforcement officer acted willfully to deprive an individual of a federally protected right. The right implicated in this matter is the Fourth Amendment right to be free from an unreasonable seizure. This right includes the right to be free from unreasonable physical force by police. To prove that a police shooting violated the Fourth Amendment, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the use of force was objectively unreasonable based on all of the surrounding circumstances. The law requires that the reasonableness of an officers use of force on an arrestee be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with added perspective of hindsight. The law set forth by the Supreme Court requires that allowances must be made for the fact that law enforcement officers are often forced to make split-second judgments in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving. Finally, caselaw establishes that an officer is permitted to use deadly force where he reasonably believes that the suspect posed an imminent threat of serious physical harm, either to the officer or to others.

Additionally, to prove that a shooting violated section 242, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted willfully. This high legal standard  one of the highest standards of intent imposed by law  requires proof that the officer acted with the specific intent to do something the law forbids. It is not enough to show that the officer made a mistake, acted negligently, acted by accident or mistake, or even exercised bad judgment.

Although Tamir Rices death is tragic, the evidence does not meet these substantial evidentiary requirements. In light of this, and for the reasons explained below, career federal prosecutors with both the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office concluded that this matter is not a prosecutable violation of the federal statutes.

Factual Overview

This summary is based on, and consistent with, all facts known to the government after a thorough examination, most of which are undisputed.

On Nov. 22, 2014, Tamir spent the majority of the day at the Cudell Park Recreation Center (CPRC). Throughout the day, Tamir was frequently seen playing with a toy black airsoft pistol with a removable magazine that was visually virtually indistinguishable from a real .45 Colt semi-automatic pistol. Tamir would periodically point the toy gun at individuals at the CPRC and at the adjoining playground.

At approximately 3:11 p.m., an individual made a 911 call to report that a guy with a pistol was pointing a gun at multiple people on the playground at the CPRC. The caller gave a detailed description of the individual, stated that he was probably a juvenile, and that the gun was probably fake, but he also described the scene as very frightening. On the date of the incident, Tamir was 12-years-old and stood 57 and 195 lbs.

A 911 dispatcher subsequently broadcast the call as a Code 1 (the highest priority call) and Officers Garmback and Loehmann radioed that they would respond. The information the dispatcher relayed to Officers Garmback and Loehmann was theres a black male sitting on the swing. Hes wearing a camouflage hat, a gray jacket with black sleeves. He keeps pulling a gun out of his pants and pointing it at people. The dispatcher did not relay that the individual might be a juvenile or that the gun might be fake. Thus, the officers believed that they were responding to a playground where a grown man was brandishing a real gun at individuals, presumably including children.

Video from the CPRC captured the subsequent events. It is important to note that the video footage is grainy, shot from a distance, does not show detail or perspective, and portions of the incident are not visible because of the location of the patrol car. Further, the time lapse footage captures approximately two frames per second at a variable rate, which is incapable of capturing continuous action.

Officers Garmback and Loehmann approached the CPRCs playground area with a swing set, Tamirs reported location. Tamir was not in the swing set area when the patrol car entered the park, but was sitting alone at a picnic table under the gazebo located west of the swing set. He matched the description of the suspect provided by the dispatcher. No other people were in the immediate area.

It is not clear from the video evidence when Tamir became aware of the patrol car driving toward the gazebo. Tamir stood up at the picnic table approximately 10 seconds before the shooting and over the course of the next three seconds, he walked around the end of the table in a semi-circle, so that he was facing in the general direction of the oncoming patrol car but not yet moving toward it. Meanwhile, the patrol car continued to approach the gazebo.

Tamir began walking forward toward the passenger side of the approaching patrol. Meanwhile, Officer Garmback applied the brakes in an attempt to stop the patrol car, but due to the wet conditions on the ground the car did not stop where he intended and instead slid forward approximately 40 feet. As the patrol car came to a stop a short distance from Tamir, who by that point had stopped moving forward and was stationary, Officer Loehmann exited the still moving patrol car. At that moment, it appears that Tamir made movements of some sort with both his left and right arms. The positioning of the moving arms suggests that Tamirs hands were in the vicinity of his waist, but his hands are not visible in the video. Officer Loehmann fired two shots within less than two seconds of opening the passenger door, striking Tamir once in the abdomen.

As soon as Officer Loehmann exited the patrol car, he fell to his right and to the ground, toward the rear of the patrol car, resulting in an ankle injury. When Officer Loehmann got to his feet, he quickly moved to the rear drivers side of the patrol car for cover while continuing to aim his drawn weapon in Tamirs direction. Meanwhile, Officer Garmback exited the patrol car and began moving to the front of the vehicle, where he stood for approximately 15 seconds with his gun drawn and pointing in Tamirs direction. Enhanced video stills show a dark object (the toy gun) appear on the floor of the gazebo within a few feet of Tamir approximately 7 seconds after the shooting, just as Officer Garmback reached the front of the patrol car and just after Tamirs upper body moved to the ground (and out of view of the surveillance camera). Officer Garmback stood at the front of the patrol car for approximately 15 seconds with his gun drawn and pointed in the direction of Tamir, then moved into the gazebo and kicked the toy gun and magazine further away from Tamir.

After Officer Garmback kicked the toy gun and magazine into the grass, he reported the shots fired and requested emergency medical assistance.

Video Evidence

The CPRC has a number of surveillance cameras, and the incident is captured on video. Unfortunately, as previously discussed, this video is a time lapse video, has no audio, is grainy, shot from a significant distance, does not show detail or perspective, and portions of the incident are not visible because the incident occurred on the passenger side of the patrol car, and the camera is shooting from the drivers side of the patrol car; thus, the patrol car blocks the cameras view of parts of the activity during the relevant time. Tamirs hands are not visible in the video during the relevant time.

The video generally shows that the patrol car came to a stop a short distance from Tamir, and that Officer Loehmann exited the still moving patrol car. At that moment, Tamir made movements of some sort with both his left and right arms. The positioning of the moving arms suggests that Tamirs hands were in the vicinity of his waist, but his hands are not visible in the video and it cannot be determined from the video what he was doing. Officer Loehmann fired two shots within seconds of opening the passenger door, striking Tamir once in the abdomen.

Officer Statements

In on-scene statements to three responding law enforcement officers, starting approximately one minute after the shooting, Officer Loehmann repeatedly and consistently stated that Tamir was reaching for his gun just before Officer Loehmann shot. Officers Loehmann and Garmback gave several additional statements to other responding officers in the minutes and hours after the shooting. In those statements, both officers repeatedly and consistently stated that Officer Loehmann gave Tamir multiple commands to show his hands before shooting, and both officers repeatedly and consistently said that they saw Tamir reaching for his gun. Both officers submitted written statements concerning the incident approximately a year later, and repeated these seminal points. Officers Loehmann and Garmback are the only two witnesses in the near vicinity of the shooting.

Civilian Witnesses

Only one civilian witness reported seeing any part of the fatal encounter; an additional witness said that she heard shots and heard commands after the shots. However, the eyewitnesss two statements are inconsistent; the earwitness reported hearing three shots; both witnesses were approximately 315 feet away; and neither of them stated that they saw Tamirs movements immediately preceding the shooting

Expert Witnesses

Video Expert

An expert forensic video analyst analyzed the video evidence, which consists of compressed time lapse footage. He identified numerous technical variables that can result in the misinterpretation of the images by an untrained observer of compressed video images. He noted that the time lapse footage consists of a series of stills, with approximately two stills captured per second. In analyzing the relevant video footage in this case, the expert found that, throughout the two camera recordings, the refresh rate in which the video captures a new still image varies from approximately one image per second to up to eight images per second.[1] He further stated that there is no foundation to establish the precise timing from image to image. As a result, the video in this system is referred to as a variable refresh rate recording.

Thus, even when the video was enhanced to the still frames, there are unknown time gaps of up to a full second between each frame. The video and the corresponding still frames are incapable of capturing the nuances of continuous action.

Use of Force Experts

Seven experts reviewed this case and opined on whether Officer Loehmanns use of force was objectively reasonable or unreasonable: four of whom were hired by the CCPO and agreed that the shooting was objectively reasonable; three of whom were retained by the Rice family and agreed that the shooting was objectively unreasonable. Because the experts relied heavily on the poor-quality video of the incident and reached different conclusions about what it showed, their conflicting opinions added little to the case, other than to solidify the conclusion that the video evidence is not dispositive and is insufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt what Tamir was doing in seconds before he was shot.

Analysis Regarding a Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law

In order to establish a federal civil rights violation, the government would have to prove that Officer Loehmanns actions were unreasonable under the circumstances, and that his actions were willful. As noted above, caselaw establishes that an officer is permitted to use deadly force where he reasonably believes that the suspect posed an imminent threat of serious physical harm, either to the officer or to others. Here, in light of the officers explanations that Officer Loehmann shot because it appeared to him that Tamir was reaching for his gun, the government would necessarily have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that 1) Tamir was not reaching for his gun; and 2) that Officer Loehmann did not perceive that Tamir was reaching for his gun, despite his consistent statements to the contrary. The evidence is insufficient for the government to prove this.

To fully assess whether this shooting constituted an unreasonable use of force, career prosecutors closely examined, among other things, the evidence concerning the movement of Tamirs arms and hands just prior to the shots. As mentioned, the video footage is of extremely poor quality and has gaps in time of up to one second. The footage does not establish that Tamir was drawing a weapon from his waistband; however, the footage also does not establish that Tamir was not reaching for a gun when Officers Loehmann and Garmback state that he was doing so.

The evidence in this case fails to definitively establish what happened at the time of the shooting. Both officers have consistently and repeatedly maintained that they saw Tamir reach for his gun. The toy gun was found on the ground near where Tamir fell, suggesting that it was on his person and that he handled it after standing up beside the picnic table. The video evidence is simply not definitive on Tamirs movements at the relevant time. Multiple experts examined the grainy, non-continuous, indistinct video in which the patrol car blocks part of the view at the relevant time. Those experts differed in their opinion of what Tamir was likely doing with his arms and hands, but all agreed that his arms were moving and that his hands, though not visible, would have been in the general area of his waist. The experts opinions were of little assistance in assessing criminal guilt, because their analysis amounted to a 20/20 hindsight review of still frames from a non-continuous video that could not, and does not, capture all that happened in the relevant time period of approximately two seconds, but nevertheless portrays Tamirs hands in the vicinity of his waist just prior to the shooting. Further, the civilian witnesses shed little light on Tamirs actions just before he was shot.

Based on this evidence and the high burdens of the applicable federal laws, career prosecutors have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Tamir did not reach for his toy gun; thus, there is insufficient evidence to establish that Officer Loehmann acted unreasonably under the circumstances.

As noted above, in analyzing a potential charge under 18 U.S.C.  242, federal investigators must also consider whether the evidence proves the statutory element of willfulness  meaning, that, in shooting Tamir, Officer Loehmann knew what he was doing was wrong and chose to do it anyway. As noted above, an accident, a mistake, an officers misperception, or even an officers poor judgment or negligence does not constitute willful conduct that can be prosecuted under this statute.

Even if the government were to accept entirely the conclusions of the expert who opined that Tamir had his hands in his jacket pockets as he approached the patrol car, prosecutors would still be unable to disprove Officer Loehmanns consistent statements regarding his own perceptions of Tamirs movements. Within a minute of the shooting and with no opportunity to reflect, view video, or discuss the matter with others, Officer Loehmann said that he fired in self-defense and had no choice. He has given multiple additional statements, in which he has consistently maintained that he shot because he believed that Tamir was drawing a weapon; there is insufficient evidence to refute that central point.

Similarly, Officer Garmback has maintained since moments after the shooting that he heard Officer Loehmann give repeated commands to Tamir to show his hands, and that he saw Tamir reaching for a weapon in his waistband. Both officers sought cover from the patrol car, held Tamir at gunpoint for approximately 15 seconds, and generally responded to the incident in a manner consistent with their stated belief that Tamir was drawing a gun.

For many of the same reasons the evidence is insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting violated the Fourth Amendment, the evidence is also insufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted willfully. Even if federal prosecutors could definitively prove that Tamir did not in fact reach toward his waistband to draw his toy gun, the government could not establish that Officer Loehmann did not perceive that Tamir did so.

Analysis Regarding Obstruction of Justice

Career federal prosecutors also reviewed the evidence to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to prove that Officers Loehmann and/or Garmback obstructed justice in their statements to law enforcement officers. These career prosecutors concluded that it did not.

In order to prove obstruction, the government would have to prove the officers knowingly made false statements, and that they did so with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation. As previously noted, the officers each gave multiple statements to law enforcement officers on the day of the incident, starting within a minute or so of the incident, without time to reflect, discuss, or view video. They each provided a written statement approximately a year later. Some of their statements are more detailed than others, and with slightly different verbiage, but all of which were generally consistent, particularly on the seminal facts. As the experienced career prosecutors who reviewed this matter know, when witnesses give multiple statements, there are almost always inconsistencies due to the fallibility of the human memory.

Because there is insufficient evidence to establish that the statements by Officers Loehmann and Garmback are in fact untrue, there is also insufficient evidence to establish that they knew them to be untrue or that they made them with the intent to obstruct the investigation.

Conclusion

In sum, after extensive examination of the facts in this tragic event, career Justice Department prosecutors have concluded that the evidence is insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Loehmann willfully violated Tamir Rices constitutional rights, or that Officers Loehmann or Garmback obstructed justice. In this case, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, and the FBI each devoted significant time and resources to examine the circumstances surrounding Tamir Rices death and to completing a thorough analysis of the evidence gathered. The Justice Department remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources required to ensure that all serious allegations of civil rights violations are thoroughly examined. The department aggressively prosecutes criminal civil rights violations whenever there is sufficient evidence to do so.
North Korean people watch fireworks during the country's New Year's celebration at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Friday. / AP-Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



North Korea, plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic, damage from typhoons and floods, as well as international sanctions throughout last year, began the New Year with a large-scale, crowded congratulatory event, Friday, despite its tough coronavirus restrictions.



Pyongyang watchers believe the authoritarian country intended to show its regime was still holding up against the "triple whammy" and could control COVID-19 unlike other countries succumbing to the pandemic.



The 50-minute show, broadcast live on state television, featured singing, dancing and fireworks, with crowds gathering at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital city. In addition, it also held a flag-hoisting ceremony at midnight when a bell rang to signal the start of the New Year.



Although the North has celebrated the start of each year with such events since 2013, two years after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took power, the latest edition carried extra weight as the nation has been engaged in a hard battle against the coronavirus.






Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 21:42:19|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A night club played loud music, a vehicle hooted incessantly and people chatted animatedly early night on the streets of Kenya's capital Nairobi on New Year's Eve.

And at about 8:40 p.m., fireworks lit the city's skyline creating a beautiful pattern that brought cheers to thousands of residents.

Then it all fell silent thereafter as east African nation's residents retreated indoors to celebrate the New Year, obeying a dusk-to-dawn curfew placed by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

There were no public end-year concerts, parties or night vigils as the country bid a tough 2020 goodbye and ushered in 2021 with hope.

Across the capital and in the villages, citizens observed the 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew imposed by the government in November 2020 to stem a surge in COVID-19 cases in the second wave of infections.

There were dozens of law enforcement officers on the streets of the capital and residential areas to ensure the curfew is observed.

It was a different kind of New Year celebration for Kenyans, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the north of the capital to the south and east, Kenyans stayed indoors. However, some citizens held small private parties to keep the spirit of New Year celebrations alive while others followed the few virtual events that were held in line with COVID-19 protocols.

"I invited a few friends and neighbors and held a party to bid farewell to 2020," said Victoria Adhiambo, a resident of Kitengela, south of the capital.

At the party, they slaughtered a goat and made merry, as they observed COVID-19 protocols.

"Last year was tough and rough, people lost their jobs and businesses, others lost their friends and families. It was a tough period but one has to find a reason to celebrate," she said.

Adhiambo, a social worker in Kajiado, said that the small celebration gave them hope that 2021 will be a better year.

"We ate, drunk and prayed for better opportunities in the new year. While the disease is still here, we believe that we are now wiser as individuals and as a country. It is our time to soar," she said.

Journalist Bernard Situma is among citizens who followed virtual events as they waited to usher in the new year.

With no event to attend, together with his family they enjoyed music from an online party, where the countdown to 2021 was done.

"We are hopeful that 2021 will be better. It has to be better for our survival. 2020 is not a year that many would want to remember because of COVID-19 disruption," he said, his sentiments capturing those of thousands of citizens.

For many Kenyan parents, their hope is that their children would progress with their schooling this year having lost 2020. All schools in Kenya reopen on Jan. 4.

The East African nation on Thursday recorded 207 COVID-19 infection cases from a sample size of 4,988 tested bringing the total tally to 96,458 as fatalities stood at 1,670 and recoveries 78,737. With schools set to reopen, there is fear that the cases may surge.

In his New Year message to the country, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked Kenyans to embrace the spirit of renewal and hope, possibilities, growth as well as triumph after a tough 2020.

"For in each and every Kenyan lies an unimaginable depth of greatness just waiting to come to the fore," he said. Enditem
A 39-year-old man was shot and killed by Newark police just minutes into the new year Friday, according to the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office.

The shooting occurred just after midnight in the citys South Ward, near South 11th Street and Woodland Avenue, officials said.

The attorney generals office has opened an investigation into the police-involved shooting, but has not released the name of the man who was killed, the identity of the police officers involved or any other details about the incident.

The Newark Department of Public Safety, which oversees the citys police, deferred comment to the attorney generals office.

The attorney generals office is investigating the incident under a law enacted in 2019 that requires an investigation any time someone dies during an encounter with New Jersey law enforcement officers, state officials said.

The last time a Newark police officer shot and killed a person was in 2019, when Officer Jovanny Crespo fired into a fleeing car, fatally wounding one man and critically injuring another. Crespo was indicted for manslaughter.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com.
The world is set for a new beginning in 2021, after a year of the pandemic, which brought lockdowns, deaths and economic recession along with it. People across the world bid adieu to 2020 and welcomed the new year with hopes of well-being, happiness and prosperity.

However, COVID-19 isn't over yet and as a new more transmissable strain has come into existence, several countries have imposed lockdowns, night curfews, and travel limitations. However, with various restrictions, the New year was celebrated around the world and here are some of the captivating pictures from the celebrations.

New Year celebrations at Australia's Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Fireworks explode (Image Source: AP)

Due to the ongoing pandemic Times Square was seen empty, police officers stand along a Seventh Avenue street. (Image Source: AP)

Christ the Redeemer statue illuminated during New Year's Eve celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Image Source- AP)

Fireworks on Tower Bridge in London over the River Thames on New Year's Eve (Image Source- AP)

Thousands of people in the Mbare suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe attend a music concert to celebrate New Year. (Image Source- AP)

A dynamic lighting system at Chennai's Napier bridge. (Image Source: PTI)

Delhi's North Block and South Block lit up on New Year's eve (Image Source- ANI)


Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents





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New law is first to protect Apollo sites from future moon missions



January 1, 2021  Preserving the historic sites where humans first landed on the moon is now not only a good idea, it is also the law.



The United States has enacted its first legislation that requires American companies and other entities working with NASA on new missions to the moon to avoid disturbing the U.S. hardware that was left there 50 years ago. The "One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act" became law on Thursday (Dec. 31).



"I have long advocated for the preservation of the Apollo artifacts, which hold deep cultural, historical and scientific value for not only the United States, but for all of humanity," Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, said in a statement. "It is important that NASA and the United States lead the way in guiding responsible behavior in space, and this legislation to preserve our human heritage in space is, itself, one small step in practicing that leadership."



The new law directs NASA to require future moon missions under its purview to abide by a set of "best practice" recommendations drafted in 2011 "to protect and preserve the historic and scientific value of U.S. government lunar artifacts." The recommendations, which until now have been non-binding, address the paths that spacecraft should follow when descending to the lunar surface and define "keep-out zones" to avoid the purposeful or inadvertent disturbance of the Apollo landing sites. Six missions touched down on the moon between 1969 and 1972.



U.S. commercial enterprises and others seeking contracts, grants or other agreements for lunar activities carried out by, for, or in partnership with NASA will need to agree to stay clear of the human heritage sites on the moon to be eligible for the requested support.



Further, the law requires NASA inform other relevant U.S. federal agencies of the preservation recommendations and encourage their use.



"As we go forward to the moon with the Artemis Program, NASA has been clear that we must do so sustainably," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "As part of the Artemis Accords agreements signed with partner nations, NASA has emphasized that protecting historically significant sites is critical, and I applaud the leaders of this legislation for their commitment to ensuring that future lunar science and exploration is done in a safe and transparent manner."



The Artemis Accords, which to date has been agreed to by nine countries  Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States  also includes the preservation of human heritage sites among its ten guiding principles that serve as the framework for international partners to participate in NASA's Artemis program. (Brazil has signed a statement of intent with NASA to become the first South American country to become a party to the accords.)



The One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act applies to companies such as Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic and Masten Space Systems, which have contracts under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative to deliver science payloads to the surface of the moon. The law also applies to SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics, which are developing human landing systems for the Artemis program.



"The Apollo landing sites mark one of humanity's greatest achievements: the first time we were able to do more than look up at the sky, but actually leave our planet and visit another world," said Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. "The One Small Step Act maintains these historic sites while encouraging the spirit of exploration that got us to the moon."



The bill, as first introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) and passed by the Senate in July 2019, applied to all U.S. federal agencies responsible for licensing activities in outer space, not just NASA as enacted. It also only extended protection to Tranquility Base, the Apollo 11 landing site, rather than all six Apollo landing sites, and provided for a penalty fee for violations, which the law as passed omits.



The changes to the One Small Step Act were made in a companion bill introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Johnson, Lucas, Subcommittee on Space chairwoman Kendra Horn (D-OK) and ranking member Brian Babin (R-TX). The House passed the bill on Dec. 16 and the Senate agreed to the amendments four days later.



The legislation, as enacted, allows the NASA Administrator to waive restrictions on accessing the Apollo landing sites if the reasons for doing so are legitimate and have significant historical, archaeological, anthropological, scientific or engineering value.



"I saw Apollo bring out the best of America and the best of humanity," said Thomas Stafford, a former NASA astronaut who flew to the moon as commander of Apollo 10. "The efforts of Senators Peters and Cruz and Congressmen Johnson, Lucas, Horn, and Babin will help ensure the achievements of the Apollo program serve as a beacon of inspiration  not just for America but for people all over the world for generations to come."



Tranquility Base, the Apollo 11 moon landing site, as photographed on July 20, 1969. A new U.S. law protects the site and the other Apollo landing sites from purposeful or inadvertent disturbance 50 years later. (NASA)







The Apollo 11 landing site, Tranquility Base, as viewed from orbit by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. (NASA/GSFC/ASU)



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Haiti - News : Zapping





217th anniversary of independence wishes

President Jovenel Moise :

"The reasons to celebrate are, I know, far from being justified. But, if together we do it, we will find that vein of hope that will remind us that this country needs all of us to prosper and that we need another Haiti [...]"



Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe :

"Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe wishes you Happy Independence Day and Happy New Year 2021 !"



Consulate General of Haiti in Paris :

"The Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti in Paris wishes you Happy Independence Day and Happy New Year 2021."



Embassy of Haiti in Japan :

"The Embassy of Haiti in Japan shares Ambassador Helph Monod Honorats wishes for a Happy Independence Day with all Haitians, and particularly with compatriots residing in Japan. It also shares her wishes for success, health and prosperity for the New Year to fellow citizens."



May 2021 be a year of light

"After the arrival of the two GE gas turbines (in total: 60 Mw) at the Carrefour Power Plant site, the civil works are progressing rapidly. Very soon, the two turbines will be installed. Happy New Year ! May 2021 be a year of light!" Dr. Evenson Calixte, Director General of the National Energy Sector Regulatory Authority (ANARSE).



Wishes to entrepreneurs and investors

The Ministry of Trade and Industry wishes entrepreneurs and investors a happy and successful 2021. The Ministry is counting on your collaboration in order to create more jobs and more wealth in the country.



Constitution : Council of Ministers

On December 31, President Moise chaired a council of ministers around the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Consultative Committee responsible for drawing up the draft of the new Constitution and the adoption of the decree determining the rules for organizing the constitutional referendum.



Inauguration of the new premises of SEMANAH

This week Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe who participated in the inauguration ceremony of the new premises https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32229-haiti-news-zapping.html of the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH) located in Thorcelle, congratulated the General Director Eric Prevost Jr. for his work. The Head of Government is committed to continuing to support SEMANAH to provide more services to the population.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Gallup: Trump overtakes Obama as Americas most admired man

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President Donald Trump was named Gallups most admired man in 2020, making 2020 the first time in 12 years that former President Barack Obama did not receive that title.

Gallup released its annual list of the most admired man and woman Tuesday based on responses from a random sample of 1,018 adults who were interviewed between Dec. 1 and Dec. 17. For the first time in his presidency, Trump won the honor of most admired man. Eighteen percent of respondents selected him as either their first or second choice when asked what man that you have heard or read about, living today in any part of the world, do you admire most?

Obama came in second, with 15% of respondents naming him as their first or second choice for most admired man of the year. Rounding out the top five most admired men were President-elect Joe Biden (6%), Dr. Anthony Fauci (3%) and Pope Francis (2%). Elon Musk, Bernie Sanders, Bill Gates, LeBron James and the Dalai Lama finished out the top 10, with 1% naming each of them as their first or second choice for most admired man.

The responses given in the survey reflect the partisan divide in the country, with 48% of Republicans naming Trump as their most admired man and no other man receiving more than 2% of their votes. Democrats split their votes between Obama (32%), Biden (13%) and Fauci (5%). Trump and Obama received 11% support each among independents followed by Biden (3%) and Fauci (2%).

Trump reacted to the news on Twitter, sharing video footage from the Fox News program The Five that discussed how Trump tops 2020 most admired man survey. The video clip featured Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe praising his record as president.

...millions more votes than Trump, but cant get anywhere close to him in this poll. No incoming president has ever done as badly in this annual survey. @MarkSteynOnline@TuckerCarlson Thats because he got millions of Fake Votes in the 2020 Election, which was RIGGED!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2020

According to Gallup, The incoming president is usually top of mind when Gallup asks Americans to name, without prompting, which man living anywhere in the world they admire most. In the 74 times Gallup has asked the open-ended most admired man question since 1946, the incumbent president has topped the list 60 times.

Former first lady Michelle Obama was listed as the most admired woman of the year, with 10% listing her as their first or second choice. Kamala Harris came in second place, with 6% of respondents selecting her as their most admired woman followed by First Lady Melania Trump, selected as most admired women by 4% of respondents. Oprah Winfrey came in fourth with 3% of those surveyed identifying her as their first or second most admired woman.

The top 10 list of most admired women was rounded out by Angela Merkel, Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Queen Elizabeth II, who each had 2% of respondents citing them as their first or second choice for most admired woman, and Amy Coney Barrett and Greta Thunberg, who each had 1% support.

As was the case with the most admired man list, peoples choices when asked to name their most admired woman reflected their partisan preferences. Eight percent of Republicans listed Melania Trump as their most admired woman. Barrett and Nikki Haley rounded out the top three choices for most admired woman among Republicans, receiving 4% support each.

Meanwhile, 17% of Democrats selected Michelle Obama as their choice for most admired woman, with Harris coming in a close second with 16% support. Ocasio-Cortez finished a distant third among Democrats, registering 5% support. Michelle Obama also leads among independents, 11% of whom listed her as their first or second most admired woman, followed by Melania Trump at 4%.
Chennai, Jan 1 : The research and development (R&D) units of India's Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) are likely to transfer about 25-30 technologies developed by them to industry, said a top official of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

"Around 25 technologies are likely to be transferred and around five new technologies are likely to be advertised for transfer in the year 2021," K.N.Vyas, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) told IANS.

Currently, more than 150 technologies are available to industry for commercial adaptation.

Last year the R&D units of DAE had transferred 25 different technologies through 38 Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements, said Vyas.

The R&D units of DAE have many other technologies at different levels of readiness and are ready for incubation and further improvisation.

The DAE is inviting emerging entrepreneurs from the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector of the country to participate in this initiative.

A couple of months back the R&D units of DAE had set up technology incubation centres for incubating the startups and others on the technologies developed by them.

Some of the technologies that were transferred during 2020 and the technologies for which more than one transfer agreement were signed (total of such agreements signed is indicated in bracket) are as follows: Agriculture & Bioscience

1. Ambient prolonged storable meal for natural calamities and other targets technology.

2. Safe and Prolonged Storable 'Legume Sprouts' and 'Sweet Corn Kernels technology 3. Cost Effective Production of Xanthan gum (Food and Pharmaceutical Grade) technology (3) 4. A Rapid Composting Technology for decomposition of dry leaves, kitchen waste and temple waste technology (2) 5. Preparation of Biodegradable packaging films using extrusion process technology 6. A process for development of zinc fertilizer formulation from biosludge 7. A post-harvest technology for development of intermediate moisture shrimp 8. A process for development of phosphorus fertilizer formulation from biosludge Microfine neem biopesticide Environment

1. NISARGRUNA-Biogas plant Based on Biodegradable waste resource technology (5) Advanced Instrumentation

1. Fast Current Transformer technology (2) Medical Equipments

1. DEAP - Device to Ease Apnea Problem technology Engineering

1. Bhabha Kavach (EG08MMD) technology - bullet proof jacket (3) 2. Compact Pulsed Plasma based high pressure shock wave generators for constrained liquid immersed spaces Water Technologies

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While restrictions imposed in the fall reduced the number of new coronavirus cases, in recent weeks, Israel has seen them rise to more than 5,000 a day, sending the country back into a third, if partial, lockdown. More than 420,000 Israelis have been infected and 3,325 have died.

Israeli officials have not publicized the exact number of vaccine doses that it has received so far, or how much it paid for them, saying the agreements are confidential. But if it turns out that Israel overpaid compared to other countries, Mr. Edelstein said, the cost would still be worth it even to reopen the Israeli economy one week earlier than it otherwise could have done.

Prof. Jonathan Halevy, the president of Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, said getting in early had been a correct strategy.

With Israel having prioritized health workers and citizens 60 and older, Mr. Edelstein said that a majority of its high-risk population should receive the second of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by late January. About 150,000 Israelis are being vaccinated per day.

Mr. Netanyahu  who is on trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust  has made the vaccination campaign something of a personal mission, taking credit for signing agreements and securing millions of doses from Pfizer, along with Moderna and other companies.

With Israel heading toward another election in March, the countrys fourth in two years, Mr. Netanyahu has made the prospect of a speedy emergence from the health and economic crisis wrought by the pandemic a keystone of his fight for political survival. He has held out the prospect of Israel becoming the first country in the world to be fully vaccinated.
The Howard government was faced with public outrage when a number of residents in a Melbourne nursing home sustained chemical burns when given kerosene baths as a cheap alternative to standard treatment of scabies.

Nursing staff who objected and refused to comply lodged a complaint but instead of any public punishment the government agency set about a drawn out regulatory process of mediation with the owners of the home.

Bronwyn Bishop was heavily criticised for her handling of an aged care scandal in 2000. She would later be made Speaker of the House of Representatives. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

When the scandal was exposed by a whistleblower, then aged care minister Bronwyn Bishop was driven to force the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency to initiate surprise visits and a range of reforms.

In a substantive submission to cabinet, Mrs Bishop proposed new laws removing "unfit" nursing home operators without forcing homes to close.
On December 21, the United States Congress passed the COVID-19 Relief Package, as part of a larger $2.3 trillion bill meant to cover spending for the rest of the fiscal year. As usual, US representatives allocated a massive sum of money for Israel.

While unemployment, thus poverty, in the US is skyrocketing as a result of repeated lockdowns, the US found it essential to provide Israel with $3.3 billion in security assistance and $500 million for US-Israel missile defense cooperation.

Although a meager $600 dollar payment to help struggling American families was the subject of several months of intense debate, there was little discussion among American politicians over the large funds handed out to Israel, for which there are no returns.

Support for Israel is considered a bipartisan priority and has, for decades, been perceived as the most stable item in the US foreign policy agenda. The mere questioning of how Israel uses the funds  whether the military aid is being actively used to sustain Israels illegal occupation of Palestine, finance Jewish settlements, fund annexation of Palestinian land or violate Palestinian human rights  is a major taboo.

One of the few members of Congress to demand that aid to Israel be conditioned on the latters respect for human rights is Democratic Senator, Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, who was also a leading presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. We cannot give it carte blanche to the Israeli government  We have the right to demand respect for human rights and democracy, Sanders had said in October 2019.

His Democratic rival, now President-elect, Joe Biden, soon countered: The idea that Id withdraw military aid, as others have suggested, from Israel, is bizarre, he said.

It is no secret that Israel is the worlds leading recipient of US aid since World War II. According to data provided by the US Congressional Research Service, Israel has received $146 billion of US taxpayers money as of November 2020.

From 1971 up to 2007, a bulk of these funds proved fundamental in helping Israel establish a strong economic base. Since then, most of the money has been allotted for military purposes, including the security of Israels illegal Jewish settlement enterprise.

Despite the US financial crisis of 2008, American money continued to be channeled to Israel, whose economy survived the global recession, largely unscathed.

In 2016, the US promised even more money. The Democratic Barack Obama Administration, which is often  although mistakenly  seen as hostile to Israel, increased US funding to Israel by a significant margin. In a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding, Washington and Tel Aviv reached a deal whereby the US agreed to give Israel $38 billion in military aid covering the financial years 2019-2028. This is a whopping increase of $8 billion compared with the previous 10-year agreement, which concluded at the end of 2018.

The new American funds are divided into two categories: $33 billion in foreign military grants and an additional $5 billion in missile defense.

American generosity has long been attributed to the unmatched influence of pro-Israeli groups, lead among them American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The last four years, however, required little lobbying by these groups, as powerful agents within the administration itself became Israels top advocates.

Aside from the seemingly endless political freebies that the Donald Trump Administration has given Israel in recent years, it is now considering ways to accelerate the timetable of delivering the remainder of US funds as determined by the last MOU, an amount that currently stands at $26.4 billion. According to official congressional documents, the US also may approve additional sales of the F-35 to Israel and accelerate the delivery of KC-46A refueling and transport aircraft to Israel.

These are not all the funds and perks that Israel receives. Much more goes unreported, as it is channeled either indirectly or simply promoted under the flexible title of cooperation.

For example, between 1973 and 1991, a massive sum of $460 million of US funds was allocated to resettling Jews in Israel. Many of these new immigrants are now the very Israeli militants that occupy the West Bank illegal settlements. In this particular case, the money is paid to a private charity known as the United Israel Appeal which, in turn, gives the money to the Jewish Agency. The latter has played a central role in the founding of Israel on top of the ruins of Palestinian towns and villages in 1948.

Under the guise of charitable donations, tens of millions of dollars are regularly sent to Israel in the form of tax-deductible gifts for Jewish settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the New York Times reported. Much of the money, falsely promoted as donations for educational and religious purposes, often finds its way to funding and purchasing housing for illegal settlers, as well as guard dogs, bulletproof vests, rifle scopes and vehicles to secure (illegal Jewish) outposts deep in occupied (Palestinian) areas.

Quite often, US money ends up in the Israeli governments coffers under deceptive pretenses. For example, the latest Stimulus Package includes $50 million to fund the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Funds, supposedly to provide investments in people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation  between Israelis and Palestinians with the goal of supporting a negotiated and sustainable two-state solution.

Actually, such money serves no particular purpose, since Washington and Tel Aviv endeavor to ensure the demise of a negotiated peace agreement and work hand-in-hand to kill the now defunct two-state solution.

The list is endless, though most of this money is not included in the official US aid packages to Israel, therefore receives little scrutiny, let alone media coverage.

As of February 2019, the US has withheld all funds to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, in addition to cutting aid to the UN Palestinian Refugees agency (UNRWA), the last lifeline of support needed to provide basic education and health services to millions of Palestinian refugees.

Judging by its legacy of continued support of the Israeli military machine and the ongoing colonial expansion in the West Bank, Washington insists on serving as Israels main benefactor  if not direct partner  while shunning Palestinians altogether. Expecting the US to play a constructive role in achieving a just peace in Palestine does not only reflect indefensible naivety but willful ignorance as well.

Feature photo | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement at the Israeli Knesset, Dec. 22, 2020. Yonatan Sindel | Pool via AP

Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books. His latest is These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons (Clarity Press). Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) and also at the Afro-Middle East Center (AMEC). His website is www.ramzybaroud.net
Although this was a very difficult year, a year of many losses, Im grateful to be safe, to follow the rules, to do my part, said Marilia Rafael, 33, who celebrated in Portugal, and would like to ask that the next year may be better for all of us, may it be a year of hope, peace and love.
Because a lot of its efforts are now being targeted at pleasing civilians and giving them a feeling of participation in all things extra-terrestrial, NASA released this week what it calls the Landing Toolkit for the mission. It comprises pretty much everything one needs for the experience of watching the landing and making it a memorable one, from posters to challenges.The comprehensive coverage of the Perseverance rover includes everything from the Interactive Virtual Launch Packet, a 3D model of the rover, stickers, posters, and much more. You can find them all by accessing this link Aside from this resources package, NASA wants people to be a part of all this, so it set up a  watch online  guide for the landing, complete with the calendar of upcoming events.Perseverance is scheduled to land on Mars on February 18, with the broadcast from Mission Control expected to start at 11:15 a.m. PST/2:15 p.m. EST. Following that moment, we are promised daily news and images from Mars on a specially created website Perseverance is based on the same platform as the Curiosity rover. Developed by JPLs Mars Science Laboratory, it is about the size of a car and packs a wealth of instruments for the exploration of the neighboring planet.As the first of its kind to target long-term goals, the rover will look for signs of life, track natural resources and hazards, assess the habitability of the environment, and even try to generate oxygen in what is the first attempt humans have ever made at terraforming another planet.It will also pick-up and store rock samples in canisters placed in strategic areas, for a future mission to pick them up and bring them to Earth.
New Delhi:

Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Kumar Khanna sparked a political controversy on Thursday after he said police cannot be deployed everywhere and no government can ensure a crime-free society.



He made the statement hours after four women were allegedly gang-raped and a man was shot dead by a group of armed criminals on the Jewar-Bulandshahr highway.



"We will take strictest possible action in the incident that occurred on the highway. "There cannot be a completely crime-free society... But the BJP government does not patronize criminals, like the previous governments did," he told media persons in Ghaziabad.



The incident, which is a horrific reminder of last year's Bulandshahr gangrape, took place near Sabota village in Jewar around 1.40am when the eight people were going to visit a relative undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bulandshahr in western Uttar Pradesh.



SSP, Gautam Budh Nagar, Love Kumar said a gang of five robbers targeted the vehicle after the driver stopped it near a roadside hut to fix a flat tyre.



The occupants were attacked and, along with an old man who was in the hut, taken to a nearby field. The women were misbehaved with and a man was shot dead when he resisted, he said. The Yogi Adityanath government is facing flak over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Read | Uttar Pradesh: Two minor girls allegedly gangraped at gun point in Muzaffarnagar

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TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp. Agrees to Pay $179.7 Million to Resolve Overpayments from the Department of Veterans Affairs

Washington, DC - TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp. has agreed to pay the United States $179,700,000 to resolve claims that it received overpayments from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in connection with its administration of certain VA health care programs, the Department of Justice announced today.

TriWest, an Arizona corporation headquartered in Phoenix, is in the business of administering government health care programs, including those operated by the VA. TriWest is responsible for administering certain portions of the VA Patient-Centered Community Care Program (PC3) and the VAs former Veterans Choice Program (Choice). Both programs have enabled veterans to obtain medical care from providers in their communities. As an administrator of these programs, TriWest is paid by the VA to coordinate medical appointments and make payments to health care providers.

The settlement resolves allegations that TriWest retained overpayments from the VA in connection with its administration of the PC3 and Choice Programs. The alleged overpayments included payments by the VA to TriWest twice for the same services as well as payments for services for which TriWest received full or partial reimbursement from certain health care providers.

The VAs PC3 and Choice Programs have provided significant benefits to our nations veterans, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Departments Civil Division. The department will continue to support the VA and its Office of Inspector General in ensuring that the VAs programs are administered properly and that taxpayer funds are used as intended.

The VA provides invaluable assistance to those who have sacrificed on our behalf, said U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey for the District of Arizona. It is vital that those who administer programs for the VA be held accountable to do so with the utmost care and integrity.

The VA Office of Inspector General works tirelessly to promote the economy, efficiency, and integrity of the VAs programs and operations, said VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal. This settlement is integral to ensuring that the VAs funds are spent for the benefit of our nations veterans. I appreciate the teamwork and dedication that led to this significant recovery.

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona, the Department of Justice Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch, and the VA and its Office of Inspector General. The claims resolved by the settlement agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Lower ranked students from AP got seats in Telangana state, some of them in prestigious government medical colleges like Gandhi and Osmania (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: More than 100 ineligible students from Andhra Pradesh have sneaked into medical colleges in Telangana state depriving an equal number of local students of their lifetime dream of studying medicine, thanks to the counselling procedure adopted by the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS).

As many as 40 ineligible students were allotted seats in Phase 2 counselling and remaining were accommodated in the phase 3 or mop up counselling. The number of TS students deprived of an opportunity will be much higher because Deccan Chronicle has analysed the allotment of seats in only two categories of the 15 per cent unreserved quota  open and BC-D. There are other categories including Scheduled Castes and Tribes besides A, B and C and E categories in the Backward Classes.

What is more distressing for the local students who lost the opportunity is that half of the students from AP could not get a seat in the 85 per cent local quota in their respective colleges in AP but managed to secure admission in the highly competitive 15 per cent unreserved quota in Telangana state.

Only the most meritorious of students, irrespective of region, should get a seat in the 15 per cent quota as per the admission rules. In reality, lower ranked students from AP got seats in Telangana state, some of them in prestigious government medical colleges like Gandhi and Osmania.

As this newspaper reported immediately after the end of Phase 2 counselling, the university authorities virtually converted the unreserved quota into a reserved quota for non locals.

Forty-seven out of 50 students who secured admission in the unreserved open general quota in Phase 3 were from Andhra Pradesh. It was 30 out of 31 in the women quota of the same category.

In Phase 2, the ratio in the same categories was 23 out of 34 and 13 out of 18 respectively. In the BC-D category, the university authorities allotted 19 seats in Phases 2 and 3 counselling of whom 12 are from AP.

The analysis also led to the startling revelation that the cut-off rank or the rank of the last student who secured admission in the open category of the 85 per cent local quota in Andhra Pradesh was 50858. As many as 35 students from AP who got higher ranks have secured admission in Telangana state.

Some of the students who would otherwise have had to study in the least preferred private colleges in AP got admission in government colleges of Adilabad, Suryapet and Nalgonda in Telangana state.

In case of BC-D category, the cut-off rank for the 85 per cent local quota in AP was 65705. The ranks of some of the BC-D students from AP who joined in Telangana state in the 15 per cent meritorious quota are 67954, 67980, 70897, 71758, 74845, 75225.
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Thousands of ethnic Karen locals stage a protest demanding the closure of a Myanmar Army base and the suspension of military construction work in Hpapun district, southeastern Myanmar's Kayin state, Dec. 30, 2020.

The Myanmar militarys increased encroachment into territory inhabited by ethnic Karen people in southeastern Myanmars Kayin state has caused fresh armed clashes that have forced more than 3,000 villagers to flee their homes, a Karen activist group said Wednesday.

Fighting between the Myanmar military and the Karen National Union (KNU), the countrys oldest ethnic rebel army, resumed in southeastern Kayin state in early December, despite a nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) the ethnic army signed in 2015.

A statement issued by the Karen Youth Network said that the ruling civilian-led National League for Democracy and the government military were responsible for this instance of backsliding on the countrys peace process.

If these activities cannot be stopped, it will only hurt the local civilians, mainly ethnic Karen people, said Saw Kyaw Linn Oo, a member of the KYN secretariat.

Karen people have endured the affects of civil war for nearly 80 years since the time of Myanmars independence, he said. Karen people dont want these armed conflicts anymore, so we are going to take a step-by-step approach to resolve the issue. Saw Kyaw Linn Oo did not elaborate on what this process would entail.

Decades of warfare in Kayin have resulted in about 140,000 of Myanmars roughly six million ethnic Karen people living in refugee camps in nearby Thailand, according to aid groups.

Armed engagements have occurred in the Mae Wai area of Hpapun district, part of the territory controlled by the KNUs Division No. 5, because the Myanmar military has refused to withdraw troops from the area as required by NCA.

On Wednesday, more than 10,000 ethnic Karens staged a protest in the districts Lu Thaw area demanding that the military withdraw soldiers, close a local army base, and suspend military construction work.

Meanwhile, thousands of area residents have left their homes, fearing full-blown hostilities in the restive area where sporadic clashes have occurred between Myanmar soldiers and the KNU since early December, said a local who declined to be named out of concern for his safety.

More than 100 soldiers from nearby Taiti village have been ordered to reinforce existing troops, he told RFA. Now, most of the men in the village have left, and only women and children remain at home.

Everyone is afraid

Tensions between the ethnic army and Myanmar forces are also growing in territory controlled by the KNUs Division No. 1 in Thaton district of neighboring Mon state, because of a buildup of local soldiers backing up the government army and its affiliated Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), locals said.

Villagers are maintaining low profiles to avoid attracting attention from soldiers in the area, said a woman who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

Local villagers are now trying to keep quiet more than before, she said. Some villagers have already fled, including some people from the Kyaik Kaw area. Some have gone to places very far away, while others are staying close to the village.

Villagers are now sleeping under their houses, so they can get to bomb shelters in case of an emergency, she added. No one dares to sleep inside their home. Everyone is afraid.

KNU officials told RFA that leaders from both sides are negotiating, but that they have put their troops on alert.

If the negotiations with Division No. 1 are not successful, there will be more fighting, the first local said.

Colonel Saw Kyaw Myint from the KNUs Division No. 1, told RFA that both sides are closely watching the others movements while top leaders continue their talks.

The military should have withdrawn its troops, he said. If it doesnt, then the situation could get worse. We will have to wait and see. We are now taking orders from the central leadership.

Colonel Saw Ae Do Htoo, external relations officer of the KNUs Division No. 5, said that the current sporadic clashes in the region cannot be resolved through low-level negotiations.

Many local civilians from the Mae Wai area are now fleeing their homes, he said. We are hoping that we can resolve these tensions through meetings and negotiations between top [Myanmar] military officers and our top leaders.

Formal peace process

Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told reporters at a news conference Wednesday in Naypyidaw that leaders from both sides need to negotiate through Myanmars formal peace negotiation process.

The military has informed the KNUs head office to supervise its soldiers more carefully as these armed engagements could derail the ongoing peace process that both the military and the KNU are working on, he said. I believe that this issue can be resolved through the negotiations.

Nang Say Awa, a civilian member of the state-level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC), which monitors the implementation of the NCA, expressed concern over the situation, but stressed that the two sides must resolve their differences.

We are all concerned about the situation, [and] we empathize with both sides, he said. But as a civilian organization, the JMC has only limited power. It is the troops from both sides who need to negotiate and compromise.

Min Zaw Oo, executive director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, who has been has been involved in the ongoing peace process in Myanmar since its inception, agreed that the new clashes in Hpapun are affecting the countrys peace process.

The weakening trust of each side will lead to armed engagements, casualties on both sides, and local civilians fleeing homes, he said. The local people will distrust the entire peace process. All in all, these armed engagements severely affect the peace process.

The KNU is one of 10 ethnic armies that have signed the NCA, a pact intended to end decades of conflict that have stymied Myanmars political and economic development.

Though the KNU is an NCA signatory, it has been involved in skirmishes this year, triggered by government soldiers entering KNU-controlled territory for road construction work.

In July, thousands of ethnic Karens rallied outside army outposts demanding justice for a villager shot dead by two drunk Myanmar Army privates during a scuffle and called on the government to withdraw its troops from the district.

Reported by Saw Nyunt Thaung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Colorado Springs School District 11 added to the number of schools pivoting to remote learning amid the increase in coronavirus cases in El Paso County.
Doctors say they will defy Government orders to give a second dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to elderly patients who were promised one when they got their first jabs.

A row has broken out over ministers' decision to ration vaccine supplies to get single doses to as many people as they can in a scramble to stem the tide of Covid deaths.

Officials, warning that supply shortages could last until spring, have said patients who already had one dose of the vaccine should have their second one - which they were told they'd get three weeks later - postponed for up to 12 weeks.

But doctors have revolted and said they won't deny vulnerable patients the vaccines they promised them amid concerns the jabs won't work as well with just one dose.

GPs blasted the policy as 'grossly unfair' and frustrated scientists warned that clinical trials of the vaccine only tested how well it worked with a three-week gap, so there is no evidence the new regime would work long-term.

Experts backing the policy change, however, have hit back and said every second dose that gets given is one more person missing out on their first, potentially life-saving vaccine.

Former Department of Health vaccination chief Professor David Salisbury said: 'Every time we give a second dose right now, we are holding that back from someone who is likely, if they get coronavirus, to die.'

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, said in a letter with his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that single dose could offer between 70 and 90 per cent protection against Covid-19, and having this in a larger number of people would be more effective than 95 per cent protection in half as many.

They said there is 'no strong evidence' to suggest that the Pfizer jab will work any less well if the doses are spaced apart, and they are confident the Oxford one will be just as good, if not better.

The Government has not yet laid out whether there will be sanctions for doctors who refuse to switch to the one-dose policy, with one doctor saying NHS bosses had told her to use 'clinical discretion'.

Margaret Keenan returned to hospital this week to receive her second round of the Covid-19 vaccine, but thousands of other patients are set to see their appointments delayed under a new scheme aimed at getting more people to receive their first dose

Margaret Keenan, the first person in the world to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, received her second jab earlier this week.

But thousands of others across Britain will see their second appointment delayed so the NHS can focus on delivering jabs to more people.

A total of 944,539 people across the UK had received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by December 27, according to the Department of Health.

The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) warned the 'ill thought-out' plan to delay the second dose would leave many vulnerable staff in limbo.

Doctors across the country say they will carry on with the original three-week vaccination plan for patients who were promised it when they got their first jab.

GPs working for Black Country and West Birmingham NHS boards, as well as a doctor in Oxford, said they would honour the commitments they had made to patients.

PFIZER HITS BACK AT UK PLAN TO GIVE PEOPLE ONE DOSE NOT TWO Pfizer warned yesterday there is 'no data' to show a single dose of its coronavirus vaccine provides long-term protection after the UK scrapped its original jab rollout plan. The UK medical regulator is now recommending Covid jabs are given in two doses three months apart, rather than four weeks apart, to allow millions more people to be immunised over a shorter time period. The strategy will apply to both Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine and the newly approved jab by Oxford/AstraZeneca, despite limited data around the effectiveness of the initial doses. It is a direct response to spiking Covid cases and hospitalisations across the UK that are being driven by a new, highly infectious strain that emerged in the South East of England in September. Virtually the whole of England is facing brutal lockdown until the spring, with Covid vaccines the only hope of ending the devastation. Health bosses now want to give as many people as possible an initial dose, rather than holding back the second doses, so more of the population can enjoy at least some protection. AstraZeneca praised the move and revealed it had tested the three-month strategy on a small sub-group of trialists in its studies. But Pfizer said there was 'no data' in its studies to show its vaccine protects against Covid when taken 12 weeks apart. In a thinly-veiled swipe at the UK, the US firm warned that any 'alternative' dosing regimens should be closely monitored by health authorities. 'Data from the phase three study demonstrated that, although partial protection from the vaccine appears to begin as early as 12 days after the first dose, two doses of the vaccine are required to provide the maximum protection against the disease, a vaccine efficacy of 95 per cent,' Pfizer said in a statement. 'There are no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days.' Advertisement

One medic in Walsall told The Telegraph: 'Our patients consented to a vaccine schedule of two doses and doing anything other than that would be doing them a disservice.'

And Dr Helen Salisbury, from a surgery in Oxford, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was about not 'reneging on our promise'.

She said: 'We were... told we could use our clinical discretion, and that's what we are doing.

'There are several reasons. One is the science  we really don't have any data, as far as I've been able to ascertain, maybe there's data they haven't released  but we don't have data about immunity after the first dose beyond 21 days when people got their booster in their trial, so we don't know what happens.

'But the second and, I think, more important, is about our patients and our very vulnerable patients, the elderly, who we want to protect most and the relationship we have with them. Their trust in us, their trust in science and the vaccine.

'When you've started a patient on a course of treatment and you've said 'This is what the plan is, here's one jab, please come back in three weeks, it's really important you have the second jab to be fully protected' and then, to turn round five minutes later and say, 'Don't worry about that, it's okay, you can have it in 12 weeks not three weeks' - I don't think that's good enough, actually.'

In a statement published by the UK's chief medical officers last night they said the decision had been made on a 'balance of risks and benefits'.

The medical officers are Professor Whitty (England), Dr Frank Atherton (Wales), Dr Gregor Smith (Scotland) and Dr Michael McBride (Northern Ireland).

They said: 'We have to ensure that we maximise the number of eligible people who receive the vaccine.

'Currently the main barrier to this is vaccine availability, a global issue, and this will remain the case for several months and, importantly, through the critical winter period.

'The availability of the AZ vaccine [Oxford/AstraZeneca] reduces, but does not remove, this major problem. Vaccine shortage is a reality that cannot be wished away.'

And they said there is no reason to suggest the vaccines will be any less effective if doses are given further apart than intended.

The report added: 'With most vaccines an extended interval between the prime and booster dose leads to a better immune response to the booster dose.

'There is evidence that a longer interval between the first and second doses promotes a stronger immune response with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'There is currently no strong evidence to expect that the immune response from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would differ substantially from the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines.'

Arguing the case for the Government, Professor David Salisbury, a former vaccination director at the Department of Health and now expert at the Chatham House think-tank, said the policy was simply about saving lives.

He said vaccinating as many people as possible is now the top priority, even if it means the vaccines are slightly less effective than they would be in an ideal scenario.

He told BBC Radio 4 this morning: 'The reason for doing this is to save lives...

'In a perfect world there would have been huge stockpiles of vaccines, there would be no problems about rolling the vaccines out as fast as you need them, but we are facing rising cases, rising hospital admissions and rising deaths.

'We have to do something and administrative inconvenience is really not a good reason to fail to save lives.'

He added: 'Every time we give a second dose right now, we are holding that back from someone who is likely, if they get coronavirus, to die. And much more likely to die than somebody who has already had a single dose.

'I just think it's so clear that this is what we should be doing.'

Explaining the thinking behind the dosing change, the UK's medical officers said they were 'confident' that one dose of either the Pfizer or Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine would give most people 'substantial protection' against Covid-19.

They added: 'In terms of protecting priority groups, a model where we can vaccinate twice the number of people in the next 2-3 months is obviously much more preferable in public health terms than one where we vaccinate half the number but with only slightly greater protection.'

The letter was published yesterday following a fierce backlash against the Government's plans to postpone people's second doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

That jab, the first one to be approved by the UK and put into use from December 8, was trialled as a two-dose vaccine and found to be 95 per cent effective at preventing Covid-19 in clinical trials where the doses were given three weeks apart.

Scientists have not yet published data on how well the vaccine would work if the doses were spread out more, with a longer period between each jab.

Pfizer itself hit back at the British Government's plan to change the way the vaccine is used and said this week: 'Although partial protection from the vaccine appears to begin as early as 12 days after the first dose, two doses of the vaccine are required to provide the maximum protection against the disease, a vaccine efficacy of 95 per cent.

'There are no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days.'

Doctors are angry at the decision, which means they have to cancel appointments already made for hundreds of thousands of patients who have already had a first dose.

Paul Donaldson, general secretary of the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA), said the decision was 'bizarre' and 'ill thought-out'.

He said: 'While a planned and orderly deployment of the Oxford vaccination including longer timelines makes epidemiological sense, the decision to throw a spanner in the works of the existing Pfizer rollout appears simply bizarre unless there is an unknown hitch in supply.

'We are hearing that vulnerable hospital doctors at high risk from Covid have been told not to turn up for their second dose and therefore will not receive full protection.

'They are now left in limbo by a hastily formulated policy which seems extremely ill thought-out.

'For example, to make contact with even just 2,000 elderly or vulnerable patients will take a team of five staff at a practice about a week, and that's simply untenable.'

England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty said vaccine shortage 'is a reality that cannot be wished away,' in a joint letter with his counterparts in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

IS THE UK'S GREAT VACCINATION DRIVE DOOMED ALREADY? Retired doctors desperate to roll their sleeves up and help Britain administer 2million Covid vaccines each week to end the continuous cycle of lockdowns by the spring have today hit out at the NHS 'red tape' that requires them to prove they aren't terrorists before they're allowed to chip in. Ex-medics wanting to be deployed straight onto the frontlines to dish out the jabs have complained of the bizarre requirement to submit up to 21 documents in their application, including evidence that they have had any Prevent Radicalisation training. Dr Melanie Jones, a former anaesthetist in South Wales, urged the NHS to 'bend some rules' so they can use their 'Dad's Army' of up to 40,000 retired doctors and nurses who volunteered to help in the spring. Another retired medic claimed they 'wouldn't bother' applying after hearing about Dr Jones' ordeal on social media. Despite their pleas, GPs tasked with delivering the vaccine say they urgently need more workers to help the UK drastically ramp-up the speed of the mammoth operation, which is considered the only hope Britain ever has of returning to normal life before the spring. But the NHS has yet to call upon the Army to help turbo-charge the roll-out, with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today insisting the military 'stands ready' to deliver as many as 100,000 doses a day, should it ever be called upon by the health service. Even Tesco has offered to hand over its network of refrigerated lorries and warehouses to turbo-charge the roll-out. Matt Hancock has repeatedly promised the draconian restrictions that have been enforced on a rolling basis since March can be lifted when millions of the most vulnerable members of society have been given the jab  but No10 has never committed to an actual figure, leaving the nation completely clueless about when it will be possible for them to return to living a normal life. And Downing Street's plan vaccinate 2million people against Covid every week could already be doomed before the biggest inoculation drive in British history has even properly started, despite pleas from Labour for ministers to 'move heaven and earth' and rapidly speed up the roll-out. In another blow to plans of drastically ramping up the vaccination drive, NHS England figures today revealed the speed at which jabs were given out slowed over the Christmas break  dropping from a rate of around 292,000 jabs a week to 243,000 in the seven-day spell ending December 27. And a MailOnline analysis has revealed the UK may not be able to vaccinate all 30million Brits listed on the priority list until December 2022, if the NHS is only able to continue at the current pace. And it would take twice as long to ensure they are given the necessary second dose. Even if health chiefs manage to ramp up injections to a million a week, it could still take until August next year for No10 to complete 'Phase One' by giving one dose of the jab to the most at-risk members of society. Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday promised Britain would deliver the jabs as soon as it gets them, with the boss of AstraZeneca - whose coronavirus vaccine was given the green light yesterday - insisted they could deliver 2million doses a week by mid-January. But supply issues could scupper the grand plans. No10's vaccine taskforce originally promised 30million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab by the end of the year before scaling back their claim to 4million  but have since warned of 'manufacturing challenges'. Mr Hancock yesterday revealed Britain will only have 500,000 doses ready to go from Monday. Advertisement

Other healthcare experts have said the move to delay second doses will cause huge problems for thousands of partially vaccinated elderly and vulnerable people.

Richard Vautrey, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee, said: 'It is grossly and patently unfair to tens of thousands of our most at-risk patients to now try to reschedule their appointments.

'The decision to ask GPs, at such short notice, to rebook patients for three months hence will also cause huge logistical problems for almost all vaccination sites and practices.'

The approval of the vaccine made by Oxford University and AstraZeneca should speed up the roll-out once it starts being administered from Monday, January 4.

That jab can, unlike Pfizer's, be kept in a normal fridge instead of a specialist freezer and will be much easier to transport and store, meaning it can be distributed to vaccination centres in bigger batches and used for a longer period of time between deliveries.

The number of vaccines Britain gives out before lockdown rules can start to be loosened will depend on the 'risk appetite' of the Government and how well they work in real life, scientists say.

There are around 31.7million people on the official waiting list for a jab, which includes everyone over the age of 50, people who are younger but seriously ill, and millions of NHS and social care workers.

Currently the UK is giving out 300,000 doses per week, a figure which is expected to speed up when clinics start using the game-changing Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab which was approved yesterday.

MPs and experts are calling for the vaccines to be given out at lightning speed in a desperate bid to stop the spread of the new coronavirus variant, which new evidence suggests may be so infectious that lockdowns can barely contain it.

Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, yesterday urged ministers to 'move heaven and earth to roll out vaccination starting with two million jabs a week'.

Even at this ambitious speed  almost six times the rate vaccinations are currently being given out  it would take until April to get one dose to everyone on the priority list.

But there is hope some restrictions could be lifted before the list is completed, with Matt Hancock saying No10 can lift restrictions 'when enough people who are vulnerable to Covid-19 have been vaccinated then'. However, he has never committed to an actual figure.

One scientist, however, told MailOnline it was impossible to put a logical number on when this would happen, and it would depend on how much risk the Government is willing to take. If lockdowns are lifted too soon, there could be a surge in severe cases, hospital admissions and deaths in groups who are at moderate risk but not priority for a vaccine, such as the middle-aged.

The NHS says people over 70 and those with the most serious long-term health conditions are at 'high risk' from Covid-19. These, combined with health and care workers, make up a group of 14.3million people, who could be given a single dose each within seven weeks at the ambitious rate of 2m per week, so by mid-February.

But lifting lockdown rules by then would involve putting younger groups, such as those in their 60s, 50s and 40s, at risk from a then-uncontrollable virus, and it would mean the people already vaccinated wouldn't have the full protection of two doses, which both vaccines require.

Herd immunity, in which so many people are vaccinated that the virus can't spread any more, will be impossible with the current strategy, scientists warned, with US infectious diseases director Anthony Fauci saying he doesn't expect the country to 'approach normality' until the end of 2021, even with 80 per cent of the population getting vaccinated.

It is more likely that the UK's restrictions will be phased out over a longer period to stop the virus spiralling among younger people, who still have a small risk of hospitalisation, death or long-term complications.

Scientists said they expect the current cycles of lockdown to carry on into the late spring or even the summer even if the vaccination programme goes to plan, meaning England faces many more months of misery.
Ghaziabad: A 57-year-old farmer, a Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) supporter from Baghpat, died on the first day of the New Year at the UP Gate protest site amid the bone-chilling cold. Police officials said that the family did not opt for post-mortem and his body was sent in an ambulance to his hometown.

The deceased, identified as Galtan Singh, had joined the protest two days ago and occupied a roadside space below the UP Gate flyover. The man had come along with his two brothers and a son who said that they will perform the last rites in Baghpat and rejoin the protest.

He came along with others from our village Nangal Bhagwanpur two days ago. Today morning, he complained of breathlessness and his son rushed him to a nearby hospital but he died before he could reach the hospital, said Azad Singh, elder brother of the deceased.

We are taking his body to our village for the last rites. We dont want to leave UP Gate and have told our leaders that we will rejoin the protest after completing the last rites, he added.

Thousands of protesters from western UP, Uttarakhand and Punjab are part of the ongoing protests at the UP Gate and have occupied the area since November 28 for their demand of repeal of the Centres three new farm laws and a new law on minimum support price.

During the recent sixth round of talks with the government, the government representatives had told the farmers leaders that women, children and elderly should be sent back home as the weather conditions are adverse.

There has been a proposal to this effect from the government and we told them that this will be placed before our core committee. Meanwhile, we told people to go back but none of them is ready to go. So far, about 40 persons have died during the ongoing agitation at different protest sites. Fridays was the first death at the UP Gate, said Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of BKU.

Following the death, farmer leaders paid tributes and also arranged for an ambulance to send the body to Baghpat.

Gyanendra Singh, superintendent of police (city 2), said, The family did not opt for post mortem of the deceased and we sent the body in an ambulance to Baghpat. People at the site told us that he suffered breathlessness and died soon thereafter.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary on Friday arrived at the UP Gate protest site and urged the farmers to continue their agitation. I am here to uplift the morale of the protesters and support them. I have urged them to carry on their protest peacefully and the government will succumb to their demands. Anyone who supports farmers should come out and support them, he said.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
The 2021 calendar by well known Kildare photographer Pat Tinsley have been flying off the shelves throughout Kildare.

The calendar is packed with a collection of local pictures taken by Pat and is a fund raiser for the Newbridge man who is suffering from hereditary amyloidosis.

They are on sale at the Leinster Leader offices in Toughers Business Park; in Castledermot, Monasterevan, Kildare, Kilcullen, Two Mile House, Ballymore Eustace, Naas, Rathangan, Prosperous, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Sallins, Celbridge (Nallys SuperValu) and from the Liffey Champion in Leixlip.

Following a petition signed by over 4,000 people in 2020 and various representations by Senator Fiona OLoughlin; Minister of State, Martin Heydon, family and friends, Patisiran, the drug Pat desperately needs is now back up for consideration by the HSE.

This rare, fatal and debilitating illness has seen Pats health deteriorate and he has now lost over 50lbs (22kgs) in weight and finds ordinary daily tasks exhausting, with an average of 15 hours sleep per day.

Patisiran is used to treat hATTR amyloidosis but is not available in Ireland although it is available in NI, the UK, the US and in many other European countries.

The drug was listed on the agenda for Julys meeting of the HSE Drugs Group when it was hoped the HSE might approve the reimbursement of Patisiran.

When it was not approved, families and patients living with the condition worked hard to contribute submissions and were fully expecting that it would be considered at the December meeting of the HSE Drugs Group. Pat and others were devastated when it was realised that Patisiran was not listed on the agenda. Due to the efforts of various public representatives and friends of Pat Tinsley, Patrisiran is firmly back on the agenda now for the January 2021 meeting.
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The Central Bank has warned of some potential disruption for customers as UK firms lose the automatic right to provide services here.

The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Ed Sibley, said there may be some residual disruption to financial services in the coming days or weeks after the UK leaves the single market.

We will continue to monitor for any potential issues arising and will work to ensure that these issues are managed on a timely basis, he said.

Business and consumers who do business with UK regulated banks and insurers or other financial firms have been warned to check that payments can still be processed and services remain valid.

The Central Bank says UK banks, insurers and other financial firms have now lost their automatic right to do business in the European Union, following the end of the Brexit transition phase.

Trade in goods and services with the UK must now be done in accordance with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

While most financial services providers are well prepared for the end of the transition period, it means that UK authorised firms will no longer be able to provide financial services to Irish customers on a cross-border basis (passporting). Any customer who currently uses the services of a UK-based financial services provider, and has not yet been contacted by them, is advised to contact their provider to confirm whether they have obtained all necessary authorisations to allow them to continue to provide services to their Irish customers, the Central Bank said.

Preparations ahead of the break with the EU include what is called a temporary run-off regime of 15 years for insurance  where firms that meet the conditions set out in legislation.

This will mean that for any customers who hold a policy with a UK service their policy can remain valid for this period.

From today Irish creditors with direct debits in place to the UK may need to provide their bank with additional information to avoid payment requests being rejected, the Central Bank said.

Online Editors
/ Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

PORTLAND - Two brazen thieves allegedly smashed their way into a Marlborough Street gun shop overnight this week and made off with numerous handguns, police said.

The two initially bashed in a portion of a large plate-glass window in the front of the Central Connecticut Arms, LLC, store and then used a tire iron to widen the hole, police said.
British people living in Brussels who oppose Brexit hold a candlelit vigil outside the British embassy as the transition period comes to an end in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Johanna Geron/Reuters)

UK Ends Long Brexit Journey With Economic Break From EU

The United Kingdom completed its split from the European Union on Thursday.

Britain formally exited the EUs single market and customs union as the transition period expired at 23:00 GMT, and began trading with the 27-member political and economic bloc under the new free trade agreement reached on Christmas Eve.

The split comes 11 months after the UK formally left the EU on Jan. 31, 2020three and a half years after the UK public voted to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum.

Britain has just become a fully independent country again  deciding our own affairs for ourselves. Thank you to everyone who worked with me & @BorisJohnson to get us here in the last 18 months. We have a great future before us. Now we can build a better country for us all.  David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) December 31, 2020

Britain has just become a fully independent country againdeciding our own affairs for ourselves, said David Frost, the UKs chief Brexit negotiator.

We have a great future before us. Now we can build a better country for us all, he wrote on Twitter.

In his New Year message, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK is now free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU.

There will be plenty who will be only too happy to say goodbye to the grimness of 2020. But this was also the year when we rediscovered a spirit of togetherness, of community. In 2021 we have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it. Happy New Year! pic.twitter.com/gDRXe2SuCb  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 31, 2020

This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands, and it is up to us to make the most of it, he said.

Johnson stressed national unity in his speech, saying he believes it will be the overwhelming instinct of the people of this country to come together as one United KingdomEngland, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland working together to express our values around the world.

But Brexit has put the union under significant strain. Though the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU by 52 to 48 percent in the 2016 referendum, both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain.

On Wednesday, when the British Parliament voted overwhelmingly to approve the Brexit trade deal, the regional assemblies of Scotland and Northern Ireland both voted to reject the deal, saying Brexit is against the will of the people they represent.

Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on, Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who opposes Brexit and favours Scottish independence from the UK, said in a Twitter post on Thursday night.

Britains main opposition Labour Party voted for the deal, but said it did so only to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer had said prior to the parliamentary vote that the deal is a thin agreement that doesnt provide adequate protection to British businesses and workers.

French president Emmanuel Macron expressed regret over the situation in his traditional New Years address, saying, The United Kingdom remains our neighbor but also our friend and ally. This choice of leaving Europe, this Brexit, was the child of European malaise and lots of lies and false promises.

Frances European affairs minister, Clement Beaune, said the promises made by Brexiteersa sort of total freedom, a lack of restrictions, of influenceI think will not happen.

The new arrangement enables Britain and the EU to continue tariff-free trade in goods. Until now, annual trade between the two sides amount to some 660 billion pounds ($894 billion).

But companies will face new costs and paperwork, including customs declarations and border checks under the 1,200-page trade deal.

The British government announced that the border systems and infrastructure we need are in place, and we are ready for the UKs new start.

The deal also does not cover Britains much larger and influential finance sector. The services sector, which makes up 80 percent of Britains economy, does not know what the rules will be for business with the EU in 2021many of the details have yet to be hammered out. Months and years of further discussion and argument over everything from fair competition to fish quotas lie ahead as Britain and the EU settle into their new relationship.

Britons and EU citizens have lost the automatic right to live and work in the others territory and have to follow immigration rules and obtain work visas. Tourists will not need visas for short trips, but Britons visiting the continent face other administrative formalities from travel insurance to pet paperwork.

Lily Zhou and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Second Amendment of the United States reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. It may be surprising, but prior to 2008, the Second Amendment did not give any individual the right to own a weapon.

In 2008, the landmark decision of District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008), for the very first time, recognized the Second Amendment gives an individual a right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. In McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 742 (2010) the U.S. Supreme Court also affirmed the Heller decision and made the Second Amendment applicable to state governments.

In the Heller case, the majority opinion, written by one of the most distinguished conservative justices, Justice Antonin Scalia, stated: Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues.

Justice Scalia also specified, The Courts opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on long-standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. Justice Scalias comments simply mean that there are well-established limitations on any persons right to bear arms.

For example, a law enforcement officer investigating a potential crime has the right to frisk a person for (the) officers safety and remove any weapon that individual may have in their possession. Furthermore, if the weapon is part of the evidence being gathered during the investigation, the officer has a right to keep the weapon until further determination by the courts. In New Mexico, anyone carrying a concealed handgun needs a license. Thus, if anyone is concealing a handgun without a license and an officer stops that person, the officer may keep the gun as evidence of a crime. Law enforcement officials also have the right to request search warrants from a judge to seize any weapon that may be part of an investigation.

In New Mexico property owners can prohibit the carrying of firearms onto property they lawfully possess by either posting signage or verbally notifying people that guns are not allowed. Thus, if anyone is carrying a gun in violation of the property owners prohibitions, an officer is legally permitted to impound the gun as evidence of a crime. As Justice Scalia explained, carrying a firearm, with or without a permit, is also restricted in many locations or by convicted felons or the mentally ill. Thus, these are just some of the circumstances where law enforcement officers currently have the right to remove and keep firearms until further determination by the courts.

In May of last year, the governor signed into law another gun regulation which many call the Red Flag Law. This law is intended to provide a process, with judicial oversight, that allows law enforcement officers to confiscate firearms when there is probable cause to believe that the gun owner poses a significant danger of causing imminent personal injury to themselves or others. This law is reminiscent of practices in Old West movies where the sheriff would confiscate weapons and require everyone to remove their side arms before entering the town in order to maintain public safety or avoid trouble.

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Some argue the Red Flag Law is simply another tool for law enforcement to maintain public safety, and a more sophisticated attempt to revisit these Old West practices, with added protections of judicial oversight and review. Others argue this law is an infringement of the Second Amendment.

There is little doubt our New Mexico Supreme Court will be asked to resolve this dispute some day in order to protect and define the rights contained in the Constitution. Whatever the outcome, Im sure everyone can agree that great care should be taken to ensure everyones safety. We all know that any weapon, including guns, and some of the people that use them, can be dangerous. Lets remember that the courts, and ultimately, the Supreme Court, is the proper place to present, argue and resolve any differences  because no one wants any more shootouts at the O.K. Corral.

Judge Frank Sedillo presides over the civil division of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the judge individually and not those of the court.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : In a step closer towards India approving its first coronavirus vaccine, the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation on Friday recommended emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca's 'Covishield' vaccine.

The application will be sent to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) V.G. Somani for final approval.

The expert panel had convened a meeting on Friday afternoon to take a call on the emergency use authorisation sought by the Serum Institute of India, which is Covishield's manufacturer, and Bharat Biotech for their coronavirus vaccine candidates.

A decision on Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was still awaited at the meeting which is still underway, the Health Ministry said.

The Pune-based Serum Institute has partnered with Oxford-AstraZeneca for conducting clinical trials and manufacturing 'Covishield' while Bharat Biotech has collaborated with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to make 'Covaxin'.

America's Pfizer was the first one to apply for the accelerated approval on December 4, followed by Serum and Bharat Biotech on December 6 and 7, respectively. Pfizer has, however, sought more time to present the data.

As India awaits for a silver bullet against coronavirus with bated breath, the DCGI, on Thursday, hinted at the approval of vaccine and said that the country will have a "Happy New Year with something in hand".

The meeting comes a day before dry-run of the vaccine is slated to commence in all the states and Union Territories to equip the administration in management of vaccine supply, storage and logistics, including cold chain management.

The Central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of the drive. It will be offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with 2 crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
UTICA, NY  On Monday, Xavier Harris was his usual happy self. The 4-year-old couldnt sit still, running around the house and teasing his older brothers. He was a flurry of motion, his mom said.

But Xavier  who was called Xavy by his family  spiked a fever that day, said his mom, Chantel Brooks. Like any kid, hed had fevers before and it wasnt too high, so his mom gave him some Tylenol.

On Tuesday, Brooks learned her mom had tested positive for COVID-19. Xavier had spent a night over the weekend at his grandmothers. They had worn masks, but Brooks was still worried.

She called his pediatrician, who said not to bring him to urgent care, but to monitor his symptoms.

Six days after he first got sick, the spunky, wiry, super-active, 40-pound Xavier was dead. Brooks said doctors told her he died of cardiac arrest as a complication of COVID-19.

I miss my little guy calling my name 57 times a day just to tell me hi,' she said Thursday. I miss him crawling into bed with me. Now I look and hes not there. I cant sleep.

Coronavirus deaths among children are very rare.

In New York state, only nine children 9 years old or younger have died of COVID-19, according to the state Health Department.

Children make up 0.07% of all COVID-19 deaths, according to a report this month by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association based on data from 42 states. In all, 172 children nationwide have died of Covid, the report said.

Xavier, who was in pre-K in Utica, had been very healthy, his mother said.

He wasnt a sick child at all. He didnt have any underlying conditions, she said. Im the one who had cancer and am diabetic. Everyone was afraid Id get it, which is why we wore our masks all the time and used Instacart.

When Xavier didnt get better and his fever rose to 104, Brooks drove him to the St. Lukes Hospital emergency room in Utica Wednesday morning. She told them about her mom testing positive for the coronavirus, so they tested Xavier, but he was negative.

They did a chest X-ray, she said, and found two white spots on his lungs. They put in an IV, as he couldnt keep anything down, including liquids, she said.

Brooks said she asked if he could have another COVID-19 test. This time, Xavier tested positive.

On Christmas, Xavier was still in the hospital but his fever broke and he started asking for something to drink. He was talking, smiling and telling the doctors he just wanted to watch his Toy Story 4 movie and go home. Doctors said if he continued to make progress, hed be released the next day.

Brooks called her two other sons, Darell, 12, and Jeremiah, 10. They said they wanted to wait for their little brother to come home Saturday before opening gifts.

Suddenly, on Friday, Xavier began struggling to breathe, Brooks said. Another chest X-ray showed the spots on his lungs had increased. Early Saturday morning, they rushed him to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, she said.

In Upstates emergency room, he was surrounded by doctors and nurses, who Brooks said were wonderful to him. Xavier was conscious, talking and asking for his mom.

He didnt seem that sick,' she said. He would smile at the doctor, but then didnt want to be touched by anyone. He told me he wanted to go home.

The doctors attending to Xavier let his mom hold his hand. Dont leave me,' his mom recalls her son saying. She assured him she wasnt going anywhere until he went with her.

Suddenly, Brooks said she heard the machine stop beeping next to his bed.

They rushed me out of the room to work on him, but I saw his face and I knew he was gone,' she said. I knew it was bad, but I hoped they could do something to get him back.

Xavier died at 7:20 a.m. the day after Christmas. Brooks said she was told he went into cardiac arrest a result of COVID-10.

The doctors let her into the room to see her son, and she sat for some time holding his hand and telling him how much she loved him.

I love you and Im so sorry, Brooks recalled saying to him over and over.

Xavier Harris (second from left) poses for a holiday photos with his mom, Chantel Brooks, and his brothers, Jeremiah, 10 and Darell, 12.Provided photo

Brooks, a 32-year-old single mom, is left with a giant hole in her heart, and a lot of questions. Why her son? Why did this happen?

Xavier was a welcome surprise, she said, born after shed suffered a miscarriage and wasnt sure she could have any more children.

I lost my miracle baby,' she said. I dont feel normal anymore. I feel like Im not complete.

Reeling from Xaivers death and his funeral Wednesday, Brooks said she is comforted by the support from her family, friends, colleagues from the Utica City School District where she is a teaching assistant, and also from strangers. People have sent cards, brought food and contributed to a fundraiser to pay funeral expenses.

Brooks and her two sons have tested negative for COVID-19. Her mothers only symptoms were a cold and cough. Shes recovered now.

Brooks wants people to know getting sick from the coronavirus can happen to you, young or old. No one is safe, no one can be sure they will recover.

We followed the guidelines,' she said. How can it spread so rapidly? To me, its just crazy. I dont want anyone else to experience what I have just been through.

Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Contact her anytime at 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com
Laredos Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) discussed the latest COVID-19 relief package on Wednesday and how it will impact people around the country and in the Gateway City.

Three packages were put together with the COVID-19 relief bill being the main one in contention in Congress and with the president in regards to the stimulus checks. The other two bills focused on issues related to appropriations and taxes, and he said more information will become available for them in the next week.

The COVID-19 relief bill focuses mainly on stimulus checks and providing millions of dollars for vaccine distribution along with more money for small businesses, nonprofit organizations and schools.

Since there are millions of checks getting sent out to reach the people they must, it will take time before all the people get their checks, Cuellar said. However, families can expect those already to be coming in soon.

The stimulus checks will also now cover some people who were not eligible in the first wave of stimulus checks because they filed their taxes with their spouses who did not have a permanent residency in the country. Cuellar said these families might even still be eligible to receive the initial $1,200 they did not get the first time because of this new inclusion added to the recovery bill.

Although he agrees people who are not legally in the country should not get stimulus checks because of their status, he does support the idea that their legal spouses, whether permanent residents or American citizens, should receive them. He believes that blocking them from receiving assistance the first time was wrong.

Some people around the city have already reported receiving the stimulus funds in their bank account and others should receive it soon.

The bill also included many other forms of financial assistance for organizations and programs. Cuellar said it even includes funding for cultural institutions that have struggled during the pandemic such as theaters and venues that help promote local arts. He said local media was also provided with eligibility for aid under the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill also provides help for small nonprofit organizations, rental assurance for struggling families and funds for schools and nutritional programs.

We expanded PPP eligibility to cover local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, Cuellar said.

Cuellar acknowledged the issuance of $600 stimulus checks is already late in comparison to the first wave of stimulus checks. However, he said House Democrats have tried since May to get a second relief bill with the same amount of $1,200 and have recently also sent a bill to increase the stimulus checks to $2,000 stimulus to the Senate. Despite the backing of the House and the President, the bill has been met with opposition in the Senate. However, Cuellar remains hopeful a solution can be reached.

If the Senate agrees with us, then we would send out an additional $1,400 to make it the $2,000 depending on what the Senate does, he said.

Cuellar said continued calls by people claiming Congress does not care about American people is misinformation by the president and his administration as the bill does not have any foreign aid attached to it. A separate annual appropriations bill passed during the same time which does so as requested by the presidents administration.

There is some foreign aid in the appropriations bill that is done every year, but that is a separate thing, Cuellar said. What is interesting also is that the president also requested foreign aid, and we pretty much gave him the foreign aid which he requested.

Cuellar said foreign aid had nothing to do with the agreement of the stimulus checks, as that is a separate issue and foreign aid represents less than 1% of the American budget.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
COVID-19 has definitely upended prices and spending habits in 2020.

As we cocooned at home, far-flung vacations and even trips to the local movie theater, were replaced by backyard cookouts and Netflix viewing. We spent record amounts at the supermarket and less out at restaurants and bars.

Now, as we bid farewell to the year, experts suggest well continue to pay high prices for some goods and services in 2021.

Heres a look at everything from groceries to streaming services and cars.

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls are going up, again.

Those driving on the turnpike should expect to pay more in 2021, and those without E-ZPass will pay significantly more. This marks the 13th consecutive year for a turnpike price hike.

In July, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission approved a 45-percent increase for Toll by Plate drivers at toll facilities converted to All-Electronic Tolling in June. There are a handful of tolling locations which had already gone cash-free; those locations will only see a 6-percent increase for Toll by Plate drivers.

The commission approved a 6-percent toll increase for all E-ZPass rates systemwide.

The most common toll for a passenger vehicle will rise from $1.50 to $1.60 for E-ZPass customers and from $2.50 to $3.90 for those choosing Toll by Plate, the commission said.

The new rates take effect Jan. 3.

DirectTV

AT&T is raising prices for first-year service customers of DirecTV and U-verse TV service. Starting Jan. 17, the majority of DirecTV customers will be paying $5 to $9 more each month, depending on the plan, according to Consumer Reports.

Comcast

Also, the nations largest cable company is raising prices for cable TV and internet service starting on Jan. 1. Its also boosting add-on fees, according to Consumer Reports. While Comcasts prices vary by market, Consumer Reports says the price of its Choice TV plan will go up about $5 per month, from $25 to $30.

Medicare

As it does most years, Medicare cost adjustments kick in on Jan. 1. Increases for premiums and out-of-pocket costs for most beneficiaries - most whom are 65 years and older - are modest this year. Starting in 2021, the standard monthly Part B premium will be $148.50, up from $144.60 in 2020.

Home improvement projects

Due to the pandemic, supplies of materials such as lumber have been disrupted, causing prices to skyrocket. That means higher prices for home improvement projects, whether a new fence or deck or remodeling project.

The National Association of Home Builders reported prices for lumber more than doubled from less than $400 in January to more than $900 in September. Prices dropped off in October but remain higher than a year ago.

Realtor Joy Daniels, owner of Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, at a Shiremanstown property she listed at $190,000. The home is under contract, having sold after receiving multiple bids during three days on the market. December 11, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Homes

A housing shortage coupled with strong demand and low mortgage rates has created a booming real estate market. But for those looking to buy, its going to continue to cost you more.

The Associated Press reported prices were up 7.9% in October compared with 12 months ago, according to Tuesdays S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index.

The Harrisburg market is ranked among the top 10 markets, according to Realtor.com, where prices are expected to increase by 6.9% while sales are expected to increase 13.1% compared to 2019.

That is significantly higher than the national projection of 5.7% price appreciation and 7 % sales growth.

Groceries

After a year of rising grocery prices related to the pandemic, prices are expected to only slightly rise in the new year. The United States Department of Agriculture reports prices of food purchased from stores such as grocers and supermarkets will likely increase between 1 and 2%.

Coffee

Right now, coffee prices are level, mostly because demand at coffee shops is down due to the pandemic and more people working from home. But eventually, when the virus goes away, coffee drinkers will return to old habits, which could lend itself to an uptick. However, according to Forbes the weather in key growing areas such as Brazil and Vietnam could have more of an impact on prices in 2021 and boost prices, as it has been too rainy in Vietnam and too dry in southern Brazil.

Used Cars

Used cars are considered a favorite by penny-pinchers. But while you can still land a deal, youll pay more for that set of wheels than you did a year ago. Thats because temporary shutdowns of new car manufacturing early on in the pandemic pushed shoppers to used car lots. Plus, commuters looking to avoid mass transit wanted an affordable option. The average price increase for used cars is 9.5 percent or $2,193 compared to 2019, according to iSeeCars.com, a car search engine.

Disney +

Disney+ is introducing loads of new content in the new year, but its going to cost you more. A subscription is increasing by $1 to $7.99 per month starting March 2021, and $79.99 for a yearly subscription.

U.S. Postage

Some U.S. Postal Service prices are rising starting on Jan. 24. While the cost of a first-class forever stamp will remain at 55 cents, other changes include:
By Steve Cortes

This year has been dominated by the pain and suffering thrust upon the globe by the criminal acts of the Chinese Communist Party. Even amid these harsh challenges, President Trump persevered to reach historic achievements. Therefore, as the year draws to its conclusion, it is worth detailing his 2020 accomplishments, as I have previously catalogued for each of the last three years.

The vaccine. Millions of Americans have begun the process of inoculation, leading to an eventual reality where COVID-19 becomes a bad memory. The speed of this achievement defied skeptics and amazed scientists everywhere. Along with the brilliant government researchers and innovative private sector pharmaceutical companies, Trump deserves enormous credit for his inspiring leadership of Operation Warp Speed.

Broadening the nationalist movement. The America First uprising pre-dated Trumps entry into politics, with roots in the Tea Party cause. But the movement found its indispensable leader in Trump. Not content with his upstart victory of 2016, Trump massively broadened the movement, in every sense. Geographically, Trump gained vote share in each of Americas four largest cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston) in 2020 vs. 2016. He added 500,000 raw new votes in Los Angeles County alone. Among the 11 million new voters rallying to Trumps candidacy were millions of Latinos, as the president split the Hispanic vote in . The America First uprising pre-dated Trumps entry into politics, with roots in the Tea Party cause. But the movement found its indispensable leader in Trump. Not content with his upstart victory of 2016, Trump massively broadened the movement, in every sense. Geographically, Trump gained vote share in each of Americas four largest cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston) in 2020 vs. 2016. He added 500,000 raw new votes in Los Angeles County alone. Among the 11 million new voters rallying to Trumps candidacy were millions of Latinos, as the president split the Hispanic vote in Florida and gained 10 percentage points over 2016 to earn 40% of the Hispanic vote in Texas . Under Trumps leadership, in 2020 the America First cause morphed into a large, sustainable, multi-ethnic, cross-racial workers movement.

Abraham accords. For the first time in a quarter-century, Arab nations agreed to normalized relations with Israel. Trump harnessed diplomacy combined with toughness toward Iran to forge truly historic new ties in the region. The 2020 agreement among Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain represents a massive breakthrough, one that encouraged similar pacts with Morocco and Sudan.

Economic recovery. The rally from the spring lockdown lows defied all predictions, and included massive surges in home and automobile sales, as pickup truck purchases . The rally from the spring lockdown lows defied all predictions, and included massive surges in home and automobile sales, as pickup truck purchases soared to all-time highs. The U.S. economic performance was the envy of the advanced world. The U.S. stock market roared back far higher than the indices of Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Simply put, in 2020 the United States was an island of growth amid an economically stagnant

The wall. Contrary to the media narrative, considerable progress has been made in building the presidents controversial border barrier, despite constant obstructionism from both Congress and the courts  and the unrelenting hostility of the press. Some 423 Contrary to the media narrative, considerable progress has been made in building the presidents controversial border barrier, despite constant obstructionism from both Congress and the courts  and the unrelenting hostility of the press. Some 423 new miles of impressive border walling now stand guard at our southern border. Officials of Customs and Border Protection make it clear that the wall plus Trumps remain-in-Mexico asylum policy regained control of our previously lawless border region.

Trade agreements. For decades, our government pursued disastrous trade deals at the behest of K Street lobbyists, benefiting foreign nations plus the top executives of American multinationals, regardless of the harm to American workers. Trump won the presidency vowing to fix these untenable trade structures, and in 2020 he signed the USMCA pact with our neighbors Mexico and Canada, a material improvement over the outdated and unfair NAFTA championed by bipartisan globalists. This success led to the Phase Two agreement with China as well, continuing the process of holding Beijing to account for its massive abuses of America via product dumping, industrial espionage, and a dearth of trade reciprocity.

Afghan peace deal. This commander-in-chief pursued an America First foreign policy of realism and restraint. It paid off. As made clear by the December 2019 bombshell Afghanistan Papers, published by the Washington Post, Trumps predecessors misled our citizens while wasting precious American lives and treasure during that pointless two-decade war. Trump is winding down such adventurism and reached a historic peace deal with the Taliban in 2020. Despite howls from the America Everywhere foreign policy establishment inside the D.C. Beltway, Trumps deal to end the Afghan war has won rare, broad, bipartisan . This commander-in-chief pursued an America First foreign policy of realism and restraint. It paid off. As made clear by the December 2019 bombshell Afghanistan Papers, published by the Washington Post, Trumps predecessors misled our citizens while wasting precious American lives and treasure during that pointless two-decade war. Trump is winding down such adventurism and reached a historic peace deal with the Taliban in 2020. Despite howls from the America Everywhere foreign policy establishment inside the D.C. Beltway, Trumps deal to end the Afghan war has won rare, broad, bipartisan support among voters.

Striking down terrorists. Instead of wasteful and unsuccessful mass invasions or grandiose commitments to nation-building, this president used surgical strikes to eradicate threats to our security. After Americas successful hit against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, the 2020 strike against Iranian military leader and terrorism exporter Qasem Soleimani eliminated perhaps the most dangerous terrorist in the Middle East. Soleimani directly engineered the slaughter of American troops in Iraq, and he met instant justice courtesy of American missiles in an attack ordered by an intrepid commander-in-chief.

Space force. The first new branch of the U.S. military in decades, Trump showcased his vision as an unpredictable political leader in establishing Space Force as the sixth U.S. military branch as part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. America now stands as the only country with an independent, dedicated military space force. Such foresight highlights Trumps willingness to think in unconventional ways.
The administration in West Bengals Birbhum district on Friday issued an order, asking Visva Bharati authorities to immediately stop the construction of a wall along a road - which connects the twin towns of Santiniketan and Sriniketan.

District Magistrate Vijay Bharti, who inspected the area on Thursday, said the wall, if built, could hinder peoples movement along the route.

Locals had long been using the route, and no restriction can be imposed all of a sudden, he said, adding that problems need to be solved amicably through discussions.

Visva-Bharati authorities, however, refused to comment on the matter.

The administration has also taken over another road -- connecting Upasana Griho to Kalisayar More -- from Visva- Bharati, which was inaugurated in 2017.

Several heritage buildings, including the Rabindra Bhavan museum, and monumental sculptures -- the ones built by artist Ramkinkar Baij -- dot the 2.9-km road.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her recent visit to Bolpur, had said that the Public Works Department would take back the possession of the road from the varsity.

Authorities of the central university had recently drawn the ire of Banerjee, after media reports suggested that vice chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty accused Nobel laureate Amartya Sen of illegally occupying land.

Last year, the state had locked horns with Visva- Bharati officials over erection of a wall around the Poush Mela ground, in the vicinity of the varsity campus.
The blocked USD 63 million in funds of designated terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based outfits, in 2019 as part of its crackdown on foreign terrorist organisations, according to an annual report by the treasury department.

The report released by the Department of Treasury on Thursday states the blocked USD 342,000 in funds of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), USD 1,725 of the Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) and USD 45,798 of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-al-Islami.

All the three groups are Pakistan-based terror outfits. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-al-Islami is a Islamic jihad group operating primarily in Kashmir.

Another Pakistan-based Kashmir centric terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has USD 4,321 blocked by the US in 2019 as against USD 2,287 the previous year, the report said.

For the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the US blocked USD 5,067 in 2019 as against a paltry USD 318 in 2018.

The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is the leading US Government agency responsible for implementing sanctions against the assets of terrorist organisations and terrorism-supporting countries.

The federal body implements these sanctions as part of its general mission to administer and enforce economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals.

According to the report, in 2019 the US blocked USD 63 million in funds of nearly 70 designated terrorist organisations, with the highest being USD 3.9 million of the al-Qaeda group. While the total blocked funds in 2018 was USD 46 million, that of the al-Qaeda was USD 6.4 million that year.

The list includes the Haqqani network (USD 26,546). It is a significant increase from USD 3,626 in 2018.

The US continues to block USD 580,811 in funds of the Sri Lanka-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has remained the same for two years -- 2018 and 2019.

The report indicated a significant drop in Taliban funds being blocked by the US from USD 296,805 in 2018 to USD 59,065 in 2019.

According to the report, the combination of sanctions programmes targeting terrorists and terrorist organisations with those targeting terrorism-supporting governments constitute a wide-ranging assault on terrorism and its supporters and financiers.

The US also blocked USD 200.19 million in funds of countries designated as sponsors of terrorism -- Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Argentina passes abortion bill despite resistance from evangelicals, Catholics

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Despite fervent opposition from the nation's evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics, the national government of Argentina voted to allow elective abortion before 14 weeks gestation.

In an early morning Wednesday vote, the Senate in the South American country voted 38-29 to pass a measure previously approved by the Chamber of Deputies, according to the BBC.

Reacting to its passage on Twitter, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez wrote: "Safe, legal, and free abortion is law."

"Today we are a better society that expands rights to women and guarantees public health," he added.

Fernandez has promised to sign the legislation.

The vote comes after an unsuccessful attempt to legalize abortion in 2018 when the Senate rejected a similar measure.



Until now, abortion was only available in Argentina in the event of a rape or if the mother's life was in jeopardy as a result of the pregnancy.

Supporters of the bill are hailing it as a positive human rights development, especially that it happened in Latin America  long considered a culturally conservative country where the Roman Catholic Church and a growing evangelical Christian population has considerable sway over society  and that it portends a future trend in the region.

According to France24 Sunday, though Catholicism remains a force in Argentina, evangelicals have emerged to the front lines in the fight against abortion legalization since 2018.

Sociologist Fortunato Mallimaci told the outlet that evangelical Christians "have the momentum of the reborn."

During recent street protests in Buenos Aires, evangelicals waved blue handkerchiefs in contrast to the green ones abortion rights supporters waved.

Argentina is the home of Pope Francis, who had previously likened abortion to hiring an assassin but who stayed quiet in the current debate though he tweeted, hours before the Senate debate began Tuesday, that "the Son of God was born an outcast, in order to tell us that every outcast is a child of God. He came into the world as each child comes into the world, weak and vulnerable, so that we can learn to accept our weaknesses with tender love.

After the vote, the group Pro-Life Unity said the date of the bill's passage would be remembered as one of the most macabre days in recent history. Similarly, the Roman Catholic bishops' conference in Buenos Aires said in a statement that the legislation "will deepen even further the divisions in our country" and lamented that the nation's leadership was distant from how most of the nation feels about abortion.

The Argentine bill permits private medical institutions and health professionals to opt out of performing an abortion procedure but they will have to refer the woman to another medical center.

The vice president of Argentina, Kristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who served as president from 2007 to 2015, presided over the vote and said she was persuaded to change her mind about abortion, having opposed its legalization as president.

The push to legalize the practice was helped along by the "piba" revolution in recent years; piba is Argentine slang for "girls." Opinion polling throughout the nation also showed opposition to abortion had decreased.




If you let onlookers tell it, Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West have been doomed from the beginning. Their entire relationship has been shrouded in rumor, gossip, and doubt from its inception with plenty of people predicting the couple would crash and burn at any moment.

On the one hand, the couples relationship has been marked with lots of drama, and their tendency to put themselves in the spotlight  both individually and as a couple  has ensured that people will spend plenty of time picking their relationship apart. On the other hand, the couple has definitely proven that theyre in it for the long haul and have built a life together that surpasses their critics expectations.

Once again, the couple is facing rumors of an impending divorce, but is this just another case of critics spinning their wheels without any real reason to doubt the couples relationship?

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West in Paris | Marc Piasecki/GC Images

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West seemed an unlikely couple

Kardashian and West had each risen to fame independently of one another before their relationship began. West had earned renown and attention for his prolific rap career and also for his tendency to make headlines for his strange  and often off-putting  behavior.

Kardashian was well known for her work in reality TV, especially as a star on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Called famous for being famous, Kardashians high-profile relationships  including some messy divorces  had given her a reputation of using her love life to keep fans talking.

Its perhaps understandable, then, that many people doubted Kardashian and West would have a serious relationship. They were both known as opportunists who wanted to keep their own names in the headlines, so many suspected their relationship was one of convenience rather than authentic love.

Proving their doubters wrong

Exclusive: Kim Kardashian and Kanye west are spending time apart to focus on themselves but they are "still a family and they come together for the kids." https://t.co/yNRgNzuVu3 pic.twitter.com/CJYz10ESUP  E! News (@enews) December 15, 2020

RELATED: How Did Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Meet?

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West definitely have a unique relationship, but they have also proven their doubters wrong when it comes to the authenticity and depth of their love for one another.

West has supported Kardashian through challenging moments, even walking off stage in the middle of a performance to fly to her side when she was robbed in Paris. Kardashian has been by her husbands side as hes had some very public mental health struggles, and she frequently comes to his defense when critics attack him.

They have a family of four children, and they have been open about Kardashians experiences with pregnancy issues and their use of surrogacy to grow their family. Even as the family splits their time between California and Wyoming, their arrangement seems to be working for them.

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West deny their relationship is in trouble

#tbt On their first date, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West played the floor piano at FAO Schwarz  Happy Valentines Day! pic.twitter.com/MsL7uzcQ9V  Pigeons & Planes (@PigsAndPlans) February 14, 2019

RELATED: Kim Kardashian West Reveals Who Makes More Money Between Her and Kanye West

Divorce rumors have swirled around the power couple pretty much since the moment they got married, and this year has been no different. Reports from sources like Vulture state that the pair are living separate lives have focused on the fact that Kardashian spends more time in California while West tends to stick to their Wyoming ranch.

Adding fuel to the fire, during a very public breakdown that has since been attributed to a bipolar episode, West tweeted that he had been trying to divorce Kardashian for a long time.

However, the couple does not seem to be giving any credibility to the rumors that a divorce is imminent. Kardashian explained to fans that West was struggling with his mental health during those tweets, and theyve since been deleted.

They continue to post pictures together and suggest that their relationship  however atypical  is working the way they want it to. Some fans are happy to see them together, and a Reddit thread on the topic explored how they might be good for one another despite all the ups and downs.

I love them together. Im glad they have each other, but Im extra glad he has her, one fan wrote. I think theyre in a much healthier relationship than people like to claim, another added.
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if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
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By Vic Strecher and Will Johnson

The Covid-19 pandemic and concurrent economic collapse have been remarkable for their uneven impact. The coronavirus has decimated elderly populations while largely sparing children. The U.S. GDP plunged by the sharpest rate ever, while the stock market posted record highs.

Now we have data confirming another way that were really not all in this together. A new survey of American adults by The Harris Poll in collaboration Kumanu, a well-being technology company, reveals whos entering 2021 doing better or worse  financially, mentally, physically and existentially  by 13 job sectors.

There are two big surprises to us.

The first: How many working Americans say they are doing better today across the board than they were before Covid-19 erupted in the U.S. nine months ago. They include teachers and others in education, despite how fundamentally their jobs were changed by remote learning.

The second: How much worse most essential workers feel. Those in food and hospitality suffered by all four measures, as expected, but so did those in another handful of sectors including public services which takes in police and firefighters. And while they saw more purpose from their work, those in health care say both their mental and physical health worsened during the pandemic along with their financial position.

Theres one thing our poll substantiates that probably shouldnt surprise anyone: Its a great time to be an investment banker or a techie. And pity the poor consultants, stuck at home and pining for face time with their clients.

When it comes to finances, five groups have come out solidly ahead during the pandemic, according to our survey of American workers: education, financial services, retail, sales and marketing, and technology. In finance and tech, more than half of employees say they gained financially in 2020. Those in retail did even better, with 65% saying they had more money at year-end and only 11% reporting they were worse off as Covid-19 bonus pay and e-commerce hiring more than offset layoffs and furloughs.

Story continues

Groups losing significant financial ground include consulting, real estate, and transportation. Only 2% of consultants say their finances improved, while 59% in real estate say theirs deteriorated.

Employee perception of financial changes since the COVID-19 pandemic by occupation. (The Harris Poll)

Asked to assess their mental and physical well-being, respondents were about evenly split. Reporting better overall health were workers in construction, education, financial services, retail, sales and marketing, and tech. The biggest gains in physical health were in construction  58% feeling better and 10% feeling worse  while the biggest improvements in mental health were in sales and marketing, with 56% reporting feeling better and 13% feeling worse. Those is tech stand out, too, with 51% ending up physically and 54% mentally.

Those saying theyre entering 2021 in sharply worse health are in health care, consulting, office support and real estate. Four in 10 in consulting and real estate say their physical health has declined, and over 70% in real estate say theyre in poorer shape mentally. In office support, just 11% say their mental health is better.

And yet, people in some of the categories brought down by the pandemic have ended up feeling more enriched by their work. Despite their other setbacks, six in 10 health care workers say their jobs give them a greater sense of purpose than they did in 2019, as their frontline roles reminded them of the reasons they choose health care careers in the first place. Psychic rewards are valuable, too. Also finding more purpose on the job are people who came out winners in other categories: education, financial services, sales and marketing, and tech.

Feeling less purpose at work, on the other, are employees in construction, consulting, food and hospitality, office support, public services, real estate, retail, and transportation. Fully a third in real estate and 21% in consulting say theyre getting less from their jobs than they did before the corona crisis.

Employee perception of changes in strength of work purpose since the COVID-19 pandemic by occupation. (The Harris Poll)

The new year probably will be different for many Americans as vaccines enable people to return to work and social behaviors theyve had to shun. We cant say when the pandemic will end. But theres one thing we can confidently predict about this new normal: We wont all share its benefits equally.

-

Vic Strecher is CEO of Kumanu, a well-being technology company, and professor of public health at the University of Michigan.

Will Johnson is CEO of The Harris Poll, one of the worlds leading public opinion research firms.

About The Harris Poll:

Founded in 1963 by pollster Lou Harris, The Harris Poll is one of the worlds leading public opinion, social intelligence and strategy firms. Through continuous pulsing of society in the U.S. and internationally, Harris helps clients interpret, adapt and respond to constantly changing issues. Widely recognized for its polls and insight on voter sentiment, The Harris Poll also leverages bespoke polls to advise Fortune 500 C-suites on how to meet the evolving needs and wants of their customers and other stakeholders.

In 2017, The Harris Poll joined the Stagwell Group to create the largest independent data-driven digital market services firm in the U.S. The Harris Poll is run by Co-CEOs Will Johnson and John Gerzema, two veteran strategists with backgrounds in analytics and brand marketing from senior roles at WPP agencies BAV Consulting and Young & Rubicam.

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Atlanta-headquartered CNN has taken an unexpected role in the upcoming Georgia runoff, which is that of fact-checker ... on Democrat Jon Ossoff.

According to Jeff Charles at RedState:

CNN actually fact-checked a lie told by a Democratic candidate running in one of the most critical races in this election season. Yes, I know were all experiencing a bit of cognitive dissonance at the moment, but lets take a look. Ossoff spoke with Fox News reporter Peter [D]oocy on Wednesday evening about the upcoming election. During the exchange, Doocy asked if Ossoff had any concern that the allegations of wrongdoing by Rev. Warnock could possibly be a drag on the Democratic ticket. Ossoff responded, stating deceptively that Sen. Kelly Loeffler campaigned with a member of the Ku Klux Klan. [H]eres the bottom line, Kelly Loeffler has been campaigning with a klansman, Ossoff lied. Kelly Loeffler has been campaigning with a klansman, he repeated, and so she is stooping to these vicious personal attacks to distract from the fact that shes been campaigning with a former member of the Ku Klux Klan. He later tweeted the footage on his Twitter account, repeating the lie. The video has gone viral.

With an election this close and this pivotal, and everyone knowing which side CNN is on, it's natural to wonder what's going on.

Offhand, five theories can be put forward:

First, the ever-shriveling network knows it's shot its credibility wad with listeners as the Democrats' jellyfish ally, everyone knowing that they manipulate the news for leftists. That may be the result of recent undercover footage by James O'Keefe showing them slanting the news, and packaging it according to the left's "narrative." Could be a move to regain respectability, which for them is a long climb up.

Second, they may believe that criticizing Ossoff does him no harm, so pound away, they'll flick away a few critics of their lapdog news coverage just by calling an obvious whopper out. Maybe they know a fix is in, and like Joe Biden, aren't trying too hard.

Third, they may know enough about the viewing public at this late date to recognize that extremely dishonest coverage backfires. They know the public is not stupid and if they sense a smeary put-up job, claiming that Loeffler is campaigning with a Klansman, the voters will only be more motivated to vote for Loeffler and against the Democrats. Maybe that.

Fourth, maybe it was a rogue operation, someone wanted to stick it to someone else, maybe a boss, and someone is going to get fired.

Fifth, maybe they dislike Ossoff and like the rest of us, consider him a clown. A look at Ossoff's threats and promises and history with CNN might reveal something afoot.

Whatever it is, it got our attention. Something strange is going on at CNN.

Image credit: Anupamtree / Anupam Chakravarty, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 14:36:55|Editor: huaxia

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by Shiran Illanperuma

COLOMBO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) is offering benefits to all mankind with its success in building socialism, said Dr. G. Weerasinghe, general secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka.

Over the past 100 years since its founding in Shanghai in 1921, the CPC has made miraculous achievements and further developed Marxism-Leninism, the party leader told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"Capitalism took centuries to develop through exploitative methods and wars, but socialist China has been able to achieve economic development peacefully within a matter of a few decades," Weerasinghe stressed.

Noting that China under the leadership of the CPC has achieved the objective of eradicating poverty by 2020 and is now on the path of achieving socialist modernization, Weerasinghe said he has no doubt that the CPC is capable of making China a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020 and a modern socialist country by 2049.

The coming years would be crucial for the development of socialism in China and would require the strong, centralized leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, he said.

"The international communist movement will be strengthened with the success of building socialism in China. All mankind will benefit," Weerasinghe said.

Touching upon the COVID-19 pandemic, Weerasinghe said as the first country to identify and largely defeat COVID-19, China has been providing technical assistance to other countries and actively supporting the World Health Organization's COVAX program, which aims to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for all participating countries, delivering on the expectations of other developing countries.

The achievements in combating the COVID-19 pandemic has proved the capabilities of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Weerasinghe noted.

"The CPC's genuine commitment and dedication to a community with a shared future for mankind is proven beyond doubt by the way it is facing the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. Enditem
Kentucky police have found 'no evidence' of explosives after they evacuated the downtown area of Lexington after reports of a bomb threat involving an RV.

At 8.30pm, Lexington police tweeted that officers are 'working an incident in the area of Short Street and Market'.

'Pedestrians and motorists are asked to avoid the area,' officers wrote.

Patrol cars were seen blocking off intersections in the downtown area Thursday night as bars were evacuated.

The scene was cleared around 10.15pm after police said they found 'no evidence of explosives'.

'Officers made contact with the driver of the RV and no explosives were located,' Lexington Police said in a statement.

Kentucky police are evacuating the downtown area of Lexington (road block pictured) after reports of a bomb threat involving an RV

At 8.30pm, Lexington police tweeted that officers are 'working an incident in the area of Short Street and Market'

Earlier in the night, authorities were seen directing traffic away from the apparent suspicious activity.

In a follow up tweet, the department said: 'AVOID DOWNTOWN Traffic is shut down and the area of Vine to Third Street and Broadway to Martin Luther King Blvd is being evacuated.'

A witness in the area shared on Twitter that their vehicle was parked by the RV in question. 'Bomb threat in an RV in downtown Lexington, KY right now. Downtown is being evacuated. Of course my car is parked next to said RV...' the individual wrote.

Another person shared: 'Part of downtown Lexington being evacuated due to lone RV in random parking lot. Apparently K9 sniffed something suspicious. Of course #newyearseve2020 ends like this. Wife and I having dinner 75 feet from RV.'

A local reporter shared on Twitter that one couple said 'they were told to get out of the area because of a bomb threat'.

'They said the police were operating a robot,' the reporter tweeted.

Another individual shared: 'My wife and I were evacuated from Dudleys. We were told there was a suspicious vehicle in the adjacent parking lot.'

The incident has sparked fears that the RV could contain explosive devices similar to those in Nashville, Tennessee. On Christmas Day, the explosion took place in the heart of the Nashville's historic downtown, killing the bomber and injuring at least eight people.

A witness in the area shared on Twitter that their vehicle was parked by the RV in question

The explosion damaged dozens of buildings. Federal officials are continuing to investigate the motive of the man they identified as the bomber, 63-year-old Anthony Quinn Warner.

Just moments before the explosion, a recording blaring from Warner's RV warned locals in the area to evacuate immediately.

Officials are continuing to assess building damage caused by the bombing as law enforcement officials on Thursday allowed media outlets the first opportunity to survey the downtown Nashville explosion site.

The photos show blown out windows, debris spilling out of buildings onto sidewalks and a dark crater where the bomb directly went off.

'Our priority is to try to make residents and businesses whole and Metro is working to get business owners and residents back into their properties as quickly as possible and to assist those who've lost their jobs,' Mayor John Cooper said.

City officials hoped to finish their assessment of the structural damage of the 41 affected buildings by next week.

Gov Bill Lee has asked the White House for an emergency declaration to free up money and resources to impacted business owners. The federal government is reviewing the request.
Leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan has delivered a New Years message stating the following:

Dear compatriots, my very beloved sisters and brothers of Artsakh and the Diaspora,

In just minutes, the year 2020 will go down in history. Unfortunately, it will go down in the history of Armenian statehood as a year of irreversible losses, inhumane pain and indescribable disappointment. The year 2020 began with the coronavirus pandemic and ended with the war in Artsakh and political instability. On November 9, the incompetent authorities transferred 75% of Artsakh to the enemy by signing a capitulation document.

The 44-day war took the lives of the best sons of the Armenian nation, that is, over 5,000 soldiers. It is the duty of all Armenians to always commemorate our heroes. Glory and respect to the boys and men! It is the duty of the Armenian people to return the victory, the pride of Armenians and turn your children into the followers of the victorious generation. Today I dont want to talk about political mistakes and the anti-national and treacherous decisions that were made since there will be many occasions to talk about them in the future.

Unfortunately, Armenia is ending the year with many unresolved issues, the undetermined fate of thousands of missing persons and prisoners of war and nearly 40,000 Armenians of Artsakh who have been left homeless. These problems can be solved, if there is sufficient political will and the determination to solve them.

Yes, our homeland is hurt, but we all need to help get it back on its feet and fight together to make sure our generations have a homeland.

On this New Years Eve, I only want next year to be a year of peace for Armenia, a year during which all missing Armenians will return to their homes. Our homeland is in an extremely difficult situation, but I am certain that the Armenian people will rise like the phoenix, create, build and have more children

This is the type of Armeniansthis is the fate of Armeniansthis is what it means to be Armenian

May God protect all Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora
Berlin: BioNTech is working flat out with partner Pfizer to boost production of their COVID-19 vaccine, its founders said, warning there would be gaps in supply until other vaccines were rolled out.

The German biotech startup has led the vaccine race but its shot has been slow to arrive in the European Union because of relatively late approval from the bloc's health regulator and the small size of the order placed by Brussels.

The delays in rolling out the home-grown vaccine have caused consternation in Germany, where some regions had to halt vaccinations within days of starting an inoculation drive.

"At the moment it doesn't look good - a hole is appearing because there's a lack of other approved vaccines and we have to fill the gap with our own vaccine," BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin told news weekly Spiegel.

Sahin founded BioNTech with his wife, Oezlem Tuereci, who is the company's chief medical officer. Both faulted the EU's decision to spread orders in the expectation that more vaccines would be approved quickly.

The United States ordered 600 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer shot in July, while the EU waited until November to place an order half that size.

"At some point it became clear that it would not be possible to deliver so quickly," Tuereci told Spiegel. "By then it was already too late to place follow-on orders."

After publication of the interview, BioNTech said it was in talks with Brussels on boosting output

We are in productive discussions with the European Commission on how to make more of our vaccine in Europe, for Europe," a spokeswoman said.

NEW PRODUCTION

BioNTech hopes to launch a new production line in Marburg, Germany, ahead of schedule in February, with the potential to produce 250 million doses in the first half of 2021, said Sahin.

Talks are also under way with contract manufacturers and there should be greater clarity by the end of January, he added.

Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Twitter that German authorities would do everything possible to enable a swift start in Marburg.

The federal government, which has backed BioNTech with 375 million euros ($458 million) in funding, has resisted calls from opposition leaders to speed production of its vaccine by issuing compulsory licences to other drugmakers.

Another vaccine from Moderna is expected to be cleared by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Jan. 6.

Spahn has also urged the EMA to quickly approve the Oxford University-AstraZeneca shot cleared by Britain. The EU timeline for that treatment remains uncertain.

That vaccine was approved by India's drug regulator on Friday for emergency use, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

VIRAL VARIANT

Sahin said the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which uses messenger RNA to instruct the human immune system to fight the coronavirus, should be able to cope with a new, more contagious variant first detected in Britain.

"We are testing whether our vaccine can also neutralise this variant and will soon know more," he said.

Asked about coping with a strong mutation, he said it would be possible to tweak the vaccine as required within six weeks - though such new treatments might require additional regulatory approvals.

Sahin also said BioNTech would make its vaccine, which requires storage at about minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit), easier to handle, adding that a next-generation vaccine could be ready by late summer.





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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In The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything (Doubleday, Apr.), physicist Kaku explores what he calls the deepest mysteries of space and time using string theory.

How would you explain string theory in just a few sentences?

The Greek mathematician Pythagoras thought that the rich diversity of matter could be explained by music. By hitting a lyre string, a vast number of notes or resonances are created, obeying a precise set of mathematical rules. This, he thought, was a simple metaphor which could explain why our world was so beautiful but so complex. Today, if you had a super microscope, you might see that an electron is like a rubber band. But each note on this tiny rubber band is actually a subatomic particle. By hitting the string, you can recreate all the subatomic particles. Then physics has been reduced to the harmonies one can write on a vibrating string. Chemistry is the set of all interactions of these strings. The universe is a symphony of strings.

What fascinated you about string theory?

When I was eight years old, I heard a story that changed my life. The news said that a great scientist had just died, but could not finish his greatest work. What could be so difficult that the greatest scientist of our time could not finish it? Later, I found that this was Albert Einstein, and he was attempting to read the mind of God. He wanted a single equation that could unify all the laws of nature. To me, it was a breathtaking challenge, to create a theory of everything. It was to be the crowning achievement of 2,000 years of science, ever since the Greeks asked, What is the world made of? I wanted to be part of this revolution. And for the past 50 years, I have worked on the leading, and only, candidate for this fabled theory, string theory.

You write that symmetry indicates some deep, underlying physical principle about the universe. What part does symmetry play in the theory?

Beauty, to a physicist, is symmetry. From the glimmering of a shiny crystal or precious jewel to the blazing sunset and the intricate patterns in a kaleidoscope, all possess a gorgeous symmetrythe property that it remains the same even when we rearrange its parts. Symmetry is a powerful tool to unify seemingly unrelated forces. Electricity and magnetism seem so distinct, yet there is a symmetry which can turn electricity into magnetism and vice versa. So the next logical question is: is there a master symmetry which can turn all of the forces of nature into each other? That is where string theory comes in. It has the largest symmetry ever found in physics, called supersymmetry, which can rotate all of the particles of physics into each other.
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A group of travellers have set up camp in a London Underground station car park.

Images taken this afternoon show at least eight caravans outside Finchley Central station, in north London, on the Transport for London site, which is run by private car park operator NCP. The group arrived there on Thursday.

A spokeswoman for TfL told MailOnline: 'London Underground control centre have confirmed that the travellers arrived at the car park at Finchley Central station yesterday.

'The British Transport Police were called and they issued the group with a Section 61 order today, which requires all unlawful occupants to remove themselves from the land.'

One local resident said the travellers could be the same group who occupied a retail park two miles down the road in Friern Barnet several days ago.

A group of travellers have set up camp in a London Underground station car park. Images taken this afternoon show at least eight caravans outside Finchley Central station, in north London, on the Transport for London site, which is run by private car park operator NCP. The group arrived there on Thursday

A spokeswoman for TfL told MailOnline: 'The British Transport Police were called and they issued the group with a Section 61 order today, which requires all unlawful occupants to remove themselves from the land'

The resident said the travellers could be the same group who occupied a retail park two miles down the road in Friern Barnet several days ago

The site is one of a number of Underground station car parks which have been earmarked for development. Proposals put forward by TfL, through London Mayor Sadiq Khan, would see a tower block development with potentially more than 600 dwellings at Finchley Central, on Regents Park Road

A similar-sized group also moved on from nearby Hampstead Heath two weeks ago.

A spokeswoman from NCP said: 'TfL, as the landlord, are legally responsible for evicting the travellers [from Finchley Central station] and are actively working to do so with British Transport Police with support from the local authority and NCP.'

It comes as coronavirus guidelines prevent the eviction of travellers in order to stop the virus from spreading.

Under the Government's Covid-19 guidance, councils are being asked to allow traveller sites to stay on council-owned land, to enable them to access vital healthcare during lockdown - provided that they adhere to the law.

The site is one of a number of Underground station car parks which have been earmarked for development.

Proposals put forward by TfL, through London Mayor Sadiq Khan, would see a tower block development with potentially more than 600 dwellings at Finchley Central, on Regents Park Road.

The law further states that when travellers arrive on private land, it is the landowner's responsibility to remove them - and the local authorities and police can only be used when certain conditions exist - after a court order is obtained.

MailOnline has contacted Barnet Council for comment.
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and Ford Motor Co. said that the global disruptions brought about by covid-19 and the ensuing change in capital allocation priorities forced them to abandon a proposed partnership for engine and vehicle development in India.

The move is a blow to Mahindras plans to get access to manufacturing capacities and new technologies for engines and connected vehicles. At the same time, Ford will have to continue its independent battle to garner a bigger share of Indias market where it has lagged most of its rivals despite a more than two-decade-long presence.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

Mahindra, Indias largest sport-utility vehicle maker, said the pressure to conserve cash, need for investments in emerging technologies and intensifying focus on its core automobile business in India have influenced its step.

The automaker is aiming at direct cost savings of more than 3,000 crore next fiscal through the separation with Ford and a potential stake sale of its bankrupt Korean unit SsangYong Motor Co.

The decision to part ways follows the passing of the 31 December longstop, or expiration, date of a definitive agreement the organizations entered into in October 2019", the companies said in separate statements.

Pawan Goenka, managing director of Mahindra, said the joint venture (JV) with Ford was impacted by the global upheaval due to covid.

In the current scenario, the investments would have been significantly more than what was envisioned. Therefore, it did not make any business sense for either partner," Goenka said on Friday.

In October 2019, Mahindra and Ford announced an initial pact for a JV to develop vehicles for emerging markets. Mahindra was to hold the controlling 51% stake and Ford the rest. They planned to share BS VI-compliant engines, besides developing connected vehicle solutions. Fords assets in India, including a factory each near Chennai and Sanand, Gujarat, were supposed to have been absorbed by the JV and run by Mahindra.

The partnership with Ford and acquisition of SsangYong were meant to enhance Mahindras offerings for both domestic and export markets. The decision to pull the plug might negatively affect Mahindras product strategy at a time when its SUV market share in India is under severe strain, and competition in electric vehicle space has risen.

Mahindra, which has announced plans to sell its controlling 70% stake in SsangYong, may sign a term sheet with a potential investor, as soon as next week, said Anish Shah, deputy CEO and group CFO, M&M.

With the kind of change happening in the economic and business scenario, specific to the auto industry, the shift taking place to the kind of vehicles that will be popular in the next 3-5 years, we have to prioritize where to put our money," Goenka said.

To be sure, Mahindras new management has been re-evaluating the capital allocation strategy and has decided to exit loss-making businesses across its core and non-core group companies globally.

The recent announcement is a part of its new asset allocation strategy of focusing on its core businesses of tractors, SUVs. Scaling back to its core competence will strengthen the companys balance sheet and improve the return profile," said Md Shaukat Ali, an analyst at Asian Markets Securities.

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Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

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A man holds light balloons as he checks his phone on a sidewalk next to a department store in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Under fire for a glacially slow rollout of coronavirus vaccine shots, France's government pledged Thursday to pick up the pace, offering quicker inoculation to a broader array of health care workers starting next week.

President Emmanuel Macron also intervened in what was becoming an increasingly sharp debate about the slow start of vaccinations against the virus in France. Macron used his traditional New Year's address to the nation Thursday night to promise that he will personally ensure there is no unnecessary heel-dragging.

The French leader said he would not allow "an unjustified slowness, for bad reasons, to take root."

Before Macron spoke, his health minister tweeted that shots would be offered from Monday to health care workers aged 50 and older.

Only a few hundred people received vaccines against the coronavirus in the days after a 78-year-old in a long-term care facility got the first shot on Sunday.

Consent requirements have slowed the process. Officials were also treading cautiously because of widespread skepticism in France around the safety of the rapidly developed vaccines.

But critics increasingly are accusing health officials of being overly cautious.

The National Academy of Medicine said the slow start "is difficult to defend."

France has reported the virus-related deaths of more than 64,000 people since the start of the pandemic.

A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the at the Champmaillot nursing home in Dijon, central France, Sunday Dec. 27, 2020. France is starting its first vaccinations Sunday against the coronavirus at a nursing home northeast of Paris, in one of France's poorest regions. (Philippe Desmazes/Pool Photo via AP)

A health worker carries doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in a box at the Rene-Muret hospital in Servan near Paris, Sunday Dec. 27, 2020. France is starting its first vaccinations Sunday against the coronavirus at a nursing home northeast of Paris, in one of France's poorest regions. (Thomas Samson/Pool Photo via AP)

Alain a French 92-year-old man receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the at the Champmaillot nursing home in Dijon, central France, Sunday Dec. 27, 2020. France is starting its first vaccinations Sunday against the coronavirus at a nursing home northeast of Paris, in one of France's poorest regions. (Philippe Desmazes/Pool Photo via AP)

Professor of geriatrics Pierre Jouanny receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the at the Champmaillot nursing home in Dijon, central France, Sunday Dec. 27, 2020. France is starting its first vaccinations Sunday against the coronavirus at a nursing home northeast of Paris, in one of France's poorest regions. (Philippe Desmazes/Pool Photo via AP)

Police vans are parked on the Champs Elysees avenue during the New Year's Eve, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. As the world says goodbye to 2020, there will be countdowns and live performances, but no massed jubilant crowds in traditional gathering spots like the Champs Elysees in Paris and New York City's Times Square this New Year's Eve. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


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As relations between Washington and Beijing continue to head in the downward direction, a senior (Trump) administration official said that US President was aware of 'unconfirmed information' that had offered to pay "non-state actors" to attack US forces stationed in

The administration official said that the intelligence, which is set to be declassified by the Trump administration, was provided to Trump on December 17 and his national security adviser Robert O'Brien discussed the information with the President that same day, as reported by CNN.

However, Beijing denied the charges with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin calling it "complete nonsense and completely fake news."

The American media outlet further reported that the administration's intention to declassify the information was first reported on Wednesday by Axios.

However, the information about this alleged intelligence has no evidence. "The scenario is reminiscent of reports earlier this year that Russia allegedly offered Afghan militants bounties to kill US forces in That information also appeared in the President's intelligence briefing although it was later revealed that the information likely went unnoticed for weeks," CNN reported.

Wang said "has always pursued an independent foreign policy of peace" and "never initiated a war to others, let alone funded non-state actors to attack other countries."

" supports the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, and does not get involved in the internal conflicts in Afghanistan," he added.

An official from President-elect Joe Biden told CNN that while they would not speak to the alleged intelligence reporting, nor the motivation behind "the release of what is reported to be uncorroborated information," the President-elect "has no greater concern than the safety of our service members".

"Our teams will seek to learn as much as we can about these allegations from the outgoing administration, and this is another illustration of why we need full cooperation, including from the Department of Defense," CNN quoted the official added, referring to the contentious transition process between incoming Biden and outgoing Trump defense officials.

The White House has not commented on the situation.

In June this year, it was reported that the Russian intelligence officers for the military intelligence agency GRU had recently offered money to Taliban terrorists in as rewards to kill US and UK troops, as per the information provided by a European intelligence official.

The reports of China offering cash for attacks on US forces come as China awaits whether Biden will embrace Trump's more punitive policies towards the nation or move to reset relations between Washington and Beijing.

News of China offering cash for attacks on US forces comes as China awaits whether Biden will embrace Trump's more punitive policies towards the nation or move to reset relations between Washington and Beijing.

Biden's campaign website slams technology companies "facilitating repression in China," and promises foreign policy "pressuring China -- the world's largest emitter of carbon -- to stop subsidizing coal exports and outsourcing their pollution to other countries."

"To win the competition for the future against China or anyone else, we must sharpen our innovative edge and unite the economic might of democracies around the world to counter abusive economic practices," it states.

According to CNN, a Biden campaign ad in June accused Trump of getting "played" by China. And during the Democratic primaries in February, Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "thug," and said that Beijing had to "play by the rules."

These developments of China offering the Taliban terrorists money to kill US troops stationed in Afghanistan comes after a series of increasing tensions between the US and China after Washington has hit out at Beijing for hiding vital information pertaining to COVID-19.

Trump, earlier in December, hinted that Beijing had a role to play in the recent cyberattacks on federal government agencies rather than Russia, as was being.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
opinion

The universe is governed by two eternal masters: rewards and punishments. When a man by his actions has proved his mettle, he should be commended and given due regards. This will add impetus to his momentum, thus sustaining the tempo to carry on with the arduous task which the complex art of his work demands. This explains why Executive Secretary of The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof Suleiman Elias Bogoro, deserves Education Research Man of the Year Award 2020.

TETFund is sacrosanct to Nigeria's nation building efforts. And Tertiary Education and the Knowledge Society, as a vision, can help strengthen tertiary education research to make a significant contribution to the nation's sustainable development. It then requires a lead and multi-talented academic like Prof Bogoro who is conversant with the principles and rules of the academic environment.

Justifiably, since his appointment as the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof Bogoro has refocused TETFund in pursuit of one of its core responsibilities of rehabilitating decaying infrastructure and the construction of new ones that are relevant to the development of learning in the nation's public tertiary institutions.

Without a doubt, the Bauchi born prolific researcher, with his landmark transformation of processes and procedures at the TETFund has changed the narrative in Nigeria's attempt to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of development.

Uncontestably, there is a universal consensus that scientific research is the core of national aspirations because therein lies the greatness of every nation. Great Britain was able to conquer the world because of its discovery of a steam engine which helped its navigational power.

In the initial part of Prof Bogoro's first tenure as the Executive Secretary of TETFund, his interest in research and development (R&D) led to the creation of the Department of Research and Development (R and D) at the TETFund.

Research is useless, if there is no synergy or links between universities and industry. That has been one of the priority areas of the Prof Bogoro led TETFund. More specifically, before the emergence of Prof Bogoro, research results laid and gathered dust on the shelves of our highier institutions; hence, his determination to create synergy between industry and research in order for research results to be useful.

Today, with the activities of TETFund under the leadership of Prof Bogoro, Nigeria is celebrating the impact and improved ranking of Nigerian higher institutions internationally because of nine years of intensive interventionist approach in the nation's tertiary institutions.

Seeing the doggedness and sincerity of Prof Bogoro's motives, President Muhammadu Buhari has over the last few years increased resource allocation to TETFund.

In the United States for instance, research universities are vital centres for the performance of research that advances knowledge in all science and engineering disciplines, contributing to the national economy as well as to local and regional economies. That the US university system today is undoubtedly the best in the world can be gauged by several indicators, including the number of Nobel Prizes awarded to faculty members, and the fact that US graduate schools are favoured destinations for aspiring scientists and engineers from abroad.

In Germany, the government places clear emphasis on higher education, research and high technology through numerous strategies and initiatives such as the Excellence Initiative (2005-2017) as well as its successor, the Excellence Strategy, the Internationalisation Strategy and the new High-Tech Strategy. Approximately, 30 per cent of spending on research and development in Germany is provided by federal and state governments. Government is thus the main sponsor of research in Germany alongside industry.

In the case of institutional funding, the government directly finances over 1,000 non-university research institutes and 240 public higher education institutions as well as the DFG research funding organisation. Over one third of all government funding is spent on this kind of financial support (9.3 billion euros in 2018).

In the United Kingdom, Research Councils and the funding bodies make up a dual support system. Research Councils provide grants for specific projects and programmes, while the funding bodies provide block grant funding to support the research infrastructure and enable institutions research of their choosing. Such funding also provides the capacity to undertake research commissioned by the private sector, charities, the European Union and other international bodies.

Like the above case studies, every government must develop a strong and long-standing commitment to the development of a prosperous and confident knowledge-based society. These are the ideals Prof Bogoro has committed himself to do to change the narrative of educational research in Nigeria!

To whom much is given, much is required. TETFund under Prof Bogoro has corroborated the authenticity of this axiom. President Muhammadu Buhari had approved an increase in the TETFund National Research Fund from N3.5billion to N7.5billion for the year 2020, making the agency the largest holder of research grants in Nigeria.

The cumulative effect of this budgetary increase is that that TETFund had within this period funded 80 auditorium lecture theatres, 500 classrooms, 2383 administrative and staff offices and 250 science laboratories across beneficiary institutions in the country.

Also funded were 40 fully equipped libraries, 38 ICT centres, 8medical centres and bays, 100 vehicles for academic field research trips and provision of major infrastructure in the 12 newly established federal universities. To further consolidate on TETFund's achievements, the Fund made provision in its 2020 Budget for emergency special intervention to the University of Abuja and special high impact projects to six universities, one from each geo-political zone.

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TETFund also provided take-off grants to six newly created federal polytechnics and six colleges of education in each geo-political zone among other projects.

The budgetary increase also provided an opportunity for TETFund to be at the forefront of the fight against the global pandemic in Nigeria by providing 12 COVID-19 and related infectious diseases molecular laboratories, two in each geopolitical zone, making the Fund the highest single provider of COVID-19 test centres in Nigeria. TETFund also sponsored some COVID-19 Research proposals to the tune of over N200million, mainly from Universities and NAFDAC, which is one of the reasons the Fund has recently been made the secretariat for the Nigeria COVID-19 Research.

This is just to mention a few that TETFund under Bogoro has achieved in the year 2020. With the right man in place and supporting funding, it is only a matter of time before Nigeria will begin to reap massive development through research.

Ibrahim is director, Communications and Strategic Planning, of the Presidential Support Committee (PSC).
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Scott Commens reckons he would be in front of a coroner right now if he had followed the advice of his insurers. It's just as well he didn't listen to them. Commens has run the electronic music festival Subsonic from a property near Taree in NSW since 2006. Each summer, thousands of revellers come for three days of dancing. But last year, things didn't go to plan. "The flames were almost at the front gate," he says. Subsonic music festival director Scott Commens is still battling his insurance company, which said he should not have cancelled the 2019 festival amid the horror bushfires. Credit:Nick Moir Surrounded by tinder-dry bushland and the air filling up fast with smoke, Commens knew the festival was in trouble. To make matters worse, the river that splits the property was bone dry. The long-running drought had sucked all moisture from the land and nearby towns were rapidly running out of water. Like many other Australians, Commens had been glued to the television, watching the fires spread across the country but he didn't give up on the festival easily. He engaged experts to write fire plans and looked around for alternate venues, but to no avail. As the flames got closer to the 270 hectare property, the rural fire service told Commens they were stretched and couldn't guarantee the safety of anyone who attended his festival. Meanwhile, the property owners said they were simply not comfortable hosting the event.

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Having pored over the advice provided by the fireys, police and the ambulance commissioner, Commens decided to cancel the festival. Months later, his insurers would tell Commens he should have pressured the property owners to change their minds. Now, he's locked in legal disputes with Allianz and Lloyd's, who say the party should have gone on. "This claim has been referred to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and we look forward to their determination to finalise the matter," a Allianz spokeswoman told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Lloyd's was contacted for comment. Meanwhile, Commens has been called a thief, a hopeless business man and a liar by his customers who have so far been denied ticket refunds. But he is certain he made the right call. "We had a lot of phone calls, I had many sleepless nights but we decided in the end it would have been reckless. "Imagine if I had run the festival, and if someone had flicked a cigarette and burnt the place down, I hate to think where I would have been right now," he says. "I would probably be in front of a coroner." Commens is just one of the many Australians who have had a difficult year dealing with insurers following the horror bushfire season of last summer. One year on, that torrid season has been an eye-opener for both insurers and consumers.

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As the frequency of damaging climate events increases, insurers are counting their rising costs, while hoping to avoid the pitfalls highlighted last summer. Insurers to the rescue With global attention on Australia's fires last summer, marked by blood red skies and families stranded on beaches, insurance consumer advocate David Keane says the industry was put on notice. "When you have an event that was so catastrophic, it was front-page news week after week," he says. "In that environment, everybodys eyes were on not just the firefighting but the insurers." There were 5900 buildings, 1 billion animals and 1.5 million hectares of land destroyed in the fires. Around half of these were insured, the others either couldn't afford the premiums or hadn't updated their policies. For those that were covered, Australia's largest insurer IAG says 95 per cent of its 12,700 claims have now been settled. The remaining 5 per cent are still being worked through. According to IAG's head of claims, Luke Gallagher, the fire season started months before the first flame.

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IAG's natural perils team, made up of meteorologists and scientists, was mapping the unusual weather patterns and raised the alarm in June 2019. Loading The insurer, that operates brands including NRMA and Swann, knew it was going to be a big season and started to gear up. IAG assembled a major events team, where 230 staff were ready to be deployed to hotspots to start assessing damage and help customers lodge their claims. IAG had teams in Mallacoota, Bendigo and Moruya for weeks at a time. Meanwhile, insurance executives attended crisis meetings in Canberra with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to co-ordinate a publicly funded clean up of debris and deploy the army reserves to evacuate isolated towns. When the evacuees from Mallacoota started arriving in Melbourne, insurance reps were there. "We'd pre-booked well over 300 rooms so when they did arrive, they could rest up and have a shower before they even started to think about lodging a claim," Gallagher says. "We paid for transport, hire cars, flights. It didnt matter." But all of this comes at a cost. A report by auditing firm KPMG found insurance profits were slashed by 50 per cent this year to $2.3 billion in the 12 months to June, in large part due to the catastrophic bushfires across Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

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Low investment returns and higher operating costs also contributed to the insurance margin  the industry's key metric  reaching a seven-year low of 5.8 per cent. However, perhaps the most severe financial impact is the cost of reinsurance  insurance bought by insurers from global companies to cover themselves for freak events. KPMGs Scott Guse says the bushfires pushed up the cost of reinsurance, further squeezing the sectors profits. "Obviously the bushfires were a significant event in Australia's loss history," he said. "What it has meant is reinsurers have run their models and increased the risk profile of Australia. Therefore, it means Australian insurers have to pay more for their reinsurance." Worst-case scenario The HIH Insurance liquidation of 2001 is considered to be one of Australia's largest corporate collapses. A combination of fraud, greed and poor capital management saw the $8 billion insurer topple within months. As a result, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has sought to prevent insurers from going under by forcing them to hold enormous amounts of capital.

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New Delhi, Jan 1 : Software major Adobe has bid goodbye to its iconic Flash Player as major internet browsers shut it down on Friday and Microsoft blocked it in most versions of Windows.

Adobe had earlier said to stop supporting Flash on December 31 and block Flash content from running on January 12.

First announced in July 2017, Adobe had said to stop updating and distributing Flash Player after December 31, 2020 due to the diminished usage of the technology and the availability of better, more secure options such as HTML5, WebGL and WebAssembly.

Microsoft has announced to end support for Adobe Flash Player on Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11 at the end of the year.

Some enterprise customers may still require Flash Player commercial support and licensing beyond 2020 to run internal business systems.

According to media reports, the Internet Archive is preserving Flash games and animations, including hits like "Peanut Butter Jelly Time." "We want to take a moment to thank all of our customers and developers who have used and created amazing Flash Player content over the last two decades," Adobe said in an update last month.

"We are proud that Flash had a crucial role in evolving web content across animation, interactivity, audio, and video. We are excited to help lead the next era of digital experiences".

Adobe had recommended all users to immediately uninstall Flash Player to help protect their systems.
Editors note: This was written before the announcement Wednesday by Gov. Tom Wolf to lift the temporary restrictions.

By any measure, Pennsylvanias casino gaming industry is one of the most successful industries in the state.

The commonwealths 14 casinos, when at full capacity, employ more than 20,000 people and generate more than $1.5 billion in state tax revenues each year. In fact, in 2019, Pennsylvania taxpayers reaped a greater profit from direct gaming tax revenues than any other state, including Nevada, according to the American Gaming Association.

The gaming industrys benefits spread throughout Pennsylvanias economy. Casinos spend more than $500 million annually with in-state suppliers and vendors and provide nearly $150 million in annual payments to counties, municipalities, public safety agencies, and volunteer fire companies, among many other local beneficiaries.

This economic engine ground to a halt on Dec. 12 when casinos were directed to close under Gov. Tom Wolfs most recent COVID-19 mitigation orders. Those orders allow casinos to reopen on Jan. 4 at 8 a.m.

Our workers, our small business partners, and every taxpayer, whether they enjoy gaming or not, have a very direct interest in seeing that we are open for business at 8:01 a.m. that day.

At Parx Casino, although we were disappointed by the governors orders, we followed them to the letter and continue to pay our employees and maintain their health benefits during this newly enforced closure. Our disappointment stems from the fact that all the available evidence shows that our property, and every other casino, are among the safest places for workers and guests anywhere in the Commonwealth.

Since early this year, we collectively have invested tens of millions of dollars to modify our properties and train employees on protocols that were mandated by the Governors Office, the Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. In many cases, we went above and beyond these mandates.

Specific measures in place at the States casinos include:

All customers and employees must wear approved masks, and customers refusing to do so are removed from the property.

Temperatures are checked upon entrance for all customers and employees.

Social distancing is observed on the gaming floor and throughout the casino with signage, staging and Plexiglas dividers, as well as limited capacity at slot machines and gaming tables.

High tech ozone air filtration on casino floors.

Rigorous cleaning protocols that include cutting edge nanotechnology and UV sanitation.

Widely available hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes for our guests and Team Members.

Free rapid testing for all employees as needed.

Comprehensive contact tracing and notification program.

In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) have a 24/7 presence in every Pennsylvania casino, including surveillance cameras. No other customer-facing business in this State operates under this type of accountability, which we welcome.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has no specific data to support the closure of casinos. The states tracking system does not include casinos as a category of concern, so casinos are presumably included in a catch-all some other business establishment category. Of the positive cases reported by the state, is less than 0.1 percent of these individuals reported spending time in some other business establishment.

This lack of specific data might help explain why Pennsylvanias decision is an outlier as casinos remain open in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. There is no question that Pennsylvanians are visiting casinos, but they are crossing state lines to do so.

In addition, in our own commonwealth, our businesses and the state continue to lose revenue to illegal skills games in pizza parlors, convenience stores, gas stations, laundromats, thrift shops, bars, and taverns in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State Police maintain that these machines are illegal, yet their operators have defied the PSP even before COVID and have since ignored previous orders to shut them down during COVID-19 lockdowns. Skills games entice children to gamble and drain revenues from the Pennsylvania Lottery which funds programs for the commonwealths senior citizens.

They pay no gaming taxes, are unregulated and unsupervised, and yet we continue to see these machines operating, even during this current closure. Again, it is time for the state to enforce the law and shut these illegal machines down for good.

Our industry has worked well with xtate regulators, successive governors, and the legislature to build one of the most successful gaming industries in the nation.

We look forward to building on this partnership and to reopening our doors at 8 a.m. on Jan. 4.

Robert W. Green is chairman of Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment and owner of the Parx Casino in Bucks County.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Dec. 31, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Trump Extends Visa Restrictions Through March to Protect American Workers

President Donald Trump on Thursday extended restrictions on green cards and work visas, saying the measures are needed to protect American workers amid an economy battered by the CCP virus.

The restrictions, which were issued in April and June in the form of presidential proclamations, were set to expire on Dec. 31 but will be extended until March 31, 2021.

The effects of COVID-19 on the United States labor market and on the health of American communities is a matter of ongoing national concern, Trumps proclamation reads, highlighting the growing number of cases and state restrictions on businesses.

The April restrictions were for green cards issued abroad that mainly targeted family members of people already living in the United States. In June, restrictions expanded to include H-1B visas for skilled workers, H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers, J-1 visas for cultural exchanges, and L-1 visas for workers being transferred within multinational corporations.

Amid the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, at least 20 million people remain on unemployment benefits in the United States.

In October, a federal judge in San Francisco, California, ruled that the work visa ban could not be enforced against groups that sued and their members. The groups include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, technology industry group TechNet, and Intrax Inc., which manages cultural exchange programs.

The Department of Justice is appealing the decision in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is scheduled to hear arguments on Jan. 19, 2021.

In December, a federal judge in Oakland, California, blocked the green card restriction from taking effect against families of 181 U.S. citizens and legal residents who sued.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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AUSTIN, Texas  Texas hit another grim milestone Thursday when it surpassed 12,000 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, setting a new record high in that category for the fourth consecutive day.

Meanwhile, a Travis County district judge sided with Austin officials after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office tried to overturn a ban on late-night dine-in services on New Years Eve following a hearing just hours before people would normally head out for a long night of celebrations.

Judge Amy Clark Meachum ruled the Austin-area ban on dine-in eating and drinking between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night from Thursday until Sunday morning can be enforced. At a livestreamed court hearing, the state argued that Austins local orders are not allowed under previous statewide orders issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Texas did not object to similar orders previously put in place by other cities, notably El Paso and San Antonio.

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The Austin-areas top elected official, County Judge Andy Brown, said in a statement the ruling will help our community slow the spread of COVID-19, while allowing businesses to safely continue their operations through takeout, drive-thru, and delivery service options.

I encourage everyone in Travis County to order food for takeout from a local restaurant and to celebrate the New Year safely at home tonight, Brown said.

Paxtons office said Thursday night it had filed an appeal of the decision.

An official record of the hearing will not be available for another day after Judge Meachum said during that neither her nor her staff planned to work the holiday and were called in last-minute for a temporary restraining order.

Texas reported 12,268 COVID patients in hospitals, an increase of 1,400 in one week. State officials also counted 349 newly-reported deaths. The Texas death toll has reported more than 26,400 fatalities.

The stark numbers keep rising as officials roll out the first vaccines in a system that has produced delays, some confusion and frustration.

Texas had about 4,300 doses of the Moderna vaccine that had to be checked for problems with cold storage requirements and some shipments had to be replaced, the Department of State Health Services said this week. Texas also had more than 144,000 doses that were expected prior to Christmas not arrive until this week, an agency spokeswoman said.

Abbott and state health Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt suggested this week that some providers were not using all their vaccines and keeping some in reserve, which several hospital groups have disputed.

According to state vaccine data, the state has received 773,000 doses and more than 282,515 people have received at least one round of the shot, through Wednesday.
Voter fraud is a large and growing problem in the United States, and there is good reason to think that it exploded in 2020 on account of (among other things) unprecedented numbers of mail-in ballots and deliberately lax controls in many states. John Lott has now produced a statistical analysis that suggests substantial voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Lotts conclusion is that his analysis suggests a total of more than 55,000 fraudulent votes in those two counties. You can read Lotts paper here. His statistical calculations are laid out in detail, and you can evaluate them for yourself.

Lotts method is simple and rather elegant: he compares absentee votes in precincts in Fulton County, for example, with adjacent precincts in neighboring counties. He also controls for demographics. Since voting is done at the precinct level, while counting was done at the county level, and since there is no evident reason why precincts across the street from one another should show significantly different results, the approach makes sense.

But the evidence is still circumstantial. One factor in this years election in Georgia is that unattended ballot boxes were set up, but only in heavily Democratic areas. I dont know whether all of them were in Fulton County, but I believe a lot of them were. Anyone could drop any number of ballots into these boxes. Why the states Secretary of State, a Republican, agreed to such an arrangement, which virtually cries out for fraud to be committed, is anyones guess. But he did.

The Democrats will argue, of course, that turnout was extraordinarily high in last years election because their voters were motivated and they did a good job of driving turnout. Mail-in voting also predictably increased turnout, fraud aside. Analyses like Lotts can cast doubt on whether such benign explanations can account for Joe Bidens win, but there is no way they will result in the election being overturned. At this point, even if Republicans were able to show how, and by whom, fraud was perpetrated in various states, which likely would require confessions from Democratic operatives, it is too late to prevent Bidens inauguration.

What will happen, however, is that Joe Biden will take office under a cloud of uncertainty. According to the polls, close to half of the country doubts that he actually won the election. His ill health and mental decline would make him a lame duck in any event, but the additional cloud over the legitimacy of his election will erode his authority still further.

Over the next two years, the election will be investigated and books will be written. Some will argue that Donald Trump actually won the election, while others will try to show that Bidens victory was legitimate. In all likelihood, the question will never be definitively resolved, but the questions about Bidens legitimacy probably will grow.

Will that scenario bring about demands for electoral reform so that future elections do not end in a cloud of doubt? I hope so, but I doubt it, at least in states where Democrats have substantial power. The Democrats like voter fraud. That has been true for a long time. In 2020, they saw how helpful to their cause lax voting procedures, that both enable fraud and make it hard if not impossible to prove, can be. They will fight tooth and nail to preserve their fraud advantage in future elections. All of which could make the bitterness over last years election a mild preview of things to come.
Johnny Depp is bringing a rather tumultuous year that was 2020 to a close with a message of hope for his fans.

The 57-year-old actor took to Instagram on Thursday, sharing a photo of the preface of the 1939 novel The Time of Your Life by William Saroyan.

He also added his own message to his 9.1 million followers, asking them to find happiness in these troubling times.

Hope: Johnny Depp is bringing a rather tumultuous year that was 2020 to a close with a message of hope for his fans

'A New Years wish to all,' Depp began, just days after sending out another holiday message with a photo from his documentary Crock of Gold.

'Though the world is in mourning for better days, I hope all of you are able to find a moment tonight to smile and more importantly, to laugh and make others laugh, as much as possible,' he added.

'I know this may be difficult in the midst of these trying times, but I wish nothing but happiness and health to all,' Depp continued

Message: 'A New Years wish to all,' Depp began, just days after sending out another holiday message with a photo from his documentary Crock of Gold

'May you be surrounded in perfection. With all my love and respect, JD,' the Pirates of the Caribbean star concluded.

On the day after Christmas, Depp also sent out another hopeful message, which read, 'This year has been so hard for so many. Heres to a better time ahead.'

'Happy Holidays, everyone! My love and respect to you all. Eternally, JD. X' his message concluded.

Day after: On the day after Christmas, Depp also sent out another hopeful message, which read, 'This year has been so hard for so many. Heres to a better time ahead'

Depp has been embroiled in controversy for the better part of 2020, largely due to his libel case against British tabloid The Sun, for calling him a 'wife beater' during his tumultuous marriage with Amber Heard.

The High Court of Justice in the U.K. ruled in early November that, 'the great majority of alleged assaults of Ms Heard by Mr Depp [12 out 14] have been proved to the civil standard

Controversy: Depp has been embroiled in controversy for the better part of 2020, largely due to his libel case against British tabloid The Sun, for calling him a 'wife beater' during his tumultuous marriage with Amber Heard

As a result of Depp losing the libel case, just days later the actor announced he was leaving the role of Gellert Grindelwald in Warner Bros.' Fantastic Beasts 3.

'I'd like to thank everybody who has gifted me with their support and loyalty,' he said. 'I have been humbled and moved by your many messages of love and concern, particularly over the last few days.'

It was also revealed that the actor will still receive his full $10 million salary for Fantastic Beasts 3, even though he was only on set for one day.
BURNT HILLS  The Sarah B. Foulke Charitable Fund awarded a $200,000 grant to The Charlton School, a therapeutic learning community located in Burnt Hills.

The gift will support a 20-year long-term capital campaign planned to transform the schools physical campus, a building at a time, according to the school.

The donation specifically helped to finance renovations that began in June to a historic chapel that has been a therapeutic arts space since 2014. The work was finished in early December by Schrader & Company Construction Services.

The new therapeutic arts space The Sarah B. Foulke Arts Center and an annual award will also be established as the Sarah B. Foulke Art Award. The award will be given to an outstanding art student at graduation each year and will encourage future generations of Charlton School students, school Executive Director Alex Capo said.

The updated arts center will open its doors and dedicate the new space in honor of Sarah B. Foulke at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15. The ceremony can be viewed on Facebook @CharltonSchool.
Scott Morrison called an Australian sporting legend just moments after the clock hit 12 on New Year's Day to tell her he had changed the words to the national anthem.

The prime minister immediately picked up the phone and called Olympic gold medalist and sporting hero Cathy Freeman to deliver the news in person.

The sprinting legend of the 2000 Olympics tweeted her astonishment at 2.38am on January 1 - before the New Year was even three hours old.

'What a way to start the year!!! A phone call from our Prime Minister to say we are 'one and free'! Thank you,' she tweeted.

Freeman, born in Mackay, Queensland, lit the flame at the 2000 Olympics and became the gold-medal champion of the 400m.

She is also a proud Aboriginal woman.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured December 21) called sporting legend Cathy Freeman, an Aboriginal woman, to tell her the anthem had been changed to honour Aboriginal people

Cathy Freeman carries the Aboriginal and Australian flags for a lap of honour at the 2000 Sydney Olympics after winning gold in the women's 400m sprint

Australian sporting legend Cathy Freeman was thrilled at getting the first phone call of 2021 from Prime Minister Scott Morrison after the anthem was changed

Cathy Freeman tweeted her surprised delight in the earliest first hours of 2021

Mr Morrison announced on New Year's Eve the words 'we are young and free' would be replaced by 'we are one and free' in the first verse of Australia's national anthem as of January 1.

Former journalist and senator Derryn Hinch tweeted his congratulations to Freeman, saying he had also been pushing for the change for more than a year.

Critics had argued the line was disrespectful to Aboriginal history as Indigenous people have been living in Australia for an estimated 60,000 years and have some of the oldest living cultures on earth.

Others said the line was not disrespectful as it referred to the Australian nation which was created on Federation day, January 1, 1901, and was therefore young.

New Year's Day, when the anthem was changed, was the 120th anniversary of the birth of Australia as a nation.

Some Aboriginal leaders were pleased at the inclusive gesture.

First Nations Foundation chairman and Yorta Yorta man Ian Hamm told the ABC the changed line was an important change 'to recognise in our national anthem the continued human occupation of this continent from 60,000 years plus to 1 January 2021, and beyond'.

NSW One Nation senator Mark Latham said the change wasn't needed.

NSW Senator Mark Latham said the change was not needed as Australia was federated only 120 years ago, and would not appease the activists who would never be satisfied

Famous journalist and former senator Derryn Hinch tweeted his support to Cathy Freeman saying he had been pushing for the lyric change also

One word of the anthem has been changed after critics argued Aboriginal people had been in Australia more than 60,000 years and their cultures were not young at all but ancient

Olivia Fox sings the national anthem during a Wallabies 2020 Tri-Nations match, December 5

'We were federated in 1901, 120 years ago today,' he said on New Year's Day.

'So were a young nation - and before that we were a series of colonies we weren't a nation. And before 1788 we had 170 indigenous tribes in Australia - and they didnt have a conceptualisation of nationhood.'

Mr Latham said Aboriginal people did not think of themselves as a nation prior to colonisation, and that Scott Morrison was foolish for thinking the move would appease activists, who would never be satisfied.

It was not long before those words proved true.

Aboriginal boxer Anthony Mundine, who converted to Islam in the 1990s, immediately said the anthem was 'a white supremacist song' and the change was like a 'kick in the face'.

'It made me madder, you know what I mean - cause they ain't doin sh*t but talking sh*t,' he told A Current Affair.

Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for more than 60,000 years and have some of the world's oldest cultures. Pictured: Aborigines playing didgeridoo and clap sticks in Queensland

Aboriginal boxer Anthony Mundine, who converted to Islam in the 1990s, said the anthem was 'a white supremacist song' and insulted fellow Indigenous people who supported the change

Peter Vickery, from the Recognition in Anthem Project, who rewrote the line and lobbied for the change said he wanted more changes to verses 2 and 3

The outspoken athlete told Daily Mail Australia the entire anthem should be scrapped and turned his anger on Indigenous people who supported the change.

'Any blackfella who thinks what's been done is enough, and a good thing, is an Uncle Tom,' he declared, offensively.

An 'Uncle Tom' is a derogatory and racist phrase used against black people who are servile to white people.

Peter Vickery from the Recognition in Anthem Project who rewrote the line and lobbied for the change, called it a 'positive first step' but said he wanted more changes.

Mr Vickery wants changes to verses two and three, to celebrate multiculturalism and values.
3 1 of 3 Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 3 of 3





COVID-19 hospitalizations in the trauma service region including Houston exceeded a critical threshold for the second consecutive day on Thursday, which under Gov. Greg Abbotts orders would require some businesses to limit operations if conditions do not improve.

If coronavirus patients occupy more than 15 percent of all staffed beds in the region for seven consecutive days, the state rules would force bars to close and restaurants to scale back to 50 percent capacity for indoor dining.
Gardai will exhume the remains of an unidentified man who washed up on a Leitrim beach in the 1980s in a bid to solve a 34-year-old mystery, the Irish Independent has learned.

The body, which was later buried in Manorhamilton, was discovered on the rocks on Tullaghan Strand in north Leitrim in May 1986.

An exhumation of the remains is due to take place later this month under the supervision of detectives from the Garda Missing Persons Bureau. A source involved in the case said it is hoped that advances in forensic science, in particular DNA identification, could help investigators to finally identify the man. The man is believed to have drowned and no foul play is suspected.

The body, which was discovered shortly after 10am on May 1, 1986, is thought to have been in the water for some time.

Despite being very badly decomposed, a number of distinctive tattoos, located on both arms, could provide vital clues as to the identity of the man. A tattoo of the word Eire was found on the upper left arm while the right arm had a green shamrock alongside a dagger and a scabbard.

One theory, given the time period, is that the man may be from the North. At the time, however, the RUC nominated a missing man as a possible match that was later ruled out.

The man was found with no upper body clothing but was wearing Wrangler brand jeans with a belt that had a silver buckle with a dog on it.

A post-mortem was carried out prior to burial in Manorhamilton, but no DNA profile was obtained.

It is now hoped that an exhumation will allow experts in the field of forensic science to piece together further clues about who the man is.

In a statement to the Irish Independent, the Department of Justice confirmed that a ministerial order for the exhumation had been granted by Justice Minister Helen McEntee under Section 47 of the Coroners Acts. This followed a request from the Coroner for Co Leitrim for the exhumation, for the purposes of DNA retrieval.

A spokesperson added: Irelands DNA database, administered by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), has made a significant contribution to missing persons cases since its establishment five years ago. The DNA database contains valuable close family samples alongside profiles of persons whose identity is not yet known.

Director General of FSI Chris Enright recently told a National Missing Persons Day event that a number of cases of missing persons had been solved in 2020 by DNA technology.

The exhumation of bodies involves a complex application process and is only allowed in the rarest of circumstances. The law requires that the exhumation be carried out with due care and decency, and in such a manner as not to endanger public health.

A forensic anthropologist, the State pathologist, gardai from the technical bureau and a forensic scientist from FSI are expected to attend the exhumation in Manorhamilton. The exhumed body must be reburied or cremated within 48 hours.

There are believed to be up to 18 cases of unidentified remains in Ireland, according to figures collated by RTE. The oldest case is that of a male found in the sea near Tuskar Rock off the Co Wexford coast in 1968.

Investigators have speculated if the body may be that of a person from Aer Lingus Flight 712 which crashed off the Co Wexford coast in March of that year killing all 61 people on board. The unidentified body was exhumed in recent years so a DNA sample could be taken. Despite comparing the sample with a number of the families whose loved ones were never found, the body remains unidentified.

Irish Independent
In reaction to the pandemic, the Supreme Court postponed arguments that had been scheduled for March and April, and in May it embarked on a bold experiment, hearing arguments by telephone and letting the public listen in, both firsts. The court has now heard some 40 arguments in the new format. Notwithstanding the occasional glitch, the proceedings were orderly and dignified if at times stilted and inert.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the new format allowed the court to function. Although we look forward to returning to normal sittings in our courtroom, the chief justice wrote, we have been able to stay current in our work.

By some measures, though, the courts workload is dropping. An appendix to the chief justices report said the court issued only 53 signed opinions in argued cases in the term that ended in July. That is the smallest number since the 1860s. The current term seems poised to yield a similarly small number of opinions.

During the Spanish flu epidemic, in the term that started in 1918, the court decided 163 cases, or more than three times as many as the current court.
(CNN)  As the clocks struck midnight marking New Year's Day in Brussels and 11 p.m. Thursday in London, the United Kingdom finally cut its ties with the European Union, almost a year after its formal departure from the 27-nation bloc.

The end of the transition period, four-and-a-half years after a majority in the UK voted to quit the European Union, is a significant moment in the nation's history. After almost five decades as part of the bloc, the UK will now forge a separate path.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that Britain will be an "open, generous, outward-looking, internationalist and free trading" country that is "free to do things differently, and if necessary better" than the EU.

"We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it," Johnson said during his New Year's address, just hours before the end of the transition period.

The divorce has been a painful, drawn-out process. And despite the post-Brexit trade deal agreed by the UK and EU in the closing days of the year, and voted through by British lawmakers on the eve of the December 31 deadline, much uncertainty lies ahead.

Opening the debate on the bill Wednesday, Johnson told members of Parliament that the deal would "open a new chapter" and allow the UK to take "control of our laws and our national destiny."

"This bill, it embodies our vision -- shared with our European neighbors -- of a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals, joined by friendship, commerce, history, interests and values, while respecting one another's freedom of action and recognizing that we have nothing to fear if we sometimes choose to do things differently," Johnson said.

But critics warn that the UK economy will suffer as a result of Brexit, with many businesses unprepared for the changes ahead, particularly coming as the nation staggers under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the UK has left the single market and customs union, goods crossing the border will be subject to customs and other checks. Delays and disruption could occur as hauliers discover they lack the correct paperwork, or that new software systems collapse under pressure.

Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, last week warned that "there are serious questions about the government's preparedness for the new arrangements" after the negotiations went down to the wire.

He told Labour lawmakers to support the bill rather than risk the "devastating" consequences of the UK crashing out of the EU with no trade deal. But Starmer said the "thin agreement" reached by Johnson's government "does not provide adequate protection for British manufacturing, our financial services, creative industries, or workplace rights."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a tweet, sent as the clock struck 11 p.m. UK time, that Scotland will be "back soon, Europe." Scots voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum and Brexit has injected new energy into the fight for Scottish independence.

The EU-UK trade deal did not cover Gibraltar, the Overseas British Territory that lies on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula.

Only hours before the transition deadline expired Thursday, Spain and the UK announced that a separate draft agreement had been reached on its post-Brexit status.

'Time to put Brexit behind us'

The UK-EU trade deal has already received provisional approval from the European Union, with both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel formally signing off on the agreement on Wednesday.

"It has been a long road. It's time now to put Brexit behind us," von der Leyen said on Twitter, announcing the move. "Our future is made in Europe."

The European Parliament is expected to examine the deal at a later date before it can be formally ratified by the European Union.

The deal agreed with Brussels sets out a new business and security relationship with the UK's biggest trading partner. It was finally nailed down after months of deadlock over areas such as fishing quotas, how the UK would use state aid to support British businesses post-Brexit, and legal oversight of any deal struck.

The agreement, which preserves Britain's tariff- and quota-free access to the bloc's consumers, spares the UK some of the most dire potential consequences from Brexit as it battles a crippling pandemic.

But while it may have prevented a crippling blow to Britain's ailing economy, the trade agreement will still leave the country poorer at a time when it faces a jobs crisis and the worst recession in more than 300 years.

The deal also appears to mostly cover trade in goods, where the UK has a deficit with its EU neighbors, but excludes key service industries like finance, where it currently enjoys a surplus.

Muted celebrations

Some UK newspaper front pages sounded a triumphal note Thursday despite the potentially rocky road ahead.

"Britain FINALLY free from the EU" said the Daily Express, while The Times of London declared "It's goodbye to all that as Brexit trade deal signed."

The Daily Mail hailed "two giant leaps to freedom," in a headline referencing both the signing into law of the Brexit trade deal and UK regulators' approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine a day earlier.

But soaring rates of coronavirus infections may put paid to any Brexit supporters' hopes of celebrating the end of the transition period on Britain's streets.

More than three-quarters of England's population are now under the country's toughest restrictions, aimed at limiting the spread of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant.

News of that variant prompted France, along with other nations in Europe elsewhere, to shut off travel from the UK. As thousands of trucks were stranded at the British port of Dover in the run-up to Christmas, some observers feared it also foreshadowed the potential chaos of a no-deal Brexit.

Meanwhile, the full impact of Brexit on Britons living in the EU, as well as EU citizens living in Britain, remains to be seen. The 3 Million, a grassroots organization of EU citizens in the UK, has highlighted concerns over those who do not realize they must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by the end of June to protect their UK rights.

Gibraltar agreement

The agreement in principle struck between London and Madrid will avoid a hard border between Gibraltar and Spain, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told a televised press conference Thursday.

This was something many local residents, on both sides of the border, had feared as the transition period ends, she said.

Gonzalez Laya said an interim period was expected for six months until a new treaty is finalized. Unlike the rest of the UK, Gibraltar will remain a part of EU agreements, such as the Schengen area, allowing a free flow of people and goods across members' borders.

"Spain will be ultimately responsible for the application of Schengen in Gibraltar," Gonzalez Laya said.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK had a "warm and strong relationship with Spain."

"Today, working side by side with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, and following intensive discussions with the Spanish government, we reached agreement on a political framework to form the basis of a separate treaty between the UK and the EU regarding Gibraltar. We will now send this to the European Commission, in order to initiate negotiations on the formal treaty," he said.

"In the meantime, all sides are committed to mitigating the effects of the end of the transition period on Gibraltar, and in particular ensure border fluidity, which is clearly in the best interests of the people living on both sides."

This story was first published on CNN.com.
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New Delhi: A group of people unloaded a dung-laden trolley in front of a Punjab BJP leader's house in Hoshirpur on Friday, prompting Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to warn those protesting over the new farm laws not to take law in their hands.

Some people, believed to be farmers, unloaded the trolley in front of the residence of former Punjab minister Tikshan Sud in Hoshiarpur.

They also raised slogans against the Centre for its alleged callous attitude towards farmers' demands.

Annoyed by the act, BJP workers led by Tikshan Sud staged a dharna on the Rai Bahadur Jodhamal road in Hoshiarpur, seeking action against those responsible for it.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Kumar Sharma condemned the incident.

He said some mischievous persons under the garb of farmers ?attacked? the residence of Sud, only to disturb peace and brotherhood in the state.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh too took a serious note of the incident and said invasion of privacy will bring a bad name to the peaceful agitation of farmers and defeat its very objective.

He warned protesters not to take law in their hands in their fight for the farmers' rights.

After months of showing exemplary restraint and not indulging in any violence or lawlessness in Punjab as well as at the borders of the national capital, some protesters are losing restraint despite being categorically asked by farmer leaders to keep the protests peaceful, said the CM in a statement.

He urged the protesters to exercise restraint and express solidarity with farmers in the same spirit of self-discipline as has been demonstrated so far by farmer organisations.

The chief minister said such acts have the potential of vitiating the atmosphere of peace and destroying harmony amongst people of diverse castes, religions and communities.

Traumatisation of families of political leaders or workers through such acts may lead to a law and order problem in Punjab, he said.

A large number of farmers are protesting at the borders of Delhi for over a month, seeking repeal of three new agriculture laws.
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
India has lodged strong protest over the demolition of a Hindu temple in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Officials said concerns were conveyed to Pakistan through diplomatic channels. Over 30 people, mostly members of a radical Islamist party, were arrested after the Hindu temple was vandalised and set on fire by a mob protesting against its expansion work in northwest Pakistan.

The attack on the temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district on Wednesday also drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and Hindu community leaders. On Thursday, the provincial government ordered authorities to reconstruct the damaged temple as it vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

The temple was attacked by the mob after members of the Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate its decades-old building, according to witnesses. The mob, led by a local cleric and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman group), demolished the newly constructed work alongside the old structure, they said.

According to local police, they arrested more than 30 people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Rehmat Salam Khattak, in overnight raids. Over 350 people have been named in the FIR, Provincial Police Chief KPK Sanaullah Abbasi has said. Abbasi said all the sections of law relating to terrorism have been included in the FIR against the accused. The police will ensure protection to worship places of minorities in the province, he added.

AFP reports that the temple will be rebuilt using provincial government funds. "We regret the damage caused by the attack," said Kamran Bangash, the provincial information minister. "The chief minister has ordered the reconstruction of the temple and adjoining house," he said.

Construction will start as soon as possible with the support of the Hindu community, he said, adding security would be provided at the site.

Meanwhile, Pakistans supreme court took notice of the attack and ordered the local authorities to appear before the court on January 5. According to a statement by the apex court, Hindu lawmaker and the Pakistan Hindu Council chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani called on Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed in Karachi to discuss the issue.

"The chief justice of Pakistan showed grave concern over the tragic incident and informed the member of parliament that he has already taken cognisance of the issue and has fixed the matter before court on January 5, at Islamabad," according to the statement. The court has issued directions to one-man Commission on Minorities Rights, KP chief secretary and KP inspector general of police to visit the site and submit a report on January 4.

Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri termed the destruction of the temple against the teaching of Islam. He said that the constitution of the country ensures protection of religious places of minorities.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari strongly condemned the attack and vowed to bring the culprits to justice. "Strongly condemn the burning of a Hindu temple by a mob in Karak, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, she said in a tweet. "(The) K-P government must ensure culprits brought to justice. MOHR also moving on this. We as a govt have a responsibility to ensure safety & security of all our citizens & their places of worship," she added.

Pakistan's federal Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi strongly condemned the attack on the temple. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan termed the attack on the temple as "an unfortunate incident." He ordered immediate arrest of those involved in the incident.

Khan vowed that his government will protect worship places from such incidents. Leader of Hindu Community Peshawar Haroon Sarab Diyal said that a samadhi of a Hindu religious leader exists at the temple site and Hindu families from across the country do visit the samadhi on every Thursday.

The Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj is considered sacred by the Hindu community. It was built where he died in 1919 in Teri village of Karak. The controversy over the samadhi erupted many decades ago.

According to the details submitted to the Supreme Court in 2014 in a case about it, the Hindus had been visiting the shrine till 1997 when it was dismantled by the locals. The apex court in 2014 ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to restore and reconstruct the Hindu shrine.

The order was issued over a petition of a Hindu lawmaker who had claimed that the shrine had been occupied by an influential cleric of the area. According to police officials, a meeting of clerics was held at Shanki Adda in Teri, Karak before the attack on Wednesday.

The enraged people were raising slogans, vowing they would not permit any construction work at the shrine. The protesters were peaceful in the initial stage but on the provocation of some clerics, they turned violent and attacked the shrine, police said.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by the extremists.
By Tony Hicks

Bay City News Foundation

As we flip the calendar to 2021, there's really no debate: 2020 stunk.

But there was a lot to learn. And reasons for hope.

There's a new administration on its way to Washington D.C. and Americans are already being vaccinated against COVID-19. Stimulus checks are landing in bank accounts (even if many argue they're too small). Fewer cars are on the highway and we've learned some things formerly burdensome, like medical appointments, can reliably happen from home.

Dr. John Swartzberg, a professor at UC Berkeley School of Public Health, said despite the pandemic's toll, there are reasons to believe 2020 may have helped pave a smoother road to the future.

"Taking the long view, I'm very optimistic," said Swartzberg. "I think we've learned a tremendous amount, not only in how to tackle this virus, but how to do so in the fields of diagnostic testing and therapeutics. We've made tremendous progress in the way we vaccinate people. It's nothing short of miraculous. We've never done anything on the magnitude of what we're doing now."

"We've learned the lesson of underfunding public health for decades," Swartzberg said. "Americans have also learned what bad government can do in the face of a pandemic. It's been horrific. But I would give the government credit for investing heavily in the vaccine effort. It's the one thing the Trump administration did right."

Swartzberg said with human population pushing geographic boundaries, and travel becoming faster and easier, we'll likely see public health crises more frequently. Despite crushing consequences, if nothing else, 2020 better prepared us for the future.

"We saw cooperation among scientists with this pandemic like I've never seen in all my decades teaching," he said. "It was wonderful. It's broken down a lot of barriers. The government also learned a major lesson about non-polarization of key government agencies, like the CDC. It's going to take a lot of repair, but I think we'll make some gradual improvement. And we've learned the message has to be consistent and scientifically based. It's been 100 years since a public health disaster like this. We have to learn from history while moving forward."

East Bay Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Walnut Creek, can relate. His year included a five-week stay in the intensive care unit of a Washington D.C. hospital after a March running accident left him with life-threatening injuries.

"For me, this very difficult year began with a fight for my life and has ended with a return to health," DeSaulnier said. "For this, I am filled with gratitude. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one during this pandemic, and to those who are fighting for their lives and on the frontline."

"I hope a year from now we are back to a new normal and past this trying time in our history," DeSaulnier said. "We should all be filled with gratitude for this great gift of life and for being an American citizen, even for all its challenges this year."

One of the biggest challenges for the U.S. was coming to grips with racism, even in the suburbs. Summer protests over police misconduct and social justice spilled into areas east of the Caldecott Tunnel. Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk said 2020 brought new awareness to residents in his city.

"That's something we can look at in a positive direction," Wilk said. "Suddenly it's in Walnut Creek. It does shake people up. There were discussions that had to happen, discussions we probably hadn't had before. I never had discussions with co-workers about what it's like to be Black. I hadn't talked about what it's like to be Jewish. There's just not been enough understanding of where the other side is coming from.

"People are now asking 'Why are people looking at things in this way?'"

UC Berkeley economist Sylvia A. Allegretto said 2020 proved how fragile our economy is and how obvious change is necessary.

"It became all too obvious that our health systems and healthcare coverage are completely inadequate," said Allegretto, the co-chair of the university's Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics. "Universal healthcare should not be debatable at this point - nor higher wages for our lowest paid workers and time off as mandatory. It certainly became clear who is important to our everyday lives and in a crisis.

"Low wage workers, many people of color, are playing such a huge role and have been critical since day one of the pandemic - many without healthcare or are woefully under insured," she said. "Many with no paid time off or sick leave. Can anybody really argue against a $15 minimum wage now?"

Allegretto said her "optimism is with the incoming Biden-Harris administration."

"But we are only entering the worst of this pandemic to this point. I think the new administration has already shown leadership and direction and defined a few goals."

Stanford Medical School Professor Greg Hammer said doctors learned a tremendous amount going through the country's worst health crisis in more than a century.

"I'm an optimist. We've learned we have the capacity to gear up to take care a great number of patients," said Hammer, the author of "Gain Without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals." "We've learned a lot about the multi-discipline effort necessary. The good news is the health care system can ramp up; the world is capable of coming together and meeting the challenge."

Hammer said people's habits will change. He mentioned advances in telehealth, creating space for doctors to expand facilities and relieving the burden of so many patients sitting together in waiting rooms, and people will be more aware of spreading germs.

"There will be better emergency preparedness," he said. "In the immediate wake of this, people in health care will be able to respond much more rapidly."

Congressman Eric Swalwell, D-Livermore, said its those health workers that give him hope for the future.

"This was a difficult, tragic year for so many people in our community," said Swalwell, who graduated from Dublin High School in 1999. "But what makes me optimistic about the future is that it's clearer than ever that heroes walk among us. I'm deeply moved by the doctors and nurses, the first responders, the teachers, and all the frontline workers who have selflessly strived to ensure the rest of us can survive. And the nonprofits and their volunteers who are striving to help our neediest neighbors are living testament to humanity's goodness."

"Hard as 2020 has been, it exposed role models all around us who inspire us to be better people."

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Beginning the New Year by watching a firework display has become an indispensable activity of many Vietnamese. In the photo: Fireworks light up sky in Hanoi to welcome in the new year of 2021. (Photo: VNA)
Cairo, Jan 1 : Mina Atta, a 43-year-old Egyptian, had plans to celebrate the New Year in the country's renowned Sharm el-Sheikh resort on the Red Sea. However, he will celebrate at home after the government's decision to cancel all New Year's celebrations nationwide to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered on December 27 the cancellation of all New Year celebrations, urging authorities to strictly enforce the mask mandate that applies to all public transportation and indoor public spaces, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Madbouly ordered an on-spot fine of 50 Egyptian pounds ($3.18) for all violators who do not apply the precautionary measures and do not wear face masks starting January 3, 2021.

Egypt is currently going through the second wave of the virus, according to Dr. Mohamed Awad Taj al-Din, advisor to the Egyptian President for Health and Prevention Affairs.

Egypt has witnessed a sudden spike in virus infections in recent weeks. It reported 1,418 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, raising the total number of infections in the North African country to 1,38,062, with a death toll of 7,631.

"I decided to celebrate at home, and I bought all our needs to observe the occasion with my family," Atta, a jewelry store owner, told Xinhua.

He added celebrating the New Year, even if at home, is an important custom, noting that this would help his family and him reduce the state of depression they have gone through in 2020 due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Atta praised the government's decision to cancel the New Year celebrations, noting that this would help avoid more infections as so many parties and festivals are usually held on this occasion.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Moussa, 38, an accountant with a private company, said the government's decision to cancel celebrations is very wise.

"Restaurants, cinemas, cafes, nightclubs and hotels are always busy on the New Year. Canceling the celebrations will protect tens of thousands of people," he said.

Like Atta, Moussa said he will celebrate the New Year at home with his family.

"I will watch a movie and eat cakes," the middle-aged man said, adding that it is the safest way to celebrate the occasion.

He hoped that the epidemic would end as soon as possible and life would return to normal.

The cancellation of the New Year celebrations has negatively affected business owners, mainly owners of gift shops and nightclubs.

"We have waited for this day because it is usually well observed by the majority of Egyptians," Ibrahim Atwa, a 31-year-old owner of a nightclub said.

He added that the government's decision to cancel the celebrations will inflict him great losses as he has been preparing for this day since the beginning of December.

However, Atwa stressed that he fully backs the government's measures which will definitely help reduce the spread of the virus.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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NORCROSS, Ga.  The biggest applause lines in Senator Kelly Loefflers stump speech are not about Ms. Loeffler at all.

When the crowd is most engaged, including Thursday morning at a community pavilion in suburban Atlanta, Ms. Loeffler invokes President Trump or attacks her Democratic opponents as socialists and Marxists. Her own policy platforms are rarely mentioned.

Are you ready to keep fighting for President Trump and show America that Georgia is a red state? Ms. Loeffler said when she took the microphone. We are the firewall to stopping socialism and we have to hold the line.

Such are the themes of the closing arguments in the all-important Georgia Senate runoffs, which have reflected the partisanship and polarization of the national political environment. Ms. Loeffler and her Senate colleague, David Perdue, are seeking to motivate a conservative base that is still loyal to Mr. Trump while also clawing back some of the defectors who helped deliver Georgia to a Democratic presidential nominee for the first time since 1992.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Mulhern Granholm, the former two-term governor of Michigan state, was expected to be in Barack Obamas first team; then in his second team; and was again almost a certainty as a judge in the Supreme Court. So, even though she has not held a post within the Beltway zone in the US capital, she is extremely familiar with the turf.

As US expectedly pivots away from fossil fuels and India redoubles its commitment to the Paris Accord, her role becomes far more significant than Dan Brouillette enjoyed. Within the US, the administrator of the ...
Jammu, Jan 1 : Pakistan repeatedly violated ceasefire on the line of control (LoC) on Friday in J&K's Rajouri district.

Having violated ceasefire on the LoC more than 3,500 times during 2020, Friday's is the first ceasefire violation by Pakistan in 2021.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Devender Anand said, "At about 3.30 p.m. today Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Nowshera sector in District Rajouri. Indian army retaliated befittingly." At least 30 civilians have been killed and over 130 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC in J&K in 2020.
While on routine patrol at 3:37 a.m. an officer noticed that there were a large number of cars parked on the street at Nephews Bar & Grill at 4380 Dorris St. He also noticed several cars in the lot and several people exiting the premises. The bar is supposed to have shut down at 3 a.m. and is usually cleared out completely by 3:30 a.m. The officer said it appeared as if though they were still operating when he drove by.

* * *

A cab driver spoke to police at Embassy Suites at Lifestyle Way. He said a customer ran out of his vehicle without paying for cab services provided. He said the customer is a black male with dreads, thin build and was wearing all black clothing. The man was picked up by at the Embassy Suites and transported to the Westside. Upon arrival at the destination the man jumped out of the vehicle and ran off. The cabbie chose to return back to the Embassy Suites in an attempt to pull up video footage of the man. However, the manager was not present at the time to pull up any video. The cab driver is out $58.20.

* * *

At a residence on N. Highland Park Avenue, an anonymous caller reported a neighbor's windows of their house had been busted out along with their flower pots destroyed and thrown over the yard. The complainant wanted police to check on the residence. Upon arrival, an officer observed the house as it was described by the complainant. The officer knocked on the front door and received no response, but found the front door unlocked. He and assisting officers announced their presence and entered the residence. No one was located inside. The residence was then locked and secured prior to leaving.

* * *

A woman said her vehicle was broken into in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and she found the next morning that someone attempted to use her credit card at the McDonald's restaurant at 2017 Gunbarrel Road. The credit card was declined for $12.54. The manager of the McDonald's restaurant looked at video but was unable to get the suspect on video. However, an employee described the suspect as a white male, 30-40 years old, driving a white pickup truck (possible Ford). The employee said the man was with a white female who appeared to be 50-60 years old. The credit card has been canceled.

* * *

On Idlewild Drive in Brainerd, a man said around 2 a.m. an unknown black male had stolen packages from his porch. The packages contained a projector lamp bulb and mount, estimated value of $390. The theft victim provided photo/video evidence of the theft occurring from his Ring camera. The suspect is unknown at this time, but if identified the victim wishes to prosecute.

* * *

Officers responded to a home invasion call on Towerway Drive. They encountered a couple standing outside of the residence who said they transported a man to his mother's house on Towerway Drive to get a snake out of the basement. The couple said that after they saw the snake leave the house the man got freaked out and ran into the house and locked the door. Officers attempted to have the man step out of the house after knocking on the front door, as well as the basement door. The man's mother showed up at the house, let police in and had the man step outside for questioning. No evidence of a home invasion was discovered. The man's story did not make much sense, and according to his mother, he had caused trouble in the past because "he is crazy." The man was transported back to his apartment at City View Apartments, where he insisted there was someone inside his apartment. Police did a sweep of his apartment and did not discover anything.



* * *



Police went to an address on Jeffery Lane looking for Michael Dillard, who has warrants on file ranging from carjacking to felony reckless endangerment. Police knocked on the door and made contact with Devartay Turner. Police observed four males in the living room. Police asked Devartay to speak with his mother. She was told police were there for Dillard. She gave police permission to look through the house for him. Police began to look through the house and were told her oldest son, Adam Turner, was upstairs. Police began to go upstairs and at the top of the stairs police could see Adam Turner's room door open. Police continued down the hallway and came to a cracked door at the end of the hallway. Police pushed the door open and observed a gun sticking out of a bag hanging on the closet door. Police asked who did the room belong to in which Devartay Turner said the room belonged to him and he was holding the gun for someone. Police discovered the firearm was stolen. Devartay then stated the firearm belonged to his cousin who he only knew by his first name (Anthony). Two other guns in the room came back clean. No one in the house knew what the cousin "Anthony's" last name was. Police later discovered Anthony's last name. Police learned that Dillard was seen at the house because Adam Turner cuts hair and does tattoos from home.




Five New Years Resolutions to Help Reverse Error in the Church

Every two years Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research partner to survey the state of theology among church-going American adults. These are not your unsaved neighbors and co-workers. They are the people that sit next to you and me most Sundays (at least in pre-COVID days!). Sadly, the troubling study shows significant error and heresy in the church related to apologetics, theology, and social issues. Here are a few examples:

Apologetic Error and Theological Heresy

34% agree that, Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth.

55% agree that, Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.

65% agree that, Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.

66% disagree that, Even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.

Social Error

58% agree that, Worshiping alone or with ones family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.

49% disagree or are unsure that, Abortion is a sin.

57% agree or are unsure that, The Bibles condemnation of homosexual behavior doesnt apply today.

48% agree or are unsure that, Gender identity is a matter of choice.

As an assistant professor at Southern Evangelical Seminary and Bible College (SES) in my fifteenth year of teaching an integrated approach to theology, philosophy, and apologetics, this study is discouraging to say the least. At this point you may be thinking I will turn this article into my defense of the correct positions on each of the statements. Or perhaps I will turn it into a class that will show how Christian theology is a true and trusted approach to understanding God, the world, and the Bible. I wish I could, but instead, I will challenge you, the reader, to do five things that may help turn the tide of apologetic, theological, and social errors in the church.

Resolution One: Read a Good Book

Well, not just any book. And yes, it is a given that you should read the Bible. I encourage you to read a book written by a credentialed scholar, respected by his peers on apologetics, theology, and social issues. I offer below recommendations for basic beginners to senior scholars. Even if you have already read my recommendations, if it has been more than a year, I encourage you to read them again. The older I get, the more I realize how much I have forgotten when I reread a book.

Without apology, I recommend SES co-founder Dr. Norman Geislers books. For the beginner in apologetics read Twelve Points that Show Christianity Is True and for the advanced, Christian Apologetics. For social issues get a copy of Legislating Morality and then Christian Ethics, and for theology, I recommend Survey of Bible Doctrine and then Systematic Theology. I would also recommend our own SES ebook, Why Trust the God of the Bible?

Resolution Two: Watch or Listen to Good Lectures

I am not talking about a sermon, but a lecture on apologetics, social issues, and theology. The internet and social media are filled with scholars who have shared their teaching on these and many other topics. On the SES Mobile App you will find over 10 years worth of free material from the SES National Conference on Christian Apologetics featuring talks by thinkers like Norman Geisler, Josh McDowell, Frank Turek, Hugh Ross, Chuck Colson, J. Warner Wallace, Chip Ingram, Richard Howe, Richard Land, and so many more. In my review of the talks, all of the errors and heresies mentioned above are covered. In addition, you can find a number of debates and lectures on the SES YouTube channel and the SES podcast. There is no shortage of resources at your disposal.

Resolution Three: Take a Seminary Course

Seminary is no longer just for the pastor. It is for every Christian who is concerned about more effectively proclaiming and defending the Gospel in a post-Christian culture. In addition to degrees, SES offers several for-credit certificates, as well as the ability to audit individual courses. Classes can be live-streamed via our immersive digital campus experience.

A seminary course does two things for you that you will never get from a book or lecture. First, as one of my professors was fond of saying,  not everything you need to know is in the textbook. Never a truer statement has been uttered. The emphasis and connections between concepts as well as the experience and wisdom of a seasoned scholar will never come through a textbook.

Second, a classroom environment, even a virtual classroom, will cause you to learn in a way that a textbook or talk alone will never do. Only teachers can cause their knowledge to come to exist in the student and provide an environment to ensure it stays there. But be carefulit is addictive. Over the years I have seen students start with just taking one course, with no other intentions, and before they knew it, they were walking across a stage to receive a diploma. Learn more about why a seminary education may be right for you by downloading our free ebook HERE.

Resolution Four: Teach or Lead a Class in Your Church

Education is never finished until you complete the cycle by teaching and leading others. In fact, if all you did were resolutions one through three, you would still feel, and actually be, very incomplete. I would suggest this is the breakdown that has resulted in the alarming statistics cited above. It is not that the church does not have enough teachers; it is that those teachers are ill prepared and unwilling to tackle todays apologetic, social, and theological issues. This is exactly why SES exists and why we focus on providing integrated training in theology, philosophy, and apologetics. The stats above will not move in the right direction until an army of qualified believers leads and teaches in todays churches. Essential to the success of your small group and church is creating a caring, sharing, and correcting community that manifests the love for the brethren so that the world will know that you are disciples of the uncreated risen Savior and Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:35).

Resolution Five: Repeat Steps 1-4 for the Rest of Your Life

Of the statistics revealed above, which one do you think is the scariest? In my opinion, it is that 58% of respondents agreed that Worshiping alone or with ones family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church. I dont know about you, but as a Christian educator such a statistic sends chills up my spine. If someone walks into your church on Sunday morning to worship, you at least have the opportunity to fix all the problems listed above if you have done the first four resolutions. But if they do not come to your church, you cannot fix anything, no matter how much preparation and education you have completed. This is the enemy at his best. This world is filled with demonic and social opposition to our personal growth as a disciple of Christ and to our churches as a body of growing believers living life together.

Therefore, we must do each resolution clothed in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) and in communion with all the saints (1 Corinthians 12). Yes, no matter what step you are on, go to the next one. I admit that it will not be easy to keep the cycle going, but we must until the Lord returns, no matter who opposes us or what the statistics say. Know that SES stands ready to help you on your journey remembering our mantra to: Train trainers, teach teachers, and disciple disciplers so the cycle never ends.

To learn more about why a seminary education may be right for you, please download our FREE ebook today!
The local energy sector remains essential during the State of Emergency but there is part of the sector that remains closed since it is yet to get a new owner and that's the refinery in Point -a-Pierre.
It was not the 2020 Donald Trump expected.

Instead of riding a buoyant economy to a second term in the White House, the president underwent a bruising impeachment battle before the Covid pandemic killed more than 300,000 Americans.

After a spring and summer of racial division in the country, Trumps leadership was then resoundingly rejected by voters.

But through all the turmoil, the outgoing president could count on the support of his children.

First daughter Ivanka Trump has been by her fathers side since he began his bid for the White House back in 2015.

But data show Ms Trump may have slipped down the family pecking order during 2020.

According to a database of the presidents speeches, tweets and interviews, Ms Trump lagged a long way behind her adult brothers in mentions by her father.

Donald Trump Jr paved the way in 2020 with 418 mentions, just ahead of his younger brother Eric who had 376, according to the factba.se website.

Ms Trump came in a distant third place with just 118 mentions.

But was just above Barron Trump, 107 mentions, and Tiffany Trump with 44.

The Trump siblings represent the two paths that the Republican party can pursue in the coming years, said Dr Steven Buckley, an associate lecturer at the University of the West of England, who studies US media, politics and social media.

Ivanka represents the more measured, 'traditional' Republican who is interested in smaller government and lower taxes.

The brothers represent the culture war focused wing of the party, which their father currently occupies.

They pursue policy with the end goal of 'owning the libs' not for the merits of policy itself.

I believe one of the reasons President Trump mentioned and retweeted his sons more than his daughter is that he sees his style of politics reflected in them.

Plus the fact they are far more vocal on social media, talking about the sort of things that Trump likes to hear.

In its database, factba.se brought together all of Mr Trumps debates, deposition or testimony, interviews, op-eds, position papers, press conferences, press gaggles, remarks, speeches, video logs, Twitter and deleted tweets.

And it shows that Ivankas mentions by her father are way down on 2019, when she was the most popular of the Trump children for the president to mention.

Ivanka likely limited her visibility during the campaign as she wishes to return to her normal New York socialite life with some of the dignity she had when she began working in the White House intact, added Dr Buckley.

The brothers seem to care little about that world and see more money to be made in the right-wing grifting enterprises that dominate in the right-wing media circles.

There is a lot of money to be made and power to be wielded by continuing to feed their fathers supporters the sort of rhetoric they want to hear.

But of course it was not just his children that Mr Trump mentioned during his tumultuous 2020 as he targeted his political opponents and enemies.

President-elect Joe Biden bore the brunt of Mr Trumps remarks and was called Sleepy Joe 716 times during the year.

Mr Trumps former White House opponent Hillary Clinton was vilified by the president during their own battles, and in 2020 was still branded Crooked Hillary 123 times.

Trump's use of name calling has certainly lowered the tone of public discourse, added Dr Buckley.

However he is arguably echoing the tone of rhetoric that he has heard from the right-wing media that he consumed.

Over the past 20 years politics has certainly become more driven by personality and emotions, and media coverage has reflected this.

One of Mr Trumps favourite other targets has been Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, whom he has called Pocahontas because of her changing claims of having Native American ancestry.

During 2020, the president used the nickname to belittle the former challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination 149 times.

Mr Trump has always enjoyed taking a swing at Senator Bernie Sanders, who he referred to as Crazy Bernie 192 times.

The president also has targets in Congress, and he has called Speaker Nancy Pelosi Crazy Nancy 90 times and branded California congressman Adam Schiff, who led his House impeachment investigation, as Shifty Schiff 67 times.

What this means for politics in America going forward is largely going to be determined by how the media reacts, said Dr Buckley.

If the media continues to reward political actors who promote personal politics over policy with attention, then Trump's style of politics is likely to continue.

If however the media chooses to focus on policy, then not only would this serve the public better, but it may also help halt the trend of nasty, divisive politics that has gripped America during Trump's presidency.

Society elects leaders who they think will best serve their needs.

In 2016 enough Americans felt that name calling and bombastic language would help them best.

Rather than Trump's use of name calling saying a lot about his own character, I believe it said more about the character of America in 2016.

Happily, in 2020 the desire for calm and measured discourse prevailed and one can but hope that the tone of politics will shift accordingly over the next four years.
The Subject Expert Committee under Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has sought more data for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin before granting marketing approvals. The expert panel earlier today recommended Serum Institute of India's Covishield for emergency use, with certain conditions.

The expert panel also asked the Hyderabad-based firm to expedite volunteer recruitment for the ongoing Covaxin clinical trial and recommended it may conduct interim efficacy analysis for further consideration of restricted emergency use approval for Covaxin.

Covishield has become the first coronavirus vaccine to receive a regulatory nod in India. Now, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) will take a final call on rolling out the inoculation. The expert panel also deliberated over the modalities of rolling out the vaccine into the country.

Covishield is the name given to the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Serum Institute of India (SII), the biggest vaccine manufacturer in the world by volume, has partnered with AstraZeneca to manufacture and distribute the jab in India and other countries.

Earlier this week, UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had approved emergency supply of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. It was expected that India would approve the shot shortly after UK.

The vaccine has shown efficacy of 70 per cent, and can go up to 90 per cent under certain conditions. Serum Institute has said that it has stockpiled 50 million doses of the vaccine, most of which will be provided to the Indian government at a reduced price of Rs 220 per dose. However, the government is yet to disclose a plan to procure this vaccine from the company.

While granting the restricted emergency use approval for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, the panel imposed certain regulatory provisions, including that the shot is indicated for active immunisation in individuals of 18 years or more to prevent the disease and that it should be administered intramuscularly in two doses at an interval of 4 to 6 weeks.

Serum Institue will also have to submit safety, efficacy and immunogenicity data from the ongoing clinical trials in the country and across the globe for review at the earliest. Also, the Pune-based firm should submit the safety data including the data on adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) and adverse event of special interest (AESI) with due analysis every 15 days for the first two months and monthly thereafter till the completion of the ongoing clinical trial in the country.

Covaxin, India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, is being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology. The vaccine is undergoing Phase 3 trials.

The SEC noted that the ongoing clinical trial for Covaxin is a large one with 25,800 subjects of which 22,000 have been enrolled, including subjects with co-morbidities, which has demonstrated safety till date but efficacy is yet to be demonstrated.

"After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended that the firm should try to expedite the recruitment and may perform interim efficacy analysis for further consideration of restricted emergency use approval," an official source said.

The development comes a day before a nationwide test run of vaccine delivery network is scheduled to take place. The exercise is meant to check the feasibility of the vaccination plan involving real-time monitoring via Co-WIN app and will not involve vaccine administration. Aspects like management of probable side effects after vaccination, checks on cold storage, and plugging the leaks in transportation arrangements will also be evaluated.

ALSO READ: Serum-Oxford's 'Covishield' vaccine gets panel nod for emergency use; DCGI next

ALSO READ: Health Minister reviews preparedness for COVID-19 vaccination dry run

ALSO READ: Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine becomes first to get WHO nod for emergency use
COLUMBIA  People returning to the South Carolina Statehouse for the upcoming session may do a double-take as they step onto the marble floors, newly shiny as glass.

The floors haven't gleamed this high in decades thanks to an $819,000 project that involved returning to the same quarry in northern Georgia that supplied some of the original marble more than a century ago, according to the state Department of Administration, which oversees the building's maintenance.

The loose and cracked stones that used to rock a bit when stepped upon are fixed. About 4 percent of the nearly 23,000 square feet of refinished marble flooring had to be repaired or replaced, the agency said.

Rugs throughout the Statehouse also were replaced.

The white and pink marble flooring, initially installed in the late 1880s, was partially repaired in 1997 in a three-year, $52 million renovation of the Statehouse that not only restored many features but brought the building to modern fire and safety codes and installed earthquake protections.

But a lot of people have tread on those tiles over the last 23 years.

The historic state capitol typically attracts more than 115,000 school children and adult tourists yearly, according to the state's tourism agency. Add to that the state employees, lawmakers, lobbyists, reporters and advocates or opponents of all sorts of issues, and that's a lot of wear and tear.

Beyond being very dirty and dull, the cracked tiles created a safety hazard, the Department of Administration wrote in its five-year, 1,150-page maintenance plan for public buildings statewide, posted in 2019.

The project was set to start over the summer, after the normal end of the legislative session. But 2020 was anything but normal.

COVID-19 has obviously cut back on that traffic, as free Statehouse tours ended March 20, a week after Gov. Henry McMaster issued the first of many state emergency declarations and a day after the Legislature went home, returning only for short, limited special sessions. One of those was to pass a resolution that kept government running without a new state budget.

Spending remains frozen.

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But the money for the flooring comes from $30 million legislators provided the Department of Administration last year toward the state's billions of dollars' worth of maintenance backlogs.

Two dozen other projects funded with that money are either completed, underway or still somewhere along the state's bureaucratic approval process.

None are big renovations. They include roof repairs, heating and cooling fixes, elevator upgrades and window replacements at various state-owned buildings. The most expensive project on the list, at $9.8 million, fixes the roof and windows at the State Museum. It's in the design phase.

Lawmakers have been warned for years about the escalating price tag that comes with letting public buildings deteriorate instead of paying for otherwise routine maintenance.

"You're so far behind," Marcia Adams, director of the Department of Administration, told legislators in 2018 as they demanded answers for why the Statehouse's 43-year-old escalators kept breaking down. "Every year you can't get to these projects, that number grows."

The escalators were replaced later that year, at a cost of nearly $3 million, which also included waterproofing the walls around them.

The bulk of the money legislators designated toward maintenance last year came from surpluses, eligible for one-time expenses. But a small chunk of $5 million sent to the Department of Administration will carry over into future budgets indefinitely, giving the agency that manages 113 of the state's properties something to count on for planning.

It may not get any more during budget debates this year amid the unprecedented uncertainty and needs created by COVID-19.

But House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, said at least it's a start.

"For the first time in a long time we are on track and see a way to catch up on deferred maintenance that's grown over the past few decades," the House's chief budget writer recently told The Post and Courier. "Everything won't be fixed in a year or two years, but we have a 10- or 15-year-plan that quits kicking that can down the road."
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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned on Thursday of a possible plot by the United States to "fabricate a pretext for war," semi-official Fars news agency reported.

"Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to fabricate pretext for war," Zarif wrote on social media.

The foreign minister pointed to the deployment of two B-52H strategic bombers by Washington to the Middle East, announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The Iranian chief diplomat decried that Washington "wastes billions" in military deployment, "instead of fighting COVID-19" in the United States.

Tehran, Zarif wrote, does not seek war, but will defend its people, security and vital interests "openly and directly."
Zara and Elliott Love said to have had a test when they arrived on the island

The duo 'were given red wrist bands' but allegedly cut them off and tried to flee

Police called after staff at 300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel found the bands

A tourist was jailed for six months this week for breaching Barbados' protocols

Ex-Miss Great Britain and former Love Island star Zara Holland faces up to a year in jail and a fine of 18,000 if convicted of claims she and her boyfriend tried to flee Barbados after he tested positive for Covid.

The reality star, 25, and her partner Elliott Love, 30, are thought to have had a test when they arrived on the island on Sunday.

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After receiving his result on Tuesday, the duo are said to have been given red wristbands - handed out by hotels for guests who have not yet tested negative for the virus - but allegedly cut them off and tried to make their way to the airport in a taxi.

A member of staff at the 300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel is said to have found the bands and called police, who reportedly found the couple at the airport, where they were arrested.

In Barbados today, the Daily Nation reported: 'Sources told the Daily Nation that the high-profile couple were taken into police custody and then transported to the quarantine [facility] at Harrison Point, St Lucy.

'When released, they could face charges of breaching the quarantine protocol which carry a $50,000 [18,000] fine, imprisonment for a year or both.

Making a break for it? Zara Holland has reportedly been arrested in Barbados after trying to return leave with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus (pictured in Barbados in April 2019)

Covid rules for visitors to Barbados Before arriving in Barbados visitors have to fill out an online form and preferably include an upload of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result. It is then mandatory for travellers from High-Risk and Medium-Risk countries to receive a second test while on island. While waiting for the results visitors then have to restrict their movements to their accommodation and cannot have visitors. If the result is positive, then the person is assessed at a government facility for a minimum of 24 hours. After this there is the option to self-isolate at your own expense or go to a government isolation location, such as the Paragon Military Base. However if a positive test is returned, the visitor cannot return home. They have to isolate until they have recovered. Upon recovery, you can resume your vacation or return home, Visit Barbados explains. The country has had just 383 Covid cases and only seven deaths since the start of the pandemic.

'The couple, who have been dating for four years, arrived here last Sunday aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight and were to be quarantining in a Christ Church hotel. Visitors have to be cleared after two mandatory tests, which usually take about three days.

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'However, after Ministry of Health officials informed them that one of them had tested positive, the couple apparently removed their red wristbands, boarded a taxi to Grantley Adams International Aiport and attempted to book a flight back to the United Kingdom aboard British Airways.

'Sources said while the male is in isolation until he recovers from the virus, the 25-year-old model who won a major beauty contest in the UK, was under quarantine until tests prove that she did not have the virus. However, if she turns out to be positive, she too will be isolated.'

A tourist was jailed for six months earlier this week for breaching Barbados' strict Covid-19 protocols, even though he'd only popped out for a drink.

Dean George Scott, 49, from Jamaica admitted leaving quarantine to 'buy Fanta' and other snacks after arriving on the holiday island at the beginning of December, when he appeared in court.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes said the sentence served as a was a 'clear warning' to others.

He said: 'I got to send a message to you and to all the other people that this cannot be tolerated. We have made too much gain, so you have to do six months. Walking out of quarantine no man, this cannot be allowed.'

Other guests at Sugar Bay are not having to quarantine as a result of the couple's alleged breach, with staff confident no one else came into close contact, but visitors isolate on arrival anyway until a negative test is confirmed.

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The couple were thought to be being held on a Covid ward at the St Lucy Hospital in northern Barbados before Holland was allowed to return to a hotel.

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A Barbadian police spokesman said: 'Zara Holland has been released from a medical facility to go to her designated hotel. Elliott Love remains a resident at the medical facility.'

Island chief medical officer Dr Kenneth George said: 'There are three tourists who are of special interest. Two are in quarantine and one in police custody.

'Two were apprehended at the airport. This is a police matter and I trust that the appropriate evidence will be submitted.'

While a spokesman for the country's Ministry of Health and Wellness added: 'Police have held for questioning at least three tourists in relation to alleged breaches.

'We will take firm action against any individuals who breach protocols.'

Meanwhile, local reports in Barbados say that airport staff have been quarantined after coming into contact with two British tourists, believed to be the couple.

Last night the Foreign Office confirmed they were aware of Zara Holland and Elliot Love's antics.

An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting a British man and woman in quarantine in Barbados, and are in contact with their family.'

MailOnline has contacted Zara's representatives for a comment.

Before arriving in Barbados visitors have to fill out an online form and preferably include an upload of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

It is then mandatory for travellers from High-Risk and Medium-Risk countries to receive a second test while on island.

While waiting for the results visitors then have to restrict their movements to their accommodation and cannot have visitors.

If the result is positive, then the person is assessed at a government facility for a minimum of 24 hours. After this there is the option to self-isolate at your own expense or go to a government isolation location, such as the Paragon Military Base.

Claims: The former Love Island star, 25, and her beau Elliott Love, 30, are thought to have had a test when they arrived on the island on Sunday and received his positive result on Tuesday

The Paragon Isolation Centre on Barbados where Zara Holland and boyfriend Elliot Love were taken after being arrested

Police called after staff at 300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel (pictured) found bands

Not an ideal start to 2021: The duo are said to have been given red wristbands but allegedly cut them off and tried to flee to the airport in a taxi (Zara is pictured in Barbados in 2019)

Hot spot: The couple, who have been together since 2016, have visited Barbados several times (pictured on a holiday with Zara's family in 2018)

Finding fame: Zara appeared on Love Island in 2016 and has since spoken out about how her 'rollercoaster' experience on the reality show left her battling anxiety and depression

In action: Since Love Island, Zara has turned her attentions to running a business with her mum (pictured on the reality show with Daniel Lukakis)

However if a positive test is returned, the visitor cannot return home. They have to isolate until they have recovered. Upon recovery, you can resume your vacation or return home, Visit Barbados explains.

The country has had just 383 Covid cases and only seven deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Zara, who was de-crowned of her Miss Great Britain title after romping with Alex Bowen on reality show Love Island back in 2016, found love with boyfriend Elliott.

The pair struck up a romance just months after Zara left the show, and she later told the Daily Star that he was 'the one'.

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She gushed: 'We're very happy together and have such a great time. He is absolutely amazing and he's definitely the one.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-01 14:53:07|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior official on the Chinese mainland Friday called for firm confidence and joint efforts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to foster new progress in the development of cross-Strait relations.

Liu Jieyi, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in a New Year's message carried in the first issue of the "Relations Across the Taiwan Strait" magazine in 2021.

Calling 2020 an extraordinary year in cross-Strait relations, Liu said the mainland has put people's lives and health first amid the COVID-19 pandemic, cared for Taiwan compatriots the same way as it treated people on the mainland and fully supported Taiwan enterprises in resuming work and production.

Although the Democratic Progressive Party authorities went further to obstruct cross-Strait relations in 2020, the mainland continued to deepen integrated development across the Strait, and pushed forward exchanges and cooperation to overcome difficulties, Liu noted in the article.

Facing a complicated cross-Strait situation, the mainland has firmly and vigorously safeguarded national sovereignty as well as peace and stability across the Strait, he said.

The mainland will adhere to the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle, and resolutely oppose separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence," Liu said.

"We will promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Straits relations and advance the process toward national reunification," he said. Enditem
A 58-year-old man has allegedly been caught with drugs and $21,700 in cash after failing to indicate.

NSW Police pulled over a Toyota van at the intersection of Pacific Highway and Myocum Road, Ewingsdale, in the northern part of the state, at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

The car allegedly failed to indicate when turning.

The driver submitted to a drug test, which was allegedly positive for cocaine.

A 58-year-old man has allegedly been caught with drugs and $21,700 in cash after failing to indicate (stock)

Police searched his vehicle and allegedly found drugs and $21,700.

The man was charged with ten drug offences and bail was refused.

He was also banned from driving for 24 hours.

Double demerits have been in force since 12.01am December 24 and will continue until January 3.

On New Year's Eve it was announced there had been 5,964 speeding fines and 5,182 infringement notices issued for other driving offences handed out during the period.

NSW Police pulled over a Toyota van at the intersection of Pacific Highway and Myocum Road, Ewingsdale,in the northern part of the state, at 7.30pm on Wednesday (stock)

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb, appealed for everyone to take caution.

'The worst job that any police officer can do is to tell someone that a loved one has lost their life in a car crash. What makes this harder is that this is totally preventable. Simply, abiding by the road rules and being alert will prevent a tragedy,' Assistant Commissioner Webb said.

'One of the major factors in many fatal collisions is speed and it's concerning to see several drivers detected at dangerously high speeds in the past 24 hours. I cannot believe the stupidity of some people who think they can travel at these speeds and get away with it.'
Man's Body Found Along I-69 Identified

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARSHALL COUNTY - Authorities have released the name of the man whose body was found in Marshall County Friday morning.The Marshall County Coroner's office said Saturday afternoon that the man has been identified as 25-year-old Andrew E. Blakely of Barlow. Next of kin have been notified, but the coroner's office did not release a cause of death.Marshall County Sheriff Eddie McGuire said the body was found along the Purchase Parkway/I-69 near the overpass of US 68 in Draffenville.
Deep tillage of soil can be a promising tool in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, according to Concordia researchers
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Patna, Jamui and Bettiah in West Champaran are among three districts of Bihar shortlisted for the pan-India dry run of Covid-19 vaccination to be undertaken on Saturday.

Three facilities have been identified in each of these districts for the exercise. The urban primary health centre at Shastrinagar, community health centre at Phulwarisharif and sub-divisional hospital at Danapur are among the three health facilities identified for the mock drill in Patna. Three schools have been identified as session sites, which are locations where vaccination will be administered, in Jamui, said Manoj Kumar, executive director of the State Health Society, Bihar, driving the vaccination programme.

The mock drill will essentially test the technology put in place for the vaccination programme. All vaccinations have to be done through the Co-WIN portal, as per the Centres operational guidelines. The portal contains the database of the vaccinator as well as the beneficiary, said Kumar.

Text messages will be sent out on mobile phones of the beneficiaries, which would guide them about the vaccination process and also remind them of the second shot after the first has been administered to them.

We have identified 25 test beneficiaries, who will be healthcare workers, at each of the health facilities for the mock drill tomorrow. The data of these beneficiaries will be uploaded in Co-WIN. We will follow all social distancing norms and the standard operating procedure put in place by the government of India, added Kumar.

As many as 35,000 healthcare workers have enrolled so far for the Covid vaccination in Patna, said a district health officer.

It is difficult to get an exact count on the number of private healthcare workers. We have, however, enrolled all those in public sector health facilities, the officer said.

There will be one vaccinator per 100 beneficiaries, as per the norms prescribed by the Centre, said the official.

Private sector health facilities having more than 100 beneficiaries may get a vaccinator from the same facility, as the government has already prepared a database on them.

A session site would comprise three rooms  a waiting hall, vaccination room and an observation hall. Each team at a session site would have five members, including one vaccinator and four vaccinator officers, who would be from the police, information technology and health sectors.

The first vaccinator officer, ideally from the police set-up, has been tasked with the responsibility to maintain Covid-19 safety protocol, including social distancing. The second vaccinator officer will check the genuineness of the beneficiary through the Co-WIN portal, while the third and fourth, drawn primarily from the health set-up, will be at the observation room to check for any side-effect post-vaccination and for information, and counselling activity.

The objective of the dry run is to assess operational feasibility in the use of the Co-WIN application in a field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide the way forward to actual implementation.

The first round of the dry run was conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab on December 28 and 29 in two districts each where five session sites with 25 test beneficiaries each were identified.
The mismanagement and corruption of the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro has plunged Venezuela into the worst humanitarian, political, and economic crisis in its history.

The United States has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to support relief efforts for Venezuelans both inside and outside of their homeland. However, providing humanitarian aid is a short-term remedy. We need new ideas for long-term solutions. That is why the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Inter-American Development Bank launched the BetterTogether, or Juntos-Es-Mejor, Challenge.

The BetterTogether challenge is another application of open innovation where anyone, at any time on any subject can from anywhere in the world can submit ideas to try to help the Venezuelan people, both outside of Venezuela, but also inside Venezuela, said former executive director of USAIDs Global Development Lab, Harry Bader. The Lab is transforming into the Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub as part of the Bureau for Democracy, Development, and Innovation:

"People who have experienced the trauma and the difficulty and the deprivation of living in Venezuela and then escaping the regime and trying to find a way to temporarily build a life outside, they can use their personal experiences and develop ideas that no development agency would have knowledge of or the ability to contemplate, because it's not us that are doing it. It's the lived experiences of the Venezuelans that can be turned into the idea that they themselves create.

The exciting thing about these awards is they can be large or small, said Mr. Bader:

We're doing projects like clean water access. We're creating these digital forums for helping people find relatives. We're creating forums for helping people find jobs consistent with the rules and regulations of the countries that they now find themselves in, where they have migrated to find security and to help their families.

As part of the BetterTogether initiative, USAID works with Venezuelans both inside and outside Venezuela, and with Brazilian, Peruvian, Colombian, and American groups across the region.

In late October, USAID Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa announced the latest recipients of USAID grants: Im pleased to announce today that USAID is funding three new projects in Venezuela, Chile, and Colombia, with $1 million under the BetterTogether Challenge, he said.

These new awards, which will improve the lives of thousands, bring us to 19 total projects supported by USAID and the IDB, with more awards coming.

For more information on the BetterTogether Challenge, please visit www.JuntosEsMejorVE.org

She is a body confidence advocate who escaped December's Tier 4 restrictions in the UK by jetting to the United Arab Emirates.

And, Malin Andersson, 28, showed off her 'biggest bloat ever' while posing in a white bikini as she welcomed in 2021 with a beach day in Dubai, on Friday.

Taking to Instagram, the former Love Island star shared an unflitered snap of herself looking at her stomach and admitted: 'Water retention, period cramps, spots, you name it - I've brought it into 2021.'

Keeping it real: Malin Andersson, 28, showed off her 'biggest bloat ever' while posing in a white bikini as she welcomed in 2021 with a beach day in Dubai, on Friday

In a lengthy caption alongside her photo, Malin wrote: HAPPY NEW YEAR! As always - I keep it real with ya'll!

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'I am entering 2021 with my period and the biggest bloat ever - it's gotta be up there with the biggest! Water retention, period cramps, spots, you name it - I've brought it into 2021.'

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As well as detailing what her body was experiencing, Malin reflected on the past two years of her life and asserted that she's proud of what she's achieved, despite the 's**t cards' she's been dealt.

The influencer also urged her followers to not put on added pressure to be the 'best version' themselves, which often happens with New Year's resolutions.

Candid: Taking to Instagram, the Love Islander shared a lengthy caption alongside her snap, detailing what her body was experiencing, and reflected on the past two years of her life

Malin insisted: 'Just because we enter a new year - doesn't mean things change straight away. It doesn't mean you have to be perfect.

'It doesn't mean that you should be putting added pressure on yourself to be the 'best' version of you.. it definitely doesn't mean that you have to automatically be happy either.

'This year has been crazy for all of us.. and it's not stopping anytime soon. It's so important for you all to understand that however you are feeling is NORMAL!'

Busty: Maliin proudly showed off her beach look in a video shared to her Stories

Sensational: Wearing animal print beach pants the star looked much less bloated

Curves: Malin looked incredible in a tiny bikini as she shared an empowering message on Wednesday, giving them her advice for 2021

Turning to herself, the Love Islander mused: 'After the s**t 2 years I've had I now seek gratitude in everything I do.. every step that I take I take it with pure happiness because I know that I'm alive & well.

'I walk into 2021 alone but independent and I'm so proud of everything I've achieved despite the s**t cards I've been dealt.'

Using her experiences, Malin encouraged her fans to stay positive and to not give up on their own self-development, writing: 'No matter what tests you may face, keep persevering and don't give up.

Winter sun: Malin has spent Christmas and New Year soaking up the sun in Dubai

'As I said things don't change overnight but gradually - day by day if you put some effort in on self development you'll welcome high vibes and good energy. Baby steps..'

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Finally, the reality star thanked her followers and teased her upcoming book, writing: 'I wanna thank you all for being amazing - you all give me life and such great energy.. and I do what I do for all of you.

'This year is going to be MENTAL for me work wise - and I definitely know you will all love my book. Be kind to yourself, and do YOU!- Sending you all so much love. Ma x.'

Rule breaker: Last Monday, Malin broke the strict Tier 4 travel ban to jet off from London to Dubai for a holiday and flaunted her jaunt as she posted a bikini snap to Instagram

Malin, who was also in Dubai at the beginning of December, jetted back to the UAE for another break from London last Monday.

She previously said that she's left the UK for the sake of her mental health due to it being such a difficult time of year for her.

Her baby Consy was born seven weeks premature in December 2018 and was being treated at Great Ormond Street hospital, but sadly passed away aged four weeks on 22 January, 2019.

Little Consy died a year after Malin lost her mother Consy-Gloria to stomach cancer.

On Wednesday, Malin honoured her late daughter Consy's birthday, by sharing a beautiful picture of her baby alongside a poignant message.

'I wonder what you would have been like, but I'll never know': Malin shared a painful birthday post for her late daughter Consy on her second birthday on Instagram last month

On her late daughter's second birthday, Malin wrote: 'Happy Birthday Baby Girl Today - you would have been 2 years old. I always wonder how you would have been like.. and what you would have looked like.

'Would you have had the same crazy care-free personality as me? Would you have been obsessed with the moon and stars, and the love for cheese and olives.. and racing cars.  I will never know.

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'You see the pain of losing a child never truly gets easier, you kind of learn how to deal with the ongoing pain.

'The pain becomes part of who you are - an add on extension of your personality in a way. In the two years of losing Consy I can safely say Ive come a long way. Ive seen things in HD - pure clarity and Ive evolved in ways I never thought were possible.'

Poignant: She shared heartfelt words alongside her post as she remembered her baby daughter on her special day

She continued: 'Ive used the suffering I endured to keep me spurring on.. making sure my little girl, mum and dad would be proud of me. Although it hasnt been an easy ride.. I still look into this picture - those deep brown eyes.

'The day I gave birth and how sure I was that she would survive. My grieving process was made difficult because of the toxicity I was in, and I can now see why it took me a while to process her loss.

'Life isnt always smooth - in fact we all know it can be very far from.. but we need to do whats best for ourselves. Our own mental health is a priority - and I will do anything now to make sure my mind is on form.

'If youre suffering, still in pain, grieving - start putting yourself first & begin the healing journey that you should be on.

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'Remove anyone that stands in the way of being your true authentic self & make yourself a priority. Nobody else will. Longing for you to be in my arms little one.. until we meet again. 23/12/18-22/01/19 @sandscharity .'
The first big drama of 2021 is just the thing to perk you up after a lonely, gloomy Christmas: an eight-part true crime about a serial killer. The Serpent (BBC One) tells the grisly tale of Charles Sobhraj, the notorious French conman who murdered at least 12 people between 1963 and 1976, mostly backpackers on the hippie trail around southeast Asia.

The first episode begins with an interview with Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), in which an American journalist asks him if he is dangerous. The question, he replies, is whether he was found guilty of murder by the courts. He wasnt. Although the cases could hardly be more different, and Sobhraj is more of a showman than a loner, there are similarities between Sobhraj and David Tennants portrayal of Dennis Nilsen in Des. Both men were rational, and fully aware of the fascination their cases would hold for the public.

The action jumps between Sobhraj committing his crimes and the start of the pursuit that would eventually bring him to justice. We see Charles and his partner Marie-Andree Leclerc (Jenna Coleman) stalking bars for vulnerable young tourists to shark on. Their tactic is to befriend travellers, winning their trust by poisoning them and helping them back to health. They meet a naive Dutch couple in Hong Kong and offer to get them a good deal on gemstones and put them up in Bangkok. Separately we are introduced to an American, Theresa Knowlton, keen to get some hedonism out of her system before she joins a monastery in Nepal.

Then in 1975, Herman Knippenberg (played by Billy Howle), an ambitious young Dutch diplomat in Bangkok, learns of the disappearance of two of his countrymen. He starts making enquiries with the help of his wife, Angela (Ellie Bamber), but its tough going. The Thai police are not especially helpful, and theres resistance from his fellow diplomats, too, who disparage the longhairs as dope-smoking hippies who get what they deserve.

Jenna Coleman as Marie-Andree Leclerc (BBC/ Mammoth Screen )

Sobhraj is a swarthy, sultry kind of psychopath, and The Serpent does its best to sex up his crimes within the bounds of reasonable good taste. The killer is still alive, and seems like the kind of man who would relish his life story being given such glamorous treatment. Rahim plays him as a kind of killer Bee Gee, with a handsome but often expressionless face and trousers that end somewhere round his chin. His motive, if he has one, is obscure. Theres a fine line between inscrutable and dull, and Rahim stays mostly on the right side. Coleman, plotting and pouting at his side, relishes the femme fatale gig compared to her usual more wholesome parts.

Its not quick. Even allowing for the need to introduce the characters and the timeframes, the pace is glacial, at odds with the rapid changes of time and location. As a co-production between the BBC and Netflix, The Serpent has no shortage of expensive foreign shoots and period detail, along with the now-obligatory Game of Thrones-style title sequence. But as the first instalment builds slowly to its grim conclusion, its Hermans storyline thats the more interesting of the two. We know what the snake is going to do. The challenge is catching it.
The UK was one of the 24 nations with whom India had an air travel bubble arrangement.

The Centre on January 2 said flights to the UK, which had been suspended till January 7 due to the detection of new COVID-19 strain there, will resume from January 6.

Earlier on January 1 the ministry said that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 January 2021.

In tweet on January 2 Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri explained that flights from India to UK will resume from January 6, 2021 while flights from UK to India will resume on January 8,2021.

"It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only," Puri had earlier said in a tweet, on January 1 adding that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) will be issuing details regarding the move shortly.

Following this development, Air India will be accommodating those passengers whose flights were scheduled for December 23 in the first flight out after the suspension is revoked.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Air India had earlier contacted passengers on December 22--- a day before the suspension of flights to the UK first became effective--- and had rescheduled their booked flights.

Earlier, the Centre had extended the temporary suspension of flights to and from the UK till January 7, 2021.

The government of India had suspended all flights originating from the UK to India on December 21, effective from the 23rd. The restriction came in view of the rising spread of a new coronavirus strain there.

In India, a total of 29 people have tested positive for the SARS-COV-2 variant so far, which is believed to have a higher rate of transmission.

The UK was one of the 24 nations with whom India had an air travel bubble arrangement. Before the temporary suspension, over 60 flights were operated a week, carrying almost 2,500 passengers a day.

Air India, Vistara, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were operating services between India and the UK.
While Rachakonda police booked 387 cases and around 500 were booked by Hyderabad, the most cases were reported by Cyberabad police, who nabbed 931 violators. (DC Image)

Hyderabad: As many as 1,800 commuters were booked for driving under the influence of alcohol on New Year eve by the three commissionerates of Hyderabad.

While Rachakonda police booked 387 cases and around 500 were booked by Hyderabad, the most cases were reported by Cyberabad police, who nabbed 931 violators.

The special drives were conducted between Thursday night and Friday morning by special teams in the different traffic divisions. In Hyderabad, as many as 20,000 vehicles were checked in its limits, of which several, including four-wheelers and two-wheelers, were seized and shifted to police stations. In Rachakonda, 50 teams conducted checks at 24 points apart from the 40 speed control points to prevent road crashes. Meanwhile, the Cyberabad Traffic Police had over 100 special teams.

All of them will be produced before the court after filing charge-sheets. Their driving licenses will be seized and sent to the Regional Transport Authorities concerned seeking their suspension under the Motor Vehicle Act, Cyberabad police commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said, adding that officials said around 472 persons had alcohol reading of more than 100 mg/100 ml of blood and 19 had more than 300 mg while seven persons had more than 500 mg reading.

Most of the cases were reported from Gachibowli, Narsingi, Madhapur, Raidurgam, Kukatpally and KPHB areas. With the extensive enforcement and traffic and road safety plans by Cyberabad traffic police, there were no major road accidents anywhere in the commissionerate, Sajjanar said, thanking the citizens for their cooperation.

In view of the long weekend, the special drive will continue in Cyberabad limits, he added.
PARENTS will be left in the lurch after the reopening of pre-school programmes was today postponed until January 11, impacting more than 100,000 children.

Minister for Children Roderic OGorman met with the Early Learning and Childcare Covid-19 Advisory Group yesterday to discuss the matter. Representatives from the group shared their concerns about the reopening of preschools.

While accepting the need to maintain early learning and childcare for priority groups, the advisory group asked for the pre-school programme to be aligned with the reopening of other schools on January 11, and the minister agreed.

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In a statement, the Department of Children said: By postponing the return of these children to the pre-school programme, social mixing will be reduced, which will help to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the post-Christmas period.

According to 2018 statistics from Early Childhood Ireland, this decision will impact almost 130,000, as well as their parents.

The pre-school programme is being provided by more than 4,000 services nationwide.

Schools and early learning and childcare services are deemed as essential under level 5, including childminders that provide services other than, or in addition to, the pre-school programme.

The department described these childminders as providing: an essential service which supports parents to go to work.

As such, Mr OGorman has asked these services, which are private businesses, to reopen as planned from January 4 to provide childcare, particularly to priority groups.

The Department of Children said they will provide guidance to services on how to prioritise demand for places in their services, if they are short staffed and unable to reopen with a full staff complement for the week of January 4 to 8.

Read More

Online Editors
As Houston left 2020 in the rearview mirror, the coronavirus continued to spread throughout the region unchecked, with some of the highest positivity rates since the start of the pandemic.

And that spike will only continue to climb, experts warn, because the numbers do not take into account additional surges tied to holiday gatherings from Christmas and New Years celebrations. The pandemic has already claimed the lives of more than 4,600 people from Greater Houston.

The positive test rate statewide hit a record Friday at 21.15 percent, according to a Houston Chronicle review  surpassing the previous high mark, 20.55 percent, in July.

Its looking bad, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. We still havent seen the full impact of whats happened after Christmas and New Years, so you know it wont get better  its only going to get worse.

UNSOLVED: Houstons rate of unsolved murders is soaring. Experts say the police department is to blame.

Local government officials continued to urge Houstonians to remain careful and cautious as hospitals and doctors begin the long process of vaccinating Texas residents.

Were in a very, very precarious situation, said Rafael Lemaitre, spokesman for County Judge Lina Hidalgo. As grateful as many of us are to finally cross the threshold into 2021, were going to have to keep our shoulder to the wheel in the new year as a community. This virus is not through with us.

Across Texas, 12,481 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, marking the fifth consecutive day of record hospitalizations. More than half of the states trauma service areas, including Houston, Galveston and Victoria, reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations make up more than 15 percent of total hospital capacity, the threshold that signifies high hospitalizations.

In Houston, officials at the Texas Medical Center said that local positivity rates have risen to about 15.3 percent, significantly higher than last weeks daily average of about 11 percent, and the number of average daily positive tests has more than doubled compared with the same week last month.

SEEKING ANSWERS: Woman seeks answers after 2018 killing of son by FBI agent in failed hostage rescue

As we embark upon a new year, we are facing the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic with a record number of new cases, TMC President William F. McKeon said in a daily update to staff. However, we now have renewed hope with the arrival of new vaccines that together we can move to protect our community as soon as possible to isolate and extinguish the COVID-19 virus from our communities.

Under Gov. Greg Abbotts orders, if hospitals continue to experience such high numbers of COVID patients for seven consecutive days, some businesses would be required to limit operations until conditions improve.

The increased positivity rates come as Houston and Texas continue to vaccinate front-line workers and the most vulnerable residents. So far, about 340,000 Texans have begun the vaccination process  with about 52,800 of those vaccinations occurring in Harris County.

Mayor Sylvester Turner on Friday announced the opening of a public clinic that will administer doses of the Moderna vaccine. Health care workers, people over 65 and people with serious underlying health conditions are eligible and must make an appointment by calling 832-393-4220 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. starting Saturday.

But Hotez warned that Harris County and others across Texas face a daunting challenge to vaccinate enough people to neutralize the virus danger.

You seem nervous: Why most police vehicle searches in Texas turn up nothing

In Harris County, public health authorities will have to ramp up a vaccine distribution program to administer the medicine to some 500,000 residents a month, he said  a volume that the Texas Medical Center and other hospitals, clinics and medical practices arent equipped to handle.

Were not anywhere close to that, he said.

Instead, the county should consider opening vaccination centers at places such as NRG Stadium or the George R. Brown Convention Center, he said.

If we can just gear up to get people vaccinated, then nobody has to lose their lives from COVID-19, he said.

Stephanie Lamm and Todd Ackerman contributed to this report.

st.john.smith@chron.com

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COVID-19's impact on cancer prevention and control in Africa

When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Africa, the continent was already struggling to deal with another public health crisis - a growing cancer epidemic characterized by more than one million new cancer cases and nearly 700,000 deaths per year. In a Perspective, Beatrice Wiafe Addai and Wilfred Ngwa discuss the significant challenges COVID-19 imposed on cancer prevention and control in Africa and how the efforts to address these challenges highlight key opportunities where greater investment could improve cancer care globally. At the start of the pandemic, many African governments were forced to rapidly divert already limited medical and healthcare resources away from cancer patients to treat those infected with SARS-CoV-2 and slow the spread of COVID-19. According to the authors, many African countries curtailed or cut cancer prevention activities, including awareness education and outreach, early detection screening, and vaccination, gaps that are likely to persist beyond the COVID-19 era. In addition, closed borders have made the international sharing of hospital-based resources and specialized lab diagnostics nearly impossible. Wiafa and Ngwa argue that, while necessary, this reallocation of critical health resources could lead to an increase in the number of late-stage cancer diagnoses and, thus, mortality across the continent. However, as many African nations have adapted to rise to these challenges, opportunities have also been created, such as cloud-based education and telemedicine, expansion of localized diagnostic capabilities and more efficient radiotherapy administration. The authors suggest that greater investment or policy in these areas could substantially increase access to cancer care worldwide.

For reporters interested in trends, a June 2020 Science Editorial by Norman E. Sharpless, director of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, addressed the likely impact of the pandemic on cancer mortality in the United States.

https:/ / science. sciencemag. org/ content/ 368/ 6497/ 1290

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This story has been published on: 2020-12-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Workers erect scaffolding at the construction site of a metro station in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, September 30, 2015. India's annual infrastructure output growth picked up in August to 2.6 percent from a year ago, mainly driven by higher cement and electricity generation, government data showed on Wednesday. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee - RTS2EK8

The Delhi-NCR-based Migsun Group has announced the acquisition of HDFC and Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd's stake in Ansal IT City Park (SEZ) Tech Zone, Greater Noida and plans to develop the 37.5 acre mixed-use project.

With the latest announcement, Migsun Group will have a 100 percent stake in the city park after acquiring HDFC's 37 percent stake and that of Ansal API, the company said. The project will have 50 percent IT/ITeS offices, 15 percent industrial, and 15 percent commercial.

We are committed to making Noida a commercial hub; the new project is in line with our endeavour to provide world-class real estate in Noida region. We have committed ourselves to deliver projects on time. The time is ripe as there is a positive sentiment in the market, said Yash Miglani, MD, Migsun Group.

In a regulatory filing, real estate firm Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd has said that it agreed to sell its entire 66.24 percent stake in IT SEZ in Greater Noida to Migsun group. The deal is subject to the approval of regulatory authorities of SEZ, Greater Noida.

The company has entered into an agreement to sell its entire shareholding of 66.24 percent held in its subsidiary company Ansal IT City and Parks Limited to Mahaluxmi Infrahome Private Limited (part of Migsun Group), subject to the approval of regulatory authorities of SEZ/ Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority/ Ministry of Commerce. This will reduce the debt of the company on a consolidated basis by Rs 11 crore, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Both the companies have not disclosed the deal value.

Major export zones in the country, SEZs are given several incentives by the government. These zones are major contributors to the growth of the country's GDP.

By developing the project, the group wanted to be a part of the growth story and also bring in employment opportunities, Miglani added.

The company is executing 16 projects, both residential and commercial, in various parts of Delhi and its suburbs.

Migsun Group was set up in 1992 by industrialist Sunil Miglani and had delivered more than 40 projects in the Delhi-NCR region.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the New Year gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

A New Year gathering was held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Thursday in Beijing.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the gathering.

Senior leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the gathering.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, Xi extended new year greetings and wishes to the non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, personages with no party affiliation and people's organizations.

His greetings were also extended to people from all walks of life including workers, farmers and intellectuals; the Chinese People's Liberation Army officers and soldiers, armed police, public security officers and fire and rescue forces; and compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese, as well as international friends.

Xi stressed the importance of the coming year of 2021 as China will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, formulate and implement the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and embark on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country.

Facing the complicated international and domestic situations in 2020, Xi said China has made major strategic achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, overcome serious floods and achieved positive economic growth.

China also accomplished the targets and tasks for winning the battle against poverty in the new era and those set for the 13th Five-Year Plan Period (2016-2020) and achieved continuous progress in scientific and technological projects and major engineering construction, Xi said.

The building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects has recorded great historic achievements and a new big step has been taken toward China's national rejuvenation, Xi noted.

Over the past seven years since the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, the country has launched a total of 2,485 reform plans, accomplishing the targets and missions set at the session as scheduled, Xi said.

"In 2020, we have been upholding the principle of 'one country, two systems' to promote economic development and social stability in Hong Kong and Macao. We have been adhering to the one-China principle and the '1992 Consensus' to resolutely safeguard the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Xi said.

Xi said that China upholds the idea of a community with a shared future for humanity and has been promoting and participating in the international cooperation to fight against COVID-19, making active contributions to the global anti-virus fight and world peace and development.

"Looking back on the past year of 2020, the journey was full of hardships, but with remarkable achievements," Xi said, noting that the achievements were the results of the strong leadership of the CPC and the facts that the Chinese people and Chinese nation unite as one and work hard.

Xi called on the CPPCC to make further efforts to pool wisdom and strength and create a strong joint force among all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation both at home and abroad to think and work together.

While presiding over the event, Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, called for efforts to carefully study and implement the spirit of Xi's speech.

He also required concrete work and outstanding achievements to celebrate the CPC's centenary.
President Donald Trump slammed the Senate for voting to override his veto of a defense bill after he objected to renaming military bases that honor Confederate generals.

He called the vote 'Pathetic!!!' in a Friday afternoon tweet.

Earlier, Congress successfully slapped down Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act when the Senate voted 81 to 13 in favor of the move.

The Senate's New Year's Day vote ends a six-month long saga that started when Trump started talking about retaining bases named for Confederate figures in late June.

More recently, Trump threatened to veto the large piece of legislation if Congress didn't retool section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which the president argued gives 'big tech' companies like Facebook and Twitter too much legal protection.

The U.S. Senate voted 81 to 13 in favor of slapping down President Donald Trump's veto of a large defense bill - marking the first time Congress overruled a Trump veto in his nearly four years in office

Trump (right), with first lady Melania Trump (left) arriving back in Washington Thursday, originally threatened to veto the legislation over a plan to rename bases named after Confederate figures. Later he said he wanted section 230 revised

Military bases like Fort Lee are set to be renamed now that the Senate has overruled President Donald Trump's veto of a giant defense bill

Trump responded to the Senate overriding his veto with a tweeting calling lawmakers 'Pathetic!!!' He also shamed Senate Republicans for refusing to allow a vote on a bill that woud up stimulus checks to $2,000

But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle didn't cave to the president's demands.

The bill gives U.S. troops a pay raise and provides money for cybersecurity.

On Monday, the House of Representatives voted to override his veto 322 to 87.

A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress is needed to overrule a president's veto.

With just 20 days left of his presidency, the House and Senate votes marked the first time Congress overruled a Trump veto in his nearly four years in the White House.

'Our Republican Senate just missed the opportunity to get rid of Section 230, which gives unlimited power to Big Tech companies,' Trump tweeted Friday afternoon in response. 'Pathetic!!!'

'Now they want to give people ravaged by the China Virus $600, rather than the $2,000 they desperately need. Not fair, or smart!' Trump added.

He was referring to a move made by Senate Republicans to block a Democratic effort to get a vote on the House-passed bill that increases stimulus checks to $2,000.

That move was made in the hours preceding the veto vote.

Lawmakers had planned to override Trump's veto for months.

Trump had leaned in to culture war themes after the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, which reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter movement.

The president caught wind of a plan to rename military bases like Fort Lee and Fort Bragg and on June 10 tweeted out a statement and then had White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany come out to the podium to read it.

'These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,' Trump said. 'The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars.'

'Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations,' Trump said.

Black Lives Matter activists encouraged the removal of Confederate statues and relics, because those southerners tried to keep black people enslaved and fought the Civil War over it.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy had told Politico he was 'open' to renaming the 10 bases named for Confederate figures. Floyd's death and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests, motivated McCarthy's change of heart, one Army official told Politico.

On June 30, Trump made his first veto threat after Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who ran for the 2020 Democratic nomination, inserted a provision in the defense bill that was coming together to rename the bases.

It passed with bipartisan consensus, but with a voice vote - meaning there's no record of which Republicans defected from Trump's position.

Trump angrily tweeted about it then.

'I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren (of all people!) Amendment, which will lead to the renaming (plus other bad things!) of Fort Bragg, Fort Robert E. Lee, and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars, is in the Bill!' Trump wrote.

After the election, Trump continued to say he would veto the bill over the Confederate base provision.

NBC News reported in late November that Trump told Republican lawmakers that he planned to keep his campaign promise to supporters and veto the bill.

'He's said that,' a senior administration official told NBC News, confirming the conversations.

While some Republicans argued that the provision should be stripped to avoid the veto, Democrats held firm.

Thirty-seven Democratic senators penned a letter to Sen. James Inhofe, the Armed Services chair, and other GOP leaders on November 10.

'Millions of servicemembers of color have lived on, trained at, and deployed from installations named to honor traitors that killed Americans in defense of chattel slavery,' they wrote.

'Renaming these bases does not disrespect our military  it honors the sacrifices and contributions of our servicemembers in a way that better reflects our nations diversity and values,' the Democrats argued. 'We know who these bases were named for and why they were named.'

'It is long past the time to correct this longstanding, historic injustice,' they added. 'We must not shrink from our solemn duty in his moment.'

Ex-Defense Secretary Mark Esper was quietly working with Congress to rename the bases.

He was sacked by Trump six days after the election, marking the president's first major firing after his loss.
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100 Years ago

Welcoming a new governor

Albany planned to start the new year off in grand style thanks to the inauguration festivities to celebrate incoming New York State Governor Nathan L. Miller. The inaugural parade was to form at the Washington Armory, then travel from Lark Street to State Street, to Eagle Street, to Hudson Avenue, to Philip Street, to Myrtle Avenue, back to Eagle, where Miller and outgoing Governor Al Smith, along with their staffs, would be waiting. They would all join the parade in carriages and continue on to the Capitol.

At the Capitol, some of the various troops making up the parade would form two lines and present arms to the two governors, before being reviewed by Grand Marshal Col. Charles E. Walsh. More than 15 companies, as well as a 60-piece and a 30-piece band, would be among the marchers. The battery, which was stationed in Capital Park, was to fire the governors salute of 19 guns as Gov. Miller was taking the oath of office in the assembly chambers. A 75mm gun that was used in France during World War I was one of those included.

-- Times Union, Jan. 1, 1921

50 Years ago

She just wants a "just price"

Mary Campese, a 65-year-old Troy widow, ended the year seeking a just price for her property and refusing to sign papers releasing it to the State Department of Transportation at the market price offered. Her house and a property she owned and rented, as well as a nearby garage, had been claimed under public domain by the department to be demolished to make room for the Troy North-South Arterial. The State DOT had offered her $4,000 for her two-floor house, another $4,000 for the property she rented out and $800 for the garage. Mrs. Campese said the offer was too low, saying she could perhaps buy a car for $4,000 but not a house and, at her age and her financial situation, no bank would give her a mortgage. She did not want to buy a fixer-upper either. A private appraiser had estimated her house at $5,500, the second house at $4,500 and the garage at $1,000. It was difficult to tell if 1971 would be prosperous for Mrs. Campese.

-- Times Union, Jan. 1, 1971
Biden Calls for America to Unite, Heal, and Rebuild in 2021

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on the last day of 2020 called for America to unite, heal, and rebuild during the next year.

The challenges we face as a nation will not disappear overnight, but as we look forward to the start of a new year, Im filled with fresh hope about the possibilities of better days to come, Biden wrote in a social media statement.

After a year of pain and loss, let us unite, heal, and rebuild in 2021, he added.

The year included the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people losing their jobs due to measures put into place in response to the pandemic, and other major issues.

According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, over 345,000 Americans have died with COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. That figure is disputed by some, who believe the death count is not accurate.

Biden has alleged that President Donald Trump mismanaged the nationwide response to the pandemic, though he initially opposed some measures that Trump put into place, such as a travel ban on China.

Earlier this week, the Democrat warned that things are going to get worse before they get better when it comes to COVID-19.

We have to anticipate that the infections over the holidays will produce soaring case counts in January and soaring death tolls into February. Turning this around is going to take time. We might not see improvement until were well into March, he alleged.

In an interview just before midnight on New Years Eve, Biden struck a different note, calling himself optimistic.

Theres never been a single thing America has been unable to overcome, no matter how drastic its been, when weve done it together. Never, never, never. America can do anything. And Im absolutely positively, confidentconfidentwere going to come back and come back even stronger than we were before, he said.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk from Marine One as they return to the White House in Washington on Dec. 31, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump, meanwhile, released a video from the White House touting the accomplishments his administration has achieved, including the unprecedented speed of development of COVID-19 vaccines.

We ignored the experts who demanded open borders, and we shut down travel from China and Europe to protect our citizens, and we built the wall. We pioneered groundbreaking new therapies and treatments and we saved millions of American lives. Over and over again, we were told it would be impossible to deliver a vaccine by the end of the year; all of the experts said absolutely unthinkable, Trump is exaggerating, it cant happen. And we did it, long before the end of the year, he said.

They said it would take a medical miracle. And thats exactly what it is. Years from now theyll be talking about it, theyll be talking about this great, great thing that we did with the vaccines, he added.

Trump said that by early next year, the vaccines will be available to every American, with plans to send doses to other countries thereafter.

Trumps administration initially projected that 20 million Americans would be injected by the end of the year with one of the new shots, but that number was only around 2.8 million, according to federal data.

Adm. Brett Giroir, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said this week that officials expect that number to accelerate in the coming weeks.
Australians stranded in the United Kingdom and Europe will once again be able to fly home from London via Singapore, after the country lifted a ban on people transiting through Changi Airport from Britain.

The Singaporean government's decision last week to block anyone travelling from the UK amid an outbreak of a potentially more contagious strain of COVID-19 there cut off one of the few remaining connections between Australia and the UK.

Singapore Airlines is one of the few carriers to maintain regular services into Australia during the pandemic. Credit:AP

But a Singapore Airlines spokesman confirmed on Friday that it had received government approval to carry passengers from Londons Heathrow Airport onwards to Sydney and Auckland via Singapore.

Passengers connecting through to Australia will have to remain in the aircraft on the ground in Singapore and will be segregated from other passengers on board. They must also return a negative result for the COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of their flight.
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India lodges formal protest with Pakistan against vandalisation of Hindu temple

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 01: India lodges formal protest with Pakistan against vandalisation of a Hindu temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports said.

Over 30 people, mostly members of a radical Islamist party, were arrested after the Hindu temple was vandalised and set on fire by a mob protesting against its expansion work in northwest Pakistan.

The attack on the temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district on Wednesday also drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and Hindu community leaders. On Thursday, the provincial government ordered authorities to reconstruct the damaged temple as it vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

The temple was attacked by the mob after members of the Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate its decades-old building, according to witnesses.

The mob, led by a local cleric and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman group), demolished the newly constructed work alongside the old structure, they said.

According to local police, they arrested more than 30 people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Rehmat Salam Khattak, in overnight raids. Over 350 people have been named in the FIR, Provincial Police Chief KPK Sanaullah Abbasi has said.

Abbasi said all the sections of law relating to terrorism have been included in the FIR against the accused. The police will ensure protection to worship places of minorities in the province, he added.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

2020 has gone, Covid has not: Delhi CM warns against laxity | Oneindia News

According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

The majority of Pakistan''s Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by the extremists.

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Story first published: Friday, January 1, 2021, 14:40 [IST]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  The Department of Health reported 1,765 new coronavirus infections on the first day of 2021, as the nationwide count rose past 475,000.

Figures released on Friday showed 475,820 people in the country have fallen ill with the virus since the country confirmed its first COVID-19 case in late January last year.

This excludes the latest data from eight testing laboratories which failed to submit on time, the DOH said.

Of the total infected, 26,677 or 5.6% are active cases. Based on the report, 81.9% experience mild symptoms, 9.8% have no symptoms, 5.1% are in critical condition, 2.7% are severe cases, while 0.44% are moderate cases.

The DOH said Davao City logged the highest daily rise in cases with 100. It also listed other top contributing areas as Rizal with 99, Cavite with 71, Quezon City with 70, and the City of Manila with 69.

Another 106 recovered patients also raised the number of survivors to 439,895, while four new fatalities brought the death toll to 9,248.

The DOH added that it removed nine duplicates from the total case count after final validation.
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The Trump administration does not have to provide an additional $60 per month in food stamp benefits to poor Californians who now receive the maximum nationwide amount under the nutrition program, a divided federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

About 4.5 million Californians in 2.4 million households receive an average of $166 per month in food stamps. The ruling affects 1 million of those households that have no outside income, said attorney Lindsay Nako of the Impact Fund, who represented those seeking additional aid.

The program  titled the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, nationally, and CalFresh in California  provides monthly food-purchasing benefits for 43 million Americans with little or no income, according to government data.

The Families First Act, passed by Congress in March to provide coronavirus emergency aid, included additional food stamp allotments that allowed participants to receive maximum benefits, previously provided only to those with no income. Citing the needs of its poorest residents, California asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for another $60 per month in food stamps for zero-income recipients, but the department said the law did not authorize the increase.

In a class-action suit on behalf of recipients, U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam of Oakland refused to order higher benefits in June. His decision was upheld Thursday in a 2-1 ruling of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The dispute involved the meaning of the coronavirus aid law, which authorized emergency allotments to households participating in (SNAP) ... to address temporary food needs not greater than the applicable maximum monthly allotment for the household size.

The court majority agreed with the USDA that the emergency allotments for temporary food needs were limited to the applicable monthly allotment for the household size, the amount already provided for households without income, and do not authorize more benefits for those households.

Although that conclusion would result in the denial of emergency allotments to some of the neediest households, it is the best reading of the laws wording, and would avoid spending as much as $7 billion a month that Congress has not appropriated, Judge Eric Miller said in the majority opinion. He was joined by Paul Kelly, a judge on the federal appeals court in Denver temporarily assigned to the Ninth Circuit.

In dissent, Chief Judge Sidney Thomas said Congress intended to provide emergency food stamp benefits to all recipients, including the neediest.

The coronavirus aid law makes all SNAP households eligible for emergency aid, not just those that had enough income to afford some of their pre-COVID food needs, Thomas said. The USDAs reading would mean that households that have suffered no actual income loss may receive emergency aid, while the poorest households cannot.

Plaintiffs in the suit could ask the full appeals court for a rehearing before a larger panel.

The emergency coronavirus legislation was designed to defend the health and safety of vulnerable families and people, said Nako, their lawyer. USDA has failed to implement this mandate, denying much-needed resources at a time when almost one in 10 California households are food insecure.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
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Scott Morrison said there will be no 'shortcuts' to rolling out COVID-19 vaccine

Government has struck deals with AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Novavax for the jab

He said Australia was in a better situation than other countries in the pandemic

Labor has meanwhile questioned why national cabinet won't meet until February

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said there will be no 'shortcuts' when it comes to rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine

Scott Morrison has defended his strategy to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine - saying there will be no 'shortcuts' when it comes to approving a jab.

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Mr Morrison on Friday said Australia was in a much better place than other countries battling the pandemic and the vaccine therefore wouldn't need to be rolled out any earlier than March.

'On the vaccine, you don't rush to failure. That's very dangerous for Australians. Those who suggest that, I think it's a naive suggestion,' he said.

'For the vaccine to be successful, Australians have to have confidence in it.'

The government has struck up deals with AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Novavax to roll out the jab which Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, expects should reach all Australians by October.

More than $3billion was invested into ensuring a vaccination for the virus would be rolled out effectively.

Labor has meanwhile hit out at how the government is handling the pandemic - while calling for the next national cabinet meeting to discuss Australia's COVID-19 response to be moved forward.

A vaccine is expected to be available to Australians from March this year. Pictured is an inoculation at a clinic in Poland

Mr Morrison on Friday said that because Australia was in a much better place than other countries battling the pandemic, the vaccine wouldn't be rolled out any earlier than March (pictured lines at Wollongong Hospital testing clinic)

Mr Morrison has stressed the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) would be given ample time to assess each vaccine.

'There will be no shortcuts. The standards must be maintained and upheld,' he said.

'In countries like the UK, there's hundreds of people dying a day. Australia is not in that situation.

Click here to resize this module

'So, we're being careful to ensure that we dot all the I's and we cross all the T's to ensure this vaccine is safe and able to be distributed across the Australian population.'

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said he was unimpressed the national cabinet won't be meeting until February 5.

The opposition leader said the scheduled meeting was a 'long time away' considering the state of the pandemic.

Thousands of Wollongong residents raced to get a COVID-19 test on Tuesday afternoon after news broke that the virus had spread south from Sydney

Mr Morrison said there was 'no need' to bring the date forward and that he was in regular contact with the state premiers.

He said if there was a need to bring the date forward he would but stressed the premier's views on borders 'will be the same if they met this afternoon as they were a month ago'.

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'What we need to focus on now is ensuring that the outbreak is contained.'
A San Antonio-area animal shelter is searching for a home for a dog that has been housed at the facility since November 2017.

Dakota has been at the Bulverde Area Humane Society for 1,150-days after she was rescued near Blanco and Jackson Keller in San Antonio, according to the shelter.
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Virtue will lead to cure: HM

BANGKOK: His Majesty the King has appealed to all Thais to conduct themselves with virtue and reason in order to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.



By Bangkok Post

Friday 1 January 2021, 10:20AM

His Majesty the King issued a New Year greeting card wishing the best for Thais. The card features the emblems of the Chakri dynasty and those of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana as well as Their Majesties signatures and picture. Photo: Royal Household Bureau

His Majesty the King appears on national television Thursday night to send his New Year best wishes to the public. Photo: Royal Household Bureau

In a year-end televised broadcast on Thursday evening (Dec 31), the King said Thais should appreciate their rich culture, which exhibits virtue, beauty and progress  the foundation of life and mind, reports the Bangkok Post.

The cultural traits are also evident in the traditions, rites, language, arts, technology and the disposition of the people, which explains how Thais, whoever and wherever they are, can find the ties which bring them together, he said.

Thais should all understand the value of virtue, beauty and progress and remain secure and strong in being reasonable and truthful.

People should continue, preserve and build on these fine qualities while staying true to their virtues, which will enable them to overcome the health crisis.

Knowledge, understanding and cooperation will lead the country to happiness, security and progress, he said.

His Majesty also sought the blessings of sacred forces and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great to protect the people and give them health, support and wisdom which would bring about happiness and prosperity to the nation.

In addition, the King issued a New Year greeting card, wishing the best for all Thais. The cover features the emblems of the Chakri dynasty and those of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana.

Inside the card, a message on the left-hand side says Royally-Bestowed New Year Wishes BE 2564 with the signatures of Their Majesties.

On the right-hand side of the card is the picture of Their Majesties the King and Queen taken during the ceremony of the Assumption of the Royal Residence, which was part of the Royal Coronation Ceremony in May 2019.

Well-wishers can sign a book to express their New Year wishes to Their Majesties at the Sala Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion inside the Grand Palace from 9am to 5pm.
India's power consumption grew by 6.1 per cent to 107.3 billion units (BU) in December, showing spurt in economic activities, according to official data.

Power consumption in December 2019 was 101.08 BU.

After a gap of six months, power consumption recorded a year-on-year growth of 4.5 per cent in September and 11.6 per cent in October.

Also Read | Investing during all-time highs can be good strategy

In November, the power consumption growth slowed to 3.12 per cent to 96.88 BU compared to 93.94 BU in the same month last year mainly due to early onset of winters.

Experts said that the 6.1 per cent growth in power consumption and all time high peak power demand of 182.88GW in the month of December clearly indicate that there is considerable spurt in economic activity in the country.

They think that the power demand growth would be more stable in coming months.

Last week, Power Secretary S N Sahai had tweeted, "Today, the all-India demand for power touched 1,82,888 MW (megawatts), which is an all-time high (observed at 0948 hrs on December 30, 2020) crossing previous high of 1,82,610 at 1458 hours on May 30, 2019. The entire demand was met."

The government had imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25 to contain the spread of Covid-19. Power consumption started declining from March due to fewer economic activities in the country.

The pandemic affected power consumption for six months in a row -- from March to August this year. Power consumption on a year-on-year basis declined 8.7 per cent in March, 23.2 per cent in April, 14.9 per cent in May, 10.9 per cent in June, 3.7 per cent in July and 1.7 per cent in August.

The data showed that electricity consumption had grown by 11.73 per cent in February.

It showed improvement after April 20 due to easing of restrictions on economic activities.

Peak power demand met, the highest supply of power in the country in a day, in December was also recorded higher at 182.88 GW compared to 170.49 GW (recorded on December 26).

In November, peak power demand met was recorded at 160.77 GW, which was 3.5 per cent higher than 155.32 GW in the same month last year.

The peak power demand met in October was recorded at 169.88 GW, 3.4 per cent higher than 164.25 GW in the same month last year.

Peak power demand in September this year recorded a growth of 1.7 per cent at 176.56 GW, compared to 173.45 GW a year ago, the data showed.

Peak power demand met had recorded negative growth from April to August this year due to the pandemic. It had dropped to 24.9 per cent in April, 8.9 per cent in May, 9.6 per cent in June, 2.7 per cent in July and 5.6 per cent in August. In March, it was muted at 0.8 per cent.

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SII, Bharat Biotech, and Pfizer have applied to the DCGI seeking emergency use authorisation for their COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

As the possibility of a vaccine being granted emergency approval in India within the next few days seems increasingly plausible, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on January 1 said the preparation and training for the purpose of administering an approved vaccine is being done on "war-footing".

"The preparations are like the general elections, where even booth level participation is ensured," Vardhan said.

This comes at a time when the health ministry has asked all states and Union territories to identify days when the vaccination drive would be held and a dry run is scheduled for January 2 to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify challenges.

Read: COVID-19 vaccination drive: Over 70 lakh healthcare workers registered on Co-WIN platform

"The purpose of the dry run is to be ready for the actual roll out," Vardhan said, adding that India's past experience in rolling out vaccinations would be used.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The health minister also said potential beneficiaries of the vaccine will be informed via an SMS and a digital certificate will also be issued.

"The potential beneficiary will be tracked with details about his vaccination," Vardhan said.

Track this LIVE Blog for all the latest updates on coronavirus pandemic

An expert panel of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is meeting on January 1 to further deliberate on the emergency use authorisation applications of Serum Institute of India (SII) for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 had on December 30 deliberated and analysed the additional data and information submitted by SII and Bharat Biotech.

SII, Bharat Biotech, and Pfizer have applied to the DCGI seeking emergency use authorisation for their COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Xiaomi launches its Mi 11 flagship globally, starting at 749 and shipping with a 55 W charger

Xiaomi has already made over US$600 million from Mi 11 sales in just 21 days

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The iQOO 7 racks up ~US$30.9 million for its first day on the market

Leaker claims that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will lead the way with 80 W wireless charging

Pandemic no obstacle as Xiaomi ships 20 million Redmi Note 9 series phones in just four months

Mi 11 Pro tipped to right the wrongs of the Mi 11 by ditching the aging 108 MP camera

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite is on the way with triple cameras and a 120Hz display

Xiaomi restarts the Android 11 rollout for the Mi A3 following bricked devices fiasco

The OPPO Find X3 allegedly wrecks the latest AnTuTu rankings in a new leak

Xiaomi Mi 11 should be going global soon but hardcore fans can already preorder it from China from 579 (US$709)

First Xiaomi Mi 11 Snapdragon 888 benchmarks: Comparable performance to the A13 Bionic but with up to 65% higher power consumption than the Snapdragon 865

A prominent leaker claims the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is still on the cards

An "iQOO 7" pops up to rival the Xiaomi Mi 11 on Geekbench

Mi 11 teardown reveals stunning internals and aging camera hardware of Xiaomi's newest flagship

Xiaomi launches the Mi 11 flagship: Snapdragon 888-powered phone with a QHD+ display for just over US$600

Xiaomi Mi 11 success practically guaranteed after over 226,000 people sign up for preorders

The Redmi K30S may already be a success as Xiaomi records over US$34 million worth of sales in just one minute

The Mi 10 Ultra looks to already be a success with day one sales exceeding US$57.8 million
A small family-run hotel already on its knees as a result of the pandemic was suddenly occupied by a homeless advocacy group which booked 16 rooms and then refused to pay the bill.

On Christmas Eve, a homeless advocacy group booked 16 rooms at the Travelodge Motel at 3518 Pacific Hwy. E. and paid for one night, reports KIRO 7.

But now, the group told the motels manager they have no plans to check out, or to pay the bill.

Tacoma Housing Now subsequently sent volunteers to deliver food and supplies for the more than 40 people occupying the 16 rooms, some of whom have severe infections and one later tested positive for COVID-19.

Motel manager Shawn Randhawa told city authorities that the motel only has 10 employees and is already struggling as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. The occupation could be the final straw that forces Randhawa to shut the business down.

They may have to close up shop because with no revenues coming in, with their margins where they are, they may have to close operations, said Fife City Manager Hyun Kim. So, Im trying to buy some time. It starts with conversations with both sides.

However, the occupiers are demanding nothing less than permanent free shelter and refuse to leave, saying that the city should pay the motel bill.

Despite Fife Police Chief Peter Fisher asserting that the group is committing theft and criminal trespassing, the owner has not asked for them to be forcibly removed.

In the current climate of media-endorsed leftist terrorism (a.k.a. mostly peaceful protests), he may be trying to avoid the place getting burned down, writes Dave Blount.
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Bengaluru, Jan 1 : Karnataka braces for Covid vaccine dry run in five districts, including Bengaluru across the state on Saturday, an official said on Friday.

"A dry run for Covid vaccination will be conducted in five districts - Belagavi, Bengaluru, Kalaburagi, Mysuru and Shivamogga across the state, as directed by the Union Health Ministry to streamline logistics for supplying the medicine when rolled out commercially soon," a state health official told IANS here.

In this tech hub, the city's civic corporation has identified three primary health centres (PHCs) for the mock exercise of the mega immunization programme.

"Arrangements have been made to conduct the vaccine dry run in three PHCs across the city, with training to 25 health workers in each centre for the programme," said Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) administrator Gaurva Gupta.

The dry run will be held at Kamashipalya centre in the city's west zone, Vidyapeetha centre in south zone and Hargade centre at Anekal in the urban district's southern region.

"We have lined up 1,517 PHCs across the city for the actual vaccine inoculation from January-end or early February," said Gupta in a statement here.

The civic body will submit a report on the dry run to the state and central governments as directed by the health ministry.

The data will also be uploaded on the Co-Win application platform, which will be the digital for the nationwide campaign.

"The dry run will prepare the state to manage Covid vaccine supply, storage and logistics, including cold chain management.

In Belagavi district in the state's northwest region, the dry run will be held at Vantamuri urban PHC, Kittur community health centre and the state-run general hospital at Hukkeri.

In Kalaburagi district in the state's northern region, the mock exercise will be held at the Ashok Nagar PHC in the city, Jewargi taluk hospital and Aurad rural centre.

In Mysuru district in the state's southern region, the dry run will be conducted at Jayanagar community health center in the city's Jayanagar suburb, Bilikere PHC and K.R. Nagar taluk hospital.

In Shivamogga district in the state's Malnad region, the exercise will be held at McGann hospital in the city, Shikaripura taluk hospital and at Antharagange PHC at Bhadravati taluk.

Shikariupra is the hometown of the state's Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

"At each centre, a medical officer (doctor), two vaccinating officers (male and female) a data entry operator to verify documents and upload the data on the Co-Win vaccine network portal and a security officer were trained on Friday," the official said.

The exercise will be held as per the Covid vaccination operational guidelines, which include bio-medical waste management and adverse reaction following the immunisation (AEFI) tagging.

"At each centre, five vaccine beneficiaries will be observed for about 30 minutes in the AEFI room during the dry run. About 100 people will be vaccinated per day at every PHC across the state from 9:00am to 5:00pm when the mega programme is implemented later this month," added the official.
A unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala assembly on Thursday against three contentious laws passed by the Centre to open up agricultural markets received support from an unexpected quarter -- the lone Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of the House.

O Rajagopal, 91, who was minister of state for railways in the Atal Bihari Vajapyee government, opposed the resolution initially, but when it was put to voice vote, he did not walk out and supported it, much to the surprise of both the treasury and opposition benches.

After the session, when reporters asked him about his support for the resolution, he said he backed it in accordance with the democratic spirit of the house.

I raised my disagreement in clear terms. But I supported the substance of the resolution in accordance with the democratic spirit. Nothing big about it, in democracy, such compromises are common, he said, expressing the hope that the farmers agitation against the farm laws will be settled soon amicably.

When asked specifically whether he wanted the bills to be withdrawn, he said that was why he had supported the resolution. After his stand triggered a controversy in the BJP, he said it was wrong to say he did not oppose the resolution and blamed the speaker for not seeking a a division of votes in the house.

The veterans ambiguous stand has put the BJP, which had described the resolution as a mere waste of time and money, in an awkward position.

Read more| Lone BJP MLA backs resolution passed by Kerala Assembly against farm laws

There is no difference of opinion in the party. He is a senior leader and we didnt think he will support the resolution. I will talk to him about this, said the partys state president K Surendran. In Delhi, minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, who belongs to Kerala, said he was not aware what the senior leader said in the house, adding that the state unit will explain it.

BJP leaders close to Rajagopal said he was unhappy with a growing factional feud in the state unit of the party. After the elevation of Surendran, some senior leaders in the state unit were sidelined and the partys attempt to broker peace between two prominent factions, one led by Muraleedharan and the other by P K Krishnadas, hasnt yielded results.

His position literally shocked the party. The central leadership is also unhappy with it, said one party leader, who did not want to be identified.

It wasnt the first time that Rajagopal had courted controversy. When the speaker was elected election in 2016, he supported the ruling Left Democratic Fronts nominee, P Sreeramakrishnan. He said he had backed Sreeramakrishnan because his name contains the names of both Ram and Krishna.

Many Left leaders praised Rajagopal. He took the right decision unmindful of its consequences, said state finance minister Thomas Issac.

Earlier in the day, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan introduced the resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the new laws and heed the demands of farmers who have massed on Delhis borders to protest against the legislation. The Centre wants to corporatize the farm sector. It must come forward to allay farmers fears. The entire country is with them. It should recognise public sentiments and withdraw the new laws, Vijayan said

All 140 members of the assembly supported his resolution.

The laws essentially change the way Indias farmers do business by creating free markets as opposed to a network of decades-old, government marketplaces, allowing traders to stockpile essential commodities for future sales and laying down a national framework for contract farming. Farmers say the reforms will make them vulnerable to exploitation by big corporations, erode their bargaining power and weaken the governments procurement system.
Health authorities are investigating three new mystery cases in Sydney's west, with a plea issued for any Greystanes, Berala, Auburn and Lidcombe residents with the mildest of symptoms to get tested.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the results of genomic sequencing for the western Sydney cases was expected on Sunday to learn whether it matched the Avalon cluster.

Gladys Berejiklian will announce a relaxation of northern beaches restrictions on Saturday. Credit:Sam Mooy

"At this point the western Sydney cases are not linked," she said.

NSW recorded three locally acquired cases on Friday, all from western Sydney. It follows the unlinked Croydon cluster emerging a day earlier. There are two men infected - one in his 40s and one in his 20s - and the third case is a close contact of one of the men.
The typical litter lout is a man in his twenties, research shows.

But before they get all the blame, experts say this profile doesnt tell the whole story  as children are getting away with the unsociable crime by escaping fines.

Those caught littering in the first three months of 2020 were found to be overwhelmingly (72 per cent) male, aged between 20 and 29 years, data shows.

Figures were gathered by Local Authority Support, part of Kingdom Services Group, which issues fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for littering on behalf of 27 councils in England, including Birmingham city council.

Figures were gathered by Local Authority Support, part of Kingdom Services Group, which issues fixed penalty notices

In theory, the law against littering applies to anyone over the age of 10. However, guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says FPNs should only be issued on the spot to a child if the offender is known to the enforcement officer and if their school has agreed to the use of the fines.

Otherwise, inquiries have to be made to the parents and the school by the enforcer before a decision is made on whether or not a fine should be issued.

John Read, of Clean Up Britain, said: The figures are very much in line with our own research, but dont tell the whole story, as they exclude under-18s. Councils instruct Kingdom they must not issue FPNs to anyone under 18, for fear they will get a criminal record. As a result, littering is, essentially, an unpunishable crime for youngsters.

Those caught littering in the first three months of 2020 were found to be overwhelmingly (72 per cent) male, aged between 20 and 29 years

The anti-litter campaign group believes that vicarious liability needs to be applied  where parents must be held responsible for the behavour of their children.

Mr Read, the groups founder, added: We cannot continue to allow millions of our fellow citizens to carry on trashing Britain and polluting the environment.
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China on Thursday expressed strong opposition to U.S. destroyers' sailing through the Taiwan Strait, urging the United States to play a constructive role in ensuring regional peace and stability, rather than the opposite.

Two U.S. destroyers, USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday morning.

"China has been closely following the U.S. warships' entire journey through the Taiwan Strait," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily press briefing.

Recently, the U.S. warships have repeatedly made shows of force and stirred provocations in the Taiwan Strait, sending a wrong signal to pro-independence forces in Taiwan and seriously undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

"China will continue to be on high alert, stand ready to deal with all threats and provocations, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wang said.